Making Peace Starts with Me. I commit to: Respect Myself and Others, Communicate Better, Listen, Forgive, Respect Nature, Play Creatively, Be Courageous

Peace Connections is once again hosting students grades K-3 enrolled in the Newton Public School summer Latchkey program . Students come once a week on Tuesday afternoons in June & July for a variety of activities designed to help them learn about peace. The theme for the summer is built around the Pledge of Nonviolence. Each week, the students are focusing on a different aspect of the pledge. Sessions include a story, journaling, activity/craft, and snack.

A recent afternoon began with a warm welcome to Peace Connections from Myrna Krehbiel, along with a brief explanation about what Peace Connections is and does in our community. Then students read the Nonviolence Pledge together and Joan Breit guided them in thinking about the focus for the day, "Respecting Myself and Others." Next she read them a story highlighting respect of others, Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. Joan has chosen a Patricia Polacco story for each session as it relates to the pledge. Many of the students were able to meet this author this past spring when she visited the Newton schools and gave a presentation on "Heroes in My Life" for the Peace Lecture Series at Bethel College. After the story, Anita Haury gave direction to creative journaling about self-respect; the students were asked to write a free verse about what they need. If students are unable to write or if they choose, they can draw and color pictures to illustrate what they are thinking about as well. For the activity, Joanna Friesen, helped the children make "I Am Thumbody Special" stickers, made from thumb & fingerprints and decorated with faces, arms, legs, etc. Children could use the stickers on their nametags, in their journals, or take home to share with others. A snack of honey and graham crackers was provided by Mary Ediger, chosen as books covered with honey were part of the story read earlier. The afternoon concluded with songs from the Teaching Peace CD by Red Grammer and some stretching exercises. As they left, the boys and girls were asked to think of one thing they could do between now and the time they go to bed that would show respect to someone else - lots of good ideas were shared!

During our very first session with the students, Bonnie Krehbiel came to help the children make whole wheat pretzels, which they really loved doing! She told them the story about how pretzels were "invented" by a monk, thinking of the shape of praying hands. Students had the chance to help mix up and knead the dough and then form it into pretzel shapes and also their initial. It certainly smelled peaceful by the time the students left with their bags full of hot pretzels to take home!

Latchkey will continue throughout the month of July. We are looking forward to several more good afternoons with the children as they learn more about what it means to share peace in their world.