September 5, 2008

 News Release

Tyler ISD Hosts Acclaimed Program for Students

Students in Tyler ISD will experience a nationally renowned program called Rachel’s Challenge.  The program inspires, instructs and enables students to bring positive change to their school’s atmosphere.  The program was created by the father of a student that was tragically killed at Columbine High School.  Tyler ISD middle and high school students will attend this stimulating assembly beginning Monday, September 8, through Thursday, September 11, 2008 (see schedule below). 

The public is invited to attend a community assembly on Thursday, September 11, 2008, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Caldwell Auditorium located at 300 South College Street, in Tyler.

“Tyler ISD would like to say a special ‘Thank You’ to the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum for being a catalyst and support for this event,” said Marie Nelson, Tyler ISD Facilitator of Emergency Management. 

The goal of Rachel's Challenge is to motivate and equip students to embrace values of kindness and compassion in order to bring positive change to themselves, their schools, and their communities.

According to Rachel’s Challenge organizers, when students see the painful scars that their brutal words can leave, then bullying, name-calling, and gossiping will stop.  Organizers say students will have a new motivation to see everyone as valuable and worthy of dignity and respect.

“We are excited about the Rachel’s Challenge program being presented to all of our secondary schools,” said Nelson.  “In communities across the nation, the results from this assembly, and the student training that follows, have not only changed for the better the climates of the schools but also those of the communities as well.” 

            Rachel's Challenge is one of the most sought-after school training programs in the United States. It is based on an essay titled, "My Ethics, My Codes of Life," written by Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. In the essay, she issued a challenge to her generation. She was known at school for being a friend to students who were not popular or who had difficulties in school. Her acts of kindness and compassion, combined with entries found in the six diaries she maintained before her death, are the inspiration behind Rachel's Challenge.

Schedule of Assemblies:

Monday, September 8

Location: Caldwell Auditorium

Schools in attendance: Boulter and Moore

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Schools in attendance:  Hubbard/T.K. Gorman/ East TX Christian

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 9

Location: Robert E. Lee High School – Varsity Gym
School in attendance: Robert E. Lee High School
9:20 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 10

Location: John Tyler High School – Varsity Gym

School in attendance: John Tyler High School
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 11

Location: Caldwell Auditorium

Schools in attendance:  Dogan, Hogg, Stewart

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Community Assembly:  7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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