Year 8 Poetry Slam

Poetry Slam Final 

The Year 8 cohort's foray into slam poetry reached its conclusion on Thursday 25th June, with the Poetry Slam Final held in the Gym to a packed house of cheering classmates. 

Following the energy of the initial incursion sessions — led by visiting poets Emilie Zoey Baker, N'fa Jones, and Sista Zai Zanda — and lessons spent crafting, rehearsing, and battling it out in class heats, the very best poems and poets from across the cohort took to the stage for one final showdown. 

The Final was hosted by N'fa Jones, who kept the crowd warmed up between performances. He was joined on the judging panel by fellow visiting poet Emilie Zoey Baker ("EZB"), Ms Balis, and special guest judge Xavier Down — the reigning 2025 champion, now in Year 9, who returned to assess this year's crop of contenders. 

In total, an impressive 22 poems and 47 poets took the stage, showcasing the breadth of talent, voice, and creativity the cohort has developed. 

This years winners are: 

• First place: Leo Simpson-Henry, Fletcher Ingram, Birch Gale, and Lucien Mills (8A) 
• Second place: Alice McKenna (8F) 
• Third place: Benjamin Olmstead, Iggy Jones, and Bea Murrell-Carey (8G) 

• Special mention for best performance: Harlan Webb (8D) 

   

The three place-getting teams now ears a well-deserved invitation to next year's OutLoud Poetry Slam Final, held during Melbourne Writers' Week at the Wheeler Centre — a fantastic opportunity to take their talents to an even bigger stage. 

Congratulations to all the poets who took part this term. From the very first incursion sessions to the final showdown in the Gym, the Year 8 cohort has shown just how powerful — and fun — finding your voice can be.