Coming Together for Peace Day

Peace, unity, and belonging were at the heart of this year’s International Day of Peace celebrations at GESS. Students, dressed in white symbolically, gathered for a school-wide assembly, which kicked off with a thought-provoking speech from our interim principal, Christiane Kübler. The speech prompted everyone to reflect on what it means to cultivate peace within ourselves, in our relationships, our communities, and in the wider world. Music and art became unifying expressions and celebrations of peace for the occasion. Along with a music performance by our school band, we also unveiled a community-made peace banner and a collaborative artwork featuring mini wooden figurines decorated by students and teachers as a way of appreciating our diversity and togetherness. In the lead-up to the day, the school library encouraged students to think about peace through a curated display. We concluded our celebrations by broadcasting a poem about peace through our audio system and inviting everyone to observe a minute of silence. The celebrations may be over, but the topics of peace, freedom, and inclusion will always have a place in our classroom conversations and community initiatives.

Get a glimpse of the Peace Day celebration at GESS here.