Chain Reaction
Lakehill Embraces Rachel's Challenge
As part of Lakehill's efforts to encourage positive growth in character, behavior, and responsibility, the school has partnered with Rachel's Challenge. A series of presentations will be offered to Lower and Middle School students and their parents on Wednesday, January 26.
The program reflects upon the life of Rachel Scott, a victim of the 1999 Columbine school shooting. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her diaries have become the foundation for what many are calling one of the most life-changing school programs in America.
The mission of Rachel's Challenge is to inspire, equip, and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business, and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
Feeling much like a pep rally, the assembly for Lower School students (Jan 26; 8:30 - 9 a.m.) will focus on kindness and compassion and will launch the new KC Club - where acts of kindness and compassion will be recognized and used to build a chain of good deeds.
The assembly for Middle School students (Jan 26; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.) will take set forth challenges to the students that include treating others as they wish to be treated, believing in themselves, and appreciating others. This is followed by leadership training for Middle School participants (11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.) that teaches students how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly.
That evening, the Rachel's Challenge presenter will conduct a powerful session for parents (Jan 26; 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.). This session is similar to the assembly program and ends with a specific challenge to parents, showing them how they can reinforce the decisions their children are making.
To sustain the positive climate change in a school, Rachel's Challenge offers a year-long curriculum called the Friends of Rachel (FOR) program that continues training students and plugs them into activities that continue the chain reaction of kindness.
Middle School Coordinator Kaye Hauschild discovered the program. "Rachel's Challenge really struck a chord with me," she explained. "This is all about positive actions making a big difference. It's about surrounding yourself with good people. Those are things that we do at Lakehill. This is a program that plays to our strengths, while offering insight and a common sense strategy for something that has become a national concern."
More information on the program is available on the Rachel's Challenge website.
