RIDGEFIELD Ridgefield High School is working on becoming one of the states first No Place for Hate high schools, joining more than 1,600 schools nationwide.<\/p>\n
No Place for Hate is a program under the Anti-Defamation League. It provides schools with an organizing framework for students, administrators, teachers and family members to develop long-term solutions to create and maintain an inclusive and equitable climate, according to the high school.<\/p>\n
The student councils executive board signed on to the program in the fall. Since its arrival, many students and high school community members have signed the NPFH pledge.<\/p>\n
Assistant Principal Jennifer Phostole, who serves as the programs coordinator in Ridgefield, said the initiative is gaining momentum, largely due to the students.<\/p>\n
Theyre the student ambassadors, theyre the ones sharing with their peers and organizing the events, she said. I am supporting them, but Im taking their lead. They really are doing such a great job.<\/p>\n
The students determine the activities, selecting ones that were important to them, Phostole said.<\/p>\n
The student body executive board is the student group who really spearheaded the pledge signing at the beginning of the year, she said. They made a video, they made stickers, they got students, family and faculty to sign the pledge.<\/p>\n
Those who sign the pledge look to understand people who are different than themselves, speak out against prejudice, help foster a prejudice-free school and acknowledge that one person can make a difference.<\/p>\n
No Place for Hate schools receive their designation by building inclusive and safe communities. The goal is to foster respect and equity and create a school where all students can thrive. It also looks to empower students, faculty, the administration and family members to take a stand against bias and bullying by incorporating new and existing programs under one powerful message. It sends a clear, unified message that all students have a place where they belong.<\/p>\n
Trumbull High School is also working to become a No Place for Hate school and Amity Regional School district has participated in some of the campaigns.<\/p>\n
The RHSs Social and Emotional Learning Committee has combined with No Place for Hate into one committee with teacher Eileen Stewart as the chair.<\/p>\n
About 60 student ambassadors from all grade levels have created programs and acted as role models. The programs include 2021 Acts of Intentional Respect, a speaker series and the Humans of Ridgefield initiative, which gathers and posts written submissions about the six parts of the pledge.<\/p>\n
Senior ambassador Riley Courtney initiated a conversation about the pitfalls of social media, inspired by the movie, The Social Dilemma.<\/p>\n
If every member of my generation sits back and does nothing to combat the issues we face, no positive change will occur, he said. We all must choose to act.<\/p>\n
Lauren Kim, another student, is working on a podcast about microaggressions and Kaylie Perhamus is working with the Unity Club on the 2021 Intentional Acts of Respect, Phostole said.<\/p>\n
The Anti-Defamation League Names Day program will happen in March for 10th graders.<\/p>\n
Visit the high schools No Place for Hate website to find out more.<\/p>\n
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Read more:<\/p>\n
Ridgefield joins hundreds of U.S. high schools saying 'no' to hate - The Ridgefield Press<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" RIDGEFIELD Ridgefield High School is working on becoming one of the states first No Place for Hate high schools, joining more than 1,600 schools nationwide. No Place for Hate is a program under the Anti-Defamation League. It provides schools with an organizing framework for students, administrators, teachers and family members to develop long-term solutions to create and maintain an inclusive and equitable climate, according to the high school. Continue reading