A number of clubs, organizations and classes are going to be contributing to the new hallway art.
Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle asked staff to help with the hallway beautification project.
“One bit of feedback we have gathered with student surveys is that we have a lot of blank walls throughout our school, and filling them with positive messaging and colorful things makes a space feel a lot more welcoming and warm,” Dr. Waeckerle said.
It’s going to be something that people can look to when they’re walking by, something bright to just show them they belong,
— Shreya Das
This initiative looks to decorate halls across the school, but some halls are seen as more in need of art than others.
“The new science-language arts area has been a focus over the past few years, so we’ve added a few new things, like some bulletin boards for teachers to be able to advertise things going on in their class,” Dr. Waeckerle said.
One proposed way to make the hallways more lively is by adding in art that helps students find representation.
“I sent out a student survey that is gathering information. We are going to be doing a couple of other projects that help all of our students know that they’re represented at our school,” Dr. Waeckerle said.
One bit of feedback we have gathered with student surveys is that we have a lot of blank walls throughout our school, and filling them with positive messaging and colorful things makes a space feel a lot more welcoming and warm,
— Dr. Tracey Waeckerle
One such club looking to create art centered around student representation is the Student Belonging and Equity Club.
Shelley Justin, sponsor, said representation is crucial for any student. The group plans to utilize hallway and classroom decorations to showcase people from different backgrounds in many diverse fields.
“I think that especially when students see people in those fields and those disciplines and they look like them, it makes them feel more empowered that it’s something that they’re capable of doing too,” Justin said.
She said representation makes students feel more at home at MHS.
“Just the walls just being more welcoming make people feel like a safe comfortable place. It’s a place you’re happy to be and that you’re comfortable being at,” Justin said.
Shreya Das, junior, is a member of the Student Belonging and Equity club. The club is planning a third-floor bulletin board featuring a map highlighting the different countries each student is from, drawing from information from a student survey. She is excited to highlight different student stories with the bulletin board.
“Everyone at school is a light who’s from a different place,” Das said.
She wants the board to stand out in the hallway and attract student attention.
“It’s going to be something that people can look to when they’re walking by, something bright to just show them they belong,” Das said.
