Fish-on-the-fence at Topham

September 7, 2016

In the spring, Topham Elementary took on a ‘fish-on-the-fence’ project…with a Japanese twist! Students painted a koi fish and were given tips, ideas, and guidelines for their painting to reflect Topham’s Japanese connection (Topham hosts the Japanese Immersion Program). The fish have been carefully placed along the fence in a wave pattern utilizing a colourful rainbow variation from one end of the project to the other. A dragon with staff-painted scales appears at the end of the waves.

Koi fish tie into a Japanese legend with similar themes to how we view salmon as being so resilient, swimming upstream to spawn. Koi also make their way upstream, facing obstacles. In the Japanese tale the koi eventually they swim up a waterfall and transform into a powerful dragons…symbolic of inner power and drive. This further ties in nicely with Topham’s “PAWS” motto; the “W” stands for “We can do it!”.