GREENFIELD — A chain reaction of kindness is coming to Greenfield-Central schools, after hundreds of local children are signing banners accepting Rachel’s Challenge.
Local educators are hoping to address the trend of negative social media by helping children feel connected, safe and supported through student-led initiatives, according to a press release from the school corporation.
Rachel’s Challenge is a national suicide, bullying and school violence prevention program. G-C schools have been hosting convocations at each building, inspiring students to look for the best in others.
The program is designed to break down the walls that lead to harassment and isolation. It’s meant to bring hope and ignite change through forming student groups that will lead their peers with acts of kindness, small and large.
Parents and guardians are invited to hear the message too, at an event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20 at the Education Service Center, 700 N. Broadway St., Greenfield.
The program is inspired by Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy.
“I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same,” Scott wrote in an essay just weeks before her death.
Last week, a gymnasium of roughly 700 students at Greenfield Central Junior High School sat completely silent, listening to Rachel’s story. An inspirational speaker encouraged them to dream big, choose positive influences, speak with kindness, and start their own chain reaction.
“Our words have power, and they have the power to heal,” JB Braden told the crowd.
It’s a message that’s needed across all age levels, G-C administrators say.
At the junior high, Assistant Principal Jeff Cleveland said seventh and eighth graders are trying to figure out who they are. Sometimes, even the nicest kid can make a mistake and do something mean. Still, Cleveland said students are eager for a change
“There’s been a lot more kids saying, ‘Hey, this isn’t right, we need to be better to each other,’” Cleveland said.
Seventh grader Kailyn Harris said afterward that everyone was really focused on the event, something she hopes will cause change. Even while walking into the assembly, she said she saw students making fun of someone as they sat down.
Eighth graders Ali Munden and McKenzie Hawks said bullying often starts on the phone, through social media. It carries over into school the next day as people talk about what they saw online. The students are joining the Friends of Rachel group to be ambassadors of kindness and come up with ways to spread the message in their school.
“There are people that are there for you, that care,” Ali said.
The silent crowds soaking in words of hope and change have been seen throughout all of the G-C school convocations, said Robin LeClaire, director of student services. The presentation is age-appropriate, as younger children are not learning about the Columbine tragedy. Still, the message is the same.
“The only person that you can control is yourself,” LeClaire said. “We can’t control what kids do and what kids say, so we have to engage kids to want to be in control of themselves and show that kindness and seeing how being kind to others brings more of a reward internally and brings a better reward from being unkind to others.”
The message is heard from adults all the time, LeClaire said, but she hopes that follow-through from student leaders will make a big difference.
“Friends of Rachel will be leaders and ambassadors of kindness in their buildings,” LeClaire said. “The staff in the buildings that are working with those groups will help them decide on things that will be a chain reaction of kindness. In January, the Rachel’s Challenge people come back out and do a full-day training with those kids, and even after that they want them to be even more out there and leading initiatives.”
Friends of Rachel groups are for students in grades fifth grade and higher. Still, younger children are benefiting from the convocations. Meg Welch, principal of Weston Elementary School, said Rachel’s Challenge enhances existing kindness lessons such as Second Steps and Trust Based Relational Intervention training.
“Kindness lessons at the elementary level are important for fostering empathy, respect and positive relationships,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin invites any parent or community member to learn more about Rachel’s Challenge and its inspirational message.
Due to the sensitive nature of the story, children under sixth grade may not be an appropriate audience for the event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The community is encouraged to make a reservation in ParentSquare or learn more at rachelschallenge.org.
“Rachel Scott’s commitment to showing kindness and compassion made a positive difference in the lives of many in her community,” Olin said. “Her story reminds us of the impact that even small acts of kindness can have on a community. Her story has been told to millions of people over the last 25 years, and the positive ripples have been felt in many places around the world. The community event is an event that all parents should consider attending. Rachel’s story is truly inspirational.”
