Book Trailers

Our students in Year 5N and Year 6J have been creating book trailers about the class novels they have been reading. The following trailers were created as a class effort with Mrs Sorbello in the library, so that the children could see the techniques used in the process.

Haiku

Here's a Voki reciting a haiku poem written by Francesca in 5M. The year 5 students are writing poetry using a variety of poetic devices.

Friday Afternoon ICT Fun

Have a go at these jigsaw puzzles that Elyssa (Yr 4) and Rani (Yr 6) created this afternoon during our ICT class! Just click on the picture and then click on scatter and start puzzling!

35 Cool-pony

36 Cutie

Poetry Analysis

Read this very well written analysis of a poem by Charmaine in Yr 7. The students have been studying a variety of poems and focussing on several poetic forms. They have been identifying the forms and poetic devices used by a range of poets.

Poetry Analysis by Charmaine Year 7

The Shark

E.J.Pratt

The poem "The Shark" by E.J. Pratt, is free-verse and written in third person. This poem has no rhyme pattern. This poem is about a shark. The shark is not thrashing around awaiting a kill, it is mysterious, patient, stream-lined and graceful, planning its every move carefully. The main poetic device in the poem is imagery. When the author says 'shearing without a bubble the water', it appeals to our vision. It gives us an image of its stream-lined, tapered body cutting through the water like a knife through soft butter. The shark moves with great ease through the water, making it deadly fast.

Also, when the author says 'part vulture, part wolf, part neither – for his blood was cold', this adds to the poem by telling us that the shark is the most deadly predator. The vulture lies in wait for the perfect moment to strike, but there is no room for fault. And like the shark, a lone wolf hunts alone in silence, with deadly speed and never gets exhausted. Also, the shark's blood is cold - cold blood usually means evil, lonely, unhappy. Warm blood means happiness. The shark is a cold-blooded killer.

Another poetic device used was simile as in 'his fin, like a piece of sheet iron'. This tells the reader that his fin can cut through anything that crosses his path. In the poem, certain phrases are repeated, like 'three cornered fin' – repeated in stanzas 1 and 2. Also repeated is the phrase 'tubular, tapered, smoke-blue'. This adds effect to the poem by making the author remember it because it's written several times to show that it's important. Another poetic device used is alliteration. When the author writes 'lithely, leisurely', it tells us in detail how the shark swam which adds a lot of effect to the poem.

So, this poem has a mysterious, dark theme telling us that sharks are cunning, smart, fast and always alert. All the poetic devices did help create the image the author wanted.

The Shark

E. J. Pratt

He seemed to know the harbour,

So leisurely he swam;

His fin,

Like a piece of sheet-iron,

Three-cornered,

And with knife-edge,

Stirred not a bubble

As it moved

With its base-line on the water.

His body was tubular

And tapered

And smoke-blue,

And as he passed the wharf

He turned,

And snapped at a flat-fish

That was dead and floating.

And I saw the flash of a white throat,

And a double row of white teeth,

And eyes of metallic grey,

Hard and narrow and slit.

Then out of the harbour,

With that three-cornered fin

Shearing without a bubble the water

Lithely,

Leisurely,

He swam--

That strange fish,

Tubular, tapered, smoke-blue,

Part vulture, part wolf,

Part neither-- for his blood was cold.

5M Voki Avatar

Look at and listen to this rapping avatar created by 5M.

Year 2 Aussie Animals

Take a look at this slideshow all about Australian animals made by year 2 children.

Indigenous Studies - Year 3

Thank you to Mrs Kimlin who visited the year 3 classes this week and shared her knowledge of Aboriginal culture with the teachers and children. She also brought along some artefacts along to show and explain.

Under 8's Week

What fun was had by all down in Prep last week during Under 8's Week! Students in Prep, Years 1, 2 and 3 participated in a variety of exciting activities that ranged from face painting to obstacle courses. Thank you to the teachers (particularly the Prep teachers) who worked so hard to make the event so special. Take a look at this slide show of some of the fun that was had.

Leo the Lion

Look at this great video of Prep J singing Leo the Lion in the library. The children had just listened to the short-listed book It's Bedtime, William by Deborah Niland in which William is visited at bedtime by a lion. The children have learnt all about the letter L in class and were delighted to sing this song to Mrs Sorbello. What a great job, Prep J!

Prep Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

Our Prep students invited their Mums to a special afternoon tea to celebrate Mother's Day this week. They baked cupcakes, biscuits and meringues to share and set up their classrooms as restaurants. There were beautifully presented tables with serviettes, flowers and specially created menus. The children acted as waiters and waitresses, taking their Mums' orders and serving up the food along with the choice of juice or water. After this wonderful feast, the children shared their diaries with their Mums. It was great to see all the exciting learning that has been taking place in our Prep classes. The children (and the visitors!) were very proud of their efforts and the afternoon was a special time for all who attended. Thank you to the Prep teachers and their school officers who worked hard to make the afternoon tea such a success. Well done all! Take a look at this slide show of photos from the afternoon.

Year 2/3 Persuasive Letter

Year 2/3 J wrote me this very persuasive letter requesting that I purchase some more Horrid Henry books for the library. It is such a great letter, I have ordered more of this series. Well done, children!

12^th April 2011

Mrs Sorbello

St Anthony's

School Library

Dear Mrs Sorbello,

2/3J loves the amazing, entertaining stories of Horrid Henry. We thought if we wrote to a generous, intelligent librarian such as yourself, we might be able to convince you to purchase some more hilarious Horrid Henry books for the school library.

Firstly, 2/3J believes that Horrid Henry is the most entertaining book ever written. His horrid behaviour shocks us; however, it makes us laugh hysterically.

Secondly, Horrid Henry book are extremely educational. They help to build our vocabulary with words such as shrieking, gobbling and thrashing. We have also become experts on alliteration with the help of Moody Margret, Rude Ralph and Clever Clair. We're learning through reading, isn't that what you want?

Finally, many of us have never shown much interest in reading before, but thanks to the amazing adventures of Horrid Henry, we're now non- stop readers. We guarantee you these books will never be left on the shelf collecting dust.

So surely you can see that you should, you must, you have to buy more Horrid Henry books.

Thanking you in advance

2/3J

5N Art Work

The children of 5N have done some great art work this term. Take a look at this slide show which highlights some bird paintings done with their hand prints and the colourful masks created as part of the study of the Italian festival of Carnevale when amazing Venetian masks are worn.

Year 3 Poem

This is a great poem How People Say Their Poetry that our Year 3 students recited at our cultural evening. Great work, Year 3!

Year 5 Easter Eggs

Look at these creative Easter egg designs year 5 students came up with as one of their homework contract tasks. There are some very amusing and cute ideas. Well done, Year 5!

Prep Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Take a look at this great showcase of learning produced by our three Prep classes. The children have been learning all about butterflies and have had butterflies in their classrooms. they have seen firsthand the life cycle of a butterfly and have presented what they now know in this great movie.

Year Two Celebration of Learning Term One

Take a look at this great slide show of the work year 2 students have been doing in class this term! The children have been learning all about Australia and are now travel experts! They have all designed and produced a computer generated information brochure about their chosen state. We are VERY impressed, Year 2!

Year 4 Celebration of Learning Term One

Take a look at this slide show of the great things the students in Year4 have been doing this term. They have been studying indigenous culture and presented all their fantastic work this morning to their families and to other school members. The children have all written their own dreaming narrative and have created photostories! What a great celebration of learning! Well done, Year 4!

Year 7's Yellow Spotted Lizards

Year 7 students are currently engaged in a unit of work on the novel Holes, by Louis Sachar. One of their tasks has been to create a 3-D representation of the fictitious creature - the yellow spotted lizard. Below are photos of some of the students' work. They are all on display in the library, so come in and take a look!

Year One History Unit

Year One classes are currently engaged in a History unit all about toys, games and hobbies from the past. As part of this unit, they have been playing games that their parents and grandprents played as children, and have brought in toys and other items from yesteryear. Check out this slide show of some of the toys, games and activites they have been enjoying.

Year One's Lenten Initiative

Take a look at these great posters made by year One for Caritas. The real posters are hanging up in the library. Come and check them out!