Junior School Creative Writing

The Secret Tunnel

By Isla Devers, Year 5

There was a bunny on the lawn, he was sitting on the smooth grass and looking at the tunnel in front of him. He decided to go in, so he did. When he went in he felt someone’s presence behind him, he looked behind and saw himself. He did not know what to say, he was in shock. But that did not stop him from going in. His future self was still following him.

When he stepped foot in the tunnel, he felt a breeze of air coming right at him. At the other end of the tunnel was a beautiful garden, so he was determined to get in the garden. After it felt like hours of walking he made it. He realised

There was something special about this garden, it made the bunny feel calmer than the outside world. He was strolling around the garden and saw this flower, he felt a connection through the flower. So he decided to pick the flower and he was right. The flower gave him some sort of power, it made him feel stronger. He kept hold of the flower. He just remembered that his future self was still behind him, so he asked him one question that he was waiting to, ask him since he met him. “What are you doing here?” “Well, I was here because god sent me down to talk to you”. “Oh, ok” I said.

People still say that the bunny is still in that garden till this day, and never left since.

YEAR 10 COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Every year the Year 10 students explore service learning through the Community Project. They chose to work alone or collaborate in small teams to identify a need in the community and work towards producing a project centred around advocacy, research, direct or indirect service.

Year 10 students presenting to a Year 5 class

The students worked through investigation, planning, taking action and reflection stages to create a wholesome project that some are taking further into upcoming action like organising Mental Health Awareness Week, creating ongoing real-life stories and content for ADHD New Zealand and creating recipes and baking to fuel our local community. In line with previous years, the quality of projects at this year level has been outstanding. Among a sea of inspirational projects, we have seen:

• websites constructed to raise awareness for mental health with inspiring local women leader advocates • LGBTQIA+ community support • a refugee support guide for teens who are new to New Zealand • knitted hats for the Neonatal Trust

• funds raised and environmentally safe period products purchased for the underprivileged • fundraising for hygiene products for recently released women prisoners who are integrating back into their communities • a donation of reused toys for the SPCA • book donations for a local charity • sports uniforms for a lower decile school • books made with original stories and artwork for the local library • guides for the elderly to become digitally literate • helpful pamphlets to educate Sri Lankan communities on First Aid • activity booklets for the children arriving at a Women’s Refuge.