Wantagh fifth graders paint their legacy

For the past five years, fifth graders at Wantagh Elementary School have watched new murals take shape in the hallways. Now, it is their turn to paint one. The project gives the young artists a chance to leave their mark on the school before they move on in June. This year’s fifth graders are painting a series of connected puzzle pieces surrounding the statement, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” The mural is intended to remind students that each child is an important part of the school and that individual achievements contribute to collective success. Each of the 104 fifth graders will paint one puzzle piece. The design also includes images of a lighthouse and a sunset. Art teacher Taylor Sammut said students brainstormed ideas during art classes in September. Once they settled on a plan, work began. Sammut invites three students at a time to paint, with the goal of completing the mural in November. The mural will be displayed in a fi