NORWICH – As the city and local businesses prep for this year’s 13th annual Pumpkin Festival, our middle students have been busy helping out. The students were in charge of creating an additional two pumpkin signs to advertise for the festival. This service-learning project was in conjunction with Norwich’s Youth Bureau under Director Robert Mason. The students volunteered their time out of class with their art teacher Matthew Wilson, newly hired at the middle school. Each of the students took a part in designing, building, and painting the pumpkin signs. They were excited to not only create art but to help out their community. Service-learning teaches them to value their communities and give back to the area. This will be one of many projects sponsored by the Youth Bureau and the Middle School art program. The students will also be designing and completing murals around the area in the spring. These projects will be sure to brighten up our community and give our students a sense of pride in their displayed work.

Photo Description- Mr. Wilson’s art students with Youth Bureau Art Director Robert Mason and Mayor Joseph Maiurano showing off their hard work on the pumpkin festival signs.