CALL FOR SCHOOL PARTICIPATION: 4th Annual Guam Poetry Out Loud Competition

• CAHA, Guam’s state arts agency, invites students in grades 9 to 12 to join the annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) Program.
• POL is a national education initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that helps students across the U.S. and its territories explore great poetry through memorization and performance.
• The winner from Guam will represent the island and compete with 54 other state and territory winners at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals, taking place from May 5-7, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

School Registration Deadline: December 21, 2024

School principals who wish to involve their students in the Poetry Out Loud program are encouraged to contact Jackie Balbas, the Guam State Poetry Out Loud Coordinator. She can be reached at (671) 300-7584 or (671) 456-5387, or via email at jacqueline.balbas@caha.guam.gov for further information.


POETRY OUT LOUD REGISTRATION FORM

Poetry Out Loud is designed to involve students in grades 9 through 12. By registering, a school is conveying their intent to participate in the program. Once registration is complete, a confirmation email will be sent to the program school contact/coordinator. Poetry Out Loud program updates will be sent out periodically. Please note the two primary deadlines identified below.


Deadlines

• In-school competitions must take place by Friday, February 21, 2025.
• State/Territory finals (island-wide competition) will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at a venue to be determined.

*If you are interested in having your school participate in the Poetry Out Loud program, please complete the Google form.

DEADLINE FOR SCHOOLS TO REGISTER FOR POETRY OUT LOUD IS December 21, 2024.


Program Questions

If you have any questions regarding Poetry Out Loud, please get in touch with the Guam POL State Coordinator:

Jackie Balbas, Program Coordinator IV

Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA)

jacqueline.balbas@caha.guam.gov