HOUSTON – Nov. 15, 2018 – Continuing its efforts to combat bullying and raise awareness around the topic – and following on the recent launch of a new anonymous online tool to report bullying – Spring ISD has announced the first set of winners in its “World Without Bullying” poster contest.
The contest, a collaboration between Spring ISD’s Performing and Visual Arts Department and the district’s Mental Health and Related Services Office, invited elementary, middle and high school students to submit their artwork conveying the “World Without Bullying” theme and promoting ideas such as greater acceptance, mutual respect and the value of friendship.
“Student artwork from around the district was submitted and then evaluated by a panel of professional artists, as well as by the superintendent and members of his cabinet,” said Director of Performing and Visual Arts Dr. Joe Clark. “We’re very honored by these submissions, which really showcase the idea of valuing diversity and treating everyone with dignity and respect. And we’re impressed by the talent shown in this contest.”
The winning submissions will each earn a prize for their creators while the posters become part of the district’s ongoing campaign to end bullying. According to Visual Arts Coordinator Amanda Byers, the poster contest also showcases the district’s arts integration initiative, a cooperative program that incorporates the arts and arts-related topics into core subject areas and campus life.
“This is an especially busy time of year for our visual arts teachers and our Spring ISD art students,” Byers said, “but we thought this was a worthwhile cause and a great opportunity to talk about bullying with the kids and encourage them to engage creatively with the topic. We had a good number of submissions, and the judges had a pretty tough time picking winners!”
The first-place winners in each category, along with their home campus and art teacher, are:
Elementary School
Clarissa Lopez (3rd grade)
Artwork Title: “Be Buddies”
Campus: Winship Elementary
Teacher: Deanna Wesner
Middle School
Mia Sparacino (8th grade)
Artwork Title: “Blooming Without Bullying”
Campus: Twin Creeks Middle School
Teacher: Ariel Keller
High School
Cloe Yarborough (10th grade)
Artwork Title: “Acceptance”
Campus: Spring High School
Teacher: Ed Barnett