How the project began: On March 11, 2011, a massive 9.0

magnitude earthquake occurred near the northeastern coast of Japan.

This caused an extremely destructive TSUNAMI wave just minutes after.

Many Japanese people lost their homes, their belongings and even their lives.

Willow Creek Responds!Mr. & Mrs. Ueta, parents in our school community, came to Willow Creek Elementary to ask for support in raising money to help Japan, their home country.

At that time, students in Mrs. Heaton’s Fourth Grade Class happened to be reading the book Sadako & the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.

It is a true story of a young girl in Japan named Sadako, who folded paper cranes for hope and peace.

Aden Dravenstott and her mom, Laura, talked about our class getting involved in folding cranes to raise money for Japan.

When Aden asked the class and Mrs. Heaton, EVERYONE jumped at the idea!

With the combined efforts of parents,

teachers, community, and students, we

decided to create an all school fundraising

experience.

The Ueta family brought in members of the Japanese community and

organized crane folding in our library.

Mrs. Heaton’s class taught peers andyoung students the art of Origami.

EVERY Willow Creek studentwas involved in folding a paper crane.

Willow Creek Elementary students folded more than 1700 paper cranes.

Many teachers and parents helped to string the cranes with golden thread

so that they were turned into delicate ornaments of hope for the Japanese

children.

Mrs. Willis, sponsor of the Multicultural Club, joined with the students to help

sell the cranes before and after school.

Cranes were sold to earn money for “Save the Children of Japan.”

Students, parents, staff and community enthusiastically supported

the project!

The Outcome:• Through sales and donations during the week

of Apr. 11, 2011, our school raised $2000 for Save the Children Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children Emergency Fund.

• Volunteers sent 700 of our cranes to “Students Rebuild,” which received a $2 per crane matching donation from the Bezos Foundation to Rebuild Schools in Japan. That’s another $1400 we contributed to the Japanese schools.

One thousand of the cranes folded by Willow Creek students were set aside.

This summer the Ueta family and friends strung them in strands of 100 cranes and have created a special ornament that will hang in our school for the next few months.

After we enjoy these 1000 cranes hanging in our school, they will be sent to a special location in Japan:

The International Peace Park in Hiroshima,

Japan

This is a monument in the International Peace Park.

This park is a Memorial to all the children of Japan and the World. It was created to promote WORLD PEACE.

Our cranes will join these cranesshown here, protected from the

weather in glass boxes.

We want to thank all of you for your passionate participation in this project.

So We Always Remember:

We will celebrate with the 1000 Crane Bouquet hanging in our school.

And

There will be a permanent display in our front hall of

a plaque with a folded crane commemorating this event

a special award and framed certificate from Save the Children

We at Willow Creek have shownwe have special hearts.

Thank You Willow Creek!!