Peace Day 2026: Tuesday, March 3
”Rebuild Jamaica Piece by Peace ”
Letter to Principals
January 26, 2026
Dear Principal:
We look forward to celebrating yet another Peace Day, this one, perhaps, more meaningful than many in the past given our ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa.
This information package contains the theme, scripture reading, theme song, message, and suggested activities.
Have a meaningful Peace Day!
Sincerely
Janilee Abrikian (Mrs.)
General Manager
January 26, 2026
Dear Principal:
We look forward to celebrating yet another Peace Day, this one, perhaps, more meaningful than many in the past given our ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa.
This information package contains the theme, scripture reading, theme song, message, and suggested activities.
Have a meaningful Peace Day!
Sincerely
Janilee Abrikian (Mrs.)
General Manager
Scripture Reading
These passages remind us that God’s peace restores, strengthens, and lifts us up even after devastation. With Him, we can successfully move together towards rebuilding and renewal.
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. - Isaiah 58:11–12 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea … . He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:1–2, 10 (NIV)
These passages remind us that God’s peace restores, strengthens, and lifts us up even after devastation. With Him, we can successfully move together towards rebuilding and renewal.
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. - Isaiah 58:11–12 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea … . He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:1–2, 10 (NIV)
Message
“Rebuild Jamaica Piece by Peace”
[Students], even after the winds and floods of Hurricane Melissa, we stand together as Jamaicans. Isaiah reminds us that “the Lord will guide you always … you will be like a well-watered garden.” And Psalm 46 declares, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Though schools in the West were broken, our spirit is not. Like builders laying block by block, we, too, can rebuild our nation — piece by peace. Every act of kindness, every moment of forgiveness, every hand stretched out to help is a brick in Jamaica’s future.
Think of a classroom wall: each stone matters. Remove one, and the wall weakens. But when each of us — students, teachers, communities — adds our piece of peace, Jamaica rises strong again.
So today, let us silence fear and hear God’s voice: “Be still, and know that I am God.” With His strength, we can turn rubble into renewal, despair into hope, and division into unity.
Together, we will rebuild Jamaica — Piece by Peace.
“Rebuild Jamaica Piece by Peace”
[Students], even after the winds and floods of Hurricane Melissa, we stand together as Jamaicans. Isaiah reminds us that “the Lord will guide you always … you will be like a well-watered garden.” And Psalm 46 declares, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Though schools in the West were broken, our spirit is not. Like builders laying block by block, we, too, can rebuild our nation — piece by peace. Every act of kindness, every moment of forgiveness, every hand stretched out to help is a brick in Jamaica’s future.
Think of a classroom wall: each stone matters. Remove one, and the wall weakens. But when each of us — students, teachers, communities — adds our piece of peace, Jamaica rises strong again.
So today, let us silence fear and hear God’s voice: “Be still, and know that I am God.” With His strength, we can turn rubble into renewal, despair into hope, and division into unity.
Together, we will rebuild Jamaica — Piece by Peace.
|
Theme Song Lyrics:
Wooooooooo, wooooooooo Hopes are rising higher, higher, let nothing cave away The expectation of a nation's like music to the ear We're singing a brand new song Marching to a brand new beat Down the inside, through the palace, filling every street [Chorus] It's time to rise up Stand and take your place (rise up) Shine like the sun (rise up, rise up) Your journey has just begun Rise up (rise up) Stand like the brave (oh yeah) Rule your destiny Be the best that you can be Well well well well now we start from the bottom and we reach the top of the toppa No matter where we go you know so nothin can stoppa We stand up and salute now to the yellowa the green and blacka The world is for your taking Giving up is your only crime I've written all the pages of history This is your moment this is your time, yeah Now we know, it's not an easy role 3'O’clock, another road block (you gotta carry it alone) |
[Chorus] Triumph Woooooooo,Wooooooo There's a winner, inside you Just waiting to answer the call (Answer the call, I said answer the call) You heard the voice (now make your choice) Now make the choice You've got to follow and start believing for you now [Chorus] Mercy, mercy, mercy Di boy dem in a di party party party Mercy mercy mercy Di boy dem in a di party party party Here comes the black and the green and the gold Control, control Giving every ting we got Heart, heart, heart I still feel we been drained of success Therefore my bredrins we got to do our best Whether north, south, east or west [Chorus] |
Activities
1. Activity: Rebuilding Map of Jamaica — Ideas & Actions
2. Activity: Community Mosaic Walk (outdoor or hallway)
4. Activity: Post-Melissa Kindness Letters & Story Wall
5. Activity: Rise Up - Chorus Action & Anthem March
6. Activity: Rise Up Patchwork of Promises
1. Activity: Rebuilding Map of Jamaica — Ideas & Actions
- Post a large outline map of Jamaica in the classroom.
- Have students add pinned notes naming one rebuilding idea or peace action for communities that were hard-hit by Hurricane Melissa.
2. Activity: Community Mosaic Walk (outdoor or hallway)
- Students and staff each contribute one small drawn or written “piece” (a paper square about palm-size) showing a peaceful action, hope for Jamaica, or one way they can help rebuild, e.g., helping a neighbour, planting a tree, listening.
- Collect the squares of paper and assemble them into a large mosaic mural on a wall or along a hallway, grouped by grade or theme.
- Class discussion: Discuss how individual small pieces create a stronger whole.
- Every student writes one short pledge of one line of a peaceful action. Links are formed into a long paper chain that encircles a common area or a classroom or classroom corridors.
- Outcome: Visible, schoolwide symbol of collective commitments.
4. Activity: Post-Melissa Kindness Letters & Story Wall
- Students write short, illustrated letters of support to students who live in the areas hard-hit by Hurricane Melissa.
- Support phrases can be, e.g. “We are thinking of you” or “You are not alone.”
- Have students illustrate their letters with drawings, e.g., small drawings of nature, houses being rebuilt, people holding hands, the Jamaican flag, a bright sun.
- Closing: Have students provide their name, class, and a small personal drawing.
- Identify a school to which the letters can be sent.
- If the letters are not sent out, create a “Story Wall” at school, where selected letter excerpts, having been collated, with drawings, are displayed.
5. Activity: Rise Up - Chorus Action & Anthem March
- Create simple movements for the chorus of the theme song.
- Lead classes in singing the chorus while marching.
- This can also be done as a whole-school activity, e.g., done at an assembly.
6. Activity: Rise Up Patchwork of Promises
- Some students write a line from the chorus and add a drawing. Others chose one word - Rise, Brave, Shine – and illustrate it.
- Create a patchwork display of their work.
