Well, folks---I know some of you have heard about this project more than you'd like, but it simply wouldn't be acceptable if I neglected to dedicate a post to it!

As several of my friends and family are well aware, I've been coordinating the Undercliffe Public School Mural Project. It's really gained momentum the last week, and the developments that have occurred are fantastic!

First of all, the absolutely lovely Irina Dunn (Executive Director of the New South Wales Writers' Centre) has lined up an author to act as guest speaker at the unveiling ceremony. Deborah Abela, author of the two series Max Remy (Superspy) and Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend), will be our "keynote speaker". Following the closing remarks, she'll be hanging around to sign some books and speak with the kids and their parents.

Rakesh Duncombe, a Rotarian in my fantastic host club (Rotary Club of Balmain), will be present to give the Rotary address of sponsorship and acknowledgment of student work (through presentation of certificates).

I'm currently working on a photo slideshow that will be played before the ceremony and during the reception. We'll have photos of the kids working on the project and the sort of "before and after" shots that are essential! ha ha ha...

It's all really exciting!

If you're interested in finding out a little more about the project, read below!

The Undercliffe P.S. Mural Project is designed to provide students with a cross-disciplinary approach to understanding the importance of literacy and the importance of international awareness. The project is enthusiastically endorsed by the Undercliffe P.S. principal and teachers as well as by the Rotary Club of Balmain.

PROJECT GOALS OUTLINE ------------------------------
This project seeks to:
***Provide students with an alternative outlet for learning.
***Allow students to exercise artistic expression in an educational environment.
***Give students the opportunity to utilize leadership skills (through the delegation of
leadership roles [i.e., color specialists, mural painters, ceremony assistants, project
spokespersons])
***Engage students in a dialogue regarding “real-world” issues of global scale.
***Unite the community of Earlwood (i.e., Undercliffe P.S. students, staff and family members
of Undercliffe students) and Rotary through recognition of student achievement.

PROJECT EXPLANATION ------------------------------
Students in two separate senior classes are presented with classroom-based instruction and discussion relating to the aforementioned topics (i.e., literacy and international awareness). Following the lesson and mediated discussion, students are asked to provide an artistic representation of knowledge gleaned in the form of illustrations. Artworks provided by the students are then voted on by students and staff, with four selected illustrations from both classes comprising the mural designs.
This project encourages participation of all students. Students whose illustrations were not selected for the mural design will serve as mural painters and design planners. Students will also be selected to serve as project spokespersons.

PROJECT CULMINATION ------------------------------
The murals will be unveiled during a ceremony on 22 June 2007. The unveiling ceremony will be attended by members of the Earlwood community, students of Undercliffe P.S., Rotary representative(s), an Australian children's author, and members of the local press.

Here is the flyer/invitation I've created for the Unveiling Ceremony.