New books and reservations

We have had a lot of new novels, graphic novels, manga and non fiction books arrive recently. Did you know that the Home screen of the new Library catalogue has a sliding display of all recently arrived books? Take a look, maybe your student will find their next great read. If the book they want is unavailable, encourage them to place a reserve on it and we will hold it for them when it becomes available. To reserve a book in the Library catalogue look up the book they want to reserve, then select the Reserve button directly under its cover picture. Make sure they are signed in to the catalogue first. It's that easy!

Resident Writers

Congratulations to our Term 1 winners Jaedyn Mogyorossy and Linda Stocks. All entries can be found in the Resident Writers channel of the Library Teams page. The winning entries are reproduced below. If you are a keen writer, we would love you to enter the Term 2 Resident Writers.

As a rough guide, works should be between 250 and 350 words, shorter is okay but not significantly longer. Send your entries to library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au with the subject line Resident Writers entry.

If it is a Family & Friends submission, please mention which student or staff member you are connected to. By submitting you agree to be published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc) - please let us know if you want to submit but prefer to keep your work anonymous.

Joanne Montgomery

Library Manager

Jaedyn Mogyorossy

Sleep had fallen on the town, lulling the villagers to sleep. Everything was quiet and peaceful. The stars twinkled in the dark abyss, shining with life, with light. Everyone was sleeping calmly, as they should. Except for one.

Rain pattered against the floor, soaking through my clothes, my hair, everything. It completely blurred my vision, and I could barely see where I was going as I stumbled forward. My entire body was shaking, shivering from the cold, and also out of fear - I had no idea where I was. I found I couldn’t speak, either. My throat burned, and I couldn’t scream for help. Tears streamed down my face, every breath felt as though it could be my last. My lungs ached, my feet had blisters all over them. I was in a terrible state, and I knew it.

Through my steaming vision, I could see just one thing; a house. A grand, beautiful house that seemed to beckon me closer, as though the wind was calling me, letting my name spill from its throat as it granted me all the opportunities I could ask for. I didn’t listen to the calls, as when I saw the house, all I thought was one thing: safety.

I must’ve looked like a mess. Dirt had painted my clothes brown, my cheeks would’ve been dry with tears, but they were as soaking as the rest of me due to the rain. I was violently shaking, desperate for warmth, for something, or somewhere, that would keep me safe. I hurried up to the door, knocking, perhaps even crying out, and my call was answered. I was safe.

Well, that’s what I thought. * * * “Does anyone in the village even know her?” I had been ushered inside and placed in the middle of the house, right on some stairs. I must’ve been shivering badly, as a lady, a kind one wearing blue, draped a blanket over my shoulder. She offered me some food, too, but I shook my head stubbornly and pressed my lips together. Even if I was safe, I would not eat food from strangers.

“Not that I know of, I’ve never seen her.” A more plump man, wearing yellow and standing beside a taller lady chirped in, “Really, Alma, you can’t expect me to bang on everyone’s doors in the middle of the night.”

As the adults argued, I sniffled, trying to block out all the noise. A few children had gathered behind a wall, peeking their heads around the edge and watching with curious, wide eyes. There were a few of them. One, seemingly the eldest, had a perfect grace to her. The next was a little buff, staring anxiously ahead. Then, was a girl who’s eyes betrayed no emotion, her expression focused, unreadable. A younger boy peeked out from behind them, with a bunch of messy curls springing from his head. He seemed more curious than nervous. Around his age was another girl, with similar curls, but a more dignified manner held her up. Out of all of them, she looked the most nervous. Lastly, there was a young girl who looked nothing like the rest. She had messy blonde hair, a fringe, and hazel eyes.

“She’s a stranger! We’ll have to turn her away,” The woman who seemed to be called Alma spoke up, jerking my attention back from the children. Her voice was rough, and it held an edge to it. Even though I was young, I knew from then on that I did not like her, and I crossed my arms, jutting my chin.

At her words, an outcry came out from the other adults, and she hushed them immediately with a sharp glare, “In the morning, We’ll just take her to the nearest orphanage.”

One of the young children who had been eavesdropping bravely came forward. Her hands had made fists, and she held her chin up, but I could see the shiver that passed through her as everyone’s eyes were drawn to her, “Abuela,” She mumbled slowly, swallowing, “I think that–”

Almost immediately, the child was shushed, “Noah, this is a conversation for the adults, go back to bed.”

The child who was named Noah looked even more terrified, her cheeks flushing red, but she didn’t pause, instead stomping her foot angrily, “No! What if she’s like me? She might need to touch the candle..”

“Noah!” Alma’s words grew sharp, with an intense anger that was as sharp as a knife, “I will not hear any more. Go back to sleep.”

“Wait,” The kind woman in blue stepped forward, worry knitting her eyebrows together, “Noah may be right.”

“Ay, Julietta–!”

“Let me finish.” Julietta stood her ground, “If she has a power, how can we turn her away?”

“There are not any rooms left.” Alma responded shortly.

“She could sleep in the nursery” A fire burnt in Julietta’s eyes, and I felt awestruck. Julietta continued, “She could be like Noah, Noah was adopted by Pepa and Felix,” Julietta gestured at the plump man with his tall wife, “I would be more than happy to adopt this young girl.”

“We don’t even know her name!” Alma exclaimed, exasperated.

“What’s your name?” With sudden kindness, Julietta turned to me. I swallowed, sniffling - all eyes were on me.

“Uhm.. Hailee.” I mumbled.

“There,” Julietta turned back, “We have her name, let’s give her the candle and see. Even if there aren’t rooms, you never know what will happen - Noah’s power activated before she touched the room, she simply didn’t realize. Perhaps the same will happen this time.”

Alma frowned deeply, and sighed, “Fine! But you are not adopting her. Whether or not she has a power, she will never be a part of this family!” She spat. I bowed my head, struggling not to cry - I’d only just come here, hoping to be safe from the rain, and now they were talking about the most insane things that I didn’t understand. It made me want to scream with frustration.

“Thank you,” Julietta mumbled, “Casita! Bring me the candle.” I straightened up, glancing around. Who was Casita? Was it another person? Another child?

As I was lost in my thoughts, the most unexplainable thing happened. The floor moved, it properly just moved. By itself - the house was alive, and it could move! A sharp intake of breath hurried into my mouth, and my eyes went as wide as saucers. What on–?

A candle hurried to Julietta’s hand. “Mama, this is your ceremony. You must conduct it.”

Alma gave Julietta a distasteful look, as though she’d just tasted something bitter. However, she obviously thought the better of what she was about to say, as she pressed her lips tightly together. Anger blazed in her eyes as she took the candle, holding it gently. I almost felt as though it would be better if I just hurried out of the door and left altogether.

Even if I wanted to, I had no time. Alma beckoned to me, and by the look on her face, I knew she wasn’t going to be patient. I hopped up immediately, fear striking my heart - what was happening?

“Touch the candle.” Alma said stiffly.

It felt stupid, but I hesitantly reached my hands forward, slipping them onto the candle. Almost immediately, a beautiful sensation overtook my body, and I gasped softly, drawing back. I felt so powerful, it was as though someone had grabbed a cloak and thrown it onto my body, feeding me all the power in the world. I felt incredible, invincible, even.

A chorus of whispers, questions maybe, from the rest of the family cascaded around me. There was one that was the loudest in particular, and that was, “What’s her power?” It seemed directed at Alma.

Alma, now, looked as though she had sucked a lemon. Her face contorted with rage, and it blazed in her eyes. I stepped back slightly, the previous power I had felt ebbing away, “I don’t know, nor do I care!” Alma spat, “This child is no concern of mine, and she will never be a part of the Family.”

With that, she stalked up the stairs, opening a door to what was presumably her room. I stared glumly at the floor, the lump in my throat growing. Just a second ago, I felt wonderful. Now, I simply felt like a complete idiot. Along with that feeling though, was a ball of rage deep inside of me. Rage at being treated unfairly, rage at the way I’d been looked at.

Even though I was young, I was smart enough to know one thing, and that thing was that I did not and never would like Alma Madrigal.

Linda Stocks: The Seven Days of Covid

On the first day of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! I’ve got it.

Oh no! I’ve got it.

So, I phoned up people I’d seen.

On the second say of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! I’m coughing.

Oh no! I’m coughing.

So, I lay down in front of the telly.

On the third day of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! I’m buggered.

Oh no! I’m buggered.

So, I lay on the hammock outside.

On the fourth day of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! Back’s aching.

Oh no! Back’s aching.

So, I popped a Panadol or two.

On the fifth day of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! There’s no food.

Oh no! There’s no food.

So, I called friends to help us out.

On the sixth day of Covid my body said to me.

Oh no! Going crazy.

Oh no! Going crazy.

So, I’m rapidly losing my mind.

On the seventh day of Covid my body said to me.

Stuff this! I’m over it.

Stuff this! I’m over it.

So, I walked straight out the front gate.

Principal Team Editorial