main content starts here

Farhan Afzal, SHS Art Department students and teachers named March Kids Care Award winners

| March 26, 2019

Following the unfortunate passing of Shaker High School student Farhan Afzal earlier this month, students in the Shaker High School Art Department got together to hang hundreds of paper cranes in the SHS Art Gallery. The display was inspired by Farhan himself, who made paper cranes for years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

When Farhan was diagnosed, he was reading the book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”. The book talks about the Japanese belief that if you make 1,000 paper cranes, you will be granted a wish. When Farhan returned from the hospital, his 6th grade teacher brought him 999 cranes and told him to make the last one. Ever since then, Farhan has made origami paper cranes for friends, classmates, teachers, and strangers.

Within a day of Farhan’s passing, students and teachers began their tribute. Classes made and hung hundreds of paper cranes to display in his honor. The hope is that once they reach 1,000 cranes, they will be able to create a more permanent display for them.

The classes that participated in making and installing the crane display include:

  • Studio Art, Period 1 2017-2018, Ms. Chornyak
  • Studio Art, Period 6 2017-2018, Ms. Chornyak
  • Foundations 1, Period 3 2018-2019, Ms. Chornyak
  • Foundations 2, Period 4 2018-2019, Ms. Chornyak
  • Advanced Studio 3, Period 8 2018-2019, Ms. Chornyak
  • Advanced Art & Design, Period 5 2018-2019, Mrs. Lue
  • Studio in Media Art, 2 sections, 2017-2018, Ms. Doolittle
  • Film and Video, 1 section, 2017-2018, Ms. Doolittle
  • Studio in Media, Periods 1, 6, 8, 2018-2019, Ms. Doolittle
  • Film and Video, Period 4, 2018-2019, Ms. Doolittle
  • Sculpture, 2017-2018, Mr. Aubin
  • Drawing and Painting, 2017-2018, Mr. Aubin

For inspiring so much kindness through SHS, the North Colonie Central School District awarded a Kids Care award to Farhan Afzal and recognized the SHS Art Department students and teachers for their work in helping bring the community together after his passing.

To see a video of the crane display, please click on the video below.

Category: Archive, District News, SHS

Comments are closed.

«
»