"Let Peace Begin With Me"

Teacher Amy began Friday's Day of Peace activities by reminding us about the hymn, Let There Be Peace on Earth, and particularly it's most important line: "Let peace begin with me."  These five words capture a life lesson that we strive to impart to our students throughout their time at West Chester Friends School.  In order to help make the world a more peaceful place, children can begin by creating peace within themselves, in their friendships, in their classrooms, in their school, and in their families.  Then they can put the skills and habits they've developed to good use as they venture out into the wider world.

Such was our focus on Friday afternoon.  Students were paired up and asked to create banners that expressed their desire for peace and how they can help to achieve it.  Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students were paired with their fourth and fifth grade Meeting Buddies.  Students in first, second, and third grade were randomly assigned as partners.  It was remarkable how well they settled into their work, even given the fact that so many were randomly assigned to work with students in other grades with whom they might not have chosen to work if given free choice.  They discussed, planned, and created their banners, remembering what T. Caroline had taught them earlier in the week about how to make your poster "pop."

The partners met up again at the end of the day to parade around the Quaker Block, with several students encouraging passing cars to "honk for peace" (which they did!).  Here is a video of students, teachers, and family members starting out on the parade to the sounds of T. John Scardina singing his rendition of Give Peace a Chance.

The afternoon ended in our traditional way -- with the entire school joined by many family members and some Hickman residents circled around the Peace Pole singing songs led by T. John.

Our recognition of the United Nations International Day of Peace is an annual event here at WCFS.  For a peek at past celebrations you may want to see my blog posts from 2009 and 2008.

I have included a few photos from the day here, but there are several more that are worth seeing, so I've also included a slideshow (here and on the blog sidebar).

 

A BEEutiful Day at Longwood Gardens

In conjunction with this year's All-School Unit theme of "Bees," grades two through five spent the day at Longwood Gardens to take part in the Operation Pollination program.  We couldn't have asked for a more BEEutiful day weather-wise, and the students were a-BUZZ with excitement as they boarded the buses!

Putting all puns aside . . . the day's activities were a truly wonderful way for students to learn about bees and other pollinators, as well as the importance of pollination in our ecosystem, while enjoying the rich beauty of the gardens.  Guided by Longwood Gardens educators, the students explored various flower and vegetable gardens, identified a range of insects and elements that carry out this crucial process, pollinated flowers with wands that they created out of pipe cleaners, and ran relay races while acting like various creatures.  

Following a lunch that included (ironically) some pesky bees, students spent some quiet time sketching bees and architectural features of the Peirce-duPont House (home of the Quaker family that farmed the land as far back as the early 18th century), explored a tree house, viewed a demonstration hive, and strolled through the meadows.

One purpose of the All-School Unit is for children across grade levels to have common experiences around a single theme.  With more than half of our school on this trip, that goal was certainly achieved.

As we made our way to the buses for our return trip, a Longwood Gardens staff person commented that our students were "impressive," and told me that another guest had said, "That is the quietest school group I've ever seen.  I want to send my kids to that school."  I proudly told her where we were from!  Upon our return, a fourth grader said it was a "great day, with great bees, and beautiful flowers."  Yes, it was.

Please enjoy this slideshow of images from the day which illustrates the day perhaps better than any written words.