KDSS welcomes largest Grade 9 class as students return to school

It's another record class of Grade 9 students at Kincardine District Secondary School, as 125 students gathered at the school Tuesday morning, for Link Crew Day. Last year, there were 109 students, the largest in a number of years.

Following the running of the gauntlet, teacher Kathie Hackney welcomed the Class of 2022, and then teacher Vince Yenssen took the group through some stretches, ice-breakers and warm-up activities.

Principal Mark Ozorio welcomed the students and said the Link Crew Day is an opportunity for the Grade 9s to meet their teachers, learn their way around the school, find their lockers, and become familiar with their timetable.

They also have the opportunity to meet several student leaders on the Link Crew who can help them out throughout the year.

“This is your school,” said Ozorio. “The Grade 9 class is the largest one in the school.”

Carrie Houghton conducted a great game in which two teams had to thaw out a frozen KDSS Knights T-shirt and put it on their student leader. Jacob Lange's team won, but he was the one who had to suffer by putting on the freezing-cold T-shirt.

Vice-principal Lori Templeton also welcomed the Grade 9 class, and said the students were in for a high-energy, fun-filled day.

After a couple of games, the students were divided into small groups to tour the school, pick up planners and locks for their lockers, and enjoy some activities and lunch.

The Grade 10, 11 and 12 students begin their school year Wednesday.

KDSS also welcomes 10 new teachers this year, all on contract which is a more permanent position: Jonathon Farrell of Kincardine, Kyle Wilkinson of Hanover, Cara Pennington of Kincardine, Emily Armstrong of Ripley, Mike Hawkins of Owen Sound, Jennifer Kozak of Paisley, John Flynn of Owen Sound, Adam Frook of Owen Sound, Liz Howatt and Mary Lou Wiles.

Of those, four are KDSS graduates, including Farrell, Pennington, Armstrong and Kozak.

Meanwhile, in the Kincardine area, elementary school students were returning to class, with primary students at Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, junior students at Huron Heights Public School, French Immersion at Elgin Market Public School, Kindergarten to Grade 8 at Ripley-Huron Community School, and Kindergarten to Grade 8 and French Immersion at St. Anthony's School.