Kevin Harrington is hoping to dispel a few myths. The Royal Bay secondary athletic director says a common misconception is that his school features more arts-oriented programming, without offering traditional sports, while Belmont is the opposite.
Parents still ask why Royal Bay doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a compliment of sports programming. The former Belmont teacher tells them they do have athletic programs, some people just donB次元官网网址檛 know about it yet.
B次元官网网址淲e have all sports at Royal Bay B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 still in peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds this is a fine arts school and Belmont is the athletics school, but we both have full compliments at both schools,B次元官网网址� Harrington said. B次元官网网址淲e both have our speciality programs, but outside of that, we both offer everything you could want in fine arts courses and athletics and all the sports.B次元官网网址�
Royal Bay hosts the Trades Awareness Skills and Knowledge (TASK) and culinary arts programs while, Belmont features French Immersion studies and the automotive department.
In terms of academies, Royal Bay offers soccer and dance. The two programs moved over from Belmont and will be joined by a lacrosse academy next year.
Belmont continues to have its hockey academy and will be installing rugby and softball/baseball academies for the upcoming academic year. Both schools also offer fine arts programming and have a theatre.
B次元官网网址淭he well-rounded student is whatB次元官网网址檚 important,B次元官网网址� Harrington said. B次元官网网址淲e have all sorts of academies. To take the opportunity that is there, to be active, it brings students together. The spirit of the school is sometimes through theatre and sometimes through gym. WeB次元官网网址檙e hoping to develop the smaller-school feel and school spirit.B次元官网网址�
In terms of differences between sports offerings, both schools offer soccer, volleyball, basketball and track and field, while only Belmont has a football team.
As for highlights, Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 junior boys volleyball team won the Island Championships in their inaugural season, and their junior girls basketball team is currently ranked 14th in the province.
Royal Bay offers sports performance classes and credited courses on basketball, volleyball and lacrosse, all of which ran in the first semester with a full compliment of students. Some classes had wait lists due to high interest.
Harrington said all aspects of school programming are important, and both Belmont and Royal Bay offer great options for students. B次元官网网址淚f students are involved in athletics, fine arts, music, it allows them to connect to school, coaches, teachers and the school community (more) than if school is just the classroom setting,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like any kind of program, it has students who get attached to it and if a student is connected to a school, they are more likely to be successful.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
