Challenge Day comes to TMS!
As part of our ongoing effort to foster an empathetic, cohesive, and supportive educational environment, TMS is excited to announce that students, faculty, and staff will be participating in a Challenge Day on campus on Wednesday, January 27th.
Challenge Day was created in 1987, and has been used in schools all over the world to inspire diverse groups of students and adults to work together, break down social barriers, and model positive communication. The organization has received numerous awards; it has also been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, MTV (which created a show about the program, called If You Really Knew Me), the Emmy Award-winning documentary, Teen Files: Surviving High School, and the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.
Using highly interactive and energetic activities, Challenge Day facilitators guide participants through a carefully designed exploration of the ways people separate from each other, and model tools for creating connection and growing community. The morning program includes many games and team-building exercises, while the afternoon focuses on storytelling, sharing, and making connections. Challenge Day has a strong social justice framework, and encourages participants to see the world beyond themselves. An important component of the program is to inspire youth and communities to be the change they wish to see in the world, and to challenge others to do the same.
The Challenge Day program is designed to increase individual and community self-esteem, to shift negative peer pressure to positive peer supports, and to reduce the acceptability of teasing, oppression, and all forms of violence. Students will have an opportunity to share in small groups about these issues. It is important to note that they are only expected to share at the level they are comfortable. Many students who participate in Challenge Day report that it is a very powerful experience; we recommend that you check in with your child about the day and how it went. We will also have faculty and staff available at the conclusion of the day for any student support that is needed.
To learn more about Challenge Day, visit their website: www.challengeday.org.
Thank you for your support-we are looking forward to a powerful and inspiring day!
Sincerely, Ben Griggs, M.Ed Assistant Head of School
bgriggs@themarinschool.org
