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October 15, 2007 — Cook Middle School will host “Rachel’s Challenge,” a nationally recognized non-violence program, on Oct. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the school, located at 9111 Wheatland Ave. in Houston.

The program is based on the life and diaries of Rachel Scott, the first person killed during the attacks at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Rachel was an ordinary high school student who tried to live her life by looking for the best in others. The goal of the program is to motivate students to positively change the way they treat others by challenging them to promote kindness, acceptance and respect. This inspiring assembly has the potential to bring positive change to students’ lives and can affect the culture and climate of the school community as it challenges students and adults to “…start a chain reaction.”

Rachel used that phrase in an essay she wrote shortly before her death that pertained to compassion, trust and beauty making the world a better place to live.

Community members are invited to participate in the Rachel’s Challenge evening assembly. This session will be similar to the presentation that students will hear at one of the three assemblies held during the school day, but will end with a specific challenge to parents and community leaders, demonstrating how adults can reinforce the decisions that their youth are making. This program has been presented to more than 5 million students and adults worldwide.

“Rachel’s Challenge is a community component where we ask parents to come back and hear what their kids heard during the day,” said Joyce Bontke, Cook MS counselor. “Then they can bring it back to the family table and talk about it.

“It has potential to change the climate and culture of our middle school, and hopefully potentially have a life-changing affect on the culture of our whole district.”

To learn more about this program, log on to www.rachelschallenge.com.

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