Two Fishers Elementary School (FES) teachers are bringing the school together to help teach students about both mental health and raising funds for a worthy cause.
First-grade teacher Brittany Sugg and third-grade teacher Sara Larkins have started an art show and fundraiser called “In My Feelings Art Show” at FES. The project has the dual purpose of teaching students about how to understand and express their feelings as well as raising money and awareness for the Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope.
Larkins
Sugg
According to Sugg and Larkins, all FES students will have the opportunity to create a piece of artwork within the framework of “create something you love.” They told The Reporter their hope is to bring awareness of mental health the school and the community.
“One of our goals was to reduce stress and let kids know about stress,” Sugg said. “We also decided to start the art show to give back to the Peyton Riekhof Foundation. It is a foundation for a girl named Peyton Riekhof, who I played softball with for eight seasons when growing up. After she committed suicide, her dad created this foundation to talk about suicide prevention and how stress can be related to that. We are going to have him (Peyton’s father) come in as well.”
According to the Peyton Riekhof Foundation website, “Peyton lost her battle with depression at the early age of 18 on July 18, 2013. That day changed the lives of the Riekhof family and many others in our community. This foundation in Peyton’s name is here to help other youth who struggle with their mental health, and to reduce suicide and suicide attempts across our youth population.”
Larkins and Sugg both spoke of their passion for this art project, for the fundraiser and for teaching in general.
“Brittany and I are really passionate about teaching and we really believe that providing kids the lessons learn about mental health at an appropriate age level – in this case dealing with emotions and feelings – is extremely important to having a successful classroom,” Larkins said.
Both teachers are working to ensure the lessons and the tie-in to the Peyton Riekhof Foundation are presented in a way that is grade-level appropriate for the students.
“We did not tell them Peyton’s story,” Sugg told The Reporter. “We just told them that her dad goes out into the community to talk about ways we can reduce our stress. We made sure the focus is on stress.”
All Fishers Elementary School students will have an opportunity to participate in the show. Sugg and Larkins have applied for a grant for art supplies to broaden the involvement in this show.
“Brittany and I mostly see ourselves as the guides,” Larkins said. “A lot of the things you will see on social media will be coming from the kids. They are taking ownership of this project.”
The students create their own scripts and do the videos for the school announcements. They are also hosting a movie night and doing various other jobs to promote the show.
The art show will be held at the end of the school year and is currently scheduled for May 9. The mostly student-led project meets on Friday mornings at Fishers Elementary School.
If you’d like to learn more or help support the program, visit the art show’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FESinmyfeelings. The page offers a donation link, which you can reach directly by clicking here.
You can also follow both teachers on Twitter @miss_larkins and @miss_sugg1st.
You can learn more about the Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope online at ThePeytonRiekhofFoundation.com.