Summer break a priceless gift of freedom to students By Haley Rose GRADE 11, ABBEY PARK H.S. We Install All Kinds of Floors, Stairs and Railings Serving Oakville residents for over 20 years WOOD N' FLOOR "Refinish Your Wood Floor Like New" 11 · Friday, July 2, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com W T he Summer Break (capitalized for necessary emphasis) is like a backpack full of bricks being lifted off of your shoulders. And quite often, it's also this in the literal sense. With the arrival of summer comes a beautiful, glorious gift to students: The end of the school year. No more homework, dealing with demanding teachers or giving any more of those merciless oral presentations. It's finally time to sit back, relax, and paint the town with your favourite summer activities. Here is a breakdown of my top lucky-number-7 reasons to look forward to the summer break. Number One -- The ice cream truck, the absolute sign that summer is near. Since elementary school, the faint sound of its familiar jingle carried over the early summer breeze has always given me a shiver of excitement of what is to come. Not to mention, of course, the anticipation of the sweet treat I'd soon be enjoying. Number Two -- The water. Whether it's swimming in the ocean or a lake, splashing around in a pool or lounging in a hot tub, we all relish the perks of being able to drench ourselves without care. Summer is the only time when you could walk outside, be sprayed in the face by your little brother's water gun, and not be bothered in the slightest. Number Three -- Leaving the cliques and labels behind. It doesn't matter whether you're branded as the popular cheerleader, the introverted band geek, or the outspoken drama kid during school; when summer comes around, everyone is so overcome with relief that shallow classifications are left behind. You are simply you. It's an occasion where everyone can congregate and party together as equals. Number Four -- Garage sales. I have yet to encounter a person who doesn't enjoy a good bargain. Garage sales offer an unbeatable deal -- unique finds, mostly-working parts, and best of all, prices usually under $5. Garage sales are arguably the greatest investment choice for a student with a tight budget. That is, if you are miraculously able to wake up early enough. Number Five -- The summer thunderstorms. Breathing in the damp aroma right before a summer storm is somehow one of the most satisfying things I've yet to experience. And when the rain starts falling, the intensity of the thunder and lightning feels like someone, somewhere, is letting out a good cry. Number Six -- All the good TV shows end their seasons before the summer begins. Unless you are planning to spend the entire summer cooped up in your house staring limply at a television screen, this is beneficial to you. Who wants to miss new episodes of their favourite shows while they're out doing summery things? Certainly not me. Television broadcasting companies, thank you for the invaluable service you bring to the table -- even if you did cancel Pushing Daisies. Number Seven -- Sleeping in 'til noon. Enough said. Have a great summer break, everyone. Call KAZ 905-338-1881 www.woodnfloor.ca Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? We can help! Routine foot care is important to your health nd well-being! Healthy feet are happy feet. Exceptional footcare for all ages. · routine footcare · corns & calluses · plantar warts · diabetic footcare and education · thick or ingrown nails · heel/arch/foot pain · custom made orthotics · nail surgery · sigvaris compression stockings · sports related foot problems & injuries · evenings and saturday appointments available J. Richard Werkman CHIROPODIST now open! www.werkman.ca We deal with you like few other insurance companies do. In person. OAKVILLE'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP Enlist today! INDOOR & OUTDOOR FITNESS TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING Darryl R Demille Ins Agcy Ltd Andrew Heideman, Agent Darryl Demille CFP, Agent 2828 Kingsway Drive 2nd Floor 1226 White Oaks Boulevard Oakville, ON L6J 7M2 Oakville, ON L6H 2B9 Bus: 905-829-0018 Bus: 905-842-1020 www.andrewheideman.ca www.darryldemille.com Angelo Gualtieri, Agent 3040 Trafalgar Road Oakville, ON L6H 7B9 Bus: 905-257-7773 www.angelogualtieri.com Deborah E Bartucci, Agent 586 Argus Road, Suite 104 Oakville, ON L6J 3J3 Bus: 905-337-3276 www.deborahbartucci.ca River Oaks Community Church 2435 Munn's Avenue East 5:30am and 6:30pm Small Class Sizes Ensure Guaranteed Results Stacey Sutherland, Agent 243 North Service Road W Oakville, ON L6M 3E5 Bus: 905-339-3276 www.insuranceinoakville.com Stephen Ostapchuk, Agent 802 Southdown Road, Suite C6 Mississauga, ON L5J 2Y4 Bus: 905-238-5643 www.stephenostapchuk.ca Daniel Durst, Agent 1500 Heritage Way, Suite 7 Oakville, ON L6M 3H4 Bus: 905-847-1898 www.danieldurst.com 905.808.4055 www.survivorbootcamp.com State Farm, Canadian Head Office, Aurora, Ontario