Calling Aquinas writers, orators and poets… Did you know that Aquinas now has a dedicated database of all the amazing writing, poetry, speech, and debating competitions/workshops open to students? And they have fantastic prizes, some of them cash!

Jump online and go to https://classroom.google.com/c/NTkyOTg4NjE0MTY5 to join the ‘AC Writers and Speakers 2023’ Google Classroom.

It lists a host of competitions, with more regularly added by our amazing English Department staff. For example…

• Win a mentorship with one of NZ’s best professional authors to help you develop your craft and writing skills. Applications close April 6.

• Year 12 or 13 students could win $500 cash through the Regional Lions Young Speechmaker Competition. The heats take place in June and, if successful, it’s on to the national finals. Better still, you may be able to use your entry for your NCEA speech! Double-bonus.

• Write a sonnet (Shakespearean or modern) and you could impress the judges of a Western Bay poetry competition open to students aged 13 to 18. Go to the AC Writers and Speakers Google Classroom for all the details.

• Gain recognition for your creative writing skills through the 2023 Young Authors Challenge. Entries open May 16. More information (including the topic) to come. Open to all ages. 

So join AC Writers and Speakers today and get writing!