Leif Ericson Day School celebrated annual Peace Day

Peace Be With You!

“Jesus Bop,” “Love Jive,” “Peace Like A River,” “One Name” and “Make Me A Servant” were the hymns that echoed loud and clear through the chapel and school at Leif Ericson Day School on Wednesday, September 24 as the school, located in Dyker Heights, held its annual Peace Day celebration.

Peace Committee member Signe Campbell said, “The students make family, personal, school, class and community pledges. They enjoy it and it’s something they have pledged to keep doing.

“We’ve been doing our Peace Day celebrations for over 10 years now, and we have one every month,” Campbell added. “We’re trying to make them peace builders.” The day of festivities included a concert, peace fingerprints, multiple chapel services, peace pledges and offerings, and a community international feast.

“In the world that we live in today, it’s important to cultivate peace within ourselves, locally and worldwide,” said Peace Committee member Rita Pihra-Majurinen. “You can’t have peace without justice.” Pihra-Majurinen is also the founder of the Children’s Choral & Arts Festival of Peace. She believes, “Music is such a tool.”

The students concur. Peace Ambassadors Ciara Gallagher and Ridley Shehata are eighth grade students at Leif Ericson Day School, heavily involved with the Peace movement.

Gallagher stated, “It’s so nice to lead people.” Both believe in pushing for peace. Shehata said, “We promote peace throughout the school, lead the worship and help out.” He added with a smile, “My parents love it.”

Pihra-Majurinen explained, “We want to push the positives to replace all of the negatives. We’re all equal and we need to be practicing peace so we can model it.”

Pihra-Majurinen and Campbell both contended that it’s good to get the students involved with peace when they are young, so they will take it with them for the rest of their lives.

On top of that, they both agree that by participating in Peace Day at school, students will take what they learn into the community. Campbell summed up, “That’s the hope.”