Challenge Day to engender sense of belonging, safety
MADISON – Students from Madison’s secondary schools are gathering this week to share their dream and goals, along with problems, during Challenge Day.
Students embrace during a simulation at a previous Challenge Day. (CONTRIBUTED)
The Challenge Day initiative improves the campus environment for students, Dennis James said. James is Director of Student Services for Madison City Schools.
“The first time we hosted Challenge Day was on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Discovery Middle School. We felt it would be appropriate to do something that would positively affect the school climate for students,” James said.
Challenge Day involves games, music and team-building activities. Coordinators create “a safe area” for open discussion. Participants “see they have a lot in common with their fellow students. It breaks down those walls that students sometimes put up between groups,” James said.
One byproduct is reduction of bullying incidents.
Challenge Day is staged at a site away from campus “to eliminate any distractions. Students need to know that this day is different,” James said. One location also eases setup logistics. Asbury United Methodist Church is allowing use of facilities for four days.
Liberty middle, Discovery middle, Bob Jones high and James Clemens high schools each have a day dedicated for Challenge Day, with 100 students attending from each campus. “The invitations are selectively random,” James said. “We make sure we have a good cross-section of the student population, but selection within groups of students is random.”
Discovery guidance counselor Heather Porter has attended Challenge Day twice. “It is a wonderful experience for both the adult leaders and the students,” Porter said.
The Challenge Day organization sends two leaders, assisted by Madison teachers, counselors and a few parents.
“From Challenge Day, we will build a ‘Be the Change’ team at each school. Students will take what they learn and go back to make a difference in their school,” James said. “The school staff will support them in this effort.”
Challenge Day is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves schools, organizations and companies. For more information, visit challengeday.org.
