Ecole Poirier - Division 4 - 2024

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society École Poirier Exploring the Lighthouse Division 4 2023-2024

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 2 SHERINGHAM POINT LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Project Team (Change Canada Consultants Ltd.): Ian Fawcett (Project Manager) Kathleen Arnason (Project Coordinator) Bill Turner (Project Advisor) Commemorative Book designed and written by Ian Fawcett. SPLPS: John Walls (President) Contact: [email protected] Address: PO Box 1002, Sooke, BC V9Z 1J1 Website: http://sheringhamlighthouse.ca http://changecanadaconsultants.com Cover photo: Hayden Cover inset: Lillian Back photo: Violet

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 3 Exploring the Lighthouse École Poirier Division 4 Contents The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society........................................................................4 Exploring the Lighthouse............................................................................................................................ 5 Exploring the Lighthouse - The Program..................................................................................................6 A Brief History of the Lighthouse...............................................................................................................7 Exploring the Lighthouse - Reflecting What You See..............................................................................9 Exploring the Lighthouse - Telling Your Stories...................................................................................10 Photographs and Stories from the Students in Division 4 (Mr. Thompson’s Class)...........................11 A BigThank You .........................................................................................................................................91 Raising Funds to Protect the Lighthouse..............................................................................................92 Unintended Consequences.......................................................................................................................93

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 4 The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society In 2003, the Government of Canada declared that the historic Sheringham Point Lighthouse was no longer needed to ensure maritime safety in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Advances in technology meant that the Lighthouse could now be discarded — torn down, sold off for other uses or, simply, left to rot and eventually to fall apart. In response, a small group of neighbours gathered to form the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. They were determined that the Lighthouse, which had stood for almost 100 years as a symbol of their community, would not be lost. For the next twelve years, the Society’s volunteers worked extremely hard to fight for the Lighthouse’s protection, doing everything they could to raise awareness about the threat to their community heritage. They rallied their community, local businesses and other groups, lobbied and strategized with all levels of government, raised funds and, eventually, put forward a plan to take on the responsibility to care for and conserve the Lighthouse themselves. In 2015, the Society’s efforts were successful. The government agreed to transfer the property to the Society and also, at the same time, they officially designated Sheringham Point Lighthouse a “Canadian Heritage Lighthouse”. As the new owners and stewards, the Society worked for the next seven years to restore the Lighthouse to its former glory, and to make sure it will always be accessible for the public to enjoy and appreciate. The Lighthouse is now protected and is open to the public as a community heritage park.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 5 Children today have a greater range of opportunities open to them than at any time in recent history, and greater freedoms than ever before. Thriving in this chaotic environment requires an ability for all children to be able to find a strong foundation from which they can build their lives, achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. For most of us, that foundation starts with the family, and extends outward into the community. Just as a tree needs deep roots to grow tall and strong, so does a child draw nourishment and vitality from his or her own roots, from the comfort of belonging, from having a place to call home. Understanding and, in particular, experiencing their own connections to the people and places around them is invaluable for children in so many ways. Learning about their own and their community’s history provides a base from which they can explore their world and help them answer that most fundamental of questions: “How did this come to be?” Our history is not just an academic pursuit to be left to historians. It’s not just about dates and far-off locations, nor is it just about great battles, world-shaking events, the comings and goings of kings and queens and presidents. It’s also about the lives of the people who lived here before, their struggles and triumphs, their thoughts and ideas that nurtured their families, built their communities and shaped their world. It’s about the stories our grandfathers told us, and those from our neighbours. We all have stories in our lives and they are, in their way, as full of drama and intrigue as any of the great sagas of our history classes. It is our stories that shape us, that make us who we are. Our history – our heritage – is best lived and experienced, understood through the things we can see and touch and feel, and passed on in a way that warms our hearts and feeds our imaginations. It’s why we need to work hard to conserve, appreciate and celebrate our heritage — not just the castles and stately mansions, but the cottages and the old lighthouses as well. Those remnants of our past have stories to tell. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” ~ Albert Einstein Exploring the Lighthouse École Poirier Division 4

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 6 ...The Program To help children in the local area strengthen their connections to their own community, we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to visit Sheringham Point Lighthouse, to learn about its history and operations, to appreciate its significance and understand why it is being conserved. It was also our hope to inspire them – and, through them, their families and friends – to take a personal interest in further exploring their community and helping to protect and celebrate their heritage and the future of the Lighthouse. We developed this short program, called “Exploring the Lighthouse”. This program has several parts: 1. History and Operations – we provide a short presentation outlining the history of the Lighthouse, and also talk about how lighthouses work and their role in maritime safety and community development. 2. Visit to the Lighthouse – the students visit the Lighthouse to see firsthand what it’s all about, and to experience its remarkable character and ambience. 3. Reflections – we ask the students to creatively express their impressions of the Lighthouse site by: • Taking photographs while they are at the site, focusing on the features that capture their attention/imagination. • Writing a story (either fictional or non-fiction) about a Lighthouse. 4. Commemorative Book - we compile the students’ photographs and stories into this commemorative book, which is being provided online to all the children, their families and the whole community. Exploring the Lighthouse It is the Society’s hope that we will be able to find the ongoing resources to make this project an annual event, and to make it available to all the elementary schools in the local area, with the result being that all children growing up in this part of the world will have the opportunity – through their visit to the lighthouse – to better understand and appreciate the community they call home. Focused in on the visit to the Lighthouse

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 7 A Brief History of the Lighthouse... Sheringham Point Lighthouse was built in 1912, and illuminated for the first time on September 30 of that year. The Lighthouse was built in response to the tragic wreck of the steamship SS Valencia, on January 22, 1906. En route from San Francisco to Victoria and Seattle, late at night and in rough weather, the Valencia missed the turn into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and steamed directly on to the rocks near Pachena Point. Of the 173 people aboard, 136 were lost. Creation of the Lighthouse began in 1911, with the purchase of 4 acres of land from Shirley resident Edwin Clark. The following year, the lighthouse tower was built, along with a small boathouse and a house for the lighkeeper and his family. The first lightkeeper, Eustace Arden, arrived in September 1912, and continued at the site until 1946. The light itself was a 3rd Order Fresnel Lens. Originally lit by oil lamps (and later by electric lamps), it was made up of many prisms which focused the light into a powerful beam that could be seen up to 25 km away. The lens Exploring the Lighthouse Under construction - 1912 Newly completed - ca 1912

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 8 rotated through a clockwork mechanism of pulleys and weights – each about180 kg – that had to be re-wound every three hours. Because of the size and weight of the lens, it was seated in a bed of liquid mercury, to allow it to turn without much friction. In 1925, a fog-alarm building was added to the site, and a new “diaphone” (two-tone) fog-horn was installed. Originally a wooden, peaked-roof building, constructed in front of the tower, this building was replaced in 1976 with the concrete block building that is still on site. The diesel engines that provided power for the site were also located in this building. A number of other structures were added to the site over the years, including radio towers and sheds, a fallout shelter (that was actually never used as such, but came to be used to grow mushrooms instead), other utility buildings and, in 1964, a new, more modern house for the Lightkeeper. During the 1980s, the Lighthouse was automated and it was finally destaffed in 1989 when the last lightkeeper left. Except for the tower and the engine room (fog-alarm building), all the other structures on site were taken down, or deliberately burned, to avoid vandalism. Left largely unattended for the next thirty years, the Lighthouse began to deteriorate and was in danger of being lost forever. Then, after many years of lobbying by the local community, in 2015, it was transferred to the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. It has now been restored to its former glory, and is open to the public as a community heritage park. ...A Brief History of the Lighthouse Exploring the Lighthouse Following construction of the fog alarm building - ca 1926 Following construction of the boat house - 1912

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 9 Exploring the Lighthouse “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” ~ Dorothea Lange, Photographer Reflecting what you see... Photography is a powerful tool for exploring the world around us. It causes us to focus more intently on what we are looking at, to look more closely, pay attention to the details, and take nothing for granted. It creates an intimate connection with the subject and with the environment that surrounds it. While it’s a very personal process, the end result is universal. To appreciate a photograph requires no ability to read, no language in common, no prerequisite level of education or life experience. Just an ability to see and to feel, and a willingness to participate. For this part of the program, we provided each student with a cell phone camera and some basic instruction in its use, as well as a brief overview of the art of photography. Then we asked them to take photographs while they were at the lighthouse, focusing on the things that caught their attention and/or their imagination. When we returned to the school later, each student chose his or her favourite photo, and explained why they chose it. There were lots of amazing photographs – creative and insightful! The following pages showcase their chosen photographs. Enjoy! “Photography represents the world we know, and suggests a world beyond what we can see. Creativity is the gap between perception and knowledge.” ~ Emmet Gowin, Photographer

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 10 Exploring the Lighthouse “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” ~ An old First Nations proverb “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” ~ Rudyard Kipling, Author Telling your stories... Story-telling has always formed the underlying basis of human communication. Our stories are the ways that we connect ourselves to one another and to our communities. They help define who we are and where come from. Children naturally understand the power of story-telling, and we wanted to provide them with tools and strategies to explore and expand their own story-telling abilities, to share their own stories and to learn from others. Author Kathleen Arnason spoke to the students about the basic elements of creative writing, focusing on getting the children to explore their own feelings and values and to think about what is important and has meaning for them. Each student was asked to write a story (factual or fictional) about a lighthouse, incorporating what they had learned and what they had seen throughout the day. The following pages contain the results of that work, and they speak for themselves. Kathleen talks about the importance of storytelling and creativity. Ian tells the story about how the Lighthouse was built.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 11 Photographs and Stories from the Students in Division 4 (Mr. Thompson’s class) Exploring the Lighthouse

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 12 Adrienne’s Pages FLOWERS “I like this photo because it is nice to look at. The flowers in the photo are nice.” Adrienne’s Photo Selection: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIGHTHOUSE...cont.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 13 Adrienne’s Pages (continued) BRUCE THE GREEN DINOSAUR AND THE SUPER AWESOME LIGHTHOUSE TRIP by Adrienne Bruce was a nice and curious dinosaur who loved big adventures, flowers, and superhero underpants. One day, his class was going on a trip to a lighthouse, rumored to be surrounded by many flowers, so he was happy. When he arrived, he walked around with his friend Tristen. Tristen was Bruce’s best friend because they both loved superhero underpants. Tristen was also into action movies and drawing. Bruce was amazed by the many flowers he saw. Finally, Tristen got Bruce to come down to the lighthouse with him. The lighthouse was beautiful; it was red and white and had a huge light at the top. They looked around for a bit, and eventually, Bruce got distracted by some flowers. Tristen walked around some more and then found something in the dirt. He called Bruce over to take a look. “Hmm,” said Bruce, “I think it’s a map.” “Yeah, it’s definitely a map,” said Tristen. “But where does it lead?” asked Bruce. “Well, let’s find out,” Tristen replied. “Um, okay,” said Bruce. They were both pretty excited. And so, they were off on the adventure of a lifetime. Bruce tried to figure out which way the map was supposed to go, but he got confused. When he finally got the map to face the right way, they went off on the journey, this way and that way, all around. “Maybe we should just give up,” said Tristen. “NO WAY,” said Bruce, “we need to find that treasure.” “Okay,” said Tristen. So, they kept looking for the treasure. Then they found a small tunnel. The tunnel was short, so they could see the other side. Bruce stepped on a platform, and the ground below them started to sink. “What do we do?” asked cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 14 Adrienne’s Pages (continued) Bruce. “I don’t know,” said Tristen. “Hey look,” said Bruce, “there’s a piece of paper that has a picture of the tiles, but the tiles have shapes on them.” “Maybe we have to press the ones with shapes. Tell me what shapes are on the tiles, and I will press them.” “Okay,” said Bruce. Then he started yelling out the shapes. “Triangle, square, circle,” he repeated. Tristen pressed all of them, and they were finally free, so they continued along the path. After some more looking, they found where the map was leading them. “Well,” said Tristen, “I don’t see any treasure. Maybe the map was fake.” “No,” said Bruce, “there is only one thing we can do.” “And what is that?” asked Tristen. “DIG!” shouted Bruce. So, they both started digging. “I hit something!” exclaimed Bruce. “It’s treasure!” Bruce pulled out a big treasure box full of coins, necklaces, and more! “Wow!” said Tristen. “Can we split it?” “Yes, you found the map, so it’s only fair,” said Bruce. “Look!” said Tristen, “golden SUPERHERO UNDERPANTS!” “Wait, I know what we should do with the treasure,” said Bruce. “And what is that?” said Tristen. “Remember when the school said they needed money for a new playground? We can donate some money so they can build it.” “Oh yeah,” said Tristen. And they both lived happily ever after. The end. BRUCE THE GREEN DRAGON AND THE SUPER AWESOME LIGHTHOUSE TRIP (cont.)

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 15 Ainsley’s Pages ROCKS AND OCEAN “I chose this photo because I like the ocean and how it crashes on the rocks” Ainsley’s Photo Selection: THE ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE by Ainsley One day, three friends—Bob, Anna, and Adam— went out for a walk. During their walk, they saw a lighthouse they had never seen before. They decided to get a closer look. The lighthouse was abandoned. Bob said, “Let’s go home.” Anna, with a sense of adventure, said, “No, let’s get closer.” So they got cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 16 Ainsley’s Pages (continued) closer. As they approached, Adam looked at the lighthouse and said in a creeped-out voice, “That looks so… fascinating.” “Okay then, let’s go inside,” said Anna. “Yeah, let’s go and check it out,” said Bob. They crossed the rotting wooden bridge and followed the path to the lighthouse. Being very brave, Adam opened the door and stepped inside. He looked around and saw some of the old mercury on the walls. The windows were shattered, and the cold wind was blowing through their clothes. Adam went up the first ten steps, knowing some of them were broken. When he got to the top, it looked like the lighthouse had caught fire many years ago. As Adam started to come dangerously close to falling down the stairs, he tripped and missed a step. He tumbled but recovered nicely. As they were walking home, they stopped at a juice store. When they walked in, they didn’t see the cashier. They wondered where they were. As they left the juice store, they saw a spot of blood on the door. They walked home together and went to bed. The next day, they went back to the old abandoned lighthouse. Anna went up this time. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!” Anna screamed! She rushed down the stairs and ran out the door. She hid herself in a big pile of leaves. Bob was determined to know what Anna saw, so he went up all 30 steps. By the time he got to the top, he saw right in front of him the dead body of the cashier from the juice store. The first thing that came to Bob’s mind was how did the body get to the top of the lighthouse and why? They brought the cashier’s body down the stairs and put it in their car. Since Anna was 18 years old, she could drive the car. They brought the body to the morgue, and the people there got right to work. Anna told the morgue’s boss that it was the cashier’s body from the juice store and that they had found the body in the lighthouse suspiciously because of the blood back at the store. The next day, the three of them walked by the juice store again and saw the cops all working hard trying to figure out the case. They went inTHE ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE (cont.) cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 17 side the juice store to see how they were doing. The cops cleaned up the blood, but as they were cleaning, they saw the glass on the door behind the blood was broken. One of the cops, named Elizabeth, was wondering if they would show them where they had found the body. As they were going to the lighthouse, the four of them saw a knife on the side of the road. Anna pulled over and got out. “Do you have a plastic bag?” Anna asked Elizabeth. “Yes, I do have a plastic bag!” Elizabeth said helpfully. Anna picked up the knife and put it in the bag. As they approached the lighthouse, Elizabeth insisted that they come with her. “I don’t know,” Bob said in a scared voice. “Come on, Bob!” Adam demanded. “But I do not want to go,” Bob said. “STOP FIGHTING!!!” Anna yelled. Bob and Adam froze. They drove down the path, and Bob, Elizabeth, and Adam screamed, “PULL OVER, ANNA,” and she hit the brakes. “THE BUSHES ARE MOVING!” Elizabeth said in fear. “Stay in the car,” Anna said as she Ainsley’s Pages (continued) THE ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE (cont.) was getting out. When she got close to the bushes, they stopped moving. Anna parted the bushes as quickly as she could and saw the foot of a human dashing further into the bushes. Anna ran back to the car. She buckled up and drove into the bushes. The person running had a big rip in their shirt and blood stains all over their pants. Anna always brought a rope in the car in case of an emergency. She grabbed the rope and tied it in a slip knot. Anna swung the rope around and tossed it out the window. The rope almost missed, but it went around the man. Anna slammed the brakes once again and called the cops. When the cops arrived, Elizabeth said, “We have been looking for him ever since the lighthouse caught on fire. I don’t know how we can repay you.” Anna smiled and came up with a good idea, “Maybe you can make all three of us detectives.” Elizabeth smiled and said, “Sure, after you all finish school, come back and see me.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 18 Avery’s Pages THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE “I chose this photo because it looks really cool from that view.” Avery’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 19 Avery’sPages (continued) THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE by Avery Once there was a girl named Sofie. Sometimes she and her family would go to a beach at Whiffin Spit. It might be the best beach ever! Well, not the best beach ever. The best beach ever is Parksville Beach. Oh, we’re getting off track here. Some mornings, she would wake up and ask her mom, “Are we going to the beach?” Sometimes her mom would say “yes” and sometimes “no.” But today, her mom said “yes.” “Yay!” said Sofie. So they ate breakfast—it was eggs and bacon—then they got dressed and went to the beach. It was windy there. Well, it’s always windy there. To Sofie’s mom’s surprise, Sofie really wanted to go inside the lighthouse. “Why can’t we go inside the lighthouse?” said Sofie. “Just because,” said her mom with a stressed look on her face. “Just tell me why can’t I go inside?” “Okay, I’ll tell you. Legend says the lighthouse is haunted. There are ghost kids in there, and if people go in, they never come out,” Sofie’s mom said. “Oh, so that’s why... so can I go inside?” “No,” said Sofie’s mom. “Aww,” said Sofie. So they kept walking and reached the lighthouse. But suddenly there was fog. They heard strange crying in the distance. “What was that?” said Sofie. “I don’t know,” said Sofie’s mom. “Let’s just go home.” So they turned around, but there was fog. Lots of it. They couldn’t see anything. Then they heard someone scream. It was really loud and it was coming from the lighthouse. So they ran. Sofie tripped and started to cry. “I just want to go home.” She picked herself up and looked around for her parents, but they were nowhere to be found. “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!” screamed Sofie. She heard someone talking, and it sounded like it was cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 20 Avery’sPages (continued) THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE (cont.) talking to her. It said, “GO AWAY!” but it kind of sounded like three people. Sofie started to walk away very slowly. The sound got closer and closer. Then Sofie heard her parents, and it was coming from the lighthouse. They said, “Let us out of here!” And then there was silence. But then there was faint laughing. Sofie said, “I have to find my parents, so I guess I’m going inside.” She packed her bag, which was full of her parents’ junk. “What if my parents never come back,” Sofie thought. “Well, I’m going in.” Sofie was very scared. She walked through the door, went up the stairs, and went all the way to the top. When she finally got to the top, there was nothing. She was so upset because she thought she would find her parents. But then she looked around and found an old closet in the corner. She heard something coming from the closet. “There must be something in my bag,” Sofie said. She looked in her bag and found a rope. “Maybe I could use the rope to open the door from far away.” She tied one end of the rope to her hand and the other to the door, and she hid behind a chair just in case. She pulled the rope as slowly as she could. The closet started to open. Sofie was very scared. When it opened, Sofie felt a gust of wind go through her. Then she heard whispering, and it was coming from behind her. She looked behind her and... there was nothing. “Sigh,” she said sadly. But that was just the beginning. The window started to open for no reason at all. “What the heck is going on?” said Sofie. “This is really weird. I’m gonna go,” Sofie said. But she really wanted to find her parents. She also wanted to go to the juice store because she wanted to get the new pineapple coconut kind. But her parents were more important than a new delicious, yummy pineapple coconut juice. Just as Sofie suspected, coming out of the mirror was ice. Then what she saw in the mirror was her parents! Sofie started to cry, but they were happy tears. Sofie had to find a way to break the glass, or else her parents would be stuck in there forcont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 21 Avery’sPages (continued) THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE (cont.) ever. Then she found a hammer in her bag. “Why the heck would my parents pack a hammer in my bag?” I know you guys are never expecting this, but she smashed the glass open. Her parents came out and said, “Do you have some hot cocoa that we can drink because we’re kind of freezing cold?” said Sofie’s parents. “MOM! DAD!” said Sofie. “Oh, Sofie, we are so, so sorry,” said Sofie’s parents. “I love you guys so much,” said Sofie. They ran down the lighthouse and walked out the door. Then Sofie’s mom said, “Hey, since you’ve been such a good daughter and saved our lives, why don’t we go to the juice store? I heard they got a new pineapple coconut kind.” “Thanks, Mom. You are the best! You too, Dad,” Sofie said. So they walked down to the juice store, got their pineapple coconut juice, and they lived happily ever after.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 22 Cecelia’s Pages THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE “I chose this photo because I think that the lighthouse is so pretty and it looks better old.” Cecelia’s Photo Selection: THE HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE by Cecelia Once in 1989, two boys went missing after visiting a lighthouse. They were never found, but two other boys are going to try to uncover the mystery. The first boy is named Max, and the other is Owen. They are best friends and have been since they were three. Max is a rebellious kid who doesn’t do schoolwork and sneaks out. Owen is the opposite; he’s a good kid who does well in school. cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 23 Cecelia’s Pages (continued) On a Sunday, Max heard from one of his friends about an abandoned lighthouse. The story was that two boys died and haunt the place. Max really wanted Owen to join him, but Owen disliked such adventures and said no. Max begged until Owen agreed. When Owen finally said yes, he decided to research to ensure it was safe. That’s when they came across an article about the boys who went missing. They felt devastated. It was saying that when the police went to find the boys they weren’t even there. So, after many years, they just gave up. Owen freaked out. Max suggested they try to find out what happened. Reluctantly, Owen agreed but admitted he was scared. Max proposed they go that night. So, they snuck out after dark. The lighthouse was red and white and it was rusting. They saw a light shining from the top of the lighthouse. It felt like they were being pushed away. Max noticed the fear in Owen’s eyes, and Owen wanted to turn back. But Max changed Owen’s mind. So they entered and heard banging noises. Max screamed, and the banging stopped. The boys climbed to the top and saw something that looked like a shadow. Owen yelled, “Who’s there?” and they heard voices coming from a closet, saying, “My name is Chris, and my name is John.” Unsure what to do, Max asked if they were the boys who went missing. They replied yes, explaining that the lighthouse keeper had locked them in a closet and they had died there. Owen expressed his sorrow. Chris explained that when the police came, they were long dead, and the officers never checked the closet they were in, so they just never got found. When Max and Owen returned home, they tried to tell the police. But a lot of people had come and said we found the boys, and they were all fakes, so the police didn’t believe them. So they obtained the parents’ phone numbers. They told the parents they were exploring the lighthouse and the ghosts of the boys had spoken to them. The parents would do anything to talk to their kids again. So they all went and talked to the ghost children. The kids explained what happened, and the parents felt terribly saddened. After that happened the parents said that the case was closed. And that’s the story of the haunted lighthouse! THE HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE (cont.)

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 24 Dmitry’s Pages ROCKY BEACH “I liked this photo because it looked nice and there was a rock that looked like a crocodile. I chose it for the same reason.” Dmitry’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 25 Dmitry’s Pages (continued) THE ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE by Dmitry One day, two miles away from the abandoned lighthouse, a man named Larry was curious to see what was inside. There was a legend about a ghost inside the abandoned lighthouse. The surrounding area was full of tall trees and ocean. Larry was a very curious and brave man. He had countless adventures before this one, such as exploring a temple in the middle of a jungle and a scuba diving quest to retrieve a golden ball. He would do anything to get to that lighthouse. So, he called up his friend Bob to ask if he could use his boat. Bob was a very nice and forgiving man, and Larry had known Bob his whole life. “Hello?” Larry said. “Hi, Larry! Why did you call me?” Bob asked. “I was wondering if I could use your boat,” said Larry. “Sure! Why do you need it?” questioned Bob. “I want to visit an abandoned lighthouse,” said Larry. “Okay. But my boat has a small hole in it,” answered Bob. “That’s fine,” said Larry. “Okay, I’ll bring it over,” said Bob. “Thanks!” said Larry. (Beep!) The call ended. Twenty minutes later, Bob showed up with the boat behind his truck. “Honk honk!” honked Bob’s truck. “Thanks again!” said Larry. “No problem,” Bob replied as he backed out of the driveway. “Let’s get this baby on the water!” Larry thought to himself. “But first, I have to bring it to the repair shop, just in case,” Larry thought. He was headed to the repair shop when suddenly an enormous truck was coming straight at Larry! Larry had no time to react, so… CRASH!! The next thing Larry remembered was being in the hospital. He saw doctors and nurses all around him. “He’s alive!” said a nurse. Bob was surprised. Bob thought Larry had alcont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 26 Dmitry’s Pages (continued) THE ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE (cont.) ready passed. “Larry?” said Bob with a sad voice. “Hi Bob!” Larry exclaimed. “Why are you crying?” asked Larry. “I thought you were dead!” said Bob. “I’m fine,” said Larry. The nurse said he would have to spend two more weeks in the hospital. Sad and tired, Larry stayed put. He was still determined to go on this adventure. When he got home, Bob told him what happened. “You crashed into a giant truck!” said Bob. “I-I did?” said Larry in a confused voice. “Yes! You did!” exclaimed Bob. “Okay. I’m off to that lighthouse now!” said Larry. “Okay, but be careful,” said Bob in a worried tone. “Okay! Hopefully a ghost doesn’t take me,” Larry joked. Bob laughed. As Larry was heading to the beach, he thought he was forgetting something. “I didn’t forget anything!” Larry said in a confident voice. But maybe he shouldn’t have been so confident. Once he made it to the beach, it was very foggy. He brought his boat onto the water and jumped on. Once he was out of sight, he heard an eerie sound. His boat was flooding! Larry was never seen again. If you paid close attention to the story, Larry never made it to the repair shop. Scuba divers went out looking for his boat. They found it with a human skeleton inside, solving the one-day mystery.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 27 Duncan’s Pages NICE SKY “I chose this photo because it’s a nice and calm sky, and the grass is a good colour.” Duncan’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 28 Duncan’s Pages (continued) LIGHTHOUSE GEMS by Duncan Tom loves exploring abandoned places. So, when he told his girlfriend, Rose, who hates to come with him, that he planned to visit a lighthouse, she was not thrilled. Nonetheless, they packed their stuff and reached the end of the road where Tom said they needed to walk. The lighthouse they arrived at was covered in vines, with broken walls and trees surrounding it. Rose was scared. Inside, it was dark, but Tom had a flashlight. When he went in, a wall fell down. It scared him. He spotted a staircase and descended. At the bottom, he found a room full of gems. He was shocked to see so many gems. He hurried back up and asked Rose, “Do we have a bag?” Rose replied, “Yes, we do.” Pleased, Tom took the bag, ran back down to the room, and filled it with as many gems as he could carry. When he returned to Rose, she asked happily, “Where did you find those?” Tom explained, “They were in a room in the basement.” Rose exclaimed, “We’re rich!” They went online and sold the gems. He had a feeling that he didn’t know why the gems were in the basement. He said to himself, “It’s ok.” Later, he made $50,000. Tom was happy about the money, and they bought a new iPhone. Later, while Tom was playing Hell Divers, he received a phone call. Picking up, he heard the caller say, “We know you have the gems.” Tom responded worriedly, “I don’t have any gems. I sold them.” The caller asked, “Why did you sell them?” Tom replied, “I needed the money.” The caller then revealed, “Those were my granddad’s gems.” Tom said, “There’s nothing I can do.” The caller instructed, “Meet me at this place at 8:30 PM.” Tom agreed and went to the designated spot. There, he was shocked to find his brother. “Wait, it’s you,” Tom said, running to him. His brother replied, “Yes, it’s me. Those were granddad’s gems.” Tom said, “Well, we’re rich now.” His brother explained, “I was saving those in the lighthouse.” “Why in the lighthouse?” Tom asked. “He worked there. I’m sad that you sold those gems,” his brother answered. “Why are you sad?” Tom said. His brother said, “I was saving those for Grandma.” Tom said, “Oh, I did not know that. If I did, I would not have sold them.” His brother said, “Well, some things come and go.” Tom said, “I have to go now. Bye.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 29 Emmet’s Pages Emmet’s Photo Selection: THE ROCKY SHORE “I chose this photo because it is so beautiful.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 30 Emmet’s Pages (continued) THE DEATH AT THE LIGHTHOUSE by Emmet One day in 2007, two boys went to a lighthouse. The first boy, named Crisi, is 24 years old. And is super athletic and strong. He is a good leader. His favorite sport is US football. He is super good at it. And Joey is super good looking. He is 19 years old. He is handsome. And he is strong too. He is not the smartest person. That is the nice way of saying it. Joey is not in sports like Crisi. One day Crisi and Joey decided to go to a hotel that was close to a lighthouse. They were going to stay at the hotel, and they’d go to the lighthouse at night. When they got in the hotel, they were talking to each other. Then they got stopped by a girl. The girl started talking. “You two are going to the lighthouse next to the hotel?” She was correct. The girl’s name is Sara. She is 21. And super smart. She is smarter than Crisi and Joey. Sara likes to correct people. And she loves art. And telling stories. She is here for the summer. She is here to draw the lighthouse. But she decided to go to the lighthouse with the two boys. Crisi started talking to Sara. Sara is going to go to the store to get some ghost equipment. Sara got to the hotel from the store, at 8:23 pm, and before they left they were talking again. We decided to go to the lighthouse and look at the place, and then leave. And that was all we were going to do. So we left at 11:41. We are trying to get to the lighthouse at 12:00 to 12:10. It is 17 to 20 minutes to get there. We got there at 12:07pm. We got there when we wanted to. So we went in the lighthouse. But we heard footsteps. It was a boy, who looked 12 to 15. Sara said “Tom, why are you here?” Crisi and Joey were confused. Crisi said to Sara “Who is that?” “That is my brother.” “What is his name?” “His name is Tom.” Tom was wearing headphones and he had red hair. And he did not say that much. “Why is cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 31 he here?” “I don’t know.” I was confused. She was also confused. We went in the lighthouse. We looked at the lighthouse. We looked in the lighthouse. When we were looking in the lighthouse, we heard Tom scream. We ran to the screaming. Tom was on the floor at the bottom of the lighthouse, he was dead. Sara screamed super loud and we saw a black figure staring at us. The black figure started to run away. Crisi ran after the black figure. Crisi got tired so he stopped running. Then the black figure was slowly waking to us. We ran to the hotel. We got to the hotel in 8 minutes and 12 seconds and we were all tired. Crisi and Joey were carrying Tom. When Joey and Crisi walked in their room, there was a black figure in their room. Joey and Crisi were never the same again. When the police came, there was blood all over the room. Crisi survived. He was super bloody. He did not remember anything. Sara died 2 years after in a car accident. The lighthouse got torn down 4 years after. Emmet’s Pages (continued) THE DEATH AT THE LIGHTHOUSE (cont.)

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 32 Gena’s Pages FLOWER TOWER “I like this photo because it’s a beautiful scene.” Gena’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 33 Gena’s Pages (continued) THE MYSTERY OF THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER by Gena One day, Nick was out looking for a job in the little village by the ocean where he had lived since he was a boy. When he was a boy, he went to a beach for the first time ever. Since then he’s loved his village and the ocean there, but jobs were scarce. He visited his local bakery, hopeful because his best friend worked there. Nick and his friend had been close since childhood, sharing a love for the ocean and animals. He and his friend have so many memories but nothing compares to the time they excitedly shared a new idea about a type of bread priced at ten dollars a piece. “That’s wonderful,” Nick said, and then asked if there were any job openings at the bakery. Regretfully, his friend informed him that all positions were filled. As Nick turned to leave, his friend mentioned a new opportunity. He knew someone who needed a lighthouse keeper. Initially reluctant, Nick considered the role since he needed the money. He drove to the lighthouse, where an old man with gray and light blue eyes greeted him. The old man smelled of fish and seaweed, and the lighthouse was rusted, smelling like an old library. After a tour, Nick accepted the job and went home to pack his essentials—a flashlight, sleeping bag, food, and water. Upon returning, Nick set up his belongings and waited for sunset. When night fell, he climbed the ladder and turned on the light. As he adjusted it slightly to the right, he jumped back in shock—a ghost was staring right at him! The ghost approached, chanting, “I am the old lighthouse keeper.” Terrified, Nick scrambled down the ladder and hid in his sleeping bag for the rest of the night. In the morning, Nick grabbed his phone and looked up the old lighthouse keeper. His face turned pale as he read about the keeper who had died in the lighthouse in 1888 from a heart attack. Overwhelmed by fear but driven by curiosity about the history and the cause of the heart attack, Nick decided to stay at least for a week to learn more, and to earn enough to cover his groceries and rent. The End.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 34 Grier’s Pages Grier’s Photo Selection: PINECONE “I chose this photo of a pinecone because it’s a beautiful pinecone.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 35 Grier’s Pages (continued) Grier was not able to join us in writing a story for this project, so we’ve included a couple more of their photographs

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 36 Hayden’s Pages THE CORNY SEA “I chose this photo because I think the sea is beautiful. It’s also corny.” Hayden’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 37 THE MYTHICAL GEM THAT CREATED TWO HOCKEY LEGENDS by Hayden Hayden’s Pages (continued) A time long ago there was a mythical gem hidden in a Lighthouse in the middle of the sea. The gem had the power to make anything you Desire. There were two 10 year olds who loved to play hockey, but there were no facilities for them to play. Then, in the news, the two 10 year olds saw a mythical gem that could create anything you desire. So then they got an idea to embark on a grand adventure to find the mythical gem so they could play hockey. The two boys – Hayden and Kane – stole their moms’ credit cards so they could go to the airport. Kane and Hayden took a taxi to the airport. Then they looked for a flight that went to Montreal, because that was by the Atlantic Ocean where the lighthouse with the gem was. But there were no flights to Montreal, so they started looking for a flight to Toronto, Ontario. Hayden said “Look, there’s a really cheap flight to Toronto right there at gate 69. Let’s go there.” The tickets were 80 bucks each. When they boarded on their flight, they took up their phones and put them into airplane mode. They played a little bit of two-player games and got off their phones. Before they knew it, they were off the plane and they were in Toronto. So they decided to go to check out the CN Tower. When they were done checking out the CN Tower, they went to the airport and flew to the UK. Kane and Hayden rented a car. They came across this bridge, but they did not know it was opening. They went on it and then it started opening as they went over they fell into the water. cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 38 Hayden’s Pages (continued) THE MYTHICAL GEM THAT CREATED TWO HOCKEY LEGENDS (cont.) Luckily there was a boat under them so they fell into the boat. They asked the boat driver where he was going. He ended up going to some islands in the Atlantic Ocean near where we needed to go to find the lighthouse. The further they got out, the more waves there were. But it was cool. There were giant octopus and there were cool fish and stuff. They even got to see some dolphins. In 2 days, they finally arrived. It seemed like the Island was inhabited. Goblins, maybe even aliens. They explored the island. They were lucky, because there was tons of coconuts fruit and food to eat on the Island. Kane and Hayden found a small Temple. Then they heard some footsteps. Hayden and Kane grabbed some stones and sticks to protect them. Then an arrow flew right in front of Hayden. And some Barbarian archers popped out of the bushes. Then they said “Who are you?” “We are travelers and we come in peace,” Hayden and Kane replied. The Barbarian archers led them to their camp, and when they got there, there were tons of cannons and defenses. They saw a leather worker. He came up close to them and crouched down and was looking at Hayden’s shoes. Everyone gathered around. “JORDANS!!!” the leather worker exclaimed. They said that because he had Jordans they would take him anywhere he wanted. And Kane. And both “The mysterious lighthouse!” They cast a spell that teleported both of them to the mysterious lighthouse. When they got to the mysterious lighthouse, they started looking for the gem. 7 hours in, at 6:00 pm, Kane saw a glow at the top of the lighthouse. Hayden and Kane went to the top of the lighthouse. THE END

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 39 Holly’s Pages THE BLUE SEA “I chose this photo because it looks magical.” Holly’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 40 Holly’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE OCEAN by Holly One day, two girls were hanging out during summer break. They had been best friends since the fifth grade. One of them, Emma, was 15 years old. She was a sweet girl who hated dark places and loved the color light pink. She hated bugs, especially spiders. Emma had blonde hair and loved her best friend, Ella. Ella was the opposite. She was a rule breaker who loved dark places. Her favorite color was dark red. She also hated spiders and bugs. Ella had brown hair but had dyed it dark red. She had just had her 16th birthday. Emma and Ella were having a sleepover when Emma said, “I’m so bored.” “Same,” said Ella. They were thinking of what to do when Ella had an idea. “Let’s go to the beach!” “The beach?” asked Emma. “Yeah, the one with that cool painting,” said Ella. “Okay,” said Emma. “We should invite Chad,” said Ella. Emma agreed. Chad was their friend. They had met him in their first year of middle school, which was grade six. Chad had dark brown hair, and his favorite color was green. He was really scared of beetles, had brown eyes, and played soccer. He was the best on his team and played defense. Ella called Chad and invited him. He said yes, and they all met up in front of Ella’s house. They took the bus there. When they arrived, they started walking down the steps to the beach. When they finally got down, they found a nice sandy spot and put down their stuff. They all walked over to the painting on the gravel. They were standing on top of it when Chad said, “What is that? It looks like a button,” said Ella. “It does,” said Emma. “I’m going to press it,” said Chad. “No!” said Ella. “Too late!” said Chad. The three of them heard a deep voice say, “3, 2, 1!” Then they heard a loud crash under them. When they looked down, the ground opened in half. “RUN!” said Emma. “I’m trying!” said Ella. The three of them ran, but they weren’t fast enough. The ground opened more and more until they fell. Emma screamed, Chad yelled, “Nooo,” and Ella cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 41 screamed. They kept screaming until they felt their feet touch the ground. “What just happened?!” said Ella. “I don’t know,” said Chad and Emma. The three of them walked around when Chad said, “Look, I think that’s a door.” “Wow, it is,” said Ella. “Let’s go in,” said Chad. Ella and Emma agreed. They walked inside the door and saw a lighthouse. “Let’s go in!” said Ella. The three of them went inside. “SPIDER!” screamed Emma. The girls screamed, but Chad picked it up and squished it. “Thank you!” said Emma. Inside, it was surrounded by water, but there was glass around it so you could see into the ocean. “LOOK, A SHARK!” said Emma. “Cool,” said Ella and Chad. Emma screamed and climbed up the stairs. Ella and Chad laughed and followed behind her. When they got to the top, they looked at the big light. “I’ve always wanted to see one of these,” said Chad. Ella and Emma laughed and looked around more. While they were exploring, they found a little room. Chad opened the door. “HELLO!” echoed in the room. “Ahhh!” said Chad. “What is it?” asked Ella and Emma. “We’re not the only ones here,” said Chad. “What?” said Ella. “There’s a guy in here,” said Chad. “Wait, I’m coming. Don’t move,” said Ella. “THERE IS!” said Ella. The girls screamed when the guy came out and said, “Don’t worry, guys. I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve been stuck in here for five hours.” They asked what his name was, and he said, “I’m Lil Timmy. I’m 11 years old.” He had a white beard, crusty white hair, dirty clothes with holes in them, dirty rain boots, and smelled like fish. “He doesn’t look very little,” said Chad. “CHAD!” said Emma. “What?” said Chad. Ella laughed. “I remember a kid in our town named Timmy, but everyone called him Lil Timmy,” she said. “He also went missing 49 years ago and wasn’t seen since. I never got to meet him, though, because he went missing before I was even born.” “I think it’s Lil Timmy,” said Chad. “Me too,” said the girls. “How long have you actually been Holly’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE OCEAN (cont.) cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 42 here?” asked Ella. “Five hours,” said Timmy. “Not too long ago, I walked here and got trapped in this room. Thanks for saving me.” “Should we tell him?” asked Chad. “Yes,” said the girls. “Lil Timmy, you have been here for 49 years. Look in the mirror,” said Emma. Ella handed him her phone with the camera on and said, “Look.” Lil Timmy shrieked, “I’M OLD!” “Yes, you are,” said Chad. “Let’s go back,” said Emma. They walked down the steps with Lil Timmy and went to the place where they fell down. “Oh no!” said Emma. “How do we get back up?” asked Ella. “I have an idea!” said Chad. “And what is that?” asked Ella. “See that rope?” said Chad. “Yeah?” said Ella. “I’ll climb it!” said Chad. “Chad, are you crazy?” asked Ella. “No, I’m smart,” said Chad. “I’ll throw it up there.” “It’s worth a try,” said Lil Timmy. Chad threw the rope up, but it didn’t do anything. “Why don’t we just call someone?” said Emma. “Okay,” said Ella. “I’ll call my mom.” Ella called her mom, and she answered. Ella explained everything. “I’m on my way,” said her mom. “Okay, thanks,” said Ella. “My mom’s coming,” said Ella. “Okay,” said the others. Fifteen minutes later, her mom arrived. She looked down the hole. “HELLO!” said Ella’s mom. “MOM!” said Ella. “I’m here, Ella, and I see a rope. I’ll put it down the hole,” said Ella’s mom. “Okay,” said Ella. Her mom put the rope down. “Ready?” said Ella’s mom. “Yes,” screamed back Ella. “Okay, I’m climbing up,” said Ella. “Okay,” said her mom. The rope was very thick, but it hurt her hands. She climbed higher and higher until she finally got to the top. She hugged her mom. “Thank you, Mom,” said Ella. “No problem. But how did this happen?” “It’s a long story. I’ll explain later,” said Ella. “Let’s help up Emma.” “Okay,” said her mom. Twenty minutes later, they all got up. “Let’s go to the car,” said her mom. When they got there, Ella explained the whole thing. Her mom was shocked when she heard about Lil Timmy. “I know where his parents live. I’ll drop you off, Lil Timmy,” said Ella’s mom. When they got to his house, they all knocked on the door. A loud rolling sound came toward the door. Lil Timmy was so Holly’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE OCEAN (cont.) cont...

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 43 nervous when a loud rolling sound came toward the door. Lil Timmy was so nervous when the door creaked open, and a woman in a wheelchair appeared. “TIMMY!” she cried. “I’ve missed you! Where have you been?!” “I’ll explain later,” said Lil Timmy, overwhelmed with emotion. “Thank you for bringing him back,” said his mom. “No problem,” said Ella’s mom. “You can drop me off here,” said Chad. “Okay,” said Ella’s mom. Chad got out of the car and walked home. Ella’s mom then drove Ella and Emma back to their house to continue their sleepover. They hung out for the rest of the night and eventually went to bed, still buzzing from their incredible adventure. The next morning, Ella and Emma woke up early, still talking about their escapade. They decided to write everything down in a journal to remember every detail. They included the mysterious lighthouse, the secret door, and the unexpected discovery of Lil Timmy. They laughed about how they had managed to save both Lil Timmy and the seals, feeling proud of their bravery and teamwork. At school, they shared their adventure with their classmates, who were both amazed and skeptical. Some couldn’t believe such an extraordinary tale, while others were eager to visit the beach themselves. Ella and Emma smiled, knowing that their adventure had strengthened their bond and created memories that would last a lifetime. As they grew older, they often looked back on that summer with fondness, remembering the day they discovered a hidden world beneath their feet. The lighthouse in the ocean became a symbol of their friendship and the magic of childhood adventures. And so, the story of the lighthouse, the hidden treasure, and the rescue of Lil Timmy became a legend among their friends, a tale that was passed down and retold with each new generation, reminding everyone of the power of friendship, bravery, and the unexpected wonders that life can bring. The End. Holly’s Pages (continued) THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE OCEAN (cont.)

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 44 Jacob’s Pages THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE “I chose this photo because the editing makes it look old, and cool.” Jacob’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 45 Jacob’s Pages (continued) THE YEAR 3040 by Jacob It’s the year 3040, and mankind has since ceased to exist. The only thing left to represent humanity is a robot. Feeling something known as boredom, the robot embarks on adventures, experiencing all the many events of the world, reliving the moments that mankind wanted to forget and those they did not. Now the robot has reached the year 2000, experiencing the events of that year in order. The first event is the death and somewhat rebirth of the owner of a very old lighthouse that was part of the history of the surrounding area. The owner of the lighthouse was named Aden Ako. He was 53 when he died (not so sadly) on Monday, April 24, 1975. He was in a plane when it got shot down. He attempted to jump out, but it didn’t go so well. He was honored at the lighthouse where he worked and spent most of his days. Thirty minutes after the memorial ended, a girl appeared wearing a large backpack. She walked up to the gravestone, not somber but also not happy or angry. Once she reached it, she said something that the robot failed to understand. She said, “I’m sorry for what I did to you, but I had to protect him. He’s worth everything to me. Without him, my life would be so much more miserable. I don’t know what I would do without him. So, one more time, I’m sorry.” She did not start to cry. Instead, she pulled something out of her jacket. “Pistol!” yelled a man sitting on a bench. The man looked utterly terrified, his mouth gaping wide open. He stood up and started running at top speed. The girl turned around quickly and said, “,” as she started frantically packing everything into her backpack. “, ****, ****, ****, ****,” she muttered as she hurriedly tried to gather her belongings. .......

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 46 Kai’s Pages THE MINIATURE JUNGLE “I chose this photo because it looks like a jungle.” Kai’s Photo Selection:

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 47 THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE FOREST by Kai Kai’s Pages (continued) CHAPTER ONE: THE FIRST ENCOUNTER My name is Bob. I’m 11 years old. I love to ski and mountain bike. Yesterday at school, my class went to the pound forest. Me and most of the class played man tracker. Me and my best friend Jim were working together, and we won. Today, I’m exploring the forest right by my house. Me and Jim built a big fort deep in the forest. I’m going beyond our fort and exploring what else is deeper in the forest. I walked far into the forest before I realized I was lost. I started to get worried. I walked about ten steps from where I came, after my last step, and I only did a loop back. I started to panic. Then I saw a lighthouse, I was confused. I walked closer. Every step I took it looked clearer and clearer. I walked until I was only five steps away and then it vanished, like it was never there. I looked behind me and there was the exit of the forest. CHAPTER TWO I could not sleep, I was too busy trying to figure out what to tell Jim. Finally, I decided to give up and figure out what to say tomorrow. The next day I told Jim all about what happened in the forest, I told him about the lighthouse, how it just vanished out of sight and then the exit was just there behind me. Jim didn’t believe me at first, but I ended up convincing him in the end. We decided that Jim would come to my house after school to see if the lighthouse was there. Me and Jim talked about the lighthouse all day. Now it’s the end of the day, and me and Jim can explore the forest. I led Jim all the way to where the lighthouse was. It was there right in the same spot. I told Jim not to move but it was too late. Jim was already right by it and it vanished just like last time. This time there was a piece of paper right where it used to be. I ran over and picked up the piece of paper it said it “If you come here more than four times you will die.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 48 Kane’s Pages Kane’s Photo Selection: THE LIGHTHOUSE “I chose this photo because it looks cool from this angle and I like the history of the lighthouse.”

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 49 THE LIGHTHOUSE GNOME by Kane Kane’s Pages (continued) The lighthouse gnome was a new man: he had a job, a wife, and two kids named Ronnie and Jackson. They lived under the lighthouse in Sheringham. One day, the gnome wasn’t feeling normal. Then suddenly, he got out of bed and noticed that his wife and kids weren’t there. There was a note: “I’m the kidnapper of your wife and kids, and unfortunately, you won’t be seeing your wife and kids ever again.” The lighthouse gnome was freaked out, his heart beating really fast. He was sweating a lot, so he tried to come up with a plan. He remembered a former associate from his days working at a store who turned out to be a kidnapper—it was all over the news. They had actually been really good friends. Ever since the Lighthouse Gnome got married, his friend got jealous, because she actually liked him —that’s the backstory — and he also knew where she lived. So, he took his car and drove an eight-hour drive to save his family. But by the time he reached the kidnapper’s house, she had already left on a five-hour plane ride to Toronto. When the gnome discovered that they weren’t at the house, he was so stressed out that he couldn’t think clearly. Then it struck him — they would always go to Toronto. He rushed back to his house, grabbed his passport, packed his bag, and headed to the airport, but almost missed his flight. He remembered they used to stay at a hotel in the center of Toronto, so he went there and found the room. The kidnapper was in the room with the gnome’s family. When he found the room, he grabbed his family, led them out, and warned “Don’t touch my family ever again.” His wife said “Oh, I’m so happy to see you.” Ronnie and Jackson said “We love you, Dad,” with tears dropping down their faces. “I’m so happy to reunite with you,” said the wife. And one day, they were watching the news, and it said a girl named Charlotte was arrested for kidnapping and would be in jail for three years.

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Page 50 Katana’s Pages THE LIGHTHOUSE “I like this photo because it’s a pretty pic with the lighthouse and trees.” Katana’s Photo Selection: THE THREE LANDS by Katana Once there were three lands. The first one with wizards and witches. They all lived in a huge castle, which was actually a school named Hogwarts. The second land was in the sea, filled with mermaids and sirens. And the last, but not least, had meadows full of creatures called Pokemon. All of the lands got together in harmony. Until one day, there was a big fight against all of the lands. Nobody knows what caused the fight but the King/ cont...