A collaborative art project at Minnewashta Elementary has rapidly become a hub of school spirit and community. The source of connection? Ducks, which have become an icon for growth, authenticity, positivity and collaboration for Minnewashta students and staff alike.

Part of the school’s history is a mama duck who would nest at the school's courtyard every year. Students would watch the baby ducklings grow, and each spring, school staff would ensure the birds could make their way out of the courtyard and back into the surrounding woods safely. Melanie Mozingo, art teacher at Minnewashta, began to turn the joy that emerged from the annual occasion into an opportunity for everyday fun by sharing miniature duck figurines with students to celebrate when they demonstrated school values. The school implemented “Lucky Duck Parking” for staff. The ducks became a meaningful part of the school culture.

As the love for ducks grew, a quiet corner of the school courtyard caught some teachers’ eyes, and a question was raised: “What could we put here?” Enter a design competition. Students imagined different sculptures and ideas to enliven the space. Students and teachers decorated the area with colorful yarn as a placeholder while students worked on their official designs, letting creativity blossom while a more concrete form was in the works.

Take a concrete form it did. Students were involved in each step of the sculpture ideation process, including participating in class design sessions and voting on their favorite options. Ultimately, a yellow duck with a red apple on its head was selected. Student voices joined together to inform the sculpture’s look and meaning, and teachers and PTO volunteers handled the implementation to bring the ideas to completion. 

Small details—such as the apple—are an important part of the statue, Mozingo noted. “That was a big part of the process, encouraging students to be the authentic people that they are, no matter what.” The focus on authenticity led to the duck’s location in the courtyard. It’s in the northeast corner:  North for finding one’s “true north,” and East to acknowledge that every day is a fresh start.

The Minnewashta Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) became involved to provide financial support and logistical coordination. One parent emphasized the value of the courtyard to Mozingo, sharing, “I love that there are outdoor spaces at school that can be used in many different ways. My kids come home and report that whatever they did in the courtyard that day was their favorite part of the day.”

What stemmed from an annual event grew into a story, and now a visual reminder that has given Minnewashta Elementary a new set of wings and a whole lot more yellow. This fall, students voted on the final missing piece of the project—the statue’s name. Bob the Duck is now ready to connect, inspire and cheer on students, staff and community members who visit the school. 

"Bob is more than a statue in our courtyard,” shared Minnewashta Principal Cindy Andress. “He represents what we want every child at Minnewashta to experience—that their ideas matter, their voice matters, and they belong here. I love that something as simple as watching ducklings in our courtyard grew into a project created by students, staff and families together. That is Minnewashta."

Many community members came together to support this project, including art teacher Melanie Mozingo; Principal Cindy Andress; Assistant Principal Jenny Van Aalsburg; school administrator Nancy Wittman-Beltz; Calida Fuerst, courtyard parent volunteer; and Ross Mackert, local industrial designer and artist. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the project’s success!