Murals to Brighten Up K-5 School

Blank walls at Burton Elementary school in Panorama City are becoming a symbol of school pride, thanks to a handful of volunteer painters.

Seven students--mostly high-school age--have been donating their time after school painting the first of nine murals, to the delight of the school’s 800 pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

Funding for the murals came from a neighborhood matching grant.

“[This] will really help to buoy the school and help the children’s self esteem,” said Burton Elementary Principal Judy Kravitz. “It’ll be a pretty place to be.”

The student painters are Luis Muratalla, 16, Aracely Garcia, 17, and Evelyn Garcia, 15, of Van Nuys High school; Marlene Garcia, 9, of Chase Street Elementary school in Panorama City; Jessica Reynoso, 13, and Gilbert Aguilar, 11, of Mulholland Middle School in Van Nuys; and Emma Barajas, 14, of Monroe High School in North Hills.

The first mural, completed last week, depicts a bear welcoming students to school. Future murals will depict a Native American village, the solar system and butterflies, to name a few.

Gail Lippner, a Panorama City resident active with Graffiti Busters--a community organization that helps beautify neighborhoods--secured a $5,000 grant for the project from the L.A. Board of Public Works and then matched it with donations of materials and time.

Lippner, 49, who is supervising the painting, said all nine murals should be completed by next June. Elementary school children will paint alongside the older students.

Burton Elementary school was built in 1950 but closed in 1970 because of declining enrollment. The campus was used for administrative offices until 1990, when it was reopened to students.

“These kids [the painters] have been great role models for our children,” Kravitz said.

KUDOS

Clinton Visit: Elementary students at Calabasas’ Round Meadow Elementary school got a surprise visit recently from Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Principal Rose Dunn met the first lady at a local fund-raiser and asked if she would mind making an impromptu stopover at the school afterward.

“I thought [asking her] was worth the shot, and she was very willing,” Dunn said.

School administrators scrambled to assemble 600 or so students in the auditorium, and they listened intently to Clinton’s five-minute speech on the importance of voting and the upcoming presidential election.

Students presented Rodham Clinton with a pencil and a school T-shirt, sang a spirit song to her and gave her a standing ovation.

“The buzz was incredible after she left,” Dunn said. “The students were all thrilled.”

Outstanding Teacher: Kathryn Anders, an English teacher at Agoura High School, recently was honored with a USA Today All-USA Teacher Award. She was one of 54 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers recognized nationwide.

The Westlake Village resident previously taught English at Calabasas High School.

Teachers were selected by a panel of education experts and were nominated by school administrators, past or present students, parents, colleagues or family members.

Students’ Turn: Tired of its old ho-hum back-to-school night that only attracted a handful of parents, administrators at Jack London High School in Van Nuys are hoping for 100% participation during conferences next week after implementing their new student-led conferences.

Before parents arrive for a one-on-one meeting with their children and teachers, students are required to work out how many remaining credits they need to graduate, along with other goals which they will present to their parents.

“Even though this is a lot more time consuming, we think it’s worth it,” said teacher Teryne Dorret.

This is the second year the 60-student continuation school has opted for conferences at which the students are in charge.

“Last year we saw every parent,” Dorret said. “And the kids have to look at where they are at and make a plan for the future.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Soroptimists International of Santa Clarita Valley is accepting applications for the Violet Richardson Award, which honors girls aged 14-17 for community volunteerism. Applications are due Dec. 1 and are available at high schools in the Santa Clarita Valley or by calling Deborah Grandinetti at (800) 523-9150, Ext. 3349.

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