In addition to the ideas we've had for Friends of Rachel this year, I just wanted to add that in light of Friday's school tragedy its important to still....

BELIEVE
THERE IS
GOOD IN THE WORLD

Whether it is spreading holiday cheer or random acts of kindness within our school or community, Friends of Rachel members are our school's role models for positive change.  Keep up the good work!

Have a happy vacation!!



-Mrs. Laplume

Ideas for 2013!

After meeting last Thursday, we looked through the ideas that you wrote down and here are some of the ones you came up with:

• Duct tape items to be sold at the school store, proceeds will go towards Aydan's Army
• Winter dance, proceeds for a local charity
• Spirit Week
• Autism walk-a-thon
• Toiletry collection for homeless shelter
• Volunteer at a food pantry

Some events that we can participate in this winter and spring:

• February- National Heart month- Hat day with proceeds toward CHD (congenital heart disease)
• April 1st- April Friends Day
• April 22nd- Earth Day
• May- RI Bully Walk at Roger Williams Park
• May- Teacher Appreciation Week
• June- Relay For Life
• More spring ideas- Beach clean up through Save The Bay, car wash, bus driver appreciation, and a spring dance.

Have more ideas?  Leave them in the comments below!

The next Friends of Rachel Meeting will be Thursday, January 10th, 2013

Toys for Tots!

Our food drive was a huge success and we were able to feed many families of Cumberland for Thanksgiving.   Our next collection is Toys for Tots from November 26- December 7.  We are looking to collect items for other middle school aged students such as: books, board games, makeup, sports equipment, craft kits, puzzles, handheld games, and gift cards.  Please bring in a new item to homeroom for the Toys for Tots program.  Also, if you are interested in wrapping these gifts, the Happy Baskets program will be wrapping all the items collected in Cumberland at the Cumberland Senior Center (behind the library) on Saturday, December 15th at 9am.  Please see Mrs. Laplume for more information.

http://happybasketsri.com/

Welcome!

Welcome old and new members of Friends of Rachel!  For 6th graders and other new members, here is some background about Rachel Scott:

Q: How was Rachel’s Challenge started?
A: Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed in the Columbine High School tragedy on April 20, 1999. Immediately after the tragedy, her father Darrell began to speak and used writings and drawings from Rachel’s diaries to illustrate the need for a kinder, more compassionate nation.  Today, Darrell and over thirty presenters honor Rachel’s life by reaching the nation with Rachel’s simple but profound message.

Q: What is the mission of Rachel’s Challenge?
A: We exist 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.

Q: What are your organizational goals/objectives?
A1:  Objectives for schools:

• Create a safe learning environment for all students by re-establishing civility and delivering proactive anecdotes to school violence and bullying.
• Improve academic achievement by engaging students’ hearts, heads and hands in the learning process.
• Provide students with social/emotional education that is both colorblind and culturally relevant.
• Train adults to inspire, equip and empower students to affect permanent positive change.

Visit www.rachelschallenge.org for more info on Rachel Scott and the Friends of Rachel Clubs!