‘I remember that I was on my way to the Earl of something-or-other’s house, a mile or so away…’
If that reads like the start of an engrossing children’s story, then you’d be right! It’s the beginning of Year 9 Glen Waverley student Milandra’s story, ‘The Wood's Secret’, which won a High Commendation in this year’s Kids News Story Writing Competition. Esteemed Australian children’s author, Jackie French, headed the jury for the nationwide competition which attracted 6,000 entrants.
Last term, Language and Literature teacher Miranda Ferrie invited interested students to enter the competition, and a cohort of Year 8 and 9 students took up the opportunity. A lunchtime writer’s workshop was established in which students went through the essential writing process of planning, drafting and editing their creations. Many lunch times were spent sitting on the grass, under the trees, sharing their work with one another and providing peer feedback.
Seven students entered the competition; their compositions varied widely, but each piece was outstanding, each student was a storyteller and each student deserved a prize!
Milandra’s story was beautifully written; evocative, descriptive and imaginative. Of note was how Milandra accepted feedback from her peers throughout the development process: with grace and modesty. She wrote several iterations of her story before completing the final draft.
Congratulations to Milandra for this wonderful achievement. She is featured on the Kids News website and was thrilled to win a book pack from HarperCollins publishers.
You can read Milandra’s story here.
