Put-in-Bay School News Features Artists
March Newsletter 2023, by Scott Mangas ~ Superintendent
Billboard Winner
Meredith Cooper, a fifth grader at Put-In-Bay School, won a three-county billboard design contest in February. Meredith submitted a design that features a visual of a 1960s-era “hippie” girl flashing a peace sign, with a head- line that reads, “Recycle — Save Trees, Dude!”
The billboard design contest is sponsored annually by the Ottawa/Sandusky/Seneca Solid Waste District, and is open to all fifth-grader residents. The contest’s purpose is to “raise awareness of Earth Day” and to “encourage residents to reduce, reuse, recycle and not litter.”In April, the billboard will be installed on Route 163 in Port Clinton, near the Jet Express dock. Put-In-Bay art instructor Jody Amsden submitted Meredith’s entry along with the entire fifth grade class for consideration.
Toledo Museum of Art
Artwork from three Put-In-Bay School students is on display at the Toledo Museum of Art, as a result of submitting their work to the Arts Commission of Toledo. In January, the 40th Annual Invitational Ninth Congressional District Art Exhibition solicited submissions from high school artists in Ottawa, Lucas, Erie, Wood, Sandusky, Fulton and Williams Counties.
From Put-In-Bay School, the following artists are being recognized:
Macy Ladd, a senior, submitted “Wayfaring”, a watercolor painting of a sailboat.
Alice Lentz, a senior, submitted “The Debate of Black and White”, a tessellation print featuring a moon-and-sun motif.
Elias Wright, a sophomore, submitted “Summer Hummer”, a paper quilling depicting a hummingbird. Among all submissions, one artwork will receive the Congressional First Award, which will have the honor of being displayed at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Other awards, including monetary prizes, will be assigned based on artistic merit.
The Arts Commission of Toledo solicited a maximum of three submissions from Put-In-Bay art instructor Jody Amsden in January.
Science Fair
We sent 8 projects to the District 2 Science Day held at the University of Toledo on March 11, 2023. Final scores are as follows:
Nic Fiorilli/Aaron Hill/Caleb Kowalski – Excellent
Branden Breudigam – Excellent
Kate Hubner – Superior
Emma Michael – Superior
Joseph Blumensaadt – Superior
Alice Lentz – Superior
Macy Ladd – Superior
Having 5 students compete at the State level puts us in contention for the highly prestigious Shaw Award.
Additional awards:
Stranahan Arboretum Environmental Science Award for “Best Project Using Plants as the Main Component in a Problem Solving Situation” – First Place – $100 – Alice Lentz
Ohio Soybean Bioscience Award for “Best Project in the Area of Agriculture Using Soybeans” – $100 – Alice Lentz
NASA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Award Joseph Blumensaadt
National Honor Society
The Put in Bay School Chapter of the National Honor Society has been busy this year! Service projects have included sending letters for Project Gratitude to veterans and active military, a food drive for our local pantry, and setting up a permanent online school spirit wear store through Terikyaki Designs based out of Marblehead. Visit https://www.teriyakidesigns.com/putinbay to order school gear year-round!
NHS’s final service project will be a personal wellness and mental health week from April 24th through April 28th, as we help students learn to stop the stigma. NHS will be hosting a walk, collecting donations, and spreading the word on mental health to benefit the local National Alliance on Mental Illness during the Browns Backer 5k on Sunday, April 30th. Come stop by and show your support.
Environmental Club and NHS will be participating and hosting an event during this year’s Earth Week! Join us on Tuesday, April 18th, at 3:30. The PIB school clubs will be completing a clean-up for the Adopt-a-Highway litter program on Route 357 at Oak Point State Park. The public is welcome to join, including children ages 12+. Anyone aged 12-17 must have a parental release signed; these can be picked up at the main entrance of the school or will be available at the clean-up.