Ocoee High School celebrates International Day of Peace

Ocoee High School celebrated International Day of Peace Tuesday, Sept. 21. 

Established in 1981, Peace Day is observed every year around the world on Sept. 21. The day encourages "a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace," according to the United Nations International Day of Peace website. 

The school's students and staff celebrated with music, art, animals and positive messages. 

Ocoee High School Principal Lisa Karcinski said everyone took time out of the day to come together and celebrate. 

“Peace Day is a valuable opportunity for our school community to reflect on the importance of peace in an ever-changing world that at times seem so devoid of peace," Karcinski said. 

As part of the celebration, Karcinski said art students created pinwheels that symbolically sent peaceful vibes into the air as they whirled in the wind. As each student "planted" their pinwheels, they were encouraged to think of themselves as being ambassadors for peace on their campus. 

Advance Placement art students also displayed their Peace Posters and Peace themed art. 

The activities for peace continued with a moment of silence, student poetry readings, a performance by the chorus and jazz band, and a petting zoo from the Future Farmers of America. 

Karcinski also said classroom instruction for the day included techniques to promote inner peace and emphasized that when an individual has inner peace, they are better equipped to interact with others in the same manner, thus creating a ripple effect.