- March 6, 2025
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Fourth grader Sandra Vidanova presents her clay peace project. Courtesy photo.
Paraprofessionals Mandy Frint and Jo Dapello-Gnad and Dana Townson, an Investing in Educational Excellence teacher, welcome students to school on Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Fourth grader Nassir Matta shows off his Peace Day artwork. Matta wrote "peace means kindness and love." Courtesy photo.
Ashley Terry, the assistant principal, and Cheryl McGrew, the principal, celebrate Peace Day with their students and staff. Courtesy photo.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School teachers Gwyn Ingham, Kristi Dyer and Ashlie Fulmer celebrate Peace Day with their classes. Each class read "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens. Courtesy photo.
A peace sign is made out of tissue paper. Courtesy photo.
With the peace train theme this year, student leaders created a banner with a peace train. Courtesy photo.
First grader Devon McFarland makes a peace sign for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Students create art to show what peace means to them. Courtesy photo.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School staff and students celebrate International Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Students' artwork showing what peace means to them hangs outside the school. Courtesy photo.
Fourth grader Eveyln Ridgney makes her own peace sign shirt for Peace Day. Courtesy photo.
Every class has received a copy of "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens. Each class read the book before decorating their own train car to add to the school's peace train that will be hung in the school cafeteria. Courtesy photo.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School students jumped on the peace train Sept. 21 to celebrate International Peace Day.
The school was able to purchase a copy of Cat Stevens' book "Peace Train" for every classroom. Each class read the book and decorated their own train car. The school's Parent Teacher Organization, office staff, custodial staff, paraprofessionals, the fine arts department and others also decorated their own train cars.
The cars will be connected in the cafeteria.
"It's a nice way to remember that Peace Day stands for spreading kindness and showing compassion not only within our school community but in our home community and then even farther out in the world," said Kristi Dyer, a teacher and Peace Day coordinator.
A committee of student leaders also produced a virtual ceremony for the school and made a banner. Students also dressed in clothing with peace signs and made art sharing what peace means to them.
Ashlie Fulmer, a teacher and Peace Day coordinator, said celebrating Peace Day is an opportunity to interrupt the every day routine for something positive.
"We want to maintain these traditions for our students, and we don't want anybody to miss Peace Day," Fulmer said. "It's definitely a part of our culture that just brings us a lot of joy through these times."
