Coming soon... in Toitoi 31

Congratulations to present and past pupils who have had their writing selected for publication in Toitoi 31. 

Special congratulations to Maia Sisson, who was the winner of the Toitoi Story Search competition!

Lily Tasker | Wonderful Things | poem

Emily Tubman | Kakaruwai | poem

Edward Bateman | The Tiny Rifleman | poem

Maia Sisson | The Naughty Kiwi | story | Winner of the national Toitoi Story Search Competition

All of their pieces will be published in the next edition of Toitoi, which will be delivered at the beginning of term 2. They will each receive two copies of the journal to share with their family and friends.

Collective Noun Poems

Collective nouns are words that are used to describe a group or collection of things or people. Some common examples are:

• a herd of cows
• a flock of sheep
• a school of fish

But have you heard of some of these rather unusual collective nouns?

• a prickle of hedgehogs
• a rhumba of rattlesnakes
• a glaring of cats
• a nest of rumours
• a shiver of sharks
• a rascal of boys
• an unkindness of ravens
• a melody of harpists
• a skulk of thieves
• a tuxedo of penguins
• a wisdom of wombats

We each picked a collective noun, then used it as a springboard for a poem. Our aim was to include a line with an adjective to describe part of the object/animal/person and a line with an action - including a strong verb and perhaps adding in a simile or metaphor.

Enjoy these wonderful poems created by our Awa Nui writers:

A cloud of flies, 

white purple wings

buzzing like vibrating phones.

- by Shan D

A nest of rumours,

whispering tongues,                      

sneaking ear to ear

- by Haeum

A bike of bees

wings fragile like china plates

floating in the wind like leaves

- by Benji

A murder of crows 

razor sharp beaks

soaring like specks of dust 

caught in the wind

- by Leon

a squabble of seagulls with shiny but hard beaks fight for food like a rascal of boys

- by Lily Tasker

A huddle of walruses sharp white tusks skimming through the water

- by Sara

Poetry Box Poets

The following Russley writers have had their poems published on Paula Green's Poetry Box website. Sophie Elkins was chosen as an overall favourite, and wins a copy of Paula's book, Groovy Fish. Congratulations, Sophie!

I also want to make special mention of prolific poet James de Wit, who had THREE poems published. Awesome!


Sophie Elkins - My Favourite Tree

James de Wit - Death of an Autumn Leaf, The Wiggly Squiggly Hose, The Peaceful Night
Lillia Poh - Lockdown List
Lucas Yee - Lockdown Walk, Bean Bag
Ella-Rose - Beans
Reuben Veenstra - Mondial Rose
Liam Bond - Nibbles My Pet
Liam Clark - Autumn
Eabha Dalton - String Lights, Things That Wake Me Up in the Night
Aaliyah Rentoul - Weedeater
Ila Rutherfurd - Things That Wake Me in the Night


Paula also published two of our Pass the Poem pieces...

Team Roto Writers (Mrs K, James, Lucas Y, Emilia, Henry, Oliver, Amber & Sam)
Pass the Poem - Ninja Cat

Team Awa Nui Writers (Mrs K, Lillia, Aaliyah, Sophie, Lily T, Therese)
Pass the Poem - Button Moon