The International Day of Peace (also known as World Peace Day) has been observed every September since 1981 when a United Nations General Assembly resolution called for “a day to be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace.” The theme for 2022’s International Day of Peace was “End Racism. Build Peace.” According to Secretary-General António Guterres:

“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”

One of the ways AMHS marks the day is through the Pinwheels for Peace project, introduced to the high school by art teacher, Ms. Grasso, who is also the National Art Honor Society advisor.

The original project started as an art installation in 2005 by two Florida art teachers who were looking for a way for their students to express their feelings about the world and their surroundings. Leading up to this year’s event, students were encouraged to create their own “Pinwheel for Peace” (using this template) and then place them in the ground (outlining a peace sign) in front of the high school on September 21, the officially recognized International Day of Peace. Students also performed songs and poetry in celebration of the event.

When reached for comment about the event, Ms. Grasso said: This is a school community project that is supported by the students, teaching staff, administrative team, technology team and custodial staff. Our goal…  is to actively participate in this annual event as a sign of our commitment to promoting peace. Students voluntarily sing songs , recite poetry and spoken words as an outward symbol of their desire for peace. The WAC PAC makes peace rocks and shares their gifts with others who have impacted their lives in a positive way. It is a moment in time for us to stop and reflect and then take positive action and in this way we feel that we have made a difference.