Spirit Rock

One of our new initiatives this year is the addition of a spirit rock to our school! You may have noticed it on your first visit to the school. Starting in September, the spirit rock will be available for rent to post special messages to our school community!

SMES Spirit Rock: Policy and Guidelines

Overview

The Spirit Rock at Smith Magnet Elementary School allows families, community members and faculty to celebrate, communicate and show school spirit. The rock can be painted for birthdays, special occasions, events or simply to spread a message of positivity and encouragement to our school. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, please review and adhere to the following guidelines.

Reservation Policy

1. Reservations can be made for one or two days. For reservations longer than two days, a special request must be submitted and approved by the Spirit Rock Chair.

2. A minimum non-refundable donation of $20 per day to the Smith Magnet Elementary PTA is required to reserve the Spirit Rock. Donations of higher amounts are appreciated.

3. Donations must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the requested date.

Guidelines

Review the Spirit Rock Guidelines below. Renters must agree to all stipulations.

Check the Spirit Rock Givebacks Experience to see if your desired date is available.
Complete the Spirit Rock ticket purchase via Givebacks for your desired date.
Once payment is made and the Spirit Rock chair has approved the message, you will receive confirmation via email. Reservations will be approved in the order received and paid.
Reservations are currently accepted through June 13, 2025 (last day of school).
Sign-ups are in 24-hour periods from 5 p.m.-5 p.m.. For example, if you sign up for Thursday, Sept. 15, you may paint the rock after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Families must furnish their own labor, paint, and supplies. Wear old clothes! Only the rock may be painted.
Please take care to not damage the surrounding area, and pick up all trash after painting. Families are responsible for any damage or paint splatters not on the rock. Please be kind to our environment and recycle your empty cans.

PTA/School Reservations

SMES PTA and school administration reserve the right to block off dates for special use or school events in advance.

Content Restrictions, Liability and Weather

No profane words, symbols, derogatory or offensive messages, advertising for commercial purposes, or political messages are permitted on the Spirit Rock. Smith Magnet Elementary School reserves the right to remove any content, message, or language from the Spirit Rock that is deemed inappropriate.
The family painting the rock assumes liability for any individual or member of the group who may be injured, or who may incur clothing or other personal property damage.
No refunds will be issued in the case of bad weather. If wet, the rock can be towel-dried before painting, and the paint will adhere even in the rain or snow. Please work with the SMES PTA on alternate dates if weather becomes an issue at least 24 hours in advance of your reservation time.
If there are issues with the reservation time, or unforeseen circumstances (i.e. someone paints over your message during your reserved time), please contact the PTA (smithmagnetelementarypta@gmail.com) immediately to determine a solution.

Painting Tips

Please only use acrylic paint (either spray or can/bottle) on the rock and lay down a drop cloth or towel to protect the area around the rock as best as possible.
For painting a base color, premium spray paint works best (Rustoleum, etc.) versus a generic store brand. You need at least 3 cans for a good base coat and additional paint for your design. Paint that is rolled on will take longer to dry.
Spray paint your large areas. If you mess up, use your base coat color to fix the mistake.
Once you have the base coat done, use chalk to sketch out your design. Try to do large shapes so that it’s easy to see from the road.
Check visibility. Stand back from the rock to make sure you can see the design from a distance.
For more detailed areas, use a can/tube of paint and a paintbrush. Regular artists' acrylic works well (even in rain).
Make sure to bring paper towels to wipe any drips. Bring a cup of water if you are using a paintbrush. Wearing rubber gloves will help keep your hands clean.
Have fun and post photos to our Facebook page!

Need help painting?

Want to reserve the rock but don’t have time to paint it yourself? We’ve got a resource to help! Brooke Bartley, a SMES parent and member of the spirit rock committee, is here to help. Please contact her at bnbartley79@outlook.com for assistance and pricing.

Additional Resources

Local rock artist: https://www.trianglerockart.com/

Great guide to painting: https://www.snarkmom.com/post/a-guide-to-painting-a-spirit-rock