Woodland Middle School Named 'No Place for Hate' School

The Anti-Defamation League named Woodland Middle School as a "No Place for Hate" school.

Woodland and 75 other New York area schools were recognized by ADL for creating safe learning environments, bringing awareness to bullying and bias issues, and promoting unity and respect.

“It was truly an emotional experience to see first-hand the tremendous passion for this program from the students,” ADL New York Regional Board Chair Gregg M. Mashberg said, describing the naming ceremony last week at The Skirball Center for Performing Arts in New York City.  “It was incredible to hear the stories from the students of how stereotypes, name-calling, jokes and bullying escalated to hate, and how No Place For Hate served as part of the solution.”

The "No Place for Hate" initiative was launched by ADL in 1999 in an effort to encourage schools to complete projects and activities that reduce bullying and bias by promoting unity. The program has directly reached 3.5 million people and has more than 1,500 schools in participation.

Jerusalem Avenue Elementary School and Mepham High School in Bellmore, and Suffolk Y JCC in Commack were also recognized this year.