A New Beginning for Reynolds

A peace pole was dedicated at Alder Elementary School on Monday, August 27 at 4pm. The pole says May Peace Prevail on Earth in 8 languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Romanian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Arabaic and Ukranian) representing some of the largest groups of students enrolled in the District, where over 70 languages are spoken. The Reynolds Education Foundation supported the project with financial assistance.

RSD Peace Pole Dedication from Reynolds School District #7 on Vimeo.

This is the second pole in the district, the first was dedicated in 2006 at Woodland Elementary. Celeste Dryer, Grade 4/5 teacher at Woodland had a hand in the project expanding district-wide. She said, "I spent five days walking in the rain. I didn't want to be out there walking and I started to think about what I could do to move the district forward toward healing and repairing relationships. A peace pole ceremony seemed like a good start to healing."

Ms. Dryer wrote to Linda Florence in the Spring and that started some big thinking. The District goal is to add a peace pole to each campus, three (3) per year over the next five (5) years. Now seemed like the best time to start new traditions and to create a physical space or reflection. The District is working to eliminate achievement gaps through equity work and that requires changing hearts and minds. The Peace Pole serves as a reminder that our differences are our strength and we need to work to maintain collaboration that brings people together peacefully.

Join this effort today. Community organizations and groups are welcome to assist with maintaining the peace garden areas.