Sound the alarm

Round 17: March 2028

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 20.

(Sara is 19, Riley is 18 and Jesse is 15.)

Narrated by Emily

Frieda has been bugging us about throwing a party and this semester our schedules finally aligned enough that we actually could. We also wanted to welcome Riley to university so we decided to throw a joined birthday party for him and me. Throwing a party at a dorm is not exactly acceptable but people do it anyway because usually the RAs let it slide. We only invited Frieda's boyfriend Blake, Sara and Riley and also Frieda's nephew Todd and his girlfriend Skye. Mind you, Todd and Skye are only 16 but we figured our party would be tame enough for highschoolers. 

Happy now

Round 17: September 2027

Sara Midlock is 18.

(Emily and Frieda are 19.)

Narrated by Sara Midlock.

I feel like I'm more used to the gruelling schedule now than I was during my first semester. I used to be totally exhausted every night but I've worked out a system that works for me. After our midday practise I often come back to the dorm, get some lunch and take a nap.

Stargazing

Round 17: September 2027

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 19.

(Sara is 18.)

Narrated by Aaron.

I don't have any sisters so I wasn't really prepared to all the aspects of living with girls. I mean, I thought pillow fights only happened in movies but I've witnessed Emily and Frieda having pillow fights in their underwear at least twice. Whenever I catch them they just laugh and ask me to join them!

Heal

Round 17: March 2027

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 19.

(Tina is 39, Sara is 18, Tim is 6 and Michael is 3.)

Narrated by Frieda

I lost my dad just a few months ago. The hurt is still so raw that sometimes it feels like I can't breathe. Like I'm moving through a fog and I can't see anything. I don't know what I'd do without Aaron and Emily. They can understand what I'm going through so they know when to leave me alone or when to smother me with love. We're quite an unusual bunch of teenagers because we've all had so much grief in our lives. 

Kisses of fire

Round 16: September 2026

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 18.

(Alexandra is 52.)

Narrated by Aaron.

I've been trying very hard to concentrate on my studies but I'm very easily distracted with thoughts of Emily. It feels weird to feel this way about her because we've been friends for so long and she used to be my brother's girlfriend.

Born to run

Round 16: August 2026

Zach Whitfield is 22.

Narrated by Zach.

After four years of dorm life I really enjoy my own apartment and the privacy of it. Even if I'm not the greatest cook it's still great sitting down for breakfast or lunch and not having to listen to a bunch of insane dorm mates either getting into fights or flirting with each other or me.

Firework

Round 16: March 2026

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 18.

(Tina is 38.)

Narrated by Emily.

Aaron, Frieda and I managed to get into the same dorm and Frieda and I even share a room. It makes it easier to live with a bunch of strangers when there's two people I've known since I was a kid.

Happy Birthday, January 2026

Mia Greene turns 12 this year and is one of the three new students in Wellington High School. Mia is very family-oriented but she also has her sights set on a career as an artist.

Walk this way

Round 16: June 2025

Kurt Robinson is 69, Tina is 37, Frieda is 17, Tim is 4 and Michael is 1.

(Zach is 21 and Sara is 16.)

Narrated by Frieda.

Christian broke up with me last week. He's leaving to study abroad and he felt like there's no point in dragging out our relationship because he doesn't know when and if he's coming back. I know breaking up was the sensible thing to do but it still hurt. I never really expected us to stay together forever but he was my first boyfriend and this is my first break-up so it's going to take some time to get over it.

We rule the school, January 2025

Round 16: January 2025

Principal Nyah Marlowe and teacher Phoebe Lind.

Students: Frieda Robinson, Aaron Hayes and Emily Midlock are 17, Sara Midlock is 16, Riley Cooper is 15, Ross and Madelyn Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 14, Liam Cooper, Skye Marlowe, Todd Robinson and Iona Fielding are 13 and Jesse Midlock is 12.

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe.

We're finally getting a new high school this year. The construction workers are currently tearing down the old one so we're stuck with this temporary lot with a couple of barracks working as class rooms and other necessary buildings. It's not ideal but it would have been impossible to tear down the old building and get a new one up and running during the summer holiday. At least this way we'll hopefully get to start the autumn semester in a brand new school building.

Pumpkin soup

Round 15: April 2023


Kurt Robinson is 67, Tina is 35, Frieda is 15 and Tim is 2.
(Jack and Grace are 40.)

Narrated by Tina Robinson.

Frieda moved in to live with us last year and it hasn't gone as well as Kurt expected. He was thinking that his little girl is going to live with us but Frieda's not a little girl anymore. They mostly clash about school and her boyfriend. She's been getting quite poor grades lately and Kurt thinks it's all because of this boy.

Sonnet

Round 14: Summer 2022


Jack Robinson is 39, Paige is 38, Frieda is 14, Todd is 10 and Emma is 1.
(Sara is 13.)

Narrated by Frieda Robinson.

Most of my stuff is already in cardboard boxes since I'll be moving in with dad and Tina in a few weeks. They're buying new furniture for me so I'm leaving almost everything behind, taking only my personal stuff. This room will be Emma's room when she grows up a bit.

Somewhere only we know

Round 14: Autumn 2021


Kurt Robinson is 65, Tina is 33 and Tim is 11 months.
(Frieda is 13.)

Narrated by Kurt Robinson.

Tina's maternity leave ended about a month ago and she got back to working in the hospital. She usually gets Tim out of the crib the moment he wakes up so that she can spend at least some time with him in the morning.

We rule the school, Spring 2021

Round 14: Spring 2021

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 35 and Phoebe Lind is 27.
Students: Dawn and Zach Whitfield are 17, Josh Cooper, Lilly Fielding and Finn Harris are 16, Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 13 and Sara Midlock is 12.

Phoebe has 5 students in her class this year. She has gathered the kids into the library where they are researching the books for information.

Somebody to love

Round 13: Spring 2020


Kurt Robinson is 64, Jack is 37, Paige is 36, Frieda is 12 and Todd is 8.
(Grace is 37 and Tina is 32.)

Narrated by Kurt Robinson.

I've been secretly dating this wonderful young woman called Tina for about a year now. We first met years ago when she was a bartender in the restaurant where I work but we then lost touch for years. I met her again last year and we hit it off immediately.

Happy Birthday, Winter 2020

Alexa and Will Harper bring home their new born daughter Jena Caitlin. Their twin boys are excited to meet their little sister.

School days, Spring 2018

Round 12: Spring 2018

Principal Rianna Midlock is 48, Quinn Hayes is 42 and Patsy Greene is 27.
Students: Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 10, Sara Midlock is 9, Riley Cooper is 8, Madelyn and Ross Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 7, Iona Fielding, Skye Marlowe, Liam Cooper and Todd Robinson are 6, Jesse Midlock is 5, Jett and Kyra Marlowe and Mia Greene are 4.

The school has bought some digital cameras and Quinn's class is the first to try them out. Ethan and Frieda get to work right away while Emily gets some advice from Quinn.

I stand corrected

Round 12: Winter 2018


Sam Cooper is 40, Grace is 35, Ross and Madelyn are 7 and James is 2.

Narrated by Grace Cooper

We've been talking about getting a pet ever since we moved into this house. Initially Sam wanted to get a German Shepherd because he has worked with them in the military but I thought a smaller dog would be better. He finally gave in and we bought a Miniature Schnauzer male called Oscar.

It didn't take long before Oscar charmed Sam. The kids absolutely adore him and sometimes Madelyn and Ross even start fighting because they both want to play with him the moment they come home from school.

Running till the rainbow ends

Round 12: Winter 2018


Kurt Robinson is 62, Jack is 35, Paige is 34, Frieda is 10 and Todd is 6.

Narrated by Paige Robinson

Jack usually cleans the house after I've gone to work and the kids are off to school.

Is it like today?

Round 11: Autumn 2016

Principal Rianna Midlock is 46, Quinn Hayes is 40 and Patsy Greene is 25.
Students: Finn Harris, Lilly Fielding and Josh Cooper are 11, Frieda Robinson, Aaron and Ethan Hayes and Emily Midlock are 8, Sara Midlock is 7, Riley Cooper is 6, Jeremy Hayes and Madelyn and Ross Cooper are 5.

The school has gone through some renovations during the summer. There are new desks for all students, a new computer class room and more instruments for the music class room. Patsy teaches all kids from preschool to grade 2 and has 5 students this year. The girls are already waiting for the class to begin so Patsy tells them what to expect this year. The boys on the other hand have to be dragged to the class, they would much rather stay outside because it's so warm and sunny.