Over the last eleven years, grade nine students along with senior student mentors have participated in a mentoring program and attended a full-day, experiential program known as Challenge Day. Under the leadership of Staff Advisors Mrs. Catherine Nelson and Mrs. Kristie Bradey and with the support of the Centennial School Council, this initiative has expanded to a yearlong program that includes all grade nine students and about 40 mentors. The mentors are linked with the grade nines through their home form classes and serve as "big brother/sister" and friend. In addition, every grade nine student, along with the mentors, is given the opportunity to attend one of three Challenge Days.

Challenge Day is an amazing experience that often transforms participants, young and old and inspires them to create positive change in their lives. I attended my first Challenge Day in April 2001 at CWDHS. The best way I know to describe the impact Challenge Day can have is to make a comparison to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in which Ebinezer Scrooge is taken on a journey by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future. He watches himself transform from young, sensitive and loving to embittered and isolated. He experiences a myriad of emotions as he sees the devastating impact he has had on others' lives. As a result of this experience, Scrooge makes a dramatic change in his life becoming generous and benevolent and truly sees that there is a better way to exist in this world. Challenge Day has a similar impact on students and adult participants. For more information, please go to the Challenge Day website at: www.challengeday.org

Challenge Day inspired me to create positive change in our school. I believe that when students feel accepted, cared for and treated well by their peers and teachers, they will have more success in school. Challenge Day promotes acceptance, diversity, compassion, inclusion and empowers students to be positive leaders. So along with Mrs. Kristie Bradey, we have organized twenty six Challenge Days to date and are planning three more for this year on November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

It is our goal to raise enough funds so that all of our grade nine students along with about 90 senior student mentors, can attend Challenge Day each year. Specifically, this year we need to raise $15,000.00 or about $35.00 per student. We are fortunate to have Scotiabank as our sponsor for the 7th year in a row. They have provided significant financial support as well as participating at Challenge Day. We would not be able to provide this opportunity to our students without their support!

Program fee $9,600.00 US
FACILITATOR EXPENSES:
Airfare $1500.00 US
Van Rental $600.00
Accommodation (2 leaders for three nights) $800.00

STUDENT EXPENSES:
Snacks for three days $100.00
Miscellaneous Supplies $150.00
Mentor Training and Site Costs (4 days at First Christian Reform Church) $1200.00
Supply Teacher Costs

TOTAL $15,000.00