Northfield Skating School

Each session, NSS honors the staff member with the highest student retention, that is, the coach who has the highest percentage of skaters from their classes sign up to continue skating lessons. A high retention rate is a symbol of the commitment and quality of teaching, which greatly impacts our program. This session’s retention winner was coach Michaela McLaughlin. Read on to learn Michaela’s “secrets:”

“I really feel honored that so many skaters are coming back. It just goes to show what kind of an environment NSS produces. Since it’s so frigid cold in the arena, I, and the other coaches, try as hard as we can to make skaters feel warm and welcome at every lesson. I take the NSS philosophy to heart and encourage my skaters to be confident in their skills and in who they are as individuals. The most rewarding aspect of every lesson is witnessing the “Leader of the Day” take charge. Each week, one of the skaters leads the class by demonstrating different skills and watching and giving feedback to other skaters. This is an opportunity for all skaters to feel empowered no matter what their particular level of skating!!”

Congratulations, Michaela, for your achievement and dedication to coaching.

Above: Michaela helps skaters on Bring a Friend Day and the Off Ice Workshop last session. See our photos page for more photos.

Check out the 2008-09 Special Events section of our photos page for pictures of our arena’s Grand Re-Opening last Friday. You’ll see Recreation Manager Jason Eisold cutting a ribbon with the help of skaters and hockey players, a representative from Johnson Controls showing the arena renovations, and a handful of Northfield skaters practicing spins.

The photo albums page of the Northfield News contains even more photos taken by staff writer/photographer David Henke. Enjoy!

From Jason Eisold, Recreation Manager for the City of Northfield:

Arena Users & Friends,

We would like to invite you and your teams/clients/friends to the Grand Re-Opening Event of the Northfield Ice Arena. It will take place

Friday, November 7 from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Northfield Ice Arena 1280 Bollenbacher Drive.

Ceremony will begin at 11:30 with FREE open skate to follow. Tours of the renovated areas will be available. Sandwiches from Beef O’Brady’s, Hot Chocolate from the Northfield Hockey Association, and Granola Bars, Water Bottles and Souvenir Pucks provided by Johnson Controls will all be available while supplies last.

We hope to see you there!

Click here for Grand Re-Opening Invitation Card

Parents and Skaters: The 2008-09 Northfield Arena open skate schedule has been posted on the Skating Resources page. Click here to see the schedule.

Please note that open skate takes place directly before our Sunday lessons. What a great way to warm up and practice your skills! Open Skate in Northfield is ONLY $1. You won’t find ice at this price at any other arena we’re aware of.

Thanks to all of the Girl Scouts, parents, and coaches who participted in our first Girl Scout Figure Skating Fever on Sunday! We had a great time hosting a fun group of girls and young women in on and off-ice activites for our first official 2008-09 skating event. On the ice, girls participated in an introductory lesson, had free time, played games, and saw a performance with music by Northfield skater and Middle School student Anna Sheehan. Off the ice, we learned about types of skating sports, skating safety and attire, taking care of our bodies, and what you can get out skating. We even created our own synchronized skating team routine, tried out some pairs skating moves, and designed our own skating outfits. All girls earned a badge for their participation. Thank you to the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys for collaborating on this fun event!

The next Girl Scout Skating Fever will take place on Sunday, January 4th from 3:30 - 5:30pm. Contact the Girl Scouts to register!

Attention Skating Families:

The location of our 2008-09 Session 1 Parent Meeting &Volunteer Orientation has CHANGED. The meeting will now be held at Emmaus Church, 712 Linden St. N, Northfield, MN.

The time and date of the meeting are: Tuesday, Oct 14th, 6:30 - 8pm.

An email with this information will be sent to all registered families before the end of the week. Thanks!

Melanie Ritz, Skating Instructor for the Northfield Skating School and Junior Club Coach for the Tri-County Club in Farmington, and Carey Tinkelenberg, Founder/Director of the Northfield Skating School, were recognized in the September/October issue of the Professional Skater Magazine for their recent coaching accomplishments. Both Ritz and Tinkelenberg traveled to the Professional Skaters Association national headquarters in Rochester, MN in July to take ratings exams. Both coaches passed their exams, enabling their certification at a higher professional level. Ritz passed the Basic Accreditation exam, a 100 question multiple choice test, and Tinkelenberg passed her Registered Freestyle and Registered Moves-in-the Field tests, both oral exams in front of a panel of Master Rated examiners. Congrats, coaches!

If you missed the article about us in Diversions last Saturday, you can view it here on our In The News page.

We are pleased to announce that registration is NOW OPEN for 2008-09 classes!

There are 3 ways to reserve your spot:

1) Register online
2) At our Open House, Tues 9/23, 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Northfield Armory (519 Division St)
3) By mail. Find registration brochures along Division St. and at the Community Action Center, or click here to download a brochure and paper registration form

The Session 1 registration deadline is OCTOBER 1, 2008. Classes begin Sunday, Oct 19. Register soon! Skaters will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

We have developed new classes and collaborated with community organizations to offer expanded programming. Click here for descriptions of 2008-09 classes and events!