Entering Gillispie School's Sandbox Lunch Deck is now a much more colorful and inspiring experience with the recent completion of the ICARE Community Mural.
At the beginning of each school year, Science-Design students are involved in a community-focused project. In past years, students cooperated in designing and building Golf Ball Mazes that required four hands to operate; Marble Actuators that illustrated the idea that each of us sets things in motion with our choices; and tiny, individual Wooden Staircases that symbolized progressing year-by-year through the Gillispie experience.
To kick off the ‘24-’25 school year, Grades 2-6 students thoughtfully discussed the Gillispie Values, what they meant, and how they showed up in our daily learning lives. Each grade level was assigned one of these “ICARE” Values to narrow its focus, and through continued discussions, each student was able to distill his or her thoughts into a short expression.
Handprints have been powerful symbols of identity for hundreds of thousands of years; simultaneously, they reference our individuality and our commonality. Gillispie’s logo features the handprint in different sizes and colors as our commitment to meeting students where they are in their learning journey and offering multiple ways to construct their own understanding of the world. Leveraging these interpretations, the handprint was chosen as the central motif for the mural.
Students each traced their hand, added their words along with other design elements, and painted a wooden tile in one of the Gillispie colors. Their designs were laser-engraved onto the painted wooden squares and mounted on welded wire mesh, grade by grade, around the periphery of the Sandbox Lunch Deck. The space was instantly transformed with vibrant artistry and messaging.
The more we engage with the values of Integrity, Compassion, Attitude, Respect, and Effort during our school day, the more these traits are solidified for children. Seeing the Gillispie ICARE Values expressed as colorful tiles encourages students to consider and apply them in various situations. Having the mural surrounding our students as they eat has sparked casual conversations, reinforcing Gillispie’s goal of being a nurturing community for all.
Interested in learning more about our innovative projects? Schedule a visit to Gillispie School today!