On Friday, March 1, 2019, students, parents, faculty and staff from Montgomery Middle STEAM Magnet School and San Diego Unified School District, together with longtime community partners Linda Vista Town Council (LVTC) and University of San Diego (USD), will celebrate the unveiling of student-designed banners along Linda Vista Road and Ulric Street at John Baca Park in Linda Vista.
With the theme “We Are Linda Vista” this day is the culmination of an 8th grade design-based unit spearheaded by Montgomery teacher Aimee Welshans. Since the fall, students have been focused on the community of Linda Vista and their role in it. At the same time the students were thinking critically about their community, USD and the LVTC were exploring options for the next series of banners along Linda Vista Road that would authentically represent Linda Vista. “Because of our historical partnerships in Linda Vista, connections were made between the 8th grade students and USD’s Publications Department and University Designer,” said Malia Pfister, Senior Advisor in the Office of Community and Government Relations and sponsor of the banners. She added, “What better way to show off Linda Vista than through the lens of our best asset---our youth.”
After launching the collaboration in November, Montgomery students worked in teams to create a visual representation of Linda Vista for the banners. Prototypes were produced and the teams pitched their designs at an exhibition in December 2018 to USD staff, the Linda Vista Town Council, Montgomery faculty, staff and families as well as students from neighboring elementary schools. “Our students were able to use skills gained in other classes in order to pitch the banner to a real life client and see it come to fruition,” noted Welshans. “This real world experience is exactly what we want for our students here at Montgomery STEAM Magnet.” John Nielsen, President of the LVTC, added, “It’s been wonderful to see a project that brings community members and students together to create art representing Linda Vista as a whole.”
The banners can be viewed along Linda Vista Road and Ulric Street.
