Principal of PMHS, Jay Matuk, introduces Shane Hamman

An excerpt from one of Rachel's Diaries.

Shane Hammon during the presentation.

Presenter Shane Hammon at the Olympics.
Isaiah Shoels was in the library with Rachel's brother Craig Scott. He was shot and killed in the library as racial slurs were being yelled at him.

This was written on the back of Rachel's dresser. Her father found it after she died.

Rachel kept these gloves that a homeless woman left behind at the Subway restaurant she worked at. She kept them as reminder that she should have given the woman free food.

Rachel wrote of a story where she talked to a new girl in school when nobody else would. Her challenge includes reaching out to others who need the attention. Little acts of Kindness Go A Long Way!
 Friday February 3, 2006

Rachel Scott was one of the students killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion along with the contents of her 6 diaries where the building blocks for one of the of the most life-changing school-wide presentations students, teachers and administrators have ever attended at PMHS.

The goal of Rachel's challenge is to make students think in a more positive way about their relationships with their peers, their teachers and other adults in their lives. The assembly was done four times, once for each grade level throughout the school day. The first two presentations were done by Olympic Gold Medalist Weight Lifter Shane Hamman. The seniors and juniors in the presentation immediately were entranced by his presentation. The sophomores and freshman also had an inspiring presentation by Scott Dodge who is known for his dynamic presentations for school-age children. During all of the presentations, which completely packed the high school auditorium, the students were quiet, reflective and well-behaved. After the presentations many rushed up to speak with Shane and Scott.

Each grade-level presentation was then followed by a training session involving both adult and student leaders. This was an interactive session that showed how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly. The assembly created the “want to” or desire for positive change. The training session taught the “how to” and ensured that the positive impact will continue.

During lunch periods all the students were given a chance to sign the banner that now hangs in the cafeteria. By signing they were accepting Rachel's Challenge. The five challenges are to do as the image below indicates....

That same evening the Rachel’s Challenge speakers conducted a powerful session with parents and community leaders. This session was similar to the assembly program and ended with a specific challenge to parents and community leaders, showing them how they can reinforce the decisions their youths are making.

Congratulations to all the members of the PMHS community for for accepting Rachel’s Challenge!
This scene where a mother sees her daughter for the first time on the day Columbine had the most impact on teachers with children in the building. It is a reminder of how precious all children are.


A news helicopter covering the Columbine shooting.
Rachel's funeral was covered on network television and watched by millions.

Anne Frank was an inspiration to Rachel.


This banner hangs in the PMHS cafeteria.

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