Students at C.V. Bush Elementary School participated in two creative outreach projects coordinated by the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene.

The students participated in the “Grow Through What You Go Through” art contest by creating posters that fit the theme “Grow Through What You Go Through” as well as the #MentalHealthRocksCHQ project, painting and distributing kindness rocks, which aim to spread joy and foster a sense of community connection.

“I happened to stumble upon this project through CCMH, and impulsively approached Mrs. Whitman (our art teacher) to collaborate with me on bringing it to our students,” said Bush School counselor Alex Peterson. “Without hesitation, we brought Art and SEL together with our students. It was so exciting to see each child’s individual approaches to the theme. Personalities and imagination really shined through!”

P.J. Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive, expressed his appreciation for the students’ participation, stating, “These projects not only allow our students to express themselves creatively but also help them understand the importance of mental health and community support.”