The Best Episodes Directed By Kit Hood

Joey and Dwayne's enmity has escalated since Joey found out that it was Dwayne who turned him in for walking naked in the cafeteria, and Joey is determined to get Dwayne back. AIDS speakers at Degrassi during Sexual Awareness Week make the illness chillingly personal - especially for Dwayne, who becomes increasingly withdrawn as he awaits the results of his HIV test. Michelle finds out the real reason B.L.T. broke up with her.

Condom machines have been installed in the school washrooms, and as Lucy records reactions with her video camera, Dwayne finds an interesting new use for the condoms -as water bombs to drop on Joey, Wheels and Snake. Joey, however, is more concerned with raising money to put a down payment on a muscle car, and takes bets that he will walk through the cafeteria - wearing nothing but a hat. B.L.T. has trouble breaking up with Michelle. Dwayne receives a frightening phone call from his summer girlfriend. To be continued...

Joey and Rick work together on a school assignment. While working at Rick's house, Joey discoveries that Rick's bruises aren't the results of school yard fights, but an abusive father. Joey confides in his mother, who contacts the school to let them know. Although angry at first, Rick is relieved when he gets to go live with his brother.

Wheels meets his birth father for the first time when he comes to town. Wheels finds he has a lot in common with his father and is hopeful that they will become close. After realizing that his father doesn't feel the same way, Wheels is hurt. Spike is considering giving her baby up for adoption once it is born, and asks Wheels for advice.

Stephanie begins her first day of the eighth grade by ignoring her younger brother, Arthur, who is a year younger than her. Stephanie decides to run for student council president for the school year. After allowing a good portion of the school's male population to kiss her, she wins the election. She loses her best friend, Voula, by neglecting to thank her during her speech.

Stephanie asks Wheels out on another date, and rumours start floating around the school that they will have sex on their date. Wheels unknowingly buys condoms at the drugstore where Stephanie's mother works. All pressure and plans are quickly ended, when Wheels arrives at Stephanie's house for their date, and Stephanie's mom recognizes him from the drugstore.

Shane and Spike have sex for the first time, at Lucy's party. Spike is later worried when her period is late and fears she might be pregnant. Her mother discoveries a home pregnany test and takes her daughter to the doctor to find out for sure. It is then discovered that she is indeed pregnant. Meanwhile, Yick likes Melanie, but is afraid to ask her out. Arthur tries to give him advice, but everytime Yick follows Arthur's plans they backfire. Yick finally gets courage and asks Melanie to go on a date skating and she accepts.

After Wheels rejects a date with Stephanie, she starts flirting with Joey to make him jealous. After she appoints Joey as sports rep on the student council, the grade sevens retaliate because Yick was interested in the position first. They start an impeachment of Stephanie as school president. After Joey finds out she was using him to make Wheels jealous, he resigns from the position. Stephanie vows that next semester she will change and will do a good job as president.

Many of Ms. Avery's students think that she is a lesbian. Caitlin, who admires her teacher, defends these rumours and insists that her teacher isnt gay. After dreaming that her classmates think that she is also gay, Caitlin begins to act self-conscious at school. Caitlin confronts her teacher, who informs her student that she is not gay. After confiding that she has been questioning her own sexuality, Ms. Avery informs Caitlin that these dreams are perfectly normal and that everyone her age has them.

Against her father's orders, Voula attends the school dance, but doesn't tell him she's going. Stephanie asks Wheels to be her date for the date, and he accepts. Before arriving, Stephanie, Heather and Erica go to Lucy's house and start drinking her parent's alcohol. By time they get to the dance, Stephanie is drunk. After a short time, she runs to the washroom, where she is sick. Voula is persuaded by everyone to give a speech for the school, that was supposed to have been given by Stephanie. Voula's father walks into the gym, and takes his daughter home.

Voula befriends Lucy by helping her with her homework. After her marks improve, Lucy shows her appreciation by taking Voula shopping for clothes. At the store, Voula learns that her friend shoplifts. Lucy steals a sweater Voula likes and they are both caught when leaving the store and are taken to the police station, where Lucy is charged. Stephanie meets her favourite soap opera star at a book signing and agrees to go out on a date with him. After he tries to seduce her, Stephanie informs him that she lied about her age and that she is a minor, and he flees.