Harmony Day

this year at our school again was beautifully celebrated, with the theme “Peace in the World”, inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, who as a three year old survived the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945.  At both Harmony Day assemblies, I shared her story

At eleven years of age, Sadako began to become ill with a nuclear-related illness, and spent fourteen months in hospital before she passed away.  Even though she was sick, Sadako was brave and resilient, and brought lots of happiness to her family, friends, and the other children in hospital.  While Sadako was in hospital, the Red Cross Youth Club visited the hospital and gave them all an origami crane.  In Japanese folklore, cranes were believed to live for a thousand years, and if you folded an origami crane for each year of crane’s life, then your wish would come true.  Sadako began to fold origami cranes with whatever paper she could get, including the paper from medicine bottles, lolly wrappers and gift paper.  Before she died, she had folded over thirteen hundred cranes which filled her hospital room.  Many of them she had given away to bring health and happiness to the people she met.

Sadako wished for her own good health, but also thought beyond her own needs, and was worried about the world.  She asked herself, “How can I make the world a better place while I’m still alive?”  She shared with her family and friends, that she wanted to help the world be a more peaceful place.  Even though she was just a young girl, Sadako’s story has since inspired millions of people around the world.  The paper crane is probably the most recognised origami model, and is still given to others as a wish for peace.  Sadako’s classmates wanted to honour her and other atomic bomb victims, and raised money to build a monument in the Hiroshima Peace Park.  It is a statue of Sadako lifting a paper crane overhead.  At the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads, “This is our cry.  This is our prayer.  Peace in the world”.

I love that in our school creed we say, “This is our school, let peace be here.”  Sadako found a way to bring peace and happiness to the people she met.  My question for our students, staff and parents, is “How will you bring peace to this school?”  It is up to all of us to decide to be happy, to forgive and let things go, to think about others not just ourselves, and consider what we can do to make a difference to bring peace and harmony.

Coming up this term

Week 10 Chappy Week fun, including treasure hunt, story reading, tug-of-war, and a just-dance off in the hall.