‘Oh! The places you’ll go!’ Dr. Seuss once said.
To celebrate Book Week in 2024 students from Years 5-11 took part in our inaugural Writers’ Festival, attending workshops and lectures by a range of acclaimed Australian authors and illustrators, and exploring new cultures, ideas and art forms.
Sarah Ayoub, author of The cult of romance and Hate is such a strong word, talked with Year 8,9 and 11 students about her experience growing up in the Lebanese community in Australia, her path to a successful career in journalism and shared her passion for young women to be empowered by their own personal stories. Sarah’s own personal story, particularly her romantic love story, greatly inspired our students.
Year 7 and 9 English students were treated to a session with Pip Harry. Pip shared the inspiring real-life story behind her highly acclaimed book August & Jones, which celebrates the power of friendship to overcome adversity. This must read book is now a favourite part of the Year 6 Accendo program.
A passion for human experience underpins Wai Chim’s writing. She shared with our Year 7 and 9 students her definition of creativity, bringing new ideas to existing cultures and to always keep trying and experimenting. Wai Chim explores Chinese culture and her childhood growing up as part of the diaspora in her writing. Her diaspora identity is evident in her book Freedom Swimmer, inspired by her father. Her stories of her time as a contestant on Australian Survivor: Brains vs Braun were also a highlight.
Debut author Graham Akhurst read to our Year 11 students from his novel Borderland and shared his proud Indigenous heritage. Isabel reflected that ‘It was really interesting to learn how his fiction writing was inspired by his own life experiences, and the in depth process of proofreading and consultation that is within the writing process.’ Isabelle continued ‘I am so grateful to have heard Mr Akhurst’s brief synopsis of the novel, as well as his readings of selected excerpts, as it encouraged me, along with my friends, to learn more about the deeper meanings of the book. His presentation allowed us to gain further insight into the importance of accurate cultural representation within literature, and how reading a diverse range of genres can provoke different demographics to explore new types of stories.’
Year 9 Visual Art students were fortunate to attend a masterclass with Indigenous artist Charmaine Leddin-Lewis, who emphasized it is important to find a medium you like, use quality materials and remember to play with art. Charmaine has illustrated picture books for Bruce Pascoe and Cathy Freeman. Chloe resonated with Charmaine’s message that pictures unite us regardless of language barriers. Charmaine shared with Gioia House the visual power of emojis, inspiring Year 6 students to begin writing their own emoji stories in Library Wide Reading lessons.
Capping off Book Week this year, the library held a Book Week Parade for students in Years 5-12 to share their favourite books and characters. Raising over $500 for Room to Read, a not-for-profit charity aiming to improve literacy through gender equality in girls’ education through books written in local languages to encourage a habit of reading. Students and staff wholeheartedly embraced this initiative with enthusiasm and great joy. Our winners for Best Costumes went to Evangeline, whose Alice in Wonderland outgrew her house, Rose (Madeline), Kate (Scientist Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry) and Ms Akkari (Beetlejuice).
So as predicted by Dr. Seuss, this Book Week saw students and staff travel through time and place, meet new people, experience new cultures and envision possible literary and artistic futures, and we can’t wait to see all the places our students’ll go.
