Harrison ski program end-of-season news

To the Editor:

Once again, Harrison’s Ski and Snowboard Program enjoyed another wonderful season, thanks to our many hard working volunteers and we would like to extend our gratitude by saying thank you as well as closing up the season with this last bit of program news.

Shawnee Peak instructors were amazed by how far all of the participants progressed during the five weeks of lessons and we are too. All of the beginner skiers and boarders who just started this season, moved right on up to the Bunny Lift! Great job to all of the groups and thank you Shawnee Peak instructors for working with our group of 44. All of Shawnee Peak Staff are wonderful to work with. Thank you everyone and thank you Scott, Josh, Jim and Rich for all that you do for our program, it just wouldn’t be the same without you.

A huge thank you goes out to all chaperones and junior chaperones for all of your time and help. Each of you plays a very important role in contributing to the overall success of the program. Also, many thanks to Paul Kucharski, our newest chaperone, who also is a Shawnee Peak instructor. Paul was able to help break down the beginner snowboarder group, work with them and get them right up on the Bunny Lift. Not only did the participants learn from him, but we did as well. From his insight on instructing, we learned how important it is to develop a relationship with whom you are working with, ask them questions as well as providing them with lots of feedback. Hearing from participants “he talks to us, he tells us how we are doing and what we need to work more on or change.” Also, “he tells us if our bindings need to be adjusted and he can just adjust them himself and when he talks to us, he is excited and we can understand what he is saying and then we can do what he is saying.” Thank you Paul.

Another huge thank you goes out to Peggy Busa and Jane Patnaude for meeting the Middle/High School bus, across from the Tie Up at 2:30, to bring those participants up to the Elementary School to be sure they made it on the ski bus on time. Thank you to you both and also thank you to the Middle/High School participants for helping load the ski bus and assisting the Program chaperones as needed. Jen Edwards took on the Snack Coordinator Position with Corrinnia Stultz helping. I believe we will be seeing more of them next year, Jen being Snack Coordinator and Corrinnia much more involved with the program!

Thank you to The Lion’s Club, Windham/Shaw’s, Bridgton/Hannaford, Windham/Wal-Mart, Tony’s Foodland/The Crazy Stallion Pizza Factory and Dunkin Donuts. These businesses helped tremendously with our snack program, paper supplies, pizza party funds and funds towards the program. Parents and guardians also donated snacks and drinks and their time with phone calls.

Great news: Our program has been selected to attend the Portland Pirates Game scheduled for March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center in the Country Kitchen Bread Box areas. We are looking forward to it.

Of course, as we know, Tracy Card is Tracy. Tracy is our Program Coordinator for loading the bus at HES and inside the Sugar Shack/Lodge Coordinator. She helps anywhere she is needed, follows through completely, asks questions, keeps an organized and “color coded” clipboard and makes the best chocolate chip cookies. Thank you Tracy for all that you do.

Lastly, thank you to the Harrison Elementary School Staff for your extra help during the seven-week program – from students being dismissed early, your gathering their supplies ahead of the early dismissal time, disruptions, schedule changes, make-up work, missing “specials,” extra notes and e-mails and calls and questions (I am sure there are many more details) but most importantly, thank you for your support and your patience, we appreciate it very much. Mrs. Fuller is “magically” always there to help the program in so many different ways – you are amazing. Thank you Mrs. Emery for your support of the program. Diana at the Bus Garage – it’s always a pleasure working with you scheduling and rescheduling the ski bus. Thank you for keeping me apprised of last minute changes.

Once again, thank you to everyone. It was a great year and we look forward to seeing you next year.

Julie and Jeff Murphy

Program Coordinators

Harrison