NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A full boardroom of Apple executives teleconferenced in from the tech giant’s Cupertino, California, headquarters recently to get feedback from 30 New Rochelle High School POEM Project students. The discussion focused on Apple’s entire suite of filmmaking and media products, from their entry-level, social media-focused app Clips, right up to their professional level platform Final Cut Pro.
English teacher Anthony Stirpe’s POEM Project – now five years old – is a yearly undertaking that sees students create a series of five films that revolve around poetry. The goal: Make poetry more accessible through filmmaking. It is a perfect example of Apple’s Everyone Can Create curriculum, which was launched with the idea of providing guides for teaching students to develop and communicate ideas through drawing, photography, video and music, and bringing these skills into any lesson, topic, or assignment.
Stirpe had the idea of merging English and filmmaking by utilizing iPads and the myriad media apps Apple offers.
“The POEM Project is one of the first mobile device filmmaking programs that was out there,” said Stirpe.
As an early adopter of the technology, the New Rochelle program won a New York State English Program of the Year award in 2015 and an honor from The Center for Digital Education in 2016, for “breaking new ground in the use of digital content and curriculum.”
“We’re also one of just four programs that were acknowledged during the launch of the latest iPad,” added Stirpe. “How exciting that at New Rochelle we have one of a select few programs from around the globe that have been featured in Apple communications?”
Over the years, Apple has frequently checked in on New Rochelle students’ projects, and offered positive feedback. This time, Apple wanted the students’ advice on how they used the apps when they create. The Apple execs wanted honest feedback, including what they might change, and they loved the students’ input.
“They found the students were honest and very articulate,” said Stirpe, adding that the Apple contingent also noted how well-versed in filmmaking the students were, coming from an English background.
“We have accomplished so much since our first year, and it is amazing to see how much Apple cares about, and respects, our work,” said Elizabeth Muriel, class of 2019. “It is great to know that they are committed to making positive changes for people who use their products, and it is remarkable to know that I am part of that process.”
Last year, Mr. Stripe was honored with a Distinguished Educator Award from Apple, for creating and leading the program. View videos from NRHS’s POEM Project on Stirpe’s YouTube Channel .