Universal Vare Charter Middle School hosted its first PEACE RALLY, an interactive assembly of educational skits, speakers and dance performances designed to promote peaceful behavior and anti-bullying within the school. The rally served the fifth through eighth grade population and highlighted the "Bully Patrol," a group of students who have not had disciplinary issues at all throughout the academic year.
School Assistant Principal, Ms. Roane, welcomed the crowd and introduced City Year who performed a skit about the stress that everyone brings into a school building, whether it's from home, issues with parents, friends, test grades, and more. "The key is channeling anger," the City Year performer said, "taking it out on peers, teachers, climate managers, being disrespectful, or punching a wall, is simply not the answer."
The Bully Patrol encouraged students find other outlets to let out their anger such as dancing, art projects, drawing, reading, etc. Three dancers wowed the crowd with a hip hop dance perfomance that is sure to be a stress reducer!
Next, Ms. Nurse publicly recognized each student who hasn't had a discipline problem at all during the school year. She also introudced City Coucilman elect, Kenyatta Johnson, founder of the Peace Not Guns initiative who shared a heartfelt and motivating story with the students.
"I started Peace Not Guns out of something very negative. My cousin was shot and killed over an argument. I had an opportunity to be a part of the retaliation efforts, but that day I decided I wasn't going to be a part of the problem, rather a part of the solution against violence. Nothing we could do would bring my cousin back, but we could prevent losing someone else to needless acts of violence."
The underlying message from Johnson, and other speakers including local entrepreneurs and community leaders, was the importance of education and life long learning. The event wrapped with students repeating the "Peace Pledge," a commitment to fostering peace and love in their school and community.
