A Patterson International Elementary student affixes his pinwheel to a small wooden stake on the front lawn of the school as part of Pinwheels for Peace 2015.
Patterson International Elementary School students joined with kids worldwide for the 2015 “Pinwheels for Peace” project on September 21, as part of the International Day of Peace. This is the tenth year Patterson has celebrated Pinwheels for Peace.
“We’re really proud of it. We think it gives our kids a chance to be communicators,” said third grade teacher Josh Kekkonen. “This is not trying to push any message ourselves, this comes all from the kids – what’s in their heart, what does peace mean to them.”
The project was introduced to Patterson by an art teacher, and it has since become a tradition for the school.
“It lets kids be communicators, sort of connect with each other, and really we try to raise up kids voices for Pinwheels for Peace. We try to have the kids run the show when it comes to Pinwheels for Peace,” said Kekkonen.
Each student decorated a pinwheel, sharing images and ideas of what peace means to him or her.
“I think it’s really important because we have a specific day to come together, and it really gives us that reminder,” said fifth-grader Nicola Rodriguez. “It makes me feel proud that we can be part of that…and work together to make this happen.”
After an assembly in the gymnasium, everyone headed outside to plant their pinwheels in front of the school.
“It means that kids are finally going to be cooperating together, and being nice to each other,” said fifth-grader Amelia Rowley.
It was a special event that helped connect students to those outside of their school, and even outside their community.
“I just love these community experiences where kids get to feel like they’re a part of something. Not just something a part of their school or their class, but something larger,” said Kekkonen.
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