![Students paint rocks during lunch on May 1, the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event was created five years ago to help spread creativity and kindness throughout the school community. "[The event lets] students showcase...anything that represents spreading positivity to their peers, to their friends, to themselves," behavioral health counselor and organizer of the event Ms. Marlena O'Kane said.](https://shpantherpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/izzy-rock-painting-1200x800.jpg)
SpongeBob, smiley faces, fruit, and flowers. While not having much in common, the images now adorn rocks outside of the school.
During lunches on May 1, students had the chance to paint rocks with kind messages and pictures. The activity has run for five years as a way to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.
“We wanted a way for students to be able to, number one, be outside, because it’s May, and to be able to spend time together creating something that could be passed on,” behavioral health counselor and event organizer Ms. Marlena O’Kane said. “We leave the rocks behind on the grass, and anybody else can come by and pick it up and take it with them…I think people really enjoy doing it for each other.”
O’Kane notes that over the years, the event has become popular among the students.
“Now that we’ve been doing [the rock painting] for a few years, people are starting to expect that we’re going to do it, and anticipate and look forward [to the event],” O’Kane said. “We’ve been getting more and more crowds and more excitement about it.”
School counselor Ms. Ashly Vukmanovich agrees, and was surprised by the activity’s popularity.
“I know sometimes it’s hard to get high schoolers to want to do some of these events, and so I’m honestly very shocked at how popular it is. Everyone seems to be really enjoying it. It’s really fun,” Vukmanovich said.
O’Kane reflects on the event, praising its success.
“The weather couldn’t be more beautiful today… we think we’re probably going to run out of rocks again, and it’s been a great success this year,” O’Kane said.
Freshman Chanel Courtman was new to the event, but ended up painting multiple rocks and having a good time.
“I think it’s fun to let everyone show off their creative sides,” Courtman said.
O’Kane hopes that the event spreads kindness throughout the school community and helps students feel support and connection.
“We want students to feel that, number one, we really care about their mental health, and that it’s important to pay attention to their own mental health and each other’s mental health, and to take care of themselves and each other,” O’Kane said.
