Burton students help transform PSW
Porterville’s Promoting Self Worth’s office and workshop facility is enjoying the artistic benefits of a group of Burton Middle School students focused on including all people in school activities.
Formerly known as Porterville Sheltered Workshop, the facility behind Home Depot now sports a wallsize mural of the Earth surrounded by hand-holding children watched over by a towering figure from the Transformer cartoon series. Also painted on the mural is the theme of the club, “Transforming the World One Life at a Time.”
The idea of the effort is the brainchild of BMS eighth-grader Vanessa Afzali. Afzali, also president of the school’s Green Club — an environmentally-friendly focused group — formulated an idea to create “BMS United,” a club geared toward reaching out to all BMS students as the club’s Step-up Project. “First we created a PIVOT Club,” explained club adviser Johnny Lujan. “where a special needs student from our County Resource Class is paired with a BMS student and does activities throughout the school year.” The club hosted a successful allinclusive Christmas Dance in December. The idea for the PSW mural was born during a club tour of the PSW facility in October. The original concept art was created by PIVOT Club member Karina Magna. The original idea came from BMS student Daniel Magana who loves Transformers. Creation of Magana’s concept was under the guidance of BMS art teacher Miriza Serrano. Serrano also designed two murals on the school campus created by her Public Art Club.