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Arts Education in Action at Utsalady Elementary

March 12, 2026

Second graders at Utsalady Elementary painting the new cafeteria mural

Through SCAAC's commitment to arts education, students at Utsalady Elementary recently experienced what it means to learn by creating.

In partnership with the Utsalady Elementary Booster Club and school staff, SCAAC brought local professional artist and muralist Resha Hanson into the school as part of the Afternoon of the Arts program. Resha designed a vibrant mural for the cafeteria and guided students through the creative process.

Every student, a muralist

Rather than simply watching an artist at work, every second grader got to take part. During a special afternoon in February, students learned about mural design, tools and techniques, then picked up brushes and added their own paint to the wall.

A second grader in a pink shirt raises a paintbrush to the cafeteria wall at Utsalady Elementary, with classmates painting beside her.
Every second grader got a brush and a section of wall.
A second grader in a red hoodie paints a red apple on the Utsalady Elementary cafeteria mural, as another student paints in the background.
One apple, one careful stroke at a time.
The colorful fruit mural on the Utsalady Elementary cafeteria wall, with a pear, banana, peach and blueberries painted around the table storage door.
The finished wall: a pear, a banana, a peach and a lot of blueberries.

More than a brighter wall

Experiences like this do more than brighten a space. They give students hands-on time with a working artist, build confidence, and show that art is something they can be part of, not just something they observe.

By partnering with local schools and connecting professional artists with classrooms, SCAAC helps keep arts education a meaningful part of students' everyday learning.

Learn more about Afternoon of the Arts

Photos by Stanwood Camano School District.

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