Eastbayri.com

EAST PROVIDENCE — Students around East Providence are answering Rachel’s Challenge.

Last week, Rachel’s Challenge was presented to student assemblies at both Riverside and Martin Middle Schools. The national program is aimed at fostering kindness and compassion along with creating a positive school culture, among other goals.

On April 20, 1999, Rachel Joy Scott was the first student killed during the Columbine High School shootings. Rachel’s Challenge, according to the program’s website, began after Rachel’s father started speaking nationally. He utilized writings and drawings and from his daughter’s diary to “illustrate the need for a kinder, more compassionate nation.”

In addition to students, RMS hosted a community presentation of Rachel’s Challenge Thursday evening, Jan. 19, that brought out parents, politicians and others from around the community.

The mission of Rachel’s Challenge, according to the program’s website, is to “inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.”

“It’s about getting students to understand the importance of life choices, valuing everyone around them,” said MMS Principal Glenn Piros, who witnessed the presentation earlier this year along RMS Principal Stephen Prew and RMS School Resource Officer Tammy David, among others.

The program was brought to RMS and MMS with the help of a grant located by the police department.

“I thought it would be very powerful in the sense that it gets students to think a little bit deeper about themselves, what their track is in life and how they interact not only with their friends but everyone else around them,” Mr. Piros said.

Not that program ends with a single presentation.

According to a press release, St. Mary Academy Bay View joined 1.5 million students who participate in the program nationally last year by accepting its five challenges. They include looking for the best in others; daring to dream; choosing positive influences; using kind words and doing kind actions; and starting your own chain reaction of kindness. After holding an evening presentation for students and parents, similar to the session at RMS, Bay View kept the program’s message going through a year-long curriculum called the Friends of Rachel Club, which encourages students to continue the chain reaction of kindness and compassion.

Last week, students in both Bay View’s middle and upper school accepted five new challenges from Rachel’s Legacy, the follow-up program to Rachel’s Challenge: Leave a legacy of kindness; show compassion; practice pre-acceptance; learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself and others. Approximately 70 students participated in the Friends of Rachel Club training later in the afternoon. These 70 students will be charged with maintaining the momentum of Rachel’s Legacy and promoting a positive culture at Bay View Academy.

Two banners, “I Accept Rachel’s Challenge” and “My Legacy Starts Today,” are now prominently hung in the Academy with every participant’s signature. A similar banner is up at MMS and another will soon be up at RMS.

A similar follow-up program is also taking hold at RMS and MMS. Officer David said a group of students and teachers met earlier this week to begin putting together the details of how RMS keeps the message of Rachel’s Challenge going in the weeks and months to come. A group of about 100 students and faculty members “ambassadors” took part in an extension of the program after it was presented at each school.

Said Officer David: “You could tell it made a difference for the kids.”

At MMS, School Resource Officer Cheri Almeida is coordinating a group for that school, which has already met twice.

Mr. Prew said the presentation has had an immediate impact on students.

“We’re seeing it all over the place,” he said, pointing out specific instances of students reflecting on their own behaviors in journal writings.

Officer Almeida said the same thing. In the days following the presentation, Officer Almeida said students dropped off roughly 60 signs bearing messages delivered by Rachel’s Challenge.

“I didn’t even ask for the signs,” Officer Almeida said.

“This is probably the best assembly, the best program I’ve ever seen.”

For more on Rachel’s Challenge, visit www.rachelschallenge.org.