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Rachel's Challenge expanding to reach more kids

Posted at 7:11 AM, Sep 16, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-16 09:11:11-04

The children attending Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch, weren’t born the day gun shots rang out in Columbine High School. But Wednesday, they’ll learn about the life and messages of civility that come from the shootings first victim, Rachel Scott.

Rachel’s Challenge is a world-wide program that faces bullying head on. It’s aimed to create a friendlier environment for students to learn in.

Rachel’s Father, Darrell Scott never imagined that Rachel’s Challenge could reach over 2 million students around the world annually, but says letters written to the organization prove it is working.

"We see about 150 suicides every year prevented, those are the ones we know of, because they're from unsolicited emails, phone calls, letters, Facebook entries from student and we also have seen seven school shootings prevented," said Scott.

Administrators across Douglas County Schools and within Cresthill Middle School say they’re constantly trying to reinforce kindness among students. They’re excited to welcome Rachel’s Challenge to the school.

"We are becoming more and more intentional and focused on how can we continually work at civility, how can we treat each other kinder," said Sid Rundle, Principal of Cresthill Middle School.

Students will see the program and accept the challenge Wednesday morning and work with program experts throughout the day. The school's parents and students are both invited to attend Wednesday evening at Cresthill Middle School Wednesday evening beginning at 6:30pm.