Stamford High School Celebrates Completion Of Pollinator Mural Project

Stamford CT

14 June, 2022

6:21 PM

Description

STAMFORD, CT — On a sun-splashed Tuesday afternoon, the Stamford High School community gathered in the newly-renovated interior courtyard to unveil the recently completed pollinator mural project. The project was directed by Module Downer and Kim Wheeler of the SHS Visual Art Department and International Baccalaureate Program. The pollinator-themed mural was designed by SHS junior Zachary Trudeau and reimagined by muralist Suzanne Bellehumeur of Mural Interiors. It features colorful flowers and leaves, insects and the SHS Black Knight logo right in the middle. There is also a smaller orange and yellow starburst mural, and another colorful art display with the words "Hope Always" in the courtyard. Over the course of three months, students in all grades helped paint the murals, which were completed about two weeks ago. In addition, volunteers from Gartner and Chase corporations were organized through the Stamford Public Education Foundation and helped to complete the project. "Doing this project made me realize the power of parent engagement and community involvement. This is a product of what happens when schools, family and the community work together," Downer told a small crowd gathered inside the courtyard. Downer and Wheeler praised the School Governance Council with helping to make the project come to fruition. The council is made up of seven parents, five teachers, two community members, two students, the principal and an assistant principal. Downer and Kim Kempton, a parent on the council, worked to secure grants and funding for the project. In total, they came up with roughly $10,000. Monday also featured a STEAM fair in the courtyard, in which students had the opportunity to learn about being eco-friendly to the environment, and how they can be responsible citizens. The fair featured a question and answer component that put students in the running for a $25 Amazon gift card. The celebratory event included students from SHS National Science Honor Society, Environmental Action Committee Food Sustainability, School Yard Habitat and the Art club. In researching other pollinator murals, Trudeau said he noticed a lot of flowers, bees and insects. "I liked that. I wanted to make something like that, but I also wanted to have a part of the school in it, which is why I incorporated the Stamford High logo," he said. Trudeau wants to attend UConn and study graphic design. He noted that a big reason he lent his artistic ability to the project was to leave a legacy at SHS. "I like having a piece of me here," he said. It took Trudeau about 20 tries before he was satisfied with his original design, which was recreated by Bellehumeur, a Stamford resident, who has been painting murals for 30 years. "All the projects I've done for the community, especially students, have been the most gratifying projects I've done," she said. "Students are so excited. They love working together, which I love to see. The first mural project, they'll never forget." The reinvigoration of the SHS interior courtyard began about two years ago. The two buildings surrounding it were built in 1927 and 1971, so the space had fallen by the wayside in recent years. There is adequate space for students to gather outside and meet, and perhaps have lunch. There are plans to build an amphitheater with more seating, according to SHS Principal Matthew Forker. Forker said he was pleased to see so many students involved in the pollinator mural project. "We've really made an effort this year to make it a total team effort. Everything we've done here has been focused on having as many kids involved as possible, and teachers and staff," Forker said. "That's what this is really all about... The more kids get involved, the more they participate, the more they want to be a part of the school." Forker hopes students can learn from seeing a concept completed from start to finish. Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools Dr. Tamu Lucero was impressed by the community engagement. "If we're modeling that now in high school, then we can only hope for this as they go out into the Stamford community," she said.