Stage 3 Extension English students at Dubbo South Public School have taken on a powerful creative challenge: to explore the world of poetry through the lens of both beauty and harshness.

Each week High Potential and Gifted students from across the stage come together to use their critical and creative thinking skills. Students have been expanding their understanding of language and building rich, expressive vocabularies. From vivid imagery to thoughtful word choices, they’ve been diving deep into how words can move, challenge and inspire.

Students were encouraged to reflect on things in the world that they find both beautiful and harsh – like a stormy sea, a thorny rose, or even the process of growing up.

Through class discussions, reading inspiring texts, and engaging in vocabulary-building tasks, they began crafting their own original poems that capture this delicate balance.

Whether through striking metaphors or surprising similes, each student has found a unique voice and a new way to express their ideas.

More than just writing poems, the class has been learning how to think deeply, ask questions, and view the world through different perspectives.

It’s been a journey of self-expression, empathy, and creativity.