‘Springing Grass’ was the name of an interactive workshop on writing organised by the English Society of Asoka Vidyalaya, Maradana. The participants were students in the eight to sixteen age group.
The event was held on the morning of Friday, August 26 and the venue was the college hall.
After an introduction which included some facts about this well-known college by compere Akeeth Randinu Wanniarachchi of the Media Unit of Asoka Vidyalaya, A. M. D. C. K. Attanaike (Teacher of English) welcomed the gathering.
The guest speakers were Poornima Weerasinghe,(Educationalist), Kusumanjalee Thilakaratne (Editor, Little Star, Sunday Morning) and Nira Diaz, Sub Editor, Sunday Observer.
The Principal, Y. Yasaratne, Deputy Principals, D. P. Attygalle and A.M.P. Kumarihami, Assistant Principal were present.
‘Springing Grass’ was conceptualised and proposed by Teacher of Art, Sanjeewa Liyanage. The project was coordinated by English teacher, A. M. D. C. K. Attanaike and Subject Coordinator, English N. I. M. Senanayake and it received the fullest support of the Principal, Deputy and Assistant Principals and other staff members.
After the introduction, educationalist Poornima Weerasinghe took the floor to deliver her thought-provoking address on “Why do you write”? with the keywords being out-of-the-box- thinking and multi–tasking. She explained these terms realistically delving into daily life and routines so that the participants could relate to these terms and what they entailed. She made her speech a participatory one by drawing out the students through questions and answers.
Thereafter, Kusumanjalee Thilakarathne took the floor for a detailed and interesting presentation on ‘How to write a good article’. The audience response was very good and many students took the opporunity to get answers to questions they had about writing.
Finally, Nira Diaz spoke to the students on ‘What an editor would expect of them using examples from the Junior Observer. The students were an enthusiastic audience.
Mementos of appreciation were presented to the guest speakers.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Thisev Dinsara of Grade 6 E and the event was captured on camera by K.A.Kande Gamage of the Media Unit, Asoka Vidyalaya.
