Poet Enzo Silon Surin, Sturgis Charter West student Amelia Stoots, Stugis Charter East student Tilly Peet, Falmouth High School student Marcello Roggiolani, Bourne High School student Abby Crook, Bourne High School student Atlas Anderson, Poet Michelle LaPoetica Richardson (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools) 
Over 80 students from Bourne Public Schools and five visiting schools came together to participate in a poetry workshop and slam poetry contest. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools) 
Bourne High School student Abby Crook was chosen as a finalist in the poetry slam contest. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools) 
Bourne High School student Atlas Anderson was chosen as a finalist in the poetry slam contest. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools)
BOURNE — Bourne Public Schools is pleased to share that students from multiple school districts participated in a poetry workshop and poetry slam at Bourne High School this week.
On Tuesday, April 9, 33 students from Bourne High School, 25 from Bourne Middle School and 27 students from visiting school districts came together to participate in a poetry workshop and slam poetry contest. Visiting schools consisted of Falmouth High School, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Mashpee Middle-High School, Sturgis East and Sturgis West.
The event was emceed by guest poets Enzo Silon Surin and Michelle “LaPoetica” Richardson. Both guest poets led the morning poetry workshop. They shared how they became involved in poetry and expressed to students the power of poetry to voice unspoken fears and reframe from life struggles.
Surin is a Haitian-born award-winning poet, author, educator, speaker, publisher and social advocate. Richardson is a North Shore poet and spoken word artist who has been involved with Peabody TV, WGBH, and other arts organizations. Both guest poets led the morning workshop.
During the workshop students worked on a variety of writing exercises, including some poems that were read at the poetry slam. Examples of writing included a list poem inspired by the prompt “Who do you bring into a room?” and “I’m pretending not to know …”
“Poetry gives us a beautiful opportunity to connect with others without fear of judgement,” said BHS student Atlas Anderson. “Many poems were incredibly personal and emotional– including my own. The point of the Slam was to keep our poems within that safe space, so that’s where mine will remain.”
Following the workshop, 30 students in total including 15 BPS students participated in the poetry slam. From those students, five finalists were chosen. Finalists were tasked with creating two original lines to present in the final round of the poetry slam. The finalists were judged by a panel made up of teachers who rated both content and delivery.
The top five poetry slam finalists were:
- Atlas Anderson, Bourne High School – Grade 10
- Abby Crook, Bourne High School – Grade 9
- Marcello Roggiolani, Falmouth High School – Grade 11
- Amelia Stoots, Sturgis Charter Public School West – Grade 9
- Tilly Peet, Sturgis Charter Public School East – Grade 10
Sturgis Charter Public School East student Tilly Peet was chosen as the grand champion.
“I am proud of Bourne High School for taking a leadership role and providing space and time for uplifting student voice. Poetry is a powerful and positive form of self-expression and I am thrilled to celebrate and share the success of our school’s poetry workshop and outstanding student performances at the poetry slam,” Principal Dr. Lisa Maguire said. “The creativity displayed by our students is truly inspiring. Their hard work, passion, and unique voices have not only enriched our community, but also inspired us all to appreciate the power of poetry.”
Bourne Public Schools thanks the Nye Foundation and Market Basket for generously sponsoring the poetry event.
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