Oaklawn Elementary 'rocks' its community
Oaklawn art teacher Marisa Iacovone is working with the full student body on a project to help give back to the greater community.
“ Mr. Z. (Oaklawn Principal Jim Zanfini) approached me over the summer with this interest of connecting the art of painting within our community.
The rocks represent the positive feeling that our Oak Lawn students feel and want to share among the community they live within. They’re using acrylic paint to create an overall sculpture of a word that communicates a positive thought, smile, or sense of appreciation towards their surroundings they have known and become familiar with most of their childhood. Whether looked upon as a token, a paper weight or a masterpiece.... in the end it all began with a student's creative hands that the community can find, collect and share,” she said.
The criteria for the project are very simple. Students were asked to bring in a 3-4-inch diameter rock. Once the rocks are painted and imprinted with a positive message the students will place rocks somewhere within the community where others may find them (ball fields, outside favorite store, neighborhoods, parks etc).
Zanfini is excited for the project and is anxious to see where the students decide to place their rocks.
"We are a Feinstein Leadership School and we continuously try to do good deeds for others.It is our goal that our act of kindness will help others find hope/cheer when they least expect it,” he said.
