The school creating the next generation of writers

About four years ago,Peakhurst Public School principal Sally Lawson set out with a simple mission:to improve students’ writing skills.

Since then,the school in Sydney’s south has quickly gained a reputation for fostering the talents of the next generation of talented young writers.

Hillary Yuan (right) and Sophie Choker won awards at the recent WriteOn literary competition.

Hillary Yuan (right) and Sophie Choker won awards at the recent WriteOn literary competition.Edwina Pickles

It has picked up five awards in three years at the state’s WriteOn competition,including a gold medal this week,and has produced strong student test results.

Lawson credits the school’s success to its renewed focus on writing and the creation of a new teaching role:instructional leader in literacy.

“When I first came to the school just over four years ago,we had a look at our writing and believed we could do better,” she said. “I looked at the staff and saw that we had a teacher that was a really good practitioner and good in that area.

“My role I think is to identify very talented staff and put them into an area where we actually soak up all their skills.”

Year 3 student Hillary Yuan was this week awarded a gold medal at the WriteOn awards,the state’s creative writing competition for primary school students. She was among 18 children in the state to be recognised,after entering a poem calledMemories So Fair.

Students were required to compose a work based on a stimulus photograph of children at a sideshow game,with prizes hanging on the stall.

Hillary said she loves creative writing because it makes her feel happier when she’s upset,and she takes inspiration from her favourite books and authors.

“One of my favourite authors is Enid Blyton because she teaches me lots of new lessons on how to use your imagination and appreciate life,” she said.

“Two of my favourite books areThe Secret Garden andMatilda. I really like the character development and how it comes from sad and miserable to happy and exciting.”

She was joined by year 5 student Sophie Choker who won a silver medal for her poemDraw Of The Prize.

The school’s success in writing has not been limited to competition wins,with the latest NAPLAN results showing it has made above-average progress in writing between 2019 and 2021.

Merryn Whitfield is the school’s instructional leader in literacy and works with teachers and students on their writing.

“We find little snippets of quality literature that we can then bring back into the classroom to engage students and show them good models,” she said. “Then we work with them slowly to develop their skills,so they feel comfortable and confident to write on their own.”

She said she was amazed by the quality of the students’ work and hoped they would continue with creative writing.

“It gives me goosebumps;when you read them for the first time you just go ‘wow’,” Whitfield said. “I’d buy their books!”

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Daniella White is the higher education reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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