Students at one school in the Northeastern School District heard Loretta Claiborne speak about her trials with bullies and various other challenges she faced when she was a young woman.

At another school, students made origami cranes, a Japanese tradition, and considered how they would make the world a better place.

At York Haven Elementary, students there were allowed to forgo their assigned seats at lunch and were able to sit where they want in an effort to make new friends.

"Sitting with my friends at lunch is what I like. Being with my friends," said Amber Shellenberger, a kindergarten student at the school.

All those efforts, and those at the five other schools in the district, earned each "No Place for Hate" banners from the Anti-Defamation League.

The banners were presented during the school board meeting Monday and will be displayed at each of the district's eight schools.

Six years: The program has been in existence 10 years, and the middle school first received a banner six years ago and has earned one each year since, said Lisa Friedlander, a league representative.

The remaining schools have been named "No Place for Hate" schools the past four years, she said.

In order to receive the distinction, each school had to incorporate anti-bullying and anti-intolerance programs year-round.

Superintendent Jody Nace said the activities show the district lives by what the program stands for.

At the high school, members of the Gay Straight Alliance held a day of silence where participating students didn't talk in an effort to bring attention to anti-gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender name-calling, said Kaitlynn Pick, a junior at the school.

All told, 65 students took part, she said.

"Overall Northeastern High School proved to be very accepting," Pick said.

- Reach Greg Gross at 505-5434, ggross@yorkdispatch.com, or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/greggrss.