‘Freepoetry’ at FHS Unites Two High Schools

The Leader (Freeport, NY): January 1, 2009

            It was a day of free expression and an outlet for emotions as nearly 100 students from two high schools participated in Freeport’s second poetry festival – “A Day of Freepoetry.”

            Creative writing students from Oceanside joined Freeport in an all-day event of morning workshops, student poetry readings and performances by guest poet Kayo and his associates from Urbintel Prtoductions, a poetry/theatrical entertainment company.

            Coordinated by Freeport High School’s creative writing teacher Mark Spanier, the event not only served as a means of showcasing the talents of the students, it provided an outlet for students to express themselves.

            To help refine that outlet, Kayo and other poets from Urbintel have been coaching Spanier’s students in their poetry writing since September. Their work was evidenced in the packed school library as Freeport’s young writers presented their poems with passion and conviction.

            Students from each school were selected to share their poems which brought the audience through journeys of self-reflection, non-conformity and working through grief.

            “Poetry came naturally to me, said Freeport High School senior Jonathan Debrosse. “I’ve learned I can write about anything—there are no boundaries.” Jonathan also thanks poetry for helping him deal with feelings of loss after his dad died.

            Students were also entertained by the animated and thought-provoking performances by Urbintel Productions. By the end of the event, they had the group participate in some singing and hand-clapping as a guitarist performed.