Healthy Tekoa Coalition to conduct Rachel’s Challenge

Tekoa High School and Tekoa Junior High School will hold “Rachel’s Challenge” Tuesday, Feb. 25.

With the goal to create and nurture a culture of kindness and caring, the program will run in two sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2:45 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Healthy Tekoa Coalition and five Tekoa school staff members will act as adult facilitators.

Rachel’s Challenge, which will come to Tekoa for the first time, is based on the life and writings of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999.

The morning session will include presentations and hands-on activities while the afternoon session will be a workshop where kids will create personal and school plans for the future that include acts of respect, kindness and compassion within the school and community. The event is part of HTC’s goal to help empower action, leadership, teamwork and health in Tekoa’s youth.

HTC Community Coordinator Diane Harp said that fostering a positive and proactive school environment could positively affect HTC’s prevention goal to decrease intentions to use drugs.

“Kids who feel accepted and part of a positive school environment use substances less,” said Harp.

Through presentations, training, community events and professional development, Rachel’s Challenge aims to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion.

More than 2.5 million students annually experience Rachel’s Challenge.

Healthy Tekoa Coaltion was created in 2012 by community members with funding from the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. The group developed four main prevention goals for youth including delay of age for initial drug use, decrease perceived availability of drugs, decrease intentions to use and increase pro-family social opportunities.