If you’ve set foot inside NCPS in the last decade, then you’ve likely admired Bev Stableforth’s colourful mural of rural children on the wall outside the office. But if you look carefully, you will find secret symbols about the people who work there.
“It makes it personal,” said Bev, of the little touches she has included. “It gives the kids a thrill!”
A pair of black Doc Martens (pictured bottom, left) is for teacher Mrs. Jennifer Angus, who used to wear Doc Marten boots to school every day. A bird singing in a tree (middle) represents teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Floyd, who loves music. And a fishing rod leaning against the apple tree is for Mr. Brian Surowiec, who Bev said is passionate about fishing.
There’s a basket of apples for Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Lisa Doner-Day and a Scrabble poster on the side of a salt box is for avid Scrabble-player, Mrs. Jennifer Elliott. If you lift your eyes, you’ll be able to see a picture of the school custodian, Mr. Malcolm Morrison, holding a broom and peering out from atop a tree (right).
“He oversees the entire school, so that’s why he is there,” explained Bev.
Bev, who works as an Educational Assistant, painted the mural in 2002. At the time, the principal, Fran Dillon, was interested in finding ways to decorate the walls. darci-que and a few parents had already decorated other areas.
So Bev set out to paint an outdoor scene of nature and children that she hoped would “exemplify what Creemore meant to her and the children.”
Two weeks later, the mural was done. It shows children displaying flags in the NCPS house colours: purple, black, orange, white and blue. The kids are surrounded by the rolling hills of the Creemore countryside, with gardens, farms, a river, cows and sheep.
“That is the uniqueness of what Creemore is and what we were, as an almost-century school and also a rural school,” explained Bev.
The mural, which is signed by B.J. May – Bev’s artist name – is dedicated “to all the beautiful children who inspired me on the journey through this painting.”
Even though she did the work of painting the mural, Bev said the students were very much involved. As she worked, children would come by to make suggestions. They told her which colours to paint the flowers, what kind of clothing the kids in the picture should wear and what kinds of birds to paint in the sky.
“It was inspired by the kids,” said Bev. “This was a group journey; it was their vision, too.”
“Every day that I was here [in the hallway] – from the concept, to sketching, to painting – the children were there. I think they visited the washroom more during those two weeks than normal!”