Students wrote messages on paper hearts that now hang in the school as an art installation
In the aftermath of the February’s school shooting in Parkland, Fla., staff at Cinnaminson Middle School began to think of ways to allow students to express their thoughts and feelings about the tragedy.
What they came up with was a mobile of paper hearts each inscribed with a message from one of the students on how they felt about the shooting. The art installation now hangs in a hallway at the middle school.
“You can use art, and writing is a good outlet for kids especially when they want to give their opinion about something but aren’t quite sure how,” said art teacher Karen Muraresku, who came up with the idea for the mobile.
Some students wrote down messages of solidarity with the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Others cited quotes, and some even drew pictures about what they were feeling.
“You can see the emotion that was poured into it because a lot of them are very beautiful,” Muraresku said
She said the hearts were anonymous.
Seventh grader Chelsea Bohn-Pozniak, 12, was one of about eight students who spoke about the tragedy over the loudspeaker on March 14, which was the day students around the country walked out of their schools.
“I heard about it, and it was just really upsetting because it happens way too often,” Chelsea said. “It made me want to do something for them and let them know that they weren’t alone.”
Eighth grader Croix Horsley, 14, who is the school’s student council president, also wanted to do something after hearing about the shooting.
“I thought it was pretty sad, and that we should probably do something as a school to show support,” he said.
Middle School Principal Frank Goulburn said several students walked out of the school on March 14.
“We did allow them to walk out in a controlled space right out on the side of the school because, of course, you wouldn’t want to tell kids they couldn’t do that,” said teacher Melissa DeClementi, who serves as adviser to student council.
“With middle school kids, all of us have the same philosophy that they kind of have to be led a little bit,” she added. “They’re still trying to figure out what their role is or how they can make a change or an impact.”
Several of the middle school students said they were not nervous about their safety as they prepare to begin high school.
“I’m not too nervous because Cinnaminson has pretty good security, and there’s always cops around too,” Croix said.
“I’m not that worried either because our schools have an amazing system in place to keep us protected if anything like that were ever to happen,” Chelsea added.
Goulburn said he expects the heart mobile will hang at least until the end of the school year.
