Brownwood students Pre-K through 4th grade at East Elementary and Coggin Elementary were presented with a unique challenge on Wednesday, January 25th during a presentation held in Coggin Elementary’s auditorium. Rachel’s Challenge is a program inspired by the life of Rachel Scott, the first victim killed in the Columbine High School tragedy on April 20, 1999.
The presentation did not mention how Rachel died, but instead focused on a challenge derived from her simple but effective concept of compassion. Rachel left behind writings, poetry, artwork, and lives touched by her kindness, and though she lived to be only 17, her legacy has changed lives all over the world and motivated the widely embraced program known as Rachel’s Challenge.
“I’m here to bring to bring you the story of Rachel Scott,” announced Claudia Anderson, an Elementary Program Trainer for Rachel’s Challenge. “She believed if we could treat each other with kindness, that it would make a big difference in our schools and our community.”
Anderson went on to outline five specific challenges for the students. The challenges include: (1) choosing positive influences, (2) keeping a journal, (3) writing down goals, (4) being kind and, (5) accepting and including others.
The thirty minute presentation, facilitated by Anderson, included photos, videos, and even a rap song promoting the “chain reaction” of kindness Scott believed could change the world. “It’s a chain of good deeds, it’s a chain of respect,” exclaimed the song as students nodded their head to the beat. A popular activity promoted by the program is to have students write down their deeds of kindness on pieces of colored paper that are then used to create huge paper chains. The video that accompanied the song showed students carrying enormous chains that stretched out over a football field.
Laci Burns, PTO President at East Elementary, helped to bring Rachel’s Challenge to Brownwood after seeing news coverage about schools embracing the program. “WFAA in Dallas began a segment each week devoted to Rachel’s Challenge. I was so moved by what these schools were doing with the program and how their communities were embracing the program as well,” said Burns. “I wanted that for our community.”
Burns had hoped to bring Rachel’s Challenge to every school in the district but with budget cuts it couldn’t be realized at this time. “The PTO’s at East and Coggin voted to buy the program for our schools using money we earned from fundraising and we also received generous donations from The Taylor Clinic and The Harris Clinic,” Burns said. “We felt we could get something started with the kids at our schools and still hope to find the money to bring this program to the other elementary campuses and definitely the older kids in BISD.”
Rachel’s Challenge involves more than just a simple presentation. It also required planning and preparation as well as training. “The Rachel’s Challenge organization was very good about keeping in contact with us throughout the planning process. They sent our schools a prep kit with information to share with students and teachers to prepare for the assembly,” said Burns, adding that some staff and parents stayed for a three hour training session after the assembly that included ideas on how to incorporate and utilize the program. “I think we’ll see many Rachel’s Challenge activities in our schools and in the community over the years. The wonderful and creative counselors at East and Coggin will include Rachel’s Challenge activities in the curriculum they have already been teaching. That’s what is so great about this program. It’s easy to incorporate into the curriculum already in use at our schools.”
The program continues to grow, and it has an undeniably positive effect on those who choose to accept the challenge. “I think the students are more aware of their actions and words. One small act, bad or good, can make a big impact on the person receiving it,” stated Burns. “This program brings attention to the positive things they do each day.”
