Important workshop
Challenge Day Community Workshop Committee
Saturday, July 28, 2007
SOMETIMES, just walking through school doors can cause anxiety and stress for students. Racism, bullying, peer pressure, teasing and violence plague students, even in the best schools.
According to Kansas Senate Bill 68, all schools must take steps to define, address, and create policies regarding bullying. School boards are also responsible for providing training and education to staff members and students. Some schools have already complied with SB 68; the official date for all Kansas Schools to be on board is Jan 1, 2008.
Fortunately for Emporia and surrounding communities, there is a program gaining nationwide recognition, also highlighted by Oprah Winfrey headed our way. “Challenge Day Community Workshop” and “Challenge Day” are programs designed to encourage people to tear down walls of separation, create connections and support and inspire people to create environments of compassion, acceptance and respect in their schools and communities. Barbara Clark has been an advocate for Challenge Day working diligently to ensure Emporia teens will see this program in April 2008.
The workshop however, will be held Aug. 24-26. It is an intense, three-day workshop, free to 40 adults and 20 girls age 15-19. Funding for this program is provided by U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice, Girl Scouts, United Way of the Flint Hills and Jones Trust. Participants who attend will carry the message throughout their schools and communities.
The founders of the program, Rich Dutra St. John and Yvonne St. John Dutra, will be present at the workshop. We encourage you log on to www.challengeday.org and view “Teen Files: Surviving High School” to see a small sample of Challenge Day’s inspiring message. For information and application, contact Angela Cheever at 342-4532.