NEW RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
5 feet above sea level
New River Middle School became the 13th site in Broward County to host The Underwater, joining a growing network of schools using public art and climate education to spark community action. Located just 5 feet above sea level, New River is especially vulnerable to sea level rise—making this installation both urgent and meaningful for the students who walk its halls each day. To mark the occasion, Xavier Cortada painted a site-specific elevation mural on campus, visually anchoring the school’s place in this movement.
A Climate Assembly Rooted in Art and Action
Led by Xavier Cortada and Adam Roberti, the school-wide assembly introduced students to the realities of climate change and the local impacts of rising seas. Through storytelling, visuals, and interactive dialogue, students learned about the role elevation plays in shaping their community’s future. During the presentation, students created their own Underwater elevation yard signs, marking the elevation of their homes and taking their first steps as climate ambassadors.
Stickers, Signs, and Spreading the Word
To reinforce the message and encourage continued engagement, each student received a “HELLO my elevation is ___” sticker and a printed Elevation Card—a pocket-sized tool with a QR code they could share with family and neighbors to help them learn their elevation too. Together, the students at New River Middle added their voices—and their signs—to a growing sea of local action.