LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District high school students recently got the chance to Skype with Nikki Giovanni in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Giovanni is a poet, whose African-American-themed works include “The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni,” “The Prosaic Soul of Nikki Giovanni” and “The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni.”

The event occurred April 17 at the LaPlace library with students from West St. John High School and their teacher Dr. Kimberly Handy and students from East St. John High School and their teacher Julie Jackson participating with Giovanni.

LaPlace library supervisor JoAnn Proctor coordinated the Skype event because April is National Poetry Month.

Proctor said the students were prepared and asked Giovanni questions concerning her poetry.

Students also spent time collaborating on various works.