Firing up young minds for a new school year

• Mural

Echo Press photo by Al Edenloff Marion Szczesniak added a detail to the mural she completed Tuesday at the Miltona Magnet School’s media center.
• Marion Szczesniak

Marion Szczesniak

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A new mural will welcome Miltona Science Magnet School students back to school next week.

Located in the school’s media center, it promises to spark children’s interest in earth, nature, science and math as they begin another school year Tuesday.

With colorful images like a rocket ship, a dragonfly and a hot air balloon bursting out of the pages of an open book, the mural is also designed to fire up their imaginations.

Marion Szczesniak of Alexandria donated her time to paint the mural. She’s friends with Pam Christensen, a paraprofessional at the school’s media center.

Christensen, noting the bright yellow but blank walls in the center, asked Szczesniak if she’d be interested in taking on the mural project.

Szczesniak leaped at the chance. Her youngest son, Joey, attended Miltona Science Magnet School in the 2nd grade. He’s now 26 and pursuing a doctorate degree in astrophysics at the University of Minnesota.

Szczesniak credits the Miltona school for sparking his interest in mathematics and she was more than happy to contribute something back to the school.

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