CHRISTMAS IS...

CHRISTMAS IS…

by Kimberly C

Christmas is the rustle of wrapping paper

mountains of presents and laughter

and happiness

I can smell the sweet meet 

on the BBQ

Christmas is love and hugs

and a kiss

the taste of chips crunching

the sound of kids screaming and jumping up

Christmas is love and family

and kids and food

definitely!

CHRISTMAS IS

by Josh T

Christmas is

mouth-watering turkey

it is the rustle of soft wrapping paper

Christmas is a

time for crackers

pull the thing and see what you have won

It is time for

the toys to be unleashed

like a stampede of dinosaurs chasing a rabbit

Christmas is a cricket ball

bashing the wickets

CHRISTMAS IS…

by Fergus

Christmas is

fun, laughter,

ringing bells

Christmas is zooming

down

a steep

waterslide

like a tornado

and at the end your dad

fishes you out

CHRISTMAS IS…

by Phoenix

Christmas is pavlova on the plate

with whipped cream out of the bowl

kiwis, strawberries, M&Ms, chocolate

and oranges.

Christmas is Christmas crackers

going boom crack

yay, I won something!

Christmas is Santa saying ho, ho, ho

coming down the chimney

giving presents to all.

Christmas is mistletoe

people kissing

eww, not me!

Christmas is presents getting unwrapped

Yay! I got an ipod touch!

Christmas is songs playing

over and over

and over and over

again.

CHRISTMAS IS…

by Farren

Christmas is pav with chocolate pebbles

strawberries

with whipped cream.

Christmas is the big breath you take

when you see all the presents.

Christmas is the magical smiles on

everyone’s faces.

Christmas is Santa poking his head

through the window.

Christmas is the time your mum and dad

bring out the mistletoe… yuck!

Christmas is the time of year to bring

out your inner elf.

Christmas is Christmas carols on

your doorstep.

Christmas is when family come and have

a Christmas dinner.

CHRISTMAS IS...

by Ella S

Christmas is shelling peas

fresh from the garden.

Christmas is magical laughter,

fun and surprises.

I feel the summer sun getting brighter

in my eyes.

I smell yummy pavlova

with strawberries, bananas

and kiwifruit…

the adults feast.

CHRISTMAS IS…

by Kim S

Ripping Christmas presents open

for a surprise

It is Christmas crackers popping

winning a mini prize

It is delicious desserts getting eaten

in one bite

It is going on holiday to a place

you’ve never been before

It is spending time with your aunties, uncles,

cousins and sisters

as a family at Christmas

You see your family laughing and joking

you know it is the best

spending time with family is the best thing

you will ever have in your life.

CHRISTMAS IS...

Christmas is … waking up to the rustling noises of wrapping paper.

Christmas is … unwrapping presents with family.

Christmas is … a treat having family there 

our special Christmas dinner, roast chicken 

and for desert it is chocolate pudding.

Christmas is … playing with Christmas presents

By Amy T.

Letters to Santa

Dear Mr Head Elf,

For Christmas, this is my wish list and the must-haves.

The Must-Haves:

1. I must have a cricket set because summer’s coming round, so my friends and family can play.
2. New rugby boots from Nike for next season.
3. My last must-have is an All Blacks shirt sighed by Ma’a Nonu.

My Wish List:

1. A rugby ball for sport, of course!

Merry Christmas!

From Josh

P.S. I also need hair gel to have swag.

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like,

1. A monster high doll because they are my favourite.
2. I would like, well… I am discombobulated.
3. I would like my back tooth!
4. I would like a dress and skirt to look pretty.
5. For Christmas I would like a bike and a helmet.
6. I would like a book because it’s good for me.
7. I would like an ipod and phone because I locked myself out.
8. Before I go on… I would like to ask how Rudolph is and would like to say Merry Christmas to him and you! And by the way I’m sorry but I don’t have a chimney but just come through my front door and if anybody picks on Rudolph just tell me.

From Kimmy (that’s what my mum calls me!)

A CHRISTMAS LETTER

by Fergus

Dear Santa Claus,

Can I please have a good i-pad because the old one is broken and my whole family is counting on one.

Can I please have a pair of roller skates because I have never gotten to even ride them before.

Can I please have a skateboard because I keep having to go to my cousin’s house to learn.

Can I please have a bike the next size up because I find it hard on my old bike.

From Fergus

P.S. Merry Christmas!

Team Roto Writing

Enjoy these poems and stories from our Team Roto writers (years 3 and 4).

COLOUR POEM

by Kimberly C

I am the smooth sea

bubbling in the wind

when people go splosh

I’m a hurricane

I am the NZ flag

standing up for my praise

drifting in the wind

I am sky and

I am crying

but helping other plants

I am a whale swimming

calmly in the sea

wondering what life is like

up there

I am a scary genie

that burps a lot

and comes from a pot

a rather suspicious pot

I am a slushy swirling around

like a hydroslide

giving people brainfreeze

Colour Poem

by Fergus

I am volcanic rock 

rolling down a volcano 

like a non-jumping toad tumbling 

away from its enemies. 

I am the night sky 

as dark as a suit. 

I am a tunnel underground, 

you feel like you are in the solar system.

COLOUR POEM

by Josh T

I am sunburn waiting for my little life to be saved

by aloe vera

I am an earthquake bell

ringing in the distance

I am roses

so close

but so far away

THE PATH

by Josh T

I am walking along a stony gravelly narrow twisted path. The door is oak, painted with soft white paint. The door knob is as shiny as a piece of gold. I knock furiously, like an orangutan got no bananas. Behind the door I hear peaceful music then I hear heavy breathing.

The door opens very slowly, making a creaking crack like a tree blowing in the soft air. The man of all men, Richie McCaw is carrying a plate of six Weetbix. He is wearing boots as green as a grapevine. In the room beside him I see an old couch. It looks as soft as a pair of old underpants.

“Gidday mate, how are you doing?”

"I'm doing just fine."

The Path

by Fergus

I was walking along a path with gold, rubies and diamonds. The doors were big castle doors with ruby handles. I pushed the door bell, it sounded so loud it was heard all over the country. Behind the doors there was loud stamping. People were rushing to every single door in the castle.

The door opened slowly with a creak! Then an evil chef popped out with a knife. He was wearing a big long floppy hat. He said, ‘Get me these five things or I’ll kill you!’

I said, ‘OK, I’ll try my best!’

Imagine...

Some very deep writing from star year four author, Josh CP.


Imagine a Place
Imagine a place where your blankets and house are cold but rain is warm.
Imagine a place where trees are shelter but your house is cold and bad.
Imagine a place where people seem happy but inside are angry, sad and scared.
Imagine a place where if you step to a door people come with joy and excitement.
Imagine a place where joy brings you powers like you never imagined.

     - by Josh CP, year 4

The book which inspired our 'Imagine a Place' writing.

More Colour Poems

The book that inspired our colour poems.

Inspired by Drew Daywelt & Oliver Jeffers' book, 'The Day the Crayons Quit', Team ROTO wrote these amazing pieces on colour. Can you pick which colour they are writing about!


I am thick leaves from a tree in Spring.
I am a bright bush that colours up your garden.
I am Shrek looking for food in the woods.
I am a juicy granny smith apple.
I am soft warm grass, I am a springing grasshopper.
I am nature.

by Josh CP, Year 4

I am the sun setting in the desert. I am tomato sauce on fish and chips. I am a racing fire engine heading to a fire. I am Santa, busy making presents. I am an apple ready to be picked from a tree. I am a sweet strawberry growing on a plant. I am a love heart making friends. I am a traffic light saying STOP!

by Fergus, Year 3

I am a delicate daffodil shining light up to you. I am sticky honey being evenly spread onto hot toast. I am hot butter melting rapidly on tasty chewy corn. I am Yates garden food being given to plants who need it. I feel happy and warm inside.

by Josh T, Year 4

Josh CP's one breath poem

How to outdo the Wallabies, last minute:

Wallabies have the ball, they drop, Ben Smith
picks up the ball like a crane, he kicks like
a bull to get the TRY!

Found Poetry

Found poems take existing texts, reorder and rehash them, into a poem- sometimes keeping the context and meaning, but often completely changing it.

First, our writers went on a treasure hunt, looking for fabulous words from within the text they were given. Then, like an artist creating a collage, they played with the words, switching the order several times, until they were happy with what the ended up with. Sometimes the results were surprising!

Here are some of Mrs Koster's favourites:



From Team Awa Nui

FOUND POEMS using a page from Margaret Mahy's 'Tale of a Tail'

Magical tiger
powers slipped
unexpected wishes
   - by Emilia K


From Team Roto

FOUND POEMS using a page from Margaret Mahy's 'Tale of a Tail'

Wondering Flower - by Edwin

wondering
wishing flower
magical drinking
exploded blossoming
frightening trees
wild hanging


Emptiness - by Tristan

Careless wishing
suggested muttering
a street quiet
completely empty
green happiness
unwanted


Charging Charge - by Tristan

Gang!
Mouse mumbled charging!
Scratch!
Kick!
Whirl!
Screaming gansters!
Squash.


Remembering Happiness - by Hamish L

Quiet
completely empty
flapping branches
careless wishing
strange happiness


Wild Day - by Manaal

wildly wondering
exploded day
astonished nod
suddenly scared
wishing alone
up and away


Towards the Clouds - by Ryan S

mysterious yowling, wind blew
shivering bare branches, blue skies
clouds apart, rising above
winking trees, towards the clouds

Flying Alone - by Ryan S

backwards, forwards
charging wildly
flying backwards
leaping forwards
bigger and stronger


Flowering - by Hannah M

delicate flowers
blossoming trees
wonderful plums
spring-time wild


Wild Flowers - by Shona

magical, flowering
astonishing
remarkable, blossoming
wondering wild
shining blossom
exploded


Spring Time - by Xanthe Moore

wondering flowers
drinking spring time
flowering blossom trees
single garden
twigs wide open
delicate flowers appear
astonished neighbour stared


My Street - by Hannah LM

Sun Shower
Whizzing around
Bumbling houses
Green pine trees
Mum yowling


Wishing Leaves - by Lucy C

green pine trees
sunny day
raining next
leaves whizzing
around
   wish on a leaf


Tigering a Cat - by Sophia T

Red blossoming plum
painted gardens
quiet orange and red sunshine
blossoms swirling and swirling


Found Poem - by Josh T

Suddenly appeared wild
blossom
shining around red roof
old house hide
wishing tree wish
distance leap
around blossom tree


Found Poem - by Josh CP

believe
imagine
strange happenings
wish secret blossom
spiked winking
spring plum powers


Strange Happiness - by Kimberly

strange happiness dancing over
remembering bumbling buses
garden gap
careless wishing
dancing on the lawn
hovered dark
empty

Highly Commended Poetry

These poems were among the 12 entries selected by Mrs Koster to make up our school entry for the Fourth Fabulous Poetry Competition. Russley School's entry was judged highly commended by the NZ Book Council judge, Catriona Ferguson. Congratulations to all our talented writers!

CHANDELIER SKY

Stars are shiny rings

glowing like a chandelier

White like marshmallows toasting

on the bonfire

They are like golden sand

on the Sunshine Coast

Sparkling pearls in a glimmering

ebony sea

by Olivia C, Year 8

LIVING STAR

Star is a shiny unicorn eye

clear crystal

silver coin

blinking baby

Star falls

like a baby bird

that’s learning

how to fly

- by Hao Yu G. - year 8

LASER STARS

Stars are like white pale faces

reflecting off glass

Stars are like rockets

scraping through the galaxy

Glimmering diamonds gleaming

off the roof like lasers

Worms glowing like

old lightbulbs

Small ants snacking

on the ground

Red devil lights

coming towards me

- by Mitchell F. year 8

The Night Sky

the stars glisten like lake tekapo

with the sun on it

the stars are shiny like black ice

white, like paper from the bible

stars shoot through the sky

like rockets

by Alex C. (year 6)

STARS

Silver sardines swimming

in melted ice

Sparkly dresses

in the disco light

Twinkling rubies

pure as gold

in a dark, dark mine

by Kim S. Year 6

SHIMMERY DOTS

Gold-teeth stars

shimmer like shells

at night they start waving

like hands

when midnight strikes

the stars look like tiny glow worms

Their fading song

flurries through the air

stars spreading like jam

by Maddie H, Year 3

Congratulations also to the following writers from Team Roto:

Josh T,

Josh C,

Sophia T,

Kimberly C,

and Fergus HB.

I can't publish their poems just yet, as they are going to be entered into another competition; our Russley Writers' Walk - as they fit with our theme of FAMILY.