Dear Parents,

Our 2019 Newington LitFest has six events which Wyvern parents are welcome to attend. Please read the details below and register your attendance using the link provided.

Monday May 6th – Wyvern Parent Book Swap

You are invited to Wyvern’s first Parent Book Swap which will be held to launch the 2019 Newington College LitFest on Monday May 6th @ 8:30am – 9:30am in Wyvern Library.

Some information for you to know about the Book Swap:

1. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction but not children’s books.
2. Please bring a maximum of 2 books for the Book Swap. If you only bring one book that is perfectly fine.
3. The book(s) you bring should be a book(s) that you enjoyed reading and think others would like to read.
4. Each person should come prepared to explain why the book they’ve brought is a must-read. Pitch it like your life depends on it. If you would like, consider reading a (brief) excerpt to get everyone in the room intrigued.
5. Come with a sense of fun to meet other like-minded bibliophiles and perhaps, leave with the greatest read of your life!

Please register your attendance using this link:  //eventbrite.com.au/e/59747433181

Wednesday May 8th – Tristan Bancks (Author)

Tristan will be speaking to Years 5 & 6 on Wednesday May 8th @ 8:30am in Wyvern Hall. Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall and the Tom Weekly series. Two Wolves won Honour Book in the 2015 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. It also won the YABBA and KOALA Children’s Choice Awards, as did his latest thriller, The Fall. Detention, a gripping new novel about a daring escape and a lockdown in a school, is out July 2019.

Please register your attendance using this link: //eventbrite.com.au/e/59500657067

Wednesday May 8th – Matt Cosgrove (Author and Illustrator)

Matt will be speaking to Years K to 2 on Wednesday May 8th @ 1:50pm. Matt, lover of words, pictures and books in general, is the author and illustrator of the best-seller Macca the Alpaca, and many other picture books, including My Dad is a Robot. His series, Epic Fail Tales, which includes Snow Man and the Seven Ninjas, Attack of the Giant Robot Zombie Mermaid and Little Stunt Riding Hood, are totally disgusting, yet completely awesome, retellings of classic fairy tales with a twist. Guaranteed no sloppy kissing, no handsome princes and no happily ever after!

Matt’s picture book, Alpacas With Maracas, has been chosen as the National Simultaneous Storytime book for 2019 with the aim of 1 million kids across Australia and New Zealand reading together!

Please register your attendance using this link: //eventbrite.com.au/e/59503315017

Thursday May 9th – Ethics, Democracy and Journalism (in conjuction with the Newington Centre for Ethics)

In an era of so-called fake news, where world leaders malign the media and Facebook can determine election outcomes, is journalism still the lauded Fourth Estate? As business models collapse, reality television stars hold the public spellbound and media managers decide who will be interviewed and what they’ll be asked, is news still ‘what somebody does not want you to print’? Has news become advertising? Or do we live in a world that, thanks to the ability to reach millions with a single post, has never been more democratic, and never more able to expose truth, hypocrisy and folly?

Four of Australia’s most experienced journalists wrestle with what it means to be a journalist when time, competition and commercial considerations mean the very nature of truth is questioned.

When: Thursday 9 May 2019, 6:30pm
Where: Old Boys Lecture Theatre, Newington College
Cost: Free
Contact: Newington College Reception on 02 9568 9333 or contact@newington.nsw.edu.au to reserve your place.

Friday May 10th – Newington LitFest Book Parade @ Wyvern

Time: 8:30am – 9:00am
Where: Wyvern Playground B

The LitFest 2019 Book Character Parade will have the theme ‘Literary Characters from A Time or A Place’. This means that the character has lived in a particular time or a special place in the literary world.  Students are encouraged to plan and organise their costume well in advance of parade day. Each student who dresses up in a costume to support the ‘Room to Read’ organisation, with a gold coin donation, will receive a small gift.

Friday May 10th – Kate Forsyth (Author) The Impossible Quest

Kate will be holding a session with Years 3 & 4 on Friday May 10th @ 12 noon. She is the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of almost forty books, ranging from picture books to poetry to novels for both children and adults. She was recently voted one of Australia’s Favourite 15 Novelists, and has been called “quite possibly … one of the best story tellers of our modern age.’

Kate is an accredited master storyteller. Kate discuss the story behind the inspiration and creation of her bestselling fantasy adventure series for children, The Impossible Quest.

Please register your attendance using this link: //eventbrite.com.au/e/59504899757

Joanne Barnes
Librarian