The Fernwood tree of belonging

By Shraddha Karthik

Over the course of this summer, a group of 27 youth artists and 8 adult artists have worked together to create The Fernwood Tree of Belonging, a stunning large-scale community mural by Deepti Designs in partnership with Fernwood Elementary School of Northshore School District. 11 of the artists were Fernwood students, and 21 of them were students of Northshore School District.

This mural is a visual promise that Fernwood is a sanctuary, committed to the equality between every learner, every culture, and every dream encouraged to take flight.

This project is filled with hidden meanings. The names written in the leaves in both the artists’ native languages and English celebrate each child’s cultural heritage while promoting unity and understanding. The Tree of Life represents the harmony, shelter, and protection of the community, while the birds symbolize each child’s aspirations and dreams. Fernwood’s beloved panther represents courage, resilience, and the protective bond within the school community. 

The people depicted in the mural show us the importance of a supportive community. The teacher shows that the heart of education is a good mentor, a kite flier explains that we can only soar high when tethered to strong roots, and the readers show that stories are a bridge between diverse cultures.

The books with key character traits show that those qualities are the foundation of education. The signs with “Welcome to Fernwood” and “Safe, Kind, Learner” written on them are promises that the guiding principles of Fernwood will be a steady compass for all students, guiding students in the right direction, always.

Congrats to all the artists who were able to create such a magnificent piece of art. Deepti Designs and the students of Northshore School District worked incredibly hard to bring such a beautiful piece of art to life!