About 100 students, staff and community members from W.T. Cooke Elementary painted “curb islands” in front of the school with flowers, hearts, school motifs and ViBe District-inspired beach art on May 3.

Art teacher Brandon Thompson started the project by putting together a video to encourage students in grades three through five to submit designs. On a breezy Sunday morning, families gathered in front of the school on Mediterranean Avenue, where traffic was temporarily blocked for safety.

“Be careful, it’s windy,” Thompson said. “Watch the drips.”

“They’ve been talking about this for weeks,” he said about the students. “I like seeing them do their own thing but also being together working on something for the community. It’s awesome. Some of these kids may be painting a mural at the Oceanfront someday.”

After checking in with the school’s principal, Dr. Kelly Padilla, and receiving paint and supplies provided by the ViBe Creative District, students painted their designs on six curb islands, which are raised pieces of concrete designed to slow traffic. Parents, volunteers and school staff added finishing touches.

“It’s cool,” fifth grader Cami Lannon said as she painted a starfish. “I like sea animals.”

Fourth grader Margot Archer was out with her siblings Max and Elise and her dad, Chris. Her ideas showed up in the design of one of the smaller curb islands.

“I was thinking about school, so that’s why there’s crayons and rulers,” she said.

Third grader Grant Gander said he picked a skateboard to paint, because it’s one of his favorite activities. He’s a member of the skate club and the chess club at Cooke.

Scarlett Hobson, who painted an orange next to several ice cream cones on one of the islands, said she appreciated how her art teacher managed the project.

“I like how he sorted the art,” the fourth grader said. “This island has edibles on one, and the other one has sea creatures.”

“It’s a good family vibe,” said Cooke parent Jackie Jennings.

Thompson said he was happy to see so many parents involved in the project.

“They’re out here just as excited about it as the kids,” he said, adding that the confidence students gain painting simple objects like hearts and stars will help them with more complex subjects in the future.

“I hope the students get a better understanding of how the painting process works within the community,” he said. Students built a memory that may last a lifetime, and as they grow older they will ride their bikes or drive their cars by the paintings and fondly remember the fun they had with their classmates.

“I also hope they have fun throughout this whole process and see that something as special as this really brings lots of people within the local community together,” Thompson said.

A city engineer stopped by to see the students’ progress, saying he hoped they’d paint even more curbs along Mediterranean Avenue at a later date. Cooke Elementary PTA provided snacks for the event.

Kate Pittman, executive director of the ViBe, said the student project helps build the city’s future leaders.

“When youth can participate in positive community service projects like this, they realize that investing in their neighborhood is important and fun,” she said.

Visit this link to view a video of the painting project.