Community Anti-Bullying Program at JMMS

[Editor's note: Due to a temporary technical issue, East Haven Patch is unable to update photo caption information at this time. And so, please note all pictures included with this article were taken at this morning's "Rachel's Challenge" presentation for seventh and eighth graders at the middle school.]

, in conjunction with , will be hosting a community anti-bullying and violence abatement presentation tonight in the auditorium of the Joseph Melillio Middle School.

This evening's program, "Rachel's Challenge" — which is open to parents, students and other members of the East Haven community — begins at 6:30 p.m., and follows on the heels of two similar presentations earlier this morning for middle school students.

Rachel Scott was the first person killed during the Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. 

Since that day, her family created the "Rachel's Challenge" program using her journals and writings to encourage students to exhibit acts of kindness and respect, which Rachel believed would "create a chain reaction" of compassion, event organizers said. 

As part of the program, students, parents and others are asked to commit to Rachel's challenge of treating others with respect, kindness and compassion. 

A large poster has been placed in the middle school's main hallway for youth and adults to sign that they have accepted that challenge. And as of 10 a.m this morning, just as the second student presentation began, it already had dozens of signatures.

For more information on today's presentation, visit Rachelschallenge.org.  In addition, a media fact sheet for the event is posted in the gallery that accompanies this article.

The East Haven presentation of the program is being funded through the JMMS and EHA Parent/Teacher organizations.