When parents and students walk into the office at Oxford Middle School, they will notice a new piece of artwork on the wall.
If they stop and study the picture, it won’t take them long to figure out that the five smiling faces crafted on the mural are actual students at OMS.
Sixth-graders Jack Mobley and Luke Powers, Seventh-grader Glacier Wallington and Eighth-Graders Jordyn Hillary and Ellyssa Tai will forever be remembered as a representation of the entire student body’s commitment to ‘Rachel’s Challenge.?
The mural showcases the students raising their hands in a symbolic gesture of the school’s desire to be a part of learning, reaching and stretching to grow in their kindness to each other.
OMS Art Instructor Linda Robinson said that there were many reasons that the act of raising a hand was significant.
‘When you raise your hand, it is usually to wave, to say hi, which is an act of kindness; to answer a question, to show that you want to be involved; you are committed; to take an oath.?
Robinson wanted to captured the power of the ‘pro kindness? message that was shared during ‘Rachel’s Challenge? presentation.
‘You would be amazed to see the change in our students and how they were inspired and how they wanted to have a part in Rachel’s Challenge,? said Robinson.
‘It was extremely moving,? she added.
The mural includes some of the key phrases the student body heard during the presentation: ‘Start a chain reaction of kindness?, ‘Learn today. Lead tomorrow?, ‘Grow, Stretch, Learn?, ‘Expand your mind?, ‘Have compassion?, ‘Choose the right?, ‘Smile?, ‘Be kind? and ‘Dance, sing, create?.
The idea for the mural came to Robinson after she visited an art competition at the Grand Rapids Children’s museum and saw Tracy VanDuinen’s colorful mixed-media tile mural.
‘It was just so powerful that I thought I need this in Oxford; I need to have something like this in Oxford,? said Robinson.
It took her six weeks to go from conception to completion.
According to Robinson, a group of 15 eighth graders glazed three tiles each. After they were finished, she took a hammer to them and added them to the thousands of pieces of glass and tile Robinson previously had.
She was able to devote her full time to working on her panel because her student teacher was at the point where she could lead the class by herself Robinson said.
However, she didn’t work on the mural alone. The entire school staff and students had a hand in placing one piece of tile or glass onto the mural.
‘It worked out perfectly. There was an extra classroom behind the art classroom upstairs,? said Robinson. ‘It was a perfect setting because we could lay it out, I could spread out the different tiles and glass globules and all the supplies I needed. It also enabled students to come back and put pieces on it without disturbing classes in session.?
OMS Custodian Diane Sands also claims special attachment because Robinson dedicated the mural in her honor.
‘She has backed me 100 percent on anything I have ever attempted to do here. From the day I met her, she has just been so supportive. She’s been an inspiration to me. She comes to me with great ideas and I know she treats others the same way. She’s is the epitome of kindness,? said Robinson.
Sands, who is going to retire on Jan. 22, 2010 after working with the school district for over 35 years, was humbled by the honor.
‘It is totally awesome and I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect it at all. I knew it was happening and I helped make it, but I didn’t know that little piece was going on in the corner,? Sands said.