Private School News

Young Staines Prep Artists Captivate with Deadly Dinosaur Entries

Children’s web gallery Create & Wait, the brainchild of Staines Prep teacher Claire Eastaugh, has announced the winners of its latest art competition, ‘Dynamic and Deadly Dinosaurs’ and the launch of a free to enter poetry competition.

The original idea for the science themed competition was dreamt up and finally judged by a group of pupils themselves. Children were invited to create dinosaur pictures from their imagination and with that challenge came many new species, from a Stand-upasaur and a Hedgehogamite to a colourful Mixosauras.

Each year group winner received a certificate and model dinosaur as their prize and their pictures, and those of the runner-up entrants are now displayed in the Science gallery at www.createandwait.com. Three Staines Prep School pupils Aman Bhutani (8), Francesca Mitchell (9) and Caragh Murphy-Collinson (11) were among the winners, taking first prize in Year 3, 4 and 6 categories.

“Creativity abounded with numerous fabulous creatures and clever names invented by the children who entered,” said Claire.

The next competition is now open for entries, with plenty of time for children to get creative over the summer holidays and beyond. A poetry competition with the theme ‘Changes’, has been set by the bestselling children’s author Timothy Knapman. Timothy was very impressed with the site and said “The children’s work is excellent and it really is a terrific idea to have a web gallery with all the work on show.” Entry is free to children in Years 3-6 and Claire wants to actively encourage entries from all schools in the area. The closing date is October 24th 2009.

Photo: Pictured with their model dinosaur prizes and certificates are Year group winners of the Create & Wait online children’s gallery competition are Staines Prep School pupils (from left to right): Caragh Murphy-Collinson (11) (Year 6), Aman Bhutani (8) (Year 3), Francesca Mitchell (9) (Year 4).