This year the Merrimac fifth grade class was given a challenge from their art teacher, Mrs. Motroni, to design a legacy project for the graduating class using ceiling tiles. Abdullah Haq, a fifth student in Mrs. Richter’s class, immediately had an idea. Last year, his school became a Leader in Me Lighthouse School and Abdullah felt it was important to honor this achievement.
When his art teacher gave him the assignment he asked if he could scout out a location in the school. Abdullah spent the next day counting tiles and looking for a place that would best fit his art installation. Then he went home and made a sketch of his idea on his computer to present to his principal, Mrs. DeCicco.
His idea incorporated the existing light fixture and filled up twenty four ceiling tiles outside the school’s cafeteria! Abdullah’s idea was unanimously approved and a team of six other fifth graders were chosen to help. Jagger Viox, Ashley DeLaRosa, Caleigh Bentivenga, Olivia Coghlan, Alyssa DiSipio and Amy Rice showed up with Abdullah the first day to work on this with Mrs. Motroni. They are true leaders of Art at Merrimac.
Over the course of a few weeks, during recess, the team went to the Art room and painted the tiles. When all the painting was finished they had all of the students in fifth grade and their teachers place their handprints on specific areas of the lighthouse. Abdullah and his team are Leaders in Art and the ceiling mural came out fantastic! The graduating Class of 2015 has truly “left their mark” and will always be remembered at Merrimac.