BOSTON -- The recent suicides of children tormented by bullies has led to anti-bullying legislature and schools adopting stronger measures. But one school district has been proactive about bullying for two years and has taken an unusual approach to combating it.

The message is clear the moment a visitor walks through the door of North Andover's Atkinson Elementary School. The bold blue sign says "Respect, Achievement, Inclusion, Service and Empathy." The RAISE message is everywhere.

"It's not a curriculum. This is a way of life for us," said Assistant Superintendent Kevin Hutchinson.

The five core values are intended to build an internal measuring stick of right and wrong, good and bad decisions. It's expressed throughout the schools, in murals, the students' artwork and regular assemblies.

"We asked the kids to take a non-bullying oath," said Kristin Kareles, a school parent.

"If you can start to teach them at the kindergarten and first grade level, how to talk to each other, if you have a problem to use your words, to get an adult, it can only make a positive impact as they grow up," she said.

The RAISE Program began two years ago after a cyber-bullying incident.

"You can write laws about bullying and put all sorts of consequences in place, but unless you really build a caring community, you are not going to make a difference," said Hutchinson.

At least some of North Andover's students said they could feel and see that difference.

"It's really improved around the school. If you look around, you can see people talking about it, picking up stuff on the playground to serve, and new students being treated nicely," said fifth-grader Justin Gaede.

"People got mad because they weren't included. But now they let everyone in, even if inside they don't like that person," said third-grader Sydney Pensavalli.

"If there's any bullying, before there were a lot of bystanders that used to watch. Now people step in to stop it, where before could care less about it," said eighth-grader Arjun Bhatnagar.

The constant reminder of suicides of students tortured by bullies is very much on the minds of educators.

"Part of it is educating the student body about who is the bully, who is the bullied and who is the bystander. How do we respond? It's not all right to be silent. It's not all right," said Hutchinson.

The students proudly display their RAISE wristbands to raise awareness that caring and respect can change, and even save, lives.

"The RAISE bracelets represent that no one should be left out," said 13-year-old Bhatnagar.

In an effort to make the meaning behind RAISE part of town-wide culture, five elementary students will appear before town meeting to speak about it and to unveil a sculpture in the spirit of respect, achievement, inclusion, service and empathy.