WEB EXCLUSIVE Sophomore English classes spent class time on Monday writing various haikus, limericks, and acrostic poems to submit to Convent & Stuart Hall’s annual poetry festival.

“I felt really humbled to win last year,” sophomore Tabitha Parent, who was the 2018 all-school winner, said. “It was nice to be recognized as a freshman while I was still learning the ropes and adjusting to our school community.”

All students are required to submit at least one poem by Friday, April 5th to their English teachers in anticipation of the high school’s poetry festival on April 29th.

“Writing and poetry are effective mediums that help me articulate my thoughts and feelings like nothing else,”  sophomore Char Ehrlich said. “I look forward to improving my writing techniques and enhancing my poems.”

The poetry festival, which celebrates the end of National Poetry Month, will take place during a co-ed assembly. The festival will include live performances from students and faculty reading both famous and original pieces.

“Ms. Allen introduced us to different styles of poetry, as well as some of her all-time favorite poems,” Ehrlich said. “It gave me a real sense of the standards we are being held to in terms of writing.”

Teachers, such as sophomore English teacher Angelica Allen, gave students guidance on their poems and class time to work on their entries for the poetry contest.

“Having class time to prepare was helpful because I could get peer reviews and help if I needed it,” sophomore Halsey Williamson said. “It’s really cool how the entire school gets together to celebrate poetry.”

Winners will be announced during the assembly in Syufy Theatre.

“I haven’t been writing poetry as often as I would like to, and this competition gave me a legitimate reason to do so,” Parent said. “I’m really excited for a lot of student poets to perform, too.”