The day started off at 8:30 AM with the Grade 8 students pouring in and being greeted by enthusiastic Student Voice volunteers in bright green shirts at the main entrance. They were directed to the registration tables in the forum where they were given a name tag as well as a and sent to the gymnasium for the introductions and a presentation by the keynote speaker, Blake Fly. The contagious excitement was visible on each instructors’ faces which encouraged the Grade 8’s to break out of their shell, and socialize with other Grade 8’s as well as interacting with some welcoming high school students.
The gym bleacher slowly filled up with anxious Grade 8 students. After an introduction and warm welcome from the teachers and the principal, the wonderful Blake Fly came up to speak. He was a fabulous speaker, who knew exactly the right words to captivate and hold the eager audience. He talked about the importance of acceptance, socialization and kindness in today’s technology-dependent world. He also discussed the necessity of human interaction and methods to prevent bullying. He emphasized the point that a small act of kindness can go a very long way, and impact others lives greatly. He proposed an interesting, (and slightly stressful) challenge to the audience: “Greet and introduce yourself to at least 5 people today. Shake their hand, smile widely, and ask for their name. You do not realize this, but this simple action can completely change their lives and brighten their mood.” Many students accepted sportingly, and were seen interacting with students unfamiliar to them,spreading the positivity and smiles.
After the speech had finished, all students walked out of the gym doors with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. They were all lead by volunteers to the first major component of the day - wellbeing workshops. Some fun workshops included “Paws-itivity”, where the students played with several therapy dogs in the library (this workshop was by far the most popular and buzzing with exhilaration!), Meditation, and relaxing exercises such as colouring. Zumba was another workshop in the gym, which was packed with enlivened students dancing to a catchy tune, following an instructor at the front. There were also several games played in order to engage the students and make them feel like a part of the wonderful Ridge community.
The next part of the day consisted of a second round of workshops, focussing mainly on leadership, clubs and relationships. Some of them included talks about DECA, MUN, public speaking and confidence. The Grade 8 students also got to meet their LINK crew leaders, who would be helping them transition into the first year of high school. They explained that the LINK crew existed to provide any high school advice through their first year, and to guide them with not only directions, but the working of the school, and how to succeed as a student. Lastly, this part of the day ended off with an informative workshop about cyberbullying and how to deal with it. It ended smoothly with a Kahoot! with many great prizes. After the first workshops, students were directed towards the gymnasium for the most enthusiasm filled part of the day- the Spirit Rallies!Grade 8 students on the bleachers got a taste of the cheers we have here at the Ridge and were made to compete against one another in groups. “1! We are Trailblazers, 2! I still can’t hear you, 3! A little bit louder, 4! more, more, more!” the entire gym chanted, in anticipation of winning this war. It was a time of great eagerness and joy, when the student leaders ran across the gym, throwing chocolate to the bleachers.
The Grade 8s were then lead to the cafeteria, where they had a well deserved break, but the activities did not cease. Their break lasted about an hour, where they mingled within different groups of different schools and enjoyed a pleasant time. The next part of the workshops (“GO” Involvement), focussed on several extra-curricular activities, clubs and services a student at IRHS can participate in, in order to get involved with the school and display school spirit. Clubs such as Medlife, Interact, the Canadian Cancer Society, Arts Council, bands, Art Club, the play, manga club, and the SMASH club were promoted as some of the options. Students interested in leadership and peer support were also entertained and informed about the various opportunities, like the OSLC, Link Crew, RU Crew, Student Council, GPP, PLF, etc. It was extremely interactive and the students listened eagerly in preparation for their upcoming school year.
Before the closing ceremonies, there was the Ridge101 Panel. This consisted of a panel of high school students in front of a crowd of smaller groups of Grade 8 students. In my opinion, this was by far the most valuable session of the day and cleared up any common doubts in the Grade 8s’ minds. Some FAQs included, “What is the difference between 4/5 and 5/4 weeks?”, “What is a clustered class?”, “Does this school offer AP classes?”, and “What is the SHSM program?”. All questions were answered patiently and thoroughly. The IRHS students advised their younger peers through anecdotes about time management and stress relief, how to excel academically, and where to get support if you need it.
Finally, the Grade 8 students made their way back into the gymnasium, for the closing ceremonies. Kevin Zhang and Hayley Ma, the current co-chairs of Student Voice, delivered the closing remarks. They thanked every student for participating in this successful event, and contributing to its smooth and efficient workings. The day ended with a video for the Grade 8’s, watching themselves participate in workshops and all events carried out during the day. Although their energy had been depleted, the Grade 8s still left the IRHS doors with smiles on their faces, and plans for their distant future. The day’s experience was invaluable and productive, however Iroquois Ridge High School’s job is not nearly done. Our family is steadily growing, and we should be ready to greet the next class of 2022, 2023, and so on! We must continue to welcome new members with wide, open arms and welcoming smiles for future BRidge days.
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