testimonials
ST. URSULAS COLLEGE - KINGSGROVE
“Everyone can draw!” This was the message Jeff Taylor, renowned cartoonist and motivational speaker, had for Year 7 students at a recent workshop.
The visit aimed to develop the girls’ growth mindset and encouraged them to put aside their preconceptions about their drawing abilities and focus instead on completing a task by being present in the moment.
The students enjoyed the workshop so much, many of them continued to draw through recess! Source:- stursulascollege - Instagram.
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ST. JOSEPHS COLLEGE - KATHERINE (NT)
SEEING DOUBLE: Students Silas Wadey and Calamity Wilfred with their unintentional lookalikes in the mural.
Students at St Joseph's College had a hand in beautifying their school when they helped cartoonist Jeff "Joffa" Taylor paint a mural recently.
Source:- Katherine Times.
PORTARLINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL - (Vic)
“Waterfall” ShhhhhhhhhNow that we have your attention, we would like you to know that a celebrity visited our school on the 18th of February... Joffa (a cartoonist)!
He showed us and told us how to create a cartoon.
Joffa tricked us, repeated instructions and asked us questions to make us listen and focus.
Then he created new shapes and showed us how to use shapes we already know, to create whatever we imagined.
“We enjoyed Joffa and his creations.” Lachlan D“He had an extraordinary sense of humour.” Layla W“Joffa’s tricks were funny and creative.” Flynn W“The class had an incredible time learning how to draw cartoon characters.” Grace A“People felt like they were succeeding at something.” Mia H“Joffa made us think creatively.” Ebony M
Source:- Portarlington PS Newsletter
SEABROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL (Vic)
The second learning opportunity was a ‘ToonSchool’ workshop by Jeff Taylor.
Jeff Taylor is a known speaker, cartoonist, author and illustrator.
This inspiring program was titled, ‘ToonSchool Building Resilience, Thinking Skills, Listening Skills and Growth Mindset’.
Joffa (Jeff Taylor) spoke about having a positive mindset can help us deal with negative emotions.
We learnt about Growth Mindset by drawing cartoons.
The big message was we can learn anything if we put effort into it.
After the workshop we used De-Bono’s thinking Hats to reflect on the incursion.
Source:- Seabrook PS Newsletter
BANGALOW PUBLIC SCHOOL
BANGALOW Public School students helped paint a new mural at the school last week with the help of Sydney-based cartoonist Jeff (Joffa) Taylor.
Featuring the town’s signature Bangalow palms, the mural depicts five versions of the school mascot OBA the Koala – named after the school motto “Our Best Always” – each representing one of the learner dispositions
.An OBA with a backpack depicts an adventurous way of living, one with puzzle pieces represents a connected way of being, and one with a steering wheel depicts a driven way of doing.
A sweating OBA represents a perseverant way of achieving and OBA with a mirror represents a reflective way of growing.“
This mural serves as a visible reminder for students in the playground to embody these dispositions every day,” principal Carol Antoun said.Antoun had known Taylor for several years and has worked closely with him through her role as one of the organisers of the North Coast Primary Principals Conference.“
Joffa contacted us to let us know he would be running his Toonschool program at another nearby school and offered to bring this opportunity to our students as well,” she said.
“The executive team and I were enthusiastic about hosting the Toonschool – hands-on cartooning sessions designed to enhance students’ self-confidence and wellbeing using a growth-mindset approach – early in the school year.“
The mural project grew from a similar idea, offering a chance for students to collaborate on a shared artwork that reflects the school values.
“What I love most about the mural is how bright, vibrant and collaborative it is.
The learner dispositions are explicitly taught and discussed in classrooms, so the mural truly represents our school’s ethos, beliefs and expectations.“
Creative projects like this are invaluable for our students.
They encourage artistic expression, teamwork and personal growth, while reinforcing important values and a positive school culture.”
Taylor, who illustrated the late Hey! Hey! It’s Saturday comedian Maurie Fields’s joke books, said involving students in painting murals helps give the students a sense of pride, ownership and accomplishment.“
It gives you a buzz seeing them work through challenges and create work together,” he said.
Source:- Byron Coast Times.
PORTARLINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL - (Vic)
Source:- Portarlington PS Newsletter
ST. MARYS PS - DARWIN (NT)
Source:- St. Marys PS - Newsletter
LARAPINTA PRIMARY SCHOOL (Alice Springs) NT
Source:- Larapainta PS Newsletter
NATONE PRIMARY SCHOOL - (Tas)
The mural is finished!
What a week of creativity, teamwork, courage, resilience and perseverance.
Thanks to Joffa for his well-being workshops and his help in creating something that is truly magnificent and a great memory for us to reflect on for years.