The North Colonie community will be asked to meet Rachel's Challenge starting on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.

September 20, 2010 - Shaker High School students, faculty and staff will soon be challenged to live up to the optimistic principles of the first person killed during the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy.

Rachel Joy Scott believed that if she were honest, compassionate and looked for the best and beautiful in everyone, she could start a chain reaction that would make the world a better place. Rachel's parents were determined not to allow their daughter's tragic death to silence her optimism, so they created Rachel's Challenge, a program that inspires students and others to implement positive changes at school and in the community. The program is based upon Rachel's acts of kindness and compassion and her strong principles, which she outlined in her six diaries.

Rachel's Challenge is being brought to Shaker High School as part of the school's Character Education program. The goal is to promote a culture of respect, kindness and compassion that will influence the school community on a daily basis.

Students, faculty and staff will attend one of three school-wide presentations on October 6 (7:49, 9:14 and 10:45 a.m.). During the one hour multi-media presentation, a facilitator will guide the session with powerful video/audio footage and firsthand accounts of Rachel's life. The audience will be introduced to Rachel’s five challenges which address positive words, attitudes and actions.

The Shaker High School community will be asked to develop ways to meet Rachel's five challenges:

• Look for the Best in Others - Eliminate Prejudice

• Dare to Dream – Set Goals

• Choose Positive Influences - Input Determines Output

• Kind Words and Actions = Huge Results

• Start a Chain Reaction with Family and Friends

Select students will then participate in a Friends of Rachel training session later in the day to develop activities for each of Rachel’s five challenges. These student-directed activities will be implemented throughout the Shaker High School community.

That evening at 7:00 p.m., the Rachel’s Challenge speaker will provide a similar presentation to parents and members of the North Colonie community, and will show them how to reinforce the positive decisions and actions their children are making.