Peace at the Heart of Thomas Paine Elementary

All they’re saying is give peace a chance.

After months of work, fourth- and fifth-graders at Thomas Paine Elementary unveiled a massive mosaic mural dedicated to that ideal at the school’s multipurpose room.

Covering most of the wall behind the elementary school’s stage, the features the word “Peace” in 27 languages—all those spoken in the area, plus a handful more—and mirrored portraits of students, which art teacher Sara Gilgore represent the idea of self-reflection.

All of it’s arrayed around the classic symbol of peace, a dove.

The piece shows kids can grasp complex ideas in a meaningful way, said Susan Weinman, the school’s principal.

“There’s just no better way to examine the concept of peace than through the eyes of innocent children,” she said.

Students worked from September through November on the mural, with help from artist Joe Breneman. It came together in part with contributions from the Perkins Center for the Arts, the Paine PTA and the Cherry Hill Education Foundation.

“They have just done a wonderful job,” Weinman said.

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