home

=Welcome to the William Byrd Rachel's Challenge Wiki.=

Getting Started

 * Click on the "Edit" button above to put your own content on this page. You will see an "Editor" bar at the top of the page. Choose "Save" when you are done to save your changes.
 * [|Rachel's Challenge] - link to site for info, video choice etc..
 * To invite new members, give me an email and I can add more people - hbalsley@rcs.k12.va.us Any questions - give me an email also
 * Stay on this page to make changes - My suggestion is to NOT cross out anyone else's words but to add suggestions/changes in a different color
 * Stay on this page to make changes - My suggestion is to NOT cross out anyone else's words but to add suggestions/changes in a different color

Need Help?

 * Click on the help link above to learn more about how to use your wiki.

__ROUGH DRAFT__
Members of the council, (Charisse) (Slide 2) We are addressing you today on behalf of William Byrd Middle School students and faculity. We need funds to get the program Rachel's Challenge at our school. These funds are necessary for the enrichment of William Byrd Middle School's students' lives so that they may be taught the fundamentals of choosing against risky behaviors. (Slide 3) Rachel's Challenge was founded as a memorial to a girl named Rachel Joy Scott who was the first person shot in the Columbine shootings in 1999. She knew that she was going to die young, but didnt know how. The last picture that she drew was a pair of eyes that were crying thirteen tears, the same number of people shot in the Columbine shootings. When the tears hit the ground, a rose sprouted. The picture symbolizes that even in times of sorrow, something beautiful can be made. This is one of the main focuses of the program. (Slide 4) The program has five challenges that are left with the students to take throughout the year and throughout the rest of their lives. The challenges are: look for the best in others- eliminate prejudice, dare to dream-set goals- keep a journal, choose positive influences, kind words and kind actions equal huge results, and start a chain reaction. These goals leave the audience thinking about their life and the effect that it has on others around them. (Show video on slide 5.)

The shooters were both students at Columbine High Shcool. The boys were bullied through out childhood and adolescence. Bullying is a common problem, but a very serious problem. When a person is bullied, he or she usually tends to bottle up the hurt and then sometimes decides to take out the rage and anger on others or themselves. This can have other harmful effects, even deadly ones. This is a serius problem in many schools but all starts with one school being helped at a time; after all, Rome wasn't built in a day. Sometimes, the bully does not know the effect that his or her words and actions have on others; sometimes, however, they do. It is a proven fact that sixty percent of former bullies have at least one criminal conviction by the age of twenty-four. In a 2009 survey of sixth grade students at William Byrd 54% have been bullied. (Justin) (Slide 6) One high school bully had this to say about the effects Rachel's Challenge had one him. "I am a 13 year old boy at South Jeff. Before our assembly I was one who would pick on others. After[ hearing the program,] I had a new perspective on treating others. I now see the mental and physical damage name calling causes on others. I regret all the years I did such a bitter thing. I now treat others with much respect and stick up or comfort those who need it. Thank you for coming to my school. Rachel lives on in all of us." – J.B., Student, South Jefferson Junior High (Sarah) (Slide 7) In order for students, adolescents particularly, to cope with the pressures and struggles of teenage years, they have resorted to cutting and harming themselves. The Prevention Club is working to provide outlets and inspirational messages against risky behaviors. In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted at Willam Byrd Middle School in 2008, 64.6% of the student population are familiar with one or more people who intentionallty inflict pain on themselves by cutting, pinching, burning, or brusing themselves. This startling number is shocking and imediate action is required. Rachel's Challenege will address this issue and many of the other issues at William Byrd. Rachel's Challenge is a good way for our messages to be conveyed. Everyone who hears the Rachel's Challenge message is affected in some way or another.

"Rachel's Challenge has helped me so much since you came to Waterford Kettering [school]... I thought that my life was going downhill, I thought nothing was going right. I have been picked on because I'm not one of the skinniest girls in my school. I felt like no one cared about me, I felt like I [was] someone that can't get friends who see me for me. I feel like this has helped me so much; now dont have to think about how am I going to kill myself, I think about all the positive [things] and know that I'm doing good in school and that I have been helping people out. I'm glad you [Rachel's Challenge] came to our school and talked to us about those challenges. Without you I wouldnt be here!" – J.T., Student, Waterford Kettering

When one person is bullied, it starts a domio effect throughout the community. Rachel's Challenge will not only help with the issue of bullying at school, but also at home. When students are bullied at school, they bring the hurt and anger home, and sometimes take it out on family members. In turn, when students are bullied at home, they bring the anger to school and release it on other students, even friends. Rachel Joy Scott's famous quote is "You just might start a chain reaction."

Suicide is a very real situation. Statistics mean very little in the minds of our youth. When testimonials are told, the pain described by the effected, the testimonials have more of an impact. See for yourself the impact that this testimonial of a teacher and his family has on you. Mr. Bedwell is a teacher here at William Byrd Middle School; his daughter committed suicide because she was going through a difficult time in her life.

(Tammie) We want to thank you for donating your time. We appreciate it very much. We hope this program seems as touching to you as it does to us. Please consider our message and help our community start a chain reaction.