This fall Barbourville City School celebrated creativity, collaboration, and connection through a unique art project led by school counselors Marsha Hubbs and Kayla Messer. The project brought together students across grade levels and transformed a school hallway into a vibrant display of student expression.
As part of the project, high school seniors read Peter H. Reynolds’ book, The Dot, to elementary classes, creating meaningful connections between older and younger students. The storytime experience was enhanced with special sound effects from Novel Effect, a resource made possible through KEDC’s Renaissance Art Grant. Marsha Hubbs, a teacher leader involved in the grant, helped bring this innovative element into the classroom, making the reading experience even more engaging for students and a little less intimidating for the high school readers.
Each grade level was assigned a specific color, and every student created their own “dot” using that color. These individual pieces were then combined to form a large mural displayed in the school hallway. Students were excited to see their own artwork showcased and enjoyed exploring the creative designs made by their peers. Teachers and other staff members were also invited to create dots and the high school Beta Club created the display, making it a true school community project.
The mural quickly became a point of pride for its contributors, and parents had the opportunity to view the display during open house. The project was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from students, who are already eager to participate again next year. This collaborative effort not only celebrated art, but also strengthened relationships and school spirit throughout Barbourville City School reminding both students and staff, “Every Dot Matters”.
