The Season for Nonviolence was celebrated April 2 at Tallwood High School.
Several hundred VBCPS students, staff members and families attended “The Art of Humanity” show featuring poems and posters about the transformative power of nonviolence.
Jaydalynn Ranieri-Davis’ poem focused on being yourself.
“We as a society have the majority versus minority,” the Princess Anne High School junior said. “We as humans, love our labels, but they can suffocate us.”
“Live your Truth, show your strength, stand your ground and be unashamed about who you are,” Jaydalynn wrote in her artist’s statement.
Since 1998, the global grassroots initiative has commemorated the 64 days following the Jan. 30 assassination of social activist Mohandas Gandhi and that of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4.
Organized by the VBCPS Office of Opportunity and Achievement (OOA), the fourth annual poster and poetry contest spread awareness about the Season For Nonviolence.
Participants were encouraged to display their thoughts and ideas on one of four themes: “Your Voice Matters,” “Resolving Conflict Peacefully,” “Supporting Each Other in the Spirit of Togetherness,” and “Why Fit in When You Were Born to stand out?”
The more than 400 entries were exhibited, along with 20 vibrant banners produced by various schools and offices. The 5-by-8-foot painted canvases supported the poetry and poster content themes and will be displayed in June and July in the Creative ViBe District, a key partner with VBCPS in support of the Season for Nonviolence.
Emily Flores made a collage, titled “Peace in the World,” highlighting the symbol of peace and people holding hands. Peace is important, the Old Donation School third grader said.
Her artist statement read, “If we show more kindness, peace, love and more in the world, we can have less problems and more resolution!”
Alexander Drum belongs to the Togetherness through Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (TIDE) coalition at Bayside High School. His artwork, titled “I Can’t Do This Alone,” depicted someone who wants to give up, but is encouraged by others to keep going.
“This is about supporting each other in togetherness,” Alexander said.
VBCPS Chief of Staff Cheryl Woodhouse congratulated the evening’s honorees. The art show depicted positivity and kindness, she said.
“We are so fortunate to have students who are willing to display their thoughts,” she added.
Prizes were awarded for the top 10 posters and poems at the elementary, middle and high school levels, as well as the staff and family entries.
ODS gifted visual arts teachers Leah Krueger and Tricia Campbell were recognized for their entries in the poster division.
“Students are much more aware of what’s happening around us,” Campbell said. She stressed the importance of students having opportunities to formulate and express their ideas.
Krueger agreed. “Art unites people,” she said.
OOA Director Ty Harris thanked Amber Hester and Rebecca Davidson of the VBCPS Office of Visual Fine Arts for their support of the project.
Expression through art and literature helps include more people in the dialogue and “allows us to confront uncomfortable truths and dream of a better future,” he said.
“Let’s keep the conversation going and art flowing.”
STUDENT HONOREES
Poetry
Elementary School:
Landon Cummings, Grade 5, Old Donation School; Sarah Edwards, Grade 5, ODS; Ivan Jones, Grade 5, Thoroughgood; Jake Kiernan, Grade 5, Trantwood; Hayden Klepacz, Grade 5, ODS; Owen Rivera, Grade 5, Thoroughgood; Athena Schoeller, Grade 5, Thoroughgood; Kennedy Skye, Grade 5, Thoroughgood; Tanshi Tella, Grade 5, ODS; Rileigh Young, Grade 5, Thoroughgood.
Middle School:
Isabella Locy, Grade 7, Princess Anne; Juliet Macchi, Grade 6, Virginia Beach; Ayden Solomon Rex Murtz, Grade 7, Bayside; Harleigh Rucka, Grade 7, Virginia Beach; Liya Ann Sabin, Grade 7, ODS.
High School:
Lily Ganti, Grade 12, Tallwood; Calvin Hartono, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Zander Hubbard, Grade 10, Ocean Lakes; Anna Keck, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Denae Kinglock, Grade 11, Landstown; Eleanor Lanier, Grade 9, Green Run Collegiate; Shayna Lovitz, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Jayda Ranieri, Grade 11, Princess Anne; Vihaan Shah, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Evan Wang-Li, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes.
Artwork
Elementary School:
Victoria Blythe, Grade 5, Fairfield; Nivek L. Elliott, Grade 5, Hermitage; Ember Gernhard, Grade 5, Rosemont; Haaliyah Hannah, Grade 4, ODS; Norayah Karim, Grade 5, ODS; Zoe L. Leftwich, Grade 5, ODS; Raelyn Michael, Grade 4, ODS; Ailynn Melolde Ott, Grade 5, Rosemont; Adrielle Myka A. Pancho, Grade 5, Indian Lakes; Chris Jacob Sabin, Grade 2, Centerville.
Middle School:
Shruthi Giridharan, Grade 7, ODS; Nika Iziumskaya, Grade 7, ODS; Mason Krueger, Grade 6, Princess Anne; Juliet Macchi, Grade 6, Virginia Beach; Richard Pagan, Grade 8, Larkspur; Suki Qiu, Grade 7, Independence; Harleigh Rucka, Grade 7, Virginia Beach; Liya Ann Sabin, Grade 7, ODS; Leonardo Solis, Grade 7, ODS; Priyanshi Swain, Grade 6, ODS.
High School:
Pam Romanne Del Pilar, Grade 10, Landstown; Maha Dharshini.S, Grade 12, Princess Anne ; Alexander Drum, Grade 11, Bayside; Olivia Foster, Grade 9, Tallwood; Zaisha Ipac, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Jodie Jiang, Grade 10, Princess Anne; Dominic Savion Eli Jones, Grade 10, Landstown; Kamie Santos, Grade 11, Ocean Lakes; Bella Tian, Grade 12, Landstown; Vivian E. Wallace, Grade 10, Ocean Lakes.
STAFF /COMMUNITY HONOREES
Poetry
LaQuisha R. Banks, Landstown High; Cateena L. Jackson, Landstown High; Dawn S. Jenkins, Tallwood Elementary parent; Emily Jowdy, Thoroughgood Elementary; Zhigen Lin, Achievable Dream High School; Heather McGovern, Fairfield Elementary; Andrea Smolin, Ocean Lakes High; Kimberly Young, Lynnhaven Middle; Meredith Yracheta, Rosemont Forest Elementary; Melissa A. Wallace, Transportation & Fleet Management.
Artwork
Kimberly Banks, College Park Elementary; Tricia Campbell, ODS; Chicki Jester, ODS family member; Lisa Karim, ODS; Joshua Krueger, Kempsville High; Leah Krueger, ODS; Catherine Lawson, Providence Elementary; Mary C. McLaughlin Seys, Bayside Elementary.
