Brockport Central School District is working with Rachel’s Challenge, an organization born from the Columbine tragedy, whose mission includes “building connections, hope and resilience, while improving school culture so that students are able to reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally.” Given the experiences over the last several years, the district believes this is the ideal opportunity to reestablish prioritizing relationships as the most effective path to realizing its vision, mission, core beliefs and goals.
Using the remarkable story of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy, Rachel’s Challenge awakens individual hope and purpose, which in turn promotes safer, more connected school communities.
On Thursday, September 15, Brockport CSD will be hosting a Community Event for district families at 6 p.m. at Brockport High School’s auditorium. A Rachel’s Challenge staff member will share Rachel’s story, and parents will learn how Brockport CSD plans to implement the program within the district. To reserve a seat for this community event, pre-register by September 14 at www.bcs1.org.
This tragic yet inspiring story illustrates how deliberately reaching out to others with kind words and small acts of kindness can have a life-changing impact. The district plans to present Rachel’s Challenge to students in grades 7-12 through age and content-appropriate assemblies and chain reaction workshops. The goal is to work as a team to inspire and empower students to affect permanent, positive change within the district and community through their actions and words.
In just over two decades of social-emotional and mental health training, Rachel’s Challenge has reached over 30 million students, educators and community members. Its programs, along with the existing efforts of the schools, have helped to sustain a culture where harassment, violence and self-harm are reduced; where teachers are free to teach, and students are empowered to learn. An independent study conducted by Multi-Dimensional Education, LLC, a nationally recognized educational program evaluator, found that, “schools implementing Rachel’s Challenge with fidelity achieved statistically significant gains in community engagement, faculty/student relationships, leadership potential and school climate; along with a reduction in bullying behavior.”
“Rachel’s Challenge works to turn the ideals of kindness and compassion into actionable strategies that help promote a safe and productive learning environment,” said Brockport Superintendent Sean Bruno. “We look forward to sharing this inspiring program with our students, staff and families this fall and throughout our school year.”
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