In addition Destination Imagination’s high standard for wit and creativity, Rindge Memorial School’s team also showed a lot of heart and compassion on their way to globals.
The Optimistic Octopi have qualified for Destination Imagination’s largest stage later this month, taking first place at the state finals in the social entrepreneurship, “The Meme Event.” The team not only created a skit honoring classmate Lacee Martin, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, but also raised $2,500 for her family.
“We wanted to do something to help children with cancer, and that’s when we thought of Lacee,” said fifth grader Emma Tenters. “We originally wanted to raise $900 by hosting a dance, but we ended up raising $2,500.”
The Octopi, comprised of Tenters, Haily Dubois, Lillian Rennie, Francesca Ketola, Skyler Ketola, Olivia Jadlocki, and Kylie Aho, chose their team name because including Martin, there were eight children, symbolizing the eight tentacles of an octopus.
Their skit is a dramatic retelling of the fundraising effort, with each team member playing a member of Martin’s family.
“We’ve made a lot of people cry during our skit,” said Francesca Ketola. “It’s great to be able to honor our classmate.”
The Optimistic Octopi and the other two Jaffrey-Rindge teams are collectively raising $28,000 for the trip to globals.
You can contribute by sending a check to JRDI at 82 Fitzgerald Drive, Jaffrey, NH 03452.
The team is currently selling tulip and daffodil bulbs and raffle tickets.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.