Art & Kindness Shine at Ninth Annual “Unity Week”

The William Floyd School District recently held its ninth annual “Unity Week” celebration as a way to promote peace, unity, diversity, tolerance, understanding and acceptance of differences throughout district schools and in students’ daily lives. The theme for this year’s event was “Peace and Gandhi,” focused on Mohandas K. Gandhi, the non-violent civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1948. This year marks the 149^th anniversary of his birth, but the Indian government has declared that they will spend two full years celebrating his legacy for “Gandhi 150.”

Students across the district participated in Unity Week activities such as second graders from Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary writing notes of kindness to students in neighboring schools to help spread the message of peace and unity. Members of the second-grade class also painted rocks with kind phrases and symbols for their “Kindness Rocks.” The completed rocks were sent home with students and distributed throughout the William Floyd community to help spread a positive message. Students from Sarah Franco’s first grade class also honored “Unity Week” by creating a “Peace Tree” to highlight random acts of kindness at home or in their William Floyd community. (Nathaniel Woodhull Unity Week album below)

At William Floyd Elementary School, students in kindergarten read Todd Parr books focused on books of love, kindness and feeling good; they also created a mural of student handprints to hang up titled “Kindergarten United!” First-grade students created their own peace books from what they learned from the books. Second-grade students created their own page where they wrote and illustrated what peace means to them. A class book, echoing Todd Parr’s book, was created by each class. Third graders wrote and described what peace means to them using their five senses and created symbols of unity. These symbols were put on display in the third-grade hallway to remind students to celebrate peace and unity throughout the year. Fourth graders participated in a daily activity called “Have you Filled a Bucket Today?” inspired by the Carol McCloud series. Students filled each other’s buckets, self-reflected on their own “bucket filling,” engaged in journal writing and learned “bucket filling” songs. Additionally, fifth graders wrote about acts of kindness that they see in everyday life. Some fifth-grade students also read peace quotes throughout the week during the morning announcements. Students throughout the whole school worked with art teacher Linda Francis to create “Gandhi Silhouette Word Clouds” murals for the hallway outside the library. Students and their families also had the opportunity to participate in the annual “Chalk 4 Peace” event in front of the main entrance after school. (William Floyd Elementary School Unity Week albums below)

At William Floyd Middle School, students in Tim Kosta’s and Stephanie Taisler’s art classes created an installation symbolizing unity through nature. A replica of mountains and fresh springs of water were put on display in the school rotunda. The artwork was inspired by world-renowned artists, Bob Ross (painter), Dale Chihuly (glass blower) and Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (sculptor). The quote pertaining to the artwork reads, “When I feel overwhelmed in some or all areas of my life, lead me to the rock that is higher than I for the right perspective. There, may I drink from the fountain where peace like a river flows. Come to the river and thirst no more.” (William Floyd Middle School Unity Week art installation album below)

At William Paca Middle School, students in Marco Antenucci and Jillian Berner’s classes created beautiful murals celebrating the 150^th anniversary celebration of Gandhi. Each section of their artwork was filled with positive and peaceful sayings from Gandhi, along with pictures created by students. (William Paca Middle School Unity Week art album below)

At Moriches Elementary, kindergarten students created a collaborative peace sign with their fingerprints that were hung up in the hallway. First graders made a friendship chain out in the hallway with each class having a different color and the links were connected. Second-grade students read The Araboolies of Liberty Street by San Swoop, a book about being different, being individualistic and accepting others despite differences in physical appearances and culture. They also completed a puzzle as a grade level to display. Each student completed their own individual puzzle piece that eventually fit together as one large puzzle. Third-grade students made a mural of doves showing “what peace feels like” for display in the hallway. Fourth graders created phrases pertaining to the meaning of peace, diversity and acceptance of all differences throughout the school and community. Some students even read their peace writings to the fourth-grade class. In fifth grade, students watched a BrainPop video on Gandhi and listened to one of his actual speeches as they worked on the fifth grade fingerprint mural of Earth. Students also completed coloring signs of peace and love. In the reading classes, students made “worlds” that open to show ways we can “unite” our world. (Moriches Elementary Unity Week album below)

At William Floyd High School, students and art department staff shared their beautiful work at the north entrance lobby for all students, staff and visitors to see. (William Floyd High School Unity Week art and faculty art albums below)