LYNN — Sierra Osorio and Jonasia Smith aren’t planning to have a career in home decorating, but they could.
The ninth graders at Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior High School received honorable mentions for designing a faux finish for a pair of metal doors. When they were done, the doors looked less like a flat steel pre-hung entryway and more like a work of art featuring a combination of oak, pine and stone.
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, a national nonprofit trade group, sponsored the faux finish competition which received 150 entrants from Massachusetts schools.
“I find the work very relaxing,” said Osorio, 15, “learned how to do wood graining and took a metal door and made it look like wood.”
Smith said she was inspired by a picture on her teacher’s wall featuring malachite, a silky green stone and incorporated it as part of the door.
“I mixed the techniques of wood grain and stone for the look,” she said.
Michael Donahue, the school’s painting and decorating teacher, said Osorio and Smith were the only freshmen in the contest. He said most of the entrants were from technical schools where they spend much more time learning painting and decorating.
“The fact these students got recognized is a big achievement,” he said.
On the third floor, students and families from the school’s Therapeutic Center celebrated an early Thanksgiving Day brunch.
Maura Durgin-Scully, the school’s principal, said the mission of the program is to keep these three dozen students within the Lynn Public Schools, instead of an outside placement, where these three dozen students receive art and music therapy in a small class environment.
Brian Alvarez, a 19-year-old senior said he looks forward to the brunch because it’s a way of bringing all the students and their families together to celebrate.
“It’s a nice way to get everyone together,” he said. “Look around, everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.”
Tenth grader Victoria Hansen, 15, said the brunch is a good way for everyone to get to know each other and their families.
“This is my second year and I love it,” she said. “The teachers are inspiring, they teach us, help us with our issues, and help make us better. I’m glad I’m here.”
The food was donated by Caponigro Construction in Swampscott.
