"Peace"ful Beginnings at Elmhurst Academy

(Elmhurst,IL) As the students and faculty at Elmhurst Academy begin the new school year, the students are inspired to start their learning as they commence upon the celebration of 10 Days of Peace.

Throughout the 10 Days of Peace, the children engage in various activities that promote peace not only in the classroom, but in their homes, their relationships with others and in their communities. The children begin the week discussing and sharing what peace means to them and how to create a peaceful classroom. They are familiarized with areas in their classrooms that help them to seek peaceful solutions and the tools to successfully accomplish this. Each classroom creates a peace table with the assistance of Elmhurst Academy’s Atelierista, Mrs. Flynn, where they can sit and reflect on a conflict or talk things over with a friend. These tables symbolize their pledge to practice peaceful behavior in the classroom.

Students and their families are also invited to focus on peaceful bodies as they practice breathing, yoga, and brain education led by Mrs. Galarza, Early Childhood Teacher and Project Health Committee Chair on the school’s outdoor piazza.

During the rest of the week, the children will become global citizens of peace as they care for the school gardens and the discovery play areas, and they will connect with other classes and students by creating gifts of artwork to present to each other during the Peaceful Exchange and the Community Peace Pledge.

As part of our celebration, Elmhurst Academy is also proudly participating in the Peace Crane Project. This unique community art project has people place small origami peace cranes in special places in their community to help spread hope for peace in the world. Each class will partake in making over 100 origami peace cranes and their families will write messages of harmony on their wings. These cranes will then be delivered throughout the community. For more information on the Peace Crane Project, please visit peacecraneproject.org.

The culminating event, which is held on September 21st, the International Day of Peace, takes place in the Community Peace Garden as the children pledge to be peaceful warriors and present their classroom symbols of peace to hang on their peace pole.

“Beginning the school year as a community dedicated to peace and creating an environment that nurtures positive character traits is essential to a future that will contribute to building a culture of peace,” says Mrs. Kyleen Flynn, Elmhurst Academy Atelierista.