IHTEC - Getting Started for Parents

Getting started as parents
International School Peace Gardens (ISPG) Parents VIP Role - December 3, 2003

The International School Peace Gardens program, is a whole school program that links with current curriculum. ISPG includes positive concepts and learning for a sustainable peace-building and an ethical future. The peace garden aids this goal by protecting the survival of all species, including humans. Parents are encourageD to be part of the design and creation process of a peace garden in the following ways:

1. Support, encourage and participate in-conjunction with the Principal, teachers and students in all aspects of developing their International School Peace Garden. Schools are encouraged to take several years over the gradual development of their peace garden, to enhance classroom participation on a daily or weekly basis. A first step could be achieved by holding a 'turning of the sod' or 'placing a peace rock' ceremony, and include a first nations peace ceremony. If your school already had several other class gardens, these can be joined together with a 'path of peace' to surround the whole school. Create classroom design activities,

2. Develop a student's peace garden committee, elected from each class in the school, that is democratically, culturally and gender balanced. The 'ISPG committee' may have a parent observer to help with communication skills development and promotional achievements. Students are encouraged to participate in opportunities by taking photographs, developing scripts for Powerpoint presentations and videos. These can be presented to foundations, local funding donors, and other schools, as part of the path of peace.

3. Arrange public speaking engagement opportunities for students.

4. Distribute students' "Peace Garden Newspaper" to your local community. This is to be written by students, and can include various languages, for community inclusion.

5. Participate in the summer care and management of the garden. Parents will be urged by their students to help in this joyful exercise, so that their young people can cook & eat the fresh & frozen produce, and use their peace garden when they return in September.

6. Suggest ways of taking the peace garden indoors, into the foyer and to each classroom door for the winter months. Some suggestions for the school entrance: a peace tree pot plant; a bench; a special book for peace events and ideas; a path of peace - footprints leading to each classroom; children's poems, ISPG and other awards; posters, photos, peace credo's.

7. Share opportunities for covering the cost of donating trees, plants and other items, by family groups. As your school is in the Carolinian Life Zone, a few parents could join together to share the costs of a tree, bush, or sections of the garden, in-conjunction with the ISPG development goals of the school. Include discussions with your children, in the decision making and planting process. The peace garden could have all items donated.

8. Write funding proposals if necessary.

9. Encourage the use of "Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)" principles, by designing open areas making the garden visible from all angles. Eg: Ensure pruning under bushes; reduce opportunities for the growth of ?introduced? plants by others; check for clearly visible placement of friendship benches in areas that are used the most.

10. Invite members of the Ontario Parks Association to help with aerating the soil prior to planting. Include contacting grounds people at the School Board to check for underground pipes and wires.

11. Ensure your school uses the ISPG logo in your communication and send IHTEC a copy. We encourage you to use the logo on the friendship bench and on all plaques and signs showing that your garden is part of the ISPG program.

12. Communicate your achievements with your local government officials, ask them to include your efforts in their environmental Data Base.

13. Use the peace garden friendship benches for solving conflicts that may occur along the ISPG journey. This can also enhance whole family problem solving. Parents may also consider establishing a "place of peace" in their homes.