Courage is the mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand adversity, danger, fear, or difficulty. It involves the willingness to confront and overcome challenges, even when one feels frightened or uncertain. As author Ambrose Hollingworth Redmoon once said, ” Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act in spite of it”. This is what Sarah Haley, Head English (Middle School) shared with us when she told us what students in Years 5-8 have been learning about this semester.
In Middle School English, Haileybury students explore diverse novels, each chosen to foster critical thinking and promote meaningful discussions about themes, characters and, this semester, the essence of courage.
Students are tasked with analysing texts, exploring key literary devices, story structure and locating evidence of courage themes.
Years 5 and 6 students were tasked with capturing courage in 25 words. Please hover over their images to view their stories.
Siyara
Siyara – Year 5
Sandra doesn’t stop running from beasts inside her negative thoughts. But she doesn’t doubt herself and stops running, she faces them, she knows she can.
Kevin
Kevin – Year 5
The tree was moving. He watched, horrified as the tree grew legs and arms. It let out an enormous roar as it stood up and …
Freddie
Freddie – Year 5
Thomas was engulfed by a vivid light. He didn’t know what would come next but he knew it could save the human race.
Yashica
Yashica – Year 5
Don’t fear, When you’re born to stand out You might be different, but you’re special.
Oscar
Oscar – Year 5
“You’re up next Tim,” the man said. Tim’s blood froze as he looked down at the treacherous 50 metre drop. Tim stepped into the abyss.
Nadia
Nadia – Year 5
The lights blinded her, this was her first recital, she needed to be courageous. With the first stroke of her violin, the packed audience cheered.
Kalen
Kalen – Year 6
Sprinting for your life, cliff ahead, you have to jump, options are get devoured by a blood-thirsty lion or do the pernicious jump and hope.
Roy
Roy – Year 6
The silence stays, feeling scared, getting dizzy. You start getting wobbly, about to tumble. A feeling passes you, a feeling you can’t comprehend. A powerful feeling. Courage.
Archie
Archie – Year 5
The floor shook violently. A loud roar rocked the kindergarten like a crazy earthquake. And there he was. The horrifying cat-dinosaur. The crazy monstrosity. Kittysaurus.
Amy
Amy – Year 5
The dog stared at the crowd, panting. Then the mayor came over. “You saved her,” he said, putting a medal over him. “You showed courage.”
Wendy
Wendy – Year 5
Thousands of eyes were fixed towards the stage spotlight. Her parents looked at her encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, she lifted up her delicate hands.
Joyce
Joyce – Year 5
April’s roller-coaster twisted and turned as she held on for dear life. Literally. She’s been over countless loop-the-loops, sharp drops. Yet she hasn’t given up.
Eliz
Eliz – Year 5
Squeak! Squeak! went the mouse courageously as it passed the horrifying cat to get to the other side of the room.
Manuga
Manuga – Year 6
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen to people sharing ideas.
Carlos
Carlos – Year 6
You are one kick away from achieving greatness, crowds going ecstatic and your teammates crying, step out of your comfort zone and triumph over it.
Julia
Julia – Year 5
The sounds of silence creeping past, The way ahead was clear but dark, Patiently, we wait, for that tiny spark.