Submitted by Michael Townsend, Westborough High School senior
Westborough – One thing that stands out about Westborough High School is the kindness among students. Among all the clubs, however, there is only one club that focuses on kindness: Rangers Reaction, led by advisor Ceil Parteleno, the WHS adjustment counselor, and senior Katie Mullane.
“I think a lot of the time kindness goes unnoticed and most people don’t realize how important it is,” said Mullane. “[Rangers Reaction] is a way of recognizing people for their kindness. For example, teachers always say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize how often (X) kid is so kind’ or ‘Kids in general are so kind,’ and hearing things like that more often is the big purpose of the Rangers Reaction.”
A big part of Rangers Reaction is doing things in subtle ways, and the clubs activities do a good job of showcasing that. Just prior to winter break, Rangers Reaction organized the Winter Blessing, where club participants gave teachers small cards and encouraged them to hand them out to students whenever they saw students committing an act of kindness. The students, in turn, could exchange their cards for a variety of food-related prizes, such as cookies and hot chocolate.
The club plans on using the bulletin board across from the library and above the cafeteria as an open-ended question forum. As part of Valentine’s Day the club updated the board to ask students questions such as “Who do you appreciate and when?” and “Who is a senior that you appreciate?” to recognize individual students in an effort to get students to compliment each other.
In a world full of hate, a club based on the concept of kindness in everyday life is a ray of hope for the up-and-coming generation. WHS, already a standout for its kind student body, is only strengthened by the presence of Rangers Reaction.
“WHS is such a kind high school,” said club advisor Ceil Parteleno, “and Rangers Reaction just adds to the values that this school embodies. I feel lucky to be a part of it.”
