Annaclone Girl Wins NI Kip McGrath Writing Award

Dream a Big Dreamxa0. The competition was open to 9-14 years olds and invited entrants to write about their dreams for the future whether they wanted to save the rainforest, fly to the moon or become a world-renowned author. Megan Rafferty’s entry reflected on her view that she felt that dreams were just like bubbles that needed to be chased in order to bring them about and she said: “I’m so pleased that my big dream has been selected as a regional winner. I’d never really spent anytime thinking about what my dreams for the future might be but winning the regional competition has inspired me to hold onto my dream and go for it.” [caption id="attachment_37311" align="alignright" width="390"] Megan Rafferty receives her award and is pictured with Kip McGrath Craigavon Centre Manager, Michael Rooney.[/caption] Over 200 Kip McGrath Education Centres were involved in the competition with many offering writing workshops for local children. Michael Rooney Director of the Kip McGrath Centre in Craigavon (Megan’s nearest centre) said: “All young people should be encouraged to have a big dream. By working with aspiring children everyday, Kip McGrath teachers experience first hand the potential children have to do great things.” Clare Rimmer, part of the regional judging panel and is Centre Director of the Kip McGrath Centre in Lisburn, added: “The quality of entries that we received from the region were of a very high standard and it was really inspiring to read about the big dreams of young people across Northern Ireland. However, Megan is a very worthy winner and on behalf of the judges I congratulate her.” Megan will now join the other 14 regional winners shortlisted to wait and see who will be selected as the two overall winners and get national recognition for their big dream. The results of the national competition will be announced at the end of March 2013 and the winners will receive a professional bound book featuring the winning entries, £100 Amazon vouchers and a signed certificate of congratulations from the athletes. Kip McGrath * xa0Kip McGrath Education Centres offer supplementary education to students in reading, writing, comprehension, maths and English. * xa0Kip McGrath Education Centresxa0operatexa0with experienced and qualified teachers who havexa0a passion for teaching. * xa0In the UK Kip McGrath hasxa0over 200xa0local Education Centresxa0managed on a franchise basis. * xa0Kip McGrath operatesxa0650 Centresxa0inxa020xa0countries, which include the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore. * xa0The first Kip McGrath Education Centre opened its doors in 1974 with the founding principle:xa0“any child can learn if they are taught properly”. National judging panel The national panel of judges includes three remarkable young athletes who hope to represent Great Britain in the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.xa0Paralympian T35 sprinter Sam Ruddock, javelin thrower Kike Oniwindexa0andxa0100m sprinter Rachel Johncockxa0have all supported the competition sharing their own Big Dreams in specially createdxa0videosxa0to help inspire young people to think big about their dreams. They will be joined by a representative of Kip McGrath Education Centres as well asxa0Sarah Ebner, author of the Starting School Survival Guide and journalist for The Timesxa0Susanna Scottxa0award-winning parent blogger and founder of Brit Mums the largest network of parent bloggers.]]>