HHS students participate in inclusive art project

Hampton High School students on Feb. 12 participated in an inclusive art project — Kaya’s Kaleidoscope — that will be part of a permanent installation at the high school.

HTSD received grant funding through the state’s Bureau of Special Education, giving Hampton High School the opportunity to participate in inclusive programming for the 2024-2025 school year as part of Mikayla’s Voice. This original programming helps build a positive school culture and aligns with our Portrait of a Talbot competencies and Pillars for Success.

As part of the programming, an art project was selected in which 24 students of all abilities worked together to create large-scale artwork promoting inclusion at Hampton.

Each student created their own individual canvas, which will fit together in an interactive, almost puzzle-like design. Symbolic of school communities, every canvas is as essential to the mural as each student is to their school. In keeping with Mikayla’s Voice’s message, mission, and style, each canvas features wheelchair tracks, tissue paper decoupage, and a yellow spot.

The canvases can be arranged and rotated in any way, creating an endless number of possibilities—each as unique and beautiful as the next. The interactive exhibits allow thousands of students to engage with the art and reflect on its many lessons: we are all individuals, each important to our school and community, connected in many ways, and definitely better together.

Once complete, all artists will help unveil their collaborative artwork and share its message with the entire school community before it is permanently installed as a reminder to celebrate diversity and promote equity and inclusion. This culminating, year-end, school-wide celebration will take place on April 11, 2025.

Mikayla’s Voice is a nonprofit organization founded to include kids of all abilities. Its mission is for all children to feel valued and welcome in their school and community.