NANGWARRY Primary School students have been busy creating heart shaped messages to lift the community’s spirit amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the guidance of visual arts teacher Stephanie Illman, 20 students used watercolour techniques to create the uplifting symbols of hope before distributing them to the Penoala IGA supermarket, Servwell in Nangwarry and Foster’s Foodland in Millicent.
“It is a tricky and stressful time for everyone at the moment,” Ms Illman said.
“My mother works at Foster’s Foodland in Millicent and I was talking to her about what those in the supermarkets are experiencing and thought we could do something to brighten up the shops.”
Ms Illman said the class brainstormed words to include on the colourful paper to brighten the day of supermarket workers.
“We thought we would start with those working in the supermarket because they are very stressed in this situation, ensuring we are getting everything we need,” she said.
“The kids absolutely loved doing it and we had been learning a lot about water colours and how to use them.”
As well as spreading community cheer, the project also “put some positivity back into the kids’ lives as well”.
“It is important to remember they are probably never going to live through this again, so it is critical that we spread the message of joy and happiness as much as we can and just make it as much of a positive experience as we can,” Ms Illman said.
Penola IGA owner Kerry McPherson said receiving the heart shaped messages in the mail made her day.
“We have displayed the children’s work near the registers and encourage anyone and everyone to read just one message on their way out of the store,” she said.
“We thank the primary school students for their beautiful messages in these trying times as it has really lifted the staff’s spirits.”
