Cross Country @ Northlea
Northlea Cross Country 2017
If you ran with us last year, we're happy to have you back. If this is your first year, welcome! We're looking forward to another fun and successful year of cross country running!
Training starts at 7:45 on September 6th for all groups except Grade 1's (who start on Thursday).
There's a lot of important information to know about our 2017 season, so please review this package carefully and ask us if you have any questions.
Special thank you to the staff and parent leads on this enormous undertaking. The team is still looking for additional parent coaches for the Thursday Grade 6 training. A lack of volunteers will result in the cancellation of the Thursday training for Grade 6 students. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Megan or Alexis. Their contact information is noted below on this page.
Mandatory Meeting:
We have our first mandatory meeting on September 8th at 8:00 am. All runners and parents are asked to attend. There will be no training that day.
Forms & Fee:
Please ensure your forms are returned to us by no later than September 8th. Boxes will be outside every morning at training where you or your child can leave your forms. We want the option of taking certain groups off-site and we can't do that unless we have your forms. Cost for grade 1 is $10, cost for Grades 2-8 is $20. Our priority is to ensure that all students can access this opportunity. If finances are a barrier to involvement, please be in touch with Ms. Sandler. Concerns about finances will be handled with discretion and will remain confidential. Our priority is to ensure that all of our students can access this opportunity.
You can find a copy of the parent permission form here:
As is the case with most programs, you get what you put in. The more your child attends training, the better they're going to be prepared for races. We can not allow runners who do not regularly attend training to participate in the races so please ensure your child is coming to a minimum of three mornings a week.
In the event of a heavy rain, training will be cancelled and the website (www.northleaschool.ca) will be updated with that message.
Injuries/Illness:
If your child is injured and unable to run or not feeling well, DO NOT bring them to training. We don't have the manpower to supervise individual children who can not run. Feel free to speak to one of us if your child is consistently missing training due to injury.
Respect and Code of Conduct:
We will require EVERY participant to sign the Cross Country Code of Conduct. This code must be followed at all times while training or attending races. If this code is breached, appropriate measures will be taken. If you have any issues, please come and speak to one of us.
Off Site:
This year, only grades 3-8 will be participating in off-site training. We hope to begin off-site training during the second week of school. A schedule of off-site days will be provided on the website. If your child is uncomfortable going off-site or would prefer to do the on-site training, they are welcome to come another day or join another age group staying at the school for training.
Correspondence:
All information will be sent to you via our co-ordinators. Please ensure you have filled out your email address clearly on the attached forms to ensure you receive all the information (and there will be lots!).
CTAC Race & Brock Gordon:
The Central Toronto Athletic Club usually hosts a race in September but unfortunately their permit was not renewed and the race will not be happening this year. The Brock Gordon however, is open to kids in all grades. It's being held at Thomson Park at Brimley and Lawrence (date TBD). It's a beautiful cross country course and we recommend all kids participate if they're available. Please watch out for your opportunity to sign up. More info to come.
Grade 1 & 2 *New this year*
We've made some changes to the program for our smallest runners this year. Grade 1's will be training twice a week (every Tuesday and Thursday) and Grade 2's will be training three times a week (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) between 7:45-8:30am. Grade 1's will only participate in the Northlea Race (see below).
Adult supervision is MANDATORY for all grade 1 & 2's participating in Cross Country. This is not a drop-off program. Our volunteers are busy with training and are not able to provide one on one attention or accompany individual children into the school for washroom visits. If your child is in the daycare, please speak to them to ensure proper supervision. If a parent can not attend, please designate another parent to oversee your child.
Grade 1 and 2 Northlea Race:
Given the limited racing for the grade 1's and 2's, we will be hosting a race just for them one morning at Northlea on Friday October 13th. We will not be including the Grade 3's this year as they have the option of moving on to the Conference Final race. There will be no more training for the grade 1's and 2's after this race.
Training Time Grades 3-8:
Grades 3-8 will train every day between 7:45 am - 8:30 am. In the event of a heavy rain, training will be cancelled and the website (www.northleaschool.ca) will be updated with that message.
Spirit Wear:
All runners at TDSB races MUST be wearing a Northlea shirt or risk being disqualified.
Our signature Northlea shirts can be ordered online at:
http://northleaschool.entripyshops.com/youth-pro-team-tee
DON'T FORGET TO ORDER LIME GREEN
Feel free to order other articles of clothing, there are lots of options! They need 7-8 business days for delivery, so please order early to ensure you've got your swag for the first race!
TDSB Races:
This year, only grades 2-8 will be travelling to TDSB races. There are three TDSB races. The grade 2's only participate in the first race, the grade 3's have the option to move on to the second race and grades 4-8 have the option of moving on to the City finals.
*Starting in 2018, only grades 3-8 will travel to TDSB races.
The dates are as follows:
Zone Race: October 4th
Conference Final: October 16th
City Final: October 26th
We are both at every practice in the morning. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to speak to us at training or email us at alexisdecastro@outlook.com or meganoco1@me.com.
Looking forward to a great season!
Alexis De Castro & Megan O'Connell
Cross Country Code of Conduct
The organizers of the Cross Country Program at Northlea Elementary & Middle School are committed to creating a positive atmosphere in which all students have the opportunity to have fun and participate in an athletic program. Everyone is welcome to participate as long as our code of conduct is followed at all times. Our volunteers are available to train the participants with the goal of participating in up to three Cross Country meets hosted by TDESSA. We aim for the children to have fun as well as assume responsibility for their own behaviour. This program is a true partnership of home, school and community and respect for all parties must be upheld.
If a student wishes to participate in the Northlea Cross Country Program they agree to abide by the code of conduct while training at school, off site and competing while representing our school.
CODE OF CONDUCT
1. While training or participating in meets, the athletes must treat the coaches, parent volunteers, teachers and fellow athletes with respect at all times.
2. Students must participate in training at Northlea a MINIMUM of three days per week in order to participate in TDESSA meets - no exceptions. This commitment begins the first week of school.
3. Students who are injured and can not run will not be allowed to participate in off-site training. They are welcome to stay onsite at Northlea with another age group or will be asked to stay home from training until the injury is healed.
This program is run by parent volunteers and teachers who donate their time. Poor behaviour and/or sportsmanship will not be tolerated. If a coach and or teacher feel that a child's attitude or behaviour is an ongoing problem, the coach will notify the co-ordinators and the school administration and a meeting will be held to assess whether the child should be allowed to continue in the program.
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