I am encouraged and impressed by the positive impact that Rachel’s Challenge has already made in the D’Evelyn community, and I look forward to witnessing the short-term and long-term benefits of this powerful program.
 
As the leader of the school, I felt challenged along with the students, faculty, staff, and families that participated in the Rachel’s Challenge events over the course of the week.  It gave me an opportunity to reflect on areas of my own life, both personal and professional, where I can pay additional attention and dedicate extra energy towards positive interactions with everyone in my life - family, friends, colleagues, and D’Evelyn students and families.
 
With that in mind, I accept the five components of Rachel’s Challenge, as follows:

1. Look for the best in others
2. Dream Big
3. Choose positive influences
4. Speak with kindness
5. Start my own chain reaction of goodness

There are many ways that I can incorporate these important actions into my daily life and work, and I look forward to the continued opportunities to do so.  It is my sincere belief that with all individual community members focused on these positive daily actions, our community will continue to grow stronger, and more supportive and engaging for all.
 
One important distinction that our Rachel’s Challenge presenter made really struck me.  He noted that while in the pursuit of Rachel’s Challenge, it is important to know that the challenge is not about being perfect all the time.  Considering the essential function of our school - to support the development of the hearts and minds of D’Evelyn students - I found that statement to be particularly empowering and uplifting.
 
D’Evelyn students are the future leaders of our communities - they are future parents, spouses, partners, workers, business owners, church members, and politicians.  As a school community, and as outlined in the D’Evelyn Founding Document, it is our shared responsibility to help our students grow up to contribute positively to their communities in the future, no matter what that future holds.  
 
Please join me and the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration, and discuss Rachel’s Challenge as a family, taking the opportunity to start your own chain reaction.  We are all working to encourage, support, celebrate, and at times, correct, our students in their pursuit of an excellent education that will prepare them for a happy, full, and enriching life.  I am confident that the message of Rachel’s Challenge provides our students the proper foundation to consider the power and magnitude of their individual daily words and actions.

I am honored to share with you that we will be hosting Rachel’s Challenge on Wednesday, October 24th and Thursday, October 25th at D’Evelyn.  Rachel’s Challenge is an organization started in memory of Rachel Scott, the first victim in the tragic Columbine shooting in 1999. In honor of Rachel’s life, Rachel’s Challenge was organized with a mission of “awakening individual transformation and promoting safer, more connected schools”, and the vision of seeing “a school free from harassment, bullying, and violence where teachers are free to teach, and students are awakened to learn.”

Each year, Rachel’s Challenge visits more than 1,200 schools and reaches 1.5 million people.  The program is designed to encourage all community members to engage in random acts of kindness and compassion.  We are fortunate to have this great resource available to all D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and families on October 24th and October 25th.

On October 24th, all D’Evelyn students & faculty will engage in the Rachel’s Challenge assembly in our Main Gymnasium.  The assembly will replace the time generally allocated for 7th hour, and we will follow a modified bell schedule throughout the day.  On October 25th, during 7th hour, student leaders and faculty/staff members will have a chance to receive additional leadership training.

Additionally, on October 25th, D’Evelyn students, staff, and families are invited to attend the Rachel’s Challenge Community Event presentation at D’Evelyn at 6:30 pm, so that they can learn more about this important message and begin to act throughout our school community.  We encourage interested families to attend this community event to learn more about the program.

To learn more about Rachel’s Challenge, I encourage you to visit their website.

The D’Evelyn Founding Document states, “All students, staff and parents will be expected to maintain a behavior standard that demonstrates respect for authority, others, and self. Responsibility, honesty, self-control, kindness and fairness will be encouraged and expected.”  There is an important message within this statement - D’Evelyn was designed to help prepare students for life, to be good people, hard workers, and contributing members in their respective communities. It is my sincere belief that the message and actionable elements of Rachel’s Challenge will very much help both students and adults in the D’Evelyn community embrace the importance of kindness and compassion in their life.

Thank you for your support of this important event.  I appreciate you talking with your children about this program and emphasizing your support that our students attend this event with attention and an open mind.  As an administration, we are confident that this training can be a great starting point in building an even stronger, more supportive community at D’Evelyn.

Our annual fall Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd and Thursday, October 4th in the D’Evelyn gymnasium.  The D’Evelyn Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences are held in an arena format, so families may meet with teachers on a first come, first served basis.  We do encourage students to attend conferences to engage in the thoughtful conversations with teachers.
 
The schedule is as follows:
            Wednesday, October 4th        5:00 - 7:30 pm
            Thursday, October 5th            3:00 - 5:30 pm
 
The purpose of the Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences is to allow parents and students the opportunity to connect individually with their teachers.  There are a variety of opportunities for conversation points presented by the conferences, including but not limited to:

• clarifying understanding of course expectations
• reviewing major assignments and assessment practices
• gathering feedback on student performance in a class through six weeks
• determining areas and opportunities for student growth
• establishing a framework for future communication

 
We hope that you and your student(s) will capitalize on this valuable opportunity to meet with teachers.
 
There are no appointments or set schedules for meetings; rather, parents and students will have an opportunity to meet with teachers on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the evening. Please bring a copy of your child’s schedule for use during the conferences.  We will not be distributing copies of schedules during conferences.  Additionally, your student’s progress report for the first six weeks of the semester will be available in Parent Portal by Wednesday, October 3rd; please bring a copy of that those grades if you wish to use it in the conferences.  We will send an update via School Messenger email to let families know when the 6-week grades are all posted in Parent Portal.
 
           To allow all families an opportunity to meet with teachers, we ask that conferences are kept to a maximum of five minutes per teacher.  If you need more than five minutes of meeting time with the teacher, please set up an appointment for a future date and time. During conferences, counselors and administrators will also be available to meet with parents and students.  Prior to conferences, students 6-week grades will be submitted and posted in Infinite Campus.  
 
            Thank you for your continued support of your child in their educational experience at D’Evelyn.  We appreciate and rely upon your support to maintain high academic and behavioral expectations for our students.  Parents and families play an important role in the success of D’Evelyn students - I am grateful for your commitment to supporting your student’s success in our liberal arts program.  I hope that Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences are an effective way by which you can support your student’s success.
 
            Parents can support our Teacher Dinners for Parent-Teacher Conferences:  If you are interested in contributing to the potluck meals for teachers on Wednesday 10/3, Thursday 10/4, or both, please sign up here!

The D’Evelyn Fall Play - Our Town - October 4, 5, and 6 - 7 PM, D’Evelyn Auditorium

We hope to see many students and families in attendance at this year’s D’Evelyn High School Fall Play - Our Town.  The student actors and crew have been working diligently alongside their directors to put together an outstanding performance.
            Shows will be on October 4th, 5th, and 6th in the D’Evelyn Auditorium, starting at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale at school during both lunch periods, can be purchased in the Financial Office, and will be available at the door.
            All proceeds from the Friday, October 5th show will be donated to the Jamin Fund, a fund established in honor of Jamin Buchanan Wilson, D’Evelyn Class of 1999.  The Jamin Fund supports an array of philanthropic endeavors, including the D’Evelyn Excellence in Education Awards granted annually to D’Evelyn faculty members.  To learn more about the Jamin Fund, please visit the website.