School classrooms transformed with student work, imagination

Students at the private school Salt Lake Junior Academy will be visiting Egypt, traveling to outer space and hanging out in the rain forest this fall.

The trips are costing the school about $2,500 altogether. That's because the kids won't be leaving their classrooms. Instead, their rooms are being magically transported thanks to a professional theatrical-style set designer who is volunteering his time.

Ken Barker, 67, Denver, has spent 35 years working in the set business. He travels the country doing myriad designs. He once constructed 9-feet-tall swans for a wedding in Anchorage. He has created New York City and Paris scenes for fundraisers sponsored by the Denver Broncos.

"He can turn a blank wall into another world," said Laura Ottati-Romero, who teaches kindergarten and pre-kindergarten at the academy.

Under Barker's direction for two weeks, teachers, students and graduates of the academy are up to their elbows in paint, sandpaper and Styrofoam.

"I like drawing and painting and stuff. It lets me be expressive," said academy graduate Katherine Stebner, 14. She will be a freshman at Judge Memorial High School this fall.

After Barker leaves, academy artists will continue their work. They plan to debut their efforts at back-to-school night Aug. 20.

The cost of the project includes $1,000 for Barker's flight and lodging. Materials include 100 sheets of 4-by-8, 2-inch thick Styrofoam, Academy principal Trevor Kendall said.

This year's school theme is "Exploration." The students are encouraged to open their minds and explore learning and life to pursue their dreams, Kendall said.

One classroom is being transported into outer space. Students are using fluorescent paints, glittery beads and shimmering gift bows to create nebula, galaxies and comets.

They are even using mylar reflective paper they purchased from an indoor plant store. The rain forest room will have jungle scene murals on the walls and vines running across the ceiling.

"Who wants plain white walls?" Ottati-Romero said.

Volunteers are creating animals including monkeys, lizards, snakes, frogs and caterpillars. "We can yell like Tarzan here," she said.

The national forest room already has a Bryce Canyon replica, with vibrant yellow, pink, peach and orange hues.

In the Egyptian room, volunteers are creating gold engravings featuring bold blacks, yellows and reds. They are making pyramid blocks. Hieroglyphics are being done by tracing from an overhead projector.

"It makes history come alive. It's a 'wow factor.' You can step into a different environment," said Cindy McCaw, who teaches grades three through five at the academy.

The artists use a hot-wire machine to slice through the Styrofoam as if it were butter. They carve out designs in some pieces. Sanding the Styrofoam gives it a textured look that resembles rock.

The academy began the classroom decoration project last year, using Barker's expertise.

Once they have about 15 sets, they will stop creating them and simply rotate the backdrop pieces.

"It takes a lot of time and energy – and lots of dedicated volunteers," Kendall said.

The Salt Lake Junior Academy, a pre-K-8 Christian-based private school at 965 E. 3370 South, was founded in the 1920s and has an approximate 60-student enrollment.

e-mail: astewart@desnews.com