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Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Art, essay, poetry and photography divisions garner multiple winners

 (Laredo, TX ) “Ain’t no stoppin’ us now!” has quickly become the theme song for St. Peter’s Memorial School.  In the past four years, the school had proudly boasted a few winners in various contests.  This year, however, the famed historical downtown school is busting at the seams with winners of various local, national and international contests.   Catholic Daughters of America; Laredo Public Library’s 9^th Annual Poetry Festival; Holy Cross Ministries Try Prayer! It Works!; and Pentel’s 42^nd International Children’s Art Exhibition garnered the school winners at various levels, including several first, second and third place winners in art, essay, poetry and photography, expressing the range of talents and skills of students attending St. Peter’s Memorial School.

 In the local contest hosted by the local chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America, Queen Isabella Court, the theme was “Planting Seeds of Faith” or “Inspiring Others to Grow,” and the school dominated the field of winners, claiming 16 of the students awarded.  Winners included:

• Photography Division II – 2^nd Place Marbel Garcia; 3^rd Place:  Jaqueline Lozano; 6^th grade teacher, Ms. Jessica Estevis;
• Essay Division I – 1^st Place:  Cesar Navarrete; 2^nd Place: Alexa Padilla; 4^th grade teacher:  Ms. Gabriela Raga;
• Essay Division II – 1^st Place: Rebekah A. Morales; 2^nd Place: Arianna Rivera; 3^rd Place: David Gonzalez; 6^th grade teacher: Ms. Jessica Estevis;
• Poetry Division I –1^st Place: Nineth Martinez; 3^rd Place: Osvaldo Valdez; 4^th grade teacher: Ms. Gabriela Raga;
• Poetry Division II – 1^st Place: Vanessa Sigrist; 2^nd Place: Luisa Meraz; 3^rd Place: Carla Gonzalez; 6^th grade teacher: Ms. Jessica Estevis; 
• Art Division I – 1st Place: Marie June Pineda; 2^nd Place: Emilio Flores; art teacher Mrs. Lali Martinez;
• Art Division II –1^st Place: Valeria Garcia; 3^rd Place: Mary Lorraine Cavazos; Art Teacher: Ms. Lali Martinez

 “I am so proud of all of my students who worked so hard to interpret the topics in their entries,” said Jessica Lynn Estevis, the 6^th grade students’ English teacher.

 At the Laredo Public Library’s 9^th Annual Poetry Festival, St. Peter’s name also dotted the roster of winners, more than any other local public or private school.  The theme for this contest was “A Brighter Tomorrow” or anything the students chose to write about. Winners included:

 Group 1 (1st—3rd Grade) – 1^st place: Michael Zavala, 3rd Grade; 3^rd place: Mia Montemayor, 3^rd grade; Honorable Mention: Joey Garcia, IV, 3^rd Grade; Teacher Ms. Claudia Velez;

• Group 2 (4th—5th Grade) – 1^st place: Cesar Navarrete, 4th Grade; Honorable Mention, Luis Angel Campos, 4th Grade, Teacher, Ms. Gabriela Raga;
• Group 3 (6th—8th Grade) – 1^st place: Carla Gonzalez, 8th Grade, Teacher Jessica Estevis.

 In the national contest, Holy Cross Ministries Try Prayer! It Works! contest, St. Peter’s once again walked away with winners in three grade levels, one of only two Texas schools awarded in this annual art, essay and poetry competition, whose theme was “Fear Not!  I Am With You!”  Winners included:  (artwork attached)

• K-5 – 1^st place art: Diego Regino; Teacher: Mrs. Itzel De La Cruz
• 3rd Grade – 3^rd place art: Joey Garcia, IV; Teacher: Ms. Claudia Velez
• 6^th Grade – 2^nd place art: Vanessa Sigrist; Teacher:  Ms. Jessica Estevis

 Finally, a first for the school were the two winners in Pentel’s 42^nd International Children’s Art Exhibition.  This art contest, which asked students to draw anything that inspired them, was open to students all over the globe, receiving over 1,000 entries from the United States and 200,000 total from throughout the world.  Winners included:

• Silver Award: Vanessa Sigrist, 6^th grade, Teacher: Ms. Jessica Estevis
• Bronze Award: Edgar Cruz, 3^rd grade, Teacher: Ms. Claudia Velez

 Dr. Linda Marie Garcia Mitchell, principal for St. Peter’s Memorial School was ecstatic that the students were recognized for their work; especially as it relates to demonstrating the faith and education they have learned at St. Peter’s. 

 “It is important that our students enter these contests, especially those with a Catholic-theme, because by encouraging them to participate, they learn to express their creativity and knowledge outside of the classroom setting that will help to give them confidence to continue to do so throughout their academic careers,” Mitchell said.  “Additionally, I am proud to know that we are not only producing students with varied academic and artistic talents, but also, and just as importantly, is that we have the teachers that encourage and educate them in an environment that allows all students to blossom.

 The students will be recognized for their accomplishments at Monday’s City Council meeting.

 St. Peter’s Memorial School is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Laredo.  First established in 1925, the school was run under the auspices of the Ursuline Sisters until 1968, and then the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.  Now part of the Catholic Diocese of Laredo, the school offers classes from level K3 through 8^th grade and typically serves approximately 170 students each year.