The Royal Gazette's Newspapers in Education programme kicks off the new school year with a series of short stories featuring 'Kiesha the Mermaid', adapted from the screen plays written by Bermudian author Daron Lowe. The Royal Gazette is joined in this literacy initiative by sponsors Keep Bermuda Beautiful and the Bermuda Electric Light Company.

Although The Royal Gazette has been running serialised stories for several years as part of efforts to support literacy in schools and the wider community, this is the first time the stories have been written by a Bermudian and set in Bermuda.

The series will consist of six stories run in the newspaper on every Thursday beginning September 20 and will bring an environmental message to primary students.

Tomorrow, The Royal Gazette will publish a workbook-cum-scrapbook so that young readers can collate the stories. Parents are encouraged to pull out and save the workbook which provides space for pasting in each story, colouring in the line drawings and even exploring story lines so that young authors can write their own series of adventures. There are also questions that will help parents discuss the stories with their young readers.

In addition to the six stories they clip from the newspaper, children can paste in the scrapbook souvenirs of explorations of Bermuda's natural environment and other similar writing prompts. The author statement by Mr. Lowe offers inspiration and practical advice for the next generation of Bermudian writers.

NIE co-ordinator Jennifer Hind first met Kiesha and her creator when she made her debut at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo in 2006. With the permission of Mr. Lowe to adapt the screenplays to short stories, Mrs. Hind has created a series she hopes will entertain young readers and inspire them to Keep Bermuda Beautiful. She has also developed materials for teachers that address Public School System Performance Standards, and these can be obtained by emailing her at nie@royalgazette.bm or telephoning 278-0136.