150 6th-8th grade students and five teachers at Scott Valley Junior High School co-created The Maple Singing Tree of Our Values.
Andrea Marchyok oversaw the project. She is a certified Innovative Team Building Facilitator and the Arts Education Specialist of Siskiyou County (California) Office of Education. She was assisted by her co-worker, Elizabeth Lahey. The mural was created in 5 sessions over three months.  Each session consisted of 9 classes with 150 students total and the Lead Design Team - students who volunteered to come back during their lunch breaks throughout the project. The Karen Copsey Foundation contributed funds for materials. The foundation is named after an architect in the Mt. Shasta community who donated funds to promote more arts in the schools of Siskiyou County when she passed away.

What the students said:

"What I like most was that we paint together. When people paint together ,you get lots of creativity and the feeling of community and belongingness.  Painting together makes an artistic community where you can be more open with each other, and you feel more welcome, more belonging.  You learn new techniques. You learn from one another, which really fits this art project" -Ellie

"I like this project because everyone had their own style and lots of creativity.  I love this painting and I would not change anything." -Lincoln.

"What I like most about this project is how a little bit of everyone's draft made it in." -Anna

"I like the leaves and the birds because I'm doing different patterns and colors.  I also like coming here because it calms me down when I'm stressed out." -Mackenzie