On top of their regular teaching duties at their respective schools, Mark Schendel and Susan Cochrane will also be assuming the roles of vice-president and president, respectively of the Yorkton Elementary Schools Sports Association (YESSA) effective this school year.
The YESSA is involved in getting as many young students involved in sporting activities throughout the year and as Schendel points out, its not as much about winning as it is competing.
"It's about participation," he explained to the newspaper. "The aim is to provide our student athletes with some life-long skills, including (but not limited to) work ethic, teamwork and leadership."
YESSA sports for the 2010-11 school year include volleyball (Sept.-Oct), badminton (Jan.-Feb.) and basketball (Feb.-April).
Schendel said they changes badminton and basketball in the season as the number of officials available to work those games "is decreased."
Schools involved in YESSA are St. Alphonsus, St. Mike's, St. Paul's from the catholic school division, and MC Knoll, Columbia, Dr. Brass and Yorkdale from the Good Spirit division.
Cross country is going to start this month and track and field will start in May, says Schendel.
East Central districts for cross country are scheduled for Oct. 7 in Melville, he adds.
"One thing Susan and I take pride in is providing excellence from the feeder schools to the high schools" in terms of developing the cities' multitalented and multi-skilled athletes.
Schendel, who will also be coaching sports over at MC Knoll, said he takes it upon himself to do a good job in readying the athletes for high school.
He will be looking after boys basketball and badminton at MC Knoll.
