A Lesson in Humility at TJ Middle

Summer is fast approaching, but several students at recently took a little time out of their afternoon to put aside thoughts of vacation and think of people other than themselves.

First, a group of students gathered in the cafeteria, where a $1,000 check was presented to representatives of the organization Autism Speaks. Proceeds were culminated from funds raised at a recent walk-a-thon event, in which a total of $5,800 was ultimately reached. The highest-earning students from each grade level were Bethany Koval (grade 6), Samantha Main (grade 7), and Anthony DiPasquale (grade 8).

“Thanks to [this] generous donation, over $3,000 has now been raised for Autism Speaks,” remarked Jen Gruber, who is from the Stepping Stones autism program at . “This is wonderful.”

As a reward for all of their fundraising work, Bethany, Samantha, and Anthony were each presented with an iTunes gift cards, and everyone in the cafeteria was treated to ice cream.

In addition to TJ’s generous donation to Autism Speaks, a group of students in Kenji Yamashita’s art class spent the afternoon packing up a very special gift to soldiers in Afghanistan. Along with Yamashita and sixth grade English teacher Dana Faley, the students had spent the last couple of months hard at work creating large origami cranes. Coined “Operation Orizuru,” which means “paper crane” in Japanese, the students began by drawing their own patriotic patterns on the oversized 24” x 24” paper before learning how to construct these intricate paper birds. Origami cranes are thoroughly significant in Japanese culture.

“They signify hope, healing, and wishes coming true,” explained Yamashita. In addition to the art project, the students also read the novel “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,” a novel by Eleanor Coerr. The book tells the true story of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki, who attempted to fold 1,000 origami cranes before her death from leukemia which she developed after being exposed to radiation from the atom bomb that fell on Hiroshima in 1945.

“[This project] combined aspects of geometry, literature, art, and Japanese culture all at the same time,” said Yamashita. “It influenced the students on a variety of levels.”

The origami cranes were completed with red, white, and blue braided tassels which were hand-woven by Yamashita. A gold and silver bell adorned the end of each tassel. Then each finished crane was packaged up individually, along with a letter from each student who participated in the project. A large construction paper banner was also included.

The cranes, letters, and banner will be shipped off to the soldiers of the 438th AEW in Afghanistan, which stands for Air Expeditionary Wing. This group of soldiers recently suffered a tragic loss when nine of their pilots were killed in action.

“When you give of yourself…it takes you to a different level,” said Yamashita. “The kids won’t forget [this.]”