OTHELLO — Hiawatha Elementary School students returned from their Christmas vacation early this month to be surprised by an 8-foot-by-40-foot mural of their mascot — a colorful Thunderbird — on their gym wall.

Commissioned by the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization, the mural was painted by the Othello community’s father-daughter team of Jesse and Natasha Rodelo.

“It was an honor to paint a mural for school spirit and to be a part of the elementary school that I had attended as a child,” Natasha said.

Jesse is an ofter commissioned for mural projects. His work is well known in the area.

Natasha has a degree in studio arts from Central Washington University and is a teacher at Hiawatha. Several of her works hang around town, especially at Time Out Pizza. She too has been commissioned for several works.

Natasha was the Old Hotel Art Gallery’s artist of the month for November, which is managed by PTO President Jenn Stevenson.

“The reveal assembly was awesome,” Stevenson said. “I had many people say the loved the history information (in a powerpoint presentation and said they never knew any of the history before. The kids and staff all loved the mural and are excited to see it daily.”

The mural task was not easy. Before taking it on, the Rodelos did a two-day commission in Royal City, painting a gym floor mural at the Royal Intermediate School. That left the Rodelos five days to complete the Hiawatha mural.

“We had a few technical difficulties with a mechanical ladder, but we managed to complete the mural in time for the unveiling assembly,” Natasha said. “The kids were really excited for their new Thunderbird mural.”