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Date: 4/25/2023
WESTFIELD — When Christy Roselli, a third-grade teacher at Munger Hill Elementary School, told her students that a local salon and spa wanted to display their art about the Earth, they were over the moon. The images they created for Earth Month in April have been featured at Puffer’s Salon & Day Spa and received rave reviews.
“The kids were honored to show their artwork. They felt like celebrities because they were chosen to do this,” said Roselli.
Judy Puffer, who owns the salon, reached out to Roselli to see if her students would like to have their Earth Month art shown in the spa. Roselli responded with a resounding yes.
Puffer donated the supplies, and the kids went to work using colored pencils, markers, watercolor paint and crayons in a myriad of colors to express green messages. The children created images depicting recycling, walking instead of driving, how to save electricity, reducing garbage and other green messages.
The children gave Puffer a sneak peek at the art when she visited their classroom. She was pleased with what she saw and excited to display the images in her salon.
“I had each student explain what their poster is about and how they could make a difference. What most impressed me was their depiction of the message, how each of them has their own take on it,” she said.
Puffer has had many Earth Month events since she opened her business in 1999, but this is the first time she’s worked with schoolchildren. The project allowed students to express themselves, revealing thoughtful messages about how they would embrace and save the planet.
“We talked about this is their planet. They’re the future generation, so it really is everyone’s responsibility to do their part, no matter how small. We talked about picking up even one little piece of trash. If everyone did that, what a difference it would make,” said Roselli.
Puffer is amplifying each child’s messages by exposing the pieces to hundreds of her clients.
“The artwork is amazing and so cute. I put everything on the wall so guests could enjoy them, and the pieces have brought smiles to so many people,” said Puffer.
Puffer thinks the project was a great way to engage children, to get their attention and motivate them to do their part to help the world. Part of their mission now is to carry the message home to their families, enlisting them to take action to benefit the environment.
“The children could make a difference by talking with their families about not littering or running water needlessly. I hope they have those conversations, that the message goes a little bit farther than just the classroom, and kids are pretty good about that,” said Puffer.
Roselli said the project also sows the seeds of caring for the planet in these students for when they grow to adulthood.
“I hope this is something they had fun with and will remember doing when they grow up,” said Roselli. “This is one way we can reach the younger generation because they’re the ones who will inherit the Earth from us.”