Chester County Junior High will be working with Rachel’s Challenge to stimulate academic achievement and social-emotional learning by focusing on the connection between students, faculty and staff. 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. A Rachel’s Challenge staff member will share Rachel’s story with the entire community on Sept. 30, 2024, at the Chester County Junior High School gym.
Dr. Robert Marzano respected education researcher and author states, “Rachel’s challenge is the most powerful intervention I have seen in 40 years of working in education.” Rachel’s story unlocks the desire for change. Then its program comes alongside the existing efforts of the school 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, an school climate, along with a reduction in bullying behavior.”
Using age-appropriate programming for K-12, Rachel’s Challenge schools have reported up to 84% reductions in disciplinary referrals. As many as 150 suicides are averted annually, as reported by students themselves. In a pre- and post-attitudinal survey of 9,991 students from socioeconomically and demographically diverse schools across the US and Canada, respondents reported a 282% increase in the number of students feeling safe at school after participating in Rachel’s Challenge.
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. Rachel’s Challenge continues to work hard to turn the ideals of kindness and compassion into actionable strategies that help promote a safe and productive learning environment.
There will be three presentations on Sept. 30 at the Junior High School – the sixth grade presentation will be 8:15-9:15 a.m.; seventh grade will be 9:40-10:40 a.m.; and eighth grade will be 11 a.m.-noon. For more information about Rachel’s Challenge, visit www.rachelschallenge.org.
