Barnesville’s 20th Annual Peace Week: Weaving Together the Threads of Peace
Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences 20th Annual Peace Week was a week to remember, weaving together creativity, collaboration, and reflection in a celebration of peace. With the theme “Weaving Together the Threads of Peace,” this year’s events focused on how we can dive into the theme, examine threads of peace, and model how peace is a verb. The week offered the community, students and staff a chance to explore what peace means and how we can collectively work towards spreading peace.
A Quilted Symbol of Peace
One of the most striking aspects of this year’s Peace Week was the creation of a collaborative art piece from each grade. Inspired by the theme, students from each grade level designed their own quilt. This artwork became a powerful representation of how small individual efforts can come together to create something much bigger. It was a visual reminder that every thread, no matter how small, contributes to the fabric and symbol of peace. Early childhood students created a masterpiece with creative pieces influenced by the world around them. Pre-Kindergarten students created a quilt inspired by a current read, “Tar Beach”, by Faith Ringgold. A story based in part on Faith’s childhood tradition of laying on the roof (a tar beach) of her Harlem apartment building on summer nights with her family. There she dreamed of flying over the buildings and the George Washington bridge, imagining a better, more equitable life for her family. Pre-Kindergarten students drew inspiration from Ringgold, creating their own cities and photos of themselves on the rooftop of their very own Tar Beach.
Kindergarten students created a Peace-a quilt! “Equal Rights are not pie! It’s Peace-a". Each student wrote a statement on equal rights. I.e. “Right to vote”, “Voices should be heard”, “Love will win”, “access to school”, etc. All their statements made up the components to a Peace-a (pizza). First grade students brought in clothing they have outgrown and up-cycled it into a meaningful and patterned quilt! Each piece of clothing was cut into squares to create a great pattern at large with a peace symbol in the center, “Take what you have to, make what you need”. Second grade students took an abstract approach, creating peace signs within each fabric used. Third grade students created a Freedom of Speech quilt! With powerful and bold words that make up the quilt, a quote by Peter Hamilton rests right at the center, “Reach for your own words. Tell the world who you are and how you will make it better.” Middle school students each designed their own square that visually showed what peace looks like in their mind. Each square was then woven together to create a unique quilt that makes up their representation of peace.
Talent Tuesday Extravaganza
Tuesday of peace Week was a talent extravaganza, where students and staff shared their diverse talents in a vibrant showcase. From poetry to original songs, and even intricate art and music performances, the talent on display showcased the creativity thriving within the Barnesville community. The energy was infectious as students took the stage, demonstrating the beauty of self-expression and the power of art that makes up peace.
The Spiral of Peace: Unity in Action
Wednesday morning brought a symbolic moment for all involved. Led by Ms. Gekas, students and staff participated in the Spiral of Peace, an activity where all joined hands and spiraled together as a symbol of unity. The circle, representing the connection between all members of the community, was a beautiful reminder of the ongoing work that each person puts into cultivating peace in their own life. All individual steps contributed to a larger movement of unity.
A Winter Concert of Peace
The Winter Concert showcased the musical talents of Barnesville students, who performed a series of songs. Their voices echoed the theme of unity. Students wowed the audience with their performances and songs.
The Peace Assembly and Parade
As a final note of Peace Week, was the highly anticipated Peace Assembly, where everyone gathered to celebrate all that had been accomplished during the week. The Peace Parade was a remarkable moment, with students proudly displaying their artworks and radiating peaceful energy throughout the school. The atmosphere was filled with JOY, creativity, and a shared sense of purpose as we all came together to celebrate the theme of peace. To close, we held a candlelight ceremony. Two students from each grade helped light the candles, symbolizing the ongoing light of peace in our hearts and community. As the warm light flickered peacefully, we reflected on our week and were reminded that peace does not end after a week– it’s something we carry with us every day.
As Peace Week concluded, one thing was clear–Barnesville’s 20th Annual Peace Week was not just an event; it was a living example of what happens when a community comes together to create positive change, one piece at a time.
Barnesville School
21830 Peach Tree Road
PO Box 404
Barnesville, MD 20838
p: 301.972.0341
PO Box 404
Barnesville, MD 20838
p: 301.972.0341
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