6th Annual National
Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week
October 19-25, 2003

Aiken Elementary School (Ontario, Oregon):
Principal Mark Hinthorn says "We are generating a lot of support from parents, students and the community." The entire school recites the Purple Hands Pledge daily! The local Police Department really supports the project.

More photos from Aiken Elementary:

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Events that took place during Hands Week:

Official Proclamations by:
• Governor of Oregon
• Marion County Board of Commissioners, Oregon
• Mayor and City Council, Salem, Oregon
• Salem-Keizer School Board & Superintendent, Salem, Oregon
• Mayor and City Council, City of Portland, Oregon
• Mayor and City Council, Batesville, Arkansas

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• Salem-Keizer Public Schools - All Schools K-12 take the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge

• Woodburn School District - All Schools K-12 take the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge

• Schools, day cares, preschools, youth organizations, women's shelters, batterer treatment programs, hospitals, government agencies and places of worship throughout the United States will take the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge.

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• 375 places of worship received a letter written by Charlie Wallace, Chaplin - Willamette University, Salem, Oregon requesting all members of the faith community to take the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge on Sunday, October 19, 2003 to launch the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week in partnership with the YWCA's Week Without Violence. to read his letter.

Even Mickey knows Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting!

2003 NATIONAL SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER Walnut Middle School Grand Island, Nebraska Vikki Deuel, Principal - Mary Ann Richards, Counselor

photo from The Independent/Scott Kingsley

The 2003 National Schools of Character Award was presented to Walnut Middle School in Washington, D.C. in October, 2003. Ten schools (K-12) in the nation were honored with this award. Walnut Middle School is the only middle school to be selected. CONGRATULATIONS!

Each year, Character Education Partnership (CEP) selects schools and districts from across the country that demonstrate outstanding and successful character education initiatives. The CEP is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our nation's youth as one means of creating a more compassionate and responsible society.

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Other Walnut School links:
Walnut Middle School's Website:
Walnut's Purple Hands Photo Gallery:

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to see more documented data showing the positive changes as a result of the Hands Project in Grand Island.

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State Sen. Ray Aguilar (left) and Grand Island Police Capt. Pete Kortum sign pledges that say, "I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others," at Walnut Middle School.

Grand Island school a bully-free zone: Purple hands on the office window are one component of the successful anti-violence program at Walnut Middle School in Grand Island.