As students made their way back to school at St Mary’s Primary, Rydalmere, they were greeted by their Principal Richard Blissenden dressed up as a Sea Captain and invited to enter the school by walking the plank!
Going the extra mile to motivate students as they start Term 3, teachers and staff transformed the school playground into a pirates’ haven complete with a shipwreck and an old chest overflowing with treasures.
The scene was designed to set the tone for the school’s upcoming Book Week festivities.
“With the theme for Children’s Book Week being Find Your Treasure this year, we could not resist creating a visual treat for our students,’’ said Librarian Lia Radocchia.
“The scene is a fun way to begin the term, but it also is a way to inspire the students to write creatively,’’ she said.
Throughout the day classes were invited to have a closer look at the display in a bid to develop students’ creative writing skills.
Principal Richard Blissenden said the students were encouraged to write about their experience coming to school and share what they thought of the display.
“It will be an open writing task, so they can write a letter, poem, short story, whatever they feel like, as long as it gets them writing and learning,’’ Mr Blissenden said.
“Every term, we create a scene known as a writing installation to stimulate, encourage and arouse enthusiasm for creative writing, and it works.
“Parents have said they love it and it is a light hearted way to start the term and help students settle back to school after the holidays.’’
