In the mission statement of La Tierra Community School, we articulate a commitment to social and environmental justice, as well as a desire for our students to promote positive change in the community. True to our ambitions, we celebrate Peace Week every year where we engage in activities that highlight social and environmental justice and give our students the opportunity to think beyond themselves and participate in the global community.
This year on September 21, LTCS students actively joined in the International Day of Peace activities right here in Prescott, AZ. 
United Nations International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace, designated as such by the United Nations, is observed around the world. According to the United Nations’ website, “the UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire … The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire …”
As a yearly event, International Peace Day has a changing theme which reflects the situation in the world. The 2021 theme was “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world” and the UN invited people to “join the efforts of the United Nations family as we focus on recovering better for a more equitable and peaceful world. Celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion, kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic, and as we recover.”
La Tierra Students Participate in Prescott Peace Event
Fourth and fifth graders from LTCS attended the Yavapai County Courthouse event organized by Prescott Peacekeepers, where several LTCS students spoke to the crowd about what peace means to them. LTCS students thought about and discussed this year’s theme, which felt more personal this year than ever before, and then wrote down their thoughts about peace.
Fourth-grader Lilly, read the poem she had written about peace, a portion of which we share with you here:
My vision of peace is simple: kind, beautiful, friendly people.
Imagine, I know you can do it. My vision of peace is simple.
We should learn to put aside sadness, fear of darkness,
and have happiness, joy, and light.
We can work together like birds building a nest for their babies,
penguins huddling together to keep warm, wolves watching out for their pack.
We can live peacefully, that is my vision of peace.
Celebrating International Day of Peace at La Tierra
Later in the week, all LTCS students made Peace Pinwheels as a physical expression of their wishes for peace. In every class, students create the pinwheels, then wrote their vision of peace and held this in their hearts while they decorated the pinwheels. Once the decorations were complete, students attached them to the school fence where they spin and remind students, staff, and families of their wishes for peace.
About La Tierra Community School
At La Tierra Community School, teachers, parents, staff, and students work together to create a school culture of collaboration, respect, and high expectations. Through our expeditionary learning-inspired approach, trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate our community and our students know they can impact their world. Enrolling K-7 in Prescott, today!
