The Canadian Ski Council's (CSC) Winter Feels Good program felt very good indeed for Suzanne Volk's Grade 4 class at Quarterway School in Nanaimo.  The class, one of the few chosen in British Columbia, entered and won a day out on the slopes at Mount Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 19.鈥�

The class submitted essays and drawings explaining why they thought their class deserved a day out of class and on the slopes.鈥ㄢ�淲e deserve this trip because we can learn about being safe while skiing and snowboarding,鈥� wrote Quarterway student Ocean.  鈥淎lso because it would be fun and some people in our class can get better.鈥濃�═he Winter Feels Good program has been a major success for the Canadian Ski Council, organizers noted in a press release.

The program was developed to help students get on the slopes, many of whom never had the opportunity. Numerous ski resorts across Canada signed on to host a class located in their region for a day of fun on the slopes. In all, more than 150 schools from across the country entered to win a day at their local mountain.鈥�

鈥淭he students enjoyed their trip thoroughly,鈥� said teacher and organizer Suzanne Volk. 鈥淢any of the students in the program have never had the opportunity to ski or snowboard before.鈥濃�╒olk was particularly impressed with the efforts of three students who put a lot of time and effort into their essays for the Canadian Ski Council. 鈥淚'm very proud of Tarynn, Ocean and Lily for the efforts they put into the program,鈥� she remarked.

鈥∕ount Washington provided the Quarterway students with complimentary lift tickets, lessons, rentals, lunch, and a bus ride to the ski area. The Canadian Ski Council contributed $500 to help offset some of the costs of transporting the class to the mountain.

鈥‵or more information on the Winter Feels Good program or to learn more about the Canadian Ski Council, go to www.skicanada.org. For updates on Mount Washington, surf to www.mountwashington.ca.