Rachel's Challenge headed to Webutuck

WEBUTUCK — Rachel’s Challenge, an organization campaigning against violence and bullying in schools, is heading to the Webutuck Central School District for a series of presentations to both students and residents on March 18.

Rachel’s Challenge was established by Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Excerpts from her diary, discovered after her death, form the basis of a program that looks to motivate students into making positive changes in the way they treat others.

Funding to bring the program to Webutuck was made possible through private donations, and had only been covered in full at the beginning of this month, Superintendent Lee Bordick confirmed. Webutuck follows in the footsteps of the Pine Plains Central School District, which hosted Rachel’s Challenge last year.

Three assemblies will be held on March 18 in the high school gym. The first two are for Webutuck High School and Eugene Brooks Intermediate School and will be adjusted to meet the appropriate content levels for the age groups involved. The high school program goes into greater detail about some of the more violent aspects of the Columbine massacre. The final assembly, held at 7:30 p.m. on March 18, will mirror the high school presentation.

After the presentation is over, the Webutuck district will work to sustain the momentum of Rachel’s Challenge in the weeks, months and even years to follow, a process which often involves school activities and community programs.

Webutuck High School’s journalism class, taught by Henry Pollinger, will be working in conjunction with The Millerton News to cover the event. One student reporter-in-training will even have his or her piece chosen for publication in The Millerton News in the near future.

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