Isla Roen, Section Editor
Featured image contributed by Mr. Egan
Dozens of NCHS students, faculty and staff were drawn to the Wagner Room on April 23rd for Poetry Fest. For two and a half hours, the room becomes a world of poetry, welcome to all students, parents, and community members.
Poetry Fest has been a spring tradition at NCHS for over twenty years, making it an annual celebration of the artistic language students have created. This year, over sixty students submitted pieces to the event, ranging from freshman to seniors. Students that attended were able to read, celebrate, and share their poetry while enjoying a variety of baked goods and snacks to further elevate the experience.
Students submitted their poems on a Google Form provided by their English teachers, a development that has improved accessibility in recent years. In the past, poems were emailed to Kristin Brown, an NCHS English teacher who has been organizing Poetry Fest for most of its duration. “It was difficult to keep students to a deadline without the form,” said Ms. Brown. “Now, the process is much more organized and accessible to a wider range of students.”
Among the submitted poems was a variety of styles, lengths, and meanings. “It’s open to all students,” said Ms. Brown. “We’ve tried to keep it that way so that there’s one writing event with opportunities for everyone, regardless of ability.” Students had the choice to submit any of their poetry pieces, either written in their English classes or on their own.
Some of the poets chose to give short introductions to their pieces, helping the audience to understand the backstory and inspiration behind their words. Others used props to further develop the imagery in their story telling. Sophomore Jason Lin, for example, used a telephone to illustrate a conversation between himself and a childhood friend that inspired his poem.
Overall, the 2026 Poetry fest was a great opportunity for students to share work. “It’s such a supportive crowd and I love that aspect of the event; that there’s something there for everybody,” said Ms. Brown.
