Students from SVHS participated in Poetry Out Loud’s contest on Jan. 17, an organization focused on helping students build self-confidence and public speaking skills. The winner was Siena Kelly, freshman, and second was Kailsh Wood. Coming in third was Annabelle Shoen, a freshman who performed “We Wear The Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Annabelle commented on her choice of poem, explaining it seemed “everything kinda fit together.” 

Annabelle’s English teacher, Mr. Beale was one of the two honors English freshman teachers who brought the contest to SVHS. The other 9th grade teacher, Ms. Gray, counted up the students’ scores during the contest. Ms. Gray explained that students had to qualify in their classroom before they could perform at a school level and they will now move onto a state level. The Poetry Out Loud website states, “Each winner at the state level receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals.”

Students had three weeks to prepare their poems. They were scored based on Physical Presence, Voice and Articulation, and Dramatic Appropriateness. Students were judged on their understanding of the poem and their public speaking skills. Ms. Gray stated the contest judged how well students “helped the poem come alive.” The judges at the lunchtime competition were Mrs. Janet Hansen, librarian and English ELD Dept. co-chair., Mrs. Jane Martin, English and Drama teacher, and Ms. Alison Manchester, English teacher and English ELD Dept. co-chair.

Annabelle commented her second performance was a little bit scary, but she had fun challenging herself with the serious poem. She added if she had another chance she would add more hand movements. Other students competing included freshmen Kash Morgan, Tilly Francis, Ariana Freed-Willhelm, and Kailsh Wood who placed second. Siena Kelly will move onto county finals before state level.