
At
Henderson
Elementary
School,
Principal
Susan
Bevans
is
determined
to
hold
her
school
accountable
for
kindness.
That's
why
she
is
pursuing
the
Anti-Defamation
League's
(ADL)
No
Place
for
Hate®
(NPFH)
initiative,
a
movement
that,
according
to
the
ADL
website,
helps
schools
"create
a
more
equitable
and
inclusive
climate."
Her
school
joins
31
other
PWCS
schools
that
are
actively
pursuing
NPFH
status
this
year.
Bevans,
with
support
from
students,
staff,
and
parents,
pursued
the
NPFH
initiative
after
student
data
at
Henderson
Elementary
reflected
lower
numbers
in
the
categories
of
safe,
healthy,
and
caring
environment.
"Our
goal
is
for
all
Huskies
to
know
all
are welcome
at
Henderson
in
any
learning
environment,"
Bevans
said.
"Showing
respect,
kindness
and
caring
for
each
other
will
make
our
relationships
stronger
and
more
meaningful
in
the
Husky
House."
NPFH
uses
guides
and
curriculum
customized
to
student
interests
and
needs.
It
offers
support
for
teachers
in
addressing
challenging
topics
through
lesson
plans,
discussion
guides,
and
professional
development.
Students
lead
the
program
and
are
a
critical
component
in
transforming
the
school
culture,
according
to
school
counselor,
Suzanna
Erlichman.
"(NPFH)
empowers
the
students
to
make
a
difference and
be
involved
in
something
together,"
she
said.
"Students
are
on
board with
standing up
to
bullies
and
working
to
eliminate
hate
and
bias
in
the
building,"
she
continued,
adding,
"They
now
know
that
it's
not
only
the
adults
who
can
help
them
when
they
need
it,
but
also
the
other
students."
Whisper,
a
student
at
Henderson,
loved
the
idea
of
NPFH
so
much
that
she
self-advocated
to
be
a
part
of
the
NPFH
committee
at
the
school.
"I
joined
because
I
like
what
the
program
is
about,
and
I
like
how
it
is
setup,"
she
said,
emphasizing,
"I
like
the
message
and
goal
most
of
all."
Julian,
another
student
at
Henderson,
offered
some
perspective
on
the
motivation
behind
his
involvement.
"Other
people's
feelings
matter,"
he
shared.
"Kindness
is
like
a
pebble
being
dropped
in
water
and
the
ripples
will
spread
throughout
the
world,"
he
said.
Henderson
is
still
pursuing
its
No
Place
for
Hate®
school
status
and
has
already
completed
many
of
the
required
steps.
These
steps
include
registering
the
school
with
the
ADL,
creating
an
NPFH
committee
consisting
of
students,
parents,
teachers,
and
administrators
to
oversee
goals
and
identify
challenges
at
the
school,
signing
the
No
Place
for
Hate®
Pledge,
and
providing
each
student
with
an
opportunity
to
participate
in
three
ADL-approved
activities
that
address
bias
and
bullying
through
discussion,
active
learning,
and
a
follow-up
action
plan.
The
school
must
complete
these
steps
each
year
to
retain
their
No
Place
for
Hate®
status,
a
recognition
that
has
deeper
significance
than
the
label
it
provides,
according
to
Erlichman.
"On
the
surface,
we
will
receive
a
customized
banner that
we
will
hang
in
our
school,
but
on a deeper
level, our
students
will
be
provided
with
education
and
hands-on
experience on
how
to
be
change
makers
and
to
help
their peers
feel
safe,
accepted,
and
welcome throughout
their lives,"
she
said.
Bevans
added,
"They
will
move
forward
in
life
knowing
that
respecting
and
accepting
our
differences
gives
our
students
the
power
to
make
our
world
a
more
peaceful
place
to
live."