Freshman Programs: Challenge Day

2012 Freshman Challenge Day:
November 5th and 6th

Dear Parents,

For the past nine years, Challenge Day has kicked off the year-long “Be the Change” program for M-A freshmen. It has proven to have a definite and lasting impact at the high school, creating a more positive atmosphere at M-A. It is also a unique opportunity for you to get involved in an activity with the freshman class.

More than 150 volunteers are needed to make the day a success. You have several opportunities from which to choose. At this point we need help in all areas, but our biggest need is for small group facilitators.

Volunteer positions include:
            Small group facilitatorsfor 4-5 students (all day commitment)
            Registration (morning)
            Lunch server (mid-day)
 
Challenge Day will be held:
            Monday, November 5
            Tuesday, November 6

Training for small group facilitators will be held one evening in the two weeks preceding the event.

To volunteer for any of these positions, please email Lisa Deal or Irene Searles at challengeday@mabearspta.org. Please put "Challenge Day Volunteer" in the subject, and include your preferred position and choice of date(s) in the email.

Thank you again for your help!
Lisa Deal and Irene Searles
2012 Challenge Day Co-Chairs

Since 2004 the M-A PTA has sponsored Challenge Day, a day-long event for the freshman class, both financially and with parent and community volunteers. At the end of the day, the hope is that the students will not only have bonded as a class, but also that stereotypes will be broken down and common ground established amid diversity, inspiring the students to live, study and work in an environment of compassion, acceptance and respect.

Since 1987, the Challenge Day programs have touched the lives of close to a half-million teens and adults nationwide. In fact, the Challenge Day program was featured on the Oprah show in 2007, in the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, and the Emmy Award-winning documentary "Teen Files: Surviving High School".

Challenge Day is a powerful, high-energy program in which youth and adult participants are guided through a series of experiential learning activities. The overall goals of the program are to increase personal power and self-esteem, to shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support and to eliminate the acceptability of teasing, violence and all forms of oppression. The Challenge Day programs are designed to unite the members of the school and to empower them to carry the themes of the program back to the greater school population. For further information on Challenge Day, visit the Challenge Day web site.

2011-12 Challenge Day Co-Chairs:
Lisa Deal
Irene Searles
Menlo-Atherton High School
555 Middlefield Rd.
Atherton, CA 94027

650.322.5311