Ashley Elementary Holds Poetry Slam

poetry competition was a lyrical slam dunk.

Led by slammaster and fourth-grade teacher Kevin Grammens, Ashley Elementary students celebrated the spoken word Monday in the school's fifth annual Poetry Slam. The slam was an opportunity for the students to enjoy an array of poetic styles.

The friendly competition encouraged contestants to do their best and exercise artistic expression. Six teachers at the school served as judges.

The competition began with a field of 17 fourth- and fifth-grade participants and was narrowed to the top eight. In the final round Monday, each student performed either a poem they penned or a poem from another author to the entire student body.

Fifth-grader Hope Osterman won first place for her spirited presentation of Shel Silverstein's Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out. Fourth-grader Katherine Greenberg won second place and fourth-grader Emily Martin took third.

"This is definitely one of the highlights of my year," Hope said. "I really enjoyed the poetry slam and I will be sad not to do it next year. I really like poetry, especially writing my own poems because it lets me be creative and lets me show who I am throughout my writing." 

Rounding out the top eight performers were McKenzie Bridges, Noelle Harris, Nikko Parelly, Alex Price and Jenna Swinkowski.