Post by title1parent on Feb 10, 2009 6:30:06 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1421622,6_1_NA10_PEACE_S1.article
School says give peace a chance
February 10, 2009
By KATHY MILLEN kmillen@scn1.com
VaLerie Humphrey sensed the energy in the halls and classrooms at Still Middle School Monday.
"It was a high today," said Humphrey, assistant principal of the school. "It was so high, you could feel it."
So could other staff members and students as the school kicked off 32 Days of PEACE, a program designed to celebrate the ways students and staff can create a peaceful environment.
The program was inspired by The Naperville Sun series "32 Days and Ways to Practice Peace," from Sept. 15 through Oct. 16, for Naperville's second annual Celebration of Peace.
Staff and students were enthusiastic as the program started at 8 a.m. with students signing a PEACE Pledge. Some were wearing peace signs on their clothing or around their necks. Faculty and staff were dressed in black T-shirts bearing a green and white design created by Kendra McGrath, a Neuqua Valley High School sophomore who was one of the winners of the Naperville Celebration of Peace design contest.
During the 32 days, faculty will be on the alert, giving students caught doing something good a "Peace, Pride, Power" ticket. The grade collecting the most tickets will receive a PEACE Dance Party on March 27.
But the program's primary focus is to empower children to help create a better world. To that end, students will raise money for worthy causes.
"I want to stop the kids from looking in the mirror and have them look out of the window, look at other people and how they can help other people." Humphrey said. "It's not about themselves. Peace starts with you, but it goes further than that, and, as one person, you can do a whole lot."
Sixth-grader Karl Smith, 12, of Aurora, already is noticing a difference in the atmosphere at school.
"People are talking nicer to people and talking to people they don't normally talk to," he said.
Skylar Kunz, 14, an eighth-grader from Aurora, says the program encourages students to be kind to each other. Eighth-grader Tiffany Lee, 13, of Aurora, said the prizes may motivate some students, but others want to do good and become better people.
Reading teacher Ami Schleining is giving them a nudge by hanging inspirational quotations throughout the hallways of the building.
"If other people said all these great words, they can say them, too, and they can think them, and they can act them," she said.
Humphrey hopes the 32 Days of PEACE becomes an annual event at Still and other schools. Programs like these often have a lasting impact on children, she said.
"Most of your memories from your childhood are not about the classroom and an assignment," Humphrey said. "Your memories of school are the other things that you did in school that made school what it was. We're trying to give (students) some creative memories, something to enjoy later and think about."
School says give peace a chance
February 10, 2009
By KATHY MILLEN kmillen@scn1.com
VaLerie Humphrey sensed the energy in the halls and classrooms at Still Middle School Monday.
"It was a high today," said Humphrey, assistant principal of the school. "It was so high, you could feel it."
So could other staff members and students as the school kicked off 32 Days of PEACE, a program designed to celebrate the ways students and staff can create a peaceful environment.
The program was inspired by The Naperville Sun series "32 Days and Ways to Practice Peace," from Sept. 15 through Oct. 16, for Naperville's second annual Celebration of Peace.
Staff and students were enthusiastic as the program started at 8 a.m. with students signing a PEACE Pledge. Some were wearing peace signs on their clothing or around their necks. Faculty and staff were dressed in black T-shirts bearing a green and white design created by Kendra McGrath, a Neuqua Valley High School sophomore who was one of the winners of the Naperville Celebration of Peace design contest.
During the 32 days, faculty will be on the alert, giving students caught doing something good a "Peace, Pride, Power" ticket. The grade collecting the most tickets will receive a PEACE Dance Party on March 27.
But the program's primary focus is to empower children to help create a better world. To that end, students will raise money for worthy causes.
"I want to stop the kids from looking in the mirror and have them look out of the window, look at other people and how they can help other people." Humphrey said. "It's not about themselves. Peace starts with you, but it goes further than that, and, as one person, you can do a whole lot."
Sixth-grader Karl Smith, 12, of Aurora, already is noticing a difference in the atmosphere at school.
"People are talking nicer to people and talking to people they don't normally talk to," he said.
Skylar Kunz, 14, an eighth-grader from Aurora, says the program encourages students to be kind to each other. Eighth-grader Tiffany Lee, 13, of Aurora, said the prizes may motivate some students, but others want to do good and become better people.
Reading teacher Ami Schleining is giving them a nudge by hanging inspirational quotations throughout the hallways of the building.
"If other people said all these great words, they can say them, too, and they can think them, and they can act them," she said.
Humphrey hopes the 32 Days of PEACE becomes an annual event at Still and other schools. Programs like these often have a lasting impact on children, she said.
"Most of your memories from your childhood are not about the classroom and an assignment," Humphrey said. "Your memories of school are the other things that you did in school that made school what it was. We're trying to give (students) some creative memories, something to enjoy later and think about."