Columbine anti-bullying message comes to Milton on Oct. 5

By Michele Morgan Bolton, Town Correspondent

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the Milton Public Schools will host Rachel’s Challenge, a powerful anti-bullying program named for the first victim of the Columbine High School shootings.

The 7 p.m. program in the Charles C. Winchester Auditorium at Milton High School is open to members of the community and children in grade 6 and higher. Aimed at replacing bullying and violent behavior with kindness and compassion, it follows the lead of 17-year-old Rachel Scott, whose writings and diary entries have become the basis for the national movement.

Scott was the first person killed 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 the life-changing school program started by her father, Darrell Scott.

Among the most recognizable of her thoughts is this: “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.”

Today, Darrell Scott and 30 other speakers honor Rachel's life by reaching the nation with her simple but profound message. The presentation includes video/audio footage of Rachel's life and the Columbine tragedy, meant to motivate students and others to effect positive change in the way they treat others.

For more information on the event, contact Lisa Veldran at lveldran@miltonps.org or visit hrrp://www.rachelschallenge.org.

Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at michelebolton@live.com.