Waitematā Literary Trail

Some of our present and past pupils have had their writing selected by Auckland Libraries to feature in the Waitematā Literary Trail, beginning next month as part of the We Read Auckland | Ka Pānui Tātau i Tāmaki Makaurau festival.

Congratulations to:

James De Wit | How to Get Out of a Maths Test
Porou Rongonui | Remembering Autumn

Robbie de Groot-Tsuji | The Strangest Art Gallery

Amelia Grundy | Baking Comfort

Ruby Jones Johnston | Moon Cycle

Akhila Sharma | Slowing Down Time

Toitoi Jillion 2 published!

Hot off the printing press, this hefty, hardback book is chocka block full of amazing art and writing from students from all over Aotearoa New Zealand. Their creative work has been selected from previously published issues of Toitoi (from 13 to 24) and showcased in this stunning publication.

Congratulations to these present and past Russley Students:

Parker Knight (illustration accompanying the editor's introduction, page 4)

Oliver Peters (poem: Travelling, page 17-19)

Akhila Sharma (poem: Slowing Down Time, page 87)

Ryan Reid (poem: A Family Day at the Beach, page 109)

Robbie deGroot-Tsuji (poem: The Strangest Art Gallery, page 131)

Finn Beedie (poem: A Bed of Clams, page 245)

Harry Fearn (poem: Wilderness, page 321)

Jillioneers!

CONGRATULATIONS to Oliver Peters, Ryan Reid, Finn Beedie, Parker Knight, and past pupils Robbie de Groot-Tsuji and Akhila Sharma who have had poems or artwork selected for publication in a hardcover book, Jillion 2. 

In the last five years, Toitoi has published over 2000 young writers and artists. To celebrate the courage, curiosity and creativity of these young people, Toitoi have created The Jillion 2 — a collection of some of the most amazing writing and artwork from Toitoi 13-24. The Jillion 2 will be a beautiful, hardcover book that will be enjoyed by readers all over New Zealand and the world. 

Congratulations to these talented authors, we look forward to seeing their writing published in Jillion 2. 

Writers selected for Toitoi's next issue

There were over 1,000 submissions made to Toitoi, from students all over New Zealand. The editing team have finally selected the work to be published in issue #22 and we are thrilled to have THREE students from Russley School included.

Congratulations to these talented writers, who have had their poems accepted for publication in the upcoming edition of the Toitoi journal:

Henry Peters | Rm 13 | 'Watermelon Pink'

Joseph Surrey | Rm 4 | 'Scarred'

Akhila Sharma | Rm 2 | 'Slowing Down Time'

Toitoi #22 will be published during Term 4, and copies of the journal will be delivered at the start of Term 1, 2021. The published authors will receive two copies each, to enjoy and share with their families.

Editor, Charlotte Gibbs said, "Please tell your other young writers and artists not to be disappointed. Being a writer or artist takes determination and perseverance. We would love to hear from them again. The deadline for Toitoi 23 is on November 27, 2020."

Nature Poems

Enjoy these two beautiful poems from our Team Moana writers, inspired by a ginko (poetry walk) around our school grounds.

Slowing down time...

I inhale the sweet scent of jasmine,

the strong vanilla aroma of the ponderosa pines,

and the tangy smell of willow after a rainstorm

I glance up to see the sage green leaves 

of the fast growing poplar,

and twittering kākāriki perching on evergreens

Carefully, I listen for kākā,

but find only the raspy chatter of magpies

as they scramble across bewitching magenta

trailing the petals,

I find a lane of fuchsia cherry blossoms

A kōwhai,

symbol of power and authority,

looms overhead at the end of the lane,

sturdy and dominating

I gaze, 

dazed as the scarce monarch 

flits between cherry blossoms

apricot wings slowly unfurling 

as they rest on dew covered blossoms,

slowing down time

Akhila Sharma | Year 8

Aotearoa 

sky surrounds me like a cage

slowly consuming me

i am mesmerized by the silk-like clouds

with ripples like lake taupō on a summer day

to my left, is a sheet of imitating clouds

altocumulus?

waves of white cotton candy blocks out the burning sunlight

the sound of crunching pebbles 

and whistling leaves in the wind follows me like a shadow 

but as night falls, 

all shadows disappear

and the clouds dissolve into the dark abyss

By Jay Poole | Year 8

Colouring our World with Poems

Our Russley Writers have been exploring colour. They each created a poem which celebrates a colour of their choosing and entered the Poetry Box Challenge. Author Paula Green congratulated all our students who submitted their writing. She said, 'Your choice of words made colours come alive, your poems were full of movement and zest. I really liked the pictures that grew in my head as I read. I especially liked the way they all flowed so beautifully. So many standout lines and images. Brilliant!'

Paula received hundreds of submissions from schools all over NZ and has chosen some of her favourites to publish on the Poetry Box website. Twelve students from Russley School have had their poems selected. 

Special mention to Beau Twidle, who Paula chose as one of her top three favourites overall! Beau wrote a fabulous poem about black and has received a copy of Paula Green's book, 'Groovy Fish' as a prize. Congratulations Beau, and to the other published poets:

Beau T 

Esme S

Evrin M-T

Morgan C

Madeleine H

Jay P

Akhila S

Joseph S

James DW

Isaac E

Henry P

Oliver P

Here is Beau's poem:

Black

night covering penwood street

ants running across the dirt

a sleuth of bears sleeping

a box of old fashioned telephones

a patrol unit of arrows flying at the target

a bundle of cables, like snakes

by Beau Twidle | Year 5