Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices to Showcase Students From San Diego and Portland

By Eileen Wingard
 
Eileen Wingard

LA JOLLA, California — Once again, the Student Showcase of Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices will take place online. This allows for student poets, not only from San Diego but from the Middle School of the Portland Jewish Academy, to also participate.

This year’s Student Showcase will take place Tuesday evening, March 14, at 7 p.m. In addition to the first hour of student poetry, there will be a half hour of open mic, open to both students and adults. Register here for the Zoom link and email alyssam@lfjcc.org to sign up for open mic.

The Student Showcase will feature eight students from the San Diego Jewish Academy, including four from the eighth grade, one ninth grader and three 12th graders. During its 15-year history, all the Jewish day schools and religious schools have been invited, but the one school that has participated in every Student Showcase has been the San Diego Jewish Academy — where, under the leadership of their Middle School and High School Humanities Chair, Sara Hansen, poetry writing is an integral part of their curriculum. The four English teachers are: Linda Rosenberg, Brendan Riley, Stacey Goldblatt, and Travis Pelletier.

This year, for the first time, two 12th grade poets will be participating from Torah High School. These two young women were recorded in advance because they are leaving this Sunday on Torah High’s senior trip to Poland and Spain.

The Portland Jewish Academy will be represented by nine students from grades six and seven. My daughter, Harriet Wingard, who teaches humanities in their Middle School and conducts a weekly after-school writing workshop, is the Portland Jewish Academy conduit for student poets.

During the 15-year history of Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices, there have been frequent Student Showcases. At first, they were scheduled every other year. Recently, they have been presented yearly. They have become a highlight of the series, reflecting the feelings and thoughts of our youth. It is a program not to be missed.
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Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com