Last Friday, my 23 year old son and I had the great pleasure of returning to the elementary school where I served as Principal from 1988-2005. The purpose was to walk with the 500 K-6 students, teachers, parents, community members and school system officials in the annual Mount Rainier Elementary Peace Parade. The link to a Washington Post article is :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061106148.html

Since 1996, an annual end-of-year Peace Parade has been held in the community to celebrate the students’ year-long efforts at being peaceful, responsible and respectful. At Mount Rainier Elementary, each school day with no violence, arguments, put-downs, (in essence, a “Peace Day”), is acknowldedged by adding a number to the total cumulative days of Peace. In an average 180 day school day, Mt. Rainier students have had no less than 165 days of Peace each year. As a matter of fact, in my final year as Principal, our students reached 176 days of Peace out of 180!

As I walked in the Parade and saw everyone’s pride and enthusiasm, I felt a tremendous sense of pride in the fact that the school community has continued to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of the mostly minority and high poverty students since my departure.  I mention the words “minority” and “poverty” to point out the fact that many school systems perceive these students as “at-risk”, At Mt. Rainier,  these students are perceived as “at-promise” and that is exactly what they are: “Students of Promise”.

One really nice touch: As they had for the past 13 parades , the 6th graders and Kindergarten students walked together in front of the parade and behind the Northwestern High School marching band (where, ironically, four of the band members had walked in earlier parades as Mount Rainier students) . These 6th graders held the hands of the Kindergarten students, symbolizing that they were leaving the “mantle” of becoming school leaders to the rising 1st graders. It is a sight to behold and fills me with excitement.

Words cannot express how proud and happy it makes me to know that the legacy of Peace and Kindness the teachers and I worked so hard to develop in our students back so many years ago is still holding true today. I also wasa so proud that Philip, my son, walked in the Parade as well. He had practically “grown up” around the school and many of the teachers!

These rising 7th graders will enter Middle School in August with the Mt. Rainier Promise still resonating on their lips and in their hearts:

I Promise to Show Respect

I Promise to Act Responsibly

I Promise to Be Peaceful

These Life Skills will help mold me into a solid citizen

At their graduation ceremony yesterday, each 6th grader received their own laminated wallet-sized “Promise” to keep on their person every day.

These wonderful students are our future.  I will sleep well tonight knowing that to be true.

Peace!

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