Students at MCHS Freshman campus got the chance to make sun catchers to represent loved ones who have passed. Suncatchers are designed to catch sunlight and cast colorful colors and patterns into a room.
Gary Myers, a teacher at Freshman campus said, “the sun catcher activity came about because we have several students at the Freshman Campus who lost a parent, guardian or sibling recently,” Myers says. “Many students, and adults as well, do not have an outlet to grieve. The sun catchers also allowed students to honor a person they have lost. The great thing is the students will eventually take the sun catchers home and can have them for as long as they want.”
Over 90 students participated, and at least 25 staff painted sun catchers. Students got the chance to hang the suncatchers up near windows in their teachers’ class.
“My favorite part about the suncatchers activity is probably the way it brings everyone together to do something fun and is just an overall way to express themselves,” Aubrey Walter, a student at MCHS freshman campus says. “I definitely feel like the activity made people more connected. I really felt like it was a cool opportunity especially during a long lunch period and it was just something new. Overall I think it was really beneficial and brought people together to create meaningful things.”
Some students feel like they are alone in moments like this, especially when losing someone close. This activity gave students the chance to get closer with one another and help those who have lost loved ones process their grief. Getting the chance to create new bonds and be there for each other.
“I did hear students sharing stories about their loved ones while they were painting. I saw students coming together and getting closer,” Myers says, “they have a common denominator which is loss.”
The best part of this activity is for students being there for each other and overall making sure they are able to express themselves. Although its made a good impact amongst the student student, it brought light and colors to classrooms.