Author Visits
Dean Atta
On Tuesday 5th March, Year 9 and 10 students attended an author visit with author and poet, Dean Atta.
Both year groups attended a presentation about his journey to becoming a writer and the inspiration behind his two young adult novels in verse, The Black Flamingo and Only on the Weekends. Students were encouraged to ask questions about becoming a writer and finding the inspiration needed to write, as well as, the process of becoming a published author.
In addition, 60 students attended workshops during the day in which they created their own poems.
Below are some poems produced by Year 10 students during their writing workshop:
I deserve
I deserve to have the ability to show my true self
I deserve to be loud and not be quiet as a mouse
I deserve to share my ideas
And face all my fears
I deserve not to be locked away
I deserve the chance to change and seize the day
At last we deserve love
By Daisy A
I am proud
I am proud to be me
Cause nobody else could be me better than me
I am proud I can dance
Even when strangers give me a weird glance
I am proud that I am confident
Cause no matter what I am always transparent
I am proud to be strong
Strong enough to admit when I am wrong
I am proud to sing
Even though my voice sounds like a phone ring
I am proud to stand
Even when no one gives me a hand
Lastly, I am proud to be proud of me
Cause no one is gonna love me like me
By Daisy M
I raise my flag
I raise my flag in the air
As the wind holds my hand
It represents me to the fullest
Like a single DNA strand
I let my pride hold me
If it fades I fall
But for this reason
Nothing happens at all.
Other flags wave, and mine says help
Everyone else grips theirs
Nobody letting go
I am proud to be the person,
That seals the envelope I call me
Nobody can tell me what I can and can’t be.
By Izzy H
Spoz
Thursday 14th March, Year 7 and 8 students attended an author visit with poet, Spoz. All students in Years 7 and 8 attended a presentation about the poet’s work and what inspires him to write. He spoke about his passion for poetry slams and the work he is doing in the local community to promote poetry. 60 students also attended a poetry workshop.
Who is Spoz?
SPOZ…is an award winning performance poet, singer / songwriter, film maker, playwright and was the poet-in-residence at Birmingham City FC. He has been seen on BBC and Central Television, has written for and been heard on … BBC Radio Four, Radio Five Live, Radio West Midlands, Radio Coventry & Warwickshire and Capital Gold.
SPOZ…has performed at the Glastonbury Festival, Shambala Festival, Larmer Tree Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, Oxford Literature Festival, Warwick Words Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Wenlock Poetry Festival and in front of his mom.
SPOZ…was ‘crowned’ Birmingham’s eleventh poet laureate in October 2006. He continues to work extensively in schools, lifting the appeal of writing and performing poetry to hitherto, unseen heights.