001Founded in 1969, the National PTA Reflections Contest engages nearly 300,000 students and their families in arts education activities each year, encouraging students to explore the arts for fun and recognition. I myself have fond memories of participating in the reflections contest in my home state of Utah in the 1980s and 90s. The reflections theme for this year was I belong. I hope you had a chance to appreciate the creativity of our student artists outside the auditorium and trust that by the end of the evening you will realize that you belong as well. Just as so many of our students here in Arlington will express tonight. The purpose of the ceremony is to celebrate and honor our reflection participants who come from Arlington's elementary, middle, and high schools. Each of the students honored here tonight submitted the
002highest scoring submission of their category and division in their respective schools reflections contests. So, what you're seeing is some of the most creative and inspiring works from Arlington students. >> Uh, it's such a pleasure to be here with all of you to celebrate the 202526 APS Reflections Contest student winners. We want to thank Arlington County Council of Parent Teach Parent Teacher Association, the CCPTA for sponsoring this wonderful annual highlighting the hard work and artistic talent of our students. Every year we we have excellent participation in the reflections contest at APS and we're so proud of all the students from every grade who participated this year by creating art in variety of mediums. Our students took this year's theme, I belong, and did a fantastic job bringing that concept to life. As we celebrate the top
003winner from each category tonight, we wish you good luck as you go to compete in the state level contest. We at APS fully support arts education is an intricral part of the core curriculum. The arts offer our students powerful tools for expression that are not offered in other courses. The tools make connections. Thank you very much. between intellect and emotion and tools for solving problems and communicating ideas. And we welcome the additional opportunities for our students that they receive through partnerships like this one, which are integral uh to our goals for student growth, success, and well-being. Before we begin recognizing the winners, I'd like to give a special thanks, president of CCPTA, as well as CC CCPA's board members. I would also like to thank and extend my appreciation to April Mattis and her patience
004for me cancelling several times because of snow for your leadership and hard work to bring tonight's program to our students and families. But before I have our board member join me, I know this is the last year that Claire Nos will be president of CCPTA. And with that, I wanted to just I put some I'm off script, but I wanted to kind of thank her. So in my role, I talk to a lot of parents. I meet with a lot of community members. But every now and then, you build a relationship that goes beyond titles and meetings. It becomes one rooted in trust, honesty, and in shared purpose. Claire, that is what our relationship has been. I've enjoyed working with you with your tenure as a president of CCPTA. And I want you to know
005something very clearly. Your impact doesn't end tonight. your work you've done, the standards you've set, the passions you brought, those things stay with stay with us as a community. On behalf of all of us who have had the privilege of working alongside of you, thank you. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for reminding us what it looks like when someone truly puts children first. I will miss working with you in your role, but more importantly, I am grateful to call you not just a partner in this work, but a friend. Claire, congratulations on an extraordinary tenure. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Everyone, join me in a round. So joining me tonight to present awards is Bethany Zucker Sutton, the chair of the school board. And
006now a few words from from Bethany. >> Good evening. On behalf of my schoolboard colleagues, it's a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate this year's participants and winners of the reflection contest. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and our families to learn about art and to spend time together. The reflection contest represents the best of APS, thoughtfulness, inclusivity, community, and recognizing our students as the heart of our school system. I am incredibly proud of the par of the students who have taken this year's theme I belong and made it their own. Each student has their own story and I commend the artistic ways that they bring their individual individuality to shine. Tonight, as we celebrate our artists, I take this opportunity to encourage all of our students to explore different ways
007to express yourselves. We welcome your creativity, imagination, and outside the box thinking. Through art, we can unite and celebrate our differences and similarities. I congratulate all of you on your extraordinary achievements. I also thank the parents and family members present this evening for supporting your students in your in their endeavors. And finally, to our students advancing to the state competition, we all wish you the best of luck. I want to give a huge thanks to the CCPTA for coordinating this event and for hosting tonight's celebration. We are so grateful for your leadership. And now I'd like to turn it over to the president of the County Council of PTAs, Claire No. Thank you, Chair Zucker Sutton. Good evening, everyone. I'm really happy for those of you who were able to make it tonight because of
008all the rescheduled um I'm sorry. Uh, and I also want to start out by recognize the tremendous contributions of our county reflections chair, April Maddox, who put so much time and effort into making this competition happen every year and sometimes a few times one year. Thank you, um, April. I And, uh, I also want to thank all the volunteers at each of our local PTAs who served as reflections chairs and judges. These volunteers stepped up to promote the competition, coordinate the student entries, recruit evaluators, manage deadlines, and bring it all together. So, thank you. This year's theme, I belong, really resonates right now. We are being bombarded with messages about who belongs and who doesn't. But there's a lot at stake in what our students internalize from these messages. Studies show that when a student
009is uncertain about whether they belong at school, their motivation to engage goes down, their threat vigilance goes up and hijacks their focus, and their academic performance suffers. This is why the PTA is talking about belonging. I encourage all of you to continue this discussion with your children and in your schools so that we can work to foster and improve student belonging at each of our schools. I'm also excited to see how our students have been inspired by this theme as well. So without further delay, I'd like to turn it back to our county reflections chair. Thank you, Claire. Uh tonight is a very special evening as we celebrate Arlington's young artists and showcase just a few of these amazing students. I know you'll enjoy the fruits of their imagination. Now, in reviewing the all of
010the outstanding interpretation submissions that advanced to the state competition, I came across one submission that really captures the spirit of this year's theme. I belong. Let's take a look at this entry from Juniper Byron from Thomas Jefferson Middle School entitled Us Trees. We belong that won the outstanding interpretation award for the middle school division in the film category. And this submission also won an award of excellence at the state level contest. Our story begins when a mysterious ship comes and decides to cut down this strange purple tree for lumber. The trees surrounding it were its mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, etc. So obviously they were very devastated. But these trees coped with their sadness by singing. and their friends, the butterflies, joined them here in this clearing. I belong. >> I belong. I belong. >> No
011matter your race, gender, color of your skin, you belong. I'm a little acorn in this tree, but soon I won't see the sky. I'll be sad. I'll be sad right now. I belong in this tree, but soon I'll belong on the ground, not the sky. But wherever you go, remember that you belong. >> Please, can we do it just one more time? We all landed in a place where we belong. Where we belong. >> Everyone belongs. And the little purple tree knew that he would never be forgotten and always, always, always belong. Thank you, Juniper. This was a double entry in both the music composition and film categories. as uh Juniper not only directed the film but also composed and sang the music. Nice work, Juniper. And now I'll stop talking and let you enjoy
012the artwork from the students. Throughout the evening, we'll be seeing more artwork from our students and in some cases we will hear these students read their artists statement. The artist statement is a very important part of a reflection submission and can be helpful in explaining the inspiration of the work. So I hope you enjoy this perspective. Please welcome Mr. Stockton back to the podium to introduce the winners in the primary division. Okay, we have winners from all six categories in the primary age division. Let's start with dance choreography. So, the award of merit Umayo Navathan, Arlington County, Arlington County, Montasauri here. Okay, we give her a hand anywhere. Award of excellence, Grace Quinn, Discovery Elementary. All right, Grace. Fantastic. Here you go, Grace. Right there. Perfect. Outstanding interpretation. Alpha Driggs Arlington Traditional. Perfect. Now, since
013we have all these award winners together, let's give them another big hand. you all. Cool. Perfect. And now we will listen to Alpha read her artist statement followed by an excerpt of Alpha's work entitled Belonging. Go ahead. Go ahead. I chose to dance because when I am dancing, >> I feel the music and it feels like I belong to the music. >> All right, give her a hand. >> Thank you, Alpha. I've been trying to do it right. I' been living a lonely life. I' been sleeping here instead in my bed. family. >> I don't know where I belong. >> I don't know where I went wrong. I can write a song. I belong to you. Whoa, there we go. Alpha, that's fantastic. So, outstanding interpretation. Uh, Alani Wilson Claremont immersion. Okay. All right, perfect.
014Okay, perfect. All right, so no Alani tonight. All right. Okay, we'll keep moving on. And so now we'll watch our video. Thank you. >> Belonging means having a sense of community, having people that you can depend on and that they can also depend on you. It means being accepted and it means supporting each other. >> What first brought you here? my parents. I was I was born and raised here at this church. >> How can members help others feel more welcome? >> Well, one thing that we can always do is make sure that we speak to people, that we talk to them for a little bit after church, that we ask them their name, we can ask them what brought them here today. We can invite them to come back. We can tell them about
015other services. we can just sit and talk to them and make sure that we're friendly if they came. Like yesterday when your friend Genesis came, she was tired. I brought her in the welcome center and helped her get a cup of coffee. So I think that she felt welcome. >> That was that was that was some nice investigative work uh that Alana did. So going to move on to uh now to our primary literature. So award of merit for Han Harih Harun Esquea Key Eleanor Shepard Claremont Elementary Navathan Arlington County Mortasauri. All right, cool sir. All right. Award of Excellence. Harper Roser, Arlington Traditional. All right. Katherine Edmonson. Katherine uh Edmonson Cardinal Elementary. Outstanding. Outstanding interpretation. Caroline Yim. Discovery Elementary. There we go. All right. Perfect. Perfect. All right. And now we will listen to
016Caroline read her work entitled Demi at the Dog Park. >> Demi was at the dog park and all of the other dogs were brown. That is not the color of my foe, said Demi. Demi went home and said, "I do not belong at the dog park because I am black with little white spots." He did not know how to make friends, but he did want to feel better. When Demi got out of bed, he repeated some steps. Even if I cannot make friends, I am kind and strong so I can try to make friends. At the dog park, Demi was a little scar scared to go close to the other dogs. So, he said the steps again. Even if I cannot make friends, I am kind and strong, so I can try to make friends.
017Then he felt a little braver, so he went a little closer. Then he saw a friend that he knew. Then Demi ran as fast as his little feet carried him. When Dem was next to his friend, he said, "Hey, roller coaster, what are you up to?" "Nothing," said roller coaster, but I want to play. Oh my god, what a great story. What a great story. Do you have a dog named Demi? For real? You have a real You have a dog named Demi? No. Okay. Well, we'll take that. We'll take it. My dog's name was Queen when I was your age. So, we did that. We had a dog. I I grew up in Memphis. Our dog's name was uh Queen, but we try to we try to, you know, kind of make it fancy.
018We call her Stockton's Queen of Sherry. We lived on Sherry Cove, so that was our dog back then. Thank you so much, Caroline. And now on to Primary Music Composition. Uh, award of merit, Chloe Joy, I think, Discovery Elementary School Award of Excellence, Umaya Navathon. Again, I mean, you're cleaning up. Um, Arlington County Monasuri in outstanding interpretation, Jocelyn Rothus, uh, Claremont immersion. That's it. All right. So, we're going to move on to the uh, primary uh, photography award of merit. Serena Nanz Zata, Discovery Elementary. Noah Mandreki, Cardinal Elementary. Here's Umayo Navathon again. Um, basically Arlington County Monasur. It's like cleaning up for the Oscars this week. Award of Excellence, Eleanor Shepard, Claremont Immersion and Outstanding Interpretation, Maxwell Smorodo, Arlington Traditional. There we go. Got to get that award first. Come on. Come on, let's give
019him a big round of applause, y'all. All right. And here comes Mr. Maxwell. We're now showing Maxwell's work entitled My Place. This is I'm speaking in Maxwell's voice. I took this picture with my mom's iPhone using selfie mode and the timer. This is my tree. I like to play here. I like looking up at the red leaves. It makes me happy to be home. This is my place where I belong. Way to go. Thank you so much. >> And now on to primary visual arts. Award of merit. Samara Gold, Arlington Traditional. Anna Cecilia Buckaloo, Innovation Elementary. Alexandra Don Taylor Elementary, Charlie Rumont, Jamestown Elementary. Everett Jones, Tuck Elementary. Lillian Yokum, Cardinal Elementary. Eleanor Montigue, Arlington Community Montasauri. Okay. Award of excellence. Uh, Alana Wilson. Alani Wilson. Clare money. Magna Jane Esquea Key Clara N. Horsely
020Arlington Community Montasauri County Montasauri an outstanding interpretation Christian Topacore Discovery Elementary. All right, you get to we know the routine. Let's give him a big hand. You all Perfect. We're now showing Christian's work entitled Collage of Belonging. Christian, tell us about your work. >> I belong to my school, my community, and in this world because everybody different is welcome. It's important for people to be different because some people can't do things other people can't do. You can learn always from others. The different color construction paper in the collage are all the different people in the world. I belong here, there and everywhere. >> Wow. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Christian. Such an important such an important uh Jordan message. Christian, while everyone is different, we all belong in this world. And now on to the
021med intermediate age. So, intermediate age division awards. I just want to take a moment. We um at Arlington public schools we we have cabinet meetings on Tuesday to with leadership team meetings and this week we had our art director come to give a presentation on on arts and my god you all what we are doing with the children at Arlington public schools just blew my mind. Um I thought kids just took a looked at something and drew a picture. Uh but they go from concept and uh drafts and so forth and all the beautiful art that you see at our scfax building you see in our schools. we are doing a great job I think um actually preparing these childrens to be some of the great artists uh in the world. So we'll get them
022together. I really and a lot of times when we start the school year we have our board meetings we always have an art performance of some kind and like in the first three weeks when those kids come to perform I'm like how did you get them ready so quick? So um I think we have a lot of artistic children in Arlington so we'll do it that way. So we have winners from all six categories um in the intermediate age division. Let's start with dance choreography. Award of merit a new Dolan Arlington Traditional Juliana Wamsley Jamestown Elementary School. Perfect. And also while technically uh technically speaking reflection submission should be created by only one artist but we couldn't pass up celebrating this group entry from Arlington uh County Montasauri. Nice job artists. Come on out. Travis
023Spitler, Neta Medson, Zora McIntyre, Charles Charlie Finwick, all from Arlington County, Montasauri. Woo. All right. Perfect. All right. So, the award of excellence, Shaniah Bose, Claremont Immersion. Elizabeth Holt, Cardinal Elementary. Outstanding interpretation. Audrey Skadig, Discovery Elementary. Go with the routine, y'all. Let's give these girls a a big round of applause. Unfortunately, Audrey could not be here tonight. Uh, but we did get to watch an excerpt of Audrey's work entitled Who I Am. That work tells the story of someone who feels rejected and alone and eventually realizes that they belong. The dance starts with a a theme feeling sad. Towards the middle of the dance, they realize they belong. That makes them feel happy and accepted. By the end, they know they belong even though they are different. So, choose dance. She chose She chose to
024dance this into her soccer uniform because she is a soccer player and a ballerina which does not comely happen. Let's take a look. >> Embrace the light and find somewhere that I can belong and come out of the darkness. I'm ready now. Ready now. I look around and I see a world that's waiting for me where I can fit in and make some real friends. I'm going to run through the halls. I want to do it all. This is my moment. I want my own. I've always dreamed of a perfect place like this where I'm not afraid to be seen. Oh, and I can just be me. >> I I I was watching. I said, you know, I'm like, she's a Audrey is a soccer arena. And so, uh, so that was the first. It
025was fantastic. So on to intermediate film award of merit will be Barack Asag Asagadu Arlington traditional Elizabeth Flood Cardinal Elementary. Maya Hassan Tuck Elementary. All right. here. Ian Periswam Mro, Arlington County, Montasauri Award of Excellence, Hannah Fernando, Innovation Elementary, and Blake Beard. Uh, Esquea Key, Outstanding Interpretation. Zoe Joy, uh, Discovery Elementary. Let's give these proud winners a big hand. That's perfect. And now we will listen to Zoe read her artist statement followed by an excerpt of her work entitled Rainbow Dots Get Connected. >> My dot story is about one dot that feels alone at school. But then it realizes that if it shows a small act of kindness, people will repay that act back with kindness, leading to the dot having many connections. It relates to the theme I belong because at the end the
026dot has many unique different friends and knows it belongs. Perfect. What a great story. Uh, showing acts of kindness in one way is to help build connection. So, we're going to show a film right now. >> Sometimes you can feel like you don't belong. Like this little rainbow dot here. It's the first day of school and she doesn't have any friends. Sometimes all it takes is a little wave to someone passing by or smile to someone having a bad day. Soon she realizes that when you show kindness, it often comes back to you. And that's the best feeling of all, feeling like you belong because you do. >> Wow, what a good story. And now to intermediate literature. Award of merit, Elise Chantler, Claremont Immersion. Aya Yetka, Taylor Elementary, Florian Mgherk, Alice Westfleet Elementary, and
027Brooklyn Vaness, Jamestown Elementary. And >> just to let you know, it's Isa >> Isa. Thank you so much. And a child shall lead him. >> Isa Ga and uh Elliot Mura Cardinal Elementary award of excellence. Ljalan Fos Arlington traditional Vahhan Rot Esquea Key Mera Nanziata Discovery Elementary Outstanding Interpretation Test Rush I think uh Arlington Community Cara story. Let's give them all a big hand. And now we will listen to Tess read an excerpt of her work entitled Belonging is my choice. And when I wake up, I feel as if the sun has begun to set because there's a pinkish glow coming from the windows. A soft breeze twirling with my hair as if in a dance like a fate I can't escape. Uh Mattie's wise words don't leave me alone. Be comfortable being yourself. You
028have to choose to belong. It's not up to anyone else. Maybe sometimes being at this new school, I felt self-conscious and brought myself down. But now I know. Uh I do belong. I did from the start. My insecurity fades. Maybe the key isn't makeup or sweaters or trying so hard to adorn myself. Maybe it's just being myself, embracing who I am, and letting others see who I really am. They will embrace me, too. And when when I let others see who I truly am, they will embrace me, too. >> Oh, give Tess a hand. >> Such a great story, Tess. I understand your submission also won the outstanding interpretation at the state level contest and and will go on to represent Arlington at the national level contest. Congratulations. Bring home the award. All right. Now
029on to music composition award of merit. Sebastian Garcia Claremont Immersion Isa Taylor Elementary Lizo Maddox Esquea Key Hadtie Montigue Arlington Community Montasauri County Montasuri Award of Excellence, Theodore AB A Al Abraar, Arlington Traditional. May Lou Graham, Cardinal Elementary, Outstanding Interpretation. Charles Marasac, Discovery Elementary. All right, Charles. All right, you all. Let's give him a big round of applause. And now, Mr. Charles will read his artist statement and then we'll enjoy a live performance of his work, The Missing Place. Um, music uh um makes me uh really happy. Um, and I've been playing music since I was really um little. Um, and um I belong with music. >> Fantastic. >> I had a chance to hear him in rehears before you all. You're about to be knocked out. Heat. I told you. I told you all.
030There you go, sir. No problem at all. Now, also Charles, there's something extra with Charles. Understand that your submission also won the award of excellence at the state level contest. Perfect. Award of merit. Isa Get Yeta, Taylor Elementary. Juliana Welsley, Jamestown Elementary. Penelopey Baker, Esquea Key, Caroline Dennis, Discovery Elementary for the award of excellence. Shaniah Bose, Claremont immersion. Also, Aiden Morabi, Arlington traditional an outstanding interpretation. Alexander Barracatari, Arlington County, Montasauri. Looking sharp, sir. looking sharp. >> All right, let's give them all a big round of applause. Looking sharp. And And now showing Alexander's work entitled Generations. Alexander, tell us a story about your photo. >> Every year when our grandmother comes to stay with us for the winter, it feels like a precious gift. We cherish the time we spend learning to prepare traditional foods
031with her. More than just cooking, these moments create a deep, heartfelt connection to our family's past. Spending this time with her truly secures our sense of belonging. It grounds us within our family, our culture, and the wider world. Thank you. >> Ready to go. Good job. So, Alexander reminds me uh two weeks ago, again, I mentioned Memphis. I actually had to fly there for the weekend to celebrate my aunt's 95th birthday, and it was a great time spending time with her. So, spending time. And now to intermediate visual arts award of merit. Annayia Atkins, Claremont Immersion. Ashley Khan Khan, uh, Innovation Elementary. Ian Ramen, Alice Westfleet Elementary. Emory Vaness, Jamestown Elementary. Dialin Bard, um, Esquea Key, Francesca Bush, Bosch, Discovery Elementary. Margaret Levit, Arlington County, Montasauri Award of Excellence, Hadell FA, Arlington Traditional. Isa Geta
032Tella Elementary. Sarah Marshall, Tucko Elementary. An outstanding interpretation, Tummy Weiss, Carlo Cardinal Elementary. And now, let's give them a big huge round of applause, y'all. Thank you. We're now showing Tommy's work entitled We Belone Together. Tommy, sir, I'll wait to get up here with that sharp suit on. Can you tell us about it? >> Yes. >> Thank you, sir. >> For my title, I adapted the theme to We Belong Together. I wanted to create a short comic to display this theme using Lego people. Just like Legos, individual pieces fit together to make complete structures and scenes. Each piece is different, a different size, shape, and color and has its own place and role in the Lego world. The Lego people talk about their differences, but in the end they all fit together to make something
033beautiful like a heart. Together they belong. >> There you go. Thank you. Thank you, Tommy. I love Legos. And you're right. Even though each piece is different, together they belong. And now on to middle school age division. And please welcome school board chair Bethany Zucker Sutton to introduce the winners of the middle school age division. >> I think that Mr. Stockton thinks that now he's on to the easy part, but Mr. Stockton, you got to get the right certificate into the right kids' hands. Middle school division awards. Uh we do not have any dance choreography entries. Uh so we will start with middle school film award of merit Reagan Hayes Swanson Middle School award of excellence May Hera Dorothy Ham Middle School Outstanding Interpretation Juniper Byron Thomas Jefferson Okay. And now we give them a
034big round of applause. We watched we watched a Juniper's film, Us Trees, We Belong, earlier this evening. And now we'll listen to Juniper read her artist's statement. Thank you. This form this film sorry tells the story of a tree who felt as though the entire world belonged except for itself. When one tragic day a group of people come and cut most of the tree down, it sees how much it was valued. And when it sees how much the other trees loved it, the tree recognized just how much it belonged and finally understands that it would always have a unique place no matter what happened and that everyone else would too. >> Thank you, Jennifer. And congratulations on winning award of excellence at the state level. And now on to middle school literature award of merit.
035Jack Guthrie Williamsburg May Herita Dorothy Ham Savannah Foley Swanson Award of Excellence Juliana Weiss Swanson and Outstanding Interpretation Ley Jaran Jah Handari from Gunston. Let's give it Thank you. Big round of applause. All right. And now we will listen to Leily read an excerpt from of her poem entitled A Different Tune. I sit here alone wondering where I belong. Cow's birds are found in us. I still search for twigs. We're all birds. We all learn to fly. So why not fly together? I have wings yet mine don't move the same. I try but the sky feels far away. Others soaring flocks their songs bunding into one. I listen, wondering why my tooth feels strange. Then I see my feathers shine a different hue, but they still shimmer. We're all just spurs, some flying, some resting,
036and some still gathering twigs. And maybe belonging means being part of the same sky, not the same nest. What a great poem, Ley. I understand that Ley's poem also won outstanding interpretation at the state level contest and she will go on to represent Arlington at the national level contest. Okay. Okay. And now we have award of merits. Um Sloan Frisch Neck from Dorothy Ham, Marina David Tombbras from Gunston. Sloan Hayes from Swanson. Award of Excellence, Junifer Byron Thomas Jefferson. An outstanding interpretation, Abraham Fleer, HB Woodlon. Thank you. And now Abraham will read his artist statement and then we'll hear an excerpt of his work, Chorus of Life. Chorus of Life is inspired by Audabon's work. It is about a marsh where there are numerous different birds and animals spread about. The piece starts with a
037grand opening where the full landscape is in view and then goes into a section focusing on the individual birds. These birds are each unique individuals, but they all belong in this environment. In the minor section, the piece plunges underwater and shows the darker, more mysterious parts of this environment. Finally, we return to the full picture, fully understanding how each dweller of the marsh contributes to individually to the whole ecosystem. jingle. That was beautiful, Abraham. And I understand your submission also won award of excellence at the state level contest. And now on to middle school photography. Award of merit. Josh Wilson Williamsburg. Sloan Hayes Swanson, Ramsay McDonald Swanson, Clara Hermina Dorothy Ham, Award of Excellence, Charlotte Montigue, Thomas Jefferson, an outstanding interpretation, Jordan Kravitz, Gunston Middle, All right, a big round of applause for the middle
038school photography winners. Okay, we're now showing Jordan's work entitled Heart Rock. Jordan, tell us about your photo. >> Metaphorically, each rock in my photo represents a person. and the Rocky Beach is our community. Differences in each rock create an extremely diverse community of rocks where each rock is unique, just like our community here in Arlington. I noticed that the heart rock featured in this photo both stood out among the other rocks and belonged with the others, embracing its heart-shaped quirk. Because each rock had its own special quirk, it wasn't surprising whenever I encountered a new unique one. That is exactly how I belong along with everyone else in our diverse community. Thank you, Jordan. Yes, even though none of those rocks is exactly alike, it is obvious they all belong. And now on to middle
039school visual arts. Award of merit, Dylan Kerwin, Gunston Middle School. Award of excellence, Kate Fes, Dorothy Ham. Outstanding interpretation, Alice Evett Swanson Middle School. Okay, big round of applause for our visual arts winners. Thank you. So, unfortunately, Alice couldn't be here tonight, but we're now showing her work entitled I Belong with the Leaves of the Wind on the screen. Alice chose to include leaves because leaves can look very similar, but they always end up where the wind takes them. Just like how you may be close to people, but you can always find new groups to be with. Just beautiful. And now we're moving on to the high school division. We will start with high school dance choreography. Outstanding interpretation is Molly Kang from Washington Liberty High School. Unfortunately, Molly couldn't be here tonight, but we
040will watch an excerpt from her work, I'd do anything for you. This work is about the sense of trust and inclus and inclusiveness. Molly chose the song I do anything for you because that's what belonging means to her. your fears. I can't relate to my fears. I'd rather live outside. I'd rather chip my pride than lose my mind out here. Maybe I'm a fool. Maybe I should two kids in a swimming pool. I'm not great. Speaking of the rhymes in the dark, I'll do for you in the dark. I'll do for you. I'll do for you. I'll do for you. I understand that Molly's submission also won outstanding interpretation at the state level contest and will go on to represent Arlington at the national level contest. So now we will move to high school literature
041and we have outstanding interpretation Ardan Peele Yorktown High School. Ardan Ardan isn't able to join us tonight, but wrote a lovely poem entitled Blueprints of Belonging, which I understand is about Ardan's two older sisters and how much she misses them now they are off to college. And now on to high school music composition. Outstanding interpretation, Wilbur Nardone, Washington Liberty High. Wilbur will read their artist statement followed by a live performance of their song Marco Polo. I think life is about always getting closer to who you are meant to be and in that way belonging to yourself, finding your place, being someone you're proud of. Through the lens of a game I played when I was little, Marco Polo, I wanted to take a closer look at how far I've come from selfisolation to anxiety to
042my present courage. As I stand on the precipice of college and leaving my family, this song is a reminder that belonging is not about staying in the same place, but finding who you are. Thank you. The sky is flashing orange and the river rushing red. I stop reading the news. I think by what you said and I swore I'd climb a mountain, but now I stay in bed. I think that all the love I had was just something I bled. I don't build fires where I won't be for long. It's the coldest way of living, but it's just where I belong. Where the ground is always shifting. I'm standing on my knees. I wish that I could be the world that everybody sees. I'm conscious and I'm blinded. It's morning in the dark. I'm on
043a boat that's sinking and it hasn't left the dark. I cry into the ocean. The salt turns into salt. I left behind. The world's fine. I never left her mark. Marco Polo, I can hear your voice even with my eyes closed. Dark go. I'm getting closer. I leave the land behind and travel at a pace. I sail the ocean blue till I'm blue in the face. I put down my phone and hold on to my friends. I find I'm feeling happier with leaving out loose ends. And I set up camp again. I don't know for how long. I find myself in worry that one day it'll all be gone and that I'm only pretending to be something that I'm not. But I'd rather trip and fall chasing something that I want or go home. I
044can hear your voice even with my eyes closed. Circle polar. I'm getting closer. Don't stop running. Don't stop running until you found the place you're running to the night. >> Keep on going. Keep on going. on the right track. If you never stop going, there's a place you belong and it belongs closer. >> Don't stop running. Don't stop running until you found the place you're running to. The night always ends and starts something new. Keep on going. Keep on going. You're on the right track. If you never stop growing, there's a place you belong and it belongs to you. Thank you. >> Thank you. That was beautiful. I understand this is the third year that Wilbur has performed for this ceremony and that your submission also won award of excellence at the state level contest.
045So now to high school photography we have award of merit for Anna Vasu from Wakefield High School. Award of Excellence, Sammy Weir Weirin from Washington Liberty. An outstanding interpretation, Faith Miller from Wakefield. So, we're now showing Faith's work entitled When We All Belong, I Belong. Faith, tell us about your photo. >> What does it mean to belong? My school is incred incredibly diverse. Students here are from different countries of origin in different cultures. I took students I took photos of students from various backgrounds, cultures, and races. I specifically focus on their facial features and put them together into new image. At first glance, each feature looks different, but they all have a common theme. When I see them, I see myself. Despite being from different backgrounds, we are all citizens of the of this country
046and deserve to belong. When we all belong, I belong with them. Thank you, Faith. >> Faith's submission also won outstanding interpretation at the state level contest and will go on to represent Arlington at the national level. And now on to high school visual arts. Outstanding interpretation, Quinn Fleming, Washington Liberty. And I'll read Quinn's statement, artist statement. This piece reflects my early childhood connection to Judaism. While I was never a follower through faith, I was connected through family, friends, and culture. Through the annual Jewish summer camp that I gracefully attended for six weeks from ages 5 to 12, holiday dinner parties and Shabbat temple, I fully assimilated into this lifestyle. I felt a sense of belonging. As I grew up, this side of my childhood began to disappear. The puzzle pieces reflect how this Jewish background
047was heavily impactful. It is no longer a part of me, rather broken into fragments of memory. And with that, let's give one final round of applause to all the talented students we've awarded this evening. And I will turn this back over to April. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Stockton and Miss Zecker Sutton for uh presenting the awards tonight. We truly appreciate it. So that wraps up our celebration for the evening. Hopefully we will see you next year and we'll have more artistic expression to celebrate. Good night everyone.