Into the Rhythm: Middle School East's Poetry Cafe

Perkiomen Valley School District submitted the following information:

held the annual Poetry Café -- a special and long-anticipated event Thursday night, April 26, marking the culmination of the schools celebration of National Poetry Month. The theme for this year's Poetry Cafe was "The Poetry of Small Things." Attendees were encouraged to bring a small item along, which would be their inspiration for the writing activities of the evening.

This year's Poetry Cafe was especially original because the design plan for the evening was created by the students. Working with a group of college students and a professor from the Industrial Design program at Philadelphia University, East's Poetry Guerilla's and Design Squad transformed the cafeteria into an environment of welcoming and warmth. Later this year the students will find out if the design for the café wins any awards in a national competition sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America.

Creative Expressions teacher Kathy Todd praised the students for their hard work and read Robert Frost’s poem, "The Road Not Taken," sharing that the students had truly taken a new path to create this year's Poetry Cafe. 

Students from the East Jazz Band and Orchestra shared their talents, providing inspiring music for the evening of sharing.

And of course there was poetry. Students, teachers, parents, brothers and sisters shared favorite poems, and some even shared original works with the crowd. East's poetry writing contest winners were also announced:  Adam Segal, Casey McMullin, and Amy Bray.  All received a Poetry Guerillas T-shirt and other gifts.

Gary Heidt, who teaches Creative Expressions at East, read an original poem through which he encouraged students to simply write poetry and find joy in the fact that they have a unique voice all their own. No one will ever write as they have. The evening was a reminder to all who attended that small things matter, and that writing poetry is a way to celebrate the "small" things.

-- Written by Janelle Riaubia