Windsor High School Holds 9th Annual Poetry Out Loud Finals

The 9th annual Windsor High Poetry Out Loud Finals were held Wednesday, January 27, 2016. Senior Elena Peters took first place to become the 2016 Poetry Out Loud School Champion. Second place was awarded to sophomore Sharon Spaulding. Rounding out the Top Five were Jahshua Holmes, Cree Jenkins and Rhiannon Kiersznowski.

Now in its eleventh year, Poetry Out loud is an exciting program presented by The Poetry Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and various State Arts Agencies, which “invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class.” (PoetryOutLoud.org). The program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Judges included Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Terrell Hill, Director of Arts and Humanities for the district, Bonnie Fineman, Windsor Board of Education President, Cristina Santos, WHS English Department Chair, Todd Cunha, and 2014 graduate and former Poetry Out Loud finalist, Haley Boyer. The Master of Ceremonies was Christopher Rau, WHS Vice Principal.

Peters will represent Windsor High at the northern regional state competition on March 1, 2016. She will compete for a spot in the State Finals on March 15. State champions receive a cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for the national championship in late April. The school of the state champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books.