Educating our children: Early Morning Strings

(scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a hilarious video about one person's cello experience.)

If your children want to learn to play one of the string instruments--violin, viola, cello, bass--we have an excellent opportunity in Washington County to get our kids started early.  Fossil Ridge, Lava Ridge, Sunrise Ridge & Tonaquint Intermediate Schools and Hurricane Elementary all offer programs called “Early Morning Strings”.  The program is aptly named as the classes begin at 7:00 am.

The instruction is free. All you need to do is contact one of the early morning teachers, sign up and find an instrument. As a general rule, early morning strings is offered to 4^th and 5^th graders, but talk to the individual teacher. We have seen kids younger than 4^th grade participate, and in our own family, we have had a child love it so much that he opted to do both early morning and regular school day orchestra in order to learn a second instrument.

The ensembles perform in recitals a couple of times throughout the year. The instruction is quality and quite personalized as only the dedicated few make it to the early morning class. This is a hidden jewel in our community.

Of course, you are responsible for their transportation to and from the class.

Here is the contact information:

Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School (Desert Hills Cone Site):

• SRI Early Morning Strings website
• Kirsten Candland, 1^st year strings :kirsten.candland@washk12.org    
• Megan Powell, 2^nd year stings: 15powell.megan@gmail.com                    

Fossil Ridge Intermediate School (Pineview cone site):

• Ed Candland eddie.candland@washk12.org
• Liz Heaton

Lava Ridge Intermediate School (Snow Canyon cone site):

• Jeri Crosby jeri.crosby@washk12.org

Tonaquint Intermediate School (Dixie cone site):

• Robin Keith robin.keith@washk12.org

Hurricane Elementary (Hurricane cone site):

• Debbie Thornton website, debra.thornton@washk12.org
• Barbara Bennett, Kay Emerson, Stacey King, and Steven Saline

Southern Utah is certainly a place where our children can thrive. We simply have to find the best fit for their talents and personalities.

Let us help you find the best real estate fit for you.

Call Chris Jones 435-313-3966

Or

Visit www.whystgeorge.com

Facing the Reality: Pickle Ball Take-over

Vernon Worthen Park

Okay. I’ll confess. I was a tennis snob. The day I saw pickle ball courts take over the tennis courts adjacent to Vernon Worthen Park in downtown St. George, was a day of mourning. Smaller courts. Silly paddles. Only the weak, slow and retired could be opting for such a water-downed sport. Imagine my consternation when I started seeing more tennis courts being adapted for pickle ball and then when a whole pickle ball complex was installed at The Fields at Little Valley. What were people thinking??? http://www.sgcity.org/departments/leisureservices/parks/park.php?id=129

Little Valley Park

Yes, friends would suggest that I should give it a try. More and more friends began inviting us to go play as a couple. I declined several times—but I started to feel isolation creeping in to my choice of eliteness. Wednesday night at the Summit was where we could find our friends, hanging out on the %$@*$ pickle ball courts. I finally relented when our friends told us they were going to bring extra paddles so that we could come and give it a try. http://summitathleticclub.com/

Summit Athletic Club

I stood on the court with paddle in hand, listening to the crazy rules, trying to make peace with my step onto the dark side. We started warming up, dinking the ball back and forth. My competitive juices started to warm, as well, and it didn’t take long for those competitive impulses to take over. The harder I hit the ball, the harder it came back. The more finesse I used, the more finesse my opponents shoved right back. This little “paddle ball” game grew into an all out war, and the moment I lost, I wanted back on the court for a re-match. Sweat was pouring down my face, and I was guzzling water to keep up the pace of this wuss sport. http://www.usapa.org/rules-summary/

Pickle Ball is described as a mix between ping pong, tennis and badminton, all sports that I enjoy, and I could definitely feel a little of each of those sports as I played.

Our evening ended. The façade of eliteness stripped away. I was a convert. We discussed the best kinds of paddles and where to buy them as we walked—humbly walked—off the courts. Tennis is still my first love—but pickle ball has earned my respect and attention, and we’ll be back on the courts next Wednesday. But for now I’ll go take some Ibuprofen and rub some icy hot on some of those muscles that got whooped by Pickle Ball.

Pickle Ball Tournaments in St. George: http://www.sgcity.org/departments/recreation/adultsports/pickleball_tournaments.php

http://www.seniorgames.net/sports/pickleball/handbook/

Looking for a spot in St. George? Find me at the pickle ball courts or just call:

Chris at 435-313-3966

Or

Visit: www.whystgeorge.com