Wordsmiths help students find their voice

POSTED April 18 2024 , Academic, News, Senior School

Nurturing and encouraging student voice is at the heart of our educational philosophy. In fact, it is a guiding principle woven into the fabric of everything that St Mary’s does. That is why exploring ways to develop our students’ creative expression was central to a new initiative launched by our English Department this year – a Writers in Residence program.

Head of English, Dionn Godhino, said that the Writers in Residence program gave students in Years 11 and 12 an opportunity to pick the brains of two accomplished Western Australian wordsmiths. She hoped that by participating in workshops and one-on-one sessions with the experienced writers, our students would have more tools in their English arsenal to develop and share their authentic voices.

“The true purpose of this program is to develop ‘student voice’ within the school, which is a key element of St Mary’s strategic plan. Voice is also one of our core concepts in English, but crafting an authentic voice is something that our students can struggle with at times. I am excited to see our students find their true voices with the help of our writers in residence.”

During Term 1, the program welcomed poet, author and St Mary’s Old Girl, Siobhan Hodge (’05). By steering the students away from getting bogged down in formulating complex plots, Siobhan encouraged the girls to explore moments in time or personal experiences. Her influence extended beyond traditional writing, as she urged the students to experiment with circular narratives, motifs and patterns of imagery.

This week, rapper and spoken word artist, Mark Lloyd, helped students explore new poetic avenues and develop their language control. One of his goals was to encourage our students to deviate from clichéd topics and create original imagery in their language. Additionally, through the development of prose writing, he urged our students to delve into personal or shared experiences that captivate readers’ imaginations.

The influence of the Semester 1 Writers in Residence program will be available for the St Mary’s community to appreciate, thanks to another noteworthy English Department initiative, the publication of a 2024 Creative Writing Magazine. Siobhan and Mark’s mentorship will undoubtedly contribute to the rich content of the magazine, which will hit the shelves during our Creative and Performing Arts Festival (CAPAF) on Friday 23 August.

The magazine will ensure that the Writers in Residence program will be remembered as much more than a momentary exploration of creative expression, as it will stand as a lasting celebration of the School’s commitment to developing and empowering student voice.

Our Writers in Residence program was made possible thanks to a St Mary’s Parents’ Society grant.