The
Peters Township School District is proud to bring the Rachel’s Challenge
program to our students, staff and community. Rachel’s Challenge is a non-profit organization that seeks to make
schools safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced
with kindness and respect. On Friday,
September 21st, PTHS students and staff will participate in our Rachel’s
Challenge launch presentation. This
program is meant to inform students about the profound positive impact we can
have on those around us.
As
you may be aware, Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed at Columbine
High School on April 20, 1999. Rachel
was known by students and teachers as a student who was always kind and
compassionate towards everyone.
Following her death, students and staff reached out to her parents and
media to share their stories of how Rachel’s kindness positively impacted their
life. From these stories, a national
organization was created to spread acts of kindness and caring in schools. Today, Rachel’s message reaches over 1.5
million people each year through 1,200 presentations given in schools and
communities around the country. Below is
a link to the Rachel’s Challenge website for you to learn more about this
program: http://rachelschallenge.org/
Our
goal is that our Rachel’s Challenge launch motivates students to Start a Chain Reaction of
spreading acts of kindness and compassion.
If your son or daughter is interested in making a positive impact on our
school climate, he or she should also consider joining our FOR Club (Friends of
Rachel). The FOR Club will meet to plan
and implement positive acts of kindness throughout PTHS and our community.
Students will have the opportunity to get involved in the FOR Club following
the assembly.
The
presentation contains powerful video/audio footage of Rachel’s life and the
Columbine tragedy. While the video/audio footage might be emotional, it is
not graphic and was previously viewed on the national news. Students will
hear a 9-1-1 call, see surveillance images, or student and parent
reunification.
Please
take a moment to review the Rachel’s Challenge website. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to
contact a counselor or administrator. If you do NOT want your child to
participate in this program, please complete the attached form and return to
the Main Office no later than Wednesday, September 19th.
Peters Township Character Counts is also sponsoring
the Rachel’s Challenge community launch at 6:30 pm on September 25th when we will welcome
Rachel’s father Darrell Scott to our community. To
accommodate the large crowd anticipated that evening, the event will take place
at The Bible Chapel at 300 Gallery Drive in McMurray.
We
hope you can attend this important event for our community.