A nine-foot concrete whale is a testament to Highlands Elementary’s slogan, “A whale of a school.” The school purchased several small whale sculptures after 1983 in honor of a student who had a fondness for the animal and later succumbed to illness. In 1997, an original whale sculpture was made out of recycled materials but it was removed in 2010 due to wear and tear.

This piece replaces the original wooden created by artist Joe LaMantia which became a symbol of school pride and the connection between past, present, and future students.