Ruth Baja Williams wasn't satisfied with just teaching her students; she wanted to do more. When she started looking for a community service project for the sixth-graders, she came up with a big idea. Actually, it was a very big idea.
When all was said and done, the "Staying Healthy" sculpture the sixth-grade students from Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School designed was over 8 feet tall.
The idea for the sculpture was born when Williams approached Janet Gilbert, patient relations director at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, asking her how a group of sixth-graders could work together with the hospital to perform some community service. Gilbert suggested that the students develop a work of art that could be enjoyed by the hospital community. The project became known as "Healing through the Arts."
Mount Vernon Wood's art teacher, Alisha Ritualo, then asked the students to design a figure that could be used as a sculpture. Since they were learning about 20th century abstract French artist Jean Debuffet, she asked them to keep this style in mind.
Out of 40-plus designs that were submitted, they selected the one designed by student Shelby Poindexter.
The students, helped by Ritualo and Williams, set to work building the figure with foam core and papier-mache. The figure was then painted, but that was just the beginning. All the other students were busy working on pictures that depicted the theme of staying healthy; pictures of fresh fruits and vegetables, children on roller skates or bikes, and more. These pictures were then glued to the sculpture, and the whole thing was given a finishing varnish.
LAST THURSDAY the sculpture was moved from Mount Vernon Woods to the hospital for a dedication ceremony. Shrouded in cloth and wrapped in plastic, the sculpture was accompanied by 10 students, their teachers and principal Reginald Romaine.
"It was far more than we had hoped for," said Williams. "The hospital was well-prepared. I was pleased at all the people who were waiting for us. The collaboration was as smooth as anyone could imagine. The kids were delighted."
Gilbert said, "It worked out great. We are impressed and delighted to have the school take part."
After the unveiling ceremony, the hospital served punch and cookies. An unplanned tour of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber and the hospital’s "Easy Street" just added to the students' delight.