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BCPS Celebrates Choose Peace Week/Stop Violence Week “Recovering and Working Together in Peace for a Better World,” September 20 – 24
September 20, 2021
Art Work Right to left (Gizelle Siguenza: Nova Blanche Foreman Elementary School, Dunia Castro: Driftwood Middle School, Yaire Castro: Hollywood Hills High School)
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) celebrates the 12th annual Choose Peace/Stop Violence Week, September 20 – 24, 2021. This year’s theme “Recovering and Working Together in Peace for a Better World" is a call to action to spread compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. The District is proud to partner with the United Way of Broward County and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County on this initiative.
As part of Choose Peace Week/Stop Violence Week, participating District schools have the chance to win a Peace Pole. Peace Poles are reminders for students and community members to think, speak and act in the spirit of peace and harmony throughout the year. The Broward Peace Pole was established in 2010. Since then, Peace Poles have been awarded to 49 schools and community organizations in Broward County.
A few of the many activities taking place across the District celebrating Choose Peace Week/Stop Violence Week:
- International Peace Day and Choose Peace Across Broward Day will be observed on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear white to promote a safe, peaceful and non-violent community. - Beachside Montessori Village students celebrate International Peace Day with a schoolwide candle lighting ceremony of student-made luminaries, collectively singing "Light a candle for peace" and waving an array of flags
Tuesday, September 21, 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. - Peace Pole Ceremony at New Renaissance Middle School
10701 Miramar Blvd., Miramar, FL 33025
Friday, September 24, at 3 p.m. - Local Starbucks locations provided thousands of coffee cup sleeves for students to decorate with peace symbols, slogans and messages. Starbucks Corporation has supported this effort over the years and the locations will hand out the sleeves to customers during Peace Week.
- Chalk4Peace allows students to express messages of inspiration and visions using sidewalk chalk art.
- Students will create peaceful wishes for their “Imagine Peace Wish Tree.”
- “Pinwheels 4Peace” provides opportunities for students to create a visual and public statement about peace.
Three BCPS students are being honored for their winning “Choose Peace/Stop Violence” poster contest. Congratulations to Gizelle Siguenza, Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School; Dunia Castro, Driftwood Middle School; and Yaire Castro, Hollywood Hills High School. See their winning poster images featured here.
SaferWatch App: See Something, Say Something.
When we report tips, we can prevent violence from happening as we work together for a better world. The SaferWatch app gives students, parents and school staff an avenue to send text, photo, video and audio tips about possible school threats to Broward Sheriff’s Office investigators. Visit www.saferwatchapp.com/browardschools.
For more information on specific events taking place at schools in honor of Choose Peace/Stop Violence Week, contact Cynthia Tapia-Rodriguez, School Climate & Discipline, at 754-321-1626. For more information about Choose Peace/Stop Violence, contact Mabel Colon, United Way of Broward County at 954-453-3727.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT BEACHSIDE MONTESSORI VILLAGE
AND THE PEACE POLE CEREMONY AT NEW RENAISSANCE MIDDLE SCHOOL
RSVP at bcps.pio@browardschools.com.
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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has nearly 261,500 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 170 different countries and 147 different languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools.com and download the free BCPS mobile app.