It makes them happy

Marisa O’Neil

Anna Newman’s guinea pigs make her happy -- especially when they play

the blues.

The 8-year-old’s guinea pigs and the work of more than 60 other

students were on display at Mariners Elementary School Wednesday for

the national PTA Reflections contest for student art, music and

literature.

Anna illustrated this year’s theme, “I am really happy when ... ,”

with a photograph of her two guinea pigs, Frisky and Sam, tickling

the ivories of her family’s piano.

The caption read: “I am really happy when my guinea pigs play the

blues.”

“Frisky’s kind of weird,” she admitted with a giggle. “He’s kind

of ... frisky.”

Wednesday’s gallery display took place on Mariners’ playground at

lunchtime. All students who entered work were treated to a pizza

party and got to check out their classmates’ work.

Children showed off what makes them happy with drawings, collages,

photographs and poems. For many students, pets did it for them.

“I’m happy when I play with my dog,” third-grader Jeri Gibbs said

of her drawing. “I also like to draw cats and horses and lots of

animals.”

Daniel Albert, 8, entered a large, colorful drawing of a football

player crossing the gridiron, pigskin in hand.

“I like to play football,” he said. “It’s my favorite thing to

do.”

Stephany Munoz, 9, picked another sport. Her crayon drawing showed

what at first glance appeared to be a baseball diamond with the bases

loaded.

“I’m really happy when I play kickball with my friends,” she wrote

on her her picture.

The entries will all be collected and submitted to the contest.

They will be judged on a district level, PTA member Donna Newman

said, and then go on to state and national competitions.

Four students selected nationally will win a trip with their

parents to the National PTA Convention next year.

But for now, each of them get a special ribbon of participation in

the contest -- and free pizza.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.