Reflections

Monday night was one of those evenings that everyone faces, personal commitments and professional commitments were scheduled at the same time and choices would have to be made.

Monday’s Board of Education meeting was scheduled to begin at 7:00 P.M. for the annual organizational meeting.  I wanted to be there to thank Jennifer Best for an outstanding year of public service and to honor David Bressman as he begins as the 2013 Board of Education President.  Both BOE members have given years of public service to our community and continue to help make a positive difference in our school district.  They deserve even small measures of gratitude.

Unfortunately the Worthington PTA Council 2012-2013 Reflections Awards Presentation was scheduled to begin at Worthington Kilbourne High School at 6:30 P.M.  I couldn’t be in both places at once and my oldest daughter was to receive an award for her writing at the Reflections celebration.

I attended the Reflections celebration and as much as I missed the organizational meeting, I was so very thankful to spend even an hour in the presence of our amazingly talented Worthington students.  Five minutes into the event I tweeted: “So many talented kids in Worthington, #thefutureisingoodhands.”

The PTA website explains Reflections as “The Reflections program encourages students to explore the arts and express themselves by giving positive recognition for their artistic efforts.

Reflections Awards Program Students in Pre-K through grade 12 create theme-based artwork in dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. The 2012-2013 Reflections theme was: The Magic of a Moment.”

Students read their works of literature, danced their dances, performed their original music, and displayed their artwork.  Sometimes I read newspaper columnists who question youth today and the education system.  If you spend some time with these kids, those questions go away.  I was in awe of the creativity and diverse talents in the auditorium.  I was thankful to live and work in a community that values more than just standardized test scores and who has parents who will volunteer their time to do what is good for kids. 

Jenny Findell and Melissa Winesburg were the PTA members who produced the awards ceremony.  They deserve and incredible amount of thanks.  Reflections building coordinators also deserve thanks:  Shannon Guianen, Leslie Stone, Joyce Miroslaw, Pam Subler, Karyn Nicoll, Shelly Beard, Kate Gwynne, Wendy Stolzenbach, Natasha Tankovich, Patricia Lubanovic, Jennifer Squires, Kim Couch, Lauren Glaros, Michelle Jump and Tanya Boylan.  It really does take a village.

I stayed at the Reflections event as long as I could and then headed to the business portion of our Board of Education meeting.  When I returned home a little after 9:00 P.M. my daughter was in bed working on her writing for next year’s Reflections submission.  Good stuff!