Blossom Montessori School students compete in Valentine's Day contest

CLEARWATER — It was a Valentine's Day competition that had everyone seeing red, but there was no anger.

Only smiles and laughter as students at the Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf vied to see who could be the "Reddest Kid" and bring the "Reddest Lunch."

David Downing, one of the four judges, told the 28 students, some with pink locks, some with ruby socks, that the judges were looking for creativity.

"What are the unexpected surprises?" he said. "What is red where you've never seen it before?"

One of the most amusing competitors was Nico Webb, 4, of Clearwater who dashed into the room donning Superman pajamas and a bright red cape.

In his exuberance, he slipped and fell, but leapt up to strike a grin and superhero pose.

Jordyn Rosko, 5, looked adorable in her cherry-colored hip-hop hat and blue jeans with hand-painted hearts and stars.

"My sister helped me," she grinned.

Erika Cook, 14, of Palm Harbor, blew bubbles at the judges, lit up her battery-operated heart necklace and pointed to the Milky Way of heart-shaped stickers on her face.

"I love Valentine's Day," she signed. "It's very girly."

But the guys were not to be upstaged.

Edward Fountain, 13, and brother, Elan, 8, brought red food, drinks, plastic champaign glasses, napkins and rose petals to toss around.

"I went to the store and bought it all," Edward said.

The Valentine's Day celebration is a much-anticipated tradition with the students ages 3 to 15, said Julie Rutenberg, founder of the school.

"We've been doing this for four years," she said.

"The kids started to color their hair and skin red and that gave us the idea. With Montessori, you let the child guide you. We tie it all in with lessons on love and heart health."

The school serves the deaf and hard of hearing as well as hearing family members and children whose parents desire a Montessori curriculum. The program is tactile, visual and self-paced, with students divided into four classes.

It has inspired Gabi Holt, 11, of Largo, to become a professional interpreter for the deaf.

"I go places with Kaitlyn, Erik and Tyler and I interpret for them," she said. "I really enjoy it."

After deliberating for some time, the judges announced they had winners and doled out giant chocolate hearts and cute little stuffed animals.

One of the winners, Lia Phagan, 9, had shown something unexpected to the judges — a red scar that was visible above the neckline of her sweater.

It came from her fifth open heart surgery, performed in early January to repair a valve.

Though the doctors tried to dissuade her, this queen of hearts couldn't wait to get back to school and is attending part time as a compromise.

"My heart is happy because I get to see all my friends again," Lia said.