Students take themes from Peace Education to design Peace Poles-Hudson Middle School, Hudson, Ohio-USA

Friday, May 22, 2015

We had a Peace Pole dedication ceremony at Hudson Middle School. The event took place in the Middle School courtyard. The 30 minute student-led program was televised throughout the school for all to view.

Ohio State Representative Kristina Roegner, Hudson City Councilmen At-Large William Wooldredge, district administrators, teachers, parents, and students celebrated this monumental moment.

We learned about the Peace Pole Project during our research to teach a unit about Peace Education, to prepare for International Day of Peace, and to prepare our own Peace Poles. Below is our Press Release about the inspiration for The HMS Peace Project.

The inspiration for the HMS Peace Project began several years back when a group of HMS teachers attended a Global Institute at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Since that time, Terry Stump, Grade 8 Art Tech Teacher, Richard Kiovsky, Grade 8-12 German Teacher, and Holly Mesmer, Grade 8 Spanish Teacher, procured funds to bring this project to fruition. April 2014, the Hudson Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) granted the  necessary funds to begin the HMS Peace Project. Throughout the 2014-2015 academic year, Grade 8 Art Tech and Grade 8 World Language students were involved in a four part process: Part I-Peace Education, Part II-Design, Part III, Implementation, and Part IV-Dedication.

The project began with a supplemental unit, Peace Education, to build awareness about human rights, the students’ role as ambassadors of peace, and how action is essential to peace keeping. Part II-Design. Students took themes from Peace Education to design the Peace Poles. Part III-Implementation. Students collaborated to create two-dimensional visual thematic designs that conveyed peaceful permanent messages once transferred to three dimensional Peace Poles. Part IV-Dedication. On May 22, 2015, students dedicated their Peace Poles as visual silent reminders for peace to prevail on earth as well as daily in our Hudson Middle School community.

Respectfully Submitted by:
Terry Williams Stump, Grade 8 Art Teacher & Holly Mesmer, Grade 8 Spanish Teacher

See an article and photos below in the Hudson Hub Times:
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS LEAVE LEGACY OF PEACE WITH COURTYARD PROJECT
by Tim Troglen | reporter Published: June 7, 2015 12:00AM
http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news%2520local/2015/06/07/middle-school-students-leave-legacy-of-peace-with-courtyard-project