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One School, One Project: All Belong
Munson Elementary's life-size puzzle hanging on the wall in the school hallway

May 18, 2023 —  Munson Elementary School launched an autism awareness project in 2021 that has become a wonderful tradition for the school each year in the month of April with students and staff collectively creating one large piece of artwork that represents our interconnectedness and individual uniqueness:  

"We are all an important piece in the puzzle. Everyone belongs at Munson Elementary!" 

A Dedicated Classroom
It is at Munson Elementary that the District houses a dedicated classroom, intervention specialist, and support staff for students with autism.

A Month of Activities to Promote Year-Round Awareness
The school also hosts additional autism awareness activities every April, including participation in "Light it Up Blue Day" wherein all students and staff are encouraged to wear the color blue, which symbolizes hope. 

The Art Project
For the annual hands-on, art project, each student and staff member decorates one puzzle piece in the month of March knowing that those puzzle pieces will eventually form one impressive, wall-hung puzzle for the school hallway later in the spring. 

This yearly initiative is thoughtfully led by art teacher Mrs. Stickley in collaboration with intervention specialist Mrs. Kellogg.

Students and staff have fun choosing from a wide array of markers, crayons, colored pencils and embellishments to decorate their individually cut puzzle pieces, adding their own unique flair and personality to the project.

With much dedication and concentration, Munson staff then take on the challenge of piecing together the decorated pieces to create the one massive and assembled puzzle of wall décor for the main hallway wall. 

The Symbolic Display
The idea is that by displaying the schoolwide project, students will not only admire the artwork they created together but also be reminded of the beauty of individual uniqueness and how we work well together because no two people are the same.

On May 9, school custodian Mr. Walsh — with teamwork assistance from principal Prezioso — officially hung the school puzzle in the hallway.

The finished piece is certainly a heart-warming splendor for all to see!  Well done, Munson Hilltoppers!

#WeAreChardon
We believe that collaborative relationships allow us to work more effectively.
District Success Plan

Contact:

Kelly Misch
Communications Director
Chardon Local Schools
[email protected]
440.286.0409