At just 10 years old, Jolene Wood, a Grade 5 student at Harwich Raleigh Public School in Blenheim, is already leaving a mark on her community. Jolene recently won a t-shirt design contest organized by the Chatham-Kent Police Services’ Values, Influences, and Peers (V.I.P.) program. Her design was selected from a large pool of entries from across the municipality and will be displayed on the t-shirts given to students graduating from the program this school year.
Jolene’s journey as an artist began as soon as she could hold a crayon. Drawing, colouring, and doodling have long been part of her daily routine. Jolene has honed her skills by taking initiative and participating in a variety of local and school-based opportunities, allowing her to explore a wide range of mediums and techniques.
When Harwich Raleigh’s Grade 5 students were invited to participate in the t-shirt design contest, Jolene saw it as an opportunity to showcase her artistic abilities. The contest, which focuses on promoting positive values, influences, and peer relationships among students, inspired Jolene to create a design that would reflect the core messages of the program. She dedicated time outside of school hours to work on her submission, and when the results were announced, Jolene was thrilled to learn that her design had been selected as the winner.
Jolene’s teacher, Mrs. Stanford, who has now had two students triumph in this contest during her tenure, shared her excitement and pride in the achievement. “While I’m super excited that Jolene won this contest, it isn’t surprising to me. She did this all on her own time, and when she showed me what she created, I was in awe! It’s quite cool for me as a teacher to witness one of my students get this sort of recognition.”
In an effort to expand on her artistic education, Jolene has attended various Art Camps, learning to work with clay, watercolours, pastels, and other materials under the guidance of local artists. She has also embraced community-based opportunities to explore the intersection of art and mental health. Jolene has attended local organization, The Co., for drop-in mental health art exploration sessions, where she has had the chance to express herself creatively while engaging in important conversations about mental wellness.
One of Jolene's most recent projects was creating an interactive memorial butterfly mural in collaboration with Angel Bilagot for Reach Out Chatham-Kent's Overdose Awareness Day. This initiative provided Jolene with the opportunity to use her art to raise awareness for a meaningful cause, further demonstrating her ability to blend creativity with community service.
Jolene’s artistic journey has not only been about refining her skills but also stepping outside of her comfort zone. Last year, she participated in her school’s Talent Show, where she completed a speed painting challenge in front of her entire school. In just three minutes, Jolene created and presented a beautiful reindeer painting to an audience of peers and teachers—a moment that demonstrated both her skill and her ability to perform under pressure.
Whether she is sketching in her notebook, participating in community art projects, or designing t-shirts that win competitions, Jolene is constantly exploring new ways to express herself and make a positive impact on the community around her. Her passion for art is matched only by her willingness to step up and take on new challenges—qualities that will undoubtedly continue to serve her well in the future.