Challenge Day brings acceptance, positive outlook to FUHS

Fallbrook Union High School (FUHS) students were given a chance to shape their school culture in a positive way last week through Challenge Day.

On Monday, March 21, and Tuesday, March 22, students were able to spend their school hours learning how to tear down the walls of separation, which inspires participants to live, study, and work in an encouraging environment of acceptance, love and respect. Challenge Day leaders guided students from every facet of the student population through a carefully designed exploration of the ways people separate from each other, and model tools to create connection and build community.

According to assistant principal Stephanie Osowski, Challenge Day programs increase self-esteem, help shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support, and reduce the acceptability of bullying and other forms of aggression. The motto of the program is "Be the Change" you wish to see in the world and challenge others to do the same.

"We are trying to build a positive school culture and make Fallbrook High a safe place for all students, regardless of anything," said Osowski. "It’s another thing we are doing after one of our students committed suicide last year; we are trying to do more to have a positive school culture."

Osowski stated that students need to feel safe in their school environment in order to do well academically.

"If students are worrying about other things, they can’t learn," she said. "We are making Fallbrook High a safe place to learn."

Students were joined by 25 adults utilizing icebreakers to get everyone talking with each other and feeling comfortable.

"Some of these kids haven’t talked to each other ever, and we wanted to provide ways to get to know each other," said Osowski. "Kids shared different things that they see in our school culture and came up with ideas to make the school a better place."

In addition, students were encouraged to talk with individuals whom they might not normally affiliate with, while still being accepting of those differences.

"If you walk around our campus you’ll see little pods of kids, and they want to stay in those little pods,” said Osowki. “They don’t mix with each other. Athletes stay with athletes, AVID kids with AVID kids. This is a way to encourage kids to cross that barrier, sit down and have lunch with others. This gives them some tools to feel more comfortable talking with kids they wouldn’t necessarily get to know otherwise."

While only a fraction of the student population was able to participate in the event, Osowski believes that this will help to make talking between student groups easier.

"We only had a fraction of our campus attending, but we took a cross section of our student body – we have some students with IEPs, in Honors and AP, AVID, drama and athletics," said Osowski. "It’s a way to break down those barriers and for students to feel more comfortable accepting other people. It’s just one of the many things we are doing on campus."

In addition, students selected to participate were considered leaders in their peer groups, which would help spread positivity throughout various elements of the school population.

"One senior who participated is a leader in his group of friends," explained Osowski. "We chose him even though he had some discipline challenges, because he is seen as a leader among his friends, and we know that he can take these tools and help his friends make better choices, be more empathetic, and compassionate towards fellow students."

Osowski asks that parents keep the dialogue going at home with their students, especially in regards to school culture.

"Ask about some of the things we are doing like this, what they are learning, and what differences they feel," she said.