St Mary’s Primary School students have been hard at work in their visual arts classes this year, to prepare for a school-wide art auction. Students at the Lancefield school have auctioned their art to help raise money for a new school playground, with each class creating a collaborative art piece related to gratitude, empathy and mindfulness (GEM) as part of a resilience project. Year 3/4HA created a Gratitude Quilt, featuring hand-painted calico squares, Year 1/2W created Empathy Hands with a canvas filled with the students’ handprints and Year 1/2C created Happiness in Colour with sharpies on tiles. The students’ creative efforts were on show at the school as well, with the many art projects proudly displayed in the hall. Students said their favourite pieces included the clay sculptures of baked goods and animals.