Year 7 students have created some highly descriptive pieces describing 'My Special Place'. Here are a few examples from some very talented writers:

‘Brrrrrrr’ The chilly winter air whips my face as I walk to the library. As I walk in, the warmth hugs my body like a blanket. It's especially cosy here in the winter. As I run my fingers along all of the smooth spines I think about which colourful book I want to read. I finally, carefully, pick a book of my choosing out off the shelf and sit myself down on a soft, bouncy couch. My eyes run over the words, calming me and taking me to another universe.

I come here a lot to find new books and meet with friends. I enjoy just wandering around, browsing the shelves and melting into the squishy pillows. As I sit and read, I also take breaks and listen to

the whispering of pages turning and the voices of other people. I ask my friends what they are reading and if they would recommend it to me. My eyes are drawn to all the bright colours around me and the pictures. There's lots of people, young and elderly. There's something for everyone around here. I can feel the texture of the pages, the words blaring out at me.

The library is a special place to me because I am doing what I enjoy most. Reading is something that relaxes me. It gives me a break from the stress of a long, weary day. When I feel like socialising I come here with friends to chat and chill. I sometimes come here with my family to choose books and read together, making memories. I go there when I feel like taking some time to myself. If I didn’t have a library I don’t know what I’d do, or what I’d learn.

After the library I like to go to the cafe and I always get an apple juice, but if it's a cold day then definitely a hot chocolate. I might also get a treat like a cookie or a muffin. As the warm hot chocolate dances in my mouth, I feel calm and secure. My warm breath comes out like fog in the icy air, as I stroll back to the car. When I get back home I keep reading my book, snuggled up under a blanket. It’s almost as good as the library, but not quite. As you can see, the library is my special place, especially in the Winter.

- Freya Birrell

I’m frantically racing to get ready. Dad is tooting me from in the car. I leap out the front door, jump into the car and buckle myself in. I can barely sit still with excitement. As we turn the corner I can see a small glimmer of the stadium. So big, so beautiful. We park the car and hop out. We have now arrived at St Mary's, the oval next to GMHBA. I straight away go to the canteen and order some chicken nuggets. The small nugget practically jumps into my mouth and it is so warm and delicious. It has a luxurious taste of freedom. Nothing could be better than this. I enjoy the rest of my time here watching young kids kick the footy and my dad taking a huge bite of a chicken schnitzel burger that looks the size of his head.

Time goes quickly and we head in. Walking up the stairs I can hear the noise build inside my ears. Lots of passionate fans lurk around everywhere. We find our seats and plonk down. Heaps of time to relax before the game starts. The players are only just warming up. I can see in the distance Jeremy Cameron kicking the footy. He’s ready for another ripper game, (let’s hope). I look around, observe for a while, sometimes it’s nice to just stop with all the rushing and take the time to look around at the wonderful world that surrounds you. Maybe there is only one thing that isn't so wonderful - my brother mucking around and doing that pathetic voice that I hear 24/7! Before I know it, the game is about to start, the countdown is on. I cannot believe the amount of tension that is building up inside my body. My heart is racing. I can hear it pumping in my ear. And suddenly beep! The whistle blows and the game is commencing.

The game has gone so quick and I can barely believe that it is almost the end of the third quarter. An epiphany hits me, it’s time for hot jam donuts!! I offer to go and get them and when I return I straight away grab the donut out of the bag. With one bite it hits me - It feels like there is a party happening in my mouth. The jam and the incredible sugary flavour that comes from the donut is just out of this world. I close my eyes for a second and just enjoy the wonderful flavour in my mouth. By the time I finish both the donuts the game has well and truly concluded. As we pack up and head out either overwhelmingly excited or devastated, I realise that it's not about any of that.

I remember that it’s about the time I have spent here with my friends, family and all the people I love in my life. All the memories that I make will stay cherished in my heart forever. This is my special place.

- Olivia McCormack

Finally the engine stops and Sybil jolts awake. A loud bark comes from Dexter as he runs and jumps onto the dusty, old red car. Usually I’m afraid of dogs, but I welcome his kisses like he’s an old friend. As I step onto the familiar gravel, I hear the delighted screams from my best friends, and the reason I spent $20 on lollies. My cousins run towards me with a hug as warm as when the sun hits you on a cold day. Happiness washes over me. I’m at my special place with the most special people.

I breathe in old memories. I see the rope hung on the colossal tree, where we push each other off as violently as hippos, fighting in the mud. Along a red brick path is the tennis court, where the leaves reach out their hands to catch all our tennis balls. We’re not very good at tennis. Just outside the court is a tree that almost reaches heaven. Inside its intricate leaf shelter are thousands of branches that have been worn down from us climbing on them until they’re comfortable. As my cousins, Annabel and Chloe, and my sister, Sybil, climb higher into the tree I find the perfect branches to rest on. I lay my neck on a surprisingly soft branch and my worn out shoes on another below me. The birds softly sing, and I can almost hear the leaves gossiping to each other, just as my cousins and I always do. Later, we step across the dry, dying grass to the spa. Once we get in, we play Taylor Swift and annoy our dads. The bubbles feel calming against my back and neck, bruised from the branch that wasn’t as soft as I thought it was.

We walk through the kitchen, dripping wet, where we once burnt our cookies until they were more like charcoal. We ate them, while laughing so hard there was a line for the bathroom. I grab my towel from Chloe’s messy room, then Chloe, Sybil and I walk to Annabel’s room talking about all the food we have for that night. We enter Annabel’s room and lay our eyes on the mattresses and sleeping bags that already look warm and welcoming and I already know I will not sleep at all tonight.

The following nights we play movies, but barely watch them because we are too busy making people want to stick a sock in our mouths. When the younger kids are asleep, the real party starts. The lolly bags groan as we open them one after the other, and when our supplies are depleted we retire to our crinkled sleeping bags, only to find ‘runaway' lollies inside them. We always end up falling asleep on top of each other after we’ve laughed for hours and shared all our secrets and drama. We share the antics from years before, like when Annabel got up and did aerobics in the middle of the night. We laugh again about a fly that kept hitting its head against the white walls, filled with more memories than we can remember. We dream of when Annabel spotted a spider and we couldn’t sleep, even after it had been killed. But maybe Chloe and Annabel dreamed of rainbows, I'll never know.

The worst part of my special place is saying a deathly goodbye. Secretly we hope we’ve left something behind so we have an excuse to see each other again. Nevertheless, a hug is worth a thousand goodbyes, and when we finally let go, we know it's over. I wave tirelessly all the way down the driveway, then take a deep breath, wondering what’ll happen next time.

- Gretl Sargeant