Students make "peace offering"

On Friday afternoon, MC Knoll Elementary revisited a 9/11 memorial event with 300 students behind the school.

In the days leading up to last week's International Day of Peace, MC Knoll staff passionately created awareness and a peace theme within their classrooms, preparing the students for a special event on September 23 that would involve the entire school.

It was part of a long-term project, explained Principal Gord Gendur.

"Nine years ago in this building, we hosted a World Peace Project one year after 9/11. The event changed the world."

On Friday, the students formed into groups spelling the phrase "Be the Change" across the field followed by the formation of a peace sign.

Local firefighters were on hand to take photos of the event from the fire department's ladder truck 120 feet in the air. A plane also flew overhead, recording photos and video as the students of MC Knoll assembled outdoors.

Fire Captain Bill Aitken acknowledged his department's happiness to be a part of the day.

"We're honoured to be asked to help deliver this message to the children," he said.

Grade 8 students Cassidy Cross and Lacey Senchuk also shared their original poetry with the crowd. "We worked together on the poem on what peace means to us," said Cross.

This was the second time the girls had taken part in such an event during their elementary school years.
"It's really cool as last time we did this I was in kindergarten," said Senchuk. "It's cool to experience it twice."