Our Grade 8 Initiation

Brainstormer: Unaysah Ismail

Media: Raeesa Khan

Writers: Faseeha Sooliman & Hassaanah Sooliman

From the grade 8:

On January 15th 2025, all the grade 8s were reborn - except this time, we came with ears and a tail. It was a hectic yet fun month for us Grade 8s: from arriving early at school, to losing our voices singing creeds, doing "Monkey" until we couldn’t feel our legs and doing the craziest of things to get a signature. The most memorable part of course, was the camp. Running from “zombies” at 3am, swimming in the mud and throwing shaving cream at each other, it was DEFINITELY an experience we’ll never forget. 

I came to this school as a quiet, shy and nervous 7th grader hoping I’d make friends. Not only did I find my voice, I found my people, I found my sports, culture - I found my family. High school is definitely not what any of us were prepared for, but it definitely seems exciting… but mostly scary. The SRCs pushed us not to make our lives difficult, but so we could find ourselves, and find comfort outside of our comfort zones. I've done things I never would have had the courage to do on my own - tried out for sports I never thought I'd enjoy, found my confidence, and made lifelong memories. To the SRCs who have come to school early every day and sacrificed their time for us, you have truly inspired us and made initiation a fun experience.

The ringing of the bell marked the completion of our metamorphosis from a cub to a wolf. We are now apart of the Ferdie Family.

From the SRC:

It’s one thing to go through the intense, yet necessary jump from a little kid to a high schooler, but it’s a completely different experience to be apart of the process. Helping the Grade 8s change, grow and develop from strangers into a family was truly heart-warming. We see kids overcome their fears, climb out their shells, make friends and create bonds that are going to last a lifetime. And if not a life time? Well at least for the next 5 years of high school. 

From nervous, wide eyed kids in cub ears who cling to the familiar, and are hesitant of stepping into the unknown, we watched them grow. We see the quiet ones find their voice, the unsure ones take their first bold steps and the hesitant ones dive into challenges. We see resilience build into team work, and those teammates turn into friends, and their second family they will have for the rest of high school. Singing creeds shoulder to shoulder, spirits rising together… they realise they belong. 

As SRCs, we don’t just “boss” them around, we create discipline, respect and we nurture the potential we see in each and every Grade 8 learner. In just a short two years they pick subjects, in just a short three years they will be seniors, in just a short four years they will be leading our school and in a surprisingly short five years, they will leave this school, ringing the bell once more - but this time, with more wisdom, more memories, lessons and a few less cub ears, ready to take on the big world. During this month we inspire, we encourage, we uplift. We get to be the ones who stand beside them, reminding them that they are stronger than they think, that they are capable, that this school is not just a place of learning, but a home. Initiation is by far the greatest time of high school, a core memory that I hope each Grade 8 cherishes forever.