Rancocas Valley Regional Celebrates No Place for Hate Designation

Mount Holly, N.J. – Rancocas Valley Regional High School (RVRHS) has made a school-wide commitment over the past academic year to celebrate diversity, promote respect for differences and challenge bias or bullying. In recognition of the school’s efforts, and the positive outcomes resulting from newly formed programs and initiatives, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) designated RVRHS a No Place for Hate school last month at a celebration at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Implementing the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate initiative was one of the Action Plans in the district’sVision 2020 Strategic Plan. Becoming a No Place for Hate school supports the Vision 2020 strategy “to provide experiences that deepen the understanding and appreciation of diversity.”

“We are in the middle of implementing many initiatives that serve as daily reminders that many forms of hatred and discrimination exist and are damaging to the lives of people on the receiving end,” said RVRHS Superintendent Chris Heilig, Ed.D. “By helping our students see value in diversity and empowering them with strategies to challenge bias and bigotry, we hope that they will go into the world to be the agents of change we need.”

To become a No Place for Hate School, RVRHS first established a committee to oversee and coordinate the initiative. The committee completed a pre-assessment to analyze the school’s climate and determine areas of potential growth. In addition to hosting a kickoff event to affirm the school’s commitment to the No Place for Hate program, during which all students signed a Resolution of Respect, the school completed three projects in the 2017-18 academic year in support of the ADL’s mission.

The first project, Respect Week, was held Oct. 2-6 to help decrease instances of bullying by building mutual respect and acceptance among all students. The various activities throughout the week included the Gay Straight Alliance explaining the “Ally pledge” to students over lunches and encouraging peers to sign it; a performance for sophomores by actor and psychologist Dr. Mykee Fowlin of his one-man presentation about the power of sharing one’s personal journey to create a cultural shift toward that of inclusivity; videos about acceptance and short videotaped interviews with students about what respect means to them; multi-cultural meals served in the cafeteria throughout the week; and much more.

The second project involved the diffusion of the ‘Upstander’ model throughout the district, including parents and sending district middle school students. The RVRHS safety team initially viewed a presentation of best practices for introducing the ‘Upstander’ model and then turn keyed the presentation to the entire student body to further their understanding of an ‘Upstander’ and the important role these individuals play in creating a respectful, inclusive and safe community. Staff and Parent Advisory Committee members then viewed the presentation. Finally, students in the newly formed No Place for Hate Breakfast Club shared the ‘Upstander’ model with the middle school students.

Taking a cue from StoryCorps’ One Small Step project, RVRHS’ third No Place for Hate initiative brought students from different backgrounds together, in pairs, to interview each other. The interviews, which were filmed by RVTV and broadcast regularly to the entire student body, fostered larger conversations about the common humanity all students share despite their differences.

“It’s rewarding for me as a student to be part of the No Place for Hate initiative. We have five sending districts feeding into our high school, which means that we have people with different backgrounds and experiences coming together as Red Devils. This initiative helps open our eyes to how we can embrace our diversity to grow stronger,” said RVRHS junior Grace Clothier, who started the No Place for Hate Breakfast Club this year. The club provides breakfast every other week – and a safe place – for members to discuss whatever is on their minds. Members also take the lead on many activities supporting No Place for Hate messaging.

Visit www.rvrhs.com for more information about the RVRHS Strategic Plan.