PS 45Q: Unify at PS 45

Our design is deeply rooted in the themes provided by PS 45Q school: Diversity, Inclusivity, Welcome, Acceptance, Love, Community, and Cultures. These themes guided our classroom sessions, where students created drawings inspired by what these values meant to them.

I took my primary inspiration from the students’ artwork, as well as sketches submitted by the school administration, teachers, and the students themselves. Many students depicted their families in various ways—holding hands, supporting one another, and sharing joyful moments. They also illustrated themselves with friends, often playing or linking hands. These ideas of connection and togetherness became central to the design.

A few recurring elements stood out across the students’ drawings:

• Butterflies, symbolizing transformation and freedom.
• Hearts and the word “Love”, drawn boldly and frequently.
• Stars and blue diamonds in the sky, which students called “diamonds in the sky.”