National Poetry Day at Fyling Hall

On Thursday it was National Poetry Day, and in order to celebrate we organised a whole school poetry competition. All pupils were encouraged to put pen to paper and to express their thoughts and feelings, in any way that they wished. The only requirement was that the poem had to be inspired, to some degree, by the theme of ‘memory’ or ‘remembrance’.

We were overwhelmed with the enthusiasm shown by many of the pupils, often from unexpected quarters, and Mrs Park, Dr Shafer and Miss Rowland were highly impressed with the quality of the entries.

In order to provide inspiration in the week leading up to the deadline, Miss Rowland asked some of her Year 8, 9 and 11 English pupils to choose excerpts from their favourite poems and these were posted in windows and on walls, to be read around the school. As well as this, teachers from across the subject areas read and discussed their favourite poems, sometimes subject related, to their pupils at the start of their lessons. The Maths and French Departments were so inspired that they encouraged pupils to write poems in their lessons and these were displayed in their classrooms for all the pupils to enjoy.

On Friday morning, Mrs Park announced the winners of the poetry competition to a rapt crowd, who listened to all of the winning entries as they were read aloud. Due to the strength of the entries, it was decided to select a winner from Key Stage 3, 4 and 5, with one overall winner. Henry Atkinson and George Reeves were the winners for Key Stage 4 and 5 respectively. Henry’s poem explored relationships and George focused on war. Ailsa Legg won in Key Stage 3 and was awarded the overall prize for her poem on her memories of the beach.

In the Junior School, the whole school entered the competition and Miss Rowland had a wonderful evening reading the entries and deciding on a winner. The winner in Form1 was Bella Watson, with a poem about Snow. Jake Lee who won in Form 2, wrote about his successes in swimming. The Form 3 winner Harry Brindley, wrote a beautiful and personal poem about his Mother’s recent tour of Afghanistan, which brought a tear to the eye of all his teachers.

Well done to all who entered and to all of our winners!

Away With The Tide

The sand ran gently between my toes,

It whispered secrets nobody knows.

The waves lapped softly on the shore,

I must return there at least once more.

I played with friends ‘til late in the night,

Out of our mouths came screams of delight.

Under the moon with sand in our hair,

The greatest of memories we all should share.

But now I return with a crutch close at hand,

A mist rolls in from the sea to the land.

I see ghosts of my friends dance by me with glee,

Then out floats the memory, away with the sea.

By Ailsa Legg (Year 9)

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