Each of Newtown's public schools have announced the local school winners for the PTA's Reflections Arts Recognition Program. Announcements were made over the course of two months, starting on January 23 for Newtown High School and ending on March 8 for Middle Gate Elementary School.pta.org/reflections

. Students of all grades and abilities may participate and explore the arts. This year submissions were based on the theme "What Is Your Story?"PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home, according to the National Parent Teacher Association's website,

Entries are judged in separate divisions based on grade level and include a "Special Artist Division." First place entries from local schools were submitted to the Connecticut PTA statewide competition, and top entries at that level progress to the national competition.

Newtown High School Reflections Winners

For the literature category, high school division, first place went to Carly Swierbut for "The Stitching of a Story"; and second place went to Kiera O'Sullivan for "Wish & Hope: Where Earth's Melody Dwells."

For the music composition category, high school division, first place went to Thomas Jensen for "Walking with Vectors"; second place to Julie Hess for "Tell Me"; and third place to Jermane Anyoha for "To Belong."

In the visual arts category, special artist division, first place went to Matthew Vigneau for "Special Rock Band"; second place to Jesse Vista for "My Story"; and Jackie Mahon tied in third place for both her entries, "The Boat and Maddie Rose" and "Jeweled Butterflies."

Newtown Middle School

For the dance choreography category, middle school Division, first place went to Katherine Larson and Kennedy Reeds for a joint project entry, "Pieces."

For photography, middle school division, first place went to Juliana Miraldi for "Untitled (My Story 2016)"; second place to Jakob Hossler for "The Field of My Life"; and third place to Heath Sorensen for "My Life As a Photograph(er)."

For the visual arts, middle school division, first place went to Joseph Tartaglia for "Creatively Interested in Left and Right"; second place to Jessica D'Amico for "Unbroken"; third place was tied by Michaela Intemann for "My Life Story" and Norah Kolb for "Uncommon Bravery"; and honorable mention was earned by Meghan Tarpey for "Tree of Life" and by Wiley Harris for "Under Pressure."

Reed Intermediate School

For the visual arts, intermediate division, first place went to Chase Sferruzzo for "Fall Into My Story."

For the visual arts category, middle school division, first place went to Abigail Savo for "Walking Through the Rain"; second place to Melissa Tagliarini for "Memories"; and third place to Addie Sullivan for "Tree."

In the literature category, middle school division, first place went to Kayla Wadell for "My View"; second place to Daniella Guerrieri for "My World Yet To Be Discovered"; and third place to Alison Powers for "Broadway/My Story."

For photography, intermediate division, first place went to Jillian Hoag for "Persistence Pays Off."

For photography, middle school division, first place went to Jackson Baimel for "WillowCat Sniffs the Camera"; second place to Melissa Tagliarini for "Where I Grew Up"; and third place to Riley Powers for "I Am Soccer."

For music composition, middle school division, first place went to Alison Powers for "My Story."

For film production, intermediate division, first place went to Brianna Deierlein for "The Story Of My Swim Life."

For film production, middle school division, first place went to Kiersten Banas for "My Never-Ending Story."

Sandy Hook School

In literature, intermediate division, first place went to Puma Marx for "A Piece of Me."

For music composition, intermediate division, first place went to Avery Donahoe for "The Science Experiment."

For visual arts, primary division, first place went to Maggie Grasso for "Ballet Is My Story."

Head O' Meadow School

For literature, intermediate division, first place went to Riana Mason for "Aria & Joey."

For visual arts, intermediate division, first place went to Sophia Wade for "The Tree of Life."

For visual arts y, primary division, first place went to Sean Conlin for "The Story."

For music composition, intermediate division, first place went to Kiersten Daigle for "Sang A Song."

Middle Gate School

For visual arts, primary division, first place went to Mallory Angelovic for "Pretty Acorns"; second place to Mason Garthwait for "Super Heroes"; and third place to Willem Howard for "Snow Mountain."

For visual arts, intermediate division, first place went to Maya Raslan for "Brain Storm"; second place to Jaclyn Mauri for "The Story Of My Life"; third place to Jessica Powers for "There's No Place Like Middle Gate"; and fourth place to Katherine Allen for "Whimsical World Of Toads."

In the literature category, primary division, first place went to Jace Angelovic for "Dino Diary."

For literature, intermediate division, first place went to Kayla Sinapi for "The Weird Turtles"; second place to Nicholas DeBlasi for "What Is Your Story Starsky?"; third place to Maya Raslan for "My Anxious Life"; and fourth place to Nathaniel Hoag for "Falling Through the Stars."

For photography, intermediate division, first place went to Lukas Durrwachter for "My Life"; second place to Nathaniel Hoag for "Adventures In A Boy's Life"; and third place to Lily Ammerman for "Unlike Me."

In dance choreography, intermediate division,first place went to Ella Grace Renak for "Dance Your Heart Out"; second place to Jessica Powers for "Gonna Be the Best Day Of My Life"; and third place to Ashley Schrader for "Alive."

For music composition, intermediate division, first place went to Jessica Powers for "I Just Let the Words Soar Out Of My Mouth."

State Winners

All first place entries were submitted to the Connecticut PTA for judging. Top entries from the state level advance to the National PTA, and top winners at the national level are announced in May, according to the Connecticut PTA.

The state winners were announced on March 1.

NHS state winners were Matt Vigneau with first place in visual arts, Thomas Jensen with second place in the music category, and Carly Swierbut with fourth place in literature.

NMS state winners were Juliana Miraldi with first place in photography and Joseph Tartaglia with fourth place in visual arts.

Reed state winners were Kiersten Banas with first place in film, Kayla Wadell with third place in literature, Brianna Deierlein with fourth place in the film, and Alison Powers with fourth place in the music composition.

Sandy Hook state winners were Aver Donahoe with first place in the music category, and Margaret Grasso in fourth place for visual arts.

Middle Gate state winners were Jace Angelovic with first place in literature, Ella Grace Renak with third place in dance, and Mallory Angelovic with third place in visual arts.