Peace Pizzazz Announces New Pilot Program; Teams with Together Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Dec. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Peace Pizzazz: A Peace Education Program for Children, has been approved by Dr. Rice and Kalamazoo Public Schools to initiate the By Heart pilot project at Northglade Montessori Magnet School.  Now in its seventh year, Peace Pizzazz promotes peaceful environments and conflict resolution by teaching Kalamazoo children the Golden Rule and how they can sustain peace in their lives through practicing this simple rule.

Supported by its fiduciary, Unity of Kalamazoo, and through grants from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, and the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation, Peace Pizzazz provides books that promote peace to educators, youth leaders, choir and band directors, etc. and supports these leaders in providing peace education lessons related to the books and the Golden Rule. Many of the participants engage their children in writing, dance, singing, visual arts, and other projects around the theme of peace, and the work produced throughout the school year is displayed during the children’s annual peace festival in Bronson Park in May.  Next year’s festival will be in collaboration with WMU Walker Institute & Big Think’s “Together Kalamazoo” program.

The new By Heart pilot project is a collaborative of work by Peace Pizzazz committee members and Author/Illustrator, Wendy Halperin. The project is carried out in the art room and also includes three assemblies at Northglade Montessori led by Wendy.  Through captivating art lessons infused with peaceful quotes and writing, Wendy leads the children through a memorable experience while highlighting the importance of creating a peaceful environment wherever they go.  To reinforce the lessons, each child receives their own box of crayons, creates their own peace journal, and is encouraged to memorize and internalize peace quotes throughout the school year, as well as author and illustrate their own peace quotes.  Every student who memorizes peace quotes will receive a special “By Heart” pin to wear that signifies that they are a peace representative in their school and community.  Northglade students will have the opportunity to display their peaceful writing and illustrations during the Peace Fair at Literacy Night at Northglade Montessori on March 5 and also at the Peace Pizzazz Festival in Bronson Park in May. Peace Pizzazz Coordinator Kellen Deau says, “This pilot program has been a great success so far. I have students running up to me in the hallways to recite peace quotes they have recently learned, and they are so proud of themselves! And the students aren’t just memorizing these quotes; they are learning the meaning of the quotes and applying them to their lives. Every one of my students can tell you that ‘Peace begins with a smile!’ (Mother Teresa)”.

If you are interested participating in Peace Pizzazz, contact Coordinator Kellen Deau

at (734) 776-6588 (tel:%28734%29%20776-6588) or email: deaukm@kalamazoo.k12.mi.us.

“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”