It’s deemed ‘The Story.?
Rachel Joy Scott, 17, was the first of 12 students and one teacher killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. on April 20, 1999, the result of a shooting rampage. Just weeks before her death Rachel wrote, ‘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. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.?
Rachel’s thoughts, nearly 16 years after the tragedy of Columbine gripped the nation changing school life for students, teachers and parents, continue to impact students who were different, who were picked on by others, or who are new at her school.
From 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 27, Goodrich High School, 8029 S. Gale Road, will host Rachel’s Challenge.
The elements of the school challenge are aimed at creating a culture of kindness and compassion in addition to equipping students and adults with resources to insure schools are safe, caring and supportive learning environments key for academic achievement.
‘Goodrich students will learn that Rachel Scott had a simple theory that one act of kindness could change the world,? said Steve Vowles, Goodrich Middle School principal. ‘That although students are bombarded daily with bullying and negativity, we can overcome this with kindness. Two weeks before she was murdered, Rachel Scott wrote a Code of Ethics for her English class. In this paper she challenged the reader to ‘test them for yourself? because, who knows, by doing these ‘you might just start a positive chain reaction.??
As a result Goodrich Middle School is forming ‘FOR?’Friends of Rachel, club.
The goal of this club is to recognize that our focus on anti-bullying efforts doesn’t end with Rachel’s Challenge or other assemblies, added Vowles.
The FOR Club is spearheaded by GHS junior Kyle Gavulic, a Goodrich High School junior and a member of the high school student advisory council.
‘Bullying exists everywhere’even here in Goodrich,? said Gavulic, 16. ‘As a result we want to change that and make the character of Goodrich Schools as one where anyone would love to attend with no fears. I was only 1-year-old when Columbine happened, but I’ve always been aware of the shootings at that high school. We’ve studied the events and the impact my sophomore year with the book ‘Columbine,? by David Cullen.?
The FOR Club will begin with three groups of 20 GMS students from sixth, seventh and eighth. Each group will work to sustain the environment of change from Rachel’s Challenge.
‘We will keep the momentum going long after we leave Goodrich High School,? he said.