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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

SALISBURY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

A member of the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia attended a No Place for Hate Designation ceremony May 2 at Salisbury High School.

Jeremy Bannett, assistant project director, No Place for Hate, with the Anti-Defamation League, attended the ceremony and presented SHS with a banner.

This is the third year the school has been associated with No Place for Hate.

Advisor Laura Dos Santos opened the ceremony by detailing the activities the SHS chapter has accomplished this year.

Members attended the ADL conference at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, to connect with their peers from other schools and learn what others are doing to end bullying, bias and discrimination within schools.

Members also design a display case each month to let students know NPFH is at the school and explain the group's purpose.

In October 2013, NPFH held an "orange out" to support anti-bullying initiatives. Members passed out orange beads, students wore orange clothing and NPFH stickers were distributed.

In November 2013, NPFH members created a mural in the south wing of the school which is still up and well maintained.

In April, NPFH went to Western Salisbury Elementary School to spend time with the fifth grade students to talk about bullying. The activity proved to be worthwhile for both the elementary school students and the NPFH members.

Members and representatives include Laura Albright, Kyra Bruns, Kierra Burda, Sydney Costenbader, Kevin Esslinger, Carly Fortunato, Nicholas Fortunato, Dane Galbraith, James Hadinger, Joana Hatzis, Madison Horn, Jessica Ionescu, Cammi Jefferson, Jordan Kamp, Arianna Kehm, John Leiderman, Asia Letlow, Gabrielle Maramag, Peter To, Ian Carey, Thalya Creswell, Kori Hadinger, Makenna Lenover, Alyssa Sipos and Natalia Lopez.

Bannett took to the stage to talk about his own experiences in middle school, being bullied for being overweight and for being different than his peers. Bannett said the verbal abuse stopped in high school; however, he discovered a blogging site where he could systematically and anonymously write about the people who bullied him in middle school.

With the help of a good friend, he realized he was cyberbullying and knew he had to stop.

"I realized you cannot solve pain with more pain," Bannett said. "There are real people behind the screen with real feelings."

Bannett praised the SHS NPFH students, staff and administrators for the support of the program.

"Every student should be an ally; you are a healer," Bannett said.

Leiderman, Burda and Kamp each provided comments during the ceremony.

Leiderman said he is one of the original members of the SHS NPFH. Through his involvement with the program, he has made new friends. "We've done many things to help people," Leiderman said.

Burda said "this has been an eye-opening experience. We want to make our school a better place and having everyone a part of this is amazing."

Kamp said it is "amazing how alike we all are. During the orange out, we felt the school come together as one. We are excited for the upcoming years and we would like to go to the middle school and assist those students."

Assistant principal Bill Dovico thanked Dos Santos for her work and the students who participate in NPFH.

"You have led by example. Thank you for creating these activities. I look forward to the upcoming year and all the good things you are going to do."

After accepting the banner from Bannett, DosSantos thanked the administrators and school board members for their support of the program. She also thanked students for their motivation.

"Your families can be proud of you. You are kind people. Keep up the good work," Dos Santos said.

Salisbury High School's No Place for Hate members stand with Jeremy Bannett, assistant project director, No Place for Hate, with the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia. PRESS PHOTO BY DEBBIE GALBRAITH