Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest sponsored by the Arts Council. It begins at the classroom level with the top students advancing to the school contest. Atkins HS has talented students that make this a very competitive event. Over 100 students tried out for the contest last year, and around a dozen competed at the school event. Our top two students proceeded to the WSFCS district event and finished in the top few in the entire county. The winner at the district level goes all the way to the state contest, and then state winners get a free trip to Washington, DC.

Students have hundreds of poems to choose from at the Poetry Out Loud website; they should find one that really "sounds" like them. At the school and district levels, two poems are needed.  

Atkins teacher Scott Plaster coordinates this competition at Atkins and is also the coordinator for the entire district. The competition begins each November and the school contest is in December. Students should see their English teacher or Mr. Plaster with questions.

Last year's POL competition was won by Marrianna Flores, and she was the first Atkins student to win the WSFCS district contest. She and Alex Mallison both profressed to the state level of POL in Greensboro at the Triad Stage. The previous year, Flores and Alexa Langley advanced to the district level of the competition, and then both advanced to the state level of the competition (the first Atkins students to do so). Langley advanced as one of the nine state finalists, and then even made the top 5, in this competition which started at the classroom level with over 6,000 students from across the state.