Highland Middle School to Celebrate International Day of Peace on Sept. 20

Highland Middle School students will be celebrating the International Day of Peace on Sept. 20th by creating a giant Earth out of papier-mâché, singing and acting in front of the Libertyville school. Members of the Highland Concert Choir will sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" at about 8 a.m. in front of the school, 310 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville. The choir will be led by new music teacher Gordon Burkhart. Members of the school's bands and orchestras also will play along to the song under the leadership of director Carla Bollinger.

"We are in the process of making a large papier-mâché earth with people, collaged with peace statements written by the student body," said middle school art teacher Cindi Sartain. The art creation will be staked into the ground in front of the school. The artwork includes a large papier-mâché globe surrounded by paper people with words of peace.

"Additionally, we may make a banner that says "International Peace Day" and students will hold the banner during the event."

Also during the morning program before school, drama teacher Shelby Burton along with other teacher sponsors will have Drama Club students perform.

"We are doing an original pantomime about small acts of kindness in middle school, that may go unnoticed by others but mean so much to an individual," Burton said. The performance, written and performed by students, will focus on "how one small act of kindness can lead to other acts of kindness. The students brainstormed the ideas and then we combined ideas to come up with the pantomime."

The International Day of Peace is actually celebrated on Sept. 21, but Highland Middle School will be celebrating it a day early. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on Sept. 21. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.