St Therese students win national writing competition

TWO students from St Therese Catholic Primary School have won individual prizes for their entries into this year’s Oxford Australian Children’s Word of the Year competition.

This year’s prompt, bravery, saw primary school students from across Australia submit a piece of writing (up to 500 words) based on a word that was of importance to them.

Grade 6 winner Bethany Eve Rodaughan chose to dissect the challenges climate change posed on young people with her word “future”, while Grade 5 winner Amelia Gibson wrote a poem inspired by “women” and their unwavering strength in the face of sexism.

A judging panel of academics and experts in children’s English language assessed more than 400 writing submissions before selecting one winning entry per year group as well as one class prize.

Students referenced bravery in relation to climate change, adventure, self-confidence, injustice, trying something new and helping others.

Bethany’s winning entry discussed air pollution, birdlife inadvertently feeding on plastic, loss of habitat in rainforests and the deterioration of the Greater Barrier Reef.

Amelia used the opportunity to spotlight inequality, particularly in reference to prejudice and the value in teaching young girls about the power of speaking out and standing up.

Oxford University Press Australia and New Zealand publishing manager Emma Magill, who sat on the judging panel, said the word bravery was an example of how Australian children are engaged in social issues beyond the confines of school.

“The word bravery was used in different ways; showing bravery every day when it’s needed, overcoming nerves in competitions, standing up to bullies, and voicing something you believe in to try and effect change, be that in reference to issues like equality or the environment.”

Other words that appeared in winning entries included “adventure”, “adaptability” and “psycho”.

The Torquay students were two of eight winners and the only students from the same school to score a win.