Storytelling in schools isn’t just about recounting past events; it’s about connecting students, teachers and the community in a rich narrative tapestry. We believe in harnessing the diverse voices of a school community to create stories that resonate with everyone. From recipe books to children’s stories to compelling historical narratives, the possibilities are endless. Here’s how we approach storytelling in schools to captivate diverse audiences and foster a sense of community.

Understanding Your Audience

In a school setting, the audience is wonderfully varied, encompassing students from different ages, backgrounds, eras and interests, along with teachers, parents and community members. This diversity is an opportunity to craft stories that are multi-dimensional and inclusive. By considering the unique perspectives and experiences within the school, we can create narratives that everyone finds valuable and engaging.

Creative Storytelling Options

  1. Recipe Books:

Imagine a recipe book that’s more than just instructions for meals; it’s a collection of family traditions and cultural stories shared by the students to bring a community together. That’s what we did for Westbourne Grammar, who wanted a cookbook that reflected their diverse community. We interviewed families from each of the 30-odd cultures that co-exist within the school, and created a book that’s full of amazing food photography, beautiful stories and truly delicious recipes.

  1. Children’s Books:

When it comes to schools, there’s no one more important than the current students themselves. Yet when it comes to school histories, it’s often this group that is overlooked. What if a school anniversary was an opportunity to tell the school’s stories not just to the alumni and the parents, but to the children themselves? And what if the resultant book wasn’t just something the students read, but something they had the opportunity to participate in developing?

These are the questions we asked Gippsland Grammar. The result is a beautiful picture-story book that tells the story of twelve former teachers who shaped the school, illustrated by students from Gippsland Grammar, from Year 1s all the way through to Year 12s. Talk about real life learning!

  1. Historical Narratives:

There’s certainly a time and a place for a book that captures everything that ever happened in your school’s 150-year history. But there’s also an argument for leaving out some of the boring bits and creating a history that shows not just what you did and when you did it, but also the why. What we like to call the ‘so what?’

School histories don’t have to be a 100,000-word tome that’s hard to pick up and even harder to read. They can be a collection of stories that showcase where you’ve come from and where you’re going. They can be a chronological narrative that keeps your audience and their engagement levels firmly front of mind. They can be shaped using themes and values rather than years and decades. And in the end, they can be a true reflection of who you are as a school and what’s important to you.

  1. Profile Books:

Schools are all about their students, and there’s very little more inspiring to a Year 7 student entering her new school than to discover the amazing people who walked these halls before her.

In this category, there are two projects that stand out. The first was one we did for Marymount College in Burleigh Heads, Queensland. As a collaborative project that centres children’s learning, there are few better examples. The Year 10 history class was responsible for interviewing past students (with our guidance) to find out more about how their school experience shaped who they became as adults. Hyphen then used the recordings of those interviews to write profile pieces about each student. Each of the former students profiled was chosen because of the way they are living the school values in their adult lives, and the stories are nothing short of inspiring.

Another favourite school coffee-table book is one we did for Arden Anglican School. This one gave us the opportunity to explore illustrations. It’s a reality of history books that they must often include photos that are of poor quality but high historical value. We worked around this by engaging an illustrator to capture the likenesses of several of the people (and one adorable possum) that were showcased in the book. To engage with the school’s younger readers, each profile also included a ‘fun fact’ that was easy to read and understand, and designed to draw children into the stories of their school.

Engaging the Community

The process of making and publishing these stories can itself be a community-building activity. We encourage schools to involve not just students but also teachers, parents and local experts in the storytelling process. This collaboration enriches the narrative and strengthens community ties. It also allows for a broader sharing of knowledge and experiences, making the final product not just a story, but a shared piece of community heritage.

The Power of Storytelling

In schools, this extends far beyond the pages of a book. It’s about creating a shared space where every voice can be heard and every story matters. With our expertise in publishing, we’re excited to help schools explore the creative potential of their own narratives, whether they are expressed through the simplicity of a recipe book, the whimsy of a children’s story or the depth of a historical account. Let’s bring your school’s community together through the magic of storytelling.