Cross-School Mentorship Leads to Published Book: Be Someone
29 May 2025
There was a real buzz this week in the Chifley College Shalvey Campus library. Students from Year 10 and Year 7 came together to celebrate the launch of their very first book; Be Someone.
Chosen as leaders and mentors by their school teachers, the students from Year 10 last year designed and delivered two unique workshops for students in Year 6 at nearby primary schools; Noumea Public School and Shalvey Public School. The aim of these workshops was both to help the younger students with their literacy skills, and to assist with their upcoming transition to high school.
The result is a unique, double-sided book, which you can start reading from either cover. One side is Heroes and Villains, featuring the students’ own imaginings of superheroes and their villainous nemeses. Flip the book over and the other side is Catching Dreams, all about brilliant contraptions to capture the young people’s happiest and wildest dreams. In between are the students’ beautiful and thoughtful reflections on mentoring.
As Story Factory Storyteller Manager Nita van den Boogaard stepped up to the podium, a hush fell over the room. Students sat with the anticipation of seeing their books for the very first time.
“I was very proud and excited to celebrate the combined work of the Year 10 mentors from Chifley College Shalvey Campus and the Year 7s that they inspired and guided to create a very funny, heartfelt, and entertaining collection of stories, poems and reflections.” says Nita.
“I quickly got to see first-hand the kindness, warmth, humour and initiative that led to the older students being selected as mentors. I could not be prouder of each and every one of them.”
I Am by Austen, an excerpt from Be Someone
I am the morning air of a brand new day that refreshes my lungs.
I am the sound of the piano playing the keys to my heart.
I am that friend that keeps me smiling when my day is sad and gloomy.
I am the time of worship that reminds me to make good choices.
I am my favourite saying:
“There is beauty all around when there is love at home.”
Students were first presented with certificates to acknowledge their work and achievements in collaboratively creating this work. Whispering together at the front of the room, their eyes were on the books still in the box.
Students were then handed their books for the very first time, seeing what the book’s designer had done with their hard work. Their illustrations had been turnedinto professional designs and their words into a professionally published book.
They spent the rest of the launch with their eyes glued to the book, taking in the bright illustrations and showing their friends the pieces they had written.
“I’ve never had a book that actually has me in it,” said one young person.
Students including Lyrics, Marcus, and Matilda, Cohen and Isabelle came up to read their work to the assembled students, palpably proud of their writing and accomplishments.
I Come From by Laura, an excerpt from Be Someone
I come from a family that works hard.
I come from sausage sandwiches outside on the grass.
I come from ancestors that travelled so far.
I come from a home that holds many secrets.
I come from a family crossing different paths.
Copies of Be Someone can be purchased via the Story Factory website.
These were the words that inspired and guided 15 young people from Chifley College Shalvey Campus in Mount Druitt, Western Sydney. Taking on a new challenge, they took on a project to act as leaders and mentors in their community. Be Someone fast became a unique program, with a series of workshops developed and delivered by young people, for young people.
Armed with their personally-designed creative writing workshops, students from Chifley College mentored and supported two groups of Year 6 students from local primary schools, Noumea Public and Shalvey Public. The workshops aimed to both strengthen their literacy skills and prepare for their upcoming transition to high school. Together, the students explored the skills and personalities of their ultimate superheroes and villains, and dreamt up contraptions to catch and filter dreams.
This book features stories from these workshops, as well as reflections from the high-school students on what mentorship means to them.