PUSD film festival to feature students’ works

Ten videos created by Poway Unified students will be showcased during the district’s eighth annual Character and Ethics Film Festival next week.

All are welcome to attend the free event, which starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.

Linda Ellett, Poway Unified’s Student Support Services coordinator, said 25 videos were submitted — eight elementary, nine middle school and eight high school.

The short videos, typically in the style and length of public service announcements, focus on one or more of the Character Counts! program’s six pillars — caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness — or focus on youth issues.

During the film festival, prizes donated by Sony Electronics Inc. through PUSD Partners in Education will be awarded for first, second and third place plus an elementary school honorable mention. Those who made the first place video at each level will receive a Sony Handicam Camcorder.

In addition to showing the videos, there will be student presentations on the importance of good character, Ellett said. The student presenters will be from Creekside Elementary, Oak Valley Middle School, Design 39 Campus and Rancho Bernardo High School.

The elementary video finalists are:

• “Random Acts of Kindness” by Highland Ranch Elementary student Julia Reed.

• “Gossip is Bad” by Jeremy Briggs’ third grade students at Valley Elementary.

• “Cheaters Never Win” by Lori Edelstein’s third grade students at Willow Grove Elementary.

• “Seagulls Soar with Character” by Monda Forrestal’s second grade students at Sunset Hills Elementary.

The middle school finalists are:

• “Do Your Parents Know?” by Oak Valley Middle School student Alexis Edelstein.

“Character Really Counts Video Team” by Meadowbrook Middle School students in Joe Ismay’s class.

• “Does Character Really Count?” by Meadowbrook Middle School students in Joe Ismay’s class.

The high school finalists are:

• “Wheels” by Poway High student Jacob Vaus.

• “Umbrella” by Rancho Bernardo High student Kyle Vahamaki.

• “Arrive Alive” by Rancho Bernardo High students Sierra Sands and Aaron Tividar.