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Teaching artist Laurie Downey of Side x Side works with third-graders Mariam Omer, left, and Khayro Abdirahman as the students make panels for a mural at Martel Elementary School in Lewiston on Friday. Students from Longley Elementary and Martel are working together on a “character traits” mural that will be installed at the new Connors Elementary School before the start of the new school year in August. Students will make a panel for each of the traits that they want to bring with them to their new school. Those traits are: bold, hardworking, friendly, creative, caring and brilliant. Side x Side, a Portland-based program that provides hands-on art lessons to students, received a federal grant that allowed the program to expand into Lewiston.
Third-grader Gabby Morneau, 9, works on a mural panel at Martel Elementary School in Lewiston on Friday. Students from Longley Elementary and Martel are working with teaching artists from Side x Side on a “character traits” mural that will be installed at the new Connors Elementary School before the start of the new school year in August. Students will make a panel for each of the traits that they want to bring with them to their new school. Those traits are: bold, hardworking, friendly, creative, caring and brilliant. Side x Side, a Portland-based program that provides hands-on art lessons to students, received a federal grant that allowed the program to expand into Lewiston.
Third-grader Gabby Morneau, 9, looks for advice from teaching artist Laurie Downey of Side x Side as students make panels for a mural at Martel Elementary School in Lewiston on Friday. Students from Longley Elementary and Martel are working together on a “character traits” mural that will be installed at the new Connors Elementary School before the start of the new school year in August. Students will make a panel for each of the traits that they want to bring with them to their new school. Those traits are: bold, hardworking, friendly, creative, caring and brilliant. Side x Side, a Portland-based program that provides hands-on art lessons to students, received a federal grant that allowed the program to expand into Lewiston. Working at right is Mariam Omer, 8.

Bonnie Washuk is the weekend reporter for the Portland Press Herald. She previously was the education writer and a general assignment reporter for the Sun Journal, focusing on Lewiston-Auburn schools....

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