24 POETRY AND STORIES Burns’ Night Celebration Text by Adam Khan • Photographs by Louis Stevens and Robert Callaghan GCSE Poetry Live On Tuesday 28th February, Year 10 and 11 students went on a trip to the Alexandra Theatre to see GCSE Poetry Live. During the day we heard some fantastic poetry from established poets, including the likes of John Agard, Grace Nichols and Owen Sheers. We were able to ask questions and interact with the poets, who were able to give their answers, thoughts and reflections in an erudite way – something we cannot do on a normal school day. We were also lectured on how to answer questions from an unseen text. Overall, it was a very enjoyable day for everyone involved and it gave us an insight into the world of poetry. Burns’ Night Stevens and Robert Callaghan Young Writers Competition – Success Handsworth Grammar School have been entering the Young Writers Mini Saga competition for a number of years now. This year’s theme, “Wonderland”, included forty entries ranging from speculative fiction to romanticism. The competition organisers were impressed by the entries from Handsworth Grammar School, commenting on the way in which the writing ‘has certainly captured the young writers’ imaginations, from changing history and alien encounters to fantasy lands, we enjoyed reading every entry we received’. The English Department is delighted that 37 out of 40 entries received have been published in an anthology produced by the organisers. We would like to congratulate and recognise the achievement of the following Year 7 students: Dawud Ali Elyas Ibrahim Jawwad Ahmed Tallaal Sadiq Ayman Javaid Rahim Ali Abubaker Khan Yusuf Saghir Mohit Naphray Vincent Coumarasamy Haaris Mahmood Callum Mughal Karanjit Virdi Adam Khan Robert Callaghan Alex Cummings Adam Khan (7A) Rohan Bagga Ashkhan Larmour Cyril Kumar Parth Patel Armaan Hussain Vivek Verma Mohammed Idres Muhammad – Sulaimman Ahmad Harry Poobalasingham Rehan Mahmood Mustafa Muhammed Mohammed Vi-Haq Aron Kang Jinyang Zhang Harveer Greual Ubaid Khan Zakir Islam Farhaan Chodhury Junaid Uddin Kaamil Mehboob A huge well done to all students – keep writing! English Department every entry we received’. The English Department is delighted that 37 out of 40 entries received have been published in an anthology produced by the organisers. We would like to congratulate and recognise the achievement of the following Year 7 students: Dawud Ali Elyas Ibrahim Jawwad Ahmed Tallaal Sadiq Ayman Javaid Rahim Ali Abubaker Khan Yusuf Saghir Mohit Naphray Vincent Coumarasamy 24 On the 25th of January, 7 Nelson held a Burns’ Night party in their English lesson. As some people know, this event is memory of world-renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns. Robert Burns was mainly famous for his poems ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘Tam O’shanter’. Since his death, the 25th of January has been named Burns’ Night and people the world over celebrate his legacy. In Scotland it is a tradition to have haggis on this day. 7 Nelson spent their lesson presenting information about Robert Burns to each other, eating a selection of Scottish-themed foods and toasting Burns’ memory with a ‘wee dram’ of Irn-Bru. The lesson ended with a rousing chorus of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.