Sunday, September 17, 2006
Dear friends of Prairie Christian Academy (Prairie High School and Prairie Elementary School);
Another school year has begun and we are excited about what God has in store for Prairie Christian Academy during the next 10 months! One aspect of the school year that begins almost immediately is Athletics. Whether it is volleyball tryouts at the High School or European handball intramurals in the Elementary school, we strongly believe that sport has a very important role in shaping our students into healthy, well-rounded individuals. We also recognize that there are many opportunities for spiritual development that accompany any athlete’s experience at our school. Our mission at Prairie Christian Academy; to offer excellent Christ-centered education, extends to the formation, coaching and management of our many athletic endeavors. So while the sports we participate in are not unique in our school division, the way in which we approach them is. Sabres Hockey Head Coach Tim Arnold says, "We continue integrating what is being taught in school into our daily living. With a strong emphasis on discipline, having a good work ethic and commitment to the team, it is only natural that character development is a focus we have." Positive character development through participation in athletics, is a goal that Prairie Christian Academy desires to achieve on a yearly basis. We cannot achieve this goal, however, without involvement from people like you. We have set aside Saturday, September 30th to feature our athletics program and we would like you to be a part of this very important day.
The Alumni volleyball, hockey and basketball games start off the day, followed by the 3rd Annual Sabres Athletics Fundraising Banquet in the evening. We would like to invite all Prairie Christian Academy/Prairie High School volleyball, hockey and basketball alumni to return in order to faceoff against this year’s Sabres sports teams. All you need to do is inform us that you will be attending so that we can add you to the roster of your choice. If you are interested in playing volleyball or basketball, you can call our Athletic Director, Kristal Murray at (403)443-1446 (e-mail - robnkrismurray@yahoo.ca). Anyone interested in playing hockey can contact Coach Tim Arnold at (403)443-0949 (e-mail – tsarnold@telus.net). The volleyball game will be at 10 am (Rick Down Athletic Centre), followed by hockey at noon (Three Hills Centennial Arena) and the basketball game at 2:15 pm (Rick Down Athletic Centre). These alumni games will be followed by the Athletics Banquet, which will start at 5 pm in the PBI Dining Room.
Even though Prairie Christian Academy is part of the public school system and receives funding for many of the educational options, there are still a number of financial areas that the school, parents and the community are responsible for. One of these areas is Athletics. Team uniforms, equipment, athletics administration, volunteer coaching costs and especially transportation are costs that escalate each year. To help cover some of these costs, a dedicated group of parents (all volunteers) spends countless hours planning, organizing and putting on an Athletics Banquet each year. While it is a fund-raising event and the evening includes several opportunities for guests to give, the organizers have committed to showcasing Christian education and the important role that sports has in that education. Each year the event features special guest speakers (past speakers have included Ryan Walter, Jon Vanbiesbrouck, Darryl Janz, Kevin and Kim Haller, LeeAnn Reimer), guest musical artists (Kim Haller – PCA grad, Raylene Scarrot – PCA grad) and several Prairie Christian Academy Athletics alumni. Current Prairie Christian Academy students are the servers, decorators and clean-up crew for the banquet. The event has traditionally drawn around 300 people and has seen heavy involvement from many of the local businesses.
This year's Athletics Banquet will be held on September 30th, 2006 and will feature former NHL 'enforcer', Stu Grimson. Stu, a Christian for most of his hockey career, now works as Associate Council for the NHL Player’s Association. Another special guest will be Prairie High School Alumnus('81) and western entertainment's best kept secret, Ben Crane. Ben is a unique performer, sought-after singer and award-winning western cartoonist. These very special guests will be joined by MLA Richard Marzpan, world champion auctioneer Jon Radcliffe, CTV News anchor Darryl Janz, former NHL player Kevin Haller, recording artist Kim Haller, Three Hills Mayor Kevin Edwards and CTV sports reporter Heath Brown. The evening will also include a live and silent auction, book signings, alumni testimonies, and much more. Tickets for the event are $50.00 and are available by calling (403)443-3026.
If you will be in need of accommodations during your stay in Three Hills, we would like to suggest a few options. The following have proudly supported the Prairie Christian Academy Sabres: a) The Lamplighter Inn Motel - $89.00 (403) 443-5919, b) Best Western Diamond Inn - $98.00 (877) 443-7744 or c) Three Hills Super 8 - $109.00 (403) 443-8888. (For reservations, please contact these establishments directly.)
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read through this e-mail and for your continued interest in the Christ-centred education offered at Prairie Christian Academy. For more information about the school please visit us online at www.pca3hills.ca. Also, if you have any questions about the event or would like to donate an item for auction, do not hesitate to contact me.
Jason Ewert
Director of Development
Prairie Christian Academy
www.pca3hills.ca