Mosaic brings together young mums, children
Schools
A mosaic project is not only creating a beautiful tabletop for a new nature play area but is also bringing together students from a variety of cultural backgrounds at St Joseph’s Education Centre, Enfield.
St Joseph’s Education Centre provides support for young women who are either pregnant or have young children to continue their education and complete their SACE.
Last year the centre was presented with the Tom Ffrench Award for Parent and Family Engagement by the Federation of Catholic School Parent Community to fund the mosaic project.
With the help of local mosaic artist Wendy Weatherley, the young women have been creating designs for a tabletop that will provide a focal point in the outdoor space near the centre’s crèche.
The students are learning the art of how to cut, glue and grout the small pieces as they undertake the mosaic project. The project is also contributing towards their SACE through the subject of Integrated Learning.
Centre coordinator Carol Thomas said the mosaic initiative was a great way of bringing together the diverse community.
“There is a large variety of cultural backgrounds here including Indigenous, Afghani, Iranian, Liberian, Vietnamese and European and a project such as this promotes opportunities for discussion about motifs and images that are important in that culture. It is also providing an opportunity for the students to work together for a common goal,” she said.
Ms Thomas said staff and students were grateful to Denise Piggott, who prepared the grant application.
The outdoor area of the crèche is one where students and their children can explore the environment and relax and enjoy the space in their breaks and at lunch.
It is currently being developed into a nature play area and it is planned there will be a garden including herbs and vegetables and miniature fruit trees that are grown by the young women as part of their study.
Through the garden the young children will learn about life cycles, pollination and bees, insects, worms, composting and other important aspects of sustainability.
Jump to next article
Comments
Show comments Hide comments