Students danced in the bleachers Tuesday at the Mars Athletic Complex as they took part in the Mars Kindness Celebration.

ADAMS TWP — Students in the Mars School District can certainly spell kindness, as hundreds of them packed into the bleachers Tuesday at the Mars Athletic Complex shouted out letter-by-letter as a fellow student led the charge.

They also know a thing or two about acting with kindness, as evidenced by the thousands of “kindness chains” linked across the field during the Mars Kindness Celebration.

The event was a chance for students and staff to share and celebrate the positive activities and initiatives undertaken throughout the school year as part of the Rachel's Challenge positive school culture campaign. The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School mass shooting in 1999. Introduced in the district at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, it aims to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion. 

The program's success was evident, as students and staff from the district shared the many accomplishments.

Elizabeth McMahon, principal at the Primary Center and district assistant superintendent, said her students raised $5,321 during its Jump Rope for Heart event, raised $893 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation during a “Think Pink” program, and collected blankets, pajamas, scarves and diapers for those in need.

At the elementary school, Principal Todd Lape said students wrote letters to classmates who were out sick, and chalked inspirational quotes on the ground by the bus drop-off to welcome each other to school each day. They collected more than 4,300 pairs of shoes and raised $1,600 for the Ronald McDonald House, and helped raise about $4,000 for a North Carolina elementary school impacted by a hurricane.

In the middle and high schools, the Friends of Rachel clubs volunteered throughout the community on various initiatives and raised money for various charities. The high school also held its first THON event, raising more than $7,000 for childhood cancer research.

Students wrote each other inspirational messages posted throughout the school, spent time with senior citizens, and gathered items for children in third-world countries.The pep rally-like event kicked off with musical performances by school bands and choruses, as well as the school's alma mater. Students danced to the YMCA as they awaited the announcement of prizes awarded for their acts of kindness. Superheroes and mascots roamed the complex greeting students.The event concluded with the combining of each school's kindness chains. Links were added throughout the year by students acknowledging good deeds by others.McMahon said the event would not have been possible without the support of the district and the community.“It was awesome,” McMahon said. “Everyone was positive and supportive. It took a village to get this off the ground.”From the bleachers, fifth-grader Sean Franklin said it was a fun day to recognize students and teachers.“It was to celebrate all the kind people in the school,” he said. “People got prizes, people who were really kind this year. It was fun.”Across the field, second-grader Audrey Lyker said she enjoyed the kindness celebration as well.“We had lunch, we did different activities and we got wet,” she said. “I thought is was fun.”

Mars School District student Tianna Rush makes her way through a tunnel of students, high-fiving along the way, Tuesday during the Mars Kindness Celebration. The students were able to share the positive activities and initiatives they'd taken throughout the school year.