For the past four years, Superior Elementary School has participated in National Small Business Week, held this year from May 4–10, with a student-led service-learning project. Each year, students choose a unique way to express their appreciation to the community, and this year’s effort may be their most impressive yet. 

“In the past, we’ve made posters, cleaned sidewalks, created thank-you cards, sanitized doorknobs, which is a favorite among the kindergarteners, and even helped clean buses and worked in gardens,” said Carissa Kuhl, Superior Elementary School Counselor. “But this year’s project has been the most incredible.”

The students partnered with Michelle McCracken of Michelle’s Crafty Classes to create colorful window art for the Mineral Community Hospital Clinic. The idea, completely student-driven, involved designing individual pieces of artwork, which were then submitted to McCracken.

“The kids came up with the concept on their own,” Kuhl said. “Michelle took their artwork and turned it into a mural. When we approached the hospital clinic with the idea, they loved it and said, ‘We’re in!’ The students were thrilled.” Alongside the mural, students also participated in a grounds cleanup to further show their appreciation for the hospital staff.

Michelle’s Crafty Classes is known throughout the county for brightening windows with cheerful art, often prompting passersby to wonder, ‘Who made that?’

As part of the project, students nominated local businesses to be recognized. The class then voted on which to support first. 

“We decided as a group to complete one service project to start and hopefully continue recognizing others throughout the rest of the school year,” said Kuhl. “Some of the businesses already had window art, so we’ll have to think creatively about how to thank them in other ways.”

Mineral Community Hospital CEO Laurel Chambers Haskins warmly welcomed the students. “We just heard about this yesterday and were happy to have them,” she said, carrying a tray of warm M&M cookies from the hospital kitchen to share with the young artists. “It’s such good energy, and we’re very grateful they chose us.” 

With around 80 employees between the hospital and clinic, the facility is one of the largest employers in the county.

Each student contributed their own drawing, which McCracken blended into a unified mural. 

“I looked through all the art and tried to include something from everyone,” she said. “There were a lot of hearts, a few rivers. I freehanded the base of the mural in white, and now the kids are adding the color and detail.”

“These kids are terrific,” Kuhl added. “We’re not always great at bragging about them, but they deserve it. Projects like this are a great way for students to engage with the community in meaningful, selfless ways.”

    A chalk outline of a body as you enter the hospital was being made by jokesters Murdoc Obitt around Mark Sparks. Other sidewalk art decorated the areas from the parking lot to the main doors of the clinic. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
  

    Colton Brown was enjoying the day after participating in the All-School Fun Run in St. Regis earlier that morning and then being outside painting windows in Superior. And a 3-day weekend was coming up so who couldn’t blame him for being so happy? (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)