OXFORD – The Oxford Holiday Committee’s eleventh annual Recycled Holiday Ornament contest winners were announced by the honorable Oxford Village Deputy Mayor, John O’Connor at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 30. All 73 ornament entries — submitted by some 38 students — from Oxford Academy Primary School are considered winners, and will receive Certificates of Recognition as a show of gratitude, however, place awards in each grade were selected.
Gift certificate prizes from Oxford merchants were sponsored by the Oxford Holiday Committee: Big Blue’s/Valero gift certificate good for a large pizza, Mr. Chubb’s for hot chocolates topped with whipped cream, and Hoppie’s ice cream parlor for ice cream sundaes. In addition, the DEC donated keepsake mugs of recycled material for the second place winners and NY Recycles calendars for prizes.
The students, along with their families, who showed outstanding creativity among their peers and an exceptional understanding of the concept of recycling:
In Pre-K, First Place: Bodie Barrows for the lighted foam tree toppe.r Second Place: Ahnalee Kappauf for her glittered cardboard box w/metal lid. Third Place: Matthew Capria for his sequined blue plastic lid
In Kindergarten, First Place: Jayne Fleury for her little person of plastic tops with golf tee arms. Second Place: Christian Arsenault for his soda bottle with colored macaroni; (no third place).
In First Grade, First Place: David Dunckel for his snowman of medical plastic bottles. Second Place: Margaret Rovente for her ruffled Christmas tree of plastic snack packages and twist ties. Tie Third Place: Blake Barrows for his big Styrofoam snowman Also in Third Place: Nic Dodzweit for his painted, pierced, glittered round bottle, w/elec light
In Second Grade, First Place: Nate Capria for his Elf of cardboard, plastic and discarded jewelry. Second Place: Taegan Manwarren for her trio of tiny Snowmen made of old keys. Third Place: Tyler Buchetto for his Christmas tree of curled paper and cardboard
In Third Grade, First Place: Leah Oliver for her “happy or sad” Santa head in a plastic jar. Second Place: Jocie Finch for her light-bulb snowman with a button top-hat. Third Place: Victor Richette for his snow globe ornament with pine tree inside and CD bits
In Fourth Grade, First Place: Jillian Finch for her metal can and Styrofoam Penguin. Second Place: John Rovente for his cardboard and plastic Santa with a Coca-Cola label. Third Place: Owen Capria for his cardboard tube candle with plastic and discarded jewelry
Students will receive 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 generously donated pencils (of recycled materials) and issues of Conservationist for Kids, for all 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, Dawn Hover; librarian Renae Ruff, art teachers Katie Thomas and Charity Gipp and to the teachers and families for all their help and support. Thank you all for making this such a success.

Editor’s note: Jeanie Petersen contributed to this report