In Term 4 a group of 10 of our Yr 5-7 students were invited to work with a tutor from the Christchurch School for Young Writers in a 2 day workshop.

The 10 students worked with Mena Johnson, a tutor from the School for Young Writers. Mena is also a poet.

Mena guided the students through writing a series of poetic verse providing them with challenge and the tools to improve their writing skills.

All students worked hard on their poems and feedback from them was very positive - they were very grateful for the opportunity.

All their poems have been submitted to the "Write On" magazine that the Young Writer's School publishes twice a year. We will find out early in 2025 whose poems have been selected for publication.

Below you can read the fabulous writing they have done.

How To Make French Toast 

Fly to France. 

Sleep all the way. 

Go to an authentic French Bakery. 

Buy thick toasty bread and raspberry jam. 

Go to a French Harvey Norman and buy a portable toaster. 

Get back on the A33 plane. 

Put the bread in the portable toaster. 

Put Raspberry Jam on toast.

Now you have genuine French toast!!!!!

Carter Scott  Year 5

The Kangaroo Who Flew To Machu Picchu 

There was a Kangaroo 

with artificial wings 

and he soared to Machu Picchu. 

He landed on an intricate temple 

and made all the tourists 

worship him ‘cause 

he was the Kangaroo 

who flew to Machu Picchu!

Carter Scott Year 5

Night Owl

In the night I wander around, flying branch to branch.

Watching all things, moving bushes, moving trees.

Standing still, watching the bees.

Waiting for the insects, moths, and grasshoppers to jump.

Suddenly seeing a little, furry, walking bump.

Is that a wolf? Is that a walking bush? No! That’s a kiwi.

Wondering.

Why would there be a kiwi in this place?

Following its footprints,

I jump from tree to tree.

I then swoop down, grabbing bits of worms it left behind.

Eating them.

The tasty bits.

After eating my meal I fly back to my nest.

Watching the others rest,

just before the sun rises.

Ian Valdez Year 7

How to make jam on toast 

First put on the oldest apron you can find,

you also need to find a bright pink t-shirt 

and baby blue pants. 

You're not allowed to use the white bread 

because your mum says it is unhealthy. 

So instead you grab the wholegrain stuff. 

Remember to grab the big toaster 

your dad just bought. 

Meanwhile listen to a three minute song 

or dance to it. 

Riiiiinnng! That was the toaster beep 

to say that your toast is done.

Now find the strawberry jam 

because the blueberry and raspberry jam 

are for when your nana comes to stay.

So, you just spread the strawberry jam on.

Now grab any plate you desire and put the toast onto it. 

Once you take a bite you realise 

that you put on a different spread 

to what you wanted. 

It turned out you used beetroot  hummus. 

Now, grab a piece of fruit to eat on your way to work. 

Ruby Grigor Year 5

 How to climb a tree 

                 Make sure that you wear a disguise, 

                 you’ll get in trouble otherwise.

                 Pick a spot to start.

                 Grab a sturdy branch,

                 pull yourself up,

                 remember not to mess it up.

                 Find a nice spot,

                 have a rest,

                 look out for a bird nest.

                 Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet.

                 Suck on a sweet or have something to eat.

                 Now carry on.

                 When you get to the top

                 you’ll hear the cops.

                 Quick, quick, quick,

                 get down fast … 

                 Whew! they went past … 

      Lily Riding Year 5

How to Ice Skate! 

Wear ice skates.

Make sure that they are on correctly!(or you’ll fall over.)

Hold onto the railing and slowly walk on to the ice.

Don’t walk on your knees

(otherwise someone might use you as support!)

That ice skate is out of place.

Remember to NEVER spin in circles

(unless you’re advanced, well I mean if you ARE advanced, 

you shouldn't really be reading this, right?)

Also remember to have fun struggling on the ice!

P.S. Please don't tell people to get off the railing 

because they could be a starter at ice skating.

If you do these things 

I guarantee that you will make 

some new friends on the slippery ice. 

Lannie Lu     Year 5

The Awaiting Cat 

I waited so long

dinner must be ready.

I leap out of my basket

stretching from my long slumber.

Cling, clang!

Making ruckus is my job,

my eyes glowing in the dark.

I wonder if I will get tuna?

Lick Lick Nom Nom Nom

I wish I had tuna 

but I got a patty shaped food instead.

Cling Clang!

Night is my time to shine.

Yawn. I scurry back 

to my basket for a good rest.

Naomi Tse    Year 7

How to rule a country 

Wear a suit.

If it has the country's flag 

even better.

Go to your office and start ruling.

Try to be a good leader 

and don't start wars

or else people will despise you.

Sam McAlister     Year 6

Tuna for lunch 

Two years ago I was here at Oaklands School and I was eating a can of tuna for lunch. When I was opening it the lid broke off and struck my thumb. The resulting cut left a 1.5cm deep gash in my thumb. I could see the blood pulsing through and all over my hand. My dad rushed me to the doctor where they stitched my hand closed. And I've still got the scar from the three stitches. 

Sam McAlister  Year 6

Evening Walk 

I trot around the block, searching for small mice. 

If I find one, it will make this walk

an even more fabulous walk. 

I see something sitting on the footpath. 

I sneak up and pounce on it. 

A cricket. 

I chow it down, licking my stiff whiskers. 

I return home, having had my fill. 

This night had been very successful. 

I caught two crickets, a plump, brown rabbit, 

and half a dozen fine little fat mice. 

I hide my leftovers in a bush in my yard. 

I stretch down in my basket, yawning. 

I see a faint gleam of sunlight 

get brighter on the horizon. 

I watch the sunrise for a few minutes, 

chewing on a nice, plump pigeon I caught the night before. 

Then I fall asleep. 

Eric Chen  Year 7 

Ode to my Chocolate

What a beautiful bar of chocolate, 

what an overpowering smell of cocoa,

and what a velvety creamy taste.

I tempt to treasure you in a silver cage, 

and feed you exotic fruit every day, 

but instead I taste your flesh. 

Eric Chen    Year 7

A Tomb of Time

In the morning

heat beams down on the soft sands.

Visitors are lined up outside.

Gently, they open my doors,

startled by my residents,

standing still, astonished by the scene.

The day goes by just like that,

visitors going in and out,

my unique appearance 

makes me gain great popularity.

I still stand today,

built thousands of years ago.

I am here and I shall stay.

Orlando Ye  Year 7

Ode to my Slippers

My slippers, 

warm and comfy,

always there, waiting for me.

When I get home

they surround my feet like a fuzzy dome.

I wear them every day.

Always so pleasant I would say.

Fluffy, just like my brother’s

teddy bear, Stuffy.

Always there when I need them.

I will always thank you.

Orlando Ye    Year 7

How to prepare a dragon

Wear a fireproof suit.

If the dragon has ears but a beanie on it,

and if it doesn’t, put on a cap.

Add a saddle with a bell.

Don’t look at the dragon face to face

(because it will eat your head off).

Raw arr Raw arr Raw arr.

Tickle the dragon before you ride it.

If your dragon has a hand,

remember to give it a high-five.

Feed him S class gourmet food like steak.

Once you’ve done all of that

you can now ride your dragon.

Varshan Pillay    Year 6

The Magic Hat

I will put in the hat

a number of twilight nights,

gold from when I stole it.

The drip of despair.

I will put in the hat

a dragon with tickly fire,

a cup of purified orange juice,

a puffy cloud from the sky.

I will put in the hat

an almond from Spain,

three laughs of a warlord,

oak trees from a forbidden land.

The hat is made from stardust 

and continents and moonlight. 

The ribbon is made from silk

and an asteroid belt.

I shall play chess in my hat

on the tallest mountain and with the whitest

snow and the blackest skies.

Varshan Pillay   Year 6