National Simultaneous Storytime 2011

National Simultaneous Storytime 2011

What a fun day, as about 400 Penrith PS students (including the pre-schoolers in our “Play and Chat” group) joined thousands of Australian children and teachers across Australia, in schools and in public libraries, in a simultaneous reading of Rod Clement’s picture book, “Feathers for Phoebe“. Some of us watched a Youtube video clip (below), others read the book on an IWB (above, in our new school library), or using the book with buddy classes.

Here is the ALIA podcast of “Feathers For Phoebe” via Youtube:

National Simultaneous Storytime 2011
Mr McLean reads “Feathers For Phoebe” for Stage 2.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2011

View our Photo Peach slideshow of the event!

UPDATE:

Here is a close-captioned, Auslan version of the ALIA Youtube podcast:

And our PhotoPeach digital story:


Clifford & Phoebe at Penrith PS

Finding feathers for Phoebe

This year, ALIA’s annual National Simultaneous Storytime event is Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement. Phoebe is a small grey bird who gets herself decorated in colourful feathers, and develops a new song and new moves, in order to attempt to get noticed. We plan to do this as a whole school event, probably split across four groups.

Phoebe

I was thrilled to notice some black-painted wooden bird templates in a local “Sam’s Warehouse” bargain store (at $4.00 each), which I’ve since painted with grey enamel. I hope to have one decorated in feathers in time for the big event on 25th May at 11.00am.

Phoebe feathers

Yesterday, I found a great little mask, decorated with peacock-feathers and sequins, which should prove useful as part of Phoebe’s new look. Numerous bargain stores sell packets of assorted feathers for craft work – and then I found these cute little styrofoam birds, already decorated with sequins, gold tinsel and coloured feathers, at just $3.00 each:

Phoebe birds

Dux

Dux - Daily Telegraph

Wow! Thanks Maralyn Parker and our mystery nominator!

31 March 2011: “To Penrith Public School students and teachers, especially teacher-librarian Ian McLean, hearing support teacher Kerrie Mead and kindergarten teacher and Student Representative Council organiser Lacey Ingle, for the wonderful slideshow in support of the Christchurch earthquake appeal. Creative, clever and deeply moving.”

Note that the article says “sideshow” (sic).


All Black Day: Christchurch earthquake appeal, 2011

A slideshow for the Garden City

Flowers collage, All Black Day, 2011
This artwork was created by our school’s Student Representative Council, who painted their hands to resemble flowers of New Zealand and Australia. The photographs were assembled into a collage. This was part of a fundraising venture for ALL BLACK DAY, Australian schools’ contribution to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal of 2011.

Our Photo Peach slideshow for Christchurch, New Zealand, is HERE!


All Black Day: Christchurch earthquake appeal, 2011

Among the viewer comments added to the slideshow was a haiku, written for us by Room 5, Our Lady of the Assumption School:
“Earthquakes come and go
But ANZACs never give up
May the flowers bloom.”

Kaiapoi Borough School sent our community a blessing: “Kia manawanui, Kia manakitia e hoa ma.”

A student at South New Brighton School wrote, in a poem:
“… Some buildings may fall,
but we are Cantabrians and we will stand tall.”

The students and staff at Papanui School, in Christchurch, said, “Kia kaha te menemene – Keep smiling.”

UPDATE: Only one day online and we are officially #1 – “Today’s most viewed” – of over 103,100 slideshows! Over 650 visitors. Truly amazing.

This Youtube video response to All Black Day comes from Russley School, New Zealand, near Christchurch’s airport:

Preparing to celebrate

Happy Chinese New Year!

Our K-2 students are about to start investigating Chinese New Year, as a part of a HSIE unit, “Celebrations”. Libby Gleeson & Armin Greder’s “Big dog” will be a feature picture book, as will Di Wu & Kathy Huang’s “Are you a dragon?”

Year of the Rabbit
Rabbit float on display near Central Station, 2011.

2011 Chinese New Year flagwhite2011 Chinese New Year flag
Rabbit pennants in George St, Sydney, 2011.

Chinese dragon and lanterns
Chinese dragon and lanterns, SCHM.

Zodiac animals
Chinese Zodiac animals, SCHM.

lanterns
Chinese lanterns, SCHM.

Emperor Robbie
Emperor Robbie Rules in 1/2S.

lanterns
Chinese lantern in 1/2S.

2011 Chinese New Year flag
2011 Chinese New Year pennant, George St, Sydney – notice
the numerals 2, 0, 1, 1, making the shape of a rabbit.

My photo (above) inspired a quick and easy craft activity for the students in our 2-6 hearing support unit yesterday:

2011 rabbit

2011 rabbitwhite2011 rabbit
2011 Chinese New Year rabbits by SCHM students.

Relive The Year of the Tiger (2010).

Relive The Year of the Rat (2008).

Relive The Year of the Rooster dragon parade (2005) on Photo Peach.

#203
Images of Dragons! on Flickr.


Dragon parade!