EPHS First Story Young Writers Anthology Launch Event 2023

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome back our wonderful First Story Author-in-Residence, Rachel Seiffert and her mentee Carrie Sweeney to help us celebrate the publication of our student's First Story Young Writers anthology, Unorthodox Progeny. With poems, prose and cover design all by EPHS students.  Every student who took part in the programmed received a certificate and two copies of the anthology and Millie, Rose and Taylor recited some of their poems.

Our Head Teacher, Mr Butler joined the celebrations alongside Ms Koca, Mrs Nolan,Ms Peters, Ms Callaghan, Ms Rodgerson, Mrs Roszkowski, Ms Healey, Ms Ravaneau, Mx Burgess and Ms Aiken, our Head of English, to congratulate the students on their fantastic achievement.  

A special mention was given to the four students who were also First Story Competition winners, Millie, Rose, Jonathan and 
Micah, as well as Tariana, who received an honorary mention for her Eco Poetry competition entry.  In addition Millie will be going on the First Story Summer Residential programme this July and Rose's artwork was chosen as the cover design for the anthology.  

Led in school by EPHS English Teacher Ms Koca, the First Story Young Writers Programme, involved a core group of 20 students from Years 9 and 10, who worked with Rachel, our assigned professional writer, on a series of writing projects to develop their writing styles and go on their own personal journeys.  Rachel’s inspiring mentoring allowed the students to produce some truly fantastic work. 

Thank you to everyone who took part in the programme this year.  We are really looking forward to welcoming Rachel back again in the next academic year to work with a new group of students.

Unorthodox Progeny will be available to borrow from the Upper Library, together with Rachel Seiffert's Booker Shortlisted novel, The Dark Room.  A copy of Unorthodox Progeny will also be held in the British Library and Bodleian Library, Oxford.

The Branford Boase Award 2023 - winner announced!

This year's Branford Boase Award has been won by Christine Pillainayagam and her editor Leah Thaxton for Ellie Pillai is Brown, a funny, coming of age romcom.

This award, set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, is given to the author and editor of the most outstanding debut novel for children.  

Ellie Pillai is Brown is one of our 'must-read' Summer books and is available to borrow now from the Lower Library.

Summer Reading 2023

The long summer holiday is the perfect opportunity to relax with a good book or two! Whether you are going away or having a 'staycation', we would love you to let us know what you were reading by sending us a postcard!  All entrants will have their postcards displayed and will receive an achievement point.

Other ways to keep reading this Summer are:

Join the Summer Reading Challenge at your local public library and be in with a chance to win a free limited edition book, Rebel Girls Kick It: World Champions Take the Pitch, and You Can Too! courtesy of Nike and Rebel Girls.  This year the theme is sports and games and the idea is you set a reading goal and borrow books of your choice over the Summer to earn rewards.  To take part, sign up for free at your local public library or take part online. 

For those of you over 11, why not try the EPHS Reading Bingo Challenge!  To find out more and for some reading recommendations, click here and pick up a form from the Lower Library.

Take part in the Robin Stevens Summer Reading challenge.  Read five or more of the books from Robin's Murder Most Unladylike series to earn a detective society badge and be entered into a prize draw to win a signed copy of her latest book, The Body in the Blitz.  You can borrow books from this icon series from the Lower Library. Pick up a special reading challenge book mark from the Lower Library for more information!

Research from the National Literacy Trust on well-being and reading has shown that reading is most successful when you choose what to read.  There are lots of great book recommendation websites out there (you will find links on this blog).  One of our favourites is LoveReading4Kids.

You may also like to check out the suggestions on the Guardian's Summer Reading list by clicking here.

It’s really important to develop a reading habit so set aside time every day to read - maybe just 15 mins to begin with.  And remember, if you don’t enjoy reading at the moment it’s just that you haven’t found the right book yet!

Books that Made Me

 We asked members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’. These are the choices of Ms Watts, Creative Arts Teacher.

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The book that I am currently reading is....

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.   A coming of age murder mystery story set along the North Carolina coast, which has recently been made into a film. 

My favourite book as a child was....

Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson.  It's a feel-good book, tinged with sadness and humour, about identical twins Ruby and Garnet.

The last book that made me cry is....

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.  Set in Japan, it is a poignant and touching road trip story with a difference.

 

The last book that made me laugh is ...

In Case of Emergency by Poorna Bell. This Following a near fatal accident, Bel discovers that her registered next of kin is her ex boyfriend.  This funny and touching debut novel would make a great Summer read!

My comfort read is ...

Everything I know about Love by Dolly Alderton.  A favourite of Miss Hudson's too, this book is a memoir about growing up and the trials and tribulations of falling in love.

The books I think everyone should read are ...

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.  

Both brilliant choices and very much seconded by Ms Peters and Mrs Nolan.  Both are available to borrow from the EPHS Libraries.

Books that Made Me

 We asked members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’. These are the choices of Ms Dauncey, Spanish Teacher.
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The book I am currently reading…

is Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. I’m still only at the start but I have heard lots of great things!

My favourite book as a child…

was the Little Pete stories by Leila Berg. This is an old book that I used to read every time I was at my grandparents house. It used to live on their shelf but the eventually passed it down to me, with all the pages falling off the spine from so much use. 

The last book that made me cry…

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley.  A feel good read but with some tender
moments.

The last book that made me laugh...

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley.

My comfort read…

any sort of page turner. I love a thriller!

The one book I think everyone should read is…

Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee. I discovered this book when I was on holiday in Margate and as it was set in Margate I decided to buy it. Little did I know it would be a book that I have recommended to all my friends. It’s cli-fi, which I also didn’t know was a genre until I read this book! A page turner in a very near future which we can all relate to. Deals with the themes of inequality, climate, relationships, abuse.