Twenty-two former Grade 6 students of Blanchard Combined School have become published authors after turning their classroom writing assignments into a 260-page anthology featuring more than 100 stories, essays, tributes and recipes.
“The World Through Our Eyes,” written and illustrated by the Class of 2026, was launched on Monday, with support from Jako Productions and sponsors.
The publication grew out of the students’ Continuous Performance Assessment (CPA) writing portfolios, which required them to produce work across five different genres. Their assignments were compiled into a collection of more than 100 stories, descriptive essays, personalised tributes to best friends and family members, recipes, and their thoughts and recommendations.
School principal Merle Emmanuel described the launch as a milestone in the school’s history.
“We are here to celebrate the power of our young minds, the beauty of written expression and extraordinary possibilities that emerge when children are encouraged to dream beyond the boundaries of the classroom,” Emmanuel said. “Today we are not simply launching a book; we are launching ideas, celebrating talent and opening a window into the minds of our young people.”
Addressing the students, the principal said their transition from completing classroom assignments to becoming published authors was an achievement of which they should be proud.
Emmanuel credited Grade 6 teacher Nigeleen Samuel-Hubert with conceptualising the project and Dr Anderson Reynolds of Jako Productions with guiding the idea and publishing the book.
Education Officer for District 6, Stephen Auguste, also praised the students, noting that they had previously distinguished themselves academically and in sports, including table tennis.
“During our graduation, we said that they were among the top students on the island, certainly among the top students in the district. We recognised them as brilliant athletes, having dominated the events in our district. They did well in table tennis, and now they are young authors. This is something special, and that’s just the beginning because they have the world ahead of them,” Auguste said.
He added that the publication “reminds us that when children are encouraged to imagine, given the tools to create and afforded the opportunity to share their work, they can produce something that enriches both their learning and the experience of those who read their stories”.
The support of sponsors Massy Stores, the Freezone Management Authority and the Department of Creative Industry in the Ministry of Tourism was acknowledged at the launch.
Massy Marketing Manager Kelly Mitchell encouraged the young authors to recognise the value of their achievement and their potential.
“At such a young age, you have accomplished something that many adults only dream of. You are now published authors. But beyond the achievement itself, I hope this experience teaches you something even more important – your ideas matter, your voices deserve to be heard and your circumstances should never define the limit of your potential,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s sentiments were echoed by Allen Chastanet, Member of Parliament for Micoud South, where the school is located.
“Never allow where you come from to determine how far you should go,” he told the young authors.
“Today, we celebrate something truly remarkable. At an age when most children are still discovering the joy of reading, these children have already taken the next step. They have written their own stories, expressed themselves in a way many other students have not, and their own ideas and shared imagination with the world. That takes courage to do.”
Samuel-Hubert said the idea for the book emerged while she was guiding the students through their CPA writing portfolios.
“A lot of work is involved. The students have to write from five different genres, plan, revise, edit, rewrite, and I thought after the work is graded it is just lying there,” Samuel-Hubert said. “And so, I told the students we would do a book and I realised that when I told them that, they appeared even more motivated; there was definitely increased interest.”
The project proceeded with parental permission to use their writing, guidance from the Ministry of Education, and support from the school principal, teachers and sponsors.
The students, who have since moved on to Form 1 at various secondary schools, each received a copy of the anthology at the launch.
The World Through Our Eyes is the first book published under Wavin Kann Press, a new imprint of Jako Productions. It is available at Books ‘n More in Micoud and Back to Basics and T&M in Vieux Fort, as well as on Amazon.
