Sports
Chalk Talk
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Community Events, page 2 - 3
The Community Paper of Record
Vol. 56, No. 01
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
January 09, 2019
Gidley Students’ Winter Performance Brings Holiday Cheer
by Raymond Mendoza, Contributing Writer El Monte
Nearly 200 Gidley School students donned elf hats, holiday sweaters and garlands of blinking Christmas lights during the school’s 2018 Winter Sing on Dec. 19, as they sang a selection of seasonal tunes for visiting parents and relatives. The Winter Sing, which has been a holiday mainstay at Gidley for more than 18 years, featured K-6 and special education students singing holiday favorites, including “Up on the Housetop” and “Let it Snow.” This year’s event was the first to feature the school’s Conga Kids members, who danced to “Hit the Road Jack” and “Micaela” and celebrated their first-place win at the District’s Conga Kids semi final on Dec. 12. “I loved everything about this year’s Winter Sing event because I like to sing and dance and we had fun doing it,” fifth-grader Diego Rodriguez said. “I liked performing for my parents and getting into the holiday spirit because like they say – it’s the most wonderful time of the
Gidley School second-graders perform “I want to Be an Elf” at the school’s annual Winter Sing on Dec. 19. The Winter Sing, which has been a holiday mainstay at Gidley for more than 18 years, featured K-6 and special education students singing Holiday Cheer continued on page 16 holiday favorites for visiting parents and relatives. Photo courtesy
Madrid Middle School Student Artists Honored
by Michelle Earle, Mt View School District, Contributing Writer El Monte
Madrid Middle School in the Mountain View School District is celebrating the achievements of its student artists. The artwork of 13 students was published in the Fall 2018 Celebrating Art book, a publication that brings together the best student artists in North America, and 34 students were awarded ribbons in the Los Angeles County Fair America’s Kids Art Expo including 14 First Place ribbons and 20 Second Place ribbons. The award-winning artists are current and former students in Madrid teacher, Sue Parszik’s art class. The winning artwork that caught the judges’ eyes included still life drawings and self-portraits created with pencil and charcoal, pen and ink drawings, watercolor art, and clay projects. The students appreciate the opportunity to take art class and express their creativity, sharpen their critical thinking skills, communicate their feelings and build confidence through art, and are very excited to have their work honored. Parszik,
an exceptional art teacher, and her students have enjoyed a long history of success over the years in a variety of art competitions. Parszik is extremely proud of Bi-
anca Villeda, a former Madrid Middle School student who promoted from 8th grade this past June, who was accepted into the prestigious Ryman Program, a two year program
sponsored the Disney Foundation for young artists. “Students accepted into this elite Student Artists continued on page 16