All 16 of the schools in the Williamsburg-James City County school division earned the “No Place for Hate” designation from the Washington, D.C., Anti-Defamation League during the 2023-24 school year.
During a yearlong effort, each school in the WJCC Schools district worked to influence the school climate against discrimination and bullying. Each school formed a diverse student committee, encouraged students to participate in the WJCC Unity Pledge, conducted a student unity survey and implemented student-led activities to support the program’s tenets.
WJCC schools joined about 1,800 schools across the U.S. in earning the “No Place for Hate” designation.
To earn the designation, WJCC activities ranged from making and exchanging friendship bracelets during Kindness Week at Norge Elementary School to designing a mural of droplets in the form of a wave at Lois S. Hornsby Middle School. The schoolwide mural focused on the three concepts of kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
All three WJCC high schools hosted the national BMX “No Hate High School Tour,” an educational program that uses action sports to deliver bullying prevention tools, techniques and information to students, staff and school leaders. The program featured BMX stars who performed on campus and spoke to students about their own experiences with bullying, overcoming obstacles, mental health awareness and other important subjects for teens.
“I am proud of WJCC Schools’ student leaders for their commitment to positively shaping our community,” division Superintendent Olwen Herron said in a news release. “Programs like ‘No Place for Hate’ prepare our students to be respectful citizens with the courage to effect change.”
