Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
That's the lesson Stan Meredyk and his 20 Grade 7 students have undertaken. Their mission is to fold 1,000 long- necked cranes from small paper squares -- a Japanese art called origami. Some 500 birds are already complete and hanging from the classroom ceiling at Tusarvik school.
Upon the project's completion, a wish will be made. Not by the class but by a 15-year-old girl seriously injured in an ATV accident this summer.
"First we thought of sending the cranes to a hospital in Winnipeg.
"Then we decided to give them to someone in our community who needed a good wish," Meredyk said.
Meredyk would not release the injured teen's name until she received the birds.
The peace project is based on the true story of a Japanese girl fighting for her life after the bombing of Hiroshima.
The lesson is part of a peace module.
"Given what has happened in America with the terrorist activity it seems like an appropriate project," Meredyk said.
He describes his students as quick learners.
The project has proven so popular that neighbouring students, the school's janitor and the community's nun have dropped by to help out.
At one point, the special origami paper ran out. Undeterred, the class turned to newspaper print, magazine pages and gum wrappers.
"There is quite a variety," Meredyk said of the collection.
Students began folding in September. Meredyk said he expected the project to be completed last week.
"Every crane is a gift.
"It's been a work of love," he said.
