Last spring the students at West Sechelt Elementary participated in a school beautification project. Every student in the school was given a wooden orca to paint. The orcas have been installed on the fences around the school grounds. The theme of the project was diversity; students were encouraged to be creative and express their individuality while painting of their orca.
This was a true community effort. Local artists Manuela Salinas and Jana Curll generously donated orca designs and Stella, one of our 2024 Grade 7 students, also contributed an orca shape.
The orcas were cut out from 10 sheets of plywood that was generously donated by Larry Bergh at Rona Home Builders Sechelt. Volunteers Brian Lucas, Ken Parker and Ron Johnson from the Sunshine Coast Woodworkers guild cut out orca shapes; thanks to Blake Allenby for organizing. Mike Hovanes and woodwork students at Pender Harbour Secondary cut orcas, as well as Gary Michaeli and his woodworking students at Chatelech Secondary. The WSE PAC supported the project from the beginning, buying the paint supplies for the kids to use and organizing a work party to put them on the fences; special thanks to Erica Malcolm and Liz Hills for their efforts. Thank you to Ms. Aileen for clear coating the orcas over the summer break.
We are so proud of the West Sechelt Elementary students for expressing their creativity and personalities in the beautiful orcas they painted. We hope the community enjoys the colourful unique orcas on our fences. Life is better in a pod!
