Past Principal Points
Ski & Skate Day?
Some of you have noticed that we did not schedule
a Ski & Skate day this year and have wondered why that is. The Annual Ski
& Skate Day was begun the very first year the school began, but then it was
just a Ski Day and involved meeting up with the other Koinonia Schools at
As the schools became larger, it became more
difficult to coordinate between the schools and eventually even for our own
school. We then came up with the idea of having a skating activity as an option
for those who didn’t want to or couldn’t afford to go skiing. While both
activities are weather dependent, the skating particularly is no fun if it is
too cold, and so many times the weather has made that a less than enjoyable
experience.
In recent years we have noticed a decline in the numbers of families participating in the Ski & Skate
day. Some simply use it as a day off to go shopping, so it is becoming less
effective as a tool to encourage Koinonia among our families. High school
students now have skiing (and a wide variety of other activities) as part of
their Extended Phys. Ed. program, and so the idea of paying for a day of skiing
is now less attractive, and the skating doesn’t appeal to them as much.
Meanwhile other grades have made use of the arenas for skating and the
gymnastics club to enhance their Phys. Ed. program.
All things
considered, we felt that the task of organizing an event of this magnitude for
the entire school when significant numbers were no longer participating was no
longer meeting our objectives. However, in order to enable our senior high
students to develop their skiing and snowboarding skills a bit further, we felt
it would be worthwhile starting with them in junior high. So, this year we will
have a Ski Day for students in grades 7-9 at
Our budget does not permit us to cover the costs
of this day, so it will need to be paid for by the students or parents. The
rates at COP are pretty reasonable, but we realize it still may be a hardship
for some. Therefore, it will be an “optional” field trip, but there will be no
other activities provided that day. If this goes well and the
vast majority of students participate, then we will likely make this an annual
affair.
I realize that a number of families will miss the
Ski & Skate day as we have had it in the past, but I trust that you will
understand the need for change at this time, and I hope that the other elements
that have been added to our Phys. Ed. program over the years will make up, at
least in part, for this loss.
Principal,
Copyright © 2003/2004 Airdrie Koinonia Christian
School Last modified: January 5, 2004