It was almost serendipitous that two simultaneous Peace Crane Projects were in the works during April and May to create an astounding 1,000 paper origami cranes. The project's roots are based on the ancient Japanese origami art form, where delicate and colorful kami paper is folded into ornate objects. And, according to ancient legend, "anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods." In this particular case, peace for Ukraine.
"The idea of a Peace Crane Project came as a recommendation from a friend's dad, says Jiwon Choi, a Fryeburg Academy freshman. "I thought it would be a meaningful project [for our origami club] if we all expressed ourselves through art in our hope for peace in Ukraine and all people around the world. When I heard Dawn Crowe was leading another similar project from the Fryeburg New Church, it motivated us to reach out to join our efforts.”
Approximately 40 Academy students, faculty, and staff participated in the project through paper donations or assisted in the cranes' delicate folding to create a stunning 500 paper crane art installation in the Academy's Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center.
"For us at the Fryeburg New Church, the project was more of an emotional group effort rather than a physical one," says church member Dawn Crowe. "I was sitting in church one day and trying to think of a creative way to help with the events unfolding in Ukraine, and my thoughts went to origami cranes," continues Crowe. "It was a fortunate stroke of luck that Jiwon and the origami club had the same idea and that [Fryeburg Academy faculty member] Greg Huang-Dale connected us. I love the idea of this being a "sister project" as it feels broader in scope to have 500 cranes in each location."
And while the two Peace Crane Projects are housed in different locations, both share the same symbolic expression of peace. "I love the idea of a visual representation of peace," concludes Crowe. "It seems that each crane can represent the thoughts and prayers in all of our hearts when tragedy and injustice strike. Origami itself can be an act of mindfulness, almost like a mantra or prayer if you allow it to be."
To support Ukraine, please consider donating to one of the following humanitarian aid organizations:
We are pleased to announce the following students who have earned academic recognition at Fryeburg Academy for the Fall of 2023-24:
HONORS Grade 12: (Honors)
Charlotte Adamus Vittoria Bernardini Natalie Berry Dom Bond Jordin Booker Owen Burford Tori Butters Jilyan Byrne Lorenzo Catana Vallemani Jonah Densmore Vitoria Do Espirito Santo Teixeira Elle Dooley Austin Dorner Deniz Eroglu Manu Fandos Martinez Aidan Flanigan Amber Gagnon Mia Grandchamp Gal Hanan
Emily Hoosier Noah Jacobs Emma Keaten David Kim Joey Kim Kardelen Lacinok Helena Landry Margherita Lassini Leo Lee Celine Lee Ana Maillett Moss Marques Caroline Masterman Asher McKenney Ryan Meade Natalia Millan Arenas Mina Milosevic Tommy Morini Tasia Nason
Rachel Pizzo Grace Porcaro Abby Pratt Ashe Rabideau Winter Raymond Dustin Rhoda Gideon Richard Leah Rokes Margherita Rossi Gunnar Saunders Louie Shin Lamar Smith Hunter Tripp Tanner Tripp Gabby Udoto Logan Walton Kara Willette Connor Williams Mary Wing Kevin Zhou
From October 31 through November 3, five members of the Academy's FFA Chapter (Future Farmers of America) and faculty member Jennifer Solter Jones attended the National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On Thursday, November 16th, Fryeburg Academy celebrated the fall sports season with its annual fall sports awards assembly held in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center. The following student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding performance during the fall 2023-24 season:
Fryeburg Academy and the Board of Trustees announce the installation of Joseph R. Manning as the Academy’s 55th head of school. The Installation Ceremony was held on Friday, November 3, 2023, with members of the Fryeburg Academy community, the Board of Trustees, and former head of school Erin P. Mayo in attendance as a guest speaker. Manning steps into this new leadership role during the school’s 232nd year, following a long-tenured and successful career at the Academy spanning twenty years of service.
Fryeburg Academy seniors Tyler Bartick and Jiwon Choi have earned Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC) for their performance on the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
Fryeburg Academy is an independent boarding and day school, serving grades 9-12 and postgraduate. We invite you to explore our site and learn how students from around the globe find their place in the world through our exceptional academic, art, and athletic programs.