On Tuesday of this week, our middle school students attended a presentation on Rachel's Challenge. https://rachelschallenge.org/ That evening, we held a community event similar to the one that our middle school students attended.

I'd like to take a moment to highlight five crucial aspects of Rachel's Challenge in honor of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy. Her legacy inspires compassion and generosity in our communities and schools. The following are the five critical components of Rachel's Challenge:

Acts of Kindness: The program advocates for small acts of kindness as a potent means of changing the world. It inspires everyone to show empathy and respect to others.

Establishing a Secure Environment: Rachel's Challenge aims to create a secure, welcoming school where each student feels appreciated and included.

Awareness and Prevention: The program helps spread knowledge about the effects of violence and bullying by discussing them and offering resources to prevent these problems in our schools.

Empowerment: The program encourages kids to take initiative and set a positive example, which in turn encourages their friends to join in the act of kindness.

Legacy of Love: The fundamental goal of Rachel's Challenge is to preserve Rachel's memory by fostering an accepting, loving, and compassionate society.

Let's adopt these values together and have a constructive influence.

Thank you,

Dr. Toth

Studies show the rise of the use of cell phones contributes to several related harms in the daily lives of smartphone users, including social deprivation, sleep deprivation, and attention fragmentation. For students, these harms may contribute to an increase in youth mental health concerns and have negative impacts on academic performance. Youth mental health symptoms and disorders continue to rise at concerning levels in the United States, with at least 1 in 5 children reporting mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders.

During the school day, families may desire a direct line of communication with their children by cell phone. Policies about cell phones in schools may raise queries and worries regarding student safety.

Cell phones used by students frequently reduce the physical and emotional safety of the learning environment. Because student phone use is associated with distraction, bullying, physical aggression, and bogus security threats, many schools and districts face unsafe and disruptive learning environments.

It makes sense for families to want to contact their students quickly or for their students to be able to call for assistance or contact family members in case of an emergency. However, it is probably less secure when family members and students attempt to text and call during an emergency.

Students' cell phone use could make schools less safe throughout the school day and in an emergency, not more.

Social media and cell phones can be used to plan violent crimes and disseminate threats.

Students' use of cell phones might hasten the spread of rumors, panic, and false information.

During times when students must remain silent for their safety, cell phones may vibrate or ring.

Cell phone users are probably less attentive to adults' instructions on how to react and stay safe.

In addition to making it more difficult for first responders to provide a safe evacuation and tactical and emergency response, cell phones may cause relatives to arrive at the school.

Cell phones can endanger families and postpone or obstruct prompt and effective family-student reunification.