• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Peace prevails at McNeal Elementary in Lakewood Ranch

McNeal Elementary School celebrates Peace Day by making projects for essential workers.


  • By Liz Ramos
  • | 9:00 a.m. September 30, 2020
  • East County
  • News
  • Share

Although Peace Day at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School looked different due to COVID-19, students and staff were excited to celebrate the event Sept. 14.

“[Peace Day] is allowing our students to have a day to come together and share ideas of how we can spread kindness and peace,” said Kristi Dyer, a teacher who was the Peace Day coordinator. “It’s a good day to reflect and remind each other how to show compassion to each other.”

Students celebrated the school’s fifth annual Peace Day by making banners, cards, flowers, flags and pinwheels to give to essential workers, such as local police officers, teachers and fire fighters.

Kristi Dyer, Ashlie Fulmer and Gwyn Ingham, teachers at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, love seeing the projects students create for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Kristi Dyer, Ashlie Fulmer and Gwyn Ingham, teachers at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, love seeing the projects students create for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Malea Benson, Sinayah Jenkins, Brooke Hardiso, Kya Fernandez and Maxima Hodge celebrate Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's fifth annual Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Malea Benson, Sinayah Jenkins, Brooke Hardiso, Kya Fernandez and Maxima Hodge celebrate Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's fifth annual Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Anthony Sosso shows off his artwork for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Anthony Sosso shows off his artwork for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Fourth grader Ella Dyer's hand drawn thank you is hung outside the school. Courtesy photo.
Fourth grader Ella Dyer's hand drawn thank you is hung outside the school. Courtesy photo.
Ella Dyer, Kristi Dyer, effrey Davis and Keagan Terry, Detective Todd Shear and Isabella Lawton show off the banners students made to give to local law enforcement. Courtesy photo.
Ella Dyer, Kristi Dyer, effrey Davis and Keagan Terry, Detective Todd Shear and Isabella Lawton show off the banners students made to give to local law enforcement. Courtesy photo.
Second graders trace their arms and decorate them for what peace means to them. The arms are put on a banner to say,
Second graders trace their arms and decorate them for what peace means to them. The arms are put on a banner to say, "Peace is in our hands." Courtesy photo.
Third graders make flowers out of coffee filters. They colored them with market and sprinkled water on them to blend the colors. Courtesy photo.
Third graders make flowers out of coffee filters. They colored them with market and sprinkled water on them to blend the colors. Courtesy photo.
Fifth graders make peace flags. They decorated the flags to show what peace means to them. Courtesy photo.
Fifth graders make peace flags. They decorated the flags to show what peace means to them. Courtesy photo.
Pre-K students and kindergartners trace their hands to make them look like peace doves. Courtesy photo.
Pre-K students and kindergartners trace their hands to make them look like peace doves. Courtesy photo.
Students make cards and flags to represent what peace means to them. Courtesy photo.
Students make cards and flags to represent what peace means to them. Courtesy photo.

 

Latest News

Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale
The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday
James T. Golden, who previously represented District 5 on the school board from 2018-2022, is now running once again to represent District 2.
  • August 5, 2026
Past school board chair wants to serve Manatee County School District again

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in News

The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
James T. Golden, who previously represented District 5 on the school board from 2018-2022, is now running once again to represent District 2.
  • August 5, 2026
Past school board chair wants to serve Manatee County School District again
Jeremy Keller has started Prestige Auto Experiences in Lakewood Ranch with the idea that many potential club members would love to get behind the wheel of a classic or exotic car.
  • August 4, 2026
Country club for car enthusiasts to open in Lakewood Ranch
Harold Kobakof, Luzette Socash, Greg Dunbar, Howard Sosnik and Jim Toolen are not done fighting the high-density project slated to be built adjacent to their Lakewood Ranch neighborhood.
  • August 4, 2026
Lakewood Ranch residents face challenges of Live Local Act
District 72 Rep. Bill Conerly and his challenger, John Phillips, attend a candidate forum at the Lakewood Ranch Library Aug. 1.
  • August 3, 2026
District 72 House candidates speak to Lakewood Ranch Republican Club
Manatee County resident Julie Madison addresses commissioners at the July 28 meeting. The black t-shirt Madison is wearing was also worn by several other residents.
  • August 3, 2026
Voters to decide additional Manatee environmental lands millage

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free