Graduation

What a lovely ceremony, great party, and best time at Keno. Thank you for a wonderful year, students! You are definitely ready for high school! Learn, celebrate, appreciate, stay safe! here is the link for the slide show. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6GqiVcV-XDlWkJsLVR4eV9IZGM/edit?usp=sharing

Paul's visit

Facing Choices I like Paul’s presentation because it was clear and it made me understand more about the choices and difficult moments that might face me in high school. I didn’t know how bullying could affect a person’s life so strongly. That maybe one little comment could make a person believe what other mean things people say to the victim. That that one little comment could lower the student’s grades, make him or her skip school, and even think of suicide. I learned that there are five different types of bullying: physical, psychological, cyber, sexual, and verbal. Girls sometimes exclude each other. There are two ways (that I have learned so far) to help people who suffer from bullying. The first is to just listen to them. Don’t talk, just listen. Show sympathy. Be there for that person. Give them a hug. Secondly, stand up for that person. Help the person report the bullying. Make them feel that they’re not alone. Paul also talked about why people use drugs and alcohol. He drew a scale to show how people who get dependent on drugs need more and more just to feel ‘normal’. They feel high for awhile, then very down. They need more and more just to get through the day. Imagine that. After that, it gets out of hand and you can’t even feel normal any more. It made me realize how dangerous drugs can be. If I ever get asked to take drugs, I’ll remember that scale. Paul used humour to keep our attention. But sometimes his face looked sad. I think it’s because he cares about the students he works with. Paul told us that he used to hang out with 17 friends. 10 died. 4 went to prison and only 3 went to university. Think of that. 14/17 didn’t have a good road in life. That’s way too much. It’s really sad how kids just throw their lives away like that. Mr. Paul told us that about 3 kids a day suicide because of bullying and drugs. I liked it when he said that, for him, one suicide was too much. I agree. Finally, Paul told us about a drug called GHB that can make you forget what happened to you so someone can make you do things you don’t want to do. Remember: never leave your drink on a table. Never accept an open drink from a stranger. Always stand up for yourself. Malorie Dion, 6B

Wherever I go valedictorian speech

WHEREVER WE GO All parents ask, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Those answers changed every year. For example, Hugo, in grade 1, what did you want to be when you grew up? I knew that I wanted to be a princess! Now, I would like to be an interior designer or a teacher. What about you Hugo? At Holland, we learned that we can set goals and become almost anything. We learned to understand complex ideas about features, democracy, justice, resistance. We studied New France, light, mealworms, astronomy. We dissected owl pellets and chicken wings. We learned to calculate the area of a triangular prism! Holland School also gave us friends and memories. I remember all the Halloween parties and how funny our costumes were! Going to the pool was always fun! We celebrated every season: Terry Fox runs, Skating rinks, spaghetti suppers, and track and field... I would like to say thank you to all the teachers and principals who tried their best to make us happy and educated. I remember that, at nap time in kindergarten, I used to fake sleep just to get a gummy bear! In grade 1, we discovered the Daily Five and reading stamina! In grade 2, I liked shopping at the class store and, in grade three, we even visited the teacher’s house. In grade 4, I loved the sleepover at the end of the year. In grade 5, I appreciated Drama and all the jokes in class. Playing Bingo and Trois Photos was a nice break from learning French grammar. This year, I liked going to the Peps and the Hobbit. I can’t wait for Camp Keno. When we came to Holland in Kindergarten, our only concerns were snacks and play time. In grade two, ‘style’ meant wearing the most colours possible at the same time. Now, as we head into high school, we worry about tests, high school courses, taking the city bus, and making new friends. As we grow, our priorities change. People and experiences influence us. Our choices, not just our abilities, make us who we are. All my years at Holland hold special memories. Life can be hard, but the support of teachers, parents, and friends can make it easier. We are leaving elementary school. Wherever we go, we will remember the good start we had here. One of the books we read this year was the Hunger Games. So, in closing, let games begin!! And may the odds be ever in your favour!

Wherever I Go

Where ever I go I could be a scientist, I could be a plane, I could be flying, nothing is the same, I could be astronaut, take off in space but wherever I go, whatever I do, I know that I’ll be something great! I could be a space ship, aiming for the moon, if I miss it I’ll orbit back around soon, I WILL be different, don’t care what people think because I know deep inside that I’LL BE SOMETHING GREAT! I will be a graduate, missing Holland, my last day, I will make new friends, learn from my mistakes, I will have ideas, ideas that open gates, and I know wherever I go, whatever I do, I’LL BE SOMETHING GREAT By Julien Dion