Student Mural Unveiled at Slackwood School

Lawrence Township art teacher Jill Lee-You, during the last school year, noticed that while there was a lot of spirit at Slackwood Elementary School – which was founded in 1904 – the school did not have a lot of artwork, particularly art representing the school’s eagle mascot.

Lee-You said she “wanted to beautify the school,” so she created a project called “Golden Eagle.”

With funding through a grant from the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, Lee-You had students in every class in all grades during the 2010-2011 school year help paint tiles depicting how they use their “golden hearts.”

“Golden hearts” is an expression used at the school to describe caring – “to treat others the way you want to be treated.”

Students were asked how they use their “golden heart.” Responses ranged from “I help my friends and teachers” to “I use my golden heart when I pick up garbage.”

Lee-You used the school’s small kiln to fire the ceramic tiles. Over the summer, Lee-You worked with her mentor, Ben Franklin Elementary School art teacher Toj Colavita, to mount the tiles into a frame holding the overall collage.

The finished product includes 152 tiles, arranged 18 wide by nine tall. It features a vivid golden eagle soaring over a deep blue background, with the words “Home of the Slackwood Eagles” prominently displayed.

The finished mural was officially unveiled on Oct. 18. It will hang in the hallway near the nurse’s office, accompanied by a plaque reading “Promoting School Unity through Art.”

­“Golden Eagle” was dedicated to , retired Sept. 1 after 21 years as Slackwood’s principal. Wendell was on hand for the unveiling ceremony.