District 58 recognizes PTA Reflections participants

Downers Grove Grade School District 58 celebrated all students who participated in this year's PTA Reflections competition during a ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Herrick Middle School. The District also announced the 44 District 58 students whose 48 project submissions will advance to the regional level of the competition.

"PTA Reflections celebrates all of our artists for their outstanding contributions. Each year we are amazed by the talent and creativity the students present in their projects for Reflections. It is truly awe-inspiring to see the interpretations on the theme and the creative process from our students. Thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work pulling this program together. Special thanks to all the parents for supporting the arts. It is our privilege to be part of keeping the arts alive in Downers Grove," said Downers Grove PTA Council Reflections Co-Chairs Dione Swierczynski, Jennifer Luhm and Shannon McBrien in a joint statement.

Reflections is a national PTA arts recognition and achievement program for students. According to the National PTA Reflections website: "Creating art is a valuable learning process that challenges students to use their critical thinking skills as well as their creative talents to create art that supports a specific theme."

Through Reflections, District 58 students in preschool through eighth grade are invited to submit works of art in six areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The theme for the 2019-20 program is "Look Within." The Illinois PTA will likely announce the Regional PTA Reflections award recipients next month.

District 58 students who will advance to regionals are:

El Sierra School

Corey J., Literature

Zoe S., Photography

Fairmount School

Haley D., Dance Choreography

Maggie L., Literature

Abby S., Photography

Henry Puffer School

Zachary Y., Dance Choreography

Highland School

Eshan M., Film Production

Ashley W., Music Composition

Hadley R., Dance Choreography

Grace H., Dance Choreography

Paige R., Dance Choreography

Ethan M., Visual Arts

Hillcrest School

Jaxon S., Literature

William W., Literature

Sam H., Literature

Tommy H., Photography

Elizabeth S., Photography

Mia H., Visual Arts

Zoe G., Visual Arts

Indian Trail School

Emmefa D., Film Production

Claire P., Visual Arts

Cole P., Visual Arts

Kingsley School

Sean C., Photography

Dashiell B., Photography

Lester School

Sam B., Music Composition

Sierra C., Music Composition and Dance Choreography (two projects!)

Delaney H., Dance Choreography

Elizabeth H., Literature

Marlo T., Literature

Harper M., Photography

Carter A., Photography

Grace K., Visual Arts

Elise C., Visual Arts

O'Neill Middle School

Jacob V., Dance Choreography

Gracie S., Photography

Pierce Downer

Avery M., Film Production, Dance Choreography, Photography and Visual Arts (four projects!)

Beatrix H., Music Composition

Briley S., Music Composition

Meili F., Photography

Ingrid D., Visual Arts

Greyson M., Visual Arts

Whittier School

Jade H., Literature

Rooney S., Literature

Naya J., Visual Arts

In addition, the ceremony recognized Sofia C., a student from the DeLay-Lace PTA in District 61, which falls under the Downers Grove PTA Council. Sofia will move forward in the Visual Arts category.

For more information, please contact Megan Hewitt, community relations coordinator, at 630-719-5805 or [email protected].