Ormond wins national poetry competition

BUDDING POETS: Ashlynne Whaanga, 7, and Noah Wright, 8, sharing their poetry with children's poet Paula Green. Ashlynne and Noah are two of the 12 students from Kauri class at Ormond School who won the North Island section of The Fourth Fabulous Poetry Competition. Their prize was a visit from Ms Green, who conducted workshops with each class at the school over two days. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Ormond School has won a nationwide poetry competition and a visit from a well known poet.

Paula Green is a children’s poet based in New Zealand. This year she ran the The Fourth Fabulous Poetry Competition, supported by the New Zealand Book Council.

Ormond School’s Kauri Class won the North Island section, with a selection of 12 poems put together by the students.

As the prize for winning, Ms Green visited the school for two days this week, to host poetry wokshops with each class.

“It was extraordinary visiting this school. The writing is so spectacular.”

Ashlynne Whaanga 7, wrote one of Kauri’s winning entries.

“I like using adjectives. I felt excited when we won and it made me smile,” she says.

Ashlynne’s poem was even picked to feature on Ms Green’s blog Poetry Box, alongside fellow classmate Noah Wright’s piece.

Noah 8, says he was very happy when he found out they had won.

“I felt good, it only took me a couple of minutes to write.”

Teacher Sarah Boyle says it was amazing and really exciting for the kids to win.