Students and staff at Miracle Beach Elementary School gathered together recently to celebrate peace.
“In 2002 the UN General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal.” (Culture of Peace Initiative, 2002).
Teacher Cassandra Antoine came across a website called www.pinwheelsforpeace.com and became intrigued by the project.
Children were asked to create a pinwheel and draw images or write words on it that reminded them of peace and then fly it on Sept. 21.
Antoine noted that it is a pretty amazing thing to know that you are a part of a global movement that started in 2005, especially when you are from a small town on Vancouver Island.
When she told her Grade 3-4 students about the project, they fell in love with the idea, and it immediately became a school-wide endeavour.
The staff agreed that was nice to see students coming together in buddy classes to help each other create their pinwheels and talk about peacefulness.
Antoine believes it is important for us to pause and appreciate what we have, celebrate our differences and strive for human kindness. After all, we are all human.
The school thanks McDonald's and Fabricland for donating the straws and pins for our pinwheels.
— Miracle Beach Elementary School