FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2014
Contact: Madeline Bergman, 215-853-1032
Communication & Development Specialist
PHOTO/MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
PENNDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN
ABOUT EMPATHY AND SCHOOL SAFETY IN
“RACHEL’S CHALLENGE”
WHO? Students and staff at Penndale Middle School
WHAT? Students will be participating in an assembly program titled, “Rachel’s Challenge.”
The 60-minute program is designed to address student empathy and school safety.
“Rachel’s Challenge” concentrates on Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first student to be
killed during the Columbine High School tragedy.
The program begins as students are briefly brought back to the events at Columbine High
School on April 20, 1999. While the tragedy adds context to the story, the presentation
focuses on Rachel. We focus on how Rachel lived her life, the legacy that she left in her
diaries and an incredibly profound essay entitled “My Ethics, My Codes of Life.” In this
essay, she talks about making a difference in the lives of others by doing the “little things”
and she believed that in doing so she could start a chain reaction of kindness and
compassion.
True stories are shared about people whom Rachel had impacted deeply just by doing the
little things. Students are challenged on a variety of areas from eliminating prejudice,
guarding their influences and setting big goals for their life. Most of these things come as
nothing new to the students, however in the context of Rachel’s story they take on a much
deeper meaning.
The assembly closes with a very personal challenge for everyone in the audience and it is
not un-common to see some of the “toughest” of the tough guys moved to tears by the end
of presentation. When students look around and see their peers emotionally impacted so
deeply it creates an environment of compassion and support; they don’t feel alone anymore.
Reaching the hearts of the students is essential; many are inspired, moved and motivated to
do more.
WHEN/WHERE? There will be two presentations of “Rachel’s Challenge” on Friday,
January 10. The seventh grade students will attend a presentation from 9:20 a.m. to 10:20
a.m. and then the eighth and ninth grade students will attend from 10:40 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Both presentations will be in the Penndale Middle School auditorium, located at 400 Penn
Street in Lansdale.
DETAILS? For additional information on the presentation, please contact Mr. Christopher
Joy at 215-368-2700.
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