Finishing Strong!

We take pride in "Finishing Strong" at "The Ridge!"

In fact, not only do we perform strongly throughout the year but when the stakes are high and we need to reach that personal best performance...our students truly shine.

As June continues, we begin our performance tasks and look toward our final exams. We also put a conclusion on our athletic and co-curricular participation. I have always been proud of our athletic excellence and prowess! Our successes in 2014/15 have surpassed all of our wildest expectations.

So many teacher/coaches and student/athletes engaged...all with the hopes of attaining both individual and group goals, while representing our school with energy, dignity and sporting excellence!

This past Thursday, we took time to recognize and truly appreciate the efforts of our coaches and athletes. As we heard and saw through the speeches and multi-media reflections...we have never been better, with more to come, as our young athletes look toward the future as "Trailblazers." One of the deep, honours I have at this event is to present our graduates with their medallions. This is a very, special year with this group, as I will be ending my tenure at Iroquois Ridge, with enduring pride and gratitude for all of our student/athletes and our teacher/coaches and all that they have contributed to our school via sport. I have always believed in the value of athletics and the discipline, committment, hard work and physical and emotional  challenges that our athletes and coaches endure. Some of the best and sometimes the hardest "life lessons" happen through sport. Things that you cannot get in the classroom!

Athletics make us stronger and builds unrelenting will. Competing with and against the best only builds more strength, resilience and offers the chance for lifelong relationships and memories that go beyond whatever we had hoped for. This year was no exception as many individuals and teams attained the goals and dreams they had hoped for...and much more! Our coaches and athletes

celebrated this success with each other during our recent Athletic Recognition Evening and they can all be proud of all that they have accomplished!

I thank all of our students and coaches for representing IRHS at the highest level with such splendour and sportsmanship. I have always been proud of our kids..as they never give up and are gracious with every win and even more gracious upon not winning! That is hard to come by...a unique trait of our

Trailblazers.

My sincere gratitude and thanks to Marie Guest - Program Leader for Healthy Active Living and Athletics, who puts her heart and soul into everything she does on behalf of our kids, staff and school. Additional heartfelt appreciation goes out to a very strong and passionate, Healthy Active Living Team - Mike Luyks, Scott Phillips, Tim Coe, Christy Busby and Alicia Dercho. Your love and committment to our students and support of our staff is phenomenal and so deeply appreciated!

Greater things are to come yet, I believe, as you continue to go beyond building a "winning tradition"

at "The Ridge."

So...in my last tribute to Ridge Athletics...I wish you all well for your continued success and pride in all that you do! Your purpose and mission is clear...you are building for the future as you shape stronger bodies, minds and the character of our young adults, who will someday become the strongest leaders...who know what teamwork and striving for excellence and a common goal is all about. This is crucial for their "life success!!"

I humbly salute you, and from the top and bottom of my heart, thank-you, for providing so many highlights and fond memories of Ridge Athletics. Boy...we have done well...haven't we?

Forever...a "Trailblazer!"