Believe in yourself. You’ve got this. Peace, love and
harmony. The Post-it notes were a sea of yellow – decorating every
locker in the high school building before leading to the colorful
posters lining the hallways with messages of peace.
It was a districtwide celebration, when members of the Port Jefferson educational community united to commemorate the International Day of Peace and celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
The youngest students read "What Does Peace Feel Like?” a
story that asks children around the world what "peace" means to them.
Fourth grade art students learned about mandalas and discovered why and
how they’re made, the messages of love, unity, and tranquility they
promote, and how they can inspire their art. Older students worked
collaboratively to design a Peace Day poster with a goal of promoting
wellness and peace through their artwork by including powerful quotes
about peace and a visual design that would catch a viewers’ eye.
Students in the high school broadcasting class interviewed classmates
and teachers about what world peace means to them while peaceful music
came over the loudspeakers between class periods. The Student
Organization, along with co-advisers Ms. Gina Fedler and Ms. Celiana
Gandolfo, sold hot chocolate with cups designed by foreign languages
classes displaying well-known quotes from world leaders. Students in
health/physical education teacher Ms. Dinarae Camarda’s classes
practiced meditation and art teacher Ms. Lynn Edsall’s students also
participated by designing peace posters, two of which were submitted for
display at the Shanti Fund's annual event at the H. Lee Dennison
Building in Hauppauge.