Respect for Rappaman!

YOU’VE got to respect their attitude!

Youngsters at Nields Junior, Infant and Nursery Primary School in Slaithwaite received a visit from local writer and rap artist Donavan Christopher – aka Rappaman.

Donavan is currently working with Kirklees Libraries on a project promoting self-belief and respect with Year 9 students.

To add another dimension to the project the libraries wanted to include some younger students, so when they heard about Nields’ work on ethos and “respect,” it seemed a perfect fit.

The school spent time in the days leading up to the event sharing Rappaman’s raps with the Year 4 and Year 5 classes he was visiting.

Kirklees librarian Olivia Barnden said: “As Donavan entered the playground, he met with cheers from the children who all recognised him from his books and rushed over, excited to meet him.

“Donavan commented later that he ‘felt like David Beckham’ when he came in!

“The enthusiasm continued into the classroom, with pupils engaging with Donavan and his energetic style, each producing and many performing, their very own ‘Alpha Raps.’”

Olivia was delighted with how well the visit had gone.

She said: “It makes it all worthwhile when you see not just how well the students engage with an author – which they did brilliantly – but also that the whole school have been caught up in the excitement, with the teachers and teaching assistants preparing the students beforehand, taking an active role in the sessions, then planning follow-up work.

“This is how we’d love all visits to be.”