On February 19, the Poetry Club will compete in Chicago at the Den Theatre, showcasing individual talent and collaborative creativity in a high-energy spoken word competition. With preliminary bouts scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the team will perform in a format that highlights both solo voices and the power of collective storytelling.
Each bout consists of four rounds of individual poetry and one round featuring a four-poet group piece from each team. Based on their scores, the poets may advance further in the competition, making preparation and performance especially important.
Students prepare for the individual rounds by sharing potential poems during Poetry Club meetings, where they receive detailed feedback from Mrs. Peterson and Mr. Peterson. This feedback focuses on both the writing itself and performance elements such as delivery, pacing, vocal variety, and gestures. Outside of meetings, students are encouraged to continue writing and rehearsing independently, then bring their progress back to the group for additional feedback.
Preparation for the group piece began with a brainstorming session just before winter break, during which poets listed shared concerns and possible themes. From there, students collaborated in a shared Google Doc, drafting ideas across several topics. Since then, a smaller group of poets has met outside of school to shape those ideas into a cohesive draft. The group piece was recently shared during a club meeting, where peers and sponsors offered constructive feedback to help refine and strengthen the performance.
The Poetry Club meets every Thursday from 3:00–3:45 p.m., providing a space for rehearsal, collaboration, and reflection throughout the competitive season.
All poems performed in the competition are written in the style of spoken word, a form that blends expressive language with performance. Students focus on connecting with the audience through emotion, movement, and vocal emphasis, allowing their words to resonate beyond the page.
Decisions about which poems are performed and in what order are guided by feedback from Mrs. Peterson and Mr. Peterson. Poets considering a piece for competition receive input on its overall strength, clarity, and performance impact. Using this feedback, students are placed strategically within each bout to maximize the team’s effectiveness.
One of the biggest challenges students face is confidence. Poetry Club works intentionally to counter this by fostering a welcoming, supportive environment. The club prides itself on being a safe space where all students are encouraged to share their stories, regardless of experience.
“That environment helps students who may never have considered themselves writers or performers find the courage to step up and be heard,” said Mr. Peterson, the club sponsor.
Along the way, students also develop communication skills, collaboration, creativity, and empathy, skills that extend far beyond competition day.