Hanahan Middle Focuses on Kindness With "Rachel's Challenge"

Hanahan Middle School will be inviting students, parents, teachers and the public to an evening celebrating the tremendous power of integrity, kindness and compassion. The school will kick off the second year of Rachel's Challenge on the campus, including this year's theme: "Leaving a Legacy."

The event will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night in Hanahan Middle's multipurpose room, 518 Murray Drive.

The non-profit Rachel's Challenge has already touched approximately 15 million worldwide, offering student empowerment programs to combat bullying and to address teens feeling isolated and alone.

Rachel Scott was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. She left an inspiring trail of respect and kindness for others.

"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," Rachel wrote shortly before her death. "People will never know how far a little kindness can go."

Hanahan Middle has adopted Rachel's Challenge school-wide to encourage students to be mindful of the way they treat others. Teachers use tehemse from the program in lessons throughout the year and the school has a "Friends of Rachel" Club.