Newtown Middle School Students Honored for Holocaust Education

Two eighth-grade students from Newtown Middle School were recognized for their outstanding creative achievements in Holocaust education at an awards ceremony held at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia on June 4.

With the guidance and encouragement of their English teacher, Erinn Demskis, the students submitted their Holocaust projects to the Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition, which is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. For this competition, students in grades 7-12 from across the Delaware Valley were given the opportunity to reflect upon and interpret the lessons of the Holocaust through creative writing, poetry, visual art, music, dance, and multi-media. This year nearly 300 students participated in this competition, which is named after the young leader who led the Jewish uprising against the Nazi tyranny in the Warsaw ghetto.

Katie Pearcy was awarded first prize for her three-dimensional art entitled, “Remembrance.” Morgan McCaffery was awarded second prize for her poetry submissions entitled, “Reflections of Change.”

All of the artwork entered in the contest remains on display in a special exhibition at the galleries of Moore College of Art and Design from June 3 through June 15 and will also be posted online at www.jewishphilly.org.