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Butte County Office of Education

Butte County Office of Education

About Poetry Out Loud

About Poetry Out Loud

The Butte County Office of Education in partnership with Friends of the Arts is proud to present the Butte County Poetry Out Loud competition.

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Poetry Foundation, and the California Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud inspires high school students to discover and appreciate poetry through a combination of memorization, performance, and competition.

Poetry Out Loud (POL), founded in 2006, is an extraordinary opportunity for all high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Each year, 365,000 students across the nation, with over 50,000 students in California alone—participate in Poetry Out Loud. The Poetry Out Loud program begins with classroom and school-wide competitions, with winners advancing to county, state, and national levels. POL focuses on poetry as an oral art form, like slam poetry and rap music. Through poetry, students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and internalize our rich literary heritage.
 
The national Poetry Out Loud competition is open to all high school students (public, private, parochial, independent, continuation, court, charter and home schools). Students enter the POL competition through their high schools. A school POL liaison may be a teacher, a librarian, or a school staff member.
Find a poem
2024-2025 Event Details

2024-2025 Event Details

School Registration Deadline
November 1, 2024
 
School Champion Registration Deadline
November 1, 2024
 
Media Release Form due
November 1, 2024
 
Butte County Poetry Out Loud Finals
Friday, November 15, 2024
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. (Students should plan to arrive by 9:30 A.M.)
Butte County Office of Education (Board Room)
1859 Bird St., Oroville, CA 95965
Note: Poetry Out Loud contestants are advised to dress professionally.
More Information

More Information

For more information about Poetry Out Loud, please contact Student Events Coordinator Mary Ellen Garrahy.
                     Poetry Foundation Logo                                     Friends of the Arts Logo
 
Art Works Logo
California Arts Council Logo
 
            
Previous Year's Highlights

Previous Year's Highlights

Poetry Out Loud Students

Second Place Poetry Out Loud Winner

Poetry Out Loud Image

Student Reciting Poem

Photo of Judges

Student Photo

The 2022-2023 Butte County Poetry Out Loud Winner, Phoebe Parks, posing with medal and certificate. 
Student Phoebe Parks holding up winning Poetry Out Loud medal and certificate
2022-2023 Poetry Out Loud Winner
Butte County Champion, Phoebe Parks, at the 2022-2023 State Competition
Picture of poetry out loud student smiling
Poetry out loud student posing in front of building for picture
Group of students gathered together for picture