Community

Rainier Beach Students Start School with High Fives and Encouragement

Editor

by Susan Fried

The Rainier Beach High School students arriving for the first day of school Wednesday morning didn't know what to make of the small crowd of people — with a few small children — gathered near the school entrance by the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center. But once the students passed by the group, the received high fives and a crowd of people saying, "Welcome back, and have a wonderful day."

Yvette Dinish organized the group of Rainier Beach community members and personnel from the Seattle Police Department to come out and show "out Rainier Beach High School kids some love on the first day of the new school year by showing up and giving them high fives as they enter the building."

Dinish supplied coffee and baked goods from Beach Bakery and the Rainier Beach Safeway to encourage volunteers, provide participants a positive experience and make sure everyone — especially students — left feeling good about the day and the start of the new school year.

Students arriving at Rainier Beach High School for their first day of school received high fives and lots of well wishes from a small group of community members and Seattle Police department personnel. (Photo: Susan Fried)
A student laughs as he runs the gauntlet of high fives when he arrived for his first day of school at Rainier Beach High School. (Photo: Susan Fried)
Seattle Police Detective Denise "Cookie" Bouldin gets a high five from community members outside of Rainier Beach High School. Detective "Cookie" joined members of the community and other Seattle Police personal to greet students with words of encouragement and high fives on the first day of school. (Photo: Susan Fried)
Students received well wishes and high fives as they arrived for their first day of school at Rainier Beach High school. (Photo: Susan Fried)
Members of the Rainier Beach community high fived students as they arrived for their first day of school at Rainier Beach High School. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Featured Photo: Lisa Schmidt, holding her daughter Harriet, and Jenny Frankl put their hands up to high five Rainier Beach Students arriving for the first day of school. (Photo: Susan Fried)

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