Manchester High To Take 'Rachel's Challenge'

I have this theory that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.    Rachel Scott

On April 20, 1999, Rachel Scott, a 17-year-old junior at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, became the first victim of the deadliest school shooting in United States history.

Since the tragedy, Scott's life and writings have become the inspiration for a powerful bullying prevention program for schools, businesses, and communities that aims to create a culture of kindness, respect and compassion toward one another.

On Tuesday, February 15, a Rachel's Challenge event will be held at Manchester High School. During the day, two  assemblies will be held, the first for students in Grades 9 and 10, the second for students in Grades 11 and 12, after which a small group of students from all grades will be asked to return and attend a training session to become leaders of kindness. According to a letter sent to parents of MHS students, the "session will be the launch of a club, whose focus will be on helping to create a positive and caring school environment."

The program is not just for students. On Tuesday evening, from 7pm-8pm, parents and community members are invited to attend a program in MHS's Bailey Auditorium to learn how they too can help create a caring and compassionate community. A portion of the program will center on the events at Columbine and parents are encouraged to take a look at the Rachel's Challenge program, which can be found online at www.rachelschallenge.org, and discuss it with their children beforehand.

The program is arguably one of the most collaborated upon currently in the Manchester School System, involving the Manchester High School PTSA, the central office, the Manchester PTA Council and the student activities advisory groups.

"We all felt that this was where the town could come together as a whole community to provide for our kids," said Jackie Madore, President of the Manchester PTA Council. Madore said she researched the program and suggested at a in December that stemmed from a at the high school that the Board of Education, Board of Directors and administrators bring the program to MHS.

"The goal of this program is to begin to bring kindness awareness into the schools," said Heidi Macchi, an outreach social worker for Manchester Public Schools.

While the December fight at MHS, which resulted in the arrest of  at the high school, has pushed the school district to move faster, Macchi said bullying prevention programs have always been on the district's radar. Macchi said for change to truly happen at the high school, they need the support of a diverse group of parents who understand and appreciate the importance of kindness and compassion in our daily interactions.

"There has to be a sense of healing and making positive changes as we move forward," said Macchi.