— Program can motivate kids to attend school and learn —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — March 14, 2007) —
By Lawrence McMahenrnOsoyoos Times
Osoyoos Elementary School Principal Bo Macfarlane wants to launch a 'hockey academy' at the school this fall.
And he says that, far from being an outlandish idea, it's a popular program that's catching on like wildfire around B.C. and across Canada “ and he thinks it's a natural fit for young people in a hockey town like Osoyoos.
Macfarlane has a long list of reasons he thinks a hockey academy at Osoyoos Elementary is a great idea, not the least of which is that including a popular, fun sport right in the phys. ed. program helps to motivate kids to attend school and learn more.
He plans to pitch the idea to a meeting of all interested parents and students at 7 p.m., April 2 in the school library, and he's hoping there will be enough who want to give the hockey academy a try.
Macfarlane has been researching the academy idea for awhile now.
He says it began in 1999 when the report from the Molson Open Ice Summit on how to improve the skill level of Canadian hockey included a recommendation to break down the artificial barrier between community hockey and school phys. ed. programs.
The recommendation urged people to promote co-operative efforts between school boards, local hockey associations and sponsors, to better utilize ice times and school facilities and move toward development of sport schools.rnSince then, Macfarlane says, there has been a phenomenal growth of hockey academies, with more than 100 across the country now “ including in Penticton, Kelowna and many other B.C. cities.
He explains the programs are certified by Hockey Canada and they are optional, intended for students who want to spend their school phys. ed. time learning on-ice hockey skills from qualified coaches.
This is a choice. If a child has no interest in hockey, they can continue to take the school's regular phys. ed. class, Macfarlane says.
He says the beauty of the hockey academy approach is that it isn't meant to rival minor hockey teams. It focuses on the development of skills, not on competitive games. For that reason, it can be a great activity not only for a youngster who plays on a community hockey team and who wants to improve his or her skills, but also for a recreational-level player or a late-starter who just enjoys hockey and wants to learn some of the skills and enjoy the activity and fitness.
Macfarlane hopes to offer the hockey academy to Grade 6 and 7 students this fall, and possibly also to Grade 5s. The academy would likely take place during two or three phys. ed. periods each week from September to spring break. It would give youngsters about 50 hours of ice time.
He says Osoyoos Elementary is wonderfully positioned to succeed with the academy and to do so at a relatively low cost because an academy's three costs are for a professional coach, travel to the rink, and ice-time “ and Osoyoos Elementary is very blessed to have Craig Bedard as a teacher here, and we're just a six-minute walk to the Arena.rnBedard is a highly qualified hockey leader who is Assistant Coach of the Penticton Vees and who just returned from coaching the B.C. hockey team at the Canada Winter Games.
My goal is to take the talents of the teacher and combine them with the wishes of the students, Macfarlane says.
He says his research into the growing number of hockey academies across Canada shows the results are terrific. Principals are seeing happier, healthier kids who are far more motivated to come to school, and it improves their academic performance.rnHe adds, There are reams of research that show healthy kids achieve at a higher academic level.rnMacfarlane says the Okanagan Similkameen School District 53 has given him approval to pursue the hockey academy idea. He's hoping that at least 30 families come out April 2 and show interest in the program, because he thinks it would be a real winner for his students.
Schools offer band, reading and math activities, and this is one other piece to holistically teach the child. The whole idea is to get kids excited to come to school and learn.
