1. At Ashton Ranch Elementary: By
Amanda Hill

2. Rachel's Challenge includes a series of student empowering,
educator motivating programs and strategies called the Awaken the
Learner Five-step School Improvement Process that equips students
and adults to create and sustain safe, caring and supportive
learning environments essential for academic achievement. The
programs are based on the writings and life of 17 year-old Rachel
Scott who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in
1999. Rachel left a legacy of reaching out to those who were
different, who were picked on by others, or who were new at her
school. Shortly before her death she wrote, "I have this theory that
if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it
will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how
far a little kindness can go."

3. The elements of the school improvement process are designed to create a
culture of kindness and compassion and to equip students and adults with
resources to insure that their schools are safe, caring and supportive
learning environments essential for academic achievement.
Rachel's Challenge was started by Rachel's dad and stepmom, Darrell and
Sandy Scott when they realized that the writings and drawings Rachel left
not only had an impact on her friends and classmates, but also resonated
with students around the world. Although Rachel was a typical teenager
who even wrote about her "ups and downs," she had a passion and
conviction that she would someday change the world. The Scott family
knew her story and passion had to be told to inspire others to make their
world a better place.
More than 21 million people have been touched by Rachel's message, and
they continue the legacy of making a difference in their communities. Each
year at least 2 million more people are added to that number. These are just
a couple of the results of Rachel's Challenge. In one survey, 78% of
students indicated they would definitely intervene in a bullying incident in
their school after seeing Rachel's Challenge. In the last 3 years, Rachel’s
Challenge has received nearly 500 unsolicited emails from students stating
that after hearing Rachel’s story they reached out for help as they were
contemplating suicide. Some even state that “Rachel saved their life.”
Rachel's Challenge is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious
organization based in Littleton, Colorado.

4.  Every 2nd Saturday of the month we have the
opportunity to volunteer. There are many
organizations all under one roof, and each
offers a different experience to help others.

6. Putting together
relief buckets for
Red Cross.

9. Making bookmarks for
children with cancer.

10. Card making for
Phoenix
Children’s
Hospital

11. http://www.azfamily.com/home/Kids-honored-for-
raising-money-for-boy-in-hospital-246915671.html
Our Rachel’s Challenge group was highlighted in the
news for the caring and compassion that students
showed for a community member in need.

13. Counting the money in Ms.
Hill’s classroom raised for our
fellow student at Phoenix
Children’s Hospital.
Rachel’s Challenge inspired our
school to raise almost $4,000 for
this family. We saw many
random acts of kindness
starting to happen.

14. Our students had the wonderful idea to make a card… from the entire school for this
family!

15. Phoenix Fire Department heard of our story, and decided to honor some of the kind acts
from our members and students.

16. Getting to meet Daniel and his family at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

18. Getting to make positive messages for our community video, morning
announcements, and assemblies.

19. Just some of our members of the Rachel’s Challenge Club