Reflections art from Pride

Bring on those Reflections winners!

This year's first batch is from Pride Elementary School. Shown here are students Sneha Sathish and Sonu Trivedi, who won in the visual arts category; and principal Jamie Dunnam. Also advancing in the PTA-sponsored arts competition are: Sanjeeth Bhat, literature; and Simran Giri, visual arts. Winners will have their work judged in a countywide contest in January. There were 56 entries at Pride.

Other New Tampa schools: Please e-mail scans or photos of your entries to northtampa@sptimes.com. We can post videos and music too.

And good luck.

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'Reflections' at Benito

Students at Benito Middle School who wish to enter artwork, written work, photos, videos or dance choregraphy in the PTSA Reflections competition have until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. This year's theme is "WOW," and New Tampa students have wowed the judges in the past. Turn your work in at the school media center. Questions? E-mail here: kimmy.foulds@verizon.net. Students, parents and PTA officers: Please show your school spirit by sharing your Reflection entries with Bruce B. Blog. Video too. E-mail to northtampa@sptimes.com.

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News from Freedom High, PTA Reflections

Yikes! It's still August (technically) and the SAT prep people are already scheduling workshops at area high schools. There's one at Freedom on Sat., Sept. 6: All the information is here. Download Sept6PrincetonReview8.txt.

The PTSA also is soliciting entries for this year's Reflections fine arts competition, with the theme "WOW." Categories are dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. More information about Reflections is here www.floridapta.org, and the deadline to submit is Oct. 6. Entry form is here: http://www.pta.org/Documents/Student_Entry_Form_2008-2009.pdf. The school has a Reflections mailbox in the office, or you can email mizweezexll@verizon.net or call 310-4835 for pick up.

All schools, K-12 can enter Reflections, and New Tampa schools really cleaned up last year. As we did last year, Bruce B. Blog will post any Reflections entries you submit to this site, including video. Please share!

Reflections: Freedom entries

Thank you, Debbie Schurr, for helping us put names to the paintings and drawings that Freedom High School submitted to the Reflections competition. Congratulations go to these artists:

 

Alexander Y. St. Juste

Melanie P. Ellis

Faith C. Crowe

Please forgive the glare, especially on Melanie's picture. We will be happy to replace it with a clearer image emailed to northtampa@sptimes.com.

Name that artist

Okay kids, art teachers and PTA officers, here's a homework assignment on this school holiday. Ask everyone you know to look at these pictures on Bruce B. Blog and see if they can find out whose work they are. All were by artists or photographers at New Tampa schools, all were on display at Sunday's Reflections reception. We know the schools, not the artists. Email northtampa@sptimes.com, or answer with a "comment" on this blog post.

From Benito Middle School

New Tampa schools win 14 Reflections awards

The theme of this year's Reflections competition was "I can make a difference by...'' Aaliya Ahmad of Hunter's Green answered, "by curing cancer!" She borrowed a lab coat from her uncle, rounded up beakers and a notebook, and set the timer on a digital camera. The result won first place for intermediate photography for Hillsborough County. Aaliya's art teacher, Joan Loiselle, was impressed by not only the message, but the range of shades Aaliya chose for the chemicals, and the composition of her photograph.

Fourteen of the 62 awards went to children from New Tampa schools, including a second win for 7th grader Winton Foulds from Benito Middle School. These students go on to compete at the state level. Check this website later for more photos.

Congratulations go to:

Benito Middle: Winton Foulds, middle school film. (See his entry here).

Chiles Elementary: Samhitha Gudla, intermediate music (grades 3-5); Brooke Bailey, intermediate literature; Donna Peppard, intermediate dance.

Hunter's Green Elementary: Zachary Brand, primary (K-2) photography; Aaliya Ahmad, intermediate photography.

Liberty Middle: Xuming Zeng, middle school music; Xiaoyi Ren, middle school visual art; Anne Marie Mosiello, middle school photography; Isabella Rodriguez, middle school literature.

Pride Elementary: Caroline DeLisle, primary photography; Miranda Scott, intermediate music.

Tampa Palms Elementary: Drishti Joshi, primary music; Lola Rodriguez, primary film.

Teachers, regardless of result, we'll post entries sent to northtampa@sptimes.com.

Heal the Earth

Three days before the annual PTSA Reflections reception, we bring you "Heal The Earth," a video by Benito Middle School 7th grader Winton Foulds of Arbor Greene. Download Heal_the_Earth.wmv. The video, about four minutes long, combines music, colorful imagery and a powerful message about the choices this generation is making concerning the environment.

Winton, a past state-level winner in the film and video category, is this year's finalist from Benito and the young man in the left of the picture. Also representing Benito are Harold Shaw (7th grade, visual arts); Rose Augustadt (7th grade, literature); and Ken Yu (8th grade, photography). We're guessing that guy in the middle is Principal Bobby Smith.

All are welcome to Gaither High School, 16200 N Dale Mabry Highway, Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. to view the entries countywide and learn who will win at the district level. This year's theme is "I can make a difference by...'' Even if your entry doesn't win, please share. How? Send an email, with attachment, to northtampa@sptimes.com.

From Wharton: Reflections poetry

Poet Kaitlyn Johnson is in 9th grade at Wharton High School and we're pleased to bring you her Reflections entry, a poem called "Tell Me If You're With Me, God." Thank you, Kaitlyn!

Tell Me If You’re With Me, God

                   by Kaitlyn Johnson

Tell me if you’re with me,
Tell me if you’re here.
Guide me through life,
Guide my spirit.
To which way is love?
To which is forever?
Tell me if you’re with me,
Tell me if you’re here.
Watch my ever-changing life,
Speak to my soul.
To which way is wisdom?
To which is truths?
Tell me if you’re with me,
Tell me if you’re here.
Lead me to you,
Keep me with you.
To which way is happiness?
To which is peace?
Tell me if you’re with me,
Tell me if you’re here.
Shape my future,

Create my path.
To which way is wholesomeness?
To which is a journey?
So,
Tell me if you’re with me,
Tell me if you’re here.
Are you where I am now?

Calling all Reflections artists

The PTA Reflections competition is well under way, with a reception planned Jan. 20 at Gaither High School. In the meantime, we didn't want to let this creativity go to waste or stay inhouse. We'd like to display these works on Bruce B. Blog. Just email your painting, video, photo or music to northtampa@sptimes.com. As we said told the principals: "If you can't figure out how, your fifth grader can!" We'll post these works as we receive them.

From Benito Middle School

Benito Middle School is proud to announce 41 students of its students entered the PTSA Reflections Program. Congratulations to the following students who have advanced as finalists:

FILM/VIDEO PRODUCTION: Winton Foulds

LITERATURE:  Rose Augustadt

PHOTOGRAPHY: Deena Albashir, Thomas Johnson Jr., Samra Kazim, Brianne Keil, Jenna McKernan, Lauren Schenone, Jennifer Taylor, Ken Yu.

VISUAL ARTS: Calyx Schenecker, Harold Shaw.

We promise to post their work as soon as we receive it.

Countywide winners will be announced at a banquet at Gaither High School on Jan. 20.