| Pattonville Heights Middle School takes up "Rachel's Challenge" |
| Friday, September 18, 2009 |
School leaders at Pattonville Heights Middle School hope to start a chain reaction of kindness by participating in a powerful school-based program called Rachel's Challenge on Sept. 24. The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. It consists of a student assembly, a peer/leadership training session and and an evening community event that will inspire every listener towards a life of kindness and compassion.
School assemblies on Sept. 24
On Sept. 24, more than 500 Pattonville Heights students will attend the Rachel's Challenge assembly. During the assembly, students will learn about Rachel's acts of kindness and the contents of her diaries through powerful video/audio footage. The assemblies challenge students and adults to create a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. The idea is derived from an essay Rachel wrote, in which she said, "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go."
"Rachel's Challenge" at Pattonville Heights is funded by the Pattonville Education Foundation through its annual grant program and a special Fred Weber Inc. Grant. The Pattonville Heights PTO also provided funding. Dawn Osman, a reading specialist at Heights, wrote the grant for the program.
"Although the program evolved out of a tragedy, the message is very positive and powerful," Osman said. Before the assembly, students will learn facts about Columbine, read and discuss Rachel's essay and talk about chain reactions and how they can be both positive and negative, Osman said. During the assembly, they will be "challenged" to do the following:
Community event on Sept. 24
In addition, a Rachel's Challenge parent and community event will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24. This event is similar to the student assembly and ends with a challenge to parents and community leaders to reinforce the decisions their youth are making.
Sustaining the chain reaction
After the assembly, a group of students and adult leaders will attend a training session that shows how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly. The group will evolve into an after-school club called The Chain Links Club. Teachers were asked to select students that displayed kindness, compassion and a positive attitude. The students (about 20 per grade level) received a letter inviting them to participate in the program. Other students will still be open to participate in the club's after-school activities, Osman said. The goal of the club is to continue the momentum of kindness and compassion started by the assembly. Some activities of the club will include:
| ||
