When students and teachers walked through the doors of Florence B. Mathis Elementary School this year, they were greeted with a playful surprise: The hallways were adorned with colorful, gaming-themed decorations. The makeover was the work of Wheeles Realty, a local Gulf Shores real estate agency that took on the project at the request of Principal Shannon McCurdy.
McCurdy turned to Wheeles Realty in June to add a creative touch to the school’s atmosphere for the new school year. Just three weeks before teachers returned to prepare their classrooms, the Wheeles Realty team, led by Kristie Wheeles, sprang into action. The group, which included realtors Candyce Heflin, Adrianna Burleson, Jenny Hager, Savanna Grissom, Evan David and Demetrios Lambidonis, dedicated countless hours to making McCurdy’s vision a reality.
The theme, aptly chosen as ‘gaming’, offered a nostalgic mix of old and new favourites. Highlights included a ‘Guess Who’ wall where teacher photos were transformed into Disney characters, much to the delight of returning staff. Another highlight was the intricate design of the Pac-Man and Mario Kart displays, which proved to be the most time-consuming but also most rewarding aspect of the project.
As the teachers trickled in before the new school year began, they expressed their surprise and gratitude for the unexpected surprise. Wheeles Realty’s hard work resulted in both the school staff and the real estate team being pleased with the outcome.
“It took many hours and hot glue burns to complete the project, and we are absolutely thrilled with the result,” Wheeles said.
