Each November, Westerville high schoolers mark Veterans Day and Thanksgiving on their calendars, but that’s not the only special day on the calendars.
November also means the return of Challenge Day, an all-day program designed to help break down stereotypes and promote listening, mutual understanding and self-acceptance. Students from all three high schools participate.
Since its inception 25 years ago, Challenge Day has transformed the cultures of schools around the world, working to cultivate environments where students feel accepted, safe and comfortable. It also functions as a sort of anti-bullying and suicide prevention program, says Westerville Central High School chemistry teacher Stephanie Martin, the Westerville City School District’s Challenge Day coordinator.
“It decreases truancies and absences because kids feel more comfortable coming to school,” Martin says. “Basically, it fosters a nicer culture and better relationships within the building.”
Challenge Day is broken up into three parts. First, students participate in ice-breakers and group activities to help them have fun, get to know each other and feel comfortable being silly. Next, Challenge Day presenters share with students some of their own stories.
“As role models, the presenters sharing makes it OK for kids to do the same,” Martin says.
Students are broken up into “family groups,” each consisting of five students and one adult. They participate in activities such as “If you really knew me,” a fill-in-the-blank exercise in which students can go deeper with their group mates by sharing something personal about themselves.
For another activity, “Cross the Line,” students line up on one side of the gym behind a line of tape. The presenters call out different categories and invite students to “cross the line” if they have dealt with bullies, stereotypes, etc. It’s an opportunity to break down walls between students and affirm that they aren’t alone in the problems they face, Martin says.
“There’s a lot of tears and hugs in that part of the program,” she says.
During the last part of the day, students have the chance to speak out and share ways they feel compelled to take action in their school.
“To me, that’s my favorite part,” Martin says
Challenge Day will take place Nov. 9 at Westerville South High School, Nov. 10 at Westerville North High School and Nov. 11-12 at Central.
Jaya Pillai is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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