Windward’s 7th Grade English program recently welcomed Los Angeles–based poets Micah Bournes and Douglas Manuel for a guest lesson as part of the Visiting Poets Program, an experience that culminated in a vibrant Poetry Festival.
The festival transformed the new Innovation and Arts Center into a celebration of student voice, with tables displaying original poems and artwork. Selected students from each class took the stage to perform their work alongside Bournes and Manuel, creating a powerful exchange between young writers and professional poets. The event also featured a show-stopping performance by Windward’s poet-in-residence, Brendan Constantine.
Parents, teachers, students, and visiting poets gathered to celebrate poetry inspired by cherished objects, iconic works of art, superhero alter egos, and the colors, scents, and places that feel like home. The festival was a joyful reflection of creativity, community, and the power of language to connect us all.