The atmosphere at the school was electric this week as pupils and staff came together to celebrate the magic of literature for World Book Week. Embracing the joy of storytelling, the girls engaged in a range of dedicated lessons allowing them to dive into new worlds and discover hidden gems. The corridors were filled with whispers of anticipation during our ‘Secret Reader’ sessions, where mystery guests dropped into classrooms to share their most beloved tales. We also heard the sound of bells being rung throughout the school; this was to signal that it was time for pupils to pause whatever they were doing, pick up their book, and read for five minutes.
In addition to this excitement, we had the thrill and privilege of hosting three brilliant authors. This year’s programme of visiting speakers kicked off on Monday, when Jack Meggitt-Phillips met Years 3 and 4. Jack is the author of the wickedly funny The Beast and the Bethany series, and he had pupils and teachers in stitches as he demonstrated his favourite maniacal laughs, performed an excerpt of his book accompanied by a singing parrot, and shared his insights into creating a compelling villain.
On Tuesday, the Reception classes and Years 1 and 2 were introduced to Frann Preston-Gannon, who not only writes and illustrates books for young children – she also owns The Paper Cat in Herne Hill, which is Miss Deblue’s favourite bookshop! Frann delighted the girls with drawing games, exhibiting the creative flare, skill, and sense of fun that won her a Sendak Fellowship in 2011. She also spoke about her journey to becoming a writer and the joy of deriving inspiration from nature to create books such as In the Swamp By the Light of the Moon and Little Lim and the Golden Treasure.
Years 5 and 6 were treated to their author talk on Wednesday, when the phenomenal Maz Evans delivered a presentation about the crucial elements of writing a good story. Maz is a prolific writer who authored the bestselling Who Let the Gods Out series as well as the Scarlett Fife and Vi Spy trilogies, among other novels. In addition to offering superb storytelling tips, Maz spoke about how the works of Shakespeare have influenced her, which is what she set out to celebrate in writing The Last Bard.
The festivities reached a peak on Thursday with our annual costume parade. From classic literary heroines to contemporary protagonists, the entire school community showcased incredible creativity through their costumes. Seeing the hall transformed into a living library of favourite characters was a powerful reminder of how books continue to inspire and unite us all.
Miss Deblue, Head Librarian, and Mr Goetzen, Year 6 Class Teacher and Co-Head of English
