Yesterday, Jennie Dean Elementary School finished their school year with a special surprise.
One of the school’s teachers Dianne da Silva, gathered the students in the auditorium for a presentation of the school’s history and to show a piece of artwork she had created and dedicated to the school.
According to da Silva, the oil painting she created – titled Onward and Upward Dolphins – was meant to symbolize the diversity and history of the school.
“There’s a meaning behind the figures of children that I have chosen–to include an African-American child at the forefront representing the rich history of the Manassas Industrial School for Colored youth…there is also a child with Down’s Syndrome to her left in a prominent position to represent the preschool program for special needs children that has been an integral part of Jennie Dean since 1990. The remaining figures represent our diversity, in particular highlighting the presence of our large Hispanic community,” stated da Silva.
In order to complete the painting, da Silva partnered with the Manassas Museum to research the school’s history.
da Silva has donated the painting to the school as a farewall, as she will be leaving with her husband to be in Malaysia.
