As you wander through the buildings of West Boca Raton Community High School, it’s easy to find yourself unbothered by the uniform tan and cream-colored halls. Yet, as you set foot into the vibrant landscape that is downstairs building 3, it is also easy to become immersed into the different colors, patterns, and themes decorated along the walls. Whether it be elegant ballet dancers bounding from toe to toe or basketball players powering forward, the murals of building 4 have become quite the trademark of our school’s originality. And so, as we enter the new school year and discover our precious artwork to be completely vanished, here begs the question: WHY?
Now, don’t worry West Boca Bulls, our school administration isn’t opposed to any sort of creative originality. In fact, they have supported our students’ creative endeavors for years now, from AP Art showcases to spring dance concerts. The truth is that while you all were enjoying your much-deserved summer vacation, our beloved building 3 suffered a water main break, giving our administration no choice but to spare the murals from further damage. Our newspaper class asked our Principal, Mr. Capitano, his view on this unfortunate situation, and he described the dilemma with a downhearted expression. He explained that the school administration made the most rational decision given the circumstances of impending structural damage, not to mention the fact that water damage can lead to potential mold growth! Even our favorite art teacher, Mr. Bruckner, expressed his remorse towards the poor circumstances and shared his disappointment at the disappearance of art in our community.
It can also be noted that while our school lost this incredible creative enhancement, it is by no means an excuse to withhold our sense of originality altogether. Frankly, it is even more so a reason to encourage our students to promote their artwork and creativity in other ways. If you nose around certain buildings, you might spot a poster or two depicting student artwork or class projects. In the future, we can further encourage students to send in creative pieces in order to spruce up our hallways and classrooms.
When it all comes down to it, creativity is a crucial aspect of our education, allowing us to flex our innovative muscles and unlock new modes of expression. We must not forget that as a school accommodating numerous academies and career exploration opportunities, it is our job to encourage growth and ingenuity. So grab your colored pencils and paper, suggest an idea or two, and help promote our school to be the innovation hub we all know it to be!
