(top) Artist Janet Rodriguez places flowers on to her Alfombras de Aserrin (sawdust carpet) during Edison Language Academy's Sixth Annual Day of the Dead Fall Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2008. The making of alfombras de aserrín, with its vivid colors and eye-catching patterns is a Guatemalan tradition that dates back to the Mayans. Mayans made these carpets with flowers for the kings to walk on as they made their way to Mayan ceremonies. In the 16th Century, the Catholic church altered the tradition of the alfombra and began to use colorful sawdust to create them. The Alfombras are made from hand-dyed sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables and is a community-forming tradition.

(1) Angi Neff holds up her five year old daughter Eleanor while she hangs up a Sadako crane on to the 'Crane for Piece' altar during Edison Language Academy's  Fourth Annual Day of the Dead Exhibit on Monday, October 30, 2006. (2) Forth grade students from Grant Elementary School look at the alters at Edison Language Academy during their Fourth Annual Day of the Dead Exhibiton.

 Children play in the new Kelp Forest Courtyard at Edison Language Academy on Wednesday, October 18, 2006. The Kelp Forest Courtyard reduces water run-off into the Bay while providing an Ocean-like space for the students to play. The project was made possible thanks to contributions made by SMMUSD, the City of Santa Monica, the Good Works Foundation, local realtors and business people and the children, parents and friends of Edison. In addition, the project became a reality thanks to the many donated  or deeply discounted goods and services provided. The mural was painted by community artist David Legaspi.