This past Sunday, September 21, was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly as "International Peace Day," and celebrated by 200 countries around the world. While many in Hawaii gathered together to celebrate "Peace Day," I decided to hold a workshop for children and their families at a meditation center in Kailua.
It was a beautiful sunny day, as eight children, ranging in ages from three to ten years old, and their families gathered at the outside courtyard and sat on mats. We were surrounded by tall and vibrant green potted plants and a water fountain flowing and whispering in the background.
We talked about what peace means to us and how it feels in our bodies. Some children said that peace feels calm, soothing, warm, and relaxing. Then we shared how this feeling can manifest outside us as being helpful, kind, thoughtful, and caring.
The story of the "talking stick" was shared along with how using the talking stick is a way of learning to take turns while sharing. One person holds the stick and speaks, while the others listen. Each person passes the stick around and gets a chance to share his feelings and thoughts. Later that morning, the children each made their own talking stick with branches they had brought, then decorated them with yarn and beads.
At MPI, we also practice this process during each class. This is a skill that starts early in preschool. In the third, fourth, and fifth grades, this skill is used in peer mediation and Peace Team. As the children practice helping others to solve conflicts, learning to listen with compassion becomes a natural way of communicating.
At MPI, we strive towards making peace a part of our school culture. Peace is a way of being with ourselves and others. Peace day is every day.
May the days be gentle and peaceful for you.
Shirley Rivera
"Peace is every step. It turns the endless path to joy." -- Thich Nhat Hanh
Posted by Ms. Rivera at 8:31 AM | Permalink
Aside from the scheduled classes, each day between 11:30 and 12:20 the CE House welcomes children during their lunch recess. It is a time for listening and sharing personal stories, and sometimes seeking counsel for a troubled heart.
Children can ask their small and BIG questions by writing notes and leaving them in the mailbox outside the cottage or simply by writing how they are feeling.
Continue reading "A Visit to the CE House" »
Posted by Ms. Rivera at 2:16 PM | Permalink
The Sharing Food Project provided 238 pounds of canned food to St Patrick’s Pantry in February! Community service is a lifelong learning experience, and we are thankful for your support. Spring break means that we will start collecting food sooner than usual so that we can drop it off on Tues, 3/13. Baskets for canned food are located in the dining room, so it is easy to drop off your food at any time before the 13th. A special mahalo to the fifth graders, who help coordinate this project.
Posted by Mrs. Roth at 8:38 AM | Permalink
It is appropriate that we talk about matters of the heart around this time of year. Our CE classes have just completed the study peer mediation. We now are beginning to focus on the topic of bullying. We will be paying extra attention to how we treat each other and discussing the differences and similarities of joking, teasing, and bullying. A bullying survey will be taken by the 3/4 and 5th graders, and the results will be analyzed by the students. My goals for this unit are that we be more thoughtful and aware of each other, better able to express our feelings in a positive manner, and personally committed to working toward solutions that are peaceful and inclusive. As a community, we won’t always have to agree, but we must strive to get along and show respect to ourselves and others.
Posted by Mrs. Roth at 3:23 PM | Permalink
Martin Luther King, Jr., told us: "Everyone can be great...because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
It is my privilege to serve as the CE teacher while Ms Rivera is on her sabbatical. I am enjoying meeting your children as we discover what kindness and service mean in the life of our school community. Ask your child about the toothpaste experience. I look forward to meeting you as well.
Posted by Mrs. Roth at 3:08 PM | Permalink
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Shirley Rivera - Character Education
Grades 3-5 and Counseling Preschool - Grade 5
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