English

Semester 1

In Semester 1, Year 7 English students engaged in reading analysis, using their short story text "Things a Map Won’t Show You". One of the responses that they could choose was the retelling of James Roy’s story Out of the Yellow from the narrator’s 6 year old sister Kellie’s point of view. Here is 7B’s Alice V version, written in Kellie’s voice.

Out of the Yellow by James Roy, told from Kellie’s point of view.

By Alice V.

“The ocean! It's gonna be so great!" I told Alex. He told me to shut up. My older brother is very annoying. All I'm doing is telling him about the ocean.

I can already imagine how beautiful and fun and exciting and... Everything the ocean will be! But it's so far away.

"How much longer, Dad?"

“A few more hours Kell..." What did he mean by a few?

“How many?"

“Six or seven.” That is way too long! I'll die before I see the beach! I can't wait that long!

Mum says that I should sleep, but I don't want to miss the ocean. Besides, I'm way too excited to do that.

“I can't wait to see the ocean!" I can imagine how very pretty it will be! I'll do so much fun stuff. It looks big and blue on the map! Alex muttered something, but I didn't hear him. He probably told me to shut up again, how typical. Oh I just cannot wait to see the

beach! It'll be the bestest day of my life!

My vision adjusted, everything was horizontal. Why is Alex in head phones. Oh!

“How much further now dad?" I jolted up, staring out the window.

“A whole hour closer than the last time you asked." Brother is so cruel and annoying. Why is he even coming.

"Mum!" But dad shushed me. So unfair! All I want to do is see the beach.

The slide is so big. I love slides. There's also a monkey bar. What if I climb it? That'll be so fun! That'll be so fun! I carefully pulled myself up, wow am I strong! I can see Alex from here and Mum. They are drinking something, I wonder what. I looked over my shoulder, A tiny brown bird was sitting across from me. Finally! Someone to talk to.

“Hello! I'm going to the beach!" I was yelling, because birds don't have ears. Brownie was listening. I'm going to tell Brownie all about the beach! Have you been to the beach Brownie?

I haven't! I'm going there! It must be amazing flying there whenever you want! I wish I could fly..." I saw dad Dad walking towards Alex, and Mum, he has been asleep for a really long time. I turned around to Brownie, to-" The bars were empty. How rude! I would've listened to Brownie talk about the ocean. Brownie's worse than Alex! Now I'm bored again, no one to talk to about the ocean. Oh wait, the ocean!

I slid off, nearing Alex and Mum. Wow, they have fries!

"I can't wait to see the ocean!" I grabbed a couple of delicious fries!

Why is everyone so mean? I can’t even ask a simple question! But I just feel sad whenever I get an answer, so I guess it's okay.

The last time I asked, Alex gave me his phone. One day I’ll get a phone of my own. And it'll be purple - my favourite colour. I'm playing Candy Crush. I am very good at it. I bet I'm even better than Alex!

It's been so long, my brilliance has made Candy Crush boring. I gave the phone back to Alex, sighing. Why is Alex so rude? He didn't even say thank you. Mum always told me to say 'please' and 'thank you; I stared out the window, leaning against the door. Maybe I'll see the ocean from here. I can't wait to see the ocean.

Wow, Auntie Rosie's is so pretty! But Mum said it was late, so I couldn’t see the ocean yet. I am so close!

Now I'm lying in bed, imagining the beach. As much as Brownie was extremely rude, I missed him. I stared at my hands in the darkness. Well, I guess I'll talk to you then.

Typical Alex told me to 'shut up' mid conversation. I won't ditch my friends like Brownie did, so I whispered.

After saying goodbye to Handy, I turned over and pictured the ocean. I can't believe I'll see it tomorrow.

Candy Crush has bored me, now I'm playing Toon Blast. I was pretty excellent at that too, though.

I heard mum say something about the beach. I peered up from Mr. Bear, & and there was the blue.

“It's the Ocean!" I immediately said goodbye to Mr. Bear. In the window were my dreams of the blue ocean.

As soon as I heard the a- doors unlock I grabbed my bucket and spade, bolting into the golden sand. I pictured rainbows and dolphins and crabs! Oh how great! Finally!

Water. Blue. Water. The sand was wet. Maybe this was why Alex wasn't excited! It looked way better on the map.

I ran to the water, I was still excited! I squealed.

The water was freezing. I don't want to be cold...

The ocean was okay I suppose, but I loved my bucket and spade! As disappointing as

the ocean was, digging was lots of fun! I just don’t understand what Alex and Mum were looking at on the edge of the yellow, into the blue.

Senior English Term 2 

During Term 2, our Senior English students were creating texts. They studied mentor texts for inspiration and wrote multiple pieces in a variety of styles. One of the warm up tasks was to write on sticky notes what childhood means to them. Enjoy reading a selection of their responses:

‘Childhood is like flying, there are no limits. You can dream, feel and be free of the burden of responsibility.’

‘Childhood is like a painter creating soft strokes on a canvas. Illustrations of a future life emerge and the painting springs to life.’

‘Childhood is like a maze with many exits. It’s a time for fun and finding your path. It is temporary and you are trapped until you find your own exit and enter adulthood.’

‘Childhood is a time of wonder, a time of exploration. A time for making memories.’

‘Childhood is a rollercoaster. Highs and lows with both happiness and sadness.’

‘Childhood is seeing the world for the first time. A nostalgic, warm, fuzzy feeling when you look back and remember the innocence.’

‘It’s a memory you won’t forget. A place you can’t revisit.’

‘Childhood is like being in a deep sleep…..dreaming, while reality is happening around you.’

In Year 10, students became creative writers both in class and on their exams. They impressed teachers with their creative responses to our focus on ‘What it means to be human.’

What it means to be human' excerpt from Lana M

‘But even in the depths of my suffering, I refused to surrender to the darkness that tried to consume me. Beneath the bruises and the scars, beneath the echoes of my own silent screams, there beat the heart of a girl who dared to dream of a world where she was more than a voice lost in the crowd of humanity.

In the quiet moments between the chaos, I found solace in the memories of who I once was, a reminder that even in the darkest of nights, there shines a glimmer of hope. Though they may have stolen my voice, they could never silence the fire that burned within me, the fire of resilience.

Besides the feelings of despair, there emerged a silent rebellion within me. With each passing moment, I clung to the fragments of my identity, I held onto those fragments of who I am, standing strong against those who tried to crush my spirit.’

Introduction to Dystopian Story - Frankie W

Year 2264

From outside the front door, I can hear the sound of her heaving oxygen mask as she breathes in and out, I call it the symphony of life. It's dark and quiet the only sound is Marri. Today is yesterday and so will tomorrow, it’s all the same, drab, tiring and forgotten.