Peace Month at Merrimac Elementary

Kayleigh DiBrico, a third grader in Angela Peters’ class at Merrimac Elementary School, had an interest in helping animals and that spurred into a flurry of positive programs throughout the building.

Her original interest was endangered animals, which led to Fact Wednesday at the school.

“On the announcements, students can share a fact that they want the other students and staff in school to know about,” said Merrimac Principal Veronica DeCicco, it raises awareness.”  

For DiBrico, this was the first step.  She taught classmates about the platypus, sharks, sea turtles, bison, and so on. Then she wanted to do more.  

“We had Crazy Hat Day and she made flyers and a connect ed call to the Merrimac community to tell them about the fundraiser for the World Wildlife Fund,” DeCicco said.

They raised $150, which they will use to adopt three endangered animals for Merrimac. DiBrico was the motivation behind this.

Her act of leadership tied into February's Peace Month, tying into the Covey Leadership program and its seven habits. Students specifically learned about Habit 4: Think Win-Win and Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

The activities included mix-it-up at lunch where students made new friends by sitting at different tables, and creating a peace garden.

Jenna Matthews, an art teacher, had each child create flowers to represent each student's wish for peace and collaboration.

Each class created a puzzle piece, which created a large M in the lobby, and the teachers continued to add to the Wall of Inspiration, where staff members place pictures and quotes up to 'inspire' students.

“Our Student Council will create their own wall of inspiration in March,” DeCicco said.

They also had a Peace Making Night in which students and parents played Project Adventure games, which promoted problem solving and teamwork, also part of Habits 4 and 5.