They're back in class
By Chris Simon

Innisfil Central Public School Grade 8 students Madison Dedora and Colton Walker-Burns flip through a math textbook during their first day back in class following the two week winter break.

It didn't take long for the grind of school to sink back into Colton Walker-Burns' mind.

Within hours of starting class at Innisfil Central Public School Monday morning, the Grade 8 student already had a French assignment thrown in his lap. He doesn't mind though, the previous two weeks off school were hectic at times, and boring at others.

In fact, Walker-Burns wanted to come back to school.

"I played a lot of hockey in Vaughan and visited family. You get to meet up with people you haven't seen in a long time," he said. "I'm feeling really energetic to be back at school. I was bored sitting at home the last few days."

Thousands of students from across Simcoe County returned to their classrooms earlier this week, following the end of the annual winter break.

Fellow Grade 8 student Madison Dedora was glad to be back, though admittedly a little tired.

"It's good to come back and see all your friends, but not working," she said. "We hit the books pretty good today."

During the break, Dedora travelled to Ottawa, and hung out with family and friends.

"You can (also) kind of catch up on what you've missed in school (over the break)," she said.

For teachers, the task of getting students back into the school spirit can be daunting.

"We started off by asking kids how things went, and what their traditions were like; then it was right back into it," said Grade 8 teacher Julie Hall. "It's a big year for them."

Over the next few months, Hall's class will be preparing for secondary school, selecting their Grade 9 courses, graduating, and taking an overnight trip.

"We're getting into speeches this month, poetry next month," said Hall. "The high school comes quite a bit between now and the March break. There's a lot of transition course selection, leveling and talking about what they want to do in the future."