The Pursuit School of Sport is getting set to roll out in September.
The Lloydminster Public School Division effort seeks to offer a new pathway for elite and aspiring athletes to balance sporting goals with academic success.
“There are two ways you can get in. You’re an elite athlete or striving to be an elite athlete, and two, is that you show the need that you need a flexible academic schedule,” says Doug Smith, principal of the Pursuit School of Sport.
The sports school has taken up residence in the refurbished space at the former Avery School at 4111 – 48 Avenue. It has six classrooms available for in-person learning and can work around the schedule of an athlete that has to be away but needs to get their school work done.
“The word ‘no’ is not going to be in our vocabulary. For example, a kid may be off to Ireland to compete in golf for two weeks. “Can I do my academics?’ The answer is going to be, ‘absolutely.’ We’re going to figure it out.” says Smith.
The grade 6-12 sports school will have a Monday-to-Thursday work week allowing students to have Fridays and weekends for tournaments.
“Because they compete on the weekends. They are not missing their academics. We are going to take care of that with a wee bit longer day.”
Smith who coaches several teams admits that the number of Fridays that student athletes miss “does add up.”
The school is partnered with Lloydminster Comprehensive and open to student-athletes across Lloydminster in both school divisions.
It’s hosting an open house, Monday, May 5 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. for families of elite or aspiring athletes.
There are 10 partnerships linked on the website including goaltending, softball, dance, gymnastics, volleyball, golf, among others.
Registration details are available online using this link or by contacting LPSD.
