How did your school get involved in the Community Arts Partnership’s Seamus Heaney Award/Poetry in Motion Project?
A parent suggested we have a look at the programme. Upon looking at the Poetry in Motion website one of our Literacy coordinators filled in the application form.
How was your experience with the project?
Both the children and I thoroughly enjoyed the programme. The programme was given much impetus when a visiting poet, Teresa Kane, delivered three poetry workshops to help the children explore distinct types of poetry. There was a particular emphasis on creating poems that encouraged the children to use their imagination and to compose poems around the theme, ‘Write Where We Belong.’ Many of the children were able to highlight our beautiful Fermanagh and Enniskillen. Each child had the opportunity to draft a poem that was entered into the Seamus Heaney Award for Achievement. All the children had their work acknowledged.
How do you feel the students responded to the project?
All the pupils responded well to the project, penning some fantastic poems. The theme, ‘Write Where We Belong’ meant the children could explore and be creative when describing ‘home’ to them. Our visiting poet, Teresa Kane, helped the pupils draw out their creative skills when engaging with poetry.
How did you and the students feel about winning an award for their work in the project?
After much engagement around the theme and the compilation of many creative poems, all in school were delighted to hear that Sophie Cadden was announced as the N. Ireland overall primary school (individual category) winner. Her poem entitled, ‘My Home’ received high paise and she was delighted to become a recipient of the prestigious Seamus Heaney Award.
Do you feel there was a benefit for the students through this Community Arts Partnership project?
Yes, I feel all pupils benefited from this programme. It allowed them to explore poetry and express their thoughts and feelings through a different medium of writing. It was a great opportunity for the pupils to see the process of writing – 1st draft, redrafting to published pieces of work.
Upon completion of the project, we celebrated the pupils work in various ways. We created a display showcasing the pupils work so adults and pupils could enjoy reading the poems. We also invited parents in for a poetry reading session and we had a whole school focus by reading poems in assemblies and celebrated ‘World Poetry Day’.
