3rd-Graders Show Off Their Local Knowledge In MyVernonCT Program

VERNON, CT — The winners of the inaugural MyVernonCT program have been announced. Third-graders from the Vernon school system participated to celebrate the historical, cultural and natural aspects of the town.

A component of Vernon’s Sustainable Connecticut certification, MyVernonCT, is a youth-in-arts initiative that aims to encourage people of all ages to visit local parks, trails, museums, and historic sites in town, and then express their experiences through artistic or poetic works.

"The MyVernonCT project brought together a diverse group of children and adults to showcase the natural and artistic resources that exist within Vernon," Mayor Daniel Champagne said. "I would like to thank artistic judges, Sandra Justin, Chairman of Vernon Arts Commission and Jennifer Kowal, Executive Director of ArtsCenterEast, and poetry judges Caitlin Kelley, Assistant Director of Rockville Public Library, and Vernon’s Poet Laureate, Pegi Deitz Shea, for their assistance."

"The MyVernonCT project was truly one of the most inspiring achievements of Vernon’s Sustainable CT certification," said Michelle Hill, Vernon's youth services director. "We assembled a group of educational and artistic professionals that work with youth to create a hands-on art and culture program for our third graders that aligned with curricular goals. Teachers at each school chose a theme, and then guided the students in creating their artistic masterpieces."

Each school worked under a unique themes:

• Transportation: Maple Street School
• Water: Center Road School
• Food: Skinner Road School)
• Architecture: Northeast School
• The Tunnel: Lake Street School)

The winner of the art competition is Maitri Patel of Northeast School, who painted a Victorian home and the winner of the poetry competition is Samantha DeMarco of Center Road School, who wrote the poem Fish at Valley Falls."