Rachel's Challenge program October 7, 2009

(October 12, 2009)-Rachel Scott was one of the first students killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Ten years later Rachel's legacy continues to live on as students across the country accept her challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. The Voorheesville Central School District brought the award-winning "Rachel's Challenge" program to students, parents and staff on October 7.

The program consisted of two powerful school assemblies followed by breakout discussions, a peer training session, and a special evening presentation for parents and the community. All of the emotionally-charged sessions were led by Brandy, a trainer and presenter of the "Rachel's Challenge" program.

During the assembly, students learned about Rachel's acts of kindness and the contents of her diaries through powerful video/audio footage. The assemblies challenged students 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."

Following the assemblies, students accepted "Rachel's Challenge" by signing a petition before grouping into teacher-led breakout sessions, for students to discuss and process what they learned.

Freshmen Adam Salerno shares, "It makes me realize that there are people all around me every day that are in a situation where they don't want to be living and that a small act of kindness could make a huge difference. For one high schooler to make a worldly difference makes me want to set goals for myself and maybe I, too, can change the world."

In the afternoon, students interested in learning how they can make a difference in the school community attended an interactive training session that provided them with strategies to continue the positive momentum started by the assembly. Brandy, the presenter, answered questions that stemmed from the morning assemblies and breakout sessions before highlighting some of the "Rachel's" out there and ideas Voorheesville students can use to change their school's atmosphere for the better.

Two new clubs will be emerging -- Friends of Rachel at the high school and Chain Links at the middle school. The clubs will meet throughout the year to organize activities to support the message.

"The new clubs are an opportunity for you to do what you want with them," Brandy told the students. "It's an opportunity to see through situations and treat people better."

The program concluded with an evening presentation to parents and community members to reinforce their teen's positive decisions.


Following the two school assemblies, Voorheesville middle and high school students signed a petition to continue Rachel's Challenge by making a difference at their school.	Student volunteers attended an interactive training session to learn how they can personally sustain the momentum created by the assemblies.

Read Superintendent Dr. Snyder's thoughts on "Rachel's Challenge" on the superintendent's page.