7-Foot Penguin Adds Balance at Perkins
A large, tough-looking penguin in a hat and scarf will watch over gym class at Perkins Elementary. The painting is work of AmeriCorps members Julie Stone and Andy Mickunas, who spent much of the day Friday on a lift, 10-20 feet in the air.
Penguins have been part of the artwork at Perkins for years. Art teacher Mindi McCoy picked this penguin off of the school lanyards.
“Principal Dan Koss likes that penguin,” McCoy said. “He looks like a penguin ready to stand up to any challenge.”
Koss said the penguin represents part of the balance between academic rigor and fun.
“The secret is maintaining the balance so our kids can be great!” Koss said. “I remember what my daughter once told me when I thought she wasn’t listening to my words of wisdom about always doing your best. She said, ‘Dad, I know you want me to do my very best in everything I do, but I also just want to be a kid too.’ The Penguin is a symbol of the pride we have at Perkins. That little fella will bring us together as one and provide us with inspiration to overcome, adapt, and succeed. More importantly, it will allow all of us, adult and child, to embrace the concept of ‘just being a kid.'”
McCoy redrew, enlarged and projected the image onto the gym wall, where AmeriCorps members traced it and began painting Friday morning.
“Stuff like this is just fun,” McCoy said. “It’s a nice break from the classroom.”
While Stone and Mickunas worked on the penguin, more than a dozen AmeriCorps members repainted inspiring words on the walls throughout the school. McCoy said the words were painted over when the school was repainted this year and she’s pleased to have them back.
Allison Metzger, known to her friends as Miss AmeriCorps, said the entire effort brought together members who serve in schools all over Des Moines. Most are tutors.
“I’m so proud of all of our AmeriCorps members,” Metzger said. “I want to thank them for their service and dedication to this program.”
This is the 4th year that Des Moines Public Schools has held an AmeriCorps grant and DMPS was recently awarded the Governor and Mayor Initiative grant that has allowed for a large expansion of AmeriCorps within the district, giving them the ability to serve more students.
“The DMPS AmeriCorps program is a great way to become more involved in education, the community and make a significant positive impact on DMPS students,” Metzger said.
Several times a year, members meet for a day of service like this one. Metzger and McCoy hope the Perkins Penguin will get a big response when school resumes next week.
“Were excited to see the kids’ reaction,” Metzger said.
Principal Koss can’t wait either.
“Presto! We have our seven foot Penguin. Our school is beginning to look like an elementary school. There is only one step left! The arrival of the kids and teachers. I wish I could be in every corner of the building to hear their thoughts.”
Other AmeriCorps team members who participated in the service day event:
Jan Suceska-AmeriCorps tutor at Perkins
- Brandon Jenkins-AmeriCorps tutor at Perkins
- Carissa Daggett-AmeriCorps tutor at Howe
- Ciera Bolden-AmeriCorps tutor at Hubbell
- Cynthia Lee-AmeriCorps tutor at Windsor
- Fatma Bachelani-AmeriCorps Pathways to Success member at McCombs
- Isaac Twombly-AmeriCorps Pathways to Success member at Callanan
- Cassandra Woodard-AmeriCorps tutor at Morris
- Megan Dyer-AmeriCorps tutor at Lovejoy
- Patricia Hagarty-AmeriCorps tutor at Phillips
- Tal Keown-Action Advocate AmeriCorps member at Goodrell
- Amy Meyer-AmeriCorps tutor at Walnut Street
- Alicia Moran-Action Advocate AmeriCorps member at Walnut Street
Photos of the Perkins Penguin
