A light rain was coming down but it definitely didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Grade 3 to 5 students who were reading their poetry on the front steps of Bastion Elementary School on Thursday, April 29.
Poem in Your Pocket Day, a poetrypalooza, was co-hosted by school teacher-librarian Shannon Murrells-Allaway and principal Joel Menzies. “If kids will open their minds to poetry, both reading and writing it, most LOVE IT,” commented Murrells-Allaway. “This Poem in Your Pocket reading event was great. It is exciting watching and listening to the kids enjoy reading their own crafted poems, and/or sharing poetry of another’s,” she added.
It was kicked off by Salmon Arm Mayor (and former Bastion principal) Al Harrison who shared his two year old granddaughter’s favourite poem about a dentist and a crocodile, and Superintendent of Schools Peter Jory, who shared a poem about camping and toasting marshmallows.
This was followed by a slate of students sharing their free verse, Haiku, rhymed, narrative, and blank verse poetry.
Murrells-Allaway noted that this was the first time they had tried a poetry reading like this and they were were delighted with the turnout, the poetry and the enthusiasm.
