Student Writing
During July 2009, a number of senior students were selected to attend a Gifted and Talent writing course
with Kate de Goldi. Kate is a well respected New Zealand children’s author, having received the 2009 NZ Post
Book of the Year Montana Award for her book ‘The 10 P M Question’.
The students attended five days with Kate learning what it means to be a writer and crafting wonderful stories and poems in the process.
Here you can read some of the students’ work:
A Yoyo Goes ... by Daniel Wilson
Armadillo by Jack Laird
Capybara by Daniel Wilson
Computer by Hazel Lockwood
Goodnight Dipsy by Daniel Wilson
Goodnight Room by Finn Sargisson
Goodnight Room by Hazel Lockwood
I Hear all the Cultures singing by Katie Broardbridge
I hear Trentham by Hazel Lockwood
PIN by Daniel Wilson
Run Cat Run by Katie Broardbridge
Goodnight Room (Hazel)
In the small brown room there was
Blue, stripy curtains
Black, shiny boots
A long fluffy jacket and
Shiny, small loot
Lachli a koala and
Petal a bear
A shiny glass cat,
Large, proud pelicans and
Ziggy a fluffy witches cat.
Goodnight room,
Goodnight curtains,
Goodnight boots,
Goodnight jacket,
Goodnight loot,
Goodnight Lachli,
Goodnight Petal,
Goodnight cat,
Goodnight pelicans,
Goodnight radio and
Goodnight Ziggy the fluffy witches cat.
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Goodnight Room (Finn)
In the ice blue room
There was a trophy from t-ball
And four medals on the wall
And upon the floor are some Lego men
And a green, glass shell from kindergarten
And in my wardrobe is a pair of shoes
And I can hear Ruby having a snooze
On my drawers is an alarm clock
And on the floor is an odd sock
And on my wall is a game of darts
And in the toy box are some toy carts
Goodnight trophy from t-ball
Goodnight medals on the wall
Goodnight Lego men
Goodnight shell from kindergarten
Goodnight shoes
Goodnight Ruby having a snooze
Goodnight alarm clock
Goodnight odd sock
Goodnight darts
Goodnight toy carts
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A Yoyo Goes ... (Daniel)
A Yoyo goes ...
Down
Down
Down
Up
Up
Up
Down
Down
Down
Up
Up
Up
Down
Down
Down
Up
Up
Up
Up
STOP
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Computer (Hazel)
I hate, hate, hate people
They stare at me all day
I wish I could just hit delete
And make them go away
They spit on me,
And get crumbs in my veins
They did it to the others
And still do just the same
I hear Trentham (Hazel)
I hear horses neighing in the long field
I hear pigeons flying, softly swooping in the air
I hear cats yowling on the fence
I hear tui tooting in the flax
I hear dogs barking at the cats
I hear people laughing in the house
I hear cars accelerating on the street
I hear wind whistling through the trees and
I hear leaves rustling in the breeze
Run Cat Run (Katie)
RUN, CAT, RUN!
Run, cat, run, run with the wind!
Run, cat, run, Get that fish!
Run, cat, run, don't fall in!
Run, cat, run, hurry and eat it all up!
Run, cat, run, I think your owner saw!
RUN, CAT ,RUN!!!
Armadillo (Jack)
Under the soft earthy
ground the armadillo
digs like never
before, he stops
but encourages
himself to move
on, he keeps on
digging, he
breathes wildly,
never before has
he dug so
deep, he stops,
he doesn’t move
but slowly, gracefully
he curls up into a
ball and goes to
sleep
PIN (Daniel)
Pin, pin please don’t poke Finn
You are so sharp
You might hurt him.
Pin, pin please don’t poke Finn
You are so many shapes and sizes
You are the star of sewing surprises.
Pin, pin please don’t poke Finn.
Capybara (Daniel)
In a rain forest
The Capybara runs
Faster, faster
Being chased
Ocelot gaining
Sprinting now
Running out
Of breath, grunting
Feet pounding
Tongue flying
He sees the water
Predator only a foot behind
Kicks up dirt
Missing predator
Slowing… jumps
Lands in water
Safe waddles away
Keeps his life
Another day
I hear all Cultures singing (Katie)
I hear all cultures singing, right around the world.
I see Maori dancers, swaying with their poi’s.
I hear the Japanese Geisha’s song of love, a marriage is taking place.
I see the Koreans laughing as they skip through the streets of Seoul.
I hear the Nigerians chanting, in magnificent tribes.
I see the English shouting praises to the truly amazing Queen.
I hear the Americans studying in silence for their next major exam.
Goodnight Dipsy (Daniel)
In my big blue room
In the light of the moon
Three planes soar over my head and out the door
While my Canterbury pants lie on the floor
Tyranids sleep silently in their case
If you let them out
They’ll tear off your face!
Asterix and Co.
And a sword and a bow
And on my table
Sits a box with a label
And a lamp and a chair
And some gel for my hair
There’s a book in a nook
And a bag on a hook
In the corner Pinocchio hung
And the Macarena gorilla sung
Luke’s X-Wing lands
Where Darth Vader stands
Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight to the plane that soars
And Canterbury pants on the floor
Goodnight doors
And goodnight Tyranids in your case
Goodnight Asterix and Co.
Goodnight sword and goodnight bow
Goodnight table
And goodnight label
Goodnight chair
And gel for hair
Goodnight book
Goodnight nook
And goodnight bag on a hook
Goodnight Pinocchio
And goodnight gorilla
Goodnight Luke
And goodnight Darth.
I hope you never cross my path!
Goodnight stereo, trophies and the rest
And Goodnight Dipsy who I once thought was best.
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