It's skiing/snowboarding season for all students from Grade 1 through Grade 8.
Our Lower Elementary (including Grade 3) students learn to ski at Mount Chinguacousy. This is a wonderful learning facility run by the City of Brampton. It has a magic carpet which transports the students to the top of the hill, without them having to worry about getting on a t-bar, a chair lift or holding on to a tow rope. They simply step on a moving conveyor belt and stand up all the way to the top of the hill.
Our older students ski at Hockley Valley Ski Resort (just outside of Orangeville). The higher elevations and combination of beginner to intermediate hill difficulty make this ski resort perfect for the students in Grades 4 to 6, Upper Elementary and The Zone. We've been working with Hockley Valley and their instructors for a number of years to perfect the experience the children get each time they go skiing.
Some important points for ALL STUDENTS:
Clothing
It is vital that the students are dressed appropriately for skiing. A cold child is an unhappy child.
All students MUST have:
***A student who does not have these items MAY not be allowed to ski.***
- A proper warm winter jacket/parka. (Not a dress jacket)
- Proper winter snow pants - insulated pants, not just wind proof pants
- Multiple warm layers of clothing under the jacket and pants.
- Grades 1-3 need to wear the Tall Pines School track suit on the day they ski
- Grades 4-8 may wear fashion clothes (we recommend sweaters and track pants) under their jacket and snow pants
- Proper winter water-resistant mitts (mitts are recommended over gloves, because they keep the fingers together and tend to be warmer)
***Do not send wool mitts or gloves!!!***
- Hats are not required as the helmets the students wear are insulated and warm
- All students will be required to wear a snow sport helmet (it is included in the rentals at both locations)
- If your son/daughter has their own snow sport helmet they may bring it and wear it instead of the rental one.
- If you have a nylon or neoprene head cover, specifically designed to fit under the snow sport helmet, it is recommended that your child bring it. Wool hats are not to be worn under the ski helmet!!!
- All snow sport helmets MUST be worn properly at all time with the chin strap done up and the helmet sitting properly on the head.
For students in Grades 1-3 the following items are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and for students in Grades 4-8 they are mandatory!!!
- Goggles (may used year after year).
- Skiing specific face masks.
For all students in Grades 4-8 who will be skiing at Hockley Valley for the full day...
***Any day where the temperature is below zero degrees (with or without a wind chill) the students must have complete face protection with NO exposed skin!!!***
Weather related cancellations
***All cancellations will be posted on the website and sent out through our Social Media (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook)***
As with any outdoor winter activities, if we need to cancel and re-book due to temperature or precipitation related concerns, the announcement will be made by the time the students arrive at school in the morning. All students should come prepared to ski on each the day they are scheduled.
Grades 4-8 Cold weather skiing policy
***We have based our skiing policies on information and similar policies from Peel Health, Toronto District School Board, and the Hamilton-Wentworth Board of Education***
We MAY cancel skiing entirely if the temperature in the morning is (or is projected to fall) below -20 degrees Celsius (with or without the the windchill)...
If the temperature is between -10 and -20 the students will have to come in from the ski hill every half hour to sign in and warm up...(the only time they won't is during their lesson)...
A sign in sheet will be kept at the bottom of the hill and the staff manning the chalet will organize that. Clocks are at the bottom and top of every chair lift, so there is no reason for a student to miss their sign in time.
Walkie talkies will be used to chase down students who miss their sign in.
If a student is loitering inside and not skiing - staff will use the walkie talkies to contact Mr. B. or Mr. Lynn, who will then find that student and deal with the situation.
On very cold days - staff will review and be familiar with first aid for mild cold injury and frost-bite.
Grades 1-3 Cold weather skiing policy
We will cancel skiing entirely if the temperature during the time the students are to be skiing is (or is projected to fall) below -15 degrees Celsius (with or without the the windchill)...
If the temperature is between -10 and -15 the students will have to come in from the ski hill every half hour to sign in and warm up (the only time they won't is during their lesson).
On very cold days - staff will review and be familiar with first aid for mild cold injury and frost-bite.
Dates and Times of the Ski Trips
Grades 1 -3 (including Lower Elementary) will ski during regular school hours. Therefore if the student is on the bus they can continue to take the bus into school and to home each day.
Skiing Schedule for Grades 1-3 (including all Lower Elementary classes)
***All students will eat lunch at school***