East Maine Dist. 63 congratulates its winter card contest winners
At its Dec. 3 meeting, East Maine School District 63's board of education recognized the nine finalists in the District's 2020 Winter Card Design Contest.
While this year the board meeting was held virtually, the congratulations were no less heartfelt - and all of the artwork was shared in a special presentation.
Top honors went to Mark Twain fifth-grader Maryam Jawed, a Des Plaines resident, whose striking scene of antlered reindeer silhouetted against a shimmering winter sunset is featured on this year's District 63 winter card.
District 63's card design contest - now in its fifth year - is a chance for all students, K-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.
Twenty-eight students - representing all six K-eighth grade District 63 schools - submitted entries. District administrators and other District 63 staff judged the pieces without knowing student names or schools.
Best in Grade winners were:
• Kindergarten: Aqib Shareef of Des Plaines, Apollo School
• First grade: Maren Hultman of Morton Grove, Melzer School, and Mirdhudrishana Praveen Kumar of Des Plaines, Apollo School
• Second grade: Eduarda Silva Prates of Glenview, Washington School
• Third grade: Aishah Khursiwala of Des Plaines, Apollo School
• Fourth grade: Mohammad Saad of Des Plaines, Mark Twain School
• Sixth grade: Muhriz Mohammed of Des Plaines, Gemini Middle School
• Seventh grade: Isha Kansagra of Des Plaines, Gemini Middle School
All winners will receive special certificates from the board, while Jawed will receive a frame featuring her artwork and certificate.
District 63 offers a rich educational setting with a multicultural perspective to 3,400 students in the diverse communities of Des Plaines, Niles, Glenview, Park Ridge and Morton Grove.
Committed to teaching excellence that provides all students with the specific opportunities they need to succeed, the district's five elementary schools (K-5), and Gemini Middle School (6-8), First Steps Preschool, and Expanded Learning programs foster each student's academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth and achievement.
Visit www.emsd63.org to learn more.