First K-12 Poetry Contest Begins Next Week

The Portsmouth Public Library is proud to announce our first annual K-12 Poetry Contest, according to a press statement.

The contest is open to all students, grades K – 12, residing in or attending school in Portsmouth. Beginning March 18, students may submit one poem each, in one of the official PPL Poetry Contest submission boxes, at one of the following locations:

• Portsmouth Public Library Youth Services
• Portsmouth High School Library
• Portsmouth Middle School Library
• New Franklin School Library
• Saint Patrick School Library
• RiverRun Bookstore

The deadline for poem submissions is Wednesday April 15. Judges from the Portsmouth community will then select three winners from each of the following categories:

• Kindergarten – 2nd grade
• 3rd – 4th grade
• 5th- 6th grade
• 7th – 8th grade
• 9th – 10th grade
• 11th – 12th grade

Winners will be announced on or before Friday May 8th. Each winner will have his/her poem displayed on a window in the library during the months of May and June. Winners may then take home a printed decal of their poems to keep. Other prizes will be awarded!

The library will host a Youth Poetry Night: Open Mic & Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. All students are invited to read their poetry. Winners may attend and read their work if desired. Awards will be distributed by the judges and library staff.

Visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/poetry.htm, or one of the locations above, for guidelines & submission forms!

Questions? Contact PPL Librarian Laura Horwood-Benton at 603 766 1711 or lkhorwood-benton@cityofportsmouth.com.