AITKIN — Waves of positivity are rippling through Aitkin, thanks to students at Rippleside Elementary.
“I matter, you matter, we matter” is this year’s mantra for the school’s student council, spreading kindness and boosting mental health.
The idea now known as #IyouWe came from Joshua Smith, a paraprofessional, coach and adviser for the Rippleside Elementary Student Council.
“We all have to know that we all matter,” Smith said. “… Especially with all the negativity, we want to spread a positive mental health message.”
Theresa Bourke / Brainerd Dispatch
The initiative has really gained steam, with #IyouWe posters hanging in the school hallways, and video and photo challenges going out to organizations and groups throughout the community. Three poses comprise the message for either a photo or a video — thumbs pointing toward oneself for “I matter,” fingers pointed out for “you matter,” and palms turned up for “we matter.”
Those who are challenged post photos or videos with those poses, and so far the students have heard from the School Board, Aitkin Police Department, Rossalini’s Pizza, WJJY, Listen Live Minnesota and various high school sports teams in Aitkin, just to name a few.
Seeing the initiative spread is rewarding for the students.
I don’t know how to describe it — how amazing these kids are once they put their mind to it.
Joshua Smith, adviser for the Rippleside Elementary Student Council
“What it means to me is helping people with mental health, and if they’re going through something, knowing that they’re not alone,” sixth grader Willow Leiviska said.
The Student Council team believes they’re helping people to understand their worth and push through tough times.
“I really like knowing that everybody can see and understand that they matter no matter what, and that most likely somebody’s been through what you’ve been through at one point, and we can all work it out,” Thomas Ostrowski said.
Smith hopes the message continues to grow and show the students how much of a difference a small school like Rippleside Elementary can truly make. And seeing the students latch on and make it their own has been heartwarming.
Theresa Bourke / Brainerd Dispatch
“I don’t know how to describe it — how amazing these kids are once they put their mind to it,” he said. “And they’re all giving; they all want to do this.”
The #IyouWe initiative is just one way the Rippleside Student Council continues to grow every year.
Composed of primarily sixth graders and a few fifth graders, the group built a little free library outside the school. They also organize food drives, run an end-of-the-year barbecue, welcome veterans during Veterans Day, and work to make the school and the community the best they can be.
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