Sophia Traczek Wins Regional Poetry Out Loud competition
Congratulations to Sophia Traczek, the winner of PCA&M's 2021-2022 Virtual Regional Competition for Poetry Out Loud. A senior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, Ms. Traczek will represent the Pittsburgh area at Pennsylvania's Virtual State Competition in March 2022. Ms. Traczek recited “I Find no Peace” by Sir Thomas Wyatt, “Beautiful Wreckage” by W.H. Ehrhart, and “the world is about to end and my grandparents are in love” by Kara Jackson.
Gratitude and congratulations to the other 2021-22 participating students for their wonderful recitations: Marlo Cyanovich (Montour High School) and Aja Lynn (Hampton High School). Thank you to the teachers, families, friends, and judges who support all the students’ efforts and celebrate poetry.
About Poetry Out Loud
The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with state arts agencies, such as the PA Council on the Arts, across the United States. Poetry Out Loud (POL) encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Poetry Out Loud was created in 2005. Since that time, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4 million students and 65,000 teachers from 16,000 schools in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. In 2018-19 118 schools, 210 teachers, and 5,700 high school students across Pennsylvania participated in this engaging program.
Why is there so much participation and enthusiasm? Because the program works! Through a memorization, recitation, and contest format that starts at the classroom level and pyramids through school, regional, and state competitions students become engaged by and excited about poetry!
Some reasons why POL is so successful:
It can be run in as little as 2-3 weeks at the school level and does not require full class periods.
All program materials – poetry anthology, teacher’s guide, DVD, lesson plans, and promotional and media guides – are free and are provided online with hard copies also available.
Studying literature, including poetry, addresses at least three Anchor Assessments as per the PA Core ELA Standards: Speaking and Listening (SL. 9-10, SL 12-11), Reading (RL. 9-10, RL 11-12), and Language (L. 9-10, L 11-12).
The process helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
PCA&M’s Arts in Education and POL service region includes Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties.
Please note that community organizations, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and/or Boys & Girls Clubs, as well as homeschoolers, may also participate in Poetry Out Loud.
Check out the Poetry Out Loud You Tube channel for tips, examples, recitations, and inspiration!
If you’re interested in participating, please feel free to contact Mary Brenholts, Director of Artists in Schools & Communities, at mbrenholts@pfpca.org. Please submit your forms via email.