Children’s poetry – Identity and Voice
Introduction/Whakataki
20 June 2023
This best evidence in action exemplar provides a window into the transformative work of poet, Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh, working collaboratively with former principal, Liz Horgan, and staff and students at St Joseph’s School, Otahuhu.
This video features students reading their poems at the community celebration hosted by the Otahuhu Community Library. It exemplifies the valued outcomes of engaged cultural capital, stand tall pride, confidence and quality writing. The community came together to showcase the students’ writing, and the positive impact for both the students and the community is self-evident.
“…to know that the word really does have power, and it goes beyond you and becomes something separate to you is an incredible moment.”
Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh
These poems are read by their student authors:
‘Grain of sand’
‘Korowai: The cloak of unity’
‘Kumete’
‘Africa as my cloak’
‘Stone poem’
‘High-heeled PI’
‘Not a PI’