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In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. For our third year, we will be celebrating International Day of Peace (September 21^st) at Roberge and Woodside Schools. Since the actual date falls on a Sunday, our schools will plant pinwheels outside on Friday, September 20^th (Roberge) and Monday, September 22^nd Woodside).

The goal of this project is to help the students make a public visual statement about their feelings about tolerance, cooperation, harmony, getting along, etc. This is not political. Peace doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war; it can be related to freedom from violence or intolerance in our daily lives or simply to peace of mind.  To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.

The project was begun in 2005; Roberge and Woodside joined in the effort in 2006. Last year we added our wishes for Whirled Peace to an estimated 1.2 million pinwheels that were planted in over 2,500 locations! We will again be creating large class pinwheels to plant outside the respective schools creating a display for all to see. In addition, we are encouraging each child to create his/her own pinwheel to plant along with the class one. The combination of large and small pinwheels will have an incredible visual impact. Afterwards, the small ones will be sent to Unite in Peace, which will then send them to children in orphanages and refugee camps in Kenya and Zambia, Africa and Afghanistan. Please encourage your child to make a pinwheel with good wishes. (It would be great if the children could also write their messages on index cards to be sent along with the pinwheels for the future "Whirled Peace" book. Please no last names.) Thousands of children are in orphanages and refugee camps all over the world. When they receive these gift-giving messages of peace in their hands it helps them believe there is hope for peace.

A pinwheel is a childhood symbol reminding us of a time when things were simple, joyful, and peaceful. A pinwheel is easily made using just about any type of material, from copy paper, to thin plastic, to lightweight metal. The stick of the pinwheel can be as simple as a pencil (Push pins work great to attach them.) Pinwheels can be any size. Imagination, creativity (and a mild breeze) are the only variables needed. If your child chooses to make an individual pinwheel please have only his/her first name on the pinwheel along with a message of tolerance, living in harmony etc. This can be an illustration, poetry, prose, haiku, or other form of expression. You may print out a pinwheel template at http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/pinwheeltemplate.html.

It is our hope that the spinning of the pinwheels in the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world as we celebrate International Day of Peace with Whirled Peace.

Remember: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something! Let’s put smiles on lots of kids’ faces. Make a pinwheel to send to an orphaned child!