Bigger is better, especially when it comes to gymnasiums.
Earlier this year, when students, parents and visitors were touring the new school, the major buzz was “have you seen the gym?”
The new gymnasium is certainly a centerpiece of the new school. The size has nearly doubled from its previous school gym. Also adjoining the gym is a full fitness centre.
More than just the sheer size of the gym, to athletic director Gavin Makse is that it allows the school to do, both curricular and extra curricular. The red and black with logos from the Saints, the Junior High teams and the Senior High Sabres instills a feeling of school pride.
St. Anthony’s had prided itself in that over the last decade it has been able to offer quality daily physical education programs from Grades 1-9 and quality physical eduction at the high school level. With the new gymnasium space they are able to easily accommodate two classes at one time, offering programmed daily access to physical education programs for students of all grades.
The fitness centre too has expanded, and offers a full slate of exercise equipment. It can accommodate a full classroom.
Outside the typical classroom, the gym is ideal for school celebrations or assemblies and the students are able to fit comfortably on the bleachers. The gym also allows the school to build intramural programs at lunch hours adding another layer of physical activity and health for students. This year they already started with a junior and senior high school 3-3 basketball tournament as well as the St. Anthony’s Stanley Cup.
For the last decade the school has also been building its sports program and has had success in golf, volleyball, basketball and athletics. The expanded gym allows them to keep building on its successes. Offering virtually two full basketball courts, it will increase practice time and make them easier to schedule.
To show off the gym the school is already planning to host tournaments next year for all of their basketball teams, as well as a number of Christ the Redeemer inter-divisional tournaments.
The gym is not only good for the athletes, but for the fans. Before students and parents crammed on to the stage to watch sports from one side of the gym. The sidelines were often standing room only, and could spill out on to the court. Now there is ample seating in the new bleachers to cheer on the Saints or the Sabres. Outside the gym the Life Skills Centre is closely located to Padua Hall, making it ideal to run a concession during a tournament.
The gymnasium is another component of the new St. Anthony’s School that is building the lives of youth in the valley and the health and well-being of the school community.
