English - Special Events
Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival
On Tuesday in Week 6, Australian children's author Jacqueline Harvey visited our school as part of the Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival school program, delivering an inspiring talk to Year 7 students about finding inspiration for writing fiction. With over 60 books to her name—including the popular Alice-Miranda and Kensy and Max series—Harvey has sold more than two million copies worldwide.
Drawing on her 20-year career in education, Harvey shared how she finds inspiration in both everyday experiences and more unusual moments. She emphasised that the spark for a story often begins with curiosity and research—into new places, different cultures, and even ancient worlds. Her engaging anecdotes and humorous delivery captivated the Year 7 audience, making the session both entertaining and educational.
Generous with her advice, Harvey encouraged students to write the kinds of stories they would enjoy reading and to look to their own lives for inspiration. Students left the session motivated and equipped with practical strategies to develop their creative writing. Her visit was a memorable and valuable experience that deepened our students’ understanding of the writing process.
Thank you for visiting Jacqueline, and thanks to Sharon Brennan in the library for facilitating the Bellingen festival's schools visit.
Bell Shakespeare visit
In Term 2 students from Years 8 and 10 were invited to a performance by the Bell Shakespeare Players. The Players are Bell Shakespeare’s touring ensemble of professional artists who bring Shakespeare to life in schools and communities across Australia. Established by renowned Actor/Director John Bell, what began in a circus tent in Sydney in 1990 has grown into a theatre company with unrivalled reach and impact, delivering mainstage productions and an education and outreach program to every state and territory, ensuring classic theatre experiences are accessible to all Australians.
The production introduced Year 8 to the language and times of William Shakespeare and to the world of drama. They are able to gain an understanding of the nature of Shakespeare's plays through an entertaining and engaging performance.
Year 10 took a closer look at the themes presented in Shakespeare's work, Macbeth, in preparation for their study later this year. The performance was interactive and this year we had a guest actor, Cory Blight, who did an amazing performance as King Duncan.
Bell Shakespeare involves students and teachers in a range of programs that take place in Sydney and around the country. We were lucky to have Mr Muschal from the drama team travel to Sydney last year to work with the Bell Shakespeare team. These kinds of experiences add to the skills and abilities of our drama teachers to inspire and mentor the next generation of dramatists.
Leader of Learning / Assistant - English