186th Street
School - 2nd Annual
Peace March
"Stepping Out for
Peace"
Our 2nd annual Peace
March, "Stepping Out
for Peace" was held
on Friday, January 12,
2007, and it was a
glowing success! The
day was bright, crisp,
and cold, but the love
and warmth of the
caring hearts
of students, teachers,
parents, community
leaders, and law
enforcement officers
kept us focused on our
theme of peace. In light
of the recent violence
in the Harbor Gateway
community, this year's
march had a deeper
meaning and message for
our students. The march
was held in honor of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
a true drum major for
peace, and in memory of
innocent victims who
have lost their lives to
gang violence in the
Harbor Gateway.
The goal of the walk was
to encourage our
students to take a stand
as activists, advocates,
and ambassadors for
peace. The event was
another fabulous
kick-off for our Peace
Games Community Service
Learning projects. We
gave our students an
active learning
experience to compare
and contrast our school
neighborhood with the
neighborhoods in which
they live. Our hope is
that this activity posed
questions and ideas that
will spark our children
to commit to doing
something different to
ensure peace in their
communities. The day was
a wonderful expression
of the school and
community coming
together to celebrate
peace.
We were happy to welcome
representatives from the
Local District 8 Office,
South Youth Services,
Councilwoman Janice
Hahn's office, Toyota,
Loyola Marymount, the
Harbor Gateway South
Neighborhood Council,
LAUSD School Police,
LAPD Harbor Division,
Firm Soundation, KABC
TV, KLCS TV, KAZA TV,
and the Daily Breeze.
The students had a
wonderful time wearing
their Peace Games
T-shirts, seeing 50
white doves released,
waving their peace
signs, singing their
chants of peace, seeing
the patrol car officers
escort our march,
admiring peace pin
wheels adorning the
front lawn, and meeting
Spyki II and Annie, from
the Airport and School
Police K-9 units. We
were so grateful to have
an abundance of parental
and community support.
We will celebrate,
remember, and cherish
the memory of our
special day. "All we
are saying...is give
peace a chance!"
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Sidney-Reed
Principal
