Creative ALPHABET Teaches Healthy Eating at Memorial School

The first grade children at Memorial School might not realize it, but even when they are in their lunchroom, they are learning!

Hanging high on the walls of the Memorial School cafeteria are 26 colorful, artistic, extremely detailed and yes, educational alphabet letter panels that are designed with “Healthy Food” images associated with that letter. 

These works of art decorate and brighten up the previously white brick walls but they also send a message to the children; albeit it a subtle message.  Each one of these alphabet letter panels are exquisitely detailed with healthy foods that begin with that letter.  For instance, the “S” panel is designed with Salmon, Sushi and Shrimp; the “N” panel is designed with Noodles and Nectarines, and the “X” panel is designed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Very creative!

When I first saw these magnificent panels, I was so impressed, that I wanted to share the story behind the project. This is a perfect example of the cooperation and community that exists in Medfield.

It began in 2011 with an idea.  A Memorial School parent, Rochelle Cabochan,
knew that her employer, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare Foundation, offered grant
money to employees, but it would only be awarded to a project that related to health or fitness.  Cabochan decided to contact Memorial School Principal, Andrea Trasher, to find out if there was something at Memorial School that could benefit by such a grant.  Trasher was excited about this opportunity and her first thought was to find a creative way to implement artwork and healthy eating in the cafeteria.  Using the brick white walls as a canvas, painting a healthy food mural on the walls, was her original thought.   

Trasher sought the advice of Medfield Public Schools K-12 Fine Arts Content Specialist, Jim Cousens, and this project was perfect for the Medfield High School Art & Portfolio Club.  Meg Drew, Art & Portfolio Club Advisor, oversaw the project and Club President, Amelia White, who was an MHS Junior at the time, took a primary role.  The talented students in this club created 26 individual alphabet letter panels rather than painting a mural directly on the walls and it is truly a remarkable sight.

From its conception to its installation, much skill and vision was required to accomplish this task.  This venture took about one full year and it was a truly a community
project!

Cabochan submitted a write up of the proposed art project and she was awarded a Harvard Pilgrim Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant in the amount of  $600 which afforded the purchase of the Masonite boards, the acrylic paint and the other supplies needed to complete this project.  Cabochan provided the following information from Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare Foundation regarding the grant which funded this project, “Harvard Pilgrim Health Care created these Mini-Grants to commemorate the first anniversary of 9/11 through a special contribution to its Foundation.  The Foundation administers this special fund and distributes the Mini-Grants to non-profit organizations that Harvard Pilgrim Health Care nominates.”

Each of the twenty five Art & Portfolio Club student artists worked on the project.  In the first stages, each student picked which letter to create and even “Googled”
healthy foods that started with that letter of the alphabet, but as the project
continued, many of the club members worked on multiple panels.  The students had to prime the boards, paint the background, stencil the letter, and then start creating the design and food images.  White said the project took many hours and it took until the end of the school year to complete. 

After all the panels were done, they were delivered to Memorial School in the fall of this school year and were installed by the Medfield Public School maintenance crew of Tom Quayle and Michael Jackson over the school winter break.  It was necessary to wait until school break to install these 3’ x 4’ panels, as the cafeteria
needed to be empty and it took 2-3 days to get them all hung on the walls.

“The students [at Memorial School] were thrilled to see them” said Trasher.  “This room was just brick walls and the windows are very high up so you can’t see out; the cafeteria workers and teachers all love it!”

Some of the Art & Portfolio students that worked on this project have since graduated, but six students at MHS who are still in the Art & Portfolio club, stopped by Memorial School along with Advisor, Meg Drew, to view the panels. They were thrilled with how the final results looked and each one of them agreed to pose with one of the panels they designed. Principal Trasher welcomed them and thanked them for this wonderful addition to the school cafeteria.

All the students in the Art & Portfolio Club should be very proud of this project.  Combining the simplicity of the Alphabet with the creativity of the chosen healthy foods is a perfect way to teach the 5 and 6 year old children about healthy food choices.

This project is truly a work of art!