In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously voted to create a day of peace on which there would be a military ceasefire, and the world would be without war for that day. On September 21, 2013, our school community celebrated International Peace Day. Since it fell on a Saturday this year, FCS celebrated it on Friday, carrying the spirit of peace all through the day.
In the morning, we held an assembly for the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. The combined choruses sang three songs, each representing a vision of peace. In addition to the beautiful singing, we heard a beautiful peace poem written and read aloud by students in Mr. Terrell’s eighth grade Language Arts class. We also heard Mrs. Crowley speak about the CTC, which was created in the memory of Chris T. Campbell, an FCS lifer. He loved soccer, and played it both at Friends’ Central and in his college years. Campbell was a great sportsman in every game, no matter how it turned out. When he passed away unexpectedly in 2007, his parents wanted to establish an organization in his honor that taught disadvantaged children how to play soccer safely and fairly while they learned valuable life lessons. Such an organization was created, and they named it the CTC Ten Foundation, after his initials and the number he wore when he was on the FCS soccer team.
At lunchtime, Friends’ Central participated in a fundraiser in the Oval. Students could buy homemade treats from a bake sale and pay to score soccer goals on a teacher to raise money for the CTC. The pathway to our Middle School was covered with peaceful messages and colorful drawings created by students. Our fundraiser was successful, and we were able to raise a total of $806 to make children’s lives better through CTC. “The best part about the day is seeing the entire community come together and, of course, honoring Chris,” says Mrs. Crowley, who participated in the planning, preparation, and leadership of FCS Peace Day. Our “One Day, One Goal” has made a huge difference in the lives of participants of the CTC, and although Peace Day will have a new focus next year, our fundraising for CTC Ten will happen again the year after that to remind us of Chris Campbell’s great contribution to the Friends’ Central community.
We would like everyone to remember Peace Day, and that every day should be peaceful at Friends’ Central, and someday, around the world.