Last week was Book Week and there was much excitement and activity in the library at Shalom. Students were engaged in bookmark and pot decorating, find-a-word puzzles, magic scratch cards, and a paper-plane challenge, all with the overarching theme of “Book an Adventure”.

The week culminated in our own First Draft Writer’s Festival on Friday. The whole year 8 cohort enjoyed a lively session with slam-poet aficionado, stand-up comedian, and social media identity Anisa Nanduala. The year 9, 10, & 11 cohorts had a whole day of festivities commencing with an author presentation by Sarah Anna James who is celebrating the success of her first fiction novel, Luka. In session two, students learn how a few pages of seemingly ambiguous directions become a few minutes of full content in film, from screenwriter and retired barrister Steve Bonutto. Steve has also penned over forty songs with Shalom’s own George Church. Session three the older grades welcomed Anisa for their own exciting session with her. The final session featured a panel discussion with some of our literary ambassadors and our three presenters. Joining them on the panel was our First Draft mainstay, local oncologist and fantasy author Craig Mulhall, who has produced two novels and is working on his third.

At the end of the festival, the winners of our Literary Wonders writing competition were announced, and they received their prizes. A copy of the anthology will be available for viewing on the library Sia page and a print copy will be displayed in the library. Anthology competition winners will of course each receive their own copy to keep.

I wonder what is in store for 2026?

Denise Harvey
School Librarian
Denise_Harvey@rok.catholic.edu.au