120915 Newfound High students to experience a second Challenge Day (450 words)

BRISTOL —On Thursday, Dec. 17, the acclaimed, day-long Challenge Day program returns to Newfound Regional High School.

Imagine a school where every child fees safe, loved and celebrated. This is the vision behind Challenge Day, an award-winning day-long experiential program for middle and high school students. Over 100 teens and 25-plus adults, new to this year's program will experience this innovative workshop, which is designed to break down barriers and promote school and community environments based in understanding, acceptance and love.

At a Challenge Day, teenage students, teachers, school counselors, parents and members of the community are challenged to step out of the comfort zones, open their hearts, and build connections with others. Two trained Challenge Day leaders guide participants through a carefully-designed series of games, activities, and trust-building exercises that break down the walls of separation and create new levels of empathy and respect. The program reduces teasing and bullying, teaches tools for peaceful conflict resolution, and inspires teens and adults to work together as forces for positive change in the world.

Motivated by a vision that love and connection are possible in schools, Rich and Yvonne Dutra-St. John created the Challenge Day program in Martinez, California in 1987. Through their years of professional experience with teens and families, they recognized that teasing, bullying, and other forms of social oppression are symptoms of a greater underlying

problem: separation, isolation and loneliness. The couple designed the Challenge Day program to build connection and forgiveness between young people, and to inspire youth to become positive forces of change in their schools and communities.

Paul Hoiriis, principal of Newfound Regional High School, said, "It is our hope to provide more Challenge Day programs in the next year or two in order to expose each and every one of our students to the lessons and insights that this valuable program brings."

This year's programs have been funded through an innovation grant, and the Newfound Regional High School has been fortunate to have been the recipient of funds designed for this purpose. Unfortunately, the grant has run its course, and the school will now have to find other ways to fund further Challenge Days.

Those students at Newfound were forever changed at the March, 2015 program. "Thank you for bringing Challenge Day to our school" said one participant, "It has changed my life forever. It hurt me to see how many people have a problem in their lives, but it is also comforting to know that others are going through the same thing I am.

"I feel this day has changed the way I view others," another student said.

To learn more about the work of Challenge Day, please visit www.challengeday.org. or call Shelly Philbrick, coordinator, Newfound Regional High School at 744-6006, X-1505, or e-mail her at www. sphilbrick@sau4.org.