Respect, The New R-Word

Kudos to the Crisafulli School in Westford, MA for raising awareness to Spread the Word to End the Word!  The 3rd -5th grade school kicked off the program with an assembly that showed video clips from www.r-word.org and the principal of the school, Julie Vincentsen, taught the children how words frame the way we think and act.  The message was clear to respect and accept others.  All the students were given two green paper hand prints with the pledge “I pledge to work to eliminate the r-word from my vocabulary”.  The students signed the pledge and had the option of discussing the pledge with family or friends and asking them to take the pledge as well.  The photo of the Peace Tree shows the many green hand prints/pledges from the event.  Each student who took the pledge, received a wrist band with “SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD” imprinted on it.  The wrist band is a reminder to stop use of offensive words and to prompt further conversation.  Suggest a similar campaign in your child’s school.  See www.r-word.org for ideas, video clips and materials to support a program to SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD.  Many thanks to all schools who support this effort of acceptance.

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