Art class offers the opportunity to paint a ceiling tile every year, but because the class is usually reserved for seniors, students know very little about the process.

Ceiling tiles are technically open to every student, and anybody can paint one, as long as they discuss it with the teacher for whom they are planning to paint. However, if students are in or planning to be in art, they will be required to paint a tile. Also, students in art club are allowed to collaborate with Mrs. Vacek to paint a tile if they have not completed one by their senior year.

The process for painting a ceiling tile is a long one. At the beginning of the year, teachers sign up on a Google Form with what they would like on a ceiling tile. Next, students choose from the teachers’ assignments and draw a sketch. After the sketch, they must get teacher approval. Students can paint as many tiles as they like, as long as they can manage their time.

Tiles are accessible to anyone. Although students can no longer paint a tile in the hallway or cafeteria, some art students can paint a tile in the theater for a play in which they participated; otherwise the tiles come from the teachers’ rooms for whom they are going to paint. There are some spare tiles available, but according to Mrs. Vacek, “Sometimes we have spare tiles, but just to make sure that they are going to fit when they’re done, we take them out of the original room.”

Sometimes the number of tiles is limited by the subject areas in teachers’ classrooms.

As long as teachers  enjoy seeing and students enjoy making the finished tiles, the tradition will continue.