PUPILS at Selwood Academy enjoyed a well-being week in conjunction with Frome’s Missing Link project.
Children were encouraged to walk or cycle to school and were rewarded with a healthy breakfast or smoothie. Activities during the week included First Aid sessions, Bushcraft and a climbing wall and giant games. £608 was raised by filling plastic bottles with small change and a non-uniform day.
Also Year 8 recently enjoyed a visit from Gemma Fowler, a science-fiction author and writer of Moondust.
Gemma read excerpts from her book, exploring the themes of resilience and law and order in the sci-fi genre. She also gave inspirational ideas to the students to help them with their own creative writing. Gemma then spent time with students answering questions and signing books.
“Meeting Gemma was a good experience. She talked about how to write a good story. I never thought I could write about something I love until she said. She also told us there are no rules in writing – which is really cool.
I think the front cover is really amazing. It makes me want to read more. I also love how it says on the back “read page 44” because that is what I did, and them wanted to read it from the start” Megan Yr 8
“I liked Gemma’s talk because she was funny, interesting and talked about “mortal engines” and it’s about space” Wulfgar Yr 8
“Meeting Gemma gave me some opportunities to ask about writing because I’m writing a book very slowly so she gave me some really good advice “ Eloise Yr 8
“It was an exciting experience when Gemma talked about her favourite moons “ Zoe yr 8
“The interesting front cover made me want to read it. It was very pleasing to meet an author as you don’t met one every day” Connor Yr 8
“It was lovely meeting Gemma because she was very calm and relaxed. I just wanted to thank Gemma for visiting. It was a great experience” Edward Yr 8
Gemma came to Selwood Academy as part of a wider literacy and creative writing project called Word Up. Delivered in partnership with fifteen local schools and supported with funding from Frome Town Council, Word Up will be produced in collaboration with Paper Nations and Bath Festivals as part of the Year of Writing. Funded by Arts Council England’s strategic grant for Creative Writing in Schools, Paper Nations is a new creative writing hub for young people.
