Pictured: Holgate Middle School Student Council President Anniston Bindenagel stands near lockers with feathers from Holgate's new Eagle Feather Project.
ABERDEEN, S.D. – All around Holgate Middle School, blue and gold feathers are displayed on lockers and doorways, and they serve an important purpose—the feathers are a visual reminder of the importance of kindness.
The Holgate Feather Project is a new initiative created by the school’s FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club. Each feather recognizes a student or staff member who has demonstrated kindness.
Holgate’s FOR Club was established by the HMS Student Council after this fall’s Rachel’s Challenge visit.
“The whole point of the FOR Club is to spread kindness and awareness,” said Student Council President Anniston Bindenagel. “So we thought that this would be an easy way to visually see it.”
Anyone at Holgate can nominate a student or staff member who has done something kind. All nominations go into a wooden “Making a Difference” box, and everyone nominated gets a feather. Student feathers are put on their lockers, and staff feathers are put on their doors.
At the end of each week, a name is drawn from all those nominated, and the winner receives a stuffed eagle toy. The person who nominated the winner also gets an eagle.
The project kicked off a couple of weeks ago, and there have already been numerous nominations—as evidenced by the feathers around the school.
Holgate Physical Education/Health Teacher Greg Murley said the Feather Project is a way to follow Rachel’s Challenge, which encourages kindness.
“The point is to recognize people who are doing the right things,” Murley said. “And to promote other people to do the same.”
About the Aberdeen Public School District
The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us.