To applause and uproarious cheering, a new mosaic was unveiled at the Forest Grove Elementary School on May 26.
With the intention of creating connection, every student from the school decorated a glass bead with something of value to them that was added to the design, each classroom chose animals representing the school’s eight core values and added them to the final design and each classroom picked a season that was meaningful to them and added those colours to the masterpiece.
“They really have that sense of creation and connection to it,” says Principal Mikel Brogan.
The mosaic is a project close to Brogan’s heart. He initiated the creation of a similar one at 100 Mile Elementary School last year.
“The idea is when kids come into a school and they see something that they did and are a part of something, that is meaningful. They helped create it and they are going to feel a part of [it].”
His parents, Marina and Dan, both teachers and artists, worked with the different classrooms in helping the students design the mural, decorate their own beads and fit all of the glass work together. Money for the project was contributed by the school’s PAC.
Students did the work of cutting the glass, glueing down the pieces and grouting it all together themselves.
Other members of the community, including parents and the students of Eliza Archie Memorial School also contributed beads to the final piece.
The mosaic will eventually become the school’s “Great Things” board, where achievements and the positive things the school is doing get added monthly.
After the unveiling, students crowded around the board, searching for their bead.
Grade 4 student, Cassidy Wall, says her bead had her teddy bear on it.
‘When I was a baby, my grandma gave me this Teddy on the day I was born, so he’s the same age as me,” she says.
While her grandma passed away when she was little, the mosaic now carries that piece of both granddaughter and grandmother on it.
Cora Selle did a number of intricate animal drawings. She says helping with the mosaic was really fun.
“It looks really good. I’m happy that people like my art.”
For Twila McIntosh, in Grade 7, the idea of connection really sticks.
“I can come back later and say ‘Hey, I did that!’ she says.
As this is her last year at Forest Grove before she heads to high school, McIntosh says she was glad to be a part of the project while still at the school.
“It feels like a part of me is going to be in the school forever.”
