Instruction of environmental issues is integrated throughout our school's curriculum. All students at Thomas Viaduct Middle School participate in our school-wide initiatives and are offered numerous opportunities to explore in greater depth environmental topics of personal interest. Field trips enhance our environmental objectives and give students first hand experience with solutions to environmental problems.
In the spring of 2016, the entire TVMS student body worked to complete a mosaic mural during our Artist in Residency program featuring South African artist, Carien Quiroga. Using all recycled materials, students integrated the art of metal embossing & glass mosaic with symbolism and the writing process while reinforcing concepts from the State mandated curriculum in Social Studies and Language Arts. During the 6-day residency students explored the TVMS mission statement: Connect, Collaborate and Create as a theme for the mosaic mural. They developed an in-depth understanding of the benefits and beauty of using recycled materials along with the mosaic mural process as they created a 60 square foot embossed metal and glass mosaic artwork, permanently installed by the entrance way to the school. Students created small individual metal embossed disks and glass mosaics using recycled materials that were integrated into a larger final artwork. Students were then given the opportunity to reflect on the residency at its conclusion, focusing on skills learned, knowledge gained and the mosaic mural project as community building endeavor. Strengthening 21st Century skills such as collaboration, critical thinking and decision making in addition to the importance of the the 3R’s were infused throughout the residency and formed the foundation of this project.