Westfield Schools 9th Annual Palooza Contest
Westfield Public Schools
The Westfield Municipal Alliance and the Westfield High School Dream Team recently recognized student finalists in the 9th Annual Palooza Contest for their submissions of posters, poetry, and public service announcements depicting the theme, “Westfield, Live Your Best Life: Healthy Choices, Everyday Choices.”
Finalists from the Westfield Public Schools and Holy Trinity School, grades 1-12, were recognized on January 19, 2022 at a ceremony at Westfield High School.
This year’s finalists from the Westfield Public Schools are:
- Brynn O’Grady, Grade 4, McKinley Elementary School
- Blake Sonnek-Schmelz, Grade 4, Washington Elementary School
- Tegan Hegarty, Grade 8, Edison Intermediate School
- Mahie Panjwani, Grade 7, Edison Intermediate School
- Elizabeth Verga, Grade 9, Westfield High School
- Julia Magnus, Grade 9, Westfield High School
- Livia Reyes, Grade 9, Westfield High School
“The 9th Annual Palooza was a great success, with the recognition ceremony back in person this year after last year’s virtual event,” says Dream Team Advisor and Physical Education Teacher at WHS, Lauren Hauser. “Fifteen finalists were chosen by our Dream Team members. This year’s finalists brought new creativity and positive messages about ‘Living Your Best Life’ at all grade levels from across the district. More than 100 entries were received and we want to thank all of those who submitted posters, poetry, and PSAs.”
As a token of appreciation of the students’ hard work, the Albert Anthony Kayal Foundation funded the personal awards while the Matthew Thomas Toriello Memorial Fund is making a donation on the finalists’ behalf to Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss as well as to the Westfield Rescue Squad.
The Palooza Contest begins each year in October during National Red Ribbon Week and entries are submitted by early December. The finalists are announced and celebrated during a ceremony each January to which family and other members of the community are invited.
The message of the WHS Dream Team is “Confidence, Choices, Challenges, Changes.” The Dream Team promotes positive decision-making, healthy choices, and creates programs that provide alternatives to underage drinking and drug use. The mission of the WHS Dream Team complements the mission of the Westfield Municipal Alliance in providing supplemental substance abuse prevention education in Westfield schools and to the Westfield community. For more information, please visit the Westfield Municipal Alliance page at westfieldnj.gov, or reach out to Dream Team Advisor, Lauren Hauser, atlhauser@westfieldnjk12.org.
Photo by WHS Dream Team
