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Empire Vale Public School

Empire Vale Public School

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Telephone02 6683 4298

Emailempirevale-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Ms Karen Rantissi

Hello, my name is Ms Rantissi and I am lucky enough to be the Literacy, Creative Arts and Library Teacher at Empire Vale Public School. I have worked at the school since 2007. Before I came to this school I worked as an Educational Coordinator for APN Newspapers and helped set up the Life Education Program in Europe!

I am a genuine life-long learner and spend a lot of my spare time learning new skills and building my knowledge. I have completed my Masters of Education where I had a wonderful time interviewing contemporary artists to investigate how to develop quality learning experiences in art that can help foster creativity. I have used this knowledge to create an Art and Literacy program called ‘How to get a picture to tell 1000 words’ that has been shared all across Australia and has been integrated into the educational programs of multiple art galleries. I have also used these skills to develop art exhibitions, public art installations and supported my students to succeed in many arts-based platforms.

My top three highlights of the school year are:

·         Putting on our whole school performance, where everyone gets to be a star!

·         Book Fair, as we all get to dress up and do so many sensational reading and cultural activities

·         NAIDOC! Bundjalung Culture is just amazing! We all love learning about and celebrating such a rich and diverse culture.

I love a great story. I take great joy in reading and listening to children books and students’ stories. I am currently writing and illustrating a children’s history book about some adventurous cats who travel to Australia on a raft, which I hope will get published in the near future.

It is important to have big dreams! One day, I dream to have a solo exhibition as a professional artist and am open to being the first teacher on Mars!