Sunbury Heights Primary School students became authors last Friday as they launched their own book as part of a writing workshop program.
Hosted as the final stage of children’s education charity Ardoch’s four-week Writer in Residence program, year five and six students were presented with a copy of an anthology featuring their own stories and illustrations on Friday, October 11.
Through the program, the workshops aim to promote creativity and literacy, storytelling, and writing skills.
The workshops were led by children’s book author Anna Battese, who said that students learnt useful writing skills.
“It’s an opportunity for budding storytellers to learn how to develop a great idea, plot an interesting story arc, develop believable characters, use interesting language and description and of course, what to do when the dreaded writer’s block strikes!” Ms Battese said.
“Participants get to build their confidence and exercise their imagination by creating an entire, brilliant story from a small spark of an idea they’ve had. That skill is magic to witness,” she said.
“If I had to guess what they most enjoyed, it was perhaps the chance to let their imaginations loose, and truly own their stories without having to feel completely bound by a set topic or process.”
Sunbury Heights Primary School student Niharika said that her favourite part of the workshops was “having the opportunity to be a part of the front cover design, with many of us contributing.”
Ardoch is a children’s education charity that aims to improve educational outcomes for children and young people.
