The story of King Book Fly wins the 2023 Story Stars competition!

This morning, I visited Kenridge Primary School to announce the 2023 Story Stars winners! 

Story Stars is an annual creative writing competition for all Grade 4 learners in the Western Cape.

Congratulations to Zia van den Berg, who is our 4^th Story Stars annual winner!

Zia is now featured alongside our main characters, Felix and Felicity, in an animated story - written and narrated by herself.

Second prize was awarded to Lila Fourie from Eversdal Primary School, and the third prize was awarded to Dumoluhle Mbuyazi from Wynberg Girls’ Junior School. Congratulations to all of our winning learners!

Zia was approached discreetly at the end of last year, so that we could record her voice for the animated film that was revealed today. The Story Stars film can be viewed or downloaded here: https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/story-stars

Zia follows in the footsteps of our 2020 Story Stars winner from Philadelphia Primary School, Keschrie Booysen, our 2021 winner, Xia Du Toit from Laerskool Mikro, and our 2022 winner, Umar Jones from Blossom Street Primary School, and joins them in the Story Stars hall of fame!

Zia’s story about “King Book Fly” and the “evil meaners” was creative, adventurous, and imaginative. I loved that the story emphasized books and reading. Could you imagine a world where books grow on trees? Well, Zia did!

Her story gave our animators a wonderful opportunity to use their artistic flare with the generous use of colour, sounds, and movement, creating an entertaining short film.

But importantly, the story was also chosen because of Zia’s use of the correct punctuation, spelling and vocabulary throughout her submission.  Congratulations!

And as always, there is a teacher behind every school-based competition, inspiring their learners to participate. Thank you to Kenridge Primary School Grade 4 teacher, Mrs Victoria Tottle, and their principal, Mrs Sandy Smith, for encouraging their learners to take part in Story Stars.

2024 competition

This morning we also launched the 2024 Story Stars competition. The 2024 Grade 4 learners of the Western Cape can now write the next instalment of Felix and Felicity’s adventures.  The idea behind the competition is to get learners excited about creative writing and the opportunities it can bring.

In a survey of a class of Grade 4 learners in 2019, it was evident that their interests lay in watching cartoons and becoming YouTube stars. I don’t think much has changed in 2024!

We decided to create a competition which encouraged reading and creative writing, that could ultimately result in an animated film written, narrated, and starred in by the winner themselves. It is then published on You Tube and other social media platforms.

Story Star booklets have been distributed to all our 2024 Grade 4 learners across the Western Cape to read and enjoy. The ongoing film can be viewed here: https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/story-stars

We would like to encourage all Grade 4 learners to enter the competition and for their teachers to submit the best stories in their class. We are looking for creative and adventurous stories from Grade 4 learners, taking us to wild and imaginative places!

The deadline for entries is 10 May 2024.

We can’t wait to see who our next Story Star will be!

Prizes

In addition to writing, starring in, and narrating the video, which will be watched by thousands of learners across the Western Cape, the Story Stars winner received a tablet, book bag, and branded stationery. The winning school also receives a R10 000 transfer payment for learning and teaching support material. 

The 2nd and 3rd prize winners each received a tablet, book bag and stationery.

Story Stars Hall of Fame

2022 winner: Umar Jones – Blossom Street Primary School

2021 winner: Xia Du Toit – Laerskool Mikro

2020 winner: Keschrie Booysen – Philadelphia Primary School