Three Students Win Awards for Peace Poetry
AIS was invited to enter a contest coordinated by an organization called International World Peace Rose Gardens (IWPRG) located in California. The mission of IWPRG is “to advance peace and understanding amongst all the nations, cultures and religions of the world through the creation of rose gardens that become centers for youth and community activities.” Each year, in cooperation with the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site in Atlanta, and with other organizations that promote peace throughout the world, IWPRG invites students to write a short, poetic thought of 35 words or less about peace, Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King or the special meaning of the rose gardens that have been planted at the different sites.
Students in Grades 4 and 9 at AIS entered the contest, and Dr. Brindley was asked to select ten of his favorite entries. Of these, three were selected as winners by the co-creators of IWPRG, Ms. Sylvia Villalobos and Mr. T.J. David. Ms. Villalobos and Mr. David flew in to award certificates during ceremonies at AIS to all of the students who entered the contest, and they also gave T-shirts to the top ten winners, who were Sophie al Mutawaly, Melissa Harari, Jon McKenney, Vineet Nadella, Lauren Valeri and Sydney Wilke (Grade 4), and Dylan Baker, Altay Otun, Emily Tapp and Adama Tarawally (Grade 9). On Thursday, May 10, the three winners, Vineet Nadella, Emily Tapp and Adama Tarawally, their parents and teachers attended the celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.
At the celebration, the three AIS students were joined by six students from four other schools as VIP guests. They were welcomed by the Superintendent and the Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services of the MLK Jr. National Historic Site, who then introduced the speaker, Dr. Jay Tribby, chief of staff for Atlanta City Hall Councilman Kwanza Hall. Mr. David and Ms. Villalobos then introduced the students, each of whom read his or her winning poem to the gathering. The next speaker was the CEO of The King Center, Mr. Isaac Newton Farris. The ceremony ended with each student unveiling his or her poem that had been engraved on a bronze plaque and placed around the edge of the rose garden.
These plaques will remain in place for a full year and the messages of peace will inspire the thousands of visitors who walk through the site each month. At the end of the year, the three AIS plaques will be given back to the school to be placed on our campus. Congratulations to all the students whose words of peace are an inspiration to us all, and especially to the three winners. Their messages are printed below, as well as the other seven winning messages.
Peace
By Vineet Nadella (Grade 4)
Peace is silence
Peace is no violence
Peace is not fighting
That's why I'm writing!
Hear my voice
Pick the right choice-
Be peaceful
Peace
By Emily Tapp (Grade 9)
Peace is the tranquility of the mind and soul,
A state of harmony within.
We can't be at peace with others until we are at peace with ourselves
Rose Garden
By Adama Tarawally (Grade 9)
In the world there are many different colors
Each representing something different
A flag? People?
Here in the rose garden
So many different colors
All smell so sweet
Not like cookies,
Not like cake,
Like peace
War?
By Jon McKenney (Grade 4)
War is not the answer
It is the question
And the answer
Is
NO!
Dove of Peace
By Sophie al Mutawaly (Grade 4)
The lions of war
Too often still roar
In a world desperate for love
Fly, harmony dove
Fly high in the air
End war everywhere
Where you spread your wings
Happiness springs
Peace
By Sydney Wilke (Grade 4)
To me peace feels like a soft cuddly teddy bear
And smells like freshly baked cookies just sitting there.
It looks like flowers blooming in the sun
Or me outside having lots of fun.
Peace in different ways
By Lauren Valeri (Grade 4)
Peace looks like people holding hands.
Peace feels like soft baby's skin.
Peace smells like roses just blooming in spring.
Peace sounds like a rushing river.
Peace tastes like fresh rain falling from the sky.
Peace
By Dylan Baker (Grade 9)
Peace is like a light
When it is working the world is enlightened
When it is off the world is dark
Peace in the World
By Melissa Harari (Grade 4)
Peace looks like no discrimination.
Peace smells like baking a cake for friends.
Peace feels like a hug.
Peace tastes like a special meal that two families made together.
Peace sounds like no war.
Peace
By Altay Otun (Grade 9)
Peace is like a great friendship.
It cannot be achieved without tolerance and compromise.