Back to Completed Murals

Hola, Haawka, Hello

Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
November 2021

This mural was inspired and painted by the Valley Elementary Fifth Grade Class of 2022. As their legacy gift to their whole school community, each and every 5th grade artist painted with care, focus, and heart. Designed and led by Isabel Halpern, movement, play, growth, language, connection, and heart are the main themes that can be seen. While looking at the mural, one can read the welcoming greetings of “Hola,” “Haawka,” and “Hello” which speaks to the importance and uniqueness of Valley being the only dual language immersion school in Poway Unified. If you didn’t know, “Haawka” means “Hello” in Kumeyaay. The Kumeyaay are the original people on the land that Valley sits on. We acknowledge the Kumeyaay with this word as well as some of the native plants in the area- yucca, agave, and the prickly pear cactus.

A large anatomical heart is nestled in student-drawn flowers. The “threads of kindness” emerge and flow throughout the mural, serving as a connecting thread and finish line for the running figures. This celebrates achievement, movement, goal setting, and going after our dreams. Above all, it serves as a reminder to treat all with our hearts first and with kindness.

This mural was funded in part by the TahDah Foundation.