OXFORD – The Oxford Holiday Committee’s 5th annual Recycled Holiday Ornament contest winners were announced by the honorable Oxford Village Mayor, Terry Stark at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 30. All 39 ornament entries from 25 Oxford Academy Primary School students are considered winners, and have received Certificates of Recognition as a show of gratitude; however, three place awards in each grade were selected.
Gift certificates from Oxford merchants were sponsored by the Oxford Holiday Committee. They were from Hoppie’s ice cream parlor for ice cream sundaes, the Clachan Coffee House for hot chocolates topped with whipped cream, and Roma’s Restaurante for pizza slices. In addition, the DEC donated tote bags of recycled material which will be given to the first place winners and recycled keepsake mugs for second place.
The students who showed outstanding creativity and an exceptional understanding of the concept of recycling are:
In UPK, 1st place: Lucas Forsythe, in Mrs. Cirello’s class, for his newspaper Christmas tree with CD tree skirt.
In Kindergarten, 1st: Emma Hodge, in Mrs. Fagnani’s class, for her paper bag Christmas tree.
2nd: Sammy Gracin, in Mrs. Seiler’s class, for his diamond shaped paper ornament.
In First Grade: 1st: Makayla Whaley, in Mrs. Collier’s class, for her Santa Claus.
2nd: Jonah Loughren, in Mrs. Todaro’s class, “The Polar Express” train.
3rd Place: Jacob Forsythe, Mrs. Collier’s class, Rudolph with Santa’s red sled.
Honorable Mention: Zaya Friedel, Mrs. Todaro’s class, for her “Isabella” light bulb reindeer.
In Second Grade: 1st: Morrigan Begeal, in Mr. Breck’s class, “3 Winter Faeries” of newspaper.
Tie in 2nd: Karly Marshman, in Mr. Breck’s class, for her lightbulb Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. Also in 2nd: Gillian Mulder, Mrs. Paden’s class, snowy tin can with creamer penguins.
3rd: Hannah Hodge, in Mrs. Chrystie’s class, for her jar snowman filled with recycled paper.
In Third Grade: 1st: Jacob Loughren, in Mrs. Connelly’s class, “Friends make everything ‘snow’ much better” snowmen.
2nd: Jacob T. Marrone, in Mrs. Connelly’s class, for his cardboard “Monster Man”.
3rd: Alicia Gracin, in Mrs. Safford’s class, for her tuna can and card ornament.
In Fourth Grade: 1st: Jenna Hodge, in Mr. Luhrs class, for her 2 snowmen on computer RAM sled.
2nd: Dallas Beang, in Mr. Kappauf’s class, for his cottonball snowman head.
3rd: Eleni Spyratos, in Mrs. Pizza’s class, for her pull-tab snow globe.
Students received their personalized ‘Certificates of Recognition’, gift certificates and DEC gifts in school. The document states that, “…while you were having fun creating something from waste materials, you were also learning that if you’re clever, sometimes trash can be reused. This is what environmental conservation is all about.”
The DEC also generously donated pencils (made from recycled currency) and an informative “NY Recycles” conservation booklet, for entering students.
Don’t miss seeing these Recycled Holiday Ornaments. They will appear on the internet at- http://www.oxfordny.com/community/schools -compliments of Woollybear Web. All entries are currently on display for the month of December in the window of 6 On The Square, a performing arts center and gallery in Oxford at 6 LaFayette Park.
The Oxford Holiday Committee gives a very big thank you to the Oxford Mayor who proclaimed November as Oxford Recycles Month, to the DEC for giving this contest statewide recognition, to the supportive Oxford businesses, to all the Oxford Academy Primary School students for participating in this contest, and to principal, Mr. McDonald, and to their teachers and parents for all their support.