By: Kara Armellino, Instructional Paraprofessional

Working together is an important skill needed throughout your entire life.  People often believe they can do things better by themselves perhaps because it provides us a sense of control.   However, collaboration not only shows us what we can accomplish when let go of control and come together, but also allows for a safe place for an exchange of ideas to transpire.   Collaboration creates conversation.  It is this collaborative mindset that has driven many art lessons by art teacher, Mr. Hayden.

From stained glass windows and mosaics, to sculptures and paintings, our Ocean Academy students have learned to create together using a variety of art mediums.  These projects are often long-term, tedious undertakings requiring patience, cooperation, and teamwork.  Piece by piece, students in their free time will add a little bit more to these beautiful works.   The two latest collaborative works-in-progress created by our students are a koi fish mosaic using stained glass and a puzzle-style painting created on wood of the United States. These projects highlight the different ways students can work together to create something beautiful.   While the mosaic shows students how to work together performing the same task, the US project asked students to create individual paintings of each state.  Both teach invaluable lessons.  The first shows students what can be accomplished when they listen to each other and work together while the latter shows students that while we are all individuals, when assembled, we have a sense of unity.  Much like our school, while we’re all different, when we come together, we create something amazing.