Reed’s Kings And Queens

Of The Mountain

By Eliza Hallabeck

Some Reed Intermediate School students have been experiencing the snow differently than their peers. Members of the school’s Ski Club have been taking a bus after school on Tuesdays to ski with friends and chaperones.

“It’s very easy,” said sixth grade student Marcus Elkin. “All you have to do is get your bag, get your skis, get on the bus, and go.”

Marcus, who has been skiing for four years, said this was his first year as a member of the Ski Club, but he added that he loves skiing. Going with the ski club, he said, is fun because there are short lift lines, good snow, and he gets to ski with his friends.

Reed Intermediate School sixth grade teacher Richard Neeb, who organized the club, said it started up three years ago. Now the club takes roughly 70 students to nearby Mount Southington for four trips each school year.

Signup for the club is on a first-come basis, and the number of students is limited due to the number of students who can be transported.

“It’s a great opportunity for those who have never skied to learn how to ski,” said Mr Neeb.

Mount Southington, he said, gives lessons to ski groups. Members are charged a fee up front for being in the club. Students can bring their own gear or they can rent there.

The cost for each member of the group ranged from $135 to $215 for the four trips to Mount Southington, and the price depends on what the student requires, for example ski lessons and rentals could bring the cost up rather than just a lift ticket. He said some students do snowboard.

“It’s great to see the kids learning and improving their mountain skills,” said Mr Neeb.

Mr Neeb said there are 16 teachers who are signed up to accompany the club during its season, and about eight to nine attend the club on each trip.

“Us advisors enjoy it when the students ‘allow’ us to take a run or two with them,” said Mr Neeb.

The club meets after school each Tuesday in January, but due to school cancellations the trips can be postponed until February. There are four trips in total for the school year.

Students wear armbands while on the trip to help the chaperones easily identify the students in their group, and advisors are also given handheld radios to communicate with one another.

Every Tuesday when the students go, the trip starts with getting dressed in snow gear at the school after the last bell rings. From there, the students pack the bus and load themselves on. Typically, Mr Neeb said, the group arrives at Mount Southington around 3:45 pm, and most students head to take lessons right away. Students check in at 5:45 pm with the advisors, and students are expected to be back at the bus by 7:30 pm. Advisors are also stationed strategically on the mountain for the trip to monitor the students.

Mr Neeb said the group checks in with the Ski Patrol at Mount Southington immediately after arrival to make sure they have the advisors’ contact information.

Mr Neeb also said he started to ski in a similar way, when he went on a school trip in seventh grade.

“Many parents have commented about how independent their children become with carrying their gear and getting suited up when they go together,” he said.

Jacob Covill, a sixth grade student at the school, said he was a member of the club last year. He learned about the club by walking through the halls at the school, and seeing an announcement. From there, he said, he went right to the school’s office to get a signup sheet.

“I love skiing,” said Jacob, “and I just love the cold weather.”

The club is open to both fifth and sixth graders at the school.

“I like the ski club because you get to ski with your friends,” said sixth grader Samantha James.

Samantha said this year was her second year as a member of the club, and she has been skiing since she was 5 years old.

“I like the feeling of being on top of the mountain,” she said, “and just flying down.”