Just inside the front doors of Meriwether Lewis Elementary, a wall-sized mural offers a clue: This is a school that celebrates creativity. The same message echoes from the music room where students learn to play recorders and band instruments. When Principal Tim Lauer shows a visitor around, he makes note of the colorful banners, totem pole, mosaic bird bath, and other art installations that students have made since the school was built half a century ago in this southeast Portland neighborhood.
“I’d like to have students use digital cameras to catalog this artwork,” Lauer says, “and research some of the history behind it.” Then, he envisions sharing historical information with the school community via the new school weblog.
Boy, Tim sure has gotten that mean principal pose down pretty fast, huh?
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