Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2011 9:30 pm

Peoria Times

Feb. 14, 2011 – Feb. 14, 2012 has been declared the countdown of celebrations leading up to Arizona’s 100th year of statehood.

To celebrate their own special way, students at Santa Fe Elementary School designed and built something special – Arizona Centennial Park Bench.

The bench, donated by former Peoria City Councilmember Vicki Hunt, will be placed in “Four Corners of Paradise,” Santa Fe’s urban forest planted by last year’s Title I Enrichment Gardening Club group headed up by Mrs. Bonner.

The Title I Art Enrichment Park Bench students planned, designed and created a mosaic bench commemorating Arizona’s Statehood and school life at Santa Fe Elementary.

Students hand-made all the triangular tesserae (little tiles), then planned and made the custom symbols for Arizona’s 100th birthday and school life. The pieces are made of clay, then glazed and fired. The students even did the grouting themselves.

The bench will be dedicated 4:15 p.m. March 31 at the “Four Corners of Paradise” urban forest across the street from the school, 9880 N. 77th Ave. There will be a ribbon-cutting, special guests, Glee Club performance and birthday celebrations. The public is invited to attend.