PTA Reflections Program Inspires Art in Murrieta Schools

District-wide winners of the all-volunteer Murrieta Valley Council of PTAs Reflections program were announced during a ceremony Friday at Murrieta Mesa High School's Gerswhin Performing Arts Center.

For a chance to move on to district, region, state and national competition, students at elementary, middle and high schools in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District were encouraged to submit entries to one or more of six arts categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The original works were to incorporate this year's National PTA Reflections theme: "The Magic of the Moment."

The entries were judged by volunteers at each school site, where school-level awards were given. Those 92 winning pieces were submitted for judging at the district level.

"The Reflections chairman at each school did an amazing job at fostering the love of the arts," said Murrieta Valley Council PTA President Mary Kelley. "And the students went far beyond what we imagined possible."

MVUSD Superintendent Pat Kelley helped congratulate the district-level winners Friday night. He thanked the PTA volunteers for promoting the arts through the Reflections program.

"So often our focus is on test scores," Kelley said.

Awards of Merit and Awards of Excellence were given out during the ceremony to winning entries at the primary, intermediate, middle and senior levels, according to grade level.

Award of Excellence recipients move up to the next level of competition and judging at the 23rd District PTA level. The 23rd District Awards Ceremony is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., March 22 at John F. Kennedy Middle College in Norco.

Reflections is a National PTA program, which means students have a chance of being sent on to state and national competition.

District-Level Winners:

Dance Choreography

Award of Merit

Primary Level—Dennam Davis, Rail Ranch Elementary

Intermediate Level—Ava Miran Lardizabel, Rail Ranch Elementary

Award of Excellence

Primary Level—Ella Randolph, Alta Murrieta Elementary

Intermediate Level—Rylie Shaw, Lisa J. Mails Elementary

Middle Level—Jillian Rawlins, Warm Springs Middle

Film Production

Award of Merit

Primary Level—Piper Holdridge, Tovashal Elementary

Intermediate Level—Brandon Glade, Antelope Hills Elementary

Middle Level—Kiersten Myers, Shivela Middle

Award of Excellence

Primary Level—Zadynn Faulkner, Rail Ranch Elementary

Intermediate Level—Eric Davidson, Avaxat Elementary

Middle Level—Niyah Buenaventura, Warm Springs Middle

Senior Level—Rachel Fox, Murrieta Mesa High School

Literature

Award of Merit

Primary Level—Sean Garrity, Avaxat Elementary

Intermediate Level-Jessi Berenschot, Rail Ranch Elementary

Middle Level—Juliana Nguyen, Warm Springs Middle

Senior Level—Kyiana Williams, Vista Murrieta High School

Award of Excellence

Primary Level—Joshua Basiger, Rail Ranch Elementary

Intermediate Level—Tobey Schmidt, Antelope Hills Elementary

Middle Level—Jessica Stewart, Rail Ranch Elementary

Senior Level—Sean Haggerty, Murrieta Mesa High School

Honorable Mention

Senior Level—Lilly Waller, Murrieta Valley High School

Music Composition

Award of Merit

Intermediate Level—Jaidyn Gamble, Rail Ranch Elementary

Middle Level—Jillian Rawlins, Warm Springs Middle

Award of Excellence

Primary Level—Breylin Gamble, Rail Ranch Elementary

Intermediate Level—Daniel Perry, Tovashal Elementary

Middle Level—Marisa Moenho, Thompson Middle

Senior Level—Mikayla Kilbury, Murrieta Mesa High School

Photography

Award of Merit

Primary Level—Nathan Perry, Rail Ranch Elementary     

Intermediate Level—Kylee Sargis, E.Hale Curran Elementary   

Middle Level—Jake Zenski, Thompson Middle

Senior Level—Colby Potter, Murrieta Valley High School

Award of Excellence

Primary Level—Gavin Hamm, Alta Murrieta Elementary

Intermediate Level—Mackenzie O’Coyne, Antelope Hills Elementary

Middle Level—Korryn Hamm, Dorothy McElhinney Middle

Senior Level—Jordyn Fitzgerald, Murrieta Mesa High School

Visual Arts

Award of Merit

Primary Level—Vernelle Giles, Tovashal Elementary

Intermediate Level—Nadia Petrosuis, Lisa J. Mails Elementary

Middle Level—Amaya Fogg, Warm Springs Middle   

Senior Level—Ninah Echeverria, Murrieta Mesa High School

Award of Excellence           

Primary—Seth Stenson, Antelope Hills Elementary

Intermediate—Therese Lloyd, Rail Ranch Elementary       

Middle Level—Euge Yamakoshi, Shivela Middle       

Senior—Carlo Tagulao, Murrieta Valley High School

Special Artist—Vincent Tagulao, Tovashal Elementary

Reflections Chairpersons

Andrea Parenteau—Alta Murrieta Elmentary

Liz Straight—Antelope Hills Elementary

Ingra Garrity—Avaxat Elementary

Mike Lorimer—Buchanan Elementary

Lujan Sutherland—Buchanan Elementary

Megan Becker—E. Hale Curran Elementary

Krista Coleman—Dorothy McElhinney Middle

Mike Zenski—Thompson Middle

Erin Pellot—Monte Vista Elementary

Barbara Goodale—Murrieta Valley High School

Jorgie Berenschot—Rail Ranch Elementary

Marguerite Rucker—Rail Ranch Elementary

Maureen DeLocht—Rail Ranch Elementary

Jessica Schoen—Tovashal Elementary

JoElle Beckingham—Shivela Middle

Ginelle Dexter—Vista Murrieta High School

Gina Ross—Lisa J. Mails Elementary

Vincent Badillo—Murrieta Mesa High School