Throughout the month of April, teachers volunteered to read their favorite poems aloud for the announcements. This was a celebration for National Poetry Month and by sharing these poems, a unique opportunity was created for not only these select teachers, but also the students who watched.

National Poetry Month was originally established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 to conserve poetry’s role in society and vital contribution to cultures around the world.          

At least once a week, a recitation of a teacher’s favorite or most prized poem was shown on the announcements.

Angela Shaffer, Lancer TV member, said, “I had previously worked with Mrs. Rebetsky on a piece for Women’s Month and then came across an article about Poetry Month. From there, I created a sample video and began working with eight different teachers to create the videos on the announcements.” 

Shaffer’s favorite poem was Mrs. Cassidy reading of “For Sale” because Shaffer has a little brother who is taller and larger than her and she finds it easy to relate to.

“Even though siblings drive you crazy, you gotta love them!” exclaimed Shaffer. 

“I was really surprised how enthusiastic the responses from different teachers were when I sent the email asking for volunteers to be in the videos. Just seeing everyone’s views on poetry and the memories that they had to certain poems was so fascinating,” said Rebetsky. 

Rebetsky added, “Think about it. When someone has a child-like crush on someone, they write them a love poem. When two people get married, someone usually reads a poem as a sign of love. Even at times so depressing as funerals, a poem will be read as a way to remember one and the love they showed others. I feel like poetry is on of the key ways to communicate strong feelings.” 

Poetry is something that this generation doesn’t seem to value. There’s a large difference between enthusiasm about analyzing poems in class and writing for enjoyment.

It can be a way to distract from hard times, reflect on the memories you’ve shared with either yourself or another, and most importantly, poetry can be completely individual to a person. By bringing Poetry Month in the announcements, we can show high schoolers that are interested in poetry that it can be fun, entertaining, and unique to each person. Many kids nowadays don’t ever read poetry and think it’s boring, so hopefully these personalized videos will allow kids could discover that poems are super fun!

The following teachers participated in Poetry Month:

Tracey Cassidy, Reading Specialist, shares “For Sale” by Shell Silverstein.

Natalie Rebetsky, Head of the English Department, recites “The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Leslie Byrd, member of the Mathematics department, shares “Geometry” by Rita Dove.

Renata Emery, a guidance counselor, delivered an original poem.

Marsha Thompson, Media Specialist, recites “If” by Rudyard Kipling.

Angela Smithhisler, Performing Arts and Social Studies teacher, shares “It is I who must begin” by Valclav Havel.

Sophomores, Natalie Blue and Riannon Seyfried, created this abbreviated version of the famous poem, “To Paint the Portrait of a Bird” by Jacques Prevert, for National Poetry Month.