There was an aura of tranquility in Schenck Auditorium as Middle School students gathered recently for a Day of Peace Assembly. Students and faculty/staff members were invited to contribute a spoken-word piece or a vocal/instrumental performance about peace, kindness, inclusion, or unity. Innovation Coordinator Ms. Larionoff, who facilitated the assembly, gave opening remarks in acknowledgment of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, whose theme this year is “Act Now for Peace.” Student presenters included Max L. ’32, who performed a cello solo (an excerpt from Haydn’s Concerto); Sohum S. ’32, who shared the poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear,” by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore; Alina E. ’32, who gave a personal reflection on learning to be at peace with herself; Lauren B. ’32, who sang “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars; and Julia I. ’30, who read an original poem titled, “Wings of Hiroshima.” Faculty contributors included Ms. Miller, 8th Grade Dean, who recited the poem “The Peace of Wild Things,” by Wendell Berry; Ms. Sanford, MS & US Librarian, who sang a beautifully haunting English folk song as she played a shruti box, a classical music instrument; and Ms. Henry, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, shared reflections on “allyship” and enabling peace in our world. At the conclusion of the assembly, students were asked to write an action for peace on a strip of paper. These strips will be linked together to create a chain and displayed in the Middle School Building. We applaud our MS students for practicing kindness and positivity during the assembly—all in keeping with our mission to “make it better”!
