These words spoken by Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor of Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, and is the tribute winner of the 50th Hunger Games in the land of Panem, as written in the Hunger by american writer, Suzanne Collins.

Ok, not one of the major works of fiction it must be said, nor indeed the quote perhaps.  But when Mike Hudson introduced World Book day to the Claires Court Boys yesterday (2 March 2012) you could have fooled them. Couple an excerpt of the new film based on the book with the words of Will Smith (see those here), plus a strong dose of what the teachers like to read, and some very strong images of the Welsh Rugby team (well it was Saint David’s Day) and you have pupil engagement.  Watching boys of all ilks just ‘pop’ into the library and take out a book, and get their head into some real excitement was simply gratifying all round.  You can see Mr Hudson’s assembly presentation here – http://goo.gl/nLzZw.

And sadly, I wasn’t at the assembly, working the junior girls in similar manner 2 miles up the road. And that’s what is so fantastic now with the resources available through the ‘web’ and the ‘hub‘.  Yep, anyone can go surf the internet, but what our closed walled garden is allowing us to do is collaborate together, share ideas and mix world class work with our own brew to suit the needs of the audience we have.  As one of the 6th Formers said to me as he was waiting for his bus at the end of the day “The thing about the Hub sir is that it is amazing!”  Well good on you all, I say, now you have the tools and the imaginations to run riot, do so “This is the time to show them everything – make sure they remember you!”