WESTFIELD – Westfield High School and Westfield Vocational Technical High School, in partnership with the Westfield Police Department, will be implementing a new bullying and violence abatement program this month called Rachel’s Challenge.
Founded in 1999, the initiative is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in Columbine, Colorado.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, presenters from the Rachel’s Challenge organization will visit Westfield High School and Westfield Vocational Technical High School to present Rachel’s Story.
At the conclusion of these presentations 100 students from each school will receive “Friends of Rachel” training to better enable them to meet Rachel’s five challenges throughout the school year.
“Although our high schools have not experienced the same hardships that others have, we believe it would be beneficial for our students to receive this training to address small problems before they have the chance to escalate into larger ones,” said Sgt. Eric Hall of the Westfield Police Department.
Focusing on equipping and inspiring individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion, donations from the Jose Torres Foundation and United Bank were instrumental in bringing the project to Westfield.
Superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, and students have brought Rachel’s Challenge into their schools because of a desire to reduce problems such as bullying, student isolation, teen suicide, discrimination, school violence, and increased disciplinary actions through presentations, trainings, community events, and professional development.
Last year, Sgt. Hall met with Westfield Vocational-Technical High School Principal Stefan Czaporowski and Westfield High School Principal Jonathan Carter to present the idea of Rachel’s Challenge.
Carter said that he attended a Rachel’s Challenge event at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Connecticut, which sealed the deal for him wanting to see the program on Montgomery Road.
“We want to improve the climate and culture of our schools and to educate kids on the perils of violence, negativity and bullying,” said Carter. “We want to teach respect, kindness and compassion. They’re really important tenants by which to prepare our kids for the future.”
Carter added that the school is implementing a Westfield Student Council Students of the Week and Faculty/Staff Member of the Month awards to coincide with Rachel’s Challenge.
“This was an idea that I had to acknowledge the kids who are doing what we want them to do from a character development standpoint,” he said, adding that students can be nominated if they demonstrate courage, positive attitude, respect, caring, leadership, integrity, effort, kindness, honesty, teamwork and/or compassion.
“We spend so much time in schools traditionally calling out students who don’t do the right thing. This effort is to promote the majority of students doing the right thing every day,” Carter added.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., parents, business leaders, elected officials, and the community members are invited to the Westfield Vocational Technical High School auditorium at the school’s upper campus to learn more about the program and the steps that have undertaken this year to bring Rachel’s Challenge to Westfield.
Those seeking further information are asked to contact Sgt. Eric Hall at 413-234-0601, or visit the Rachel’s Challenge web site at www.rachelschallenge.org
