A.G. Richardson Elementary School (AGR) has a new, colorful reminder for students and staff: “Great Things Happen Here!”
The new mural, created by AGR parent volunteer Tiffanie Harpring with help from her children, was recently unveiled in the school cafeteria. The artwork celebrates the creativity, curiosity, learning and school spirit that are part of everyday life at A.G. Richardson. This is Harpring’s second mural at AGR, after the Reset Road project she did last school year.
The idea began this summer when Principal Temesha Dabney and Assistant Principal Erica Hoy attended a conference session focused on recognizing and highlighting the positive things happening in schools. The message resonated with the administrators, who wanted to bring that same focus back to AGR.
Dabney and Hoy envisioned a positive message that students and staff would see every day, one that would encourage the school community to recognize and celebrate the great things happening around them. With every student spending time in the cafeteria, the space offered an ideal location for the message.
The cafeteria was also a natural fit because it already features two murals showcasing the artistic talents of the AGR community, one of which was created by a former student. The new “Great Things Happen Here!” mural complements those pieces, helping tie the artwork together while celebrating the school as a whole.
Harpring brought the vision to life with a design centered around the words “Great Things Happen Here!” The mural features books, science equipment, musical notes, athletic equipment, art supplies and other school-themed images representing the many ways students learn, create and discover. Paw prints and a smiling bulldog add AGR school spirit to the display.
The project became a family effort as Harpring’s children joined her in sketching, painting and adding the finishing touches. Their teamwork, creativity and time helped transform the idea into a lasting addition to the school.
More than artwork, the mural reinforces a simple message: there are great things worth celebrating at A.G. Richardson every day. Whether students are learning something new, discovering a talent, helping someone else or reaching a goal, the mural provides a daily reminder that those moments matter.
Together with the two student-created murals already in the cafeteria, the newest artwork celebrates the creativity of the AGR community while providing a positive message that every student can see each day.
Thanks to Tiffanie Harpring and her family, that message now has a permanent place on the cafeteria wall: Great things happen here!
