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Second Annual New Jersey PTA Reflections Art Show Recognizes West Orange Students
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The second annual NJCPTA Reflections Art Show was held at Liberty Middle School on Jan. 28 to award students placing in the national competition. This year’s theme was “What is Your Story?” and featured several types of art to reflect West Orange students in grades K-12, including pencil, crayon, watercolor, oil, sculpture, photography, writing, and dance.
“This was our second year presenting PTA Reflections in West Orange,” said NJPTA Reflections chairperson and West Orange resident Lee Sutton. “We increased submissions and participation, and every student participant was recognized for their work and encouraged to continue expressing themselves through art.”
Comments by Sutton, Kyra Swinney, Chair of the Essex County PTA, Superintendent Jeff Rutzky, Lou Quagliato, Fine Arts Supervisor, and Amelia Panico and Patricia Mitrano of the West Orange Arts Council encouraged students to continue their artistic pursuits. The highlights of the evening were performances by students and special appearances by the West Orange High School Boys and Girls Step teams.
Students were recognized with Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and Honorable Mentions. All Award of Excellence winners moved on to the state competition. Winners at the state level then move on to national competition, where scholarships are given to winners.
West Orange High School senior Cameron Bridgers has moved on to national competition for her original choreographed dance routine entitled “Faders.” National competition winners will be announced by the National PTA on May 2.
“When children express themselves through words, pictures, music, photography and other art forms, they grow intellectually, commented Sutton.
“The National PTA Reflections program helps parents encourage and recognize the continuous self-discovery process of their children. With art, children learn to analyze their thoughts, feelings, and ideas; look at objects, people and experiences in a fresh and exciting way, and develop a curiosity for the ideas and works of others. Programs like PTA Reflections allow students to cultivate and curate creative skills that give them an academic advantage,” she went on to say.
Studies have shown that students who participate in arts programs like Reflections show the greatest relative improvement in academic achievement, especially for those in underserved communities. Arts education has the ability to level the playing field because it provides a safe learning environment where students take risks, explore ideas and express their individuality. Students also learn to support their peers in a positive way by breaking down communication barriers. The arts considered a universal language.
Next year’s theme is entitled, "Within Reach.”
To see all the photos from the event, go here.
To see the photos from the Step Team performances, go to Girls Step and Boys Step teams.
Category |
School |
Student |
Award Given |
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Visual Arts |
Gregory |
Joel Goldberg |
Award of Merit |
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Literature |
Redwood |
Alvaro Silva |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Kelly |
Stephen Crane |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Kelly |
Mia Perez |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Dance |
Kelly |
Reagan Edwards |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Music |
Kelly |
Sayari Tobias Rivra |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Melany Gonzalez |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Nava Brickman |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Hazel |
Adrianna Kotchkoski |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Hazel |
Riley Smith |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Hazel |
Daisy Smith |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Redwood |
Leonardo McCormick |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Redwood |
Leonardo McCormick |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Literature |
Redwood |
Sachi Goel |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Literature |
Redwood |
Nicole Caritas |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Hazel / special artist |
Christopher Arens |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Tyrone Muldrow |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Shelly Guallpa |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Scarlen Terrero |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Jasmin Minchala |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Nephtalie Georges |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
Washington |
Kailyn Dixon |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Itzel Gonzalez |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Annabel Reilly |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Sophia Montoya |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Skylar Lassiter |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Dasha Rachioppi |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Cleopatra Curis |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Sarah Topps |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Lendsley Labardy |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Nyah McKinney |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Gianna Michelle D'amore |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Isha Garala |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Lily Sandels |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Brian spann |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Daniella Malanga |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Victoria Peart |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
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Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
AJ D'amore |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Mike Sandals |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Mt.Pleasant |
Jewelia Taylor |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Music Composition |
Mt.Pleasant |
Leah Davies |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Literature |
Mt.Pleasant |
Stacy Folas |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Edison |
Charley Dvorin |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Edison |
Paula Ortiz |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Edison |
Nia Oparaji |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Edison |
Anna Shelley |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Arts |
Edison |
Ariana Espinal |
award of Merit |
||||||||
visual Arts |
Edison |
Jordan Dettaarte |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Edison |
Yuveen Silva |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Tiffany Romnarine |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Belen Osborne |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Jalene Lyons |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Allison Quispe |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Alexis Dolegowski |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Justin Lopez |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Allison Alba Vega |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Robert Rohden |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Natalie Menor |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Christina Charles |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Emily Morales |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Jerrick Tigre |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Amaya Martinez |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Olivia Pinto |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Christopher Parson |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Clark Bunao |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Ebun Adegbite |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Ella Silivanch |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Jordan Roberts |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Aaron Bunker |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual Art |
Liberty |
Alexander Hiemala |
honorable mention |
||||||||
Visual art |
Liberty |
Brianna Dannemiller |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Liberty |
Rose Murphy-Braunstein |
Award of Merit |
|||||||||
Liberty |
Caroline Campanella |
Award of Merit |
|||||||||
Liberty |
Caroline Campanella |
Award of Merit |
|||||||||
Liberty |
Rose Murphy-Braunstein |
honorable mention |
|||||||||
Liberty |
Jean Monter Nores |
Award of Merit |
|||||||||
Literature |
Liberty |
Sheldon Senek |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Ciara Racanelli |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Emma Sawyer |
award of merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Elika Burton |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Katie Meyerson |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Gabriel J. Andrate |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Migdalee Gonzalez |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO HS |
Aira Patricia Dolfo |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Visual arts |
WO Hs |
Ciara Racanelli |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Dance |
WO HS |
Cameron Bridgers |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Honorable Mention |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Award of Merit |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Honorable mention |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Award of excellence |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Photography |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Literature |
WO HS |
Julia D'Amato |
Award of merit |
||||||||
Literature |
WO HS |
Julia Lawrence |
Award of Excellence |
||||||||
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