Poetry Festival Celebrates The Spoken Word

It was a day of free expression and an outlet of emotions as nearly 150 students from three high schools participated in Freeport’s first-ever poetry festival — "A Day of Freepoetry."

Creative writing students from Oceanside and New Hyde Park joined Freeport in the all–day event of morning workshops, student poetry readings and performances by guest poet "Kayo" and his associates from Urbintel Productions, a poetry/theatrical entertainment company.

Coordinated by creative writing teacher Mark Spanier, the event not only served as a means of showcasing the talents of the students, it provided an outlet for students to express themselves.

To help refine that outlet, Kayo and other poets from Urbintel have been coaching Spanier’s students in their poetry writing since September. Their work was evidenced in the standing-room-only school library as Freeport’s young writers presented their poems with passion and conviction. Five students from each school were selected to share their poems. Those representing Freeport were Deja Grant, Spencer Cammarano, Sara-Jean Debrosse, Katherine Rodriguez and Chanel Briggins. The poets brought the audience on an oratory journey through self-reflection, non-conformity, teenage fashion, diversity and AIDS.

Briggins, a Freeport senior who Spanier described as a poet for her college recommendation, roused the audience with her riveting poem entitled, "Epitome," which tugged on one’s conscience as she revealed her self-image and her ardent determination to rise above social perceptions.

"People know me as playing sports," Briggins said. "I was always into writing but nobody knew that but me and God. This was like a debut."

Because Spanier felt that his previous creative writing classes laid down the foundation for this event, he invited back one of his top students to share some of her work. Shayleen Joseph, a 2003 graduate, is an English major at North Carolina A&T State University. Upon graduation she plans to teach and write.

"This was a great opportunity to share our work," Joseph said. "I wish we had this when I went here."

Students were also entertained by the animated and thought-provoking performances by Urbintel Productions. By the end of the event, they had the group participate in some singing and hand-clapping as a guitarist performed.

 "This event has been brewing in my mind for a while," Spanier said. The workshops were good and all the kids were well-behaved…when our kids are asked to do something they really shine through."

Freeport Public Schools is a diverse, innovative district on Long Island’s South Shore serving about 6,750 students in grades Pre-K through 12. The district and its eight schools take pride in having the region’s only magnet schools of choice, a longstanding and award-winning classroom English/Spanish Dual Language Program, and a high school where students excel in competitions that include the regional Academic Challenge, Odyssey of the Mind and Future Problem Solving International. The district’s New Visions School of Exploration and Discovery has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its high student performance and engaging curriculum.