Middle-school students, parents and faculty at Notre Dame Preparatory and Marist Academy gathered near the main entrance of the school today to celebrate the 2013 International Day of Peace. The community stood before a peace pole, an internationally recognized symbol of peace, which was installed at the school in 2008.
Celebrated annually on September 21, World Peace Day is meant to be a day to strengthen the ideals of peace among nations, according to Brenda Kambakhsh, IB-MYP coordinator. "And to consider how to create a more peaceful, non-violent world," Kambakhsh added.
Students in Notre Dame’s lower division make peace stepping stones for the school’s Mary Garden.
“Ask God to please help us bring peace to our world,” Seitzinger told her fellow students.
Several children recited the phrase seen on Notre Dame's peace pole and on those around the world, "May peace prevail on Earth" in their native languages.
Students in the middle-division choirs under the direction of Eric Taylor along with band students directed by Teri Martin led those gathered in a song of peace. Middle-division counselor Kim Smith accompanied on guitar. Sister Barbara Ann Borkowski, a Franciscan nun who teaches seventh-grade religion at the school, spoke about the significance of the St. Francis Prayer for Peace and recited it with those gathered. She reminded students that peace begins in their families and with one another.
Peace pinwheels created by each student in the middle division were displayed along the walkways to the main entrance of the school and around the peace pole.
"We were happy to also have Notre Dame Pastoral Minister Fr. Jim Strasz, s.m., on hand," Kambakhsh said. "He recited a prayer of peace to remind those gathered of their role in creating a more peaceful world."
Students in Notre Dame's lower division also celebrated Peace Day today by making peace stepping stones to be used in the school's Mary Garden.
About the peace pole
Notre Dame's peace pole, which was dedicated in 2008, is among over 200,000 peace poles that have been planted in over 200 countries around the world. The peace pole project began in 1955 by a Japanese man named Masahisa Goi in 1955. He dedicated his life to spreading the message of peace. He believed that peace begins in the heart and mind of each individual.
The 'poles" come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from of a variety of materials, including granite, wood and plastic.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.