Aristoi Classical Academy’s Second Annual Goblet of Apollo – Tea & PoetryCompetition on February 15th, 2019

More than 90 spectators enjoyed Aristoi Classical Academy’s Second Annual Goblet of Apollo – Tea & Poetry
Competition on February 15th, 2019. The poetry and performance contest included more than 180 5th and
6th-grade scholars at Aristoi’s Upper School on Morton Road. All types of characters were on hand, from the
“Minute Men” team reciting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s, “Paul Revere’s Ride” to Team L’amour Vient
reciting “Love’s Coming” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox to Team Red Phoenix and their selection of “Don’t Go off,
Not Even for a Day” by Pablo Neruda. Each class created their team name, banner, and the characters they
represented. If not in costume, scholars were in their tea party best and treated to several confections, tea
sandwiches, fruit, and other treats. The Spice and Tea Exchange from LaCenterra, this year’s tea sponsor,
brewed and steeped scrumptious tea for the students and parents to enjoy.

“We wanted to provide an experience for our scholars – one unlike any other. We achieved that for both our
scholars and the adults in attendance,” an exuberant Brittany Revia, Aristoi’s sixth-grade English and History
teacher and co-chair of the event added. “Our scholars were well-rehearsed, well-coached, knew their
performance gestures, proudly marched to the stage, and gave it their all for the audience. It was beautiful to
watch them and to enjoy their performances.”

This year’s champion was the sixth-grade team, Dwarves of Yore, complete with scholars adorning beards,
much like the dwarves from J. R. R. Tolkein’s classic, “The Hobbit”. Their recitation of “Far Over the Misty
Mountains Cold” won the famed goblet. Mrs. Durst, poetry coach and sixth-grade teacher of the winners said,
“What an experience! All of the students were amazing! To have 180 students dive into poetry, analyze it,
interpret it, and give it meaning is simply a gift. And to have the Dwarves of Yore team walk away with the
Goblet of Apollo trophy was precious.”

The audience was treated to recitations of “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron, “Friendship” by Henry David
Thoreau, and Pablo Beruda’s “I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You”. Because the classes are
studying Medieval History, a Bard Contest was also part of the event. Sixth-grade scholar, Jackie Netanel was
deemed the victor of the Bard category with her impassioned recitation of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “Sympathy”.
Attendees were also treated to the beautiful sounds of the harp, played by Aristoi’s sixth-grade student, Hannah
Blackmon, while the judges contemplated the victors.
About Aristoi Classical Academy

Aristoi Classical Academy is a free, public charter school offering classical education to students in grades
K-12. Aristoi currently has two campuses in historic Katy with a total enrollment of more than 900 students.
Aristoi’s mission is to provide students with a free, academically challenging Classical Liberal Arts education
that encourages them to develop a passion for learning and that gives them the means to become responsible
citizens of virtuous character.

To learn more about Aristoi Classical Academy, visit www.arisoticlassical.org or contact us at 281-391-5003.
For more information contact: Heather Lamb, Marketing, 281-371-0700