After spending 1.5 years as Principal of Grand Valley and District Public School, Steve Lefkos decided that the school could use an art refresh to help bring a sense of community pride through the doors.
As a result, Lefkos had the Gator’s school logo and name added to the carpets at the front entrance but still felt the need to do more. One night during an intermediate girls volleyball game, Lefkos started talking to local artist and former Grand Valley and District PS student, Tony Fenech, about getting a logo banner put up in the gym. After a few weeks of discussion, they added the sign to the school gym. According to Lefkos, “The students from K-8 LOVE the Gator Pride this sign has added to our school and our student athletes have said they use it as and for motivation during games!”
After the positive feedback from the gym artwork, Lefkos asked Fenech about putting something together for the office that represented not only the school, but also the Grand Valley community.
Fenech’s design did not disappoint (pictured below). Some the of the important details to the artwork include:
The Grand Valley water tower: Which you can see from the school
The duck: Which is symbolic of the Grand Valley Community and Lion’s Club Annual Duck Race that runs along the Grand River
The bell in the old schoolhouse: Which is an ode to the original schoolhouse that still stands less than a kilometer away from the school
The downtown core: Where the Grand Valley community comes together for special occasions and events
The blue heron: Which is a common sight along the river that runs through Grand Valley
The cows: An ode to the strong farming community that is still present for many of the schools' families
The Grand Valley and District PS Gator: Relaxing on a book with the many things necessary for learning with joy at school
When thinking about the new art pieces, Lefkos said, “we are so proud of the new art that will now hang in the school moving forward and what it will do to enhance the sense of community within our building!” Lefkos continued to say that this collaboration was an honour because it included a current parent at the school who also attended the school himself. He said Fenech “is creative, collaborative, and works to support the needs of [our] school. He understands what art like this can do to change and improve culture!”
