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Teachers, librarians and educators, if you are looking for an opportunity to inspire and engage your students in the world of literature & writing the Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival Schools Program might just be the answer.
When an author visits your students and engages with them directly in their school, the experience of writing and the creative process becomes not only inspirational but exciting and real.
The Schools Program offers schools in the Coffs Harbour, Bellingen & Nambucca Heads LGAs face to face workshops/presentations with Australian writers in their schools & libraries.
Our participating authors provide workshops at your school suitable for primary aged students aged between 8 and 12 years and workshops for high school students between 12 and 18 years.
The program has run successfully for many years and feedback has been amazing – students, librarians, teachers were delighted to have responsive positive outcomes.
Schools Program 2022 Authors
Felicity Castagna
Simi Genzuik
Jane Harrison
Sophie Laguna
Oliver Phommavanh
Shivaun Plozza
Penelope Pratley
Schools program dates and times
| Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th June | Oliver Phommavanh |
| Wednesday 8th June | Oliver Phommavanh, Penelope Pratley, Simi Genzuik, Felicity Castagna, Jane Harrison |
| Thursday 9th June 2022 | Oliver Phommavanh, Penelope Pratley, Simi Genzuik, Felicity Castagna, Jane Harrison |
| Friday 10th June | Penelope Pratley, Simi Genzuik, Felicity Castagna, Jane Harrison, Sophie Laguna |
+ Bonus free events at Bellingen Library
These are open to everyone.
| Tuesday 7th June, 4 – 5pm | Oliver Phommavanh at the library |
| Saturday 11th June, 10.15 – 11.15am | Shivaun Plozza at the library |
How to book a session for your school
- Complete the booking form below.
(Bookings closed 29 November 2021, however we do still have a limited number of sessions available) - Preference your
- author (you can click through from the pictures above to each author’s bio)
- date, and
- session type (workshop or presentation – the booking form will show you the capacity for each session type for your chosen author)
- Choose your preferred session time
- morning or afternoon (at $300), or
- both (at $600)
- We’ll get back to you to finalise details
(For home-schooled students, please contact us directly to arrange a program. There will be sessions at the Bellingen & Coffs Harbour Libraries again this year.
Schools Program 2022 Booking Form
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Schools Program feedback from 2021
Anna Feinberg’s ability to relate to all ages of students and make the child feel like they could be the next author if they wanted. The ideas she gave them to become a writer. Bought my library lessons for the past term to life.
Coffs Harbour Public School.
On Thursday, Year 6 didn’t have any old English lesson. No, they had the English lesson of their dreams when the magnificently creative Oliver Phommavanh came and told us how to write a narrative. It was great to hear some advice, and it’s pretty cool to have someone famous come to our school. We learnt a lot of useful skills, the five-finger technique, the fear chart and the embarrassment-o-metre! Everybody had a great time!
Year Six Student, Bishop Druitt College Primary School
Alana Valentine’s ability to engage with the students and to offer honest and relevant insights into the texts and process. She was also able to discuss the dramatic elements and techniques and expand on how decisions were made to increase meaning within the play. Also being able to watch excerpts was amazing for the students as they will not be able to access this in regional areas.
Macksville High School
More information
Schools Program co-ordinators
Margaret Chaffey, phone 0419 216 707
Lynn Phillips, phone 0450 858 546
