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Port Jervis students honored: Scholastic Art Gold Key and Odyssey of the Mind teams recognized
Summary
Board heard presentations celebrating a Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key winner and multiple Odyssey of the Mind teams that advanced to states; one primary team received the Renata Fisco Award and was invited to the state finals.
At the May 6 meeting Port Jervis board members heard presentations recognizing student achievements in visual arts and creative problem solving.
High school art teacher Liz Maloney introduced senior Ellie Polarski, who won a Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key in a regional competition covering parts of Sullivan, Ulster and Orange counties. "Ellie was awarded a very prestigious honor... Ellie, was awarded the highest of the levels in Scholastic, which is the gold key award," Maloney said. Maloney also said Polarski had accepted a full‑tuition scholarship from Syracuse University; Polarski said she was "very honored" to receive the award.
The board also recognized six Odyssey of the Mind teams that expanded the district's participation in the program. Austin Wilson, who coordinated the district's program, said the district fielded six teams this year—four of them earned invitations to states—and that Port Jervis was the only district in New York state to have a primary team represented at the state level.
Coaches and students described the teams' challenges and budgets. One middle school team completed a vehicle problem on a $165 budget; a high school team chose an eight‑minute classics problem based on The Hobbit and emphasized recycled materials; another team tackled a performance problem focused on science themes and neon lighting. Coaches credited students for doing the creative work themselves and said Odyssey encourages collaboration under time and budget constraints.
The primary team, coached by Audrey Niosi, built sets and costumes to portray three wonders of the ancient world and later completed an "Odyssey Angels" community project in which students assembled small care kits they called "kindness kits." The primary team received the Renata Fisco Award at Region 5 and was invited to the New York state finals; staff reported the program later sent additional recognition and pins.
Board members congratulated the students and coaches and praised the district's multicultural night and other community events referenced during the meeting.
