Clockwise from top: Artist Frank Van Brunt helps Rumson Country Day School students put the finishing touches on a mosaic mural on May 14. The mural was created by students with the help of parent volunteers as part of the school's art appreciation program. RUMSON - A picture is worth a thousand tiles - or several thousand tiles, as is the case at Rumson Country Day School (RCDS).

As part of the school's art appreciation program, students in grades K-8 worked together to create a mosaic to adorn the hallway in their school.

"The mosaic project visually symbolizes our school's philosophy. It's a testament to our RCDS family - students, parents and faculty - all working together for a common goal. We are proud of our visual and performing arts program and the mural is just one example of the talents nurtured in our students," said RCDS headmaster Chad B. Small.

During the 2006-07 school year, the students learned the history of mosaic art and brainstormed the design of the mural. Last spring, they made ceramic tiles for the border of the mosaic.

PHOTOS BY DAVID BEALES Now in its final phases, the project has involved the students installing, sketching and tiling the mosaic mural in the hallway with the encouragement and supervision of parent volunteers.

The mural entered its final stage last week when visiting artist Frank Van Brunt, of Creative Installations of West Long Branch, donated his time to grout the mosaic.

Van Brunt visited the school May 14 to answer questions about mosaic art and to put the finishing touches on the project.

The Parent Council sponsors the art appreciation program with the assistance of RCDS art teacher Melissa Petersen.

The finished mural was presented to RCDS as a gift from the students.

Located at 35 Bellevue Ave., RCDS was founded in 1926 as a community school. The private school has an enrollment of 450 students in pre-K through eighth grade.