Students from Minot Forest Elementary donned their darkest clothing Jan. 20 to combat bullying.

The day fell in the middle of national No Name-Calling Week. Fourth grade students in the K-Kids program, a community service program for younger children, went to different classrooms talking to their peers about bullying.

Fourth grader Anna Ambarik said the students, “really just asked if they were supposed to do it for the entire week,” but that she thinks they learned a little something.

“We read this little speech about what day it is and what to wear,” Ambarik said.

She said the club also hung up posters around the school, and passed out no name calling pledges for students to sign.

Guidance counselor Lisa Ottaviano said the day was started by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2012. Minot Forest Elementary began participating in the program in 2015. She said the week is about “raising awareness of the issue and reminding students to be respectful of each other.”

She said it helps draw the line between teasing and bullying, the latter of which is considered more severe.

“I think the students can sometimes get confused between the concepts,” Ottaviano said. “Bullying is something that happens repeatedly with an imbalance of power.”

She said the week was helpful, because “the kids are talking about it more and sticking up for each other.”