Rachel’s Challenge is an organization that exists to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. This organization was created in the memory of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School attack. Rachel 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.”

In October of 2010, Mission Basilica School participated in the Rachel’s Challenge program by having the Year 1 presentations held in the gym for our students. The 7th and 8th graders also went through the Student Training program so that they could effectively create a change within our school.

In our efforts to keep Rachel’s Challenge alive at our school and reach out to our local community, MBS formed their own Chain Links Club, comprised of 7th and 8th grade students who are dedicated to make a difference and start chain reactions of their own. In the clubs first year, they, along with the help of the whole student body, accomplished the following:

1. Held a Halloween Candy Drive in which the candy was sent to military troops overseas
2. Served hot chocolate and caroled at Serra’s Pantry to spread the holiday spirit
3. Hand-made Christmas cards for CHOC hospital patients
4. Hand-made appreciation cards for local community members including firefighters, police officers, Camp Pendleton Marines, parish clergy, Mission Parish staff members, and more
5. Coordinated an all-school assembly in the spring in which we linked all of our school’s “chains”.

On October 19th, 2011, MBS hosted speaker Ali Nourbakhsh for our Rachel’s Legacy Year 2 Program.  The 5th-8th graders all attended an assembly and this was followed by an intensive and eye-opening student training session for the 7th and 8th graders.  By the end of the day, students had signed a banner that demonstrates their commitment to start their own legacy TODAY, just like Rachel Joy Scott did.  Pictures of this day’s events can be viewed below.

If you would like to learn more about Rachel’s Challenge, please visit their website:  www.rachelschallenge.org.  If you would like to learn more about the MBS Chain Links Club, then please contact Ms. Barnecut (Faculty).