OCHO RIOS, St Ann — A tie crocheted from blue yarn, uniquely designed hats, and handmade banners were some of the ways in which students of Ocho Rios Primary School celebrated Peace Day on Tuesday. Led by grade two teacher Shanique Gordon-Davidson, they had been planning a series of activities for the last two weeks.

They held aloft banners, created the day before, as they marched around the school perimeter chanting words of peace, which were also being echoed by other students across the county.

For 11- year-old G-Noj Miller, it was a day to get important messages across.

“The banners that we created and the message that Peace Day is sending about anti-bullying and such is very important. The day is a way of honouring peace. It feels like the world still has a bit of it even when the world seems dark at times when it’s covered with war,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Deputy head girl Danielle Bascoe was equally enthusiastic about Peace Day.

“This year’s theme is ‘Speak peace, live peace’ and my schoolmates will speak and live peace today. I myself will be taking these words seriously because we need peace in today’s society and wherever we go,” said the 12-year-old.

As she spoke she proudly showed off the blue tie she had crocheted in honour of the day’s celebration.

“The word peace is more than a word; it is an action and something that you have to express. I’m very happy that we get to celebrate Peace Day at school. We have so much fun activities,” Bascoe added.

Banners used during the march bore handprints of students from grades one through six. They also worked together to create peace boards around campus. Members of the team that makes the best one will be awarded for their creativity.

“The purpose of all of this is to make them understand that all of us want to speak with the same voice, which is peace. We want to see peace all around us, in society at large,” said organiser Gordon-Davidson.

She explained that Peace Day is very important to her and other staff members and they are heartened to see students’ active participation.

“Our celebration is two days long, the students started by putting their banners together. So everybody would’ve collaborated to get those done, and that is what we want to see in society, them working together,” she added.

Like their young charges, Gordon-Davidson and her colleagues fully embraced the spirit of peace and togetherness. Most wore blue to mark the day and paused for photos under their Peace Day banner.