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Ideafest Poetry Competition

Poetry Submissions

In conjunction with the district’s IdeaFest project-based learning event, we are excited to launch the IdeaFest Poetry Awards, a judged poetry competition that invites students of all ages to explore and express their connections, feelings, and visions related to their hometown – Fresno. This unique competition is aligned with the theme of IdeaFest, and it aims to celebrate the voices, elevate the talents, and showcase the diverse experiences and perspectives of our students.

Goals:

  1. Celebrate the Community: Encourage students to explore what makes Fresno special to them, and how it shapes their identity, culture, and experiences.
  2. Elevate Creativity: Promote creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression through the medium of poetry.
  3. Advocate for Understanding: Foster empathy and understanding by allowing students to share their unique perspectives about Fresno, thus building a stronger community connection.

Competition Details:

  • Eligibility: Open to all TK-12 students within the district.
  • Theme: “Fresno… my home. Celebrate, Elevate, Advocate.”
  • Submission Guidelines: Original poems, not exceeding 250 words, that relate to the theme. Individual and collaborative submissions are welcome.
  • School Submission Limit: To ensure a high standard of excellence and manageability, each school is requested to submit a maximum of their top five entries per grade level for district-level competition.
  • Judging Criteria: Conveyance of a message, relevance to the theme, and use of poetic devices.
  • Awards: District-level finalists will be featured in a printed book, which will be available in all district libraries.
  • Deadline for poetry submissions: March 22nd. **Please submit the 5 entries per grade level directly to ideafest@fresnounified.org