By Nancy Covert
A large flock of birds has invaded a Steilacoom school—and the size of the flock is growing by the day. There’s no cause for alarm, however, because these winged creatures—1,000 paper cranes to be precise—are for a good cause.
Inspired by the story “Sadoko and the Paper Cranes,” students at Pioneer Middle School at DuPont/NW Landing are aiming for their flocks of multi-colored cranes to be completed by the end of next week. The weeklong project is designed to raise funds for earthquake victims, explained teacher Jan Steward, as well as to teach lessons about empathy and understanding. The book recounts the story about a post-World War II shrine erected in Japan in memory of atomic bomb victims.
These cranes have a different, yet similar, purpose, Steward continued.
Paper cranes sell for $1 each, and each “string” of 20 cranes is finished off with a small, gold bell, symbolizing the bell that hangs at the memorial site in Japan. The crane collections hang in each of the school’s Wings.
For more information about the project, contact Steward at Pioneer Middle School. 583-7200.