Middle School students in Kent County were invited to participate in the Ann Hennessy Live Poets’ Society poetry contest earlier this spring. Seventeen sixth grade students from Kent School submitted up to three poems each. Several of their poems received honors. Kate DiGregory won the overall prize for all sixth grade entries for her poem “One Little Word.” Poems by Aidan Buckley, Marisa Pisapia, Stevie Shumaker and Nellie Stup received honorable mention. The writers are invited to read their award-winning poems at the seventh annual meeting of the Ann Hennessy Live Poets’ Society on April 21 at The Mainstay in Rock Hall. The winning writers, their teachers, and their schools will all receive a booklet featuring the thirty-two honored poems.
Sixth grade teacher Michelle Cerino encouraged the students to write their poems as part of their language arts class. “Choosing words carefully and thinking about the right word to describe a feeling, an event, or a personal experience helps students become stronger writers. Poetry really encourages the students to focus on the essential words.” Cerino continued, “Writing poetry is an outlet for creative writers, and it is a wonderful method for teaching all students to become stronger writers.”
Kent School’s Headmaster Chris Gorycki emphasized the importance of good writing skills by saying, “At Kent School, the foundation for a lifetime of strong writing begins with our youngest students. Writing will never go out of style. Students and professionals will always be required to communicate well through writing. Our teachers do an excellent job of teaching and encouraging their students to continually hone their writing skills. I am proud of all the students who submitted poems and congratulations to those writers whose poems were honored.”
For more information about Kent School visit www.kentschool.org or call 410-778-4100 ext. 12.
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