Garwood mural coming to life one day at a time

Munchkins, the Eiffel Tower and a moose washing up in an antique bathtub have taken up residence in Rathdrum’s Garwood Elementary School.

They’re among a rainbow of colorful characters Spirit Lake resident Rozanne Thompson has included in a mural she’s painting on a hallway outside the library.

The foundation of it all is shelves from which storybooks’ themes and characters come to life.

She’s created shelves with “with an ice cream cone melting over the books. Tom Sawyer is coming out between some books in a raft with water coming down over the books and a little munchkin is holding an umbrella to keep himself dry,” said Thompson in her rapid-fire style.

Special Education Teacher Kelly Jo Osler is coordinating the project. The Garwood Parent-Teacher Organization is footing the bill, Osler said.

“We had barebones” suggestions of what might look good, Osler said. “She took our ideas and totally ran with them. Kids and teachers are loving it,” she added.

Thompson sets up at first bell and paints throughout the day. Entire classrooms of kids have plopped on the hallway floor to watch in wonderment as she works.

She said she talks to them about the importance of perseverance and following their dreams.

Said Thompson: “The kids say ‘I can’t do that.’ And I say, ‘Yes you can – I was your age once. Don’t give up. Keep practicing.’ I try to encourage them the best I can.”

Her audiences are always bringing her pictures and offering ideas on what should be in the mural, Thompson said, adding she tries to incorporate as many as possible.

This is the second mural she’s painted at schools in the Lakeland District. She spent the summer transforming a stark wall at Athol Elementary into an undersea paradise, a tropical rain forest and a fantastical scene with dragons and unicorns.

And she does it all with plain old house paint.

“It dries real quick so when the kids come out they can touch it and it’s already dry,” she said.

Parents: Dates to remember

Lakeland School District

Nov. 2: No school

Nov. 7: Veterans Day Assembly at 1:30 p.m.at Betty Kiefer Elementary

Nov. 8: No school K-6; parent/teacher conferences for K-12

Nov. 9: More K-6 parent/teacher conferences; No school K-12

Post Falls School District

Nov. 2: No school

Nov. 5-9: Ponderosa Book Fair

Nov. 6: PFHS Career Day

Nov. 8: Post Falls High School Veterans Day Band Concert at 7 p.m.

Nov. 9: Prairie View Elementary’s fifth grade Veterans Concert