SeDoMoCha youngsters take to the ice with Kinderskate program
DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha Elementary School kindergarten students have had the opportunity to lace up their skates, with adult assistance, and take to the ice at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena on West Main Street.
For six weeks on Thursdays, the students have gone across town to take part in the afternoon “Kinderskate” program.
The SeDoMoCha School offers a learn-to-swim program in grade 2 and learn-to-ski for seventh grade. School officials thought an ice skating program would be a great way to help students gain lifelong outdoors skills and get them outdoors to see what Piscataquis County has to offer.
LEARNING TO SKATE AT A YOUNG AGE — SeDoMoCha Elementary School kindergarteners have been learning to skate at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena in Dover-Foxcroft through the new Kinderskate program. For six Thursdays the students travel across town to learn from arena instructors and five hockey-playing eighth graders.
A busload of kindergartners came to the Piscataquis County Ice Arena on Oct. 8 for their fourth visit, wearing snowpants and mittens and gloves. They wore nametags around their necks.
The Penquis Youth Hockey Association panther mascot greeted the young skaters with hugs and high fives as they headed inside, where they got their ice skates and helmets.
Before heading into the arena, Lorna Malay-Harmon said she likes the cold ice despite sometimes falling. If this happens, she gets right back up and skates on.
Ice skating is no longer hard for Malay-Harmon. She finds it fun and enjoys the weekly trips with her friends.
ICE CROSSING — Kindergartners go from one side of the ice to the opposite boards during the Oct. 8 Kinderskate program session at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena. Students have been learning to skate over six weekly sessions.
Malay-Harmon prefers to go slow on her skates.
“Sometimes I hold onto the boards,” she said.
Five eighth-graders are assisting Piscataquis County Ice Arena instructors. The middle school group all play for the Penquis Panthers and bring years of ice skating experience.
Eighth grader Jack Walker, a defenseman for the Panthers, said he has enjoyed working with the kindergartners on “Edge work and getting up and how to fall down.”
PANTHER SIGHTING — The Penquis Youth Hockey Association panther mascot greets SeDoMoCha Elementary kindergarten students as they arrive for a Kinderskate program session at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena.
He said with edges on the sides of skates, “You use them to push off and get speed and momentum.”
“They have improved a lot since the first time,” Walker said.
Several students use adaptive sleds to also have the opportunity to skate. Short hockey sticks help these kindergartners move across the ice.