Waterways Storymaking Festival

Year Eight pupil Katie Reid, pictured alongside Grosvenor’s Librarian Mme Brown, proudly displays her certificate following victory in the prestigious ‘Waterways Storymaking Festival’ 2019.

Congratulations to Grosvenor pupil Katie Reid, Year Eight, who recently secured victory in the Under 11 category of the prestigious ‘Waterways Storymaking Festival 2019’.

Back on Monday 21st October 2019, Grosvenor pupils involved in the Eco club welcomed Olive Broderick to its School Library for a creative writing workshop based on the subject of “the waterways around us”. This workshop was facilitated by the Waterways community for the Waterways Storymaking Festival 2019, to encourage local people to record their memories and create stories about the waterways that bring them together.

The workshop was very mindful of the pupils’ moods, with relaxing music and visual props to initiate their creative flow. After reminiscing about places close to the pupils’ hearts and expressing emotions linked to these places, the students were encouraged to produce a piece of writing which developed their listening and writing skills in a supportive environment.

All pupils present were encouraged to submit their poems and the stories they had created for the Waterways competition before the end of October. Following this, and after a period of judging, the School was delighted when it was recently notified that Katie’s poem, entitled ‘My River’, had been chosen as winner of the Under 11 age-group.

Congratulations to Katie for producing such a peaceful and evocative poem and many thanks to the Waterways Festival team for coordinating this highly worthwhile workshop. Grosvenor’s Librarian, Mme Brown, is hoping to participate in further such creative events and will let pupils know of any upcoming competitions in the Library.

Katie’s poem is featured below:

‘My River’

As my river flows fast and free,

And birds call down at me from the trees,

My senses come alive in me,

Whilst I stand there quietly.

No one else can be seen

As I admire the beauty by the stream.

The trees stand there tall and proud

Saluting the river as a choir of birds sing aloud,

And the sky is blue and very clear

As I enjoy the beauty to which my heart is so near.