St Joseph’s Primary School launch Fire In The Tops book

St JOSEPH’S Primary School students launched their new literary work, “Fire in the Tops”, on Monday, 10 November. 

Supported by author and illustrator Sami Bayly, all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 participated in both writing and illustrating the book.

Principal Amy Maslen told News Of The Area, “The project has been a key focus for our school’s improvement efforts, deepening our skills in the teaching of writing and enhancing student outcomes and opportunities in this area.”

During the initial phase of the project, teachers collaborated with students to develop ideas for the story’s narrative, including elements such as setting, characters, and a problem that needed to be solved.

The St Joseph’s students decided to focus on natural disasters and the impact these events have on the local community.

The setting for the story is the Barrington Tops and the animals inhabiting the area are the characters who save the Gloucester community from a bush fire.

“Through the students’ writing and illustrations, they have captured the resilience, strength, and unity that emerge in the face of adversity,” Principal Maslen said.

Although the project began in Term 4 of 2024, the majority of writing and illustrating was completed during a week-long writer-in-residence program with Bayly in early 2025.

“It was a bit stressful,” said Year 6 student Georgia Morton, “but it was great when you realised what everyone had created.”

Sophie Emerson, a teacher for Years 4, 5, and 6, was one of the key drivers of the project.
She praised the students for their impressive work during her address at the launch.

“The drawings are excellent, and I am very proud of how the book turned out,” said Year 4 student Elliot Banyer.

To celebrate the book’s launch, students and staff created an on-stage dramatisation of the book.

Harrison Fisher, a Year 6 student, expressed his excitement about the drama, saying, “I really liked learning how to act on stage.”

Josie Banyer from Year 2 added, “It was really cool to do the play. Everyone got their special bit.”

Year 4 student Henry Tighe said he loved playing one of the teachers in the performance.

The school is not selling the book but will be donating several copies to organisations in Gloucester, including National Parks, Gloucester Preschool, and the Visitor Information Centre.

By Wendy BUSWELL