KINGSTON — It’s not everyday the halls of Kingston High School are filled with student art, but on the evening of May 23 it was an artistic takeover.

The 10th annual Festival of The Arts showcased student art from all the schools in the North Kitsap School District. Professional artists also made a contribution to the art gallery, which spanned both floors of the North Building and a portion of the South Building.

Selections were made for both the Superintendent Purchase Awards and NKSD Art Teachers Distinguished Work Medals. North Kitsap School Board Director Tom Anderson presented a resolution declaring May as Arts Education Month. And the KHS Fine Arts Boosters were presented with this year’s award for Arts Education Advocacy.

During the school board meeting April 26, board members passed the resolution to declare May as Arts Education Month. The resolution states “arts embody much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind,” and “learning the arts enhances and enriches the lives of all students.” The whole resolution can be read here.

Those selected for the Superintendent Purchase Awards were Kierra (no last name provided) of Gordon Elementary for “Giraffe; Alyssa Windus of Poulsbo Middle School for her black and white pattern mask; and Christine Fitch of Kingston High School for “He’s Smiling!” The art selected for the Superintendent Purchase Award will be displayed at the district’s administrative building, 18360 Caldart Ave, Poulsbo.

Winners of the NKSD Art Teachers Distinguished Work Medals include Wolfle Elementary’s Kelly Stevens and Sascha Wolter; Vinland Elementary’s Ryan (no last name provided), two medals); “Elephant Tesselation” (no name provided); Gordon Elementary’s Kilian (no last name provided); Suquamish Elementary’s Sydney Mahtika.

Middle school medalists include Taylor Bayly, Courtney Palodichuk, Hailey Seader and Elizibeth Mahana of Poulsbo Middle School; and Caleb T., Cece H., Emaa R., Izzy F., and Kaci V. of Kingston Middle School.

High School medalists include Madison Strong, Jason Welter (two medals), Samantha Noffsinger, Victoria Reufro of North Kitsap High School; and Forrest Taylor, Greta Coleman, Christine VanDeen, Nick Stevens, and Taislya Chelnokova of Kingston High School.