A Successful Peace March at 186th Street School

“I’m a Mover and a Shaker…I am a Peacemaker!”

 Our 6th Annual Peace March, "Stepping Out for Peace," was held on Friday, January 14, 2011, and it was an amazing experience for the Wise Owl Nation!  The day was a bright, beautiful, and lovely day filled with the magic of the excited students, caring teachers, supportive parents, wonderful community leaders, and fabulous law enforcement officers to highlight our theme of peace.  This year the Peace March was held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a symbol to kick off our annual Peace First community service learning projects.  In the coming weeks, students will have an opportunity to give back to the community with different projects that highlight the theme, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  The school started a schoolwide project in the first semester to help build a park in the Harbor Gateway.  Each student is saving 186 pennies to help build the park.

 A sea of smiling students and staff members wearing Peace First t-shirts, beautiful peace signs, and loving parent and community ambassadors adorned the assembly area.  The march opened with the inspiring recording of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. King.  Student ambassadors led the flag salute followed by International House of Blues Gospel Artist, Ray Sidney, leading the national anthem.  Next, Mrs. Reed, the Principal, and the students welcomed all of the parents, LAUSD District Officials, and community leaders with the 186^th School Cheer.  Then several guests shared encouraging remarks to promote peace including Dr. Rene Gonzalez (LAUSD Assistant Superintendent of Student Health and Human Services), Chris Torres (Director of External Affairs representing LAUSD Board Member Richard Vladovic), John Viggers (Toyota TTC General Manager), and Tal Gilad (Peace First Executive Director).  The children shared the Peace First Chant that asked everyone to “work together in peace, walk together in peace, love one another, and live together in peace!”  Then the highlight for many of our children occurred along with a pleasant surprise:  All of the Peace First teachers gathered around a basket, the audience chanted, “I’m a mover and a shaker, I am a peacemaker,” and the basket was opened to release the white doves of peace.  The doves soared to the sky and met a “blue dove” in the sky, which was a police helicopter flying over to surprise the children.  The pilot turned on the siren and greeted the peacemakers below.  He encouraged everyone to continue stepping out for peace.  The helicopter flew around the school and continued to salute the children.  This wonderful surprise was orchestrated by Senior Lead Officer Brian Cook and the Los Angeles Police Department-Harbor Division.  The children and staff were all in awe of the officers in the helicopter saluting their peace march.  As the children walked the perimeter of the school with their beautiful peace signs, singing their melodious peace chants, and renewing their commitment to live peaceably with all people, they were escorted by peace officers on their ATV units and officers from the Canine Unit to ensure the safety of the march.  At the conclusion of the march, every student was congratulated with a high five for their commitment to live in peace.  The spirit of the day was captured in the eyes of the children as they sparkled with enthusiasm for peace.

The Peace March empowers the school community to take a stand as activists, advocates, and ambassadors for peace.  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 developed 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. 

Camera and News crews in attendance included: Channel 7 - KABC Eyewitness News, Channel 4 – KNBC, Channel 5 – KTLA, Channel 11 – Fox News, Channels 2 – KCBS, Channel 9 - KCAL, and our LAUSD District Television Station KLCS.

  (Submitted by: Principal, Mrs. Reed)

On Friday, February 4^th, 2011, the boys and girls in the Wise Owl Nation at 186th Street School cheered for academics and fitness with members from the UCLA and USC football teams.  Students, parents, staff, and teachers wore their favorite jerseys in the spirit of celebrating literacy and fitness for life.  Ashley Armstrong, UCLA Director of Student-Athlete Development, and Ric Coy, UCLA Director of Student Services, brought 10 Division I student athletes to interact with the elementary children, and Jeff Fucci, Director of USC Football Operations, sent four Trojans to join in the fun.  The day began with the Bruins taking a walk back down memory lane in Kindergarten through 5^th grade elementary classrooms to salute the students for their wonderful academic projects.  They saw reading lessons, math projects, science experiments, art lessons, and met “Cuddles,” a baby rabbit in a Kindergarten room.  This was really special since several of the primary classes were celebrating the Chinese New Year, which is the Year of the Rabbit.  Many of the younger students were wearing their rabbit ears to commemorate the day.  The interaction was so magical when the “big children” sat next to the little children and allowed them to tell them what they were learning.  “My heart fluttered with excitement,” said Principal Marcia Reed.  “I was so proud to have all of the college students come back to the elementary classroom where their academic journey began.  I felt a great sense of pride in knowing our elementary educators had done a great job to help these young men become college-prepared!” 

At the close of the school day, the Trojans arrived and it was a love fest of Bruins meeting Trojans in the name of citizenship, scholarship, and sportsmanship.  The two football powerhouses made a receiving line to give high fives to the students who could not stay afterschool for the festivities, as they boarded the buses.  Then everyone went to the playground for the academic huddle.  The little Owls welcomed their guests with the school cheer. Then Mr. Coy addressed the children and told them that none of the student athletes would be standing before them if they had not done their work in the classroom.  Next each player introduced themselves and shared where they were from, their position, and their college major.  Next, all of the players formed an academic huddle, and Jonathon Franklin, the starting running back from UCLA, called the academic play.  He told the students to strive for excellence, respect their teachers, do their homework, and go for their goals and dreams.  At the close of his comments, he told the players to bring it in, “Excellence on three, excellence on me!” Then all of the players shouted, "Excellence,” and formed another receiving line for all of the children in attendance to go down the line and receive a high five for excellence.  At the end of the line, the Peace First teachers passed out activity cards for the children to get a free book, participate in the fitness activities (rope jumping, football toss, 50-yard dash, story time, etc.), and of course, to get autographs.  One big highlight of the day was seeing the big football players do the “Cha Cha Slide” with the children.  Everyone bellowed with laughter as the NBC cameraman filmed the players dancing to the music.  The players joined in the quest to encourage the children to always do their best.  Students from Loyola Marymount University assisted in running the special activities.  The athletes unleashed the big kid inside of themselves as they ran, turned the jump ropes, threw the footballs, and appeared to have just as much fun as the children.  Many children left with autographs on their shirts, and every child in attendance received a free book to increase their pleasure reading materials at home.

At the close of the event, we knew it was a wonderful mission accomplished in letting the students know the importance of celebrating academics as stated by President Obama during his 2011 State of the Union speech, “We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair." The day was another great day in the lives of the children in the Wise Owl Nation.  The Wise Owls will treasure the memory of the day the Bruins and Trojans came to cheer for academics and fitness. 

UCLA Players in attendance:  Sean Westgate – Senior LB, Jonathon Franklin – Junior TB, Datone Jones – Junior DE, Stan McKay – Sophomore SS, Keenan Graham – Sophomore DE, Ryan Sublett, Junior DB, Derrick Bryant – Freshman DL, Uche Amajoyi– Freshman DL, Kip Smith – Freshman PK, and Alex Levy – Sophomore WR

USC Players in attendance:  Rhett Ellison – Junior TE, Emon Saee – Sophomore QB, Craig McMahon – Freshman PK, and Robbie Boyer – Sophomore WR

  (Submitted by: Principal, Mrs. Reed)

The Colors of Joy and Happiness
& The Fastest Kids in LA!!!

  (Submitted by: Principal, Mrs. Reed)

Wise Owls Celebrates Earth Day!!!

  (Submitted by: Principal, Mrs. Reed)

A Peaceful Recess...

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, a host of energetic volunteers from the University of Phoenix came to spend time with the Wise Owl Nation at 186th Street School to interact with the students during the morning recess and lunch recess periods.  The goal was to engage the Wise Owls in all kinds of physical activities to promote a peaceful playground.  With a team of enthusiastic volunteers and a group of excited children, the day was wonderful collaboration of fitness and fun.  The children enjoyed several fun-filled activities including Basketball Shoot Out, Basketball Lay-ups, Running the Bases, Obstacle Course, and Story Time.  Yes, it was a positive, productive, and PEACEFUL playground!!!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the University of Phoenix volunteers who made the day an extra special day for our children.  You made the children happy and many of them asked, "When are you coming back?"

  (Submitted by: Principal, Mrs. Reed)

Thank YOU TTC-LA, 186th Street School and Aerotek!!!!

WE DID IT!

The goal was 30 pints and we collected 36!!!

  The Toyota Technical Center-Los Angeles (TTC-LA), members from the 186th Street School staff, and Aerotek staff members collected 36 pints of blood to save a child's life on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. 

 The staff from Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and Regan’s Joy Foundation extend their a heartfelt THANK YOU to each person who stopped by TTC-LA to be screened and/or donate! With combined efforts of a very special partnership, the goal was met and surpassed!!!

 In an effort to color the world with love, Mrs. Reed gave all of the hospital workers and Regan's Joy staff members a

copy of the Wise Owls' book, Colors of Love and Peace.  This book has been sent to children's hospitals around the world. 

 With a heart of love, we colored the world with RED!

 Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Sidney-Reed

Principal