PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – Twelve works of art from 11 students in the Orange City School District were selected for first-place honors in the annual PTA-sponsored Reflections Program.
These students will advance to the state competition in Columbus in the spring.
At a ceremony Nov. 15 in the Orange High School auditorium, students in four grade-level divisions were recognized for their projects in the categories of Visual Arts, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Dance Choreography.
The grade-level divisions were Primary, pre-kindergarten through grade two; Intermediate, grades 3-5; Middle School, grades 6-8; and High School, grades 9-12.
Orange Schools students submitted 55 entries in the program this fall.
This year’s first-place winners were, Indra Iyer, Literature/Middle School; Alexandra Simpson, Literature/Intermediate; Ellie Miller, Visual Arts/Intermediate; Cecilia Cirino, Music Composition/Intermediate; Sanay Moghekar, Visual Arts and Photography/Middle School; Frankie Lachina, Photography/Intermediate; Lia Lachina, Photography/Primary; Marcus Moauro, Visual Arts/Primary; Kyra Rodenborn, Literature/Primary; Henry Ringenbach, Photography/High School; and Elizabeth Allemang, Dance Choreography/Intermediate.
Sanay Moghekar, a student at Brady Middle School, displays his PTA Reflections certificates. He earned two first-place awards, in Visual Arts and Photography, and a third place in Literature in the Middle School division.(Photo Courtesy of Orange City Schools)
Each year, students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 are invited to submit projects that are reflective of a pre-selected theme and represent the various arts. This year’s theme was “I Am Hopeful Because…”
Local judges included Maria DiDonato, Mary Slater, Elizabeth Glorioso and Amy Lewandowski.
The event was emceed by Orange Councilwoman Staci Adelman Vincent and coordinated by the members of the PTA Reflections Committee, including co-chair parents Nirupama Mulherkar and Maria Hanley and PTA presidents Michelle Feinberg and Michele Gehrmann.
Certificates, ribbons and first-place medals were presented courtesy of the PTA. along with special treats created by Feinberg. Guests also had the opportunity to enjoy each artistic work on display and via a slideshow presented by Mulherkar.
The projects will be on display at the Orange branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in the coming weeks.
OHS winter concerts
The Orange High School Winter Choir Concert will be Tuesday (Dec. 5). The OHS Winter Band and Orchestra Concert is slated for Dec. 12.
Both concerts begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the OHS auditorium, 32000 Chagrin Blvd. Admission is free.
Students take trip to Spain
During the Thanksgiving break, 23 Orange High School students who are enrolled in Spanish classes visited Spain.
The students used their Spanish literacy and communication skills to delve into the rich history of Spain’s past through visits to cathedrals, former synagogues and mosques, according to a news release from the Orange City School District.
The students visited Sevilla, Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid, along with other smaller towns. The experiences ranged from tours to a flamenco dance class, a city holiday lighting and a Spanish production of “Phantom of the Opera.”
Naturalization ceremony
Twenty-one eighth-grade Brady Middle School students had the opportunity to attend a naturalization ceremony at the Carl B. Stokes Courthouse in Cleveland in November.
Student Jaya Dixit shared her essay on citizenship as 65 citizens from 37 countries took the oath of citizenship.