Tutor News

Throughout term two, Year 5 & 6 students in the Tutor Enrichment Program took part in the national Dymocks Beyond Words Writing Competition, open to all students across Australia. Students were asked to submit a narrative of between 500-1500 words, gathering their ideas, drafting and editing their text both at school and at home.

Congratulations to Hazel B in 5B whose story was selected in the top 100 of over 3600 students. Well done Hazel and to all the students that participated! Please enjoy Hazel’s story below. 

The Silent Spectator 

The sun is dawning on Washington Elementary, the hot May heat rising early and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. I’ve got a few hours to myself before the four hundred children invade my territory. Great. I look over to the fifth-grade building, a depressing, grey, two-storey ramshackle of a structure. I was planted in this jail in 2017, six years ago and the kindergarteners that started are Year fives now. Other than Olivia’s recent hair cut or Annie getting her period, nothing has changed. Phoebe's still a brat of a bully, Nina is still a never-talking-henchman and Justin… well he’s from India and does everything he can to make sure no one knows this. But he and nobody else can keep secrets from me. A Betula Pendula tree who hears and sees everything.

The bothersome school bell painfully reminds me that my time alone is up and it’s time to see what has changed overnight. A familiar, stylish limo pulls into the teacher’s carpark. Another privilege of being a daughter of a millionaire. Getting private parking. The shine of the white car reminds me of last winter's fiasco but that's a story for another time. Phoebe’s high-priced high heels meet the ground as she gracefully exits the front seat of her father’s fancy car.

“Aaah,” she sighs. “Wednesdays, the perfect day for being me, although every day is perfect for being me. Haha,” Phoebe laughs to herself. She turns her head to the car and yells “Nina!”

“Yes Phoebe,” Nina says before scrambling out of the car after her bossy friend.

“Carry my bags,” Phoebe demands over her shoulder before strutting into school.

Many kids run away with fear when they see her coming but some new students stare at her in awe. Bold move. Of course, as soon as Phoebe sees this she starts smirking in their direction.

“If you didn’t know, staring at me for more than sixty seconds will give you a week's worth of detention,” Phoebe says, glancing over her shoulder. “I recommend you stop staring if you value your weekend.” Typical Phoebe. Like I said, destined to be a spoilt brat thanks to her dad's fortune. 

Amy rides into my view and locks her bike up in the bike shed. Amy lives 50 miles away from the school, but she rides here every day. She cares more about how bad pollution is for the environment than her own happiness. I’m worried about her, she’s so exhausted every day, that can’t be good for her mental health. As Amy makes her way to class, she smiles at everyone she sees. Obviously trying to hide the fact that she is completely drained

Justin’s the last person who's yet to make it to class. As I wonder where he is, one last car slips its way through the gates into the carpark. It’s Justin’s mother’s car. Veronica, his mom, sits beside him trying to give him the right words that will magically make him want to go to class. 

“No one will notice,” she says quietly. Veronica looks around before continuing, “You just remember to do what makes you feel happy and accepted. I have to go, so have a great day.” She nudges her son, but he doesn’t move. 

“Can I not go to school today?” Justin asks his usual question. 

Veronica shakes her head and hurriedly tells him, “You have to go and I have to go too. I love you.” 

Justin slowly steps out of the car and Veronica speeds away. With his head hung low he makes his way to class. This is my favourite part of the day, past nine o'clock when students go to the bathroom and oddly take 15 minutes to do so. It’s hilarious how the teachers don’t notice at all, but it’s completely out of my view so I can’t see exactly what takes so long. The day is as normal as it can be. Extremely long and boring and I’m not even in class.

Soon enough, I hear the lunch bell that concludes lunch and calls the students to the assembly point. No offence to any of the staff at this school but the assemblies are so boring and today is the same old story. Principal Evergreen addresses the assembly. Phoebe receives the student of the month award. I bet you her dad paid them to do that. Finally, when the bell rings to dismiss the students, the kids joyfully exit the school gate. Every kid rushes out like bulls making their escape plan a reality. I have the school grounds to myself once more. I would let out a sigh of relief if I could.

The stars spread across the dark sky, illuminating the ground below. In a few weeks this Year five group will leave this school and move onto Middle School. I will never see them again. I’m starting to feel a strange feeling, it’s not happiness, it’s not sadness and it’s not anger it’s… I have no idea. I think about Phoebe, Nina, Justin, Amy and the issues they’re going through. No this isn’t right. I couldn’t live with myself if I let them leave like this. I won’t. I can’t. All of a sudden a comet speeds across the sky. People call them shooting stars and wish upon them. I look longingly at the comet and even though I know it won’t work I make a wish. I wish I could do something to help these kids change for the better, I don’t want them to leave like this please. The comet flies out of my view but my eyes don’t leave the sky. 

As I once again witness the sun shine its glory upon this school, I think about the wish I made last night. Will it come true? How will it come true if it did? These questions spin around and around my trunk like they're trapped inside a washing machine. I finally give my mind a break and shove these thoughts out. I’ve been here for six years and I’ve gotten so used to the routine of the teachers and students that I know exactly when each bell goes. 3, 2, 1, I count down as the torturous bell rings vibrating through my branches. Like clockwork, Phoebe’s limo arrives at school but instead of Phoebe in the front seat it’s Nina. My surprise has no boundaries but then she exits and I can hear her. Nina rarely ever speaks but now her mouth won’t stop moving. “ … And last year me and my family went to Australia but now they say no more holidays but there's no way they can keep me from travelling…”

“Thank you Nina but that’s not relevant to this conversation,” Phoebe’s Dad says tiredly but even then Nina wouldn’t shut her mouth.

More surprisingly, Phoebe tumbles out of the back seat, her clothes looking like rags and flat sneakers adorn her feet. In the yard, kids’ mouths drop as they stare at the new Phoebe. She opens her mouth to speak but nothing comes out. Nina on the other hand starts speaking at a million words a minute, “Hi guys. How was your weekend? Mine was amazing. Did you know that the moon is always moving away from the earth? We looked at space last semester and I was so intrigued and …” The kids sprint away before Nina can finish her completely irrelevant topic. 

I can’t believe my sight when a car I haven’t seen before has Amy of all people exiting the front seat . AMY BELLGERA using a CAR to get to school. It’s like everyone in this year is the opposite of themself. Is it opposite day or something? Just as I think this day couldn’t get any more weird, Justin comes walking in with a bunch of kids asking what it’s like in India. Now that is something I can get used to. He’s finally proud of his background.  My mind is spinning in circles and nothing seems to make sense until my mind lands on it. The reason why everyone is acting so strange. Could it be the wish I made? My trunk feels like puzzle pieces clicking into place. 

This isn’t what I wished for. My mind wanders to what the future could hold for these students. The kids go off to Middle School and Phoebe is asked a question in class and not being able to answer it, is then kicked out. Nina talking her way through class and being kicked out. Amy not caring about anyone and having no friends. Justin … Well to be honest I think he’d be fine but the others. How am I going to fix this? Will they stay like this forever? Will the wish wear off? I could have just ruined these kids' lives. I feel so guilty. I feel like I’m the chains weighing these kids down from freedom.