On Wednesday during lunchtime the Japanese Language Learning Area held a paper crane making House Spirit competition to see which House could make the most number of paper cranes during lunchtime. Moorabool and Leigh House finished equal. Well done Tigers and Tassie Devils!

However, the event was held to recognise something far more significant, Origami Paper Cranes are a symbol for world peace.

Some believe that if you fold 1000 paper cranes you will have a wish granted.

When the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb was dropped on August 6^th, 1945 a young girl named Sadako was one of the survivors. She was just two years of age at the time. Unfortunately when she was 12, she went into hospital with Leukemia. (Cancer and other diseases were common side effects from the radiation after the bomb.)

Sadako was reminded about the origami cranes by her Dad, so while she was sick in hospital she folded as many as she could. Her wish was for World Peace. She used every bit of paper she could find including medicine wrappers. Unfortunately Sadako died before she could finish at age 12. (Her friends from her school continued to make cranes for her)

Ever since schools and people around the world fold paper cranes and send them to Hiroshima to display as a symbol of peace. On our school trips to Japan, we visit Hiroshima and the Peace Park and pay our respects to Sadako and all the people who lost their lives

Anna Wild and the Japanese Language Team.