At a special reception on May 9, 2017, Mrs. Lisa Encke, director of the arts, welcomed the exhibiting artists and their families by stressing the importance of including art in education. “Elliot Eisner, a leader in art education, once said, ‘Art is literacy of the heart.’ Visual art represents a powerful resource for mental and physical wellbeing. An education that does not include art is incomplete. Not only because art is fun, creative, or helps children express themselves, but because overall it is necessary for students’ success.”

Members of our National Art Honor Society curated the exhibition and served as judges to recognize three students from each grade level. First place winners for grades five through eight were invited to attend an art workshop of their choice at our Summer@theheart program. Second and third place winners received a gift bag of art supplies.

Thank you to all of the participating schools:

Academy of Our Lady
Academy of St. Paul
Academy of St. Therese
Good Shepherd Academy
Our Lady of Mercy Academy
Sacred Heart School
St. Elizabeth School
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Joseph School
St. Margaret School
St. Peter Academy
Suffern Middle School
Valley Middle School
Westwood Jr. Sr. High School

Congratulations to our 2017 Art@theheart winners:

Fifth Grade
Third Place: Brianna Daley from Sacred Heart School
Second Place: Juliet Gelineau from St. Joseph School
First Place: Rose Martin from Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Sixth Grade
Third Place: Thomas Coyle from St. Peter Academy
Second Place: Isabella DeBari from Our Lady of Mercy Academy
First Place: Lauren Grae from Academy of Our Lady

Seventh Grade
Third Place: Christopher Eftychion from Academy of St. Paul
Second Place: Natalie Ix from St. Joseph School
First Place: Grace Abreu from Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Eighth Grade
Third Place: Mavi Ligaya from Good Shepherd Academy
Second Place: Katelyn Park from St. Peter Academy
First Place: Amanda Potenza from Academy of St. Paul

Click to see the full 2017 Art@theheart Photo Album.