Seventh Grade Spotlights Peace and Student Voice

The Kupcinet Gallery was filled on Thursday with the inspiring work of the people and organizations who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. These are the groups and individuals who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

For the last eight years, the 7th grade has hosted Peace and Publishing Day to illuminate the lives and achievements of the men and women who have worked toward world peace, as well as have a chance in the spotlight to share their own writing.

History and Social Studies Department Co-Chair Anthony Shaker has helped students understand the history of the prize and its evolution since 1901. Each student chose a laureate to research and prepared a Nobel diploma, their version of the unique work of art given to every Nobel recipient, as a way for the rest of the grade to see the accomplishments of this broad array of Nobel winners. The 7th graders presented their Nobel diplomas on Thursday, May 30 at the Nobel Peace Prize Museum.

When they weren’t docents in the museum, the 7th grade provided both audience and performers with readings of their poetry and selections from the recently published anthology of short stories, Clark Street Stories. We have published 14 volumes of 7th grade writing, and this year’s volume brings to life a variety of protagonists in situations from everyday to aspirational. Stories went through multiple drafts and revisions, and, though they are all linked through characters and location, the stories and writing voices are as individual as they are.

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