Provided by Prince William County Schools (PWCS)
It’s Kindness Matters Week in Prince William County Public Schools, and a great time to share how schools are practicing kindness and tolerance ALL YEAR LONG, thanks to a new initiative.
No Place for Hate® is one of the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) signature education initiatives with more than 1,700 schools across the country joining the movement. Since No Place for Hate® launched in January 2016, more than 20 schools in Prince William County have participated in the initiative, empowering students, staff, and family members to promote positive school climates and take a stand against hate and bullying.
J.W. Alvey Elementary, who began their No Place for Hate® journey in 2017, and Minnieville Elementary, who came on board this school year, are two schools creating transformational change so that all students feel welcomed, included, and a part of something positive at their schools.
To launch their No Place for Hate® campaign, Alvey School Counselor and program coordinator Anne Henry led the formation of the MOSAIC (Multicultural Organization of Students Allied to Impact Culture). This student leadership league consists of 20 fifth-grade students who serve as mediators, ambassadors, and a force for acceptance and positive change. The team is involved in coordinating school-wide service programs such as Operation Turkey, SHINE Kindness Buckets, Hygiene Kits for the Unhoused, and Mix it Up at Lunch Day, a very successful activity bringing students with differing abilities together and encouraging empathy and promoting diversity appreciation.
“We evaluated the program in the spring of 2018 and found that focus groups of K-5 students had positive perceptions of No Place for Hate® activities,” said Henry. “We also saw a 12 percent decrease in behavioral referrals from the previous year.”
Minnieville Elementary kicked off their No Place for Hate® Initiative this fall with a school-wide reading and discussion of the book “Each Kindness” by Jaqueline Woodson. Their first project required students to create “Stand Up to Bullying Monsters” as part of their annual Monster Mash event. Students could use any materials they wanted to create their monsters and the only requirements were that the monster must STAND UP and display a positive message.
