Middle-division students and faculty at Notre Dame gathered near the main entrance of the school today to celebrate World Peace Day. The community stood before the school's peace pole, an internationally recognized symbol of peace.
First celebrated in 1982, World Peace Day takes place annually in September and is a time dedicated to the absence of war and violence and a day for strengthening the ideals of peace among nations as well as to consider how to create a more peaceful world in our own communities.
Brynn Caldwell, a 7th grade student, opened the Notre Dame ceremony this morning by reminding students that “each of us has a role and a responsibility to help create a world where we can all live in peace.” Sophie Thieme, also a 7th grade student, asked students to say a short prayer for peace each day as they pass the peace pole, “to help bring peace to our world.”
Eighth grader Rihanna Hensler introduced several other middle division students who spoke the phrase on the peace pole (“May peace prevail on Earth.”) in their non-English mother tongues or second languages. Notre Dame teacher and Marist priest, Father James Strasz, spoke to students about strife around the world and the importance of praying for peace.
During recent religion classes, students also discussed ways to create peace in our world and read quotes by others about peace. Their ideas and words of peace in various languages were recorded on colorful paper butterflies that students “planted” near the entrance to the school as they processed to liturgy today.
Also today, each class in Notre Dame's lower division created special posters to help celebrate World Peace Day.
Notre Dame has been celebrating World Peace Day since the installation of its peace pole in 2008.
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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.