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Schools

Clover Street School Hosts 5th Grade Poetry Slam

The annual showcase of creative student expression was sponsored by the Clover Street PTA, Windsor Education Foundation and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

Twenty-five fifth graders at Clover Street School showcased their writing skills and creativity during an annual poetry slam event Thursday night.

Students Rebecca Samuel, Tia Marie Brown and Olivia McAdams took first place in the contest, each earning a perfect score of 40 from the judges. Clinton Branner and Jahshua Holmes tied for second place, and Marquis Wilson won third place.

“Poetry has always been special to me, and it is a very accessible way for kids to express themselves—something is bound to touch them—whether it is in a few words or many,” said Lisa Thomas, a challenge resource teacher at Clover Street School who has has organized the poetry slam for the past three years.

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The judges included Director of Pupil & Special Education Services, Jody Lefkowitz, PTA President Suzy Rynaski, PTA member April McGraw and three members of the Windsor High School poetry club: Ronnie Bowman, Evan Debevec McKenney and Gabrielle Wages.

Jessica Oswecki, mother of Talyia Oswecki, said her daughter “is just a natural at writing poetry. For about a week she was tweaking it to make it just right for herself. Talyia read her poem titled, “Natural Wonders,” which she said make up our world.

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Principal Michelle Jones said “the event is a wonderful opportunity for students to show their creativity and work with a poet-in-residence. This is a chance for them to put their best foot forward.”

According to Thomas, many students of the school have been awarded and acknowledged for their poetry. Dalton Scott’s poem “Earth,” for example, has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mark Harty, father of Abigail Harty said his daughter was “very excited” to present her poem “Dreams.”

Also reading their poetry at the slam were Windsor High School students Jasmine Johnson-Giles, Amanda Anderson and Poet Out Loud champion, Evan Debevec McKenney.

This event was part of an innovative Artists-in-Residence program. The funding for the program was made available through a $1,740 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism and a $1,500 grant from the Windsor Education Foundation. The program is designed to reinforce and extend the curriculum standards, particularly in the areas of literacy and multicultural education.

Poet-in-Residence, Reggie Marra was unable to make the event. 

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