Small Steps, Big Difference… this Peace Day
A Sea of Blue and a Message of Peace
What Small Steps can you take to make a Big Difference… that was the question our Primary students have been exploring as part of this year’s International Day of Peace focus. Rather than thinking about peace as something distant or difficult to achieve, children have been encouraged to consider the small, everyday actions that help create a kinder and more caring community.
Throughout the week, classes discussed what a peaceful school looks and feels like. Students shared which spaces around campus help them feel calm and happy, and reflected on moments when school feels less peaceful. They also considered how simple actions, from including someone in a game to offering a kind word or helping a younger student, can make a positive difference to others.
The conversations link closely to our school values and provide an opportunity for student voice to shape an ongoing dialogue about kindness at Bangkok Patana. Children were encouraged to identify one personal “small step” they could take to help make our community more peaceful.
To mark the International Day of Peace, students wore blue and learned about the paper crane, an internationally recognised symbol of peace and hope. Buddy classes came together to teach and learn the art of origami, creating cranes that will be collected and displayed as a reminder that even small actions can have a lasting impact.
The week also celebrated students who consistently demonstrate kindness, with praise postcards sent home to recognise their efforts. During assemblies, children shared their ideas about what makes a school feel kind and welcoming, reinforcing the message that peace begins with the choices we make every day.
“It is not enough to teach children to read and write. They must learn to live together with respect for others and for the world around them.”
– Koïchiro Matsuura, Former UNESCO Director-General
