Schools Program
Celebrate the boundless creativity of our local students and young people
From little things...
The Words in Winter Schools Program has spent over two decades inviting students across the Hepburn Shire to share their unique voices, boundless imaginations and creative stories with our community.
There's a breadth of opportunities for students across the region to engage with writing, storytelling and the arts. From classroom creative exploration to a public exhibition, from intergenerational connection to professional author encounters, the program is designed to celebrate student voices in varied and meaningful ways.
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The Story Circle: U3A & Schools Partnership
The "Story Circle" is an intergenerational storytelling initiative that brings together the wisdom of the U3A writing group members and the vibrant energy of local primary school students.
During these events, students and older adults collaborate to read and share their writing in response to the festival theme, fostering meaningful relationships, encouraging cross-generational creative exchange and strengthening the bonds between our local schools and community Elders.
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Students Writing Exhibition
This annual exhibition showcases a diverse collection of art and writing contributed by local primary school students, secondary college students and U3A writing group members, all inspired by the festival theme.
It is a space designed for the community to come together and appreciate the depth of creativity present in our region, offering all participants the invaluable experience of seeing their hard work valued by a public audience.
Daylesford Secondary College
A beloved tradition of our festival launch, the Festival Opening highlights the creative voices of Daylesford Secondary College students.
Working closely with Dr. Amanda DeClifford, Head of English at the college, these young writers are supported in preparing their pieces for a live audience, providing them with a powerful platform to express their perspectives.
This feature has become a true highlight of the festival opening evening, proving that student voices remain central to the spirit of Words in Winter.