With the spotlight shining brightly and the ambience of the jazz band, the mood was officially set for one of Pines Charter’s most cherished traditions. Students and staff came together to celebrate the beauty of spoken word at Recite Night. This was Charter’s 9th annual showcase of poetry and performance, a night where words took center stage and students became storytellers.
This year, the auditorium was decorated with a warm and inviting atmosphere, featuring a string light backdrop that accurately reflected the ‘Under the Stars’ theme. The true stars of the evening, however, were the performers, who each lit up the stage with their recitations. Thirty students stepped into the spotlight, each bringing their own style and interpretation.
For experienced junior performer Faith Bannosian, who placed second in last year’s competition behind Janessa Montilla, the school’s two-time Poetry Out Loud Champion, her “favorite part about participating in Poetry Out Loud is watching every participant recite their poems with their own individual interpretations of them.”
She implemented her own twist when performing her poem “Time Does Not Bring Relief; You All Have Lied” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. When asked about her own journey, Bannosian added, “I felt more motivated to study and rehearse my poem after being runner-up last year. Seeing how far Poetry Out Loud got Janessa also really inspired me to want to qualify for the second stage and hopefully states as well.”
As for senior performer and NEHS President, Sofia Peralta who performed “Ashes of Life” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the event itself was more than what it seems to her: “This competition is meaningful for many students because it gives them the chance to freely showcase another side to themselves. It also gives them the opportunity to gain confidence by doing something outside of their comfort zones in such a comfortable environment.”
Peralta expressed gratitude for the team effort that makes Recite Night so special, saying, “Ms. Phelps, the NEHS board, the Jazz Band musicians, and our member volunteers work hard to completely transform the atmosphere of the River of Grass, creating a chill environment.”
When it came to the behind the scenes, Peralta also found organizing this year’s event especially rewarding. “When the lights turn off and the only thing aglow is the starry backdrop that we spent hours putting up, I feel proud knowing I had a part in organizing such an amazing event,” she said.
With cookies and warm milk in hand, the audience lingered and embraced the warmth of the night and of the holiday season overall. Ultimately, celebrating not only poetry, but also the bravery and talent of every performer who served as a reminder to everyone that words have the power to inspire, connect, and transform.
The top 10 performers at this year’s NEHS Recite Night were Faith Bannosian, Ava Mendez, Dante Perez, Joellie Medina, Annabelle Acevedo, Joseph Koch, Emmanuel Baptiste, Sydney Henrichus, Sarah Zhang, and Isabella Laverde.
