It has been said that, "Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate." We hope this will be the case with Rupert Elementary School's new mural!
- Matthew Moyer, Rupert Elementary School Principal
As I look around Pottstown I see so many wonderful examples of art. There are beautiful trees, wonderful architecture, and fantastic art pieces all over town, just to name a few. We hope our new mural, by artist Carrie Kingsbury of Promiseland Murals, will add not only to the exterior of the Rupert Building, but provide another opportunity for everyone in the community to appreciate the beauty of our town. The vision for our mural was to create a unique, one of a kind art piece that would celebrate the over 90-year history of Rupert Elementary School, its students, families, and its staff. Over the course of about a year and a half, I was able to secure funding, approve a design, and get school board approval for a mural that would meet these goals. On April 28, 2021, the Rupert Elementary School Mural was proudly mounted on the Cherry Street side of the school building for everyone to enjoy!
The mural spells out RUPERT, with unique artwork inside each letter. Some of the items highlighted in the mural are:
- The first R Panel features William Whitehead Rupert. It also displays the 1978 50th Anniversary book. The paintbrush and xylophone symbolize the importance of the arts programs at Rupert throughout our history
- The U Panel features a treasured grandparent volunteer, Marge Foley. Mrs. Foley represents all of the fantastic volunteers that have helped educate our children. It also displays one of the books written by W.W. Rupert. Additionally, there is a "Be Thumbody" pin for the 1980s, and a Rupert pennant.
- The P Panel features the "Big Brother Big Sisters" logo. It also features a photo of a student, who eventually became a parent of Rupert students, and a volunteer at Rupert Elementary, Linda Moyer. Additionally there are pictures of the Rupert Band from the 1930's, and a Rupert pennant. The math problem and physical education equipment symbolize the importance of students learning and developing in all areas.
- The E Panel features Mrs. Mann, a respected teacher at Rupert Elementary for over 20 years. Mrs. Mann was a trailblazer, and a wonderful role model and educator. This panel also displays a t-shirt and newsletter from the past. The books are symbolic of the importance of reading and our excellent school library.
- The second R Panel features Russell Shellenberger, an educator who taught at Rupert for many years. Mr. Shellenberger represents the hundreds of amazing teachers who have helped shape the students who graced these halls. There is also a PTA booklet to help us remember the importance our families have played in our school. There is a sweatshirt from past years displayed as well. The pencil helps remind us of the importance writing has been in the education of our students.
- The T panel features Shamir Edwards, a student who attended Rupert Elementary School. Shamir represents the thousands of students that we are all proud of. It also features a PIPPS Pin and the Safety Patrol Captain's Badge. The PIPPS Pins shows the school pride we all have in the Pottstown School District. The safety patrol program has been an important part of Rupert Elementary for many years, helping teach responsibility, and providing safety to our children.
Thank you to our Sponsors:
- Scott Bentley
- Bruce and Marcia Graham
- The Friends of Rupert
- Wolf, Baldwin and Associates
- UGI Amerigas
- Matt Green, Glocker Realty
- The Shellenberger Family
For more information visit the web site here:
https://sites.google.com/pottstownk12.org/rupertmural/home
Website Design: Carol Brightbill and Matthew Moyer
Mural Artist: Carrie Kingsbury of Promiseland Murals
Submitted By:
Matthew Moyer, Rupert Principal