- April 15, 2024
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On the first day of the new school year, a large coquina rock sits in the middle of the round-a-bout at the main entrance of Wadsworth Elementary School. It is not anything spectacular yet, but it is the beginning of the Wadsworth Panther Project.
The rock, donated by Sam Cline, will act as the base for a bronze statue of the school’s mascot.
“The panther project was initiated as a way to have people’s first impression of Wadsworth be a positive one,” said principal Robin Dupont. “There are many great things going on inside Wadsworth and children are learning as evidenced by our “A” status. We want the outside to reflect that.”
This year marks the 25th birthday of Wadsworth Elementary, the oldest elementary school in Palm Coast.
“We deserve to have a birthday present that not only speaks positively of WES but is a gift to the community we serve as well,” Dupont said.
The bronze statue, will be created by renowned local artist Paul Baliker, and will portray a panther cuddling with a child who is reading a book, while lounging across the coquina stone.
Baliker is also the artist behind the panther statue in Linear Park.
Since bronze sculpting in an elaborate process, students will be able to watch some of that process through Skype.
But that’s not the only way students will be involved. Funding from this project will come largely from the sale of a book that was written by Dupont and illustrated by art teacher Joyce Wegener and her art students.
“Just Call Me Phoebe,” is a character education book about a kitten that keeps misunderstanding situations. It explores the theme that making mistakes is a normal part of growing up. The book also includes robust vocabulary words from the Story Town reading series.
“They are words that the kids know or have learned and now they will have a chance to see it in context,” Dupont said.
The book was not intended to be a fundraiser at the beginning, but because of the collaborate effort, it became a new adventure and a learning project for everyone involved.
A sequel to the book, “Phoebe and the Armadillo,” has already been written by last year’s fourth grade class and will be illustrated this year by Wegener’s students. This book deals with friendships; how do you make a friends, especially if somebody’s different than you are.
Each class wrote an episode for this book and the full story was tied together by Dupont.
The goal is to have the second book finished by winter break.
“I think everyone who has read the book has really enjoyed it and the kids are really excited about it,” Dupont said. “It’s been a wonderful experience not only for me and the art teacher but the kids are really psyched about it.”
The panther project is hoped to be completed by the end of the school year, but the finish date will ultimately be determined by how fast the fundraising process goes.
The school has been working closely with the Wadsworth family, who originally donated the land for the school to be built on. Other community partners are VerdeGo Landscaping, the Gargiulo Art Foundation, the Flagler County Master Gardeners, and the Wadsworth Elementary garden club.
To become a partner, or purchase a book, call the school at 446-6720.
