Catholic Board of Education E-Magazine - Spring 2018

Johnson worked arduously on Saturday night and from sun up to sun down on Sunday to complete the
intricate, playful and inspiring piece. The mural stands as an example of what community teamwork can
produce and as a showpiece for the work of the two young girls. The mural is also a testament to the
positive impact that organizations can have on local communities by investing in and leveraging
community partnerships.
On behalf of the Catholic Board of Education, Claudette A. Rolle, Director of Catholic Education,
expressed her gratitude to Aliv and their partners, The National Art Gallery and The Paint Place. “We
are grateful to Aliv and its partners for choosing to launch this initiative in a catholic school. In our
system, art is an important component in teaching and learning because it supports our emphasis on
producing students who are not only academically capable, but also well rounded. To have a
professional artist and the St. Cecilia‟s School community engage in bringing to life an artistic
expression that was designed by two of its own scholars was phenomenal.”
Gravette Brown expressed how impressed Aliv is with St. Cecilia‟s School, "This school is very, very
important to Aliv.” She continued: - “We are inspired by what you do here. We are inspired that this
little school in the Grove is turning out excellence. I have visited over 20 schools across the Bahamas; I
have to say that this is the best little school in The Bahamas."
During the awards ceremony Caliea and Rihanna were presented with prizes from Aliv, The National
Art Gallery and The Paint Place. The Paint Place awarded the winners with a premium art set which
included materials, sketchbooks and an easel to encourage the young artists to keep creating. Aliv also
made a special presentation to the St. Cecilia‟s School Art Department. Upon presenting the winners
with a scholarship to The National Art Gallery Summer Camp, Malika Pryor, Community Development
Officer, National Art Gallery reminded the students gathered: “Art is a wonderful tool for learning and
exploring. It helps you to think better, differently and more creatively. Art is wonderful!” Pryor
explained to students how art can uplift others pointing out that when persons pass by the mural they
may have been having a bad day but when they see the mural it can make them feel happy. Grasping the
importance of art and the long lasting effects of art one of the winners of the „Believe in Best Art
Competition‟ mused innocently, “I love to paint and I am so excited to attend the National Art Summer
Camp. I hope this mural stays up a very, very, very long time so that when my children attend St.
Cecilia‟s they can see it.”