For the first time, Rutland High School is participating in the state and national competition known as Poetry Out Loud.  Eight students will memorize their poems and prepare recitations to be performed at a Poetry Out Loud Competition and Open Mic at RHS on Feb. 9^th.  One student will be chosen to represent Rutland High School at the state competition, which will be held on March 16^th in Montpelier.  The student who wins the state competition will receive $200 and an all expense paid trip to Washington, DC for the national competition.  Ms. Poremski started the ball rolling with a poetry unit which combined an art history lesson with Darren Spafford, writing an “ekphrastic” poem (based on art), and reading a piece of poetry aloud with help from Mrs. Archer.  Several students decided to participate in the competition after working with Mrs. Archer and developing a speak chorus performance of Langston Hughes’ poem “A Dream Deferred.”

On Jan. 26^th , Vermont poet Geoff Hewitt came to RHS and provided two workshops for students. He worked with Ms. Poremski’s B-block class and led the students in 7-minute writing “races” where the only rules were to keep the pen moving and have fun.  The kids wrote some surprisingly good pieces, shared aloud, considered how they might revise, and enjoyed plenty of laughs as they worked with Geof.  Mr. Hewitt then worked with the students who will be performing on Feb. 9^th.  During his workshop with the performers, he focused on stance, timing, eye contact and tone of voice.  The students enjoyed rehearsing their poems for their peers and receiving feedback on their performances.