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DRMS Students Take "Rachel's Challenge"

DRMS students are learning about service and hope from a victim of the Columbine tragedy.

Once again our nation is facing a national tragedy with the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the senseless killing of six innocent bystanders.  It is hard for students to understand such violent acts and even harder to try to make something good come out of a situation such as this.  Cherokee County middle schoolers have a better insight than many students, as they have already learned hope from the Columbine Tragedy.

students and teachers have accepted Rachel’s Challenge.  Rachel Scott was the first person killed during the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America. Her challenge to others was to start a “chain reaction” by practicing small acts of kindness toward others.

“We have just started our “Friends of Rachel Club” this year,” said Ann Garvin, DRMS’s eighth grade counselor.

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Each of the teaching teams at the school have their own independent “Chain Link Clubs” which are doing on-team projects.   Although still in the initial stage of development, the students have started the “Chains of Kindness” where each link has written on it an act of kindness they have witnessed. 

The Chain of Kindness was started immediately after our Rachel’s Challenge initial meeting by eighth graders Kate Mann and Ashlyn Brandon.  These two girls periodically maintain the chain and string links across the media center. 

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“When they arrived to request that they be allowed to start the chain, Kate and Ashlyn requested materials to create the chain and a location for the chain, including markers, construction paper, a stapler, and a storage area for the chain links.  They borrowed a paper cutter to cut a supply of chain links to keep students supplied,” said Garvin. 

The chain has not been officially announced, but has spread by word of mouth throughout the school.  The chain is currently approximately 130 feet long and growing every day. 

The middle schoolers are forming in- team “welcoming committees” to reach out to new students.

“Students will sit with new students at lunch, talk to them between classes, go out of their way to include them in activities during the day, assist them with lockers, finding their way to their classes and answering any questions they may have about assignments, school rules, etc.,” said Garvin.

The team Chain Link Clubs will be meeting weekly and the FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club, which will bring all the team clubs together, will meet quarterly to discuss and plan joint events and projects that will involve everyone.  We will be having a year-end rally to highlight the club’s impact.

“We are very excited about the opportunities these clubs will offer our students to provide positive leadership in their daily interactions with their peers,” said Garvin.

 These programs are but one step toward reaching “Rachel’s Challenge,” and in the words of Rachel Joy Scott, “How many of us have enough trust, strength, and faith to believe that we could do the impossible?”  

Dean Rusk Middle School administrators are proud of the students, teachers and staff for accepting this challenge.  They offer the same challenge to those within the community and encourage all citizens of Hickory Flat and Holly Springs to start their own “Chain Reaction.”

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