Jenni Hammonds — Dec 11, 2023

Our visual arts students entered the TENZ, Forest & Bird, and New Zealand Post stamp competition and picked up a flock of awards!

For the last month of our visual arts class, Kōtui Ako students worked on their designs for Technology Education New Zealand stamp competition. Of our seven submissions, four picked up category winners or highly commended, as well as overall winner!

Y2-5 & Overall winner: Valerie from South Westland Area School

The brief was to make a 'sensational' stamp that shows what native plants and animals, wild places, or environmental issues you think Forest and Bird should be focused on over the next 100 years.

Year 6-8 Highly commended: Emogen Renshaw. (age 13) from Kōtui Ako & Te Miro School. — Image by: Jenni Hammonds

Students began by thinking about a species special to Aotearoa and their region. The class discussed and looked for Google Images for inspiration on how stamps could designed and different ways to create a composition with their species.

Valerie's process for developing her piwakawaka & native hibiscus design

Akonga sketched designs and trialled different media and colours, then added photos of what they had done each week to the shared class slides. Their eTeacher, Jen Hammonds, gave feedback and students tweaked and trailed until they were happy with their designs. Check out everyone's process here.

Year 2-5 Highly commended: Violet Comer (age 10) from Kōtui Ako & Te Rerenga School. — Image by: Jenni Hammonds

Congratulations to all our visual arts students who developed their skills and understanding over the year.  A special shout out to those who completed their stamp designs, and a round of applause to the winners and highly commended designs, in particular Valerie from South Westland Area School who judges selected as the overall winner.  Valerie's design will be made into a stamp by NZ Post! A sheet of 50 stamps will wing their way to the South Westland Area School & Kōtui Ako VLN to be used on school mail.

Overall Winner: Valerie Bentham from South Westland Area School & Kōtui Ako VLN.
Year 9-10 Winner: Eden Piquelle. Aged 14 from Spotswood College.
Year 9-10 Highly commended: Millie Stonier. Aged 14 from Spotswood College. 
Year 6-8 Winner: James Waugh. Aged 11 from Kōtui Ako VLN & Te Rerenga School.
Year 6-8 Highly commended: Emogen Renshaw. Aged 13 from Kōtui Ako VLN & Te Miro School. 
Year 2 – 5 Winner: Valerie Bentham. Aged 9 from Kōtui Ako VLN & South Westland Area School.
Year 2-5 Highly commended: Violet Comer. Aged 10 from Kōtui Ako VLN & Te Rerenga School.

Ngā mihi nui to TENZ, Forest & Bird and NZ Post for a great opportunity!