School becomes cool at Gleniti
Gleniti School pupils have been skating on thin ice – and teachers are happy about it.
Since Monday evening, the school’s hall has been home to Ice Skate Tour New Zealand and its mobile artificial skating rink, which will be open to the public after school from today to Sunday.
Along with getting a chance to see the rink as part of its five-week South Island tour, pupils are given 50-minute lessons on the ‘‘ice’’, with chairs or adult helpers to maintain balance.
For founder and teacher Robin de Goeij, the best part is learning new skills and it being ‘‘something you can do with friends or with your family’’.
‘‘It’s the only time it’s fun to fall.’’ The nature of the artificial ice, which is not cold, is made of plastic, and is set out ‘‘kind of like jigsaw pieces’’, means it does not get puddles, people cannot get wet, and there is no risk of cracks, he said.
‘‘It’s just something most kids have never done or seen.’’
Addison Dickson, 6, said she liked skating, particularly ‘‘not using the chairs and skating real fast.’’
Pippa Jay, 6, enjoyed being able to do it ‘‘without the chair’’.
The rink will be open to the public 3-7pm today and tomorrow, 3-5.30pm on Friday, and 10am5pm at the weekend. Entry is $8 for children under 16, $12 for adults, and $35 for a family.