Canskate/ Learn to Skate Program January 20009 ewsletter

Canskate/ Learn to Skate Program
January 20009 ewsletter
Our Coaches
Welcome to the winter 2009 skating program with Crowfoot Skating Club.
We’d like to start by introducing you to our coaches for this year. Returning coaches are:
Lara Soukoreff, Jocelyn Boulton, Marie-Claude Forbes and Lynanne Bjerke. New this year
are Allyson Rob, Jessica Poje and Larry Ayton.
Crowfoot skating Club programs use certified Skate Canada Professional coaches and
Program assistants on all sessions. Our Program Assistants are from our figure skating
program (Starskate). They are all over 12 years of age and have expressed an interested in
helping with the Learn to Skate and Canskate program.
Retirement
We would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and thank you to one of our longtime
coaches, Nicole Lombardo, as she retires from skating. Nicole leaves us to complete her
Masters in Teaching with 3 months of student teaching in Puerto Rico. She will return to
Calgary in April for graduation and she told us she hopes to see some of her former figure
skating students in her classroom over the years!
Nicole was with Crowfoot Skating Club for 19 years, beginning her career with us as a
CanSkater when she was just 5 years old! At 11 years of age she became a junior program
assistant and later completed her Level 1 coaches training. For the past 7 years Nicole has
been a Level 1 CanSkate coach with us. We will miss Nicole and wish her all the best as she
begins her career as a teacher.
Online registration
We have once again utilized our on-line registration process for our winter classes and
appreciate the tremendous response. Our spring session will be available for registration in
late February or early March. For other information and updates, please check our website
at www.crowfootskating regularly.
Important Dates
Last day of classes
Tuesday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
March 10th
March 13th
March 14th
March 15th
Year end skating party
Sunday
March 15th
1:15 PM to 3:15 PM
Crowfoot Arena
Location
Preliminary Prep Info session- for those parents whose children are in
Preliminary Prep classes and those in Canskate 4 and above who want to explore
Figure skating and need more information.
Friday Jan 23rd
Where: Crowfoot Arena Dressing Room
When: After Class – 5:45 PM
OR
Sunday Jan 25th
Where: Norma Bush Arena – Dressing room
When: 6:00 PM after lessons
ote from the coaches
As you may have noticed last week, the first day of class is always a very exciting and busy
time. The coaches need to use this day as a “grouping day” in conjunction to their lessons.
They will want to ensure skaters are registered in the most appropriate level for their age and
skill abilities. The session may appear somewhat disorganized and chaotic but be assured the
rest of the Canskate sessions will look different.
Equipment
Please ensure your skater is dressed in rink-appropriate clothing, waterproof MITTENS and a
HELMET. Hockey or multi-sport helmets are mandatory for all participants under 8 years of
age and in a program below Canskate level 5.
Bike helmets are OT an acceptable substitute for a hockey helmet. If you are looking
to purchase a hockey helmet there are a number of sporting goods stores that sell used
helmets. Skates should provide a supportive and comfortable ankle and knee alignment. If
your child is skating on the extreme inside or outside of the boot there is a problem with their
equipment. Sharp blades are also essential – please have yours child’s skates sharpened if it
has been a while since they have skated or there is orange rust on the blades. Feel free to
speak with any of the coaches regarding equipment questions you may have.
Attached please find information if you are considering purchasing figure skates.
Traffic Etiquette
Locker rooms assigned for our Canskate and LTS session are posted on the white board next
to the office window when you come into the rink. Please check when you come in and use
the locker rooms to put your child’s skates on.
Parents are encouraged to watch their skater during their session. Please watch from the
stands. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the players’ benches and area in front of
the gates clear. This allows skaters and coaches to focus on the lesson and allows skaters to
get on and off the ice safely.
Evaluation
Testing will be done on an ongoing basis; therefore, it is vital that your child attend each
class. There are many skills that need to be achieved in order to receive a badge and it takes
many classes to cover them all. Please keep in mind that some badges have more difficult
skills to perform than others and as a result will take your skater longer to complete. Coaches
will be awarding badges as they are earned as outlined in Skate Canada’s Canskate
guidelines. As your skater earns his/her badge they will be given a Progress Card to indicate
what they achieved for that particular level and as a permanent record for you and the skater.
Learn to skate and Parent & Tot evaluation will be done on an ongoing basis, as well.
Please keep in mind that all children progress at different rates, depending on age and various
other factors. On the last day, the children will be presented with a Certificate and Ribbon.
The objective of the Crowfoot Skating Club’s Canskate program is to develop participant’s
skating skills by focusing on the fun of skating while providing basic skating fundamentals to
all participants in a safe and structured environment. To achieve that objective successfully,
we encourage parents to provide us with feedback about the program as well as any questions
or concerns at any time. Your inquiries can be directed to any one of our professional
coaches at the end or beginning of sessions.
o There are no make up privileges. If you miss a class, you miss a class. Most of our
classes are full and we cannot accommodate any extra skaters on any sessions. Thank
you for your cooperation.
AS YOU OTICED WHE REGISTERIG THERE WAS O
VOLUTEER COMMITMET REQUIRED. SICE THERE ARE O
RIK CHAIR PERSOS, PLEASE ISURE YOUR CHILD’S SKATES
ARE FIRMLY TIED AD THAT THERE IS A RESPOSIBLE PERSO
AVAILABLE FOR YOUR CHILD I CASE OF IJURY.
Our Website
Our website is www.crowfootskating.com. It has the latest newsletters, skating schedule and
fees as well as information on our coaches and the skating club in general.
Questions
If you have any concerns or questions, please either call our information line at 288-8839 or
email us through our website under “Contact Us”. A volunteer will get back to you within a
few days.
HAPPY SKATING!
☺