Students create beautiful art

It's not your average arts-and-crafts project.
Nearly 500 second-to-sixth-graders at Jamaica's Edward K. Ellington Elementary School designed and created mosaic art as part of the Ellington Enrichment Academy (EEA), a program piloted by sixth-grade teacher Ms. Stephenson to promote artistic and cultural learning at Ellington.
Third-grade teacher Joan Palmentiere got the idea to incorporate mosaics into the EEA program when she visited P.S. 50, whose students had done a similar project.
&#8220I told my students I had a vision to have the same thing at Ellington,” she said. So Palmentiere started the Mosaic Missionaries Club (MMC), a group of 15 students interested in learning about and creating mosaics. From the efforts of those 15 sprouted a school-wide project that will line the walls of Ellington for years to come. &#8220What impressed me the most was that the Mosaic Missionaries were able to open the project up to the entire school,” said Ellington Principal Elaine Brittenum. The original 15 students, in addition to making their own mosaics, helped Palmentiere gather materials and assisted other students with their work.
For MMC members, the project was more than a class. Students learned about the history of mosaic design-which dates back to Ancient Greece-and watched videos on how to create it. Each grade made tiles according to a different theme, each one under the overarching theme of nature. On Saturday, June 16, Palmentiere, janitor Bob Cannon, and a handful of students devoted their day to hanging the mosaics in the main lobby of the school.
&#8220You can put it on the wall, and people will think you bought it somewhere,” said Chris Cook, 8, a third-grader and member of MMC. &#8220You'll make people want to do art.”
&#8220This was good for me because my sister was trying to get me into drawing,” said MMC member Khristian Campbell, 8, who drew a robin in honor of his pet bird. &#8220We sold some of our drawings to people on our block and my mom was really proud of me because I made a lot of money.”
The most rewarding part of the project, said Palmentiere, were the reactions of the parents and students.
&#8220The parents' eyes light up, and the children go nuts,” she said. &#8220It makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
&#8220What inspired me was that I like to learn new stuff,” said MMC member Tanasia Anderson, 11, who drew a garden. &#8220Anything that involves art is fun for me.”
&#8220If I grow up to be a teacher, I'd like to do this with my class,” added eight-year-old Khayla Douglas, whose mosaic consisted of birds and a bird bath. &#8220I also want to teach other kids to do this so they're interested.”
According to Stephenson, the true value of the project is rooted in the positive affect it has on students. It provides a solid, finished product in a neighborhood where solidity is rare and confidence is low.
&#8220They leave a part of themselves here,” said Stephenson. &#8220They'll always feel a part of this school.”
MMC member Jamal Roseburgh, 12, summed it up.
&#8220Many years from now, I can come back and point to that wall and say, ‘That's mine,' he said. &#8220I can say that I was here.”