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Contact: Bruce Conley
Associate Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu
February 16, 2007
SIOUX FALLS - The day begins with a pep rally and concludes with a parade, but organizers hope the message lasts forever.
Thursday, March 8, has been declared Peace Day 2007 at Hawthorne Elementary School in Sioux Falls. Lessons for the day come from the pages of Pieces of Peace, a curriculum created by professors and students in the Education Department at Augustana College.
“This will be a transformational experience for both the Hawthorne and Augustana students as they learn about the impact of one’s daily choices in promoting peace,” said Julie Ashworth, assistant professor of education at Augustana.
Assisting the Augustana contingent are students from St. Olaf, Augsburg, Luther, and Concordia (Moorhead, MN). Together, the five colleges sponsor the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Augustana is hosting the 19th annual Peace Prize Forum March 9-10.
Peace Day at Hawthorne begins with a peace pep rally. Each student receives a t-shirt and each classroom receives a copy of The Peace Book by Todd Parr.
Following the pep rally, Hawthorne students in the fourth and fifth grades will attend a series of workshops focusing on peace. The workshops promote peace in the classroom, family, lunchroom, playground, community, and world.
“Our school is rich with diversity,” said Cheryl Larson, principal at Hawthorne. “We come from different cultures, but we have much in common. Learning the value of peace in our lives will create a dynamic experience for our students.”
After lunch, the Hawthorne students will gather to discuss peace and create signs and posters. Following an assembly, the students will parade through downtown Sioux Falls displaying their work, and sharing messages of peace with the community.
“We’re very excited and honored to have the opportunity to connect with Augustana for this noble project,” said Larson.
The Pieces of Peace curriculum was created in compliance with South Dakota’s education standards. It contains more than 40 lessons for teachers to use in the classroom to show children how to be peacemakers. Literature from more than 100 children’s books is contained in the curriculum. Thanks to the generosity of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, all K-5 elementary teachers in the Sioux Falls School District will receive a free copy of the curriculum for use in their classrooms.
Nancy Carlson, noted author and illustrator, created the cover for Pieces of Peace. Carlson has published more than 50 books. She was born and raised in Edina, Minn., and many of her stories are taken from her own childhood experiences.
The Pieces of Peace curriculum will be on sale at the Peace Prize Forum March 9-10 at Augustana.