East Maine District 63 congratulates Winter Card Design Contest winners

At its Dec. 4 meeting, East Maine School District 63’s board of education recognized the nine winners in the district’s 2025 Winter Card Design Contest. The top winner attended the meeting while other winners watched online as all the winning artwork was shared in a special presentation. Top honors went to Melzer first grader Miriam Fratila, a Morton Grove resident, whose whimsical polar bear is featured on this year’s District 63 winter card.

District 63’s card design contest — now in its 10th year — is a chance for all students, pre-K through eighth grade, to submit a winter design and vie for the chance to adorn the District card, which is mailed to more than 300 community leaders, parent leaders, elected officials and donors. This year, the district received more than 95 entries. District administrators and other District 63 staff judged the pieces “blindly,” without knowing student names or schools. Best in Grade winners are:

• Preschool: Sophia Silivestru, Des Plaines, First Steps Preschool

• Kindergarten: Ayaansh Sen, Des Plaines, Mark Twain School

• First grade: Salma Thlija, Des Plaines, Mark Twain School

• Second grade: Shuaib Hazmi, Des Plaines, Mark Twain School

• Third grade: Aleena Fatima, Des Plaines, Mark Twain School

• Fourth grade: Thikshitha Balaji, Des Plaines, Apollo School

• Fifth grade: Vanessa Amezcua, Niles, Nelson School

• Sixth grade: Ajeesh Mohanaranga, Des Plaines, Gemini Middle School

All winners received special certificates from the board, while Fratila received a frame featuring her artwork and certificate. You can find the winning artwork on the district’s website. All entries are on display at the Niles-Maine District Library, 6960 W. Oakton, Niles, throughout December. For more information about District 63, visit emsd63.org.