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.
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)