Woodlands Secondary Tiles and Reflections

After finishing their tile, the students were asked to write a reflection about their tile and their spark.
These reflections are heartfelt and unique to each student, and really add to the value of the mural.

Click on one of the squares below to see a close-up of the tile and the individual reflection.

"Writing Without Words", Gabby

For my tile, I decided to focus on one of my favourite sparks which is writing. I have a passion for writing. I can lose track of all time when I write. Another thing that played a part in my artwork is the lotus flower which represents peace and harmony which I believe I have found in my life.

"Hard Metal", Brodie

"Golfing", Graham

The spark in my life would have to be golfing. Golf is my spark because I will be able to play golf for a long time and I enjoy playing golf very much. I live my spark every time I step on the golf course or hold a golf club. I am at the golf course a lot In the summer but not a lot any other time because school always gets in the way. Almost every person I am close to knows my spark from my friends at school to my parents and neighbors at home. My supporters are my parents and my golf instructors that have taught me how to play over the years. What I would love is if I could golf all year without worrying about school or the weather which are the main reason I don't golf more. I can use MY spark to help with developmental assets because this will allow me to teach younger kids and other people how to play and maybe save one person from drugs and alcohol.  Through sports you can overcome all the struggles in your life.

"The Swimming Octopus" - Autumn

From the second I saw this tile I knew I would be painting an octopus. I was happy that I was able to do a sea creature because I think the ocean is incredible; water itself rejuvenates me. I have always been happy when swimming or around the ocean in general. Everything about the ocean is thrilling. It is home to thousands of creatures and its depths are unbelievable.

The way the eagle's wings are spreading in the mural made it very easy to see an octopus within them. All I had to do was add some octopus-like elements, such as suckers, and it was nearly complete. One thing I wasn't sure of was the background. For the mural, it is to be trees and bushes, and I was stuck on what I should be painting to go with an octopus. Then I got the idea of kelp; after all, the octopus is swimming in the ocean, and I thought that would help set the scene for the octopus as he swims. I think unity is the most important value on my tile because you need to see everything together as whole to see the octopus swimming; his tentacles swishing through the kelp as he swims on his way to find food.

I was extra glad to see the octopus within the tile because they have some great meaning, or symbolism, themselves. They can represent flexibility and intelligence and I think it is so important to be able to be flexible with the outcomes of life. Another thing the octopus symbolizes is creativity, which is what I always need in order to do my artwork, or even my writing. The octopus is a wondrous creature with a lot of meaning to me.

"Sailing", Christine

"Football", Alex

My Spark is football (soccer). I chose football because without it, I can’t live! I love it so much, more than anything! Football is by far my favourite thing. It is my spark. I chose the France National team logo because one day my dream is to play for them. Professional is my goal in football and playing for my country would be more than a dream!

"Gymnastics", Shaylynn

My spark is gymnastics. Why is gymnastics my spark? Because it makes me feel happy and confident. My coach, family and friends all help my spark grow and expand. They help it grow by supporting me and coming to my competitions.

I started gymnastics when I was 8. When I was that age, gymnastics wasn’t a big deal to me, it was just something I did. But now that I am competitive, it means a lot and requires a lot of dedication. I started competitive gymnastics when I was 13 and I am still in it to this day.

"Dance", Abigail

My inspiration for the spark was “dance”. I have been dancing at Kirkwood Academy of Dance since 2011. I do tap dance, ballet, jazz and Musical Theater. I tried to express my feelings (love, effort) on my tile. I mostly used blue and gray (with black and white). I painted a tap shoe, pointe (ballet) shoe, the word DANCE in capital letters. The heart expresses my enjoyment and love for dance. The most important principle of art on my tile was contrast, very light blue against the black.

"Nature and Mountains", Jordan

"To Touch The Sea", Leticia

This project was a very hard for me to do. First because I had no idea what was my spark and it was something that bugged me for a long time; years and years. With this project I finally started to find myself and get to know a little bit more about whom I am. When I read the developmental asset list, I discovered that I am good at making decisions and dealing with people, since I am a very calm person.

To transmit these things into my tile, I decided to draw the water, the waves and the sand at a beach to represent serenity and peace. The water also makes me very happy, because in my country (Brazil) I used to go to the beach a lot and spend hours at the sea, since I was a little girl. It's the place I wish I could live forever. I guess it was a way for me to put also a little bit of this nostalgia in the tile.

The big hands in the tile represent my way to deal with people, always trying to help. Sometimes I even think this "spark" is bad for me, because a lot of times I put some other people's problems and situations in front of mine, and it gets me in trouble sometimes. But is just something I've got to learn how to deal with, I guess.

Another important part of my tile is the small theatre in the corner. The theatre was something that, since I was a kid, inspired me. I used to love to be on stage and see nothing but all the big lights facing me. It used to be a magic sensation and I loved it. I have been doing plays since I was 8 years old. I didn't stop yet and I don't intend to, but I got to admit that some part of all that magic has faded away. That's why the size of the theatre in the tile is small.

"Freedom", Sydney

"Passion & Music", Mie

After fashion, music is my second biggest spark. Music is with me in everything I do. It gives me more energy to carry on and makes me feel more alive. Through music, I can express my feelings as well as my mind, helping me forget all the stress in life and relaxes me.

For this second tile, I chose the colour brown to be my background as I think it’s a colour of nature, a colour of ground. Then there are many music notes with different colours which means that music is not just only one colour. Music is very colourful and beautiful as well, and it comes from our minds naturally. A fire inside the only character in my painting represents the fire of passion, the fire of love – the love for music. We all have our own love for different things and my love for music is infinity that I can’t express it all by words.

"Art", Mary O'Neil

"Singing", Charolette

For this tile, I painted my spark which is singing. I chose singing because I've been singing for the majority of my life; singing can change a person's mood in a matter of seconds. I sing when I'm happy, sad, angry and bored. I sing until I get the melodies right, I sing until I get the harmonies right. And lastly I sing to feel good about myself.

I picked the tile that had the brown and blue feathers so I would be able to paint a person without dramatic and abnormal colours. The brown also looks like hair flowing in the wind.

"Rain", Brenda

"Greek Mythology and Art", Cassandra

"Underwater and Nature", Hannah

"Batman and Comics", Riley

"Playing Hockey", Emma

My spark is playing hockey. I play hockey year round, I live my spark in the arena and when I am practicing in my drive way. Mostly very one I knows about my spark. My family and my coaches help feed my spark. The one thing that gets in my way of my spark is the other sports I play lacrosse, and softball. My tile will have mostly hockey items on it will a few things on lacrosse and softball. My spark says that I am a very athletic person who loves hockey. Some of the assets that are around me are the support of my family there all ways taking me to where I need to go, and they are all ways there when I need to help with something.

"The Outdoors", Dawson

My spark is outdoor sports like hunting, fishing, etc. l have been hunting with my brothers for as long asI can remember. My favourite part is watching my brother miss because he couldn't hit a target if his life depended on it. Fishing is the most calming thing I do and it helps me when my feathers are rustled. My most important asset would be having the support of my family. I would not nearly be able to accomplish as much as I have in life without their support. I'm very lucky to have the support I do from my parents, they support me through all of my sports, school, and activities. This is my spark.

"Volleyball", Jane

My spark is volleyball. I play it all year, indoor and outdoor. Everyone knows about my spark, and my passion for volleyball. My parents help me because they play volleyball, and also my coaches, with their help. Nothing really gets in the way of volleyball because it is my main priority. My tile has a lacrosse stick, fashion, and a volleyball on it. I says I love sports and clothes and shoes.

"Football in the Sky", Spencer

My spark is football. I live my spark every week on the football field. My coaches, family, and friends know my spark. My football coaches help feed my spark. School can get it the way of me and my spark. I drew a football player on my tile; I drew this to represent my love for football and the players. My most important developmental asset would be my supportive coaches. My parents help me succeed greatly in football.

"Imagination", Rubii

My spark is the importance of using and cultivating your imagination. Imagination is an important part of being creative and believing In yourself and what you can achieve.

My image shows myself dreaming and relaxing with my imagination working. The stars depict alt the ideas and visions I have while I am relaxing and sleeping. I chose the shades of green because they are "relaxing' and "calm" colours.

The developmental asset that corresponds to my tile is having a positive identity. Imagination and creativity supports how we feel about ourselves and how optimistic we are about our future.

"Healthy Living", Angela
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