Rededication of Peace Pole at Hidden Valley Elementary held Feb. 27

The Peace Program at Hidden Valley Elementary is an annual event that rededicates the Peace Pole, which stands near the school’s main entrance with the saying “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

According to The Peace Pole Project — an organization aimed at planting this message around the globe — there are tens of thousands of Peace Poles around the world.

At the rededication ceremony on Feb. 27, students sang songs and shared A-to-Z words and phrases to highlight ways to bring peace to the community. Additionally, music specialist Kim Wood, who organizes the event each year, added a quilt-making project to the mix.

For the last few months, classroom teachers helped students paint their unique fingerprints on pieces of fabric. This activity was inspired by the book students read in music class called “The Quiltmakers Gift.”

Students chose two small quilt squares that would be used to make the quilt. Wood, along with students, staff, parent and community volunteers, sewed the pieces together to create two quilts. The quilts will be donated to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit organization that provides beds and bedding to children in need. 

“Teaching children to give back encourages a more peaceful society and creates a better world for all,” said Wood. “They enjoyed seeing each small fabric piece turn into something even greater.”

Wood added: “When each one of us, a small piece, promotes peace, imagine what we can do collectively?”

"It's so important to teach our students that peace involves action," said Hidden Valley Principal Kristine Black. "The Peace Celebration is our active commitment that we will be a more peaceful and caring community, take good care of each other and stand up boldly for peace! This is my favorite gathering because it is filled with hope and the best of us!"    

Hidden Valley is an International Peace Site. Since 2016, the school has held an annual ceremony that includes staff, students and families, recommitting to being a peaceful and welcoming community. 

A-to-Z Journey For a Better World

• Acknowledgement - A way to honor, appreciate or recognize something.
• Belonging - In this community, you will never feel left out because we treat other how we want to be treated.
• Courage - Courage to care for our land and people.
• Dawn - Be grateful for the world and for the dawn of nature.
• Empathy - Helping and caring for others.
• Fantastic - You’re fantastic, amazing, strong, brave, wonderful, kind, loved and worthy.
• Grace - Grace always conquers.
• Hope - You can feel hope anywhere you’re at or in any way you feel.
• Interaction - Intention is nothing without action.
• Justice and Joy - Trying to make the world a better place.
• Kindness - Everyone deserves kindness.
• Leader - We are all leaders.
• Marvelous - You are special. You are a marvelous masterpiece.
• Nature - Nature is everywhere.
• Out Loud - Speak OUT LOUD to make a difference.
• Peace - Love each other.
• Quilt - Pieces for Peace Sometimes the more different fabrics - and people - are, the stronger the pattern.
• Reliable - Able to be trusted.
• Soar - Safe, On task, Accountable, and Respectful.
• Together - Together is better.
• Valuable - You are precious. You mean a lot to us.
• Wonderful - Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.
• X- eXtra - Live and love unapologetically.
• You - You have unlimited potential.
• Zillion - There are a zillion reasons why working for a peaceful community and world is important.