Local schools to compete in poetry competition

MORRISTOWN — The Region 4 Finals of the New Jersey Poetry Out Loud Competition will take place at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Region Four comprises Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. Students from 17 schools will compete in the oral recitation competition.

Two finalists will go on to the state finals on March 14. The New Jersey champion will go on to the national competition in Washington, D.C. in April.

This is the fourth year that MPAC has served as a regional host.

Students representing the following schools are scheduled to compete:

Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
Delaware Valley Regional High School

St. Mary of the Assumption High School

Blair Academy Jonathan Dayton High School

Trinity Christian School
Sparta High School

Vernon Twp. High School
Morris County School of Technology

Bruriah High School for Girls
JEC

Morristown High School
Plainfield Academy of Arts and Advanced Studies

Madison High School
Montville High School

Shepard Preparatory Academy
Shepard School

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation program for all public, charter, parochial school and home school students grades 9-12. Now in its ninth year, the program encourages the nation's youth to learn about great works of classic and contemporary poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is implemented by state arts agencies across the country, including the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In New Jersey the program is supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in collaboration with a growing list of partners.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information contact 973-539-8008 or visit www.mayoarts.org.