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A flower that didn’t turn out exactly as Mera Alemayehu imagined will soon become part of Hunters Woods Elementary School for years to come.

Alemayehu and her fellow sixth graders at the Reston magnet school are creating a permanent fabric mural through a decades-old artist-in-residence program. Funded by the school’s PTA, the annual project allows students to work with a professional artist and leave behind artwork before moving on to middle school.

This year’s theme is “Pond Ecosystem.” Students began by drawing pond organisms on fabric with permanent markers, then hand-dyed their pieces. Under the guidance of Leesburg artist Penny Hauffe, they are finishing the mural with embroidery, sequins and other stitching.

Alemayehu chose a flower because she has always loved them and believed few classmates would create something similar. She remembers arriving at Hunters Woods as a third grader and seeing younger students admire the sixth graders, partly because of the permanent art they produced.

Art teacher Joshua Saville said the program gives students experience working with a professional artist while allowing them to make a lasting contribution to the school. Completed projects are displayed in the library, hallways or outside the building.

Hauffe also led the previous sixth-grade class in creating a painted mural celebrating wildlife native to Virginia. That piece now hangs in the school library.

For Hauffe, the program is a chance to connect with young people and bring the school community together. She hopes younger students will look forward to participating when they reach sixth grade, even if they are not especially interested in a particular theme or artistic technique.

Several students embraced the chance to add their own piece to the larger work. Lily chose a koi fish and enjoyed experimenting with tie-dye techniques she had rarely used before. She said she was excited that part of her would remain at the school.

Jay also created a fish and liked having the freedom to be creative. Ava Mirzaie selected a frog and said she felt proud knowing everyone would see it.

Saville said the broader goal is to help students learn through making art while developing an appreciation for the effort behind the artwork they encounter elsewhere.

Alemayehu acknowledged that her flower did not look exactly as she had planned, but she decided it was “not bad.” Soon, it will take its place on the wall as a permanent reminder of her class.