School Matters 36

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ROTARY CLUB YOUNG WRITER COMPETITION: IPS WINNERS

Congratulations to two IPS pupils who achieved great success in the Rotary Club’s Young Writer Competition. Entrants were invited to

WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST YOUNG WRITERS’ COMPETITION WINNERS The show was set in modern-day Britain rather than sixteenth-century Verona, and because the actors were still using Shakespearean language, modernizing the performance via costume choices made it easier to follow. The play was shortened because we only had two hours for the whole session, but the actors kept the essential scenes in the plot. The performers did an excellent job in their roles, and the outfit changes occurred without a hitch, which is particularly impressive as the cast consisted of four actors who each portrayed two to three characters. The costumes themselves were contemporary, such as a t-shirt, shorts, cap, and trainers for Benvolio. Amusing costumes made an appearance during Lord Capulet’s party, such as Juliet’s nurse being dressed as a strawberry, and Romeo as Batman! There were also added musical aspects of the play, and as both the male actors could play the guitar, we enjoyed an acoustic version of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ during Romeo and Juliet’s wedding. It was a most enjoyable morning, and we all left knowing the plot of Romeo and Juliet a little bit better! Rodelia Weng, S8 Competition. The pupils ranged from Senior 7 to UVI, submitting poems and stories on the theme of ‘My name is...’, and all were formally recognised by the judges. In the KS3 category, Anastazja Duda’s poem, Ciara Murphy’s poem, Evie Buckley’s story, Finlay Macleod’s story, and Honor Lynn’s story were all Commended. Sofia Caironi’s poem was also Highly Commended. In the KS4 category, Lilla Tulloch’s three stories all made it to the final, with one Commended and two Highly Commended. Melis Buberka’s poem was also Highly Commended. Finally, in KS5, both Polly Dunn’s story and Alex Mortimer’s poem were Highly Commended. All of the pupils received certificates and the Highly Commended entries appear in this year’s anthology, a copy of which is available from the Library. ROMEO AND JULIET Senior 8s watched a production of Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet performed in the IPS Theatre by the Young Shakespeare Company. There was an interactive workshop at the beginning of the show, and some Senior 8 pupils were chosen to be characters in the play, like Friar Lawrence, and Peter (the servant). Congratulations to the ten pupils who represented IPS at the finals of the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers’

Lorenza Rees, S9

write a poem on the theme of ‘My happiest day’. Alex Mortimer, UVI won first place in both the Regional and District competitions for her imagery-rich, thoughtful poem in the Senior final. Lorenza Rees, S9 who won the Regional and District competitions at the Intermediate level, went on to place third in the National final, selected from young poets across the United Kingdom. The Rotary Club said of her poem: “The judges were taken by the cleverness of the piece as it challenged the stereotypes of a happiest day. The happiest day can be anything we choose, even today. We were very impressed.” A wedding, a miracle, Christmas, a celebration, What we associate as something ‘memorable’, But your happiest day can simply be today, And be even better tomorrow. “A happiest day comes with smiles”, “And laughter”, “Giggles and dancing”, Or does it? Maybe it’s simply breathing, hearing a lowering of cases on the news channels, a channel of truths we wish we could ignore, Maybe it’s a nurse finally getting some sleep, closing her eyes scarred with trauma from her day on the ward, maybe it’s a phone ringing, filling a silent house with some kind of company. A happiest day, Well to be honest, Can you remember the difference between this day and yesterday? Or have you become one with this unproductive cycle of life Covid has made for us, Maybe your happiest day will be breaking free of that mould life fits into these days. So yes, A happiest day isn’t a wedding, a miracle, Christmas or a celebration, Those things are a wishful memory of the past, stuck in an old calendar we can’t retrieve, No, you can make today your happiest day, By just making this day stand out. HAPPIEST DAY by Lorenza Rees A happiest day comes with stereotypes,