views - Saint Viator High School

14
DECEMBER 2011
FEATURES
Out with the cold, in with the new
Saying goodbye to ski trip, saying hello to what’s to come
Clare Koehler
Staff Writer
As the winter season begins, many
students will be looking forward
to the snow filled activities associated
with the upcoming months.
It is around this time of year that students
usually begin preparing themselves
for what many consider to be the
highlight of their semester, the ski trip.
However, the students who normally
sign up for ski trip each year will have
to find another way to spend that weekend,
for it has been decided that ski trip
is being discontinued as of this year.
Held annually for the past 25 years during
the weekend after first semester finals,
about 120 students from all grades
toss out their semester study guides and
board an eight hour bus ride to Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula.
The weekend that follows is “a fun
loving experience to bond with people
you normally wouldn’t be able to
talk to,” said Abbey Austin, junior.
Despite the popularity
of the trip—
evident by the mob
of students that traditionally
rush in to
the school before six
in the morning on
the day of sign up
just to secure a spot
on the bus—faculty
decided that it is in
the best interests of
both the school and
the students to hereby
cancel the ski trip.
Mrs. Manno, who
has been chaperoning
the ski trip for the
past 25 years, has always
enjoyed attending
it and will be sad
to see it go. She feels that the trip is no
longer a possibility. In the past few years
alone, there have been dozens of injuries
on the slopes, though none too severe.
“It poses a liability for the school,”
said Mrs. Manno, “and it has a much
higher risk than other kinds of trips.”
A fire that broke out at Big Powderhorn
Mountain last year, which burned
down the entire main building only
days before Viator
students were
supposed to leave
for the ski trip,
has also caused
concerns. Those
buildings are old
and therefore
hazardous.
“Imagine if
a student had
been there when
that happened,”
Mrs. Manno said.
While these
concerns are valid,
many veteran
ski trip attendees
are outraged
by the sudden
loss of a tradition
that they consider
to be sacred. Other
students, who had
planned on attending
the ski trip for
the first time this
year, are also upset.
Freshmen who have
heard their siblings’
recollections
of the trip looked
forward to carrying
on the legacy. Seniors,
some unable
to attend before this
year, were hoping
to check the ski trip
off their to-do list
before graduating.
Even with all the
Art by Maeve Cavanagh
supporters, the ski
trip will remain unsaved,
though not for lack of trying. Junior
and veteran skier Luke DeTrempe,
whose family runs the Alpine Children’s
Charity, a charity that receives many
donations from Viator’s ski trip, sent
around a petition to reinstate the trip.
He managed to get 312 signatures in only
one day, proving the desire that many
students have to attend the ski trip.
“It’s disappointing
to see this Viator tradition
leave so suddenly,”
said DeTrempe.
“I tried everything to
bring the ski trip back,
but it seems like the
staff doesn’t see how
much it means to us.”
A large majority of
the student discontent
can be attributed to a
lack of reason. Many
believe that the ski
trip has been taken
away without a real
cause, thinking the
school is punishing
them. Even some alum-
Art by Maeve Cavanagh ni and parents have
been wondering why
the trip, which has been going on
for so long, is suddenly leaving.
However, Mrs. Manno made it very
clear that canceling the trip was in no
way a punishment for anyone. It is in the
best interests of the students to discontinue
Ski Trip in order to avoid anymore
injuries and future catastrophes.
“It was a business decision,” Mrs.
Manno said. “The kids weren’t bad.
There is no hidden agenda here.”
Despite Mrs. Manno’s reassurance,
some still feel that students are still
being punished. Many ask: what will
we do during the weekend after finals
if there isn’t a ski trip? Student council
has the answer. Chances of an all
school mixer during that weekend are
looking very good, and it is possible
that this generous activity will provide
another fun filled option for students.
Hopefully, answers towards why the ski
trip is not happening will calm students
down and clear the air. And though it
may be impossible to replace the ski trip,
perhaps a new tradition for future students
will be born in its wake.
Saint Viator High School
www.saintviator.com