Cranes for Peace

In the fall of 2009, 4 students from Lee Junior High helped children in our district to create a thousand origami paper cranes to honor World Peace Day. Inspired by the true story of a child, Sadako Sasaki, who was two years old when Hiroshima was bombed. At the age of 12, she contracted leukemia which had commonly become known by the Japanese as the "Atom Bomb Disease", a disease for which there was no known cure. While hospitalized Sadako's closest friend reminded her of an ancient Japanese legend. If she folded a thousand paper cranes, the Gods might grant her wish to live. Although she did not reach her goal of a thousand cranes, her struggle for life and her dedication to peace inspired her classmates to construct a Peace Statue for all children who were victims of the atomic bombing of Japan. This statue, completed in 1958, stands in the Peace Park in Hiroshima with the inscription, "This is our cry. This is our prayer. To create peace in the world." Ever since, mountains of origami cranes have been sent to Hiroshima for Peace Day in affirmation of this prayer. We, in Monroe City Schools, sent our thousand paper cranes to the monument as the concluding activity in our study of Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes and World Peace Day.

During the month of October, students at 5 of our schools participated in this global writing project. Five British authors began short stories which traveled the globe and were continued by students during the week. The completed stories were published into books and distributed to those schools who participated. This was the fourth year for Monroe City Schools to join in this wonderfully creative project,and we are so appreciative for the opportunity and exposure. 

Twin City Ballet

Monroe is proud to sponsor students in Monroe City and the Twin City Ballet Company in their annual educational performance during the month of February. As a reward for those who have made great achievements in Accelerated Reader during the school year, students were given the opportunity to attend the morning performance of this world-renowned dance company.

World Book Day

World Book Day is the largest celebration of books and reading in the world. On March 4, students around the globe were invited to participate in the Drop Everything And Read Day. Students and teachers were encouraged to drop everything and read as much as possible during the school day. 

Peter J. Murray - peterjmurray.co.uk

We are honored and delighted to host Peter and Kathy Murray from Yorkshire, England for a wonderfully educational week in May. Peter is the author of the Mokee Joe series and three other popular horror fiction titles Bonebreaker, Dawn Demons, and Moonwailer. His latest book in the Mokee Joe series which is set in New York City has just been released.  Each participating school will receive several sets of his books, and any student who reads all three “Mokee Joe” books will attend an exciting 90 minute presentation by Peter Murray. In addition, each student will have the opportunity to participate in either the writing competition or the art contest, each to be judged by Peter himself. The winners of those competitions will be treated to lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Murray.  After his week-long visit in Monroe, he will travel to the Carmel Hill site in New York City for another exciting adventure.