Spanning nearly six by nineteen feet, the new mural unfurling across Fremd’s main hallway is a collection of photographs from the present and years past. What was once a blank expanse now tells the story of William Fremd High School.
The mural includes images of football games, school dances, and assemblies—some dating back to the days when Fremd was first built. It is a reflection of the diverse community inside the school.
Assistant principal Michael Smith, who directed the effort to build the mural, recalls how debates over the best way to greet visitors were underway as long as four years ago. Composites of Academic Scholars once adorned the hallway, but Smith didn’t want visitors to only see a small part of Fremd’s large student body.
“We wanted to showcase the full school,” Smith said. “There have been different creations or items that have been placed there that further represent the full Fremd population.”
Last year, a series of postcards in Fremd’s trademark green and gold colors were displayed on the wall. With the words “I am a Viking and also…,” each postcard showcased the individuality of the students who make up the school. Smith hoped to continue this initiative with the mural as well.
Smith spent the summer looking through a collection of yearbooks to select pictures that represented the entire school. He wanted variety—not just classroom photos, but also ones from athletics, clubs, the past, and “good feel” photos.
These hidden details pop out upon closer inspection. In one picture, a student stands by her locker next to a “Happy Birthday” sign, a reference to a time when lockers were gathering spots for groups of students. The original Fremd High School main entrance is depicted in another, a nod to the students who once walked through these halls. Scenes from a Fremd skiing club also decorate the wall.
Smith finds it rewarding to discover more about the school and its stories through this process.
“People will ask me questions about the mural or specific photos, and I can tell them what I learned over the course of the summer while I was identifying pictures,” Smith said.
Creating the mural did not come without its setbacks, however. When Smith took charge, he had no prior experience with designing. But the support of the Booster club covered the financial burden of the project, allowing Smith to focus on working with the company that would bring the mural to life. It was a team effort. Supported by feedback from other staff members and administrators, he decided which pictures made the final cut and developed the idea for a Viking and “F” centerpiece.
“We wanted something that had a wow factor, but also wasn’t too flashy, too glitzy because then it just didn’t seem tasteful,” Smith said. “I think [the current] installation gives the mural a whole other level of promise.”
Early reviews of the new mural are going well. At Open House, Smith noted how parents took selfies in front of the mural. Fremd’s preschool opened last week, and parents also snapped photographs of their children there. And when CBS News Chicago came to do a story about Fremd’s football team, they requested to conduct an interview with the mural as a backdrop.
The mural is designed to be ever-changing. Each photograph is a separate panel that can be removed from the wall. In the future, Smith hopes to make updates to the mural with pictures that further represent the school’s diverse community. But for now, he is enjoying watching students locate themselves in the photographs, staff members pause to reminisce through old memories, and even those jokingly asking why their photo wasn’t included.
As the mural continues to welcome visitors to Fremd, Smith wants to create a sense of unity between onlookers and the school.
“Hopefully, there’s some sense of pride that resonates because of that connection that’s made,” Smith said.
