Phoenix High sophomore Cali Lees was named the 2023 Congressional Art Competition winner, and three of her classmates were the runners-up as the Pirates swept the prestigious event.

Lees, whose painting "Cumulus Clouds" was selected by a panel of three judges as Oregon Second District's best, will travel to Washington D.C. to see her artwork displayed in the national student art exhibit in the U.S. Capitol and attend a reception in her honor.

The first runner-up in this year's competition, which included a record 43 submissions, was PHS junior Shayna Giron-Lopez, who painted "The Seeds of Growth." The second runner-up was sophomore Rowen Wiley ("Lily Cat") and the third runner-up was junior Brissa Bauer ("Slow Your Roll").

Here's a video of Lees talking to a KOBI-5 reporter about the recognition.

Phoenix High School last week released the names of its 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians and there are seven in total - four valedictorians and three salutatorians.

The valedictorians, who each carry a 4.0 GPA, are Julius Bolstad, Morgan James, Kyla Potratz and Anthony Sanchez, while the salutatorians are Islady Alvarez, Melody Chavez Corona and MaKenna Rowenhorst.

Alvarez and Rowenhorst were also named Ford Scholars earlier this month, along with Leydi Ramirez.

Click here to watch a video celebrating the valedictorians and here to see a video celebrating the salutatorians.

Talent Elementary students and staff were introduced to some new, small roommates on May 1 when The Ivy School at Talent Elementary opened its doors for the first time in a single classroom in the northeast wing of the TES campus.

Funded by the state of Oregon’s Preschool Promise scholarship program, The Ivy School at TES is free to those who qualify – eligibility is based on family size and income.

Up to 20 children ages 3 to 5 will be part of the school’s inaugural class, which will attend 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday each week until school closes for the summer in mid-June. It will pick up again for the start of its first full school year in September.

“I think we always want to work with schools that are excited about early learning and when you talk to a principal who gets it, that’s just really motivating as a whole,” said Ivy School director Britt Zimmerman, referring to TES principal Heather Lowe Rogers.

For more information about The Ivy School and how to apply, contact Zimmerman at britt@tcmso.org or Talent Elementary at 541-535-1531.