Thank you,

Tamara Salkin

This magazine was Tamara’s idea. She has always been an advocate for students to have a safe space to express themselves. Those who have worked with her recognize her extraordinary leadership, artistic vision, and unwavering commitment to the arts as a social necessity. She has, in only three years, rebuilt Ross School’s performing arts program and reminded countless people to live life to the fullest just by being authentically herself. So many young people are more confident, smart, creative, and passionate because they’ve known her. She has reignited many students’ love for learning, writing, and reading. She has not only taught various enlightening classes and directed many beautiful plays and musicals at Ross, but ran her advisory group with vulnerability, led Field Academy trips with excitement, generously helped students with their college applications, and been an illuminating senior project mentor. She has honored her many important commitments at Ross gracefully and with kindness while also co-running her nonprofit children’s theater company, South Fork Performing Arts, outside of school. She does it all with a smile and wearing a bright, colorful outfit and funky jewelry. None of this would’ve been possible without her, so thank you, Tamara, for all the wonderful and tireless work you’ve done daily for everyone at Ross.

Paul Gansky

Dr. Gansky extremely generously offered his 11th grade English students extra credit to submit to the Mixed Media Arts Magazine. Because of this kind offer, we received more submissions than we ever could’ve hoped for. We are able to observe how different students respond to the same prompts from his class and how his guidance has helped them create the fantastic work they did. Thank you, Dr. Gansky, for supporting our students through your advice, intelligence, stories, and humor every day. Students who otherwise may not have put themselves out there have because of you, and will no doubt inspire other community members to do the same in our next editions and in their daily lives.

Students who submitted work

Thank you to all the brilliant young artists who have submitted work to the Spring 2026 edition of the Mixed Media Arts Magazine! You all made this happen by being vulnerable and sharing your pieces. Because of you, we can continue to create more editions of the magazine in the future, and continue to provide students with the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and be bold. The way we keep the arts alive and thriving is by being courageous and openly expressing ourselves. The variety in themes, styles, and mediums in these submissions is a magnificent reminder of different ways people feel and show their emotions to those around them. The bravery to present that to an audience is what makes people feel less alone within a community. It’s inspiring to see how many talented, creative people we have here at Ross.