Community Corner

JMMS Students Celebrate 'International Day of Peace'

On a beautiful, sunny day, students and staff at the Melillo School in East Haven formed a live peace sign.

Students and staff stood in rows and lines as they formed a live peace sign at the Joseph Melillo Middle School Sept. 20 to celebrate the International Day of Peace.

The special day is commemorated each September since the attacks of 9/11. 

Students, teachers, staff and administration created decorative posters and “Pinwheels for Peace,” which was an organization that began in 2005 to promote peace throughout the world. The pinwheels are a “childhood symbol – it reminds us of a time when things were simple, joyful, peaceful” (www.pinwheelsforpeace.com). 

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The celebration also welcomed the presence of Mayor Joseph Maturo, Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner and the East Haven Fire Department, all of whom graciously volunteered their time to join the festivities. 

With the sounds of The Beatles, “Imagine” and The O’Jays, “Love Train” beating in the background, the words for peace and love were truly represented.  

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Dancing, laughter and reflection took place around the jumbo peace sign spray-painted on the front lawn of J.M.M.S, created with the help of E.H Public Works and Steve Kluth. 

In addition, students voiced what peace meant to them through their readings of poetry and their recipes for peace. By celebrating this special day, we hope to share and spread our wishes, hopes and dreams for peace, not only today, but everyday- but it has to start from within ourselves.

-- A special thanks to Jordan Imperati, Special Education, J.M.M.S., for the writeup and photos for this article. 


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