CENTREVILLE —Last year four Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS) elementary schools took home nine awards across two age categories at the Maryland Judiciary’s 17th Annual Statewide Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest. This year, at the 18th Annual Awards Ceremony, QACPS rose to five schools taking home nine awards, including two 2nd place winners and multiple Honorable Mention Awards across three different age categories, ranging from K – 2, 3 – 5, and 6 – 8.
Cheryl Jackson, Coordinator, ADR Media for the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office at the Administrative Office of the Courts shared, “This year’s contest is the largest ever. We received 3,927 entries from across the state.” The largest number of entries came from Queen Anne’s County Public Schools!
QACPS Media Specialists joined their statewide award winners, including a first ever middle school student artist award winner from Holly Schrader, Art Teacher at Stevensville Middle. Student winners celebrated with families and their teachers in Annapolis as Honorable Chief Judge Matthew J. Fader, Court of Appeals, congratulated each student and interviewed the students to learn more about the story ‘behind the bookmark’. This was the largest crowd ever gathered for this competition.
Chief Judge Fader also shared historical artifacts he held in his possession from the Court dating back to the 1800’s, while sharing the importance of this contest in making the world a happier place.
While these students have certainly solidified their new place in history, the participating Media Specialists and Art Teachers from across the state also get to share in the glory. In QACPS, all Media Specialists who had winners have had winners in multiple years. It’s a testament to their dedication to building a winning tradition in Queen Anne’s.
This contest provides teachers, parents, and students the opportunity to learn about important conflict resolution skills, such as: listening; working together to solve problems; talking to each other; being inclusive; and accepting of our differences. This was evident in the thousands of wonderful messages in pictures and words on bookmark entries from across the state on display at MACRO.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Patty Saelens said the number of students who participated this year was simply “AMAZING!” Saelens is a huge supporter of the contest, and joins students each year when they get to tour the Queen Anne’s County Courthouse.
Winners from Queen Anne’s County Public Schools included:
Ruby Lamphier, Grasonville Elementary, 2nd place, K-2
Media Specialist: Katelyn Giardini
Easton Wolf, Kent Island Elementary, HM, K-2
Xander Fairbanks, Kent Island Elementary, HM, K-2
Media Specialist: Danielle Lowe
Isabella White, Kennard Elementary, 2nd place, 3-5
Media Specialist: Heather Gray
Isla Beatty, Bayside Elementary, HM, 3-5
Molly Sweat, Bayside Elementary, HM, 3-5
Media Specialist: Sharon Murdoch
Valentina Gurubatham, Grasonville Elementary, HM, 3-5
Media Specialist: Katelyn Giardini
Cole Vacek, Matapeake Elementary, HM, 3-5
Media Specialist: Chrissy Clow
Abigail Deremer, Stevensville Middle School, HM, 6-8
Art Teacher: Holly Schrader
“We have Media Specialists who have incorporated meaningful lessons on conflict resolution in such creative, and fun ways for kids,” shared Michael Bell, Supervisor, QACPS. “Each year, all of our Media Specialists enter the contest, and we consistently have students winning awards! This year, with Mrs. Schrader’s participation, we even had our first middle school winner. This has become a game changer for our district, and I want to thank all teachers who participated, in particular our School Library Media Specialists who do so much for the children in Queen Anne’s County. Congratulations everyone!”
To view a video of the 18th Annual Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contest Awards Ceremony, please visit: https://youtu.be/_PG57ac0W0s?si=eawJpGdg2b44cGk7