An anti-hate and anti-bullying message is being taken to heart by the students and staff at Quannah McCall Elementary School. Now, they are being recognized for their efforts.

The Anti-Defamation League named it the “No Place for Hate School of the Year.” The school gained the honor because of several anti-hate projects. It was chosen out of 32 other schools in the district. On the wall of McCall Elementary is the message: don’t bully or pick on others, be courteous. It is a message that is getting through to the students.

“There is no bullying. There is no hating. Everybody is kind to each other,” fifth grader Guadalupe Urbina said. 

 The school has several tough challenges. All of the students are on the free or reduced lunch program. It is in a neighborhood known for a lot of gang activity. However, the school is defying the odds. Test scores are up and discipline problems are down.

Students at one elementary school celebrated a new place to learn. Students and teachers at Fay Herron Elementary School got their first look at their new library Friday.

The school received the new library through the Target School Library Makeover program. Through the program, the school got $200,000 for improvements. It also received 2,000 new books and a bag of seven books for each child to take home.

"Our school has always been very low in literacy. We need to raise that student achievement, especially for reading. We want children to be excited about reading, excited about books. That is what we're doing: trying to create that excitement to promote more reading," Principal Judy Jordahl said.

The retail giant awarded the grant with the help of the Heart of America Foundation, a nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C.

Advanced Technologies Academy and Bendorf Elementary School recently earned high praise as National Blue Ribbon Schools, as named by the federal education department.

These schools are among the 305 being honored for their overall academic excellence or for their success in closing achievement gaps.

“America’s long-term economic prosperity and civic engagement depends on our children receiving a world-class education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.  “National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers.  Their success is an example for others to follow.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap is narrowing. Since 1982, more than 6,500 of America’s schools have received this award.