Ice Dreams Showcases Bayview Community School

Rocks and brooms are shuffling every which way during lunchtime and afternoons at Bayview Community School in Mahone Bay.

About 20 students in grades 5 to 8 are learning to curl and staging competitions on a miniature-size curling rink that was built by students and teachers at the school.

The Bayview school rink is this year's Ice Dreams showcase. Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection showcases an outdoor rink every year as part of the national Ice Dreams initiative to create awareness and to celebrate all outdoor rinks and outdoor play in winter. There will be free toques, pucks, shinny videos and games given out by Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection to celebrate the school's creative work in promoting activity and ice rinks.

"What a great idea for an outdoor activity for students," said Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "They are introduced to an increasingly popular sport, learning new ways to keep active during the winter months, and they built it together."

Bayview Community School will be showcased today, March 3, during their regular after school program. The program is offered to students in grades 5 and 6 and is led by students in grades 7-9.

Organizer and physical education teacher, Selena Davidson is proud of her students' involvement in creating the rink and making the program be a success.

"We've had amazing community support and great feedback from the students," said Ms. Davidson. "Our philosophy has been to start small and work towards bigger goals to keep everyone active this winter."

Bayview Community School received a physical activity grant from Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection for their Winter Moving program initiatives. The grant was used to buy snowshoes and supplies to make the outdoor curling rink.

Health Promotion and Protection is the provincial delivery agent of a national initiative called Ice Dreams, which is part of the Go for Green program and is supported by the Recreation Facility Association of Nova Scotia. The program encourages the development and use of new and existing outdoor rinks in Canada.

More information on building a rink and tips on getting active this winter, is available at www.taketheroofoffwinter.com .