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Laila C
Editor: Anusree N
Freshmen were smiling, hotdogs were grilling and the sun was shining at the annual grade nine barbecue. On Friday, September 13th, following a short assembly in the Aud, students gathered on the soccer field with their link groups for this fun community-building experience.
An anticipated event at GCVI, this lunch was a great opportunity for grade nines to enjoy a nice lunch outside and celebrate completing the first few days of high school. Lunch was graciously provided by the school, and students filled their plates with hotdogs, cookies and oranges, with various options for dietary restrictions. They discussed how high school was going so far and talked about different clubs and teams they were participating in. It was also a good chance for grade nines to inquire about GCVI life. Link leaders helped answer questions and informed the students about upcoming events and activities at GCVI. “What I liked about the grade nine barbecue was that you had the chance to meet new people and you could hang out with the people in your link leader group you might not see on a day to day basis,” said a student who attended the event. None of this would have been possible without the exceptional staff and older students at GCVI who volunteered to be part of the link program this year. Grade nine student Audrey PE said she thought it was an incredible demonstration of the welcoming people and community here at GCVI.
After the group discussions and lunch, students were welcome to leave for break or stay and chat with their peers. Games and activities were available to play on the field as well. Overall, the barbecue went great, and it was an excellent start to the 2025-2026 school year.