A SEASONAL WELCOME — Pupils and staff at McKinley STEM Academy, local emergency responders and representatives of Nelson Fine Arts and Gifts gathered around the welcome sign outside the school designed by pupils. The Steubenville business has reproduced art from each of the city’s four public schools for holiday-themed welcome signs outside them. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — Visitors to the city’s four public elementary schools will find Christmas-themed welcomes thanks to the efforts of people behind the Nutcracker Village.

Patrick McLaughlin said as a custodian for Steubenville City Schools, he knows the artistic talent to be found among its students and suggested a way his other employer, Nelson Fine Arts and Gifts, could highlight that.

Mark Nelson, the business’ owner, and his family are behind the Steubenville Nutcracker Village and the more than 200 life-size nutcrackers displayed along North Fourth Street and other areas downtown.

McLaughlin suggested pupils at each school could design their own “billboard” for the holiday season and asked Nelson to assist.

The result is four vinyl banners bearing the names of McKinley STEM Academy, Wells Academy, Pugliese East Elementary and Pugliese West Elementary, and holiday- and winter-inspired scenes created with input from children at the four schools.

The billboard at McKinley STEM Academy, whose curriculum is focused on science, technology, engineering and math, was unveiled on Friday morning.

Lynette Gorman, the school’s principal, applauded McLaughlin for launching the project, while McLaughlin was quick to note many were involved in the effort.

He noted the Nelsons donated the materials for the signs as well as reproducing them from the pupils’ art while school personnel installed them and the entire effort was approved by school administrators.

“I just can’t thank everybody enough for helping me to get this done,” McLaughlin told many who gathered by the McKinley sign.

It depicted a scene of a gingerbread village with buildings inspired by the city’s structures, including the Steubenville Fire Department.

Gorman said it was fitting that members of local emergency departments were on hand to celebrate the occasion.

Flanking the banner were the Steubenville City Schools nutcracker and Fireman Frank, a nutcracker paying tribute to the area’s firefighters.

Inside the school, she showed guests framed reproductions of the art created for all four signs.

The one for Pugliese East depicts a cup of cocoa and offers visitors “A Warm and Cozy Welcome.”

The one for Pugliese West features a snowman beside a home decorated with Christmas wreaths, while Wells Academy’s sign includes a smiling snowman positioned between pine trees and falling snowflakes.

Also displayed were two paintings inspired by the Nutcracker Village and created by Libby Rivers and Gloria Masso Melchor, students at Harding Middle School.

McLaughlin said starting this weekend, the paintings will be displayed at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, where chances will be sold for them.

He said proceeds from the drawing, to be held on a date to be announced, will benefit the Friendship Room, a local charity chosen by the students.

The original art for the banners will be displayed in an open storefront across from the Grand Theater on North Fourth Street.

McLaughlin said his employer was happy to showcase the young artists’ work.

“Mr. Nelson is a very big supporter of the arts,” he said, noting the Nutcracker Village has drawn thousands of people to Steubenville each Christmas season.

Nelson said of the schools’ involvement, “This is a beautiful example of how the arts can play out in all of our lives and make Steubenville a better place.”

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