On Monday, April 29 from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., students at Grant Ranch School will be entertained by a "Words Can Heal" music assembly with a message - "what we say and how we say it matters."

Ten students from Grant Ranch will join 10 singers, dancers and rappers to produce a 30-minute original performance focusing on the power of words to hurt or to heal and the choice each one of us has to use words with more care. Nearly 600 students will see the live performance helping to demonstrate the power of positive speech.

In addition to the 30-minute performance, Grant Ranch teachers and students have been given educational materials including lessons, signs and posters that underscore the need to use positive language that is free from name-calling, threats, taunts, slander and teasing.

Four other Denver Public Schools in addition to Grant Ranch have received the Words Can Heal program this spring as part of a school pilot.

"This program clearly works to help our school's mission to offer strong character education programs to our students," said Grant Ranch Principal Jim Kullhem. "We have been most pleased to help shape the Words Can Heal school outreach and test the lessons and assembly in our school."

Last year, the Colorado House enacted a bill to encourage school districts to develop and strengthen character education instruction in schools.

Colorado is the pilot of a national Words Can Heal program directed to schools, families and the workplace that focuses on the value and practice of responsible, ethical and respectful speech. Words Can Heal seeks to provide a counterbalance to forces that glamorize and perpetuate word choices that are intolerant, hurtful or violent.

The National Education Association reports that 160,000 children skip school each day because of intimidation and verbal violence by their peers. In Colorado, 10,000 students miss at least one day of school a month because of name calling, gossip, verbal violence and bullying according to the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.

The "Words Can Heal" program is supported by a national website, wordscanheal.org, and a "Words Can Heal" handbook written by Irwin Katsof, author of three other books who will be on site for the assembly at Grant Ranch School.

For more detailed information on Words can Heal Colorado, please contact Anita Russell at 303-860-1040.