Rachel's Challenge
Community Meetings:
October 19, 7 p.m.:
William Byrd H.S.
auditorium
October 20, 7 p.m.:
Northside H.S.
auditorium
October 24, 7 p.m.:
auditorium
In the news:
Local schools aware of bullying
-- WDBJ-7, Oct. 6, 2010
Lessons from tragedy
-- The Roanoke Times, Sept. 21, 2010
Rachel's Challenge starts a chain reaction
-- WDBJ-7, Sept. 21, 2010
Rachel's Challenge reaches William Byrd students
-- WSLS-10, Sept. 20, 2010
To start a chain reaction
-- The Roanoke Times, May 9, 2010
Schools focus on suicide prevention
-- The Roanoke Times, May 5, 2010
Rachel's Challenge is a program to help create a culture of respect and kindness among students. The program was developed after the death of Rachel Scott in the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School tragedy.
After her death, her family discovered writings and drawings by Rachel and stories told by her peers about her kindness and compas sion. The family developed the Rachel's Challenge Program to spread her message to others.
This program is being implemented in Roanoke County middle schools through the "Friends of Rachel" (FOR) Club. As part of FOR, students will be encouraged to stand up for one another to prevent bullying and to promote a culture of respect for one another, despite our differences.
Rachel's Challenge in Roanoke County began with a series of school and community meetings in Sept. 2010. We were honored to have Rachel's father, Darrell Scott come to tell Rachel's inspirational story and to help launch the program.
As these clubs are developed, they will take on their own projects and events to encourage and promote a school culture of kindness and compassion for one another.
We encourage parents to be involved in FOR. If you would like to be a part of Friends of Rachel, please contact the counselor at your child's school or contact Michele Dowdy by email or at 540-562-3900 ext. 10262.