Rachel's Challenge

Rachel's Challenge is a national anti-bullying program named after the first person killed during the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, Rachel Scott. Her journal, found after her death, was filled with words of hope and understanding. In particular, Scott wrote: "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's Challenge's mssion:

We exist 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.

Program elements generally include school assemblies, student/staff training and community presentations.  It was recently implemented in our local middle school.

Eastchester Middle School's main corridor and cafeteria have been given over to colorful chains, kindness slogans and life-size silhouettes of students, all carefully limned on what had been cream-colored walls and old bulletin boards.

The mural project drew dozens of teen volunteers who stood on ladders and sat on floors, carefully filling in outlines of slogans and classmates. Their team effort paralleled the anti-bullying messages the students were illuminating: When people work together in harmony, anything is possible.

Does Rachel's Challenge really work?  What results have been measured?  Is a mural a meaningful measure of results?  From the Rachel's Challenge website FAQs:

Q: Do you have any data that supports your program?
A: We are currently working on an efficiency study for the near future. So far, most of our data is anecdotal.

Related:  Tuckahoe schools to host Rachel's Challenge
“We’ve heard from other school’s who’ve used Rachel’s Challenge and it has gotten great reactions from students and parents,” Moschetta explained, “everyone is encouraged to come.”

To read the entire article:

Middle school students challenge each other to be caring

11:01 PM, Jan. 26, 2011

EASTCHESTER — Eastchester Middle School's main corridor and cafeteria have been given over to colorful chains, kindness slogans and life-size silhouettes of students, all carefully limned on what had been cream-colored walls and old bulletin boards.

The mural project drew dozens of teen volunteers who stood on ladders and sat on floors, carefully filling in outlines of slogans and classmates. Their team effort paralleled the anti-bullying messages the students were illuminating: When people work together in harmony, anything is possible.

"It's a series of murals we've created to tie into the Rachel's Challenge program," explained art teacher Sarah Simeone, who oversaw the student effort along with art teacher Dorothy Johnson.

Rachel's Challenge is a national anti-bullying program named after the first person killed during the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, Rachel Scott. Her journal, found after her death, was filled with words of hope and understanding. In particular, Scott wrote: "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."

Eastchester schools adopted Rachel's Challenge as a districtwide initiative shortly after school started this year. Using funds donated by the PTA, the school district has brought in speakers and has sponsored several Rachel's Challenge events and initiatives, including the middle school mural project.

"We're trying to infuse the goals of Rachel's Challenge in the environment so they become part of the school day, part of our middle school life, what they reflect on," Johnson said. "The cafeteria and the hallway here is the center of everything: All the kids come through here."

The mural painting took place Jan. 14, with many of the schools' seventh- and eighth-grade students working in shifts. Peers walked by and commented; lunchtime found the student artists the focus of advice from nearby tables.

Jake James, 13, an eighth-grader, said the idea was use bright colors to grab students' attention so they would read the slogans about acceptance and kindness.

"We're trying to encourage kids to lead better lives," said 14-year-old Victoria Biancavilla, an eighth-grader. "I think by passing it every day, that kids will start to think about it and actually start caring about people more."

Victoria Leo, 13, another eighth-grader working on the same section as Biancavilla, said Eastchester Middle School was like a family, with most kids getting along pretty well, but the occasional rough patch.

"Everybody's friends with everybody else," she said, "but this just reminds them to stay positive, to not be mean."

Natalie Tee and Misato Tetsuka, both 13-year-old eighth-graders, were team painting a colorful chain along a cafeteria post to remind their peers to start a chain reaction of kindness.

"We're all the same and we're all connected like a chain," Tee said.