Glen Crest meets Rachel's Challenge

Glen Crest Middle School, 725 Sheehan Avenue in Glen Ellyn, has been part of the Rachel's Challenge FOR CLUB program for one year. Monday, Aug. 26, the first day of school, the student body participated in two assemblies. The entire sixth grade learned the story behind Rachel's Challenge. Rachel Scott's uncle, Larry Scott from Littleton, Colorado, spent an hour with the students sharing her story. She was the first student killed in Columbine High School in April of 1999. After her death, her family found an essay, journals, and writings in her bedroom that explained her outlook on life. From that discovery

Rachel's Challenge was organized and went national.

Glen Crest's Assistant Principal, John Batiste, introduced the speaker and also gave the students a Glen Crest challenge to create a positive school climate where we all feel happy and safe.

Scott urged the students to develop a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. He explained, “People never know how far a little kindness will go. Look for the best in your principal, teachers and classmates. It will make you a better person. Dare to dream, write down your goals.” He asked them to keep a journal for a short time.

The five points of Rachel's Challenge are: look for the best in people, dare to dream, be kind and choose positive influences, keep a journal, speak with kindness, and start your own kindness chain reaction. Tuesday, August 27, the entire student body of the middle school signed the Rachel's Challenge banner that was hung in the entrance hall of the school. FOR CLUB (Friends of Rachel scheduled meetings are available in the Glen Crest Main office.