Mars students, faculty accept Rachel's Challenge
ADAMS TWP — Discussion of budgets and building projects were temporarily replaced by a concert and sing-along at last week's Mars School Board meeting.
Officials and students from each school in the district presented their experiences thus far with the Rachel's Challenge program, which was introduced in the district at the beginning of the year.
The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy. It works to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion.
Faculty and students, as well as members of the community, attended presentations on the program last month, and have been putting those lessons to work.
The experience of hearing the story of Rachel's Challenge was an emotional one not just for students, but for teachers as well. Bill Wesley, a science teacher at the high school, said the discussions he's had with students as a result of the program have been unlike anything he's experienced in his 30 years in education.
“It's the first time that I ever connected on that level,” he said. “Nobody wanted to talk at first, but then I shared a couple things, and a couple started sharing. It takes a little prodding ... but I learned a couple things and I know they learned a couple things about me.”
He felt inspired and wrote a song about the message of the program, and recruited fellow teachers Jennifer Kennedy, Emily Cunningham and Pete Black to sing and play it for students.
The song is titled “Chain Reaction,” named for the idea that one kind deed can lead to a series of others. The group made a recording and will fine-tune a version to be played at the school's new program.
Wesley said students have been very receptive to the song.
“The students really got into it, more than I thought they would,” he said. “I've heard them singing it down the hallways.”
Wesley played the song for those in attendance, and had them join in and sing the refrain. He received an ovation.
According to Elizabeth McMahon, district assistant superintendent, the programs at each school are different and suited for different age groups. At the Primary Center, where McMahon is serving as principal this year, students read a book called “Bucket Fillers,” which teaches students to be kind to their classmates. If students are caught being kind to someone, their name is written on a slip of paper to be added to a paper chain. McMahon said thus far, the chain has 830 total links, with hopes of filling the school's cafeteria by the end of the year.
At the elementary school, third-grade teacher Jessica Semler's classroom has 80 links in its chain, which she said has caused a “chain reaction.”“Children see one person doing something kind and that makes them want to do something kind in return,” she said.Students were also asked to write a paragraph in which they listed reasons to believe in themselves.At the Centennial School, Principal Adam Kostewicz said 36 of his students have joined the Friends Of Rachel Club, with students coming up with ideas to spread acts of kindness. Students from the school passed out cards asking those in attendance to smile, and to go out of their way to make someone smile.McMahon said students at the school also had an idea to create welcome bags for new students in the district. She said the Parent Teacher Organization has been supportive of funding the idea, with a similar idea being planned at the high school.The board voted last week to give $1,000 to each of the district's FOR Clubs to be used in programming and in support of acts of kindness.Board President Dayle Ferguson said the board was pleased to be able to support the initiative.
