Poway School Preps Pinwheels for Peace

It’s hard to scowl while staring at a pinwheel spinning in the wind—especially when that pinwheel is handmade with the TLC of a young child. Now imagine 145 of them.

On Friday, The Growing Place Montessori school of Poway will take part in Pinwheels for Peace—an event in which thousands of schools worldwide will plant pinwheels in celebration of International Peace Day. 

Jennifer Walavalkar, the school’s administrative director, says this is the fourth year The Growing Place has participated in the art installation program. They plan on showcasing the various creations of its entire student body, ranging in age from toddlers to third grade.

The event was first inspired in 2005 by Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, two art teachers from Florida. A total of 500,000 pinwheels were displayed internationally that year—a fraction of more than 4 million that are expected to spring up across the each of the major continents later this week.

Officials say the event is non-political. On one side of the pinwheel, students are asked to write their thoughts about war and peace, tolerance and living in harmony with others; the other side is dedicated to a drawing or collage of what that looks like to them.

For more information about the event, visit pinwheelsforpeace.com.