English
Students in Years 7, 8 and 11 have been learning to write short fiction. Year 7 students have focused on narrative perspective and written a final chapter for their novel, Look Both Ways. Year 8 have been experimenting with intertextuality and allusion in appropriating Greek myths. Year 11 have been learning about symbolism and voice in the texts they have studied this term, using these influences to develop their own voice and style. Some extracts from students’ tasks are as follows:
As I begin the walk home, my thoughts remain in the kitchen. The chance to captivate Chef is fast approaching. Annually, he sets a dish of his desire as a metric of our ability, an outlet to enthuse. The perfect Consommé. A renowned delicacy, calling for precision, obligation and passion. A perfected simmering with a light yield will certainly have Chef enthralled.
Consommé is a dish that calls for preparedness, and the night is not over. There is only so much I can do in my humble apartment kitchen, but my time is an investment, a way to perfect the simmer down to a tee. I lay my tools on the bench and crack the first egg. My eyelids fall heavy as a sense of weariness overcomes me. A splash of cold water to the face will remedy my fatigue.
(Tobias Reardon, Year 11)
A crow stood on the ledge of the roof and watched me. I wiped the tears from my cheek and stood up. It looked at me and sang as I walked towards it. It turned toward the horizon. “Come fate into the list” I whispered to myself as I followed it to the edge, and watched as it took flight.
(Marli McDonnell, Year 11)
I hop in my car, putting the flowers on the seat beside me. I also bought a strawberry - scented candle, to try to hide the smell of the tobacco smoke. It lingers in our house now, and I’m worried that the kids are breathing it in. I don’t think Jane smokes inside, but somehow it makes its way into the living room. I regularly have to open the windows - try to circulate fresh air before the kids get home from school, but somehow it’s always there, hovering. Driving home slowly, I contemplate the many ways I could apologise to Jane. (Emily Saeki, Year 11)
Our house was unrecognisable, now constructed into a labyrinth by blaze. I began my trek through the hallway; the roof broken and wallpaper scorched, intensifying the nerves that crept up my body.
“Poppy!” The letters barely formed into the word.
“Thea!” A broken voice echoed back.
I turned around. The dark smoke and thick flames made it impossible to see even my hands in front of my face. The beast was attacking and I was yet to extinguish its burning heart! I ran, trying to follow my sister's voice. I turned down what I thought was the hallway to our bedrooms, entering the room and signaling to Poppy to jump over a dying flame. (Molly Stephen, Year 8)
On his way to find someone to clean up the mess, a chilling silence filled the environment around him. Wind sent the trees into a dance, adding to the eeriness of the scene. Something felt off.
As the butterflies in Andy’s stomach awoke, he felt like someone was watching him. Something was creeping up on him Andy slowly turned around, his vigilance and attentiveness on high. All at once, Andy was gasping for air. Someone’s hands gripped his neck securely as Andy fought for his life.
He could feel his esophagus closing as more people joined and started to beat his body like a punching bag. He cried out desperately for help, trying to release the inviolable grip, but no one could hear… (Thomas Grainger, Year 8)
Mr Shaun Ellis | English KLA Leader