Students, faculty and families celebrate the opening of the Mountain View Elementary School’s ice rink on Friday. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)
Mountain View Elementary students, faculty and families went slipping and sliding on Friday in Anchorage to celebrate the opening of the school’s new ice rink. Fifth-grade teacher James Cornelison, aka “Coach Wes,” set up a GoFundMe page to raise the $5,000 the school needed for the project.
“Our school does not have an ice skating rink. That’s like living at the beach and not swimming. Let’s make a change,” Cornelison wrote on the page.
In about a month, 18 donors contributed a total of $8,000 to make the ice rink a reality for the students of Mountain View.
After the school day ended Friday, students flocked to the rink, created on a basketball court. They wore helmets and ice skates provided by the school. Some students skated across the ice with ease, while some newer skaters used folding chairs to help with balance.
Cornelison said he’s excited for students to use the rink after school and on weekends, and he hopes that as students get more comfortable on the ice, they will enjoy the long Anchorage winters more.
Mountain View Elementary teacher James Cornelison, aka “Coach Wes,” greets a student on the ice. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Teacher James Cornelison poses with students at the school’s ice rink opening. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Third-grader Aria pushes preschooler Halo around the new rink. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Mountain View’s ice rink. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Third-grader Elena takes a break from skating to pose for a photo. She said she was having a blast, despite cold hands. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Aria, third-grade, and Halo, preschool, pose for a photo between trips around the ice rink. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Third-grader Emanuel and fourth-grader Jovan. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)Mountain View Elementary students take a break on the ice at the school’s ice rink opening celebration. (Elyssa Loughlin/Alaska Public Media)
