To commence a very successful run of CHALLENGE Day in our district’s high schools, the principals and facilitators responsible for planning each event gathered to celebrate the immense success of the program.
This year’s CHALLENGE Day program reached approximately 6,600 students.
CHALLENGE Day allows students to participate in an experiential workshop during which topics such as gossiping, rumors, bullying, violence, various phobias and peer pressure are addressed.
The celebration started with a message from Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals about the importance of offering a program such as this to our students, and teaching them that they may not be as different from one another as they think. He applauded the educators who participated in the event for being there for our students and embracing the challenge of breaking down their barriers.
Also in attendance was a very special guest speaker, Michelle Jones. Ms. Jones, a mother of three, retired army veteran and current staff member to President Obama, shared her personal experience with CHALLENGE Day at Atlantic Coast High. She discussed the importance of developing the core of young students, and how educators have to teach students it is in their power to make the right choices. She feels teachers and educators must give students the confidence to overcome any negativity or obstacles they may face at home.
"The key to successfully helping a student is to tear down your armor and show them that you can be vulnerable so they are willing to open up to you,” said Jones.
Each educator or facilitator who assisted in making this program a success was awarded with a certificate and gold medal as a symbol of appreciation. The celebration was filled with many more activities throughout the day including a few testimonies from students who were positively affected by the experience.
All of those involved in the program are excited to offer CHALLENGE Day again next year to a new group of students who can benefit from this once in a lifetime opportunity.
For more pictures from the Challenge Day Celebration, visit the
DCPS' flickr photostream.
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