OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 2, 2009 · 16 Brush up on your skating skills at Oakville Skating Club It's that time of year again at the Oakville Skating Club and preparation for the new fall/winter season has been kicked into high gear. Whether you are looking to have your children take those first steps onto the ice, or wanting to improve your already existing skating skills, the Oakville Skating Club has the program for you. "As Oakville's only Skate Canada skating club, we are the place to start if you want to learn or improve your skating skills," says Technical Director, Joni McPhail. "We try to offer something for everyone." The Oakville Skating Club is a non-profit club located in the River Oaks Recreation Centre and was established in 1938. Currently there are over 1400 members in the Club with 30 Skate Canada certified coaches. Programs are currently being held at the River Oaks and Glen Abbey Recreation Centres. The skating club offers a wide array of programs for all ages including Parent/Tot, Preschool CanSkate, Prepower, CanSkate, Teen/Adult Skate, Special Olympics and Synchronized Skating. "The programs are not just for figure skaters," Joni explains. "We have many recreational skaters, hockey players and speed skaters." The Parent/Tot skating program is designed for children three and four years old who are not quite ready to leaver their parents' side to skate on their own. Coaches are available for assistance, however no formal lessons are taught. The Prepower program is designed for skaters who are three to five years old who are able to balance and move forward on their skates. The Preschool CanSkate (ages three to five) and CanSkate program (ages five and up) is designed to teach skills on a continuum and variation of six basic elements of skating: Balance, Glide Forward, Glide Backward, Edges, Power and Speed. Each basic element is presented as a stage of learning and badges are presented when a skater successfully learns the skills in each stage. After completing the CanSkate program, skaters interested in figure skating will begin the Skate Canada STARSkate Figure Skating Program. Skaters progress from STARSkate I to STARSkate IV level and may enhance their programs with Enrichment sessions or packages. STARSkate figure skating consists of a number of tests evaluated in four different disciplines: Free Skate, Dance, Interpretive and Skating Skills. For those interested in the team aspect of skating, the club offers a Synchronized Skating program called Oakville Edge. This sport offers skaters the opportunity to develop in a fun team atmosphere while improving their overall skating skills. The program is available to skaters registered in both the CanSkate and STARSkate Figure Skating Programs. The Oakville Skating Club also offers instruction to Special Olympics athletes on our Teen/Adult Skate session. Skate Canada is committed to providing special needs athletes with program and competitive opportunities and liaises regularly with Special Olympics Canada as well as other sport organizations for athletes with a disability. In order to keep registration as easy as possible for these programs, a new online registration option has been added to their updated website. "This time of year is very hectic for parents, we are trying to make the entire registration process as simple as possible by allowing them to do it on their own time," Joni says. Programs and instruction are available at different times throughout the day ranging from early morning and directly after school for competitive skaters, weekday evening classes that run until 9p.m. and weekend morning classes. The Club also provides information on how to choose a professional, certified coach as well as where to get the necessary equipment including helmets and skates. For more information about the Oakville Skating Club and the programs they offer, drop by their office at the River Oaks Recreation Centre at 2400 Sixth Line, call the office at 905-257-7771 or visit them online at www.oakvilleskatingclub.org BERTIN STABLES Fall and Winter Lessons and Christmas Camps Now Booking · Weekday Lessons 4/$120 or $35/Lesson · Saturday at Farm 10am-2pm - $40 (Children 5-12 yrs.) www.bertinstables.com (905) 827-4678 www.bertinstables.com Hopedale Community Nursery School Learning through play since 1972! JK/SK Enrichment Choice of 1-4 afternoons! A cooperative preschool for 2½ to 5 year olds with an award-winning teacher! www.hopedalepreschool.org (905) 847-1672 Classical Ballet Modern & Jazz Contemporary Tap & Hip Hop Musical Theatre & Stage Professional Programs in Intensive Accelerated Ballet and Vocational Jazz & Stage Studio Open For Registration: September 1st - 3rd September 8th - 10th 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Oakville Children's Music Theatre Ignite Your Child's Creative Spark! Offering Oakville's only Theatre Arts Program that is dedicated exclusively to Musical Theatre. In September students begin an adventure that guides them through the exciting world of acting, singing, dancing and mime. This leads to a full "Broadway Style" musical showcase in June. Class levels are based on school grade. Level One: JK to Grade 2 Level Two: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Level Three: Grades 6, 7 and 8 "Spirited, Progressive, Inclusive" Dundas Hwy. & 6th Line 905-257-8434 www.munnsunited.com Fall Programmes for Children & Youth Jubilee Jump-Up Sunday School · Starts Sunday September 20th · 10:30 a.m. · Ages 3 + "New Programme" Fresh Spirit Interactive Social Justice oriented Model Godly Play · Starts Wednesday September 23rd · 4:30 p.m. 6 p.m. dinner to follow with family welcome · JK to Gr. 5 · Pick Up provided Jr. Youth Group · Starts Sunday October 4th · 10:30 a.m. · Gr. 6-8 Sr. Youth Group · Start Date TBA · Gr. 9 + To Register: Email info@balletomane.ca This program has been offered in Oakville for fifteen years and is a proven confidence and self esteem building activity that is focused on creativity and teamwork. Registering Now for Fall Classes! For registration information: Dianne Devaux 1298 Cornwall Road Oakville, Ontario L6J 7W5 905.844.9555 www.balletomane.ca Artistic Director: Sarah Shorney AISTD Dip., AIDTA, Mutually Recognized Teacher of the RAD www.ocmt.on.ca A Memorable Theatre Arts Experience