"Rachel’s Challenge", a character development program based on the life and ethics of 17-year old Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, is coming to Sequoia Middle.  The nationally recognized outreach program, which has been featured on Oprah and CNN, stresses performing acts of kindness and compassion to others.  Sequoia will be hold two assemblies for students during the school day, as well as a special evening event open to the community on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

A few weeks following the tragedy, Darrell Scott, Rachel’s father, spoke to a Congressional House Judiciary Committee regarding issues of school violence.  Since that date, her family has organized "Rachel’s Challenge" using words from her letters and journal to inspire students to, among other things, treat each other better.   Powerful video/audio footage of Rachel's life and the Columbine tragedy holds students spell-bound during a one hour school presentation that motivates them to positive change in the way they treat others.  The presentation has five challenges for students: Treat others the way that you want to be treated; dream big and believe in yourself; appreciate everyone, mock no one; the power of positive gossip; and forgive and be forgiven.

Whether you are the parent of an Sequoia student, live in the neighborhood or even somewhere else in the city, you are invited to find out about "Rachel’s Challenge."  The community event will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Sequoia Middle School.  The presentation is about an hour long and is emotionally moving and, perhaps, will change the way you look at life and the people with whom you interact.

Due to the emotional subject matter, we request that you not bring students who are younger than middle school-age.  Thank you.

Click Here to jump over to the "Rachel's Challenge" website and find out more about it - there's even a video.