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Burlington County Times: Burlington County schools awarded for diversity, anti-bullying programming

  • June 7, 2019

By Gianluca D’Elia

More than a dozen Burlington County schools are among those in the region recognized by the Anti-Defamation League for anti-bullying programs, the nonprofit announced.

The league’s “No Place for Hate” designations are part of a program that has grown to include more than 1,600 schools nationwide, many of which have said it improved their schools’ environments tremendously.

“I think students are becoming more involved as the program continues,” said Abi Littleford, a special education teacher at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, which has been involved in No Place for Hate for two years. “It’s improving the climate of the school and promoting inclusion and kindness.”

The program provides schools with resources to celebrate diversity and fight bias, discrimination and bullying through classroom lessons, assemblies and events like parades, according to the league’s website. Schools normally host a kickoff event and three diversity-themed events throughout the academic year to earn designations annually.

At Rancocas Valley, students started a “No Hate Breakfast Club,” inspired by the app Sit With Me, which helps students find lunch buddies. The club meets weekly to have open forums.

The Hainesport Elementary School, in its first year in the program, held an event where students and staff “hugged the school” to “create a sense of physical community, respect and kindness,” school counselor Rose Wenz said.

The program has also led teachers to introduce more books that address diversity and bullying, and then hold discussions about them with students. Kim Pease, a counselor at the Ashbrook Elementary School in Lumberton, has read “I Walk With Vanessa,” about a new girl in school who stands up to bullies, to her students.

“It’s really great that all schools in our district are supporting No Place for Hate,” Pease said. “Kids are familiar with it and interested now, and they all seem to really like it. We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from it.”

The following Burlington County schools have received the “No Place for Hate” designation:

  • Ashbrook Elementary School in Lumberton
  • Bobby’s Run School in Lumberton
  • Chatsworth School in Woodland
  • Cherokee High School in Evesham
  • Eastampton Community School
  • Florence L. Walther School in Lumberton
  • Hainesport Elementary School
  • Kenneth R. Olson Middle School in Tabernacle
  • Lenape High School in Medford
  • Lumberton Middle School
  • Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly
  • Seneca High School in Tabernacle
  • Shawnee High School in Medford
  • Tabernacle Elementary School