Frances Kelsey’s Sarah Kaufmann took first place with Kyla Ronnigen (Chemainus Secondary) second and Rowan Carpenter (Cowichan Secondary) third as Cowichan Secondary School hosted the second annual district-wide poetry slam, entitled Cowichan Speaks on April 21.
Fifteen students from high schools around the school district competed in a celebration of the spoken word, many performing in public for the first time. Teacher-organizer, Sheri Kinney, from Cowichan, was delighted.
"The students were brave and their poetry was heart-felt and powerful. It was a privilege to be in the audience," she said.
The event was open to students from Grades 8-12. Winners of this year’s slam received a medal and a gift card compliments of the SD79’s Catalyst Program.
The Duncan Business Improvement Area is working with Angela Anderson, of Queen Margaret’s School on a public art display.
According to the DBIA’s MaryAnn Hartley, Anderson "is working with her senior students, Grade 6 students from Khowhemun Elementary School and First Nations artist George Littlechild to create art panels that will celebrate and showcase elder stories from their very diverse backgrounds.
The panels will then be mounted on walls at the new Station building on Duncan Street."
Hartley said the project is particularly meaningful "as the senior students from so many
different countries will be guiding, mentoring and developing meaningful relationships with the younger First Nation students from Khowhemun School."
