Ryan fifth-grade student Jordyn Williams brought home the top spot for Tewksbury in a state-wide poster contest sponsored by STAM, the School Transportation Association of Massachusetts. The contest aims to bring awareness to National School Bus Safety Week, which is held every third full week in October.

This morning at an assembly at the Ryan, Williams was awarded $500 by STAM, and she earned an additional $500 donation for the Ryan to be used for arts education. Her poster will go on to represent Massachusetts in a nationwide contest sponsored by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA).

The 2021-22 school year poster contest theme is “1 Bus + 1 Driver = a BIG Impact on Education.” Jordyn’s poster explains dos and don’ts for helping bus drivers get kids to school safely and is featured on STAM’s website.

Ryan art teacher Melissa Lane holds the winning poster artwork.

Jordyn was joined on stage by Ryan School principal Judi McInnes, her parents and her art teacher, Melissa Lane, to receive her award from Raymond Lafortune of Tewksbury Transit, second from left. The artwork will be printed poster size and distributed around the state and also featured “in perpetuity, which means forever” in welcome materials for Ryan students, said McInnes.

Also in attendance to cheer Jordyn on were Tewksbury Public Schools acting superintendent Brenda Regan and business manager Dave Libby.

Congratulations to Jordyn, who definitely fulfills the Ryan motto “Work hard. Be kind. Anything is possible. Woof!“

Library Hosts Community of Artists Exhibition

For residents looking to view more work by our local artists, “BLUE” is the theme of the Tewksbury Community of Artists show on display at the Library through April 25.

Residents can enjoy works by Thomas Borgal, Valerie Borgal, Robert Crooker, Barbara Ann Forant, Anna Teresa Hull, Mary Kelly, Elise MacDonald, Anna Marie Nicoletti, Joan Turner and Jeannette Waugh.

Many of the pieces are available for purchase, and residents are invited to pick up more information on the artists and vote on their favorite image.

Lorna Garey

Lorna is a 25-year resident of Tewksbury who has written for organizations ranging from the DIA to InformationWeek to a free weekly in New London that sent her to interview the pastry chef at Foxwoods.