The Writers Collective - Volume 1

THE WRITERS COLLECTIVE

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

MS KATHARINE BRYSON

Head of English

We are very excited to present to you the first volume of The Writers Collective; the concept, the name, the focus and the copy have all been shaped and driven by our students and, as we are sure you will agree, what they have produced shows, once again, the breadth and depth of talent that they possess.

Last year, the kernel of an idea started to form. We wanted to gather together a group of students, of all ages, to give them the opportunity to share ideas, to write, to consider purpose and audience, to create, to publish. Most importantly, we wanted to give them a collective voice. Interestingly, the students involved have asked that each piece is anonymous; they want to be seen as a group, rather than receive individual praise or affirmation. So, The Writers Collective is just that.

We held our inaugural meeting in September and it was agreed that the focus for our first volume would be Round Square, inspired by the excitement of us playing such an integral part in the 53rd Round Square International Conference; several of our Collective members were also delegates at that conference, so they were able to be our eyes and ears

Over the course of the last five months, students have honed their writing skills, collaborated with others, critiqued and adapted their writing and worked closely with our Marketing Manager Daniella on the look of our publication.

We have poems and reflections and opinion columns and interviews and stories. Do take some time to read our students’ work; perhaps it will inspire you to pick up a pen or place your hands on a keyboard. In the words of Toni Morrison, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”

A NOTE ABOUT OUR NAME...

The apostrophe is one of the more beguiling punctuation marks, so much so that we have a term for such a mark erroneously inserted: the greengrocer's apostrophe The apostrophe, of course, is used to indicate a possessive In the case of The Writers Collective, it is a descriptive phrase, rather than a possessive phrase The Collective does not belong to the writers, rather it describes a collective for writers, hence the lack of an apostrophe

THE WRITERS COLLECTIVE

Members

Penny Braham, Katharine Bryson, Hayden Cheung, Evie Daniel, Ben Devesa, Ella Devesa, Juliet Duff, Lilly Foster, Helene Hoffmann, Aum Joshi, Anusha Khan, Chidiogo Nwibe, Annika Van Schoor, Talia Yasar

Additional contributors

Izzy Carellas, Hana Devesa, Archie Fairfoull, Josie Hall, Izzy Lenton, Conor Richardson, Kekeli Tepre

T A B L E O F

UNIFORM; YAY OR NAY?

Every day, we wake up, get dressed and go to school in our Box Hill School uniform. Every week, we wear the same uniform for almost 50 hours - but are we happy about it? 73% say no. Opinions vary from year group to year group, with almost everyone eager to give their perspectives on what a uniform should be - and what it should look like

Some opinions are simple (like getting to wear your hair down) however some are more radical, like changing the colour of the blazer or finding a less costly alternative Whilst many have a lot to say about what they would change, just as many are happy to share what they like, with students sharing they like the sense of pride a uniform brings and the ease in the morning of not having to choose what to wear

After gathering survey results, it is clear to see that most year 8s seem satisfied with the current uniform Reasons given are that uniforms prevent the anxiety that comes from picking out clothes every morning to wear or the fear of having a “cringe” fitOne student shared that it is better to “just keep it” than to change the whole uniform The year 11s however found restricted choice for expression to be the main problem. After wearing the uniform for 5 years, students are getting tired of it and some say that they are losing their identities in school because of it

Now - of course - something as general as uniform won’t please everyone However, perhaps changing it slightly will help students feel more confident at school as they can wear more comfortable clothes that can express their own unique personalities. From the survey, we found that many students had ideas for alternative uniforms Some suggested the school implement a changing uniform policy, where more freedom is given to students in what they wear as they get older, and by the time students enter the sixth form they get the ability to do what they want, provided it is smart - but not necessarily business formal! Alternatively, students have been calling out for more freedom in their choice of shoes and coats, as this is not distracting to lessons (as feet are under desks) and will allow students to walk more comfortably around the campus

The strongest arguments came from the sixth form, with many believing the current policy to be “outdated” whilst respecting the need to set a good example for the younger

years In the modern workforce, business suits are certainly no longer the norm, with an increasing number of companies and employees opting for more business-casual looks Some argued we should start implementing that policy here, as it will allow students to try out new outfits before finding themselves in a business environment Others argued for the more casual end of the spectrum, saying that more comfortable clothes “improved focus” which, ultimately, will lead to better results

Our school has a uniform It allows the students to be seen and gives the school a sense of community. Perhaps, however, it is time for a rethink Should there be more choice, especially as we spend so many hours wearing it? Uniform or not, we will continue to take pride in our school and keep our heads held high with Box Hill spirit

It’s time to decide; uniform… is it yay or nay?

ROUND SQUARE CONFERENCE INTERVIEWS WITH MR LOWDE & MR JAGO

In the 21st century, the world is changing so quickly. Technologies are developing faster than anyone thought possible. It brings us a lot of convenience, but this convenience comes at a price. The state of our environment is worse than it has ever been, but we can change this. Round Square has been an organisation since 1954 and Box Hill School is one of the founding members. Round Square was founded by Kurt Hahn and is underpinned by the five IDEALS: internationalism, democracy, environment, adventure, leadership and service.

The Round Square Conference is an annual event run by, and for, students aged 16 to 18 and it moves around the world with students from different schools hosting each time. In September 2022 the 53rd Round Square International Conferences was hosted in the UK. 800 delegates from 50 countries met at Oxford University before splitting out to four UK schools for the remainder of the week. Box Hill School was immensely proud to be one of the four host schools.

Our interview:

To have a greater understanding of the conference and all that was involved, we interviewed Mr. Lowde, our Headmaster and Mr. Jago, who is the Round Square co-ordinator at Box Hill School.

Mr Lowde:

Q. What was it like hosting 13 different schools from 9 different countries?

A: It was incredibly exhausting; the planning took ages. I said yes to the idea and then had to motivate the team to organise it and it was difficult, but we achieved it. I love challenging work, so to see something so different, so positive, so exciting, taking place was good.

Q: How did you feel meeting all the – especially the Box Hill ones?

A: It was great; I am the sort of learn likes to sit and be told stuff. Even wh at school, it was always my style of l so I liked when the speakers came a talked. I found them really interestin had seven different speakers, and th so different and so interesting and t Hill ones were amazing.

Q: Why did you choose Ingvild Deli to our school?

A: I thought she was super; there w afterwards who said for them she w best speaker of the week, so I was p she influenced people and I thoroug enjoyed meeting her The reason I c is because I am a Star Wars fan and

appeared in Star Wars: Rogue 1 as Princess Leia; I had been seeking her autograph as a fan. Also, I had found out about her and that she is an environmental activist; I thought this was interesting as she was perfect to speak at the Round Square conference and I thought that we could combine this with drama.

A: I think a lot of work with the student voice I am really pleased that we have a governor representation so in the work that I do, which is strategic, we talk about exactly that question and it could be important as to what we can do in terms of building, what materials we are going to use, or being eco in terms of our solar panelling or it could be something as simple as recycling and transport Obviously, we have looked at energy and energy prices and what that means as well It is a lot of small things to do with assemblies and Round Square ideals, and it’s big things, strategic and expensive things as well We are doing a lot, but we could always do more

Q: What did you take out of being part of the conference?

A: Me personally, I learnt a lot about what the speakers said and I had a positive experience that made me feel good, and I was incredibly pleased to see how the children (the representatives for Box Hill) took over very quickly in the right way and took charge

Q: Did you come out of the conference as a different person?

A: I personally believe that we are a different person every day; I am a different person to who I was 20 years ago, so the answer is yes, but I do not think it was radical, some events in life change you radically, but I grew and developed

Q: How would the school encourage a ‘take less, be more’ approach?

A: One of the big lessons I learnt from the conference is that whatever we are doing it is not enough, so we must take less and be a lot more, but we must grow the scale, and the impact is almost bigger than any of us can do Ingvild was quite important to me when I listened to her I took her out for a meal the night before and she was a vegan, and she was telling me about that choice, and I reflected on what would the difference be if everyone ate less meat, and by becoming a vegan completely we could all take less and be more I also thought she spoke well when she talked about the fact that we are not at the end of civilisation but that we are at the beginning of limitless possibilities and that alters your view of where you sit in this. You don’t sit at the end if you think of yourself at the beginning of the future.

Mr Jago:

Q: What was it like getting schools involved?

A: It was important because, ever since Covid, we have not been able to get many schools together It was nice to be able to host and be able to meet with schools from across the globe to talk about their school ethos Also, to be able to collaborate and chat with the teachers since we have been back from the conference

Q: How did you feel meeting all the speakers – especially the Box Hill ones?

A: It was good meeting Olly Thorne and Emily Penn They were inspirational and came across brilliantly with regards to their topic Diversity with Olly Thorne and the environment with Emily Penn And listenin to all the speakers and how Round Square made them into whole individuals through the ideals and understanding of those idea

Q: How does it feel being part of Round Square?

A: It feels good The conference has given a new emphasis with regards to enthusiasm Round Square We have got Round Square coming in to discuss the organisation and look at Box Hill It is really important with t global connections to see if we can organis exchanges for the students and staff Talki

about Round Square and the ideals and discovery framework is so important

Q: What did you take out of being part of the conference?

A: The variety of the schools’ ethos, meeting members of staff from around the world and hosting was a good thing More time to collaborate, more time to talk to each other and get involved and make friendships Experience other cultures from the other schools

Q: If you had one word to describe the experience, what would it be?

A: Inspirational

Q: Did you come out of the conference as a different person?

A: I grew with the Round Square ethos; it has showed me what it meant to be with numerous schools around the world and I think that what it has enabled me to do is to understand Round Square in a unique way compared to what I was thinking before And to try and promote it to other schools

Application:

Q: Would you modify how you lead the Round Square after the conference?

A: I think so I think as a school we do Round Square very well but there are certain things that we can change We can investigate the ideals and how we can make them specific for each half of term We can look at the discovery framework and how we can implement the discovery framework through all the subjects in the school Giving people the chance to be inquisitive; to be leaders; to show how good we are at providing services for the local community

“Take less, be more” seemed to be a complicated idea, and we might feel the powerlessness as we heard those terrifying environmental issues; global warming, climate change, flooding, and hurricanes due to environmental change. According to a survey written by Emmanuel Rivière, Director of International polling at Kantar Public, it is given that up to 60% of the respondents think that they cannot afford it, and up to 39% of them think that individual affordability can have a significant impact. However, saving the planet could be much easier than you would expect

Ingvild Delia, a speaker at the Round Square conference, who is also an actor in Star Wars as Princess Leia, suggests the idea that a small act can change the environment For example, travelling on foot instead of driving; or simply choosing one day, or even only one meal to avoid meat; or more simply, put your plastic bottle into the Recycling bin after drinking Delving into ‘living green completely,’ we might feel so powerless that we eventually give up. Therefore, the most important thing is to keep in mind the environmental issues we are facing We do not need to completely give up our comfortable life – instead, we can choose something to do that bothers us the least Everyone can have different choices, and with our consistent change, the world can be saved!

Overall, what we have learnt is that Round Square is a special but also an enjoyable community of which Box Hill School is immensely proud Box Hill always represents itself as a founding member at the conferences We were also incredibly grateful this year to host several schools here on our campus. As always, we come out as a different person from the conference This year, especially, we have all had the opportunity to consider the phrase “Take less, be more” and commit to making a change in our own lives, however small. We can see change already in action, what with the Green Team and the Sustainability Team and that is only the beginning

ROUND SQUARE CONFERENCE INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENT DELEGATES

We are sure that you will agree that the most important aspect of Round Square schools is the students. We therefore decided to speak to our Box Hill School delegates; we wanted to know how the students who went to the conference felt about it, what their thoughts were prior to the conference and if their thoughts had changed afterwards.

Our interview:

Q. What did it feel like being an ambassador for the school?

A One student said that “it was an honour” to represent the school and be part of this experience Another student said “Seeing the ‘rocket’ logo on the conference flag among five others surely gave me a sense of pride in being a Box Hill student”

Q. What was it like staying at Oxford University?

A One student stated: “It was amazing that we got to experience one of the oldest universities in the world and we got to enjoy the culture and history of the place”; another two students enjoyed the “historical buildings” A third student shared that they enjoyed the “unique opportunity, to connect with students from across the globe in the same walls with some of the world's greatest minds”

Q How did it feel having such independence?

A A student noted that they thought that “it was quite cool being able to adventure around Oxford with my fellow students” and another student felt in “full control in terms of our schedule and being the leaders of Baraza groups was a demanding job” It gave them a true challenge and made them unlock confidence that they didn’t know they had

Q How did you feel having such a big responsibility placed upon you?

A One pupil thought “it was scary but we got to develop our leadership skills” So, despite the nerves they found new confidence in themselves and had moments where they had to step out of their comfort zone a little bit, in all the best ways possible. Another student also shared their experience with this great responsibility: “Having the responsibility to organise our own schedule and activities, as well as facilitating and leading the discussions was quite intense, but extremely rewarding.”

Q What was it like interacting and speaking with international students?

A One student said that they thought it was such a rare opportunity that they got to meet people from around the world right in this moment and all together! She said that “the ability to do that is the beauty of this conference and Round Square itself” Another pupil, who talked to various different people, shared that she is still in contact with one she met at the conference

Q Did you learn anything from your experience?

A On this question one student said “I learnt about different cultures in the world and learnt about what we could do to help improve the planet”. Another student reiterated what they have already stated: they stepped out of their comfort zone, they got a new taste of different cultures and a new perspective of the world as a whole.

Q. What do you feel is the importance of Round Square?

A. “Being able to interact with people from throughout the world” said one student; another shared a similar view: “it was great to build international connections and to explore new opportunities”; the third pupil we interviewed noted that the IDEALS of Round Square are most important and that the conference proved to them that it is our differences that unite us and no matter who they were they all enjoyed the conference equally; it was seen throughout the lens of internationalism.

Q. Would you represent the school again?

A All three students that we interviewed all said that they would definitely take the opportunity and represent Box Hill school again; “it is safe to say that I made friends for life, even though many of them live on the other side of the globe An opportunity like this opens doors - the people you’ll meet, the memories you'll create and the skills you’ll obtain are absolutely priceless”

THE CULTURAL PERFORMANCE; A DELEGATE'S PERSPECTIVE

In line… that’s where I found myself on day two of the Round Square International Conference 2022. It was around 7 o’clock, and I was in a thick line of international delegates, slowly shuffling towards New Theatre Oxford’s entrance. I didn’t have the slightest clue that I was about to have the experience of a lifetime.

Whilst standing in line, I was looking around at every individual’s traditional costumes Everyone had prepared for tonight’s headline event; The Cultural Performance It was being held in the theatre, and the performances were from delegate schools from all around the world In total the conference had about 1500 participants But, because of how many participants there were, tonight there was only a crowd of 750 people Regardless of numbers, I quickly made it my mission to complement as many people as possible Usually, I’m hesitant to express my thoughts to strangers, particularly complements, but that’s part of the conference’s magic All the delegates are excited to talk to you and encourage expression: they make you want to interact and engage The complements were enthusiastically received and I gained confidence from it

Entering the theatre, I was met with saturated, rich, red velvet surroundings and a sudden, pleasant warmth. I didn’t even realise how loud it was outside by the busy road, until I went inside. All the loud conversation instantly and noticeably

muffled, into a soft blanket above the crowd. It was a small, comfortable cave with people everywhere the eye could see.

We were still being herded forward, led down a few steps on the left of the entrance cave. The small cave had now turned into an even smaller velvet tunnel, slightly below ground level and we headed towards a pair of heavy red double doors. The doors each had a small circular window with a gold painted frame. You couldn’t see much through them, though. They were constantly moving back and forth, bouncing off the wall, due to the number of people trying to venture further into cavern. Slowly approaching the red doors, I was trying to catch glimpses of the next room. Too focused on a glimpse, I was abruptly met with the red painted wood It was touching my nose for a split second I was quickly pushed past the red barrier

It felt like this magical world suddenly opened up. The close, low muffling sound instantaneously expanded. You could suddenly see further and hear better, like your senses became superhuman for a split second. It was almost more overwhelming than standing in the stomach of a beast. I was met with such an expansive cavity, like an upturned meteor crater but carved with smooth lines. The room was dimly lit by colourful stage lights giving the chasm a pleasant rich glow like that of spices. From the red doors behind me, a flat carpeted pathway sloped even further down in front of me, leading delegates to rows upon rows of seats Looking around, there were so many seats that another carpeted pathway was necessary The roof was so high, I was an ant in a supersized room The only thing that felt normally sized was my seat in the audience

I found some familiar faces in front of me: other Round Square Conference Baraza Leaders from my school, as well as some new faces with common interests We sat waiting for the show to start, as conversation hammered in the background

Strong yellow lights dimmed and conversation simmered to a whisper, as someone walked on stage for the ceremony’s opening speech The spicy, rich lights behind them kept grabbing my attention, slowly warping and contorting through rainbow colours unrelentingly I was not quite sure what to expect and quite passive but around me, there was a building tension A strong feel of restlessness and insatiable impatience built within the

audience. Everyone perched on the edge of their seats, almost glaring at the stage in suspense, excitement barely contained.

Then the soft thuds of multiple hurried footsteps appeared. The opening speech had ended; the person was replaced by a group of people. The rest of the yellow lights were extinguished but as they died the colourful backlights grew stronger. And just like that the Cultural Performance began. A vibrant, bouncing Arabic drumbeat rolled into the cavern and as the performers warmed up to the music so did the crowd. All the built-up tension, suspense and excitement was released from the straining bounds of calmness and we went wild Rhythmic clapping spread through the vast collection of people like a wildfire, ignited by our passion and excitement to make tonight amazing With thunderous booming and crackles of clapping, in a boisterous rhythm, it was as if we had become the wooden drums of the performers

One performance after another, the crowd maintained its lively nature We witnessed many wonders Even the glistening gold earrings seemed like they were dancing, flashing gleams of light off the stage But then the prominent spice-rich lights unexpectedly dimmed

Another new spectacle was about to occur The theatre became rose-red like the city of Petra, with warm dusty browns, until it darkened further to a cool night-time blue A crystal-clear voice flowed onstage And soon, like the moon glistening on ocean waves, a vast sea of phone-lights appeared waving back and forth, pushed and pulled by a powerful common goal; to show support to the person onstage.

There and then, every person was guaranteed to be different from you and yet together we were able to create every particle of a world map and able to read every dictionary in existence. It was as if, in that moment, every single stranger were at one. We were all connected by time and place. This giant group of strangers, felt like good friends. It was magical up until the very last second. And then the night came to an end but together we had become a force of nature, ready to change the world.

ROUND SQUARE CONFERENCE

THE CULTURAL PERFORMANCE; A DELEGATE'S CREATIVE RECOLLECTION

A feeling of nausea overtook me as cheers erupted, a well-deserved applause for the group of young students walking off the stage bashfully. They had just finished performing a lovely dance, a lovely cultural dance at that, a lovely cultural dance at the Round Square International conference in Oxford at that. And soon it’d be my turn.

Just thinking about it now makes my palms sweaty and my eyes teary. I looked around, trying to distract myself from what I was about to do, yet all I heard was the sickeningly sweet voice of the girl announcing the next set of performers… my classmates and me. How did I even end up agreeing to this? I had no idea. All I knew was that my heart was beating at an alarming pace and that my breathing was becoming rapid and maybe that I need to stop cracking my knuckles. And also I was thinking too quickly- I was pulled out of my panic by a small hand grasping mine firmly Oh yeah, my best friend, she was the one who had got me to agree to this horrible idea

She started leading me out to the stage leading me into the view of over 1000 people to be more precise Looking up at the crowd I froze on the spot So many people were looking right at me I was about to throw up my lunch in front of them all until I got yanked into position by my friend

“Smile” she whispered to me.

How could she tell me to smile? Couldn’t she see that I was shaking just as much as she was, or that my eyes were nearly as puffy as hers? Before I could figure out that she was probably even more nervous than I was, the music began.

I was pulled into an embrace with my friend, before being pushed away again, all to the rhythm of the music. Who knew you could push people around rhythmically? We twirled together and ended in a dip! The crowd cheered wildly and she laughed up at me as I pulled her up again. This was ridiculous; they found that amazing and it was so off beat and, oh my goodness, no one cared about how much I messed up did they? No one would laugh if I missed a few steps, would they? All of a sudden people seemed a lot less frightening, and the music seemed a lot less loud I let out a laugh at my own ridiculousness; I had found something so harmless, so nerve wracking, all to the point of physical illness, all for nothing

The dance ended as the crowd stood and applauded I looked around giving a flustered smile It wasn’t all that bad, was it now?It was time to start takes chances and saying yes

RAL ANCE; A RESPONSE

As I stood there, gazing out at the collection of culture that flooded the room, with its unwavering expression of passion, I was struck with the joyful realisation of the rarity of such an opportunity Being able to host and speak to people from different countries from all around the world, who had put all of their trust in me to look after and guide them during their time staying among the picturesque boulevards of Oxford University, was a true blessing that I will never forget.

I still remember the rush of independence that engulfed my entire body, as I was awarded with the responsibility of leading and scheduling different activities, while also parading around the historic campus, helping different delegates with any issues and answering all of their queries. Despite being entrenched with the intensity of such a prestigious experience, I also felt a great sense of achievement and had awoken to a newfound sense of confidence that I had never known that I possessed.

Paralysed with pride, I now sit here alongside my new lifelong companions, listening and engaging with every lecture that graces my hungry ears. Drops of wisdom trickle through every nerve in my body, quenching my ever-present thirst for knowledge. I now fully understand the life changing doors that have been opened for me. The gratitude of having been appointed as a Box Hill School delegate etches its name into the forefront of my mind, forever ingrained in permanent ink.

TAKE LESS, BE MORE

We have been shown how to take less, so we can be our absolute best. We have been shown how to be more, so we do not ignore the raging global issues, that we will unscrew. And hopefully it will bleed through, to others’ blissful brains, across global plains.

We will take less from the environment to reduce our global footprint, to allow ecosystems to flourish, so we can nourish culture and make sure we do not soil our final chance at preservation.

Embody taking less in our every day, to make someone feel a special kind of way.

Look at the glass as half full, to be more helpful to you and to others; consideration in what you say can change the way people think today. So, we become these ideals by taking less and being more.

TAKE LESS, BE MORE.

Pandora is known for taking too much;

She unleashed death and sickness with one touch. Curiosity killed more than a cat And only one thing remained after that:

Hope.

Hope is our future, our children once grown. But how can kids learn what is never shown?

We take and we take, just helping ourselves; Have we not learned from how deep our greed delves?

Nope.

How can we ask others to make a change when we arrange problems, is that not strange? Again and again, twenty-seven times what have we done to amend our own crimes? Mope.

We have not taught them; set no example.

We wasted our time, we once had ample. Now ex-ample, we begin to panic.

What do we tell them? Do not be manic. Cope.

There is no blueprint; we stare at the clocks. New countdowns and deadlines. Hide in a box our issues and failures because

CREATIVE WRITING TAKE LESS, BE MORE

The rain shot down like bullets firing down from the brooding mass of black clouds obscuring all light from the sun above, plunging the city into a premature night. Thunderclaps deafened the sound of the cars on the street, deafened the sound of people rushing for cover from the storm; it even deafened the sound of the window shattering. Lightning reflected off the shards of glass scattered across the floor, briefly illuminating the figure of a man clothed exclusively in black except for what appeared to be a paper bag over his head, but he was gone within an instant.

Raindrops pooled in through the gaping window frame, swirling into an inky black puddle, void of all colour. Thunder clapped, quaking the bank building, and the water began to move. Slowly, red seeped in. It diluted itself in the puddle, but more and more kept on crawling in. Then more again. The colour had become a dark red - blood red.

Lightning struck again. This time the silent killer was placed fully in view, his gun smoking above what remained of his victim.

He was not the only one.

The wind writhed like a swarm of bees as it pushed its way down the corridor, toying with the multitude of fresh bodies as it made its violent approach, moving in unison with the slithering silhouette that had perpetrated these deaths

Security cameras fell quieter than the raindrops Alarms were controlled as carefully as stones skipping on water Guards fell like waves crashing onto the shore Each shot was accurate, calculated, organic - this thief was a natural, his talent as integral a part to his DNA as his eye colour It was as necessary a life process to him as breathing is to anyone else

He moved like the tide, unpredictable but powerful, controlling – he swirled from target to target like a great white hunting its prey The paralysed silence screamed for help yet none came, the silent killer's pursuit unstoppable – and it was reaching an end

He had already made it to the primary bank safe, a trail of bodies left behind him like breadcrumbs, his systematic approach having been so successful that to an onlooker his ease would have made it seem that he had simply walked up and knocked on the front door His heart rate was consistently at 60 beats per minute, never rising, not a bead of sweat to be seen As he opened the door he could taste the victory, the scent of hundreds of millions of pounds overflowing his senses He could hear the treasure trove screaming out to him, begging for him to take them as his reward for such a monumental feat - but their cries left as quickly as they came, silenced by the sound of the door swinging shut once again.

Crawling in the shadows as he escaped the premises, the thief opened his palm. All that could be seen was a single flash of green, crumpled like a tissue without care or delicacy.

All he had taken was a single pound.

Despite the lives he had taken the life he had risked he chose to take but a single banknote

INTERNATIONALISM DEMOCRACY

ENVIRONMENTALISM

ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP SERVICE

C R E A T I V E W R I T I N G

THE BUNKER CREATIVE WRITING

She was awoken by the deafening crash of thunder outside Her heart started to race, as her anxiety kicked in. The rain violently battered against the window of her secondfloor bedroom, as if someone was trying to break in. She got up out of the safety of her warm covers and opened the curtains to see a flash of lightning so bright she thought she was looking into the sun. The sky turned so bright that it was like it was daytime again She stumbled backwards, startled by the sudden frightening event and tripped over a fluffy blue slipper that she had left on the floor before she went to bed the night before. As she fell to the hard carpeted floor, another booming crash of thunder roared in the distance, however, this time it was nearer and much louder than before. A sudden gust of wind threw her window open, exposing her to the outside world She knew that this storm was dangerous and that her only chance of survival was to go to the storm bunker.

She ran down the wooden staircase. When she reached the bottom, she went to the doorway where she threw on her red raincoat. BANG. Another clap of thunder and lightning hit; she knew that the longer she waited the riskier it would be and the more likely she would be lost in the storm. She didn't have time to put on her shoes, so she flung the heavy wooden door open and ran as if her life depended on it.

The cold, wet grass under her feet made her slip and the muddy ground came towards her. The taste of soggy dirt in her mouth was disgusting and, when she stood up, she heard a crash so loud it was like a bomb had exploded right behind her. She turned around to see her house engulfed in red hot flames; the skeleton of the house was almost visible as the flames ate away at the outside walls She could see the open window that led to her childhood bedroom, but the storm was getting too close now; she needed to get to the bunker, if she had any chance of living to see another day.

She was only a few feet away from the small metal door that led to the underground hideout when the lightning struck again. The bunker blew up and she was thrown backwards with a great force. It felt like she had been hit by twenty cars at the same time. The heavy torrential rain poured down her face until the rain turned into tears. She felt hopeless; the rain wasn’t stopping, and the storm was above her now There was nothing left for her to do now except to hope that the lightning wouldn’t get her. CRASH. A bolt of lightning struck again a bit further away so she could see the bright purple forks splitting in different directions She remembered that lightning was attracted to metal so she started to take off all of her jewellery and threw it as far away from her as she could. Her house was gone, the bunker was destroyed, and she was in the middle of nowhere… all alone, without any chance of help. She needed a miracle…

GRAPHITE SKY CREATIVE WRITING

I had woken early that morning; I had even beaten the sun so when I watched the vibrant colours of the sunrise, I was sure that nothing could go wrong. Not when the day had begun with splashes of mesmerising pinks and oranges and reds filling the sky. Surely nothing could go wrong on a day that had started so perfectly.

I was truly, truly wrong.

By midday, black clouds had slowly moved across the sky, engulfing everything in their path, but it wasn’t until late afternoon that the storm’s true nature was revealed. The drizzle of rain, pattering against the roof, quickly changed to a heavy thud. A powerful spray of water, like bullets, cascaded down. Streaks of brilliant white light cleaved through the graphite sky, illuminating the room, soon followed by a roll of thunder Trees groaned as the wind tore them out of the ground, exposing their gnarled and twisted roots.

I stayed huddled in my room, hugging my knees, beads of sweat forming on my forehead I hated storms; I always have and forever will. Every single noise put me on edge; every crash of thunder was a roar of a ferocious beast about to attack; each bolt of lightning striking fear into my very soul. Howling, shrieking, screaming winds filled every nook and cranny, drowning out almost all the noise. Panic rose in me; my heart raced; thoughts flooded my brain; I couldn’t breathe; oh god, I couldn’t breathe.

Why wouldn’t it end?

A blanket of silence smothered the town, as we stared in disbelief at the wreckage that had been left behind.The street was littered with splinters of wood, ripped from the corpses of trees. The glass, that once made up a window, was now a thousand tiny daggers, scattered on the ground. I looked at the devastation, the silhouette of the town, the empty shells of houses I stood there in disbelief

As others started to leave, I stood rooted to the spot. I couldn’t believe that a storm could do this damage; it should have only been small, a light shower at most Dull clouds hung over us, taunting us, boasting about the destruction they had caused and what started out as a vibrant colourful sunshine day turned into this.

Where did it all go wrong?

WHERE LAND MEETS SEA CREATIVE WRITING

Eerily, a sorrowful sky loomed over the raging battlefield – land and sea. Waves ravaged the lonely pier like rabid bears, clawing and frothing at the innocent bystanders who merely wanted to spectate the clash

Although the sea was strong, the land remained resilient. Its concrete shoulders shielded the array of panic -stricken houses, their vibrant colours dulled with fear. The once picturesque and lively neighbourhood was now commandeered by shut blinds and locked doors.

In a flash, the war had begun.

But on the other side of the conflict, a pool of water remained undisturbed, untouched. Peacefully it swayed gently, side to side Even the smallest drop of water could be caught disrupting the great, blue loch.

Suddenly another wave crashed. Car alarms screeched in distress, calling for their watchers barricaded in their dwellings, helplessly overseeing the chaos.

The taste of salt suffocated and choked the air Nothing and no one was safe from the ocean’s erratic artillery. Arrows of spit pierced the family watching in wonder. A battlefield between the lively was no place for the living.

As the sky began to slowly clear, the water roared one last time, before retreating back to the blue yonder.Once again, the land prevailed, however she knew this wouldn’t be the last time she fought for force

SPECK OF LIGHT CREATIVE WRITING

The forest was a barren wasteland Black, tarnished trees crumbled and crashed to the ash-spread ground. I looked hopelessly in the smoke-engulfed distance for any sign of civilisation, for any sign of life There was nothing, nothing but a vast plain of darkness and sorrowful remains from the once dense and green woodland I was walking through.

Deep embers spat across the surroundings, biting my skin at any contact. As I pessimistically walked on in search or anything, I felt every step I took was a step further away, another step towards my inevitable failure of finding help.

The night progressed and the dark became even darker The destroyed wasteland of a forest became an eerie graveyard for the fallen trees. I carried on walking, then suddenly realised the trees were standing upright; I had escaped the deathly remains of the ferocious fire and entered a densely dark woodland. I peered through the shadows and saw a speck of light, so small it may have been pointless to follow, however it was more than I had seen for what felt like days I curiously walked on and the light gradually became more than just a speck, but what seemed to be a glowing lamp in a lonely house I could barely see.

A sigh of relief travelled over my whole body as I was certain it was a house; it had to be I sprinted over and could almost jolt the door open

The forest then broke into a vast field, acting as a border from danger to safety. I was yards from the house when, suddenly, the door opened and there he was, ready to prolong my suffering

ENGULFED CREATIVE WRITING

Pure terror I had never felt it before The world was shaking violently around me I was in a whirlpool of debris, screaming and emotion. My bones felt like they were melting like magma far beneath me, ready to engulf me in its gaping maw. Thoughts swirled in my mind; I tried to catch one, to hold onto the positives. I can’t go on for long, at least I am not hurt and one kept circling back. I need to find my brother. I saw the earth cracking, fiery crimson lava spewing out from underneath, its menacing jaws grinning at me, ready to swallow anything and everything whole.

I opened my eyes, and the world was quiet again though the echoing shrieks and screams still lingered, ready to pounce The burning stench of smoke and fire surrounded me, clutching me in its suffocating grasp. I finally had the courage to look around and immediately regretted it: there was destruction and ruin as far as the eye could see. A cry for help pierced my thoughts. I began to follow the voice, my feet stumbling along the gravel. When I reached the source, I heard the voice again.A woman looked up at me, her icy blue eyes pleading She was holding a hand, strong and callused. My eyes travelled up the arm and I realised what was wrong. The arm disappeared just above the elbow beneath the door.

‘Please’ she said. ‘Help me lift the door; I can’t do it on my own; I’m not strong enough’. Tears rolled across her burnt scalp as she leant back. I knelt down, without a word, and she did the same Together, we lifted the door, whilst my muscles were screaming at me to stop. I soon noticed that the arm was now connected to a man, definitely still alive. The young woman broke into a smile, illuminating her features. For a moment, I was glad, but then my reoccurring thought circled back: I need to find my brother.

I gave the young woman a smile and walked off, trying to find something recognisable to guide me. I looked around and saw the enormous, ancient oak tree, still standing as formidable as ever. Instinctively, I knew to walk towards the tree, turn right and straight down the road was the school. I began to walk towards it, my strides speeding up after each step As I reached the tree’s immense trunk, as wide as a sizeable elephant, it towered over me like a great shadow. I reached out to touch the rough bark and remembered all of the memories as a child there. As soon as I took my hand away, I remembered the situation and my goal.

I carried on, each step harder than the last I turned around the last bend and our village school was before me. The great building was decades old, but still held its former grandeur and elegance. I began to speed up, soon sprinting towards the noble building. A tidal wave of students poured out and my heart lifted; at least everyone is coming out. I craned my neck around, trying to catch a glimpse of familiar flaming hair Children, and staff, kept flowing out, but I still could not find him Finally, I spotted his bright, fiery hair but my heart sank as I realised where it was.

SHOCKWAVES CREATIVE WRITING

The ground quaked Cities crumbled Forests were levelled

The force sent shockwaves racing around the earth, each step feeling like walking through thick mud, screaming and writhing, as if it were compiled of a mound of snakes. Clouds of ash pooled in the sky, condensing into a thick mass obscuring the sun and leaving the land in darkness.

Those that remained were walking shadows, moving blindfolded as they pushed through the black fog, the scent of charred meat complimented by the sound of hope being lost. Or was it?

A glimmer of red appeared in the sky, illuminating a figure so caked in ash that his features were unrecognisable, aside from a crude gas mask held together with duct tape. His name was Jonesy, and his eyes followed as the rare glimpse of colour neared. But its scorching heat betrayed it – it was magma. Jonesy was a statue, staring stupendously sacred as the hazard neared.It crashed down, rolling into lava as it began to make its approach It crawled towards him, a predator getting ready to pounce

Acting on their own, Jonesy’s legs span in circles as he escaped in terror, but as soon as he thought he was in the clear he heard it.Boom.

Another boiling pile of danger had landed. He could taste the melting earth, the black and white movie he was living in slowing bleeding in colour as a new constellation formed in the sky. But each star was falling, crashing down as the volcano spat lava like it was a spoilt child.

Then another landed, leaving a crater even the moon would be jealous about.

Then another

Then another.

Then another and another.Each barely missed Jonesy as his legs carried him. They had no aim, no direction, no hope but they just wanted to escape. He could feel the heat as it scorched his skin, hear the sound of the world collapsing behind him, sizzling as the lava’s impact rearranged the structure of the ground

Jonesy’s energy was running out, wheezing and screaming as he pushed forwards. It felt like running through sheets of glass, each time shards lodging themselves deeper and deeper inside him. But then he saw something. Something in the distance, not far but not close It was an invasion A bunker constructed of the strongest metal stood defiant before him, a glimmer of hope in a desolate world only illuminated by fear. Throwing his gas mask aside, Jonesy took a step forward.He held his breath, clutching his heart in agony, but he had to make it… otherwise it was all over.

GLIDING GULLS CREATIVE WRITING

Effortlessly gliding, lost in the empty pale blue, a solitary gull of pure white with soot wings descended from above and elegantly perched on one of the brick chimneys. Mustard, beady eyes scanned the rooftops that shimmered from the myriad of raindrops dancing down to the edge.

Variegated walls of houses contrasted the dull aura emitting from the sky. Peeling pastel paint masked the buildings from their normality, drenching them in buoyant personality; they were excited to be at the beach.

Flat grey ripples below gently hugged the rocks, then were sucked away under the pillars of wood. The stolen water was abducted further away from the safety of the shore. This absence revealed the hidden, emerald velvet blanket of algae that crept up the wooden planks, eventually to submerge them.

The sea returned…

Crash! Blizzards of acrimony charged back towards the innocent coast; each speck of water carried resentment as it parted from the pack and ricocheted in all directions. Salt stenches suffocated the air. Gradually, the wave’s fury was contained as it sank back into the sea.

Hesitantly, the gull drifted to the now tamed water to graze its feet; sparks of clear crystals jumped up to try and follow the bird as it ascended back into the empty sky. It was lost again.

Thank you for reading Volume 1 of The Writers Collective.

We aim to make this a bi-annual publication. During The Writers Collective activity, we will decide the theme for each volume, and you'll see the identity of each issue change depending on the contents.

T H E W R I T E R S C O L L E C T I V E

BOX HILL SCHOOL