Over the last week all 3 campuses of Newington College participated in the biennial Literature Festival. We were very excited to be able to bring quality literary experiences to our students. Throughout the event, the students explored ways that story can be told. 

Tony Wilson, author of The Cow Tripped over the Moon, engaged Kindergarten to Year 2 boys in how he creates a twist on well-known and loved rhymes. He also shared the skill of considering the backstory (a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot)  to rhymes. The boys re-worked Humpty Dumpty using these skills. We were very fortunate to have Tony visit our school as his book was chosen for 2017 National Simultaneous Storytime. 

They also shared stories with Kate Forsyth, the author of many books for children, young adults and adults. The boys were particularly interested in her little treasure box which held many trinkets some of which were very valuable. All of these had a story to tell. 

Years 3 and 4 shared stories with Jack Heath and Tim Harris and participated in a writing workshop with Christopher Richardson. The students explored worlds of fantasy and explosions and storytelling of an extreme nature. 

Years 5 and 6 collaborated on illustration as story with Matthew Lin creating their images in Manga and cartoon styles. James Phelan’s writing uses people he knows well as characters in his books and Jack Heath shared his early writing experiences having his first book published at the age of 19 and within the next 12 months will have published another 5. 

All classes participated in movement as story in a drama and theatre workshop. 

This type of event helps us to promote literature and a love of reading. Our visiting authors all shared the same message…start (writing or drawing), keep going (with writing or drawing), accept failures as learning (because we don’t learn unless we make mistakes), and enjoy what you are doing. 

“My heartfelt thanks to all of you for the invitation to the Newington Literature Festival for 2017. Without doubt, the festival was one of the highlights of my life as an author. It was inspiring to visit a school with such great love of reading and writing. The staff and students and parent volunteers were unfailing in their hospitality, and the planning was impeccable.” Christopher Richardson 

“Thanks for having me as part of the 2017 Newington Lit fest, I had a great time! Cool students, very cool staff and authors!!” Matthew Lin

Sue Gough – Teacher/Librarian/PYP Co-ordinator