Click here to listen to Episode 57: Under the Sea
Walked near the 1st/2nd grade pod recently? If you have, you certainly will have noticed the beautiful new mural that covers the walls.
The mural is a project that was started by a group of 8th graders last year as part of their Social Impact and Leadership Project, and eventually became an amazing collaboration between Middle School leaders of the Scott Center club, children in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade, parent volunteers, teachers, and administrators.
The project had its roots in the work of Lou Jiménez, a professional artist and muralist who connected with our students in downtown San José last year. Lou helped students understand the role of art as activism, showing students how artists can and have used murals to teach and call people to action. Several 8th graders, inspired by this work, decided to create a mural that tells the story of ocean pollution. Working with Lou, they designed a mural that showed the beauty of the ocean and also visually depicts the dramatic impact of plastic and other debris. Images such as a seal caught in a net and surrounded by plastic bags provides a powerful visual of the problem, and reminds children of how they can play a role in preserving our oceans.
This Fall, Lou engaged with children across the Lower School and in the Scott Center Club to produce the mural. A couple of the 9th graders also joined to help see through their project. Each Lower School child had an opportunity to paint a portion of the mural, ensuring that everyone has a sense of ownership for what was created.
The mural is beautiful, and has dramatically enhanced the 1st/2nd grade pod. Indeed, as you walk through it, you feel like you are literally under the sea. Every time I walk through it, I find myself humming the Disney song. Just as importantly, it provides a daily visual of a critical environmental issue. And it all started with a small group of Middle Schoolers grappling with our core questions – what matters to you and what are you going to do about it?