TOLLAND – Teenaged writers will perform original poems and compete for prizes on Thursday, April 5 when the Tolland Public Library Foundation holds its seventh annual poetry slam.
The Foundation and the Tolland Public Library are sponsoring the slam for middle and high school students ages 12 to 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the library at 21 Tolland Green.
Preference will be given to Tolland residents, but students from other towns can participate if space permits.
Poetry slams were born in Chicago in 1986 to encourage and celebrate the art of performance poetry.
The Foundation is sponsoring the slam with the help of the library staff and Tolland High School.
Students will be performing two three-minute poems, which will be judged by a panel that will include THS Assistant Principal Margot Martello; a THS student, Ginny Brousseau, the Tolland Public Library’s young adult/children’s librarian; Foundation Vice President Dani Titterton and Foundation Board Member Mike Byam. A top prize of a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card and other prizes will be awarded.
Poets must be prepared to perform a third poem in case of a tie-breaker.
The slam will be hosted by Tolland High English teacher James MacArthur.
Entry forms are available at the public library, the high school library, from any THS English teacher or at TollandPublicLibraryFoundation.org. Students must return the forms to one of the same places and email three original poems to [email protected] by Monday, April 2.
The slam is free and open to the public, but audience members are asked to register for the event by calling the library at 860-871-3620 or visiting www.tolland.org/library.
The poets from the 2017 poetry slam
Host James MacArthur with the 2017 winner, Sara Carey
The Tolland Public Library and the Tolland Public Library Foundation are pleased to invite middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 to take part in the seventh annual Teen Poetry Slam on Thursday, April 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Program Room at 21 Tolland Green, Tolland.
To enter, fill out the attached form and photo release and return them to the public library, any Tolland High School English teacher, the high school library or Celeste Estevez in the Tolland Middle School Library no later than Monday, April 2. The event will be held as long as we have at least five entrants. Preference for participation will be given to Tolland residents, but students from other towns may enter if space permits.
By Monday, April 2, please email copies of three original poems to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] so they can be shared with the judges. Each poem should take one to three minutes to perform.
Here are the rules, adapted from those of the National Poetry Slam:
- Each poem must be an original composition of the performer.
- Poets have three minutes to perform each poem, with a 10-second grace period. One
point will be deducted from the score of poets who go beyond the grace period. One point will be deducted from the score of poets who speak for less than one minute. - No props, costumes or musical instruments are allowed.
- No profanity or vulgarity are allowed. The content of the poems should be appropriate for a general audience that includes 7th and 8th
- A panel of judges, made up of a THS student, educators, librarians and Foundation board members, will give each poem a score of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level. The highest and lowest scores will be dropped.
- Poets with the three highest scores will win prizes after one or two rounds. In the case of a tie, those poets may be asked to perform another poem.
- Poetry slams were born in Chicago in 1986 to celebrate the competitive art of performance poetry. In that spirit, judges will give an equal weight to the writing of the poetry and the poet’s performance.
- Slams are designed to allow the audience to react vocally to the hosts, performers and judges’ scoring, but the Foundation asks that audience members be respectful.
- Any questions can be directed to Kate Farrish at 860-871-8089 or at [email protected].
Tolland Public Library Foundation Inc.
Seventh annual Teen Poetry Slam at the Tolland Public Library
April 5, 2018 * 6:30 p.m. * Tolland Public Library Program RoomEntry Form
Name: ____________________________________________________
Best phone number to reach you: ______________________________
Email: ________________________
Grade and school where you are enrolled: ________________________
Age as of April 5, 2017 __________
Please return this entry form to the public library, any Tolland High English teacher or the high school library no later than Monday, April 2.
Please prepare three poems that will each take one to three minutes to perform. Poets will perform two poems, but we ask you to have a third poem ready in case we need to break a tie. The poems should be emailed to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] no later than Monday, April 2.
Please have your parent or guardian sign the attached photo release and submit it with this entry form no later than Monday, April 2.
Tolland Public Library Foundation Poetry Slam Photo Release
Participant who is 18 or over:
I am 18 or over and give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of me taking part in its seventh annual Teen Poetry Slam on April 5, 2018. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.
I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.
Permission given by:
Print name
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________Date:_________________________
SignatureParticipant who is under 18:
I give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of my child taking part in its seventh annual Teen Poetry Slam on April 5, 2018. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.
I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.
Name of child:
____________________________________________________________________________
Permission given by:
Print name
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________Date:__________________________
Signature____________________________________________
Relationship to child