like. Fellow eighth grader Lauren Clewes pointed out, Everything is familiar; I know [my elementary school] like the back of my hand. We know all of the teach- ers and they are committed to their students, said Kyle Day. Sadly, many of us have good friends who are not going to the same high school. You make bonds with people and its hard to leave them. Youre launching into a world of new people and places and its difficult to say goodbye to the old, said Kyra White. On the flipside, though, there are things about ele- mentary school we are glad to leave behind. Top of this list was when teachers treat- ed us like little kids and appeared not to trust us. By Grade 8 we are starting to feel grown up and ready for new challenges, responsibili- ties and independence. So now its time to move on to high school. But whats out there? A school colossal enough to get lost in? A sea of unfamiliar faces? More homework than weve ever had before? No one starting Grade 9 knows whats really going to happen. Well now be the youngest kids in the school and many people are nervous about getting lost in the completely unfamiliar and intimidating environment. There will also likely be peer pressure and sticky situ- ations. Im nervous about not fitting in and having a smaller social status, said Makhayla Balanquit. High school is not only about moving schools, but moving on in life. We turn from girls and boys into young women and men. While it may be challenging to say goodbye to elementary school friends, we will meet many new people. Im learning more about myself, said Meagan Wilson. High school is a great time to be true to ourselves and figure out who we really are. We need to be confident about our abilities so our lights can shine brightly. Once you start high school, Its not as scary as you think, said Laura Pilmoor, a recent White Oaks Secondary School graduate. You need to enter with an open mind. Well? Maybe, just maybe, high school won't be so scary but, as we secretly hope, will give us lots of experiences to learn, grow and have fun. TheSights.TheSounds.TheShops. www.oakvilledowntown.com Our ever famous Fall Festivalhas moved to a new date and time! SaturdayOctober15th 9:30am4:00pm in theTowneSquare Pancake Breakfast (9:30 - 11:00) Cornroast Pumpkin Decorating Face Painting Wagon Rides Hay Maze and Live Entertainment with Dan the Music Man for the kids andmuch, muchmore! R T ? A : www.oakvillehalfmarathon.com NEW FALLDATE!Sunday,September25th, 2011 ! "## " $% $& % %'" (( Experience is the Difference! E-MAIL: scott@gasfix.ca 905-845-0701 Gas Fireplace Repair We Service: CFM, DRU, GSW, Hunter, Insta-Flame, Valor, Napoleon, Regency, Majestic, Heat-N-Glo, Heatilator, Selkrik, GTI, Dovre, Pacific Energy, Town & Country Security, HearthStone, Montigo, Lennox, Temco, Kingsman, Polaris, Heritage, Drolet, Continental, Vermount Casting, Osbourne & many other brands. Sol iv ng Problems Since !82 European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass 905.849.0266 w w w .i n si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , S ep te m be r 16 , 2 01 1 2 4 By Hazel Garde Grade 9, White Oaks S.S. Nerve-racking excitement. That is what is etched on every adolescents face as they leave the familiarity of elemen- tary school and tackle the terrifying new journey ahead: high school. What does every eighth grader say in embarrassed trepidation when well-intentioned adults ask them how they feel about starting high school? Nervous excited scared Those are the typical answers, but are their words just skimming the surface of their reali- ty? I would know. I am living that reality right now. Having been sheltered at elemen- tary school for 10 years, we have no real clue what high school will be No need to be intimidated by high school