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For some students at Manatee Middle School in Naples, the monotony of daily classroom activities was broken up Thursday and Friday by a chance to leave a lasting legacy on their school.

Under the guidance of renowned Marco muralist Stephen Muldoon, a select number of students got to jazz up their school cafeteria by painting the walls with a large mural inspired by Calusa Indian masks.

The project, which was sponsored by the Marco Island Historical Society, gave students an educational experience that included the fusion of both history and art.

The effort at the middle school was part of the historical society’s “Art Interprets History, Visions of Marco Island’s Past” grant, which it received from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. The grant’s aim is to demonstrate the role of art in history.

Before beginning the mural projects, students learned about Calusa Indians and their rich history in Marco Island and southern Florida.

The society’s school program coordinator, Gerald Masters, talked to the kids of the historical significance of the Calusa Indian masks.

The Calusa Indians were once the dominant American Indian group in southern Florida. Archaeologists believe masks were an important part of Calusa Indians’ traditions.

Masters and Muldoon introduced students to examples of authentic masks and encouraged them to draw replications.

Muldoon said the student artists’ drawings exceeded his expectations.

“I was shocked,” said Muldoon. “These kids could draw.”

Muldoon then encouraged students to come up with some of their own ideas for creating mask designs.

“Some of these concepts were absolutely fantastic,” Muldoon said.

Three of the student-rendered drawings were chosen to be incorporated in the mural design that would be put in the cafeteria.

Art teacher Rosalind Donovan selected several of her artistically gifted students to work with Muldoon on the mural.

On Thursday and Friday, the chosen student artists were excused from class to paint the large, colorful depictions of the masks.

Muldoon worked closely with the students, teaching them important painting techniques as they crafted the mural. His demeanor with the students was enthusiastic. He loudly congratulated the students on their work, then went from one to another to whisper hints on ways to improve.

Working in pairs, the students were serious and focused as they painted their sections of the mural. Christian Orantes, 13, a seventh-grader, said although he has taken an art class before, this was his first chance to paint a mural.

Christian said working with Muldoon was a good experience.

Ashleigh Koch, a teacher at Manatee Middle School and friend to Muldoon, said she was pleased this project was able to capture the creativity of these students.

Koch said art education definitely has a place in school.

“I’ve seen what it can do for kids that are maybe not too excited about school, but they have a passion for art. It can keep them in school, keep them motivated,” said Koch.

Muldoon said it’s important for students to have somebody to encourage their artistic endeavors.

“I think it’s really key that these kids get some exposure,” said Muldoon. “When I was their age, if it wasn’t for my art teacher I wouldn’t be the artist I am today.”

Koch said the students had much to gain from the experience.

“It really means a lot to them for people from the community to come and work with them,” said Koch. “They’re learning history, they’re learning art concepts, they’re learning how to work together. It’s just a great feel-good cause.”

As the paint from the colorful mural was drying in the otherwise ordinary school cafeteria, it was easy to see that it wasn’t just the student artists that profited from the experience. All students and teachers that eat within the walls of the Manatee Middle School cafeteria have gained an exceptional work of educational art.