Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet

To celebrate International Literacy Day on 8 September, local teacher and award-winning poet Jenny Powell was presented with a special ‘Chain of Office’ to enhance and promote Jenny’s unofficial title City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet. The City of Literature was proud to present Jenny with the Chain, and the short video in which she speaks about her upcoming work in South Dunedin formed part of a collaborative International Literacy Day celebration for the Cities of Literature worldwide.

Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature is partnering with Jenny to deliver a series of workshops to new entrants’ classes across South Dunedin. Designed especially for first year pupils, the workshop consolidates early reading experiences introduced at magenta and red levels. Oral language, reading and writing are interwoven to create a magical experience for the children and the creation of a poem adds to the excitement.

This is one of the many programmes the City of Literature has produced in 2021, in partnership with local writers, poets, and community organisations, to inspire a love of words and books which is shown to improve life outcomes for children.

Teddy Poems

Poetry workshops created by experienced teacher and poet Jenny Powell were successfully rolled out to first year pupils of many schools in Otepoti, in 2021 and 2022. Consolidating early reading experiences and working with the class to complete a Teddy Poem, the emphasis of the workshop was oral language, reading and writing.

Unofficially dubbed City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet, Jenny Powell has written for all ages and her children’s poems have been published in NZ School Journals and numerous anthologies.

The completed Teddy Poems were made into a book for each child who took part in this poetic extravaganza to keep, as a memento of Jenny’s visit and as a reading resource.