As an IB World School, SISC shares the responsibility of promoting peace and managing conflict so everyone can live together peacefully not only on a global scale but also in personal and classroom interactions. It is for this reason that the International Baccalaureate students led the school’s 1st International Peace Day celebration last September 22, 2014. The event was highlighted by activities such as the Wall of Peace, Storytelling, A Thousand Cranes for Peace, and Peace Talk which involved students from preschool to college.

WALL OF PEACE

On the Wall of Peace, the students, teachers and other stakeholders were asked how they can keep the peace in their day-to-day living. Below are some of the messages that were posted: “Communicate.” “Start a day with a smile.” “Compliment someone today, save a life.” “Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.” “Understand self and learn to understand others.” “Increase the usage or put pressure on the ‘global citizen’ idea and promote a world culture.” “Never argue about our differences because every conflict starts with the thought of it.”

STORY TELLING

Sixty-two preschoolers gathered in the Nursery Red Room of Munich Campus to listen to a story told by Mr. John Wraith, IB English teacher. The story entitled Righty and Lefty is about two feet belonging to the same boy which can’t seem to agree on anything. Despite walking different ways, the two feet learned in the end how to get along without tripping each other. The story taught the preschoolers the value of friendship and compromise which are inevitable in achieving peace.

A THOUSAND CRANES FOR PEACE

According to a Japanese legend, a wish will be granted if you fold a thousand origami cranes. This inspired the IB students to promote peace through art by inviting each student in the Luxembourg Campus to fold an origami crane and wish for peace. The activity was certainly a hit!

PEACE TALK

IB and College students listened to a talk given by Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, a passionate peace advocate behind the Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement. In the said talk, Sumndad-Usman encouraged the students to become peace builders by engaging in activities which promote peace such as art, music, sports, service, and dialogues.
Sumndad-Usman was the recipient of the 2013 “Emerging Peace Champion” Award from the N-Peace Network organized by the United Nations Development Program. Her advocacy of building a culture of peace in the Philippines has been featured in the Huffington Post.