ARLINGTON — Taking advantage of the sunshine on Wednesday, April 9, Post Middle School students spent time creating unique mandalas on the sidewalk in front of their school, as one of their activities to help students and teachers focus on being a community and working together.

“The sidewalk is covered with them, and it looks beautiful,” said Andrea Conley, public information coordinator for the Arlington School District.

Measured, crossing diagonal lines were drawn ahead of time, then small groups of students used colored sidewalk chalk to develop their designs. Each pattern was started at the center, and the kids added to the pattern on the outside of the previous pattern. They collaborated on what they wanted to add, and then just started coloring.

“This is just one of the activities to encourage Post Middle School students during the difficult time following the Oso mudslide,” Conley said. “They have also written letters of thanks and encouragement to the relief workers and impacted families. Other schools in the Arlington district have been involved in fundraising, wearing colors of solidarity and making signs as well.”