Ms. Lail stood at the front of the room, a rare, genuine smile on her face.
"Alright, settle down, everyone."
The chatter subsided, but the excitement remained.
"As some of you may have heard through the grapevine," she started, picking up a stack of papers from her desk, "our annual school trip is coming up. It will be a week long excursion to the Lakeview Mountain Resort, starting next Friday."
A fresh wave of whispers erupted. Lakeview. It was the place everyone talked about, with hiking trails, a big lake you could boat on, and cabins that were way nicer than they had any right to be.
Ms. Lail held up a hand. "This trip is for all students from Grade 8 to Grade 11. It's a chance to relax, have some fun, and maybe even learn something outside of the classroom. These are your permission slips. You'll need a parent or guardian's signature and the trip fee by this Wednesday at the latest. All the details are on the form."
