Poetry Slam update

In the past few sessions, there have still not been any new members. Only Katrina, Sam, Audrey and me. Even when we put up a notice offering free food... D:

Audrey and I met with the English Department to sell the idea of the Poetry Slam. They said it was a good idea, and we left with the task of compiling a slideshow presentation of some sort to introduce the activity to students.

Here it is (or rather a cropped screenshot of the mac preview of it, since I still haven't figured out how to upload keynote files to blogger):

After that, still no new members.

We continued to run the activity. We continued to plan. The structure has been finalised.

(copied from doc):

SIS Poetry Slam

Name: Slam!
Annual Event.
Straight Finals, in anticipation of low rate of participation

If many people: Heats after school, OR just have scheduled auditions for each entrant at lunch times, depending on number of people who sign up.

Friday afternoon, April 1, in (preferably) Hall.
Split event into age-based sections: Senior Division (y10-13), Junior Division (y7-9)
Split into sections for cover performances and own compositions
Enforce rule of at least 1 person from each tutor group?

As the event gains prestige and competitors year by year, it can perhaps be allocated an evening, like the Winter and Spring concerts, school plays, Innovation, and International Evening.

Rules and Judging

• Split sections: cover performance and own poems?
• Any genre of poetry
• No props, costumes or musical instruments.
• 3 minutes (w/ 10-sec grace period) to read 1 poem. If the poet goes over time, points shall be deducted from the total score.
• Judged by 5 judges
• Judges give scores from 0 to 10 based on content and performance. 5 for content, 5 for performance.
• Lowest and highest scores dropped, middle 3 added to give a total out of 30.
• Audience encouraged to respond to the poets or the judges in any way they see fit. Gives the event a much more sport-like atmosphere and encourages more energy and enthusiasm. No poet is beyond critique; all are at the mercy of the audience.

Awards and Prizes

• Trophy and Certificate for Winner. Certificate for runner up. (Mr. Kane organise)
• Congratulated in a Whole School Assembly (ask Head Prefects after actual event)
• House Points

Raise Awareness

• The Feedback Blog (in the works)
• Bulletin notices (achieved - recycle)
• English classes (in the works)
• House Assemblies (Schweitzer achieved, )
• Whole School Assembly?
• Posters around school (From early-mid March?)
• Start an afterschool activity in term 2 (achieved - need more members)

Participation
CAS hours incentive. And as something to put into one's college app.

The word "poetry" tends to arouse a lot of bad feeling in SIS students. How can we overcome this?
-> Ask Mrs McKee to email House Captains to tell Houses to have min 1 participant from each tutor group

Posters (designed by Katrina) and a facebook group were used. (We need to put up more posters, actually.)

Now, the actual date of April 1 is drawing nearer. Looks gloomy...