Webb School: Slain Columbine teen’s message of caring continues

The Town of Webb School hosted “Rachel’s Challenge,” an enlightenment program resulting from the Columbine High School shooting tragedy of 1999, on Wednesday, September 26, in the school gymnasium.

The program was inspired by the writings and untimely death of Rachel Scott, the first victim shot in the Columbine High School shooting.

Rachel’s father, Darrell Scott, founded “Rachel’s Challenge” after discovering the young student’s diaries.

Six volumes worth, they contained essays and entries that challenge students to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with kindness.

It asks students to look for the best in others.

This can start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion in fellow students, according to Scott.

The program, designed for students in grades six through twelve, has been presented in 12 school districts this fall, which are served by Herkimer County BOCES.

It is being sponsored locally by the Herkimer County Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.

Rachel’s Challenge has been presented throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.Peter DeAnello, offered Wednesday’s program to Town of Webb students.

DeAnello is a former film maker and talent agent. He was in his office in Littleton, Colorado, two miles from the Columbine School, when the tragic shooting took place on April 20, 1999.

DeAnello, who has been a presenter of Rachel’s Challenge in schools since 2008, said the tragedy impacted his life immeasurably.

The presentations of Rachel’s Challenge have made a difference, he said.

“If you look at the statistics, the confrontations are stopping and it has raised the culture of kindness and compassion in schools. It’s a wonderful deterrent to negativity,” he said.

DeAnello told Webb students that Rachel was influenced by the letters of Anne Frank, the young Jewish teenager, who died during Hitler’s World War II assault on European Jews.

In Rachel’s writings she challenges everyone to treat others the way you want to be treated, to choose positive influences in your life, speak words of kindness not cruelty, and to forgive yourself for hurting others, and to let go.

DeAnello said that the six diaries Rachel left to her family, and the writings in them, have been led to a chain reaction of kindness and compassion to millions around the world.

DeAnello gave two presentations in the Webb school gymnasium.

An “impact” presentation was tailored to grades six through eight. A “legacy” presentation was themed for students in grades nine through 12.

Following the presentations, Webb students were given the opportunity to sign their name to a banner, to acknowledge an embracement of Rachel’s message.

The banner will be hung in the school.

A student leadership session was held later in the day to inspire and direct students in building a Friends Of Rachel (FOR) Club.

This is the community challenge that Rachel Scott’s family hopes will be embraced and carried forward by students in community’s across the country and beyond.

Additionally, a Parent/ Community meeting was scheduled for adults later in the evening Wednesday.

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