Congratulations to Preet Cilly (6M) for taking out the Year Six individual prize for the 2018 Oxford University Press Australian Children’s Word of the Year writing competition.  This Australia-wide competition asked students to write a 500-word story around a theme word of their choice.  Preet’s story was based on the word ‘secrets’.  As the winner, Preet was awarded a $50 Oxford book voucher.

Congratulations also go to the students in Year 6A who were awarded the overall class prize with the judges commenting that they were impressed by ‘the high standard and creativity’ of the students’ stories.  This award comes with a $100 book voucher prize for the class.  Each of the 86 Year 6 students who entered the competition were also lucky enough to take home an Oxford Dictionary for their efforts.

We are extremely proud of our students for the work they have put into their writing and we look forward to reading more of their stories in the future.

SECRETS

By Preet Cilly (6M)

I could hear the snores from my little sister Cassiel. I got up from my bed and walked over to where she was sleeping so peacefully. I tucked her short, red hair behind her ears and kissed her on the forehead. I was the only family she had left. Our mum and dad died in a fire that burned our whole village to the ground. The worst part about this is the fact that our King Raven didn’t care that the outlying villages were living in poverty and were so close to death’s cold grasp. He only cared about his vaults, that were filled with gold. When our parents died, Cassiel was only three years old and I was eleven. I had to be the adult. I couldn’t let the organization take us, because they were abusive, so I decided to hide us both in a cave near the valley. We had everything we ever needed there. I got ready and I went out into the cold morning fog and climbed over the boulders and into the Meg. I retrieved my long silver dagger. I knew where I was going to go. Before my mother died she told me that the blue lake will be the place all my secrets will be unravelled and that I must go there. I decided it was time to go into the lake.

I hiked along the river, occasionally stopping to admire the nature. I bent down and touched the ice-cold water and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw my reflection. I didn’t recognise that girl anymore. She had short black hair, sharp angular cheekbones and eyes so blue they could electrify you from miles away. Her blue crystal necklace made her look so distant. This isn’t anything like the chubby girl with the wide curious eyes. I was different.

I finally reached the blue lake. I edged closer towards it. I gasped. Underneath the lake were hundreds of tiny blue crystals, the same type of crystal that was around my neck. Without thinking, I dived in.

It was almost magical. All the colours swirled around me. Suddenly, my pendant glowed and a familiar voice boomed out from all directions. It wasn’t any voice. It was my mother’s.

“Valkyrie, you have magic in your blood. We started living in the outlying villages, so the king wouldn’t find out about you. I’m still alive and safe, so don’t worry about me. I’m so sorry I left you and Cassiel alone. Please forgive me. You are a warlock. A powerful being who can harness magic safely. I have to go now. I’ll see you soon.” And then it was darkness.

I swam to the shore and heaved myself onto the side. It took me a minute to get my head right. There were three things I was positive about; first, my mum was alive, second, she was safe and third, I was a Warlock.

Michelle Monaghan – Year 6 Classroom teacher