When the Cooper Comets return to school in August, they will be greeted by the smiling faces of their teachers and staff, along with two new murals highlighting the school’s vision and motto.
Cooper Elementary's vision is built around the acronym R.I.S.E. — Respect, Integrity, Safety and Excellence. As a certified AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school — part of a national program that builds college and career readiness skills — that vision extends beyond the classroom.
"We wanted to build on the school's vision that all students R.I.S.E. to their full potential and are prepared for tomorrow's opportunities," said Cooper Elementary School Principal Samantha Chizauskie. "As a proud AVID school and with that vision in mind, Cooper's PTO President Katie Frasier, site leadership, and art teacher Kelli Anderson set out to create something that would inspire students every day."
The project began more than a year ago and was inspired by Vacaville’s Art Walk. The Cooper team worked with Leslie Molera, a local Vacaville artist, to bring Cooper’s mission and values to life.
The team sought ideas from students and staff about what made the school special. According to Chizauskie, one student response stood out: “At Cooper, I can dream big and accomplish all of my goals for my future.”
Once Molera’s designs were approved by the school and district administration, she was given the go-ahead to transform her ideas into works of art.
“Katie said that they wanted ‘R.I.S.E.’ used in the mural,” Molera said while taking a break from painting. “So I thought, ‘How can I incorporate that into a mural and get the idea across?’ I came up with a rocket ship taking off. That gives you the feeling of rising.”
The murals are being painted on two walls facing the playground and are each approximately 9 feet tall by 31 feet wide. In addition to the rocket, the first mural includes a large butterfly that Molera said will provide a perfect backdrop for parents to take photos of their children on the first day of school.
The second mural highlights the school’s commitment to college and career readiness through its AVID program, showcasing subjects such as writing, science, and math that help students build the skills needed for future success.
“The murals will greet students each day on the playground while also serving as a welcoming landmark for neighbors and visitors passing by,” Chizauskie said. “More than public art, they are a daily reminder that every Cooper Comet has unique talents, dreams, and unlimited potential.”
Assisting Molera on the two-week project is Kaitlyn Dykstra, 19, of Vacaville, who graduated from Vacaville High School in 2025. Dykstra previously worked with Molera on the public art project along Rocky Hill Road three years ago and has since assisted her on several other projects, including one at Play 4 All Park.
“I tried to take as many art classes as I could while I was there,” Dykstra said about her time as a student at Vacaville High School. She is now a rising sophomore at Solano Community College, where she is studying radiology with plans to become an X-ray technician.
“Art is still my passion, so I try to do it as much as I can,” she said.
“It is a good feeling knowing that this is going to be part of their memories from their first days of school,” Molera said of the murals.
“As future generations of Comets return to campus as graduates—and one day as parents—we hope these murals will continue to tell the story of Cooper Elementary and the community that believes in every child,” Chizauskie said. “We wanted our students to see themselves reflected in these murals. Every child deserves to be surrounded by messages of possibility. My hope is that these murals inspire our students to dream big, work hard, and remember that they are capable of accomplishing extraordinary things.”