seymour intermediate students win art contest

By: Lee Ramsey
Art is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “the activity of creating beautiful things.”  Well, four students at Seymour Intermediate School have fulfilled that definition by winning a recent art contest held by the school.
The winners are Hayden Jones (4th grade), Lareesa Thomas (5th grade), Gabi Rutledge (4th grade) and Abby Kenner (3rd grade).  There was a winner for each grade level and one overall winner which was Hayden Jones.  He was the only male winner in the contest.
The art contest was promoted by the Tennessee Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT).  The TAPT operates the School Bus Safety Poster Contest under the guidelines and rules set by the National School Bus Safety Week committee for the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT).
The contest theme was “Cross in View, it’s the Right Thing to do.”  
Each student drew a picture in pencil of students crossing the road in front of their school bus.
Bryan Sims, the School Behavior Specialist who headed up the contest had this to say.  “The contest was in conjunction with ‘School Bus Safety Month.’  It promotes safety around school buses and it gives students the opportunity to express their artistic abilities.”  Melissa Jarboe is the Seymour Intermediate art teacher who administered the art work.  The drawings were done in art class during school hours.
Each drawing was judged by a panel of teachers and administrators.
All four students make good grades and participate in sports, cheerleading and other activities.
Hayden Jones, the overall winner when asked how much he liked art responded, “I love it!”
The winning drawing will be sent to the State level.  If it wins there, it will go on to the National level at the NAPT headquarters.
The art competition is great but the most important aspect of the contest is that it promotes school bus safety and could save a student’s life.  Seymour Intermediate School should be commended.