Messmore Elementary marked the International Day of Peace by showing its year-round commitment to taking care of each other and their earth.

The school unveiled its new Outdoor Learning Oasis on the grounds – an outdoor area where students and classes can gather to encourage curiosity, collaboration and peace.

“In our Montessori environment, what we refer to as positive behavior support is peace education,” said Principal Dr. Renee Fiema. ”Each day, we guide our students to become a peacemaker, both within themselves and in the wider world.”

The outdoor learning oasis is located at the front of the school and has several areas:

• A large rock garden – or oasis – that is a centerpiece for peaceful gatherings and reflections
• Picnic tables under a large canopy
• An International Peace Pole – a four-sided pole  with the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in different languages.
• A little library for students to share and leave their favorite books for their classmates.
• A Glockenspiel – A German percussion instrument consisting of pitched aluminum or steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout.

“This project has truly been a labor of love, a vision that started as a dream and has grown into this beautiful, tangible space where our children can explore, learn, and connect with nature– said Betta Stupera, president of the Messmore Montessori Association.

The October 17 ceremony involved students from each grade, who unveiled a peace banner, recited poems, sang “Each of Us is a flower” and presented guests with one of their “1,000 paper cranes” project.

The cranes project is based on the story of Sadako Saki, a victim of the atomic bomb who believed if 1,000 Origami cranes were created, it would result in health, hope and peace not just for herself but the rest of the world.

“Our cranes represent peace, hope, and healing,” the students said.