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Rachel's Challenge to visit Blackstone'Millville schools with anti-bullying assembly series
Summary
Rachel's Challenge will run K–12 presentations Sept. 18–20 in the district, offering age-appropriate assemblies, staff professional development and digital sustainability tools focused on kindness and compassion.
The school committee paused its agenda to hear a presentation on Rachel's Challenge, a school-based violence-prevention and kindness program founded by the family of Rachel Scott, one of the victims of the Columbine High School shooting.
"Rachel's Challenge was created after the Columbine High School shooting in honor of Rachel Scott," said Peter Diello, who outlined program components for elementary, middle and high school audiences and the program's five challenges (eliminating prejudice, keeping a journal, choosing positive influences, acting kindly including online, and starting a chain reaction of kindness). He described age-appropriate delivery (K'4 presentations for younger children; Rachel's Challenge sessions for grades 7'12) and the district's plan for Sept. 18'20 presentations.
The program provides digital sustainability tools for staff (short videos, three one-hour professional-development videos and a workbook) and encourages schools to use follow-up activities such as monthly assemblies and classroom talking points to reinforce lessons. Diello said almost all students accept the five challenges when asked during assemblies.
Administration said principals and building staff will receive implementation materials and that families will be notified of dates and times. The committee did not take a vote; the presentation served as an informational briefing in support of planned events.
