FARMINGTON— To reinforce their study of thoughts and actions that build peace, students at Knowlton Elementary formed a 700-person peace symbol on their school playground Friday.
“We wanted to start the school year with a clear set of rules on how we treat people,” said Sonya Hansen, parent organizer. “We want to try to help with tools to bring order and calm to the classroom.”
One focus of the initiative is to prevent bullying, she said, but organizers decided that emphasizing peace would be more positive.
The week began with a visit from Valerie Ackley, author of “What are you thinking?” who spoke with the kids about the power of positive thoughts over negative ones.
“Her ideas can be applied in the classroom and toward each other,” said third-grade teacher Christy Rowland. “I really think it has helped because as we’ve been talking and reading in an anthology, kids now recognize when someone is being positive and when they’re being negative. They see (being positive) makes a happier person and a happier life.”
Throughout the week, students could earn “Build peace, praise people” slips or could submit names of those who deserved them, for doing something extra. Some honored teachers for being interested in them, another honored the janitor for his work cleaning the lunchroom. During recesses, volunteers looked for students who included other students in their activities or helped where there were needs.
For more information check out the Oct.11 edition of Davis Clipper.
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