If You Really Knew LCC
Kelsea Critin, Staff Writer
December 17, 2011
Filed under News, Top Stories
Challenge Day to return thanks to Foundation funds
As current seniors may recall, a unique event called Challenge Day took place during the 2008-2009 school year. Since then, the event has not happened again; however, the administration is working hard to bring it back.
“It will include all student groups,” Principal Kyle Ruggles said. “We want to break down barriers.”
Seniors who participated three years ago have nothing but good things to say about the program.
“It was amazing and something that should be done again,” senior Jill Margiotta said. “It would definitely make the school a better place.”
In addition to improving the school, senior Ashley Daniel insists it helped her personally as well.
“I realized a lot about myself,” Daniel said. “It was a really good experience, especially as a freshman. I think it would be really helpful to the underclassmen of the school.”
Challenge day will happen over a period of three days, serving 300 students school-wide. However, participants will be chosen selectively and cannot simply sign-up.
“The Challenge Day people facilitate who is chosen, though teachers will be asked to participate in selection too,” Dr. Ruggles said.
Designed to help improve intellectual flexibility, task leadership, emotional control, self confidence, and emotional competence, the program has been held in junior high and high schools since 1987. It has reached one million youth in four hundred cities, forty-five U.S. states, and five provinces of Canada.
During the three days, the students will take part in games and activities presented by the program, which will include the “Notice, Choose & Act” workshop and the trademark “If You Really Knew Me” activity. These, along with other activities, bring the participants closer together.
“We want to help people cut through the exterior things to get to the core and come to the realization that we’re not all that different,” Dr. Ruggles said.
Additionally, there is a campus-wide separation that the administration hopes the implementation of Challenge Day will address.
“I’ve spoken to some new students this year, and they feel that there are a lot of cliques. I don’t see it as a problem, but we can always do something to bring those people together,” Dr. Ruggles said.
Challenge Day is expected to affect its many participants, but it is obvious that just three days cannot keep a feeling of unity for the rest of the year.
“Be the Change will be a big part,” Dr. Ruggles said of the club on campus dedicated to reaching the Challenge Day outcome. “They’ll sustain the effects.”
This club, run by senior Karlee Fuller, meets on Mondays in room 300. It is, however, open to all students, regardless of whether they participate in Challenge Day.
In the end, Dr. Ruggles believes that bringing Challenge Day back will improve the school.
“We’re all striving for the same goal,” Dr. Ruggles said. “We want our student and school communities to be the best that they can be.”