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<strong>What is Harmony?</strong>

Welcome to the Virtue of Harmony month. Harmony recognizes the virtues of Order and Balance both of which reflect social unity. Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) people sought Harmony in everything they did and made it their goal to achieve it in all interactions with both people and nature. Harmony was strongly associated with true beauty - the happy inner feeling we get when we meet or do something good for somebody. It is the same feeling we get when we overcome a big challenge. Do you remember how you felt when President Barack Obama won the general election on November 4<sup>th</sup>, 2008?

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Right to Harmony</strong>

We at Woodlawn want to achieve harmony in everything we do. We continue to try to live and learn in harmony with each other and with our environment. How can you help to create Harmony at Woodlawn and in the world? You can start by learning to solve problems without violence. Talk things over without trying to <strong>win</strong> all arguments all the time. Recognize that you are not perfect and therefore, cannot be right all the time. Understand that other people have rights and opinions too. According to ancient Kemetic people, even plants and animals have a right to be on the planet because they all have their usefulness. Plants and animals make our world beautiful so we should live in harmony with them. Think about how you feel when you see a beautiful flower, a bird, or a pleasant weather.

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Help Create Harmony</strong>

What can you do to help create Harmony? Here are some more suggestions. Say something nice to somebody everyday. Do something nice for three people everyday. Say "jambo" (hello) and "Hotep" (peace) to each other in the hallways, in the classroom and on the playgrounds. Make a beautiful drawing or painting to represent Harmony and share it. Can you think of others? Let us create Harmony everywhere in our "learning village!" Let us work for peace and beauty in the world. It's never too late to start.

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Honor Native Peoples</strong>

November is also the month to acknowledge the Native Peoples of this continent. We must rethink "Thanksgiving" in remembrance of the millions of Native Peoples who were practically wiped out. Give thanks and appreciation for the sacrifices of their ancestors' lives. We have in our library a DVD ‘<em>Unlearning "Indian" stereotypes.' </em>Please, check it out and view with your family and friends.

<strong>Buy Nothing Day</strong>

Celebrate <em>"Buy Nothing Day"</em> in support of the move to minimize the frenzy to buy and buy on the day after "Thanksgiving."

<strong>Rites of Passage</strong>

I had the opportunity to participate in "Intentional Conversations" organized by the National Rites of Passage Institute in Cleveland. Participants came from all over the United States and Canada. I learned a lot from scholars, teachers and practitioners in those three days. Some of the participants promised to visit Woodlawn in the very near future. As a result of our participation in the "Conversations" Woodlawn community School has officially become part of the National Rites of Passage Institute. We look forward to exchanges with members and institutions very soon.

<strong>A New Sister-School</strong>

Speaking of partnerships, we have a new sister-school in Darfur, Sudan! Our sister-school is Ali Dinar ‘A' School located in a refugee camp near the border with Chad. Our children are writing letters of introduction to their counterparts in Ali Dinar ‘A' School. We will soon be able to talk with our sister-school via video conferencing. Please, encourage your child to stay in touch with their Darfur brothers and sisters because the Darfurian children desperately need to know that the world has not given up on them. Woodlawn School will soon start a fund raiser to provide school supplies for our sister-school. Please stay tuned.

As always, may you have all life, all health, all power, prosperity, and stability and all the good things like the sun forever. Let's celebrate true harmony this month. Hotep!