Just last spring, Hicksville art educator, Diana Germinario, was recognized when one of her students won first place for her watercolor painting in a statewide Arbor Day poster contest.
Well, Ms. Germinario has done it again! This time, however, she entered some of her students' artwork in the 2016 New York State Recycles! poster contest, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Association of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.
The contest, which is open to all students K-12, is very special, according to Ms. Germinario, because students can relate to the topic. It's important because it enables children to have a positive impact in helping protect Earth's environment. Ms. Germinario used this contest to launch an interdisciplinary unit about recycling.
From all across New York State, the winning students' artwork is now being featured in the 2017 New York Recycles! calendar. This calendar serves as a daily reminder to people in our state to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost and buy recycled products and packaging.
Ms. Germinario has entered the contest with her students for the past six years and has had the distinction of having at least one winner every year. This year, however, Ms. Germinario had not one … not two … but THREE students who were judged to be winners (photos at right):
- Dutch Lane student Alexa Danzi, who won first place in the K-3 category for "We Recycle at School-It's a Green Rule!"
- Burns Avenue student Emma Paulwell, who was runner-up in the K-3 category for "Recycling on the Go!"
- Dutch Lane student Teresa Jennings, runner-up in the 4-6 Grade category for her poster entitled, "Don't Waste Food, Donate It!"
The winners were invited to Albany with their families for an awards ceremony, during which they gave a short speech and were presented with their posters that had been professionally framed.
We, at the Hicksville Congress of Teachers, are proud of our students and especially proud of Ms. Germinario for inspiring, guiding and providing enrichment opportunities for her students and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
(Submitted by Mary Masterson of the Hicksville Congress of Teachers.)