During the Friendship Festival/Peace Day project, A.C. Moore and Rosewood Elementary students heard the story of Sadako, who died of leukemia as a result of the A- bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima at the end of WWII. Sadako's story taught the children that conflict can be avoided when there is friendship and communication, and that by practicing these values right here in our schools and community, we can ultimately help bring peace to our world.

Upon discussing the book Sadako with their guidance counselors, students at both schools wrote wishes on paper stars, expressing what they could do to promote friendship and make this a better community and world for everyone.

Following the Japanese tradition that takes place during the Tanabata Festival (Star Festival), these "star wishes" were hung on bamboo poles. Students at both schools also folded paper cranes, symbols of peace, to be sent to Sadako's Memorial at the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the morning of Friday, April 17, A.C. Moore's Student Council members and third through fifth grade ESOL students walked to Rosewood Elementary to be part of their Friendship Festival. The students proudly carried the ornamented bamboo poles, with the brightly colored "star- wishes," down Rosewood Avenue.

Photo by Pamela Edwards ThanhVi Nguyen, Student Council President, presented the paper cranes made by the students from both schools to Elizabeth Balthazar, guidance counselor. During the opening ceremony of the festival, Susanna Melo and Elizabeth Balthazor shared with the students the legend behind the Japanese Tanabata Festival. The legend describes how two individuals who were in love on earth became stars in the skies, but they were separated by the Milky Way. Only once a year, these stars are able to meet again to see each other.

Using the meeting of the two stars as a metaphor, Melo and Balthazor shared how friendships were formed and partnerships emerged in the schools, between schools, and between the United States and Japan through this project.

Students of both schools sang the traditional Tanabata song that was taught by their music teachers.

Photo by Pamela Edwards Students perform the Tanabata Song accompanied by instruments. Rosewood Elementary presented to A.C. Moore students the paper cranes their student body had made under their art teacher's guidance.

The students then walked back to A.C. Moore where they were greeted by the student body in the playground area. Everyone gathered around the Peace Pole where Melo and Balthazor once again shared a few words about the project. The entire student body sang the Tanabata song while a few played accompanying instruments.

To conclude the Peace Day ceremony at A.C. Moore, ThanhVi Nguyen, Student Council President, presented the paper cranes made by the students from both schools to Elizabeth Balthazar, guidance counselor. These cranes will be sent to Sadako's Memorial at Hiroshima's Peace Park in Japan.

Melo, ESOL teacher at A.C. Moore, had the opportunity last October to visit Japan through the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program, spon- sored by the Japanese government. She envisioned the Friendship Festival/ Peace Day project that was implemented at A.C. Moore and Rosewood Elementary Schools through their guidance counselors, music/art teachers and classroom teachers.

Through her travels, Melo realized, more than ever, the importance of building bridges between people of diversity, communities, and nations as a means to attain world peace. So, together the two schools began building these bridges of friendship and partnerships right here in our community.