Summer 2012 - Newbattle Community High School

Page 8
Newbattle News
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Sleep Out
On Tuesday 13 th March the best selling
teen author Michael Grant visited
Newbattle to chat to S3 pupils about
his latest books, his best selling Gone
series and how he became a writer.
His two new books are BZRK, a sci-fi
story about a war fought using nano
technology and Fear, the latest in the
popular Gone series.
The Gone series imagines
a town in California
where all the adults
have vanished in the
blink of an eye. All of
the remaining kids
have to survive on
their own as there appears
to be a mysterious
barrier 20 miles
wide keeping them in.
In November, over 40 Newbattle
High School pupils took part in a
Charity Sleep out on George Street in
the grounds of St Andrew's and St
George's Church to raise awareness of
the work of homelessness charity
Rock Trust. The Rock Trust were
there on the night supporting everyone
who took part. Refreshments
were available from inside the Church
and entertainment was also provided
on the night. The only belongings allowed
were sleeping bags, extra
clothes to keep warm and food to
snack on. No tents were allowed.
Despite being a cold wintery night,
the atmosphere was uplifting and
everyone had a really good time. Two
pupils involved, Rebecca Fairnie and
Dale Drummond became ‘Stewards’
for the night collecting money from
the public to put towards the Charity.
In total so far the school managed to
raise over £2000 (still counting!) The
Michael Grant Visit
It’s a scary world with no rules and it’s
survival of the fittest (aided by the
development of strange powers by
some of the kids). The series is like a
cross between Lord of the Flies and X
Men.
Michael Grant became a writer in a
round-about way. A school drop-out,
he only started writing in his 30s after
pupils felt that is was an eye opening
experience and they agreed that they
would do it again as it really does
make you realise how
lucky you are!
Rebecca Fairnie 6M
his wife, (author K.A. Applegate) told
him he had to grow up and get a
proper job. Since then he has helped
write over 150 books. He stressed the
point that he was most definitely not a
role model. The session ended with a
very short Q and A session (the pupils
were obviously left speechless!) which
was all about Gone.
Michael’s visit to the
school was interesting as
well as funny and was
enjoyed by all present.
The Gone series and
BZRK are available for
loan from your fantastic
school library.
Mr McRobbie
Library
Your Newbattle Community High School...