On Wednesday, January 25, the second grade classrooms at Whittier Elementary unveiled a 20-foot-long dragon after working on the art piece since the start of the school year.

In time for the 2012 Chinese Lunar Year, the dragon is a permanent art installation made by the school’s second graders under guidance of artist in residence, Jan Harvey-smith.

Harvey-Smith said that the dragon is a made out of plywood and measures 20 feet in length and five feet high.

“It was cut by a carpenter but the students have spent countless hours painting and stenciling the piece,” Harvey-Smith said. “I’m so proud. The kids did a great job.”

Over 80 second graders worked on the project, each adding a little bit of their personality by making their own stencils.

"It really became a community project with the second grade teachers painting in the clouds and the custodian, Mr. Long, helping them out," said Harvey-Smith.

Harvey-Smith said it was the kids who chose the dragon, and that it represents a celebration of cultures.

The dragon is installed in the hallway between the first and second floors near the second-grade classrooms.