Nanaimo Christian School has built a lot of athletics tradition in a short time, and all that participation, hard work and success has made NCS the province's most inspirational school.
Nanaimo Christian School was presented with the B.C. School Sports award last month in Kelowna, chosen from more than 450 schools. According to a press release from NCS, the award celebrates one school each year that embraces the values of B.C. School Sports, receives strong administrative support and elevates the student-athlete experience.
The school's athletic director, Breanne Quist, has helped to expand sports opportunities at NCS, quintupling the number of teams from seven to 35 over the past 10 years. She said more than 40 per cent of the student body plays on at least one school team, and noted that many students who don't play a sport volunteer to help with the athletics program in other ways or simply cheer on the Trail Blazers.
"This is a K-12 award," Quist told the News Bulletin. "Our kindergartners come to cheer, even though they have no idea what's going on … all the way through to middle schoolers who [think] 'that will be me one day,' to high schoolers who are playing the sports."
It helps that NCS teams have had a lot of success winning Island championships and earning berths in provincials.
"It puts you up into a higher standard – this is what the team did last year, next year let's try and push to that same standard," the athletic director said, adding that the school has consciously tried to strengthen communication between junior and senior teams to help athletes make the transition.
Nanaimo Christian School has been prolific with hosting tournaments such as North Islands, Islands and provincials. It hosts events away from the school grounds, for example recent soccer playoffs at Merle Logan Field and golf playoffs at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort and Fairwinds Golf Club, and it hosts lots of volleyball and basketball at the school gymnasium, one of the newer gyms in the city.
"Everybody likes to come to our gym and we're able to be a very loving, welcoming community," Quist said. "Part of that's because of our Christianity of course, opening up our doors and welcoming people into our facility."
NCS athletics continues to build. Quist hopes work can be done this summer at the school field so that it can be a satisfactory practice field for the school's ultimate Frisbee team. After that, NCS is anticipating hosting ski and snowboard provincials at Mt. Washington, and is also hopeful it can put a tennis team on the court for the first time.
The press release from Nanaimo Christian School notes that the school has strategically hired teachers who also coach as a way to "prioritize mentorship, leadership and connection," and collaboration between athletics and administration happens on a weekly basis during the school year.
Head of school Mike Campbell said in the release that the most inspirational school award celebrates what NCS has become.
"It is not about a single team or season," he said. "It is about students being shaped through joy, determination, camaraderie and belonging."
