For the second year in a row, students in the Clarkston school district participated in the National PTA Reflections program.
The program gives students a chance to express their thoughts through various mediums.
Each year, the event follows a separate theme submitted by a student; this year’s being ‘My favorite place??
On Jan. 5, students at Sashabaw Middle School and Bailey Lake Elementary displayed their entries for various volunteer judges.
Entries were divided into six categories and divided by grade levels: literature, musical composition, photography, visual arts, film production and dance.
Nine volunteer judges were brought in to review the entries and select the top submissions. The two top scoring students in each category will participate in a state competition. Last year, eight students from the Clarkston area were awarded for their entries at the state level.
Laura Pangori, committee chair for the SMS program, said participation is completely voluntary and is intended to act as a supplement to the arts program.
The students are given several months to finish their projects, but rules dictate that students must do all the work, receiving no help from parents or teachers. Pangori, whose daughter was one of the students who earned a merit award at the state level, said that by eliminating outside influences, the projects are a true reflection of the students? thoughts.
Pangori began participating in the program last year, and said she sees the pride students have with their finished works.
‘I don’t care if they’re in kindergarten or middle school, they see their art and they are quick to point it out,? she said.