When They Are Honored For Achievement

By Larissa Lytwyn

Middle Gate Elementary School students Emily DeGirolamo, Jacob Harper, Yossi Kohrman-Glaser, and Brittany Watson, nominees in the Connecticut PTA’s annual Reflections contest, were recently named first and second place finalists for their artistic contributions to this year’s theme, “I’m Happy When….”

Categories include photography, music, literature, and visual arts. Participants range in age from elementary to middle and high school participants.

Third grader Yossi placed first for the second consecutive year. He is advancing to the nationals for his original piano composition, “Summer Playtime.”

“I love playing my piano and writing down what comes into my head,” said Yossi. “And summertime makes me happy!”

He said his mother played bass recorder on the piece, which a friend transferred to a CD for submission. He will find out whether he has placed in the top tier of participants across the nation by the end of the school year.

Second grader Emily DeGirolamo won second place for her “how to” manual on writing. “I like to write,” she said. “All you do is pull things from your [imagination] and put it onto paper.” She said writing made her happy and it gave her an especially good feeling to write a piece that could encourage others to pick up a pencil.

Kindergartener Jacob Harper won second place in photography for his picture of his brothers, standing together and smiling. “I like being with my family,” he said. “My brothers make me happy!”

First grader Brittany Watson placed second for her original song, “When My Mommy Hugs Me.” Brittany said she loves to sing. She also loves her mother. Putting them together was a no-brainer when it came to thinking about what made her happy, she said.

Her mother, Linda Watson, said she was very proud. “She played the piano and sang the song all by herself, too,” she said.

Ms Watson helped her daughter record the song on a tape recorder for submission.

“I was excited when I won,” said Brittany. “It made me feel really good.”

All the honorees will be recognized by the state PTA at a special ceremony at the Southbury Hilton on May 8.

For more information about the Reflections contest or the Connecticut PTA, visit www.ctpta.org.