In April Ocean Township Elementary School students visited township business where they read their poems in celebration of National Poetry Month.
April was National Poetry Month and students in the Ocean Township School district celebrated with a variety of activities including reading their poems at local businesses.
The month culminated n a community-based event called Poem in Your Pocket Weekend, during which students visited local businesses to read poems. It is an annual event with the goals of spreading a love of poetry, practicing public speaking skills, and strengthening the school district’s bond with the community.
This year’s turnout was historic, school staffers said, and not even the rainy weekend keep students from going out and reading their poems.
Poem in Your Pocket Weekend is coordinated annually by the librarians of the Ocean Township School District: Lindsay Burnett at Ocean Township Elementary School, Donna Emeric at Ocean Township High School, Kathy Hackler at Wayside Elementary School, Mike Huston at Township of Ocean Intermediate School, and Lorri Ann Wahlgren at Wanamassa Elementary School. The librarians, as well as district staffers, thanked the businesses for their participation.
The businesses who participated and provided a reward to every reader, were Antonio’s Gourmet Salumeria, Broad Street Dough Co, Greek Guys, Green’s Natural Foods, Hoagitos, International Bites, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Monmouth Clubhouse Deli, Norman’s Hallmark, Oakhurst Pizza, Ocean Township Public Library, Pret a Porter, Prince and the Pawper, Rizzo’s Pizza, Salt Suite, Serpico’s, Shore Cake Supply, Shore Music Academy, and What About a Bagel.
Any family-friendly Ocean Township businesses wishing to participate in the 2024 Poem in Your Pocket Community Weekend are asked to contact one of the district’s librarians.
