Celebrating Earth Day and 25 Years Running for Peace and Harmony

6701 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase, MD | Get Directions »
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A 50-state torch relay will be coming to our area on Friday, April 20.  The international team will be on the road for 4-months.  The World Harmony Run (www.worldharmonyrun.org) will travel the world to encourage goodwill at the local level. On Friday, April 20, the Harmony Run will visit Oneness-Family School, an international Montessori school in Chevy Chase, MD which fosters personal growth, academic excellence and global citizenship in students age 2 through 8th grade. Friday commemorates Oneness-Family School’s annual Earth Day, where they celebrate their appreciation for Mother Earth. Students will perform and express their efforts to become good stewards of the planet. OFS has been participating in the Harmony Run since it was founded in 1988.

An estimated 50,000 children in over 1,000 cities and towns on the 10,000-mile US route are expected to participate when World Harmony Runners visit schools and youth organizations.  Runners will offer educational presentations that promote self-esteem and friendship. The World Harmony Run was inspired by the visionary Sri Chinmoy as a way to give citizens a dynamic way to express their own hopes and dreams for a more harmonious world.

The Relay runs occur in some 100 nations throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Since the inaugural Run in 1987, more than five-million people have participated.  Endorsements have come from many world figures, including President Nelson Mandela, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, as well as dozens of members of Congress, governors and mayors.

Carl Lewis, 9-time Olympic Gold-Medalist, said, “By carrying the Torch, you will be bridging cultural and social barriers, and all the boundaries that separate nation from nation.  You will be the living proof of the ancient vision of having a beautiful and harmonious world.”

The US portion will complete its journey mid-August in New York City.

Performances:

 “The Four Elements”  poem - Children’s Peace Garden (3-6 year olds)

 "Rocky Mountain" song - Peace Arbor (Grades 1-3)          ~ accompaniment by third years on Orff Instruments.

 "Big Yellow Taxi"  song by Joni Mitchell ~ Head of School, Andrew Kutt, accompanying on guitar 

 "We Are the World" song -Peace Academy (Grades 4-5)    ~ modified lyrics by students, Andrew and Carrie

“Dance of the Elements” dance -Peace Ambassadors (Grades 6-8) ~students created dance to the recorded music “Indra” by ES Posthumus.