Matt and his fellow students launch a petition against a veteran teacher whom they believe to be incapable of preparing them for their final exams, but the group have mixed reactions when they realise they have cost him his job.
Bolton can hardly contain his excitement. Not only is he about to break his own blade-skating speed record, but he and the gang are about to go on the excursion of the century until things go horribly wrong.
A dream comes true for Con when he is accepted as a student exchange in America. However, this causes problems with Katerina who, after taking a gamble on the relationship in the first place, now feels betrayed.
Her name is Stassy and she is an enigma. Stassy has no friends at Hartley and does not seem to want any. After school, she does not hang out with the gang, instead she is whisked away by her father in a tow truck - "the beast".
Ronnie has set her English class a Friday the 13th assignment; they are to watch tonight's horror movie - Frankenstein - and write an essay on confronting fear.
Bolton befriends Dyson's son Gary, who is in a wheelchair as the result of a recent drunk driving accident, when he comes to visit his mother after his stint in a rehabilitation centre.
The senior class is participating in a work experience programme. Katerina is eager to go to work at an advertising agency but is disappointed to learn she has been given the job of receptionist.
Bolton costs Hartley the first round of a debate competition by agreeing with his opponent, an Asian girl from St. Catherine's Girl School whom he has a crush on.
New teacher Tom Summers, son of school Superintendent James Summers, arrives at Hartley as Dyson begins a programme to teach the girls auto mechanics and the boys cooking.
After Danielle discovers the body of her deceased neighbour, Danielle and Allie decide to volunteer their time to an organisation that provides companions for senior citizens.
Mr. Summers announces a new Creative Marketing Project which sees the kids pair up to create and market environmentally friendly products from their original ideas.
It's the day of the school's cross country race. Tom's girlfriend, book editor Vicki Hodge, looks at Allie's work and asks her to skip the race so they can work on the book together.
Stassy enraptures Bolton with her new-found mysticism but only manages to enrage the Petty Tyrant that is Katerina with displays of her so-called psychic abilities.
Dyson announces that Allie has won the state literary fellowship but Allie decides to turn down the award after having just learned that she is pregnant.