Community

Pinwheels for a Cause: Whirled Peace Day

A campus celebration brings the Steward community together again.
On September 21, The Steward School celebrated Whirled Peace Day — an annual event filled with spirit, song, and the joy of giving back. Students in Middle School and Upper School art classes, as well as all Lower School students, created bright pinwheels (a symbol of peace) in class, and on Whirled Peace Day they gathered on Wilton Lawn to “plant” them. This year’s Whirled Peace Day was extra special since it  — like so many events — took place virtually last year. 
 
Peaceful Voices
The Upper School Chorus, under the direction of Middle School and Upper School Choral Director Heidi Taylor, performed the National Anthem, and Lower School students joined soloists in the song “Get Back Up Again.” The soloists were accompanied by Lower School Music Teacher Samson Trinh on guitar. 
 
Ms. Taylor, Mr. Trinh, and Middle School/Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher John McAllister worked with students for many weeks on “Get Back Up Again,” which was chosen for its inspirational message. A special thank-you to the following Spartan soloists who shared their uplifting voices during the song: Kiri Yoon ’27, Audrey Gunderson ’26, Rafi Zepada ’26, Ellie Kersey ’27, Sachi Davis ’27, Jennifer Lujan ’27, Sydney Rife ’24, Charlotte Olexy ’24, Maya Trepp ’25, and Zamiyah Burton ’23
 
Spinning Pinwheels, Spreading Peace
Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Sejal Vaywala explained that each year on September 21, the United Nations rings a “Peace Bell” as a message of peace to all people.
 
“The founding principles of peace (understanding, truth, integrity, forgiveness, and compassion) can be difficult to achieve,” she said. “We, however, are The Steward School. The students before me are some of the best and the brightest, and they do not back down from things simply because they are difficult.” 
 
Pinwheels, she noted, symbolize the spread of peace throughout the world.
 
“But pinwheels are also fun, playful, and bring joy to those who see them,” she said.  “As we come together today to plant our pinwheels and celebrate this day ... let’s remember the foundations of peace, and do the hard work of sharing them.”
 
Whirled Partners 
Each year on Whirled Peace Day, the Steward community collects donations to present to a local organization. This year, Steward partnered with Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School (AJCES), an independent, faith-based school providing full-tuition scholarships to students in grades two through eight with limited economic resources, primarily from Richmond’s East End. Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Cindy Grissom explained to the crowd that AJCES is named after Anna Julia Cooper, a prominent African American scholar, educator, author, and activist. The money raised on Whirled Peace Day will help fund libraries in the elementary classrooms at the School. 
 
The Gift of Reading  
Anna Julia Cooper Head of School Mike Maruca expressed his gratitude for the Steward community’s spirit of giving. Mr. Maruca, who for 10 years served as head of Middle School at Steward, thanked Spartans for their long-standing generosity. “This is a great place,” he said. “The vibe here is great, and the energy is full of good, kind people.”
 
Putting the Heart in Art
Art Teacher Lynn Zinder, the long-time coordinator of Whirled Peace Day, presented Mr. Maruca with bookmarks made by Steward students for AJCES students. She also presented him with art supplies so AJCES students can create bookmarks for Steward students. 
 
 
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Richmond, VA 23238

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