Belting out an inspired version of our national anthem, the students and faculty of the Webster Elementary School gathered in a huge circle on Sept. 12 around the newly finished map of the United States in the school’s playground.
The map’s unveiling corresponded with 184th anniversary of the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to originally compose the anthem in 1814.
The map, 40 feet long and 50 feet wide, took almost 50 gallons of paint to complete, according to Parent and Teacher Participation Association President Enza Scardigno.
“We used 30 gallons of primer alone,” said Scardigno, who says the two coats of primer helped ensure the map would stand out on the blacktop. The gallons of colored paint used includes: seven gallons of blue, and one each of tan, orange, pink, yellow, green and red.
Mapmaking Scardigno finally got the map approved by the Board of Education earlier this year. Although the map had been turned down the previous five years, when the map was again suggested for appropriation, Scardigno acted.
“I originally asked in May and sometime in July we got approved,” said Scardigno. But, the approval was only the beginning. After fruitlessly searching for an artist willing to undertake such an enormous task, Scardigno spent almost 12 hours a day for six days designing and painting the map herself.
“I stared on Friday morning,” said Scardigno, “and it took six days.” Originally, she was assisted by Esmeralda Vazquez, of Illustrations by Vasquez, who chalked out the map onto the asphalt. Town worker Tom Cheplic helped Scardigno with the primer, lugging five-gallon buckets of paint to and from the playground, in addition to painting.
Graffiti artist, Sean Lugo, a resident of Weehawken, put on the finishing touches by painting the names of the states clearly and elegantly.
“He showed up like an angel,” said Scardigno of Lugo, “and he’s very talented. I only wish I would have found him earlier.” Although the playground has no shade and temperatures soared into the 90s, Scardigno remains grateful for the experience. Not only was it rewarding to help the children of her community, but friends said she “got a great tan.”
Jealous of her tan or not, the community is grateful for Scardigno’s efforts and for those who helped the map finally become a reality.
Creating a goal In addition to the anniversary of our national anthem, the administration approved the creation of the map to coincide with this year’s upcoming principal’s academic challenge. Over the past three years, the administration has created unique academic challenges for their students to tackle, hoping to make education more satisfying by giving the children a united goal. This year’s challenge: geography.
“Two years ago we had a reading challenge,” said Principal Tony Colasurdo, “where the students had to read 3,000 books, and they did. Last year, we had a math challenge and gave the kids 10,000 math problems to solve; they solved them in a week and a half. This year we want to do a geography challenge, and so I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a map?”
Now, said Colasurdo, the students “can see a visual [of the map], and use it at playtime too.”
The school even offers rewards for the children if the academic challenges are completed successfully. After last year’s completion, the school children enjoyed a private screening of the movie, “Shrek 3,” at the Lowe’s theatre in Secaucus. They were even allowed to throw water balloons at Principal Colasurdo during pride day.
“I’m sure they’d succeed anyway,” said Colasurdo, “but its fun to treat them to something.”
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said, “It’s amazing how the project really caught everyone’s attention.” The jointly funded project was financed by both the township and the Board of Education, and according to the mayor was money well spent.
“It’s wonderful and beautiful and very accurate,” said Mayor Turner. Turner said that it doesn’t only brighten up the school yard but it is an educational tool as well. Principal Colasurdo is happy that the children now have a brighter place to play after lunchtime. Even though the map is only a few weeks old, the teachers are already utilizing the space for education, forming children’s games around the map.
“When the kids go outside, the teachers tell them to go stand on a state. One student runs to New Jersey and someone else to California,” said Colasurdo. “The teachers are really good at weaving in lesson plans.” Comments on this piece can be sent to: Seana@hudsonreporter.com