Flood – Noah’s critique

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I like the way that every artwork  is  all dark and muddy and the sky is all cloudy and they fit that texture. I also like that every picture has a different flood scene and all the houses and bridges are getting caught and pushed through the flood.

My favourite is the one with the bridge with parts falling off it and it just looks really nice with that water too. No 5.

Artwork by Angel

Flood – Gemma’s critique

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I like the way in painting number 7 that it has high water with a bit of brown and green to make it look disgusting.

I also like painting 7 because it shows big grey clouds are moving with the wind. It has different shades of grey and a little bit of black. It shows that people are on the roof because of how dirty and high the water is and I see people in a boat going through the flood trying to get out of the flood, trying to escape and live somewhere higher.

Artwork by Connar

Flood – William’s critique

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I like the way Noah has mixed the colours in his painting. I also like the way Noah has put the Morpeth Bridge over it to express the feeling of the flood a bit more than usual. I really like Noah’s painting – he will be a good artist if he keeps going!

I really hope that Noah will carry on with his art so he can be famous when he grows up, I really hope he will. You will be a good artist Noah if you keep carrying on with art. Don’t stop Noah. Really, don’t stop.

Artwork by Noah

Attunga meaning ‘high place’

Attunga was the winning name chosen from those submitted by the Stage 3 students of Tenambit Public School in the Stockland Greenhills ‘Name the crane’ competition. Lucy decided on this name after talking with her Aunty. She believed this was a name that suited a giant crane because attunga is an aboriginal word meaning high place. Lucy chose her friend Bella to help her paint the design for the flag. Although Tenambit’s entry was not judged the winner by popular vote, I think it’s outstanding. Well done girls!

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Other great entries received were: Mr Progress, Green Hills Tower, Garrtjambal, Cruncher,  Goliath and Simple.

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Sensationally, stylish shoes!

Everyone knows how much I love shoes! Not so long ago I shared one of my favourite books, Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat, by Stephen Michael King with year one. It’s about a timid girl called Millie whose creativity is stifled by the people around her. Every day she makes brown shoes, black shoes and plain, ordinary work boots when all she really wants to do is use her flair and imagination. This changes the day two vagabond minstrels, Jack and the dancing cat roll into town and give her the courage to finally be herself.  Inspired by Milli, year one designed some super stylish creations that would be the envy of Jimmy Choo, Manola Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. I’d certainly like one or two pairs of these in my collection.

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Have you read this great book? Why not look for it in our library.

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Belonging!

Everyone needs to belong! We all need to feel connected, loved, appreciated, and know that our lives have meaning and purpose.

Stage 2 explored this concept after reading the book My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood. It tells the story of a little girl called Cartwheel who together with her Aunty, flees her wartorn homeland to settle in a new and strange land, somewhat similar to Australia. She feels isolated and alone until another small girl reaches out, shows kindness and compassion, and draws her into her circle of friendship. I love the gentle symbolism in this story conveyed through both the text and beautiful images. It’s an inspiring and thought provoking story.  I can’t help but think of the current situation in Syria, and the many people across the world who are fleeing violence and persecution. I would hope that all of our students at Tenambit Public School would go out of their way to make any new comer to our school, community or country feel welcome and accepted. It also causes one to reflect on  the  similar situation faced by our deaf students at Tenambit school. They too experience everyday, the isolation that comes with not understanding the language being spoken. They too must at times feel like Cartwheel, under that ‘cold waterful of strange sounds’. We must do whatever we can to make them feel included and wrapped in a blanket of warmth, love and understanding.

Stage 2 discussed the many groups that we belong to. Students chose one group and thought about what belonging to that group meant to them and how it made them feel. They illustrated one small piece of a quilt and used a thesaurus to find words to describe their sense of belonging. Below are the results of their efforts.


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Dylan Thomas Portrait Poems

Earlier this term I shared the amazing book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley titled ‘Fire’. It is full of rich language and beautiful imagery. As a response, students in Stage 2 chose a subject and in groups created a Dylan Thomas Portrait. This type of poem is named after the famous Welsh poet who used words experimentally in his poems. Each portrait focuses on the senses and begins with the question: ‘Did you ever…?’ The question is then answered with a description.

Below are a selection of the poems written by students. They have tried to capture the essence or basic nature of their chosen subject.