2 minute read
Two Sisters are Keeping the Peace
By Beverly Perkins
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) recently celebrated their 12th annual “Choose Peace/Stop Violence” week. The campaign is a county-wide violence prevention collaborative between United Way of Broward County, Broward County Public
Yaire Castro for Hollywood Hills Schools School Climate & Discipline Department, and Children’s Services Council of Broward County with support of the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Their overall mission is to “educate, inspire, and empower youth to take action and bring about positive change for preventing youth crime and violence, and create safe, healthy, and thriving environments for children and families.”
This year’s theme was “Recovering and Working Together in Peace for a Better World”. Not only was it a call to action to spread compassion, kindness, and hope, but also a reminder to everyone as we still navigate the global pandemic. Additionally, it also is an opportunity to improve school culture and engage students.
A few activities that took place during the week were wearing white, writing peaceful wishes for the “Imagine Peace Wish Tree”, decorating coffee cups and the sought-after peace pole, and drawing messages with sidewalk chalk. But one of the highlights was the announcement of the peace poster contest winners which was launched at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
Three BCPS students were honored for winning the “Choose Peace/Stop Violence” poster contest including two sisters from Hollywood. Although both are currently students at Hollywood Hills High School, ninth-grader Dunia Castro won for Driftwood Middle School because that is when she submitted her entry. Her sister senior Yaire Castro won for Hollywood Hills.
“I am so thankful for the members of our Peace Club and their club sponsor, Ms. Carmen Natal. In the fast-paced modern world, we live in there, there is oftentimes too much emphasis on instant gratification and a me-first attitude. Ms. Natal Dunia Castro for Driftwood Middle School and her students buck this trend by taking the time to encourage their classmates and teachers to be agents of change in the world to make it a better place for everyone to live. By emphasizing ‘Peace’ and doing for others, Ms. Natal and the Peace Club are truly being the change they want to see in the world, and I could not be prouder of them,” exclaimed Hollywood Hills High School Principal Daniel Most.
Vaxxed to the Max.
Five Star Premier Residences of Hollywood is pleased to announce that nearly 100% of our residents and team members are fully vaccinated.
