Stamford Students, Teachers to Push Kindness

STAMFORD, Conn. – Turn of River Middle School will ask students to help combat bullying this year as part of Rachel’s Challenge, a program named after one of the victims of the Columbine school shootings. The program encourages pupils to be kind to one another.  

“If I can help people, then they can help others,” seventh-grader Andy Putterman said during a preliminary meeting of 12 students with Sharon Wade, faculty advisor for the Challenge.

Rachel’s Challenge came to Turn of River last year after language arts teacher Dawn Greco contacted the organization about participating, Wade said. Last year, the group held activities such as appreciation days for bus drivers, teachers and cafeteria employees. It even helped send a student to Africa.

Students will reinforce the need for kindness through constant reminders and visual aids, eighth-grader Jasmine Williams said.

“They’re going to think about it, they’re going to change,” Jasmine said. In addition, the middle school students will try to link up with a Rachel’s Challenge group at Westhill High School.

Rachel’s Challenge was started by Darrell and Sandy Scott in memory of their daughter Rachel, the first person killed during the incident at Columbine High School in 1999. The Scott’s found writings by their daughter about her own acts of kindness, the Challenge’s website said. The challenge gives schools materials and “how to” guides to train students and staff in ways to effectively spread kindness throughout the school, the website said.  

“As a principal it’s a program you welcome into the school,” said Dr. Michael Fernandes of Turn of River.

The program will return to the middle school on Oct. 20 with training sessions for students during the day and for the community that night. There will also be a Rachel’s Challenge club at the school for the remainder of the school year.

 

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