Over the past ten weeks, students from Towamba, Eden and Tanja public Schools have written and illustrated their own children's book.
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These works have now gone to print, with an official book launch scheduled for 5.30pm tonight, Thursday November 26, at Booktique book store in Merimbula.
The students have undertaken online writing and art classes through 'Zoom' web conferencing each week and then have worked independently in class to create their works.
This pilot program was developed and run by educator Judith Radin with the NSW Department of Education and book illustrator Sarah Irwin, and was initiated locally by Towamba principal Peter Claxton.
“This is is fantastic exposure for public education, particularly our smaller, more socioeconomically challenged schools and also the Sapphire Coast region,” Mr Claxton said.
“The students are really excited for the launch and for their books to be sold locally.”
Mr Claxton said that Bega Library has purchase copies of the books as has the Towamba gallery.
Bega Valley Shire mayor Michael Britton will be attending to congratulate the talented young students on their great achievement.
“To our knowledge there are few or no programs currently being delivered for creative and talented students in a web based format and we are very excited about the results,” Mr Claxton said.
On top of having some very young published authors Towamba Public School students have also been developing their business skills.
Students in years three to six have been honing their business knowledge by following the 'Kidpreneur’ model, developed by the Club Kidpreneur Foundation, a ‘not-for-profit social enterprise seeking to foster entrepreneurial skills in primary-aged children’.
The program at Towamba Public School was developed over a 20 week period with students learning important business skills, while using literacy, numeracy, technology and creative arts abilities in a ‘real world’ experience.
The students worked in small groups to create then operate their own small businesses.
“Each of the groups developed business plans which included product design and manufacture, marketing, profit and loss, target markets, cost analysis and branding,” Mr Claxton said.
On Friday, October 30, the students ran a market day as a research and development opportunity to give them the chance to have a small scale test run before applying their skills on a larger scale.
Their ‘official’ business launches will be at the Candelo Christmas markets.
