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Bite marks on a pencil

This is the inspiring title of the 2008 Year 7 Writers' Group creative writing album. This wonderful anthology features a diverse collection of works produced by eight talented students Kai Kurashige, Maddi Lewis, Alyssa Nguyen, Katie Peterson, Emily So, Ellen Sun, Nhu Tran and Linda Wang under the expert guidance of teacher Joan van Loon, who is herself a published author of children's books. The project was also proudly supported by staff members, Judy Warren-Smith and Joanne Frost.

The 2008 Writers' Group began with an empty page but an abundance of fresh ideas and enthusiasm rapidly transformed into this impressive creative writing collection. In addition tho their personal writing, the team also added a group story From the Chain Gang. Each student contributed a paragraph to the short story resulting in an exciting page turner with a great twist at the end!

The Year 7 Writers' Group is part of the Mentone Girls' Grammar School SAIL program that encourages and supports advanced and independent learners. The program provides opportunities for extension, enrichment and acceleration across many areas. The Year 7 Writers' Group is just one such offering and is a wonderful way for students who have a talent and passion for creative writing to learn more about different writing styles and techniques. It also enables students to harness their creativity, work together as a team and to take risks with their own writing.

The title Bite marks on a pencil was the brainchild of team member Ellen Sun and was chosen by the Group as a fitting title as it reflected the tension that occurs when a writer struggles for an idea, for the right word or for a solution to a problem.

As a community, we congratulate Kai, Maddi, Alyssa, Katie, Emily, Ellen, Nhu and Linda for this outstanding creative writing collection and we look forward to reading many more works from them in the future.