On Thursday 21st November we were delighted to welcome celebrated children’s author and former children’s laureate Michael Morpurgo, who had so generously agreed to officially open our school.
Michael was formally welcomed by our Book Club, and then began with a reading some of his short stories, followed by a Q&A session which the students had been excitedly preparing for. Afterwards, he carried out the official opening ceremony, enlisting our students’ help to cut a ribbon and unveil a plaque which we had made to commemorate the occasion.
Here, in our students’ words, is how it felt to be there.
This has been a marvellous, momentous and memorable occasion and I feel privileged to have been part of it. We were in the hall waiting anxiously for Michael to arrive. Then, suddenly he walked straight past me. He was wearing red trousers a red jacket and a grey shirt. He took out a book and asked us if any of us had read it, many of us said yes and he threw it on the floor in frustration – it was very funny! Miss Harrison picked it up and insisted on him reading it. He read beautifully with such expression and calm. After the story we had a Q&A session and I got to ask a question! I asked him about his goals and he wisely told me goals are never reached, which I thought was very clever. We then went outside to reveal our plaque and cut the ribbon. Arsham had shaved his hair as part of our school fundraising for Michael’s charity, Farms for City Children, and he was chosen to pull the cord by Michael. It was such a great experience. I think it was very kind of Michael to come to our school. He was very funny and I think everyone will remember it forever.
By Jake
Once he arrived we asked him a variety of questions. After we finished our mini Q&A session we went into the hall. The atmosphere was amazing; it was just like walking into a One Direction concert, only with a better celebrity! He read to us from his collection of short stories and it was beautiful. I will always remember the afternoon that Michael Morpurgo came to see us.
By Sama
We waited in the hall……the atmosphere was full of excitement and tension. We sat like rockets waiting to explode. He explained how happy and honoured he was to be opening our marvellous school.
He answered our questions and told us about the new book he is working on, called “Listen to the Moon”. It’s about a warship that was hit by a torpedo in the Second World War, and how a little girl survives and is found floating in the sea on top of a piano. It sounds like such a stunning story and I know we cannot wait to read it.
By Rio
Our thanks go to Michael for making our official opening such an unforgettable event.
