Payton Gauthier qualifies for junior worlds

By Bernie Puchalski - August 11, 2021

Even during a COVID-19 pandemic, athletes can find a silver lining.

Payton Gauthier, a 17-year-old Niagara Falls resident, managed to do just that in his rowing career.

“At first, I thought it would be the end of what was a really important year and I would be unmotivated to look for and find a school but it ended up being one of my most beneficial years,” said the student at Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School in Niagara Falls. “I joined the academy and now I am finding even more potential schools to attend now that I have had this experience and training.”

The Niagara Falls Rowing Club member has been training at the Ontario NextGen Performance Centre in Welland since last September.

“Since I started at the academy, it has opened my eyes to how much work it requires to be able to compete at an international level. But at the same time, I have realized how attainable it is,” Gauthier said. “I have a learned a lot of things about my stroke that I didn’t notice before and now I am able to articulate it a lot better and I am able to correct myself. The coaching staff has been able to help me train this way.” Canada’s men’s quad at the world juniors.

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Medal haul for Niagara’s track and field athletes

By Bernie Puchalski - BP Bports Niagara

Thorold Elite athletes Carson Gauthier, Kaleb Kennedy, and Mikhail Dwyer swept the podium in the novice boys javelin throw. Photo by Steve Fife.

Niagara’s track and field athletes had a dominant performance at the NXT CHAMP Invitational this past weekend at the Toronto Track and Field Centre.

Carson Gauthier was the meet’s top performer earning five gold medals and one silver medal across six events. Steve Fife photo.

Thorold Elite Track Club member Carson Gauthier led the way for Niagara at the meet which was held in an attempt to make up for two years of missed Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association championships. The invitation-only meet brought together the top 12 performers across the province to compete in each event for a spot on the podium.

Gauthier was the meet’s top performer and single-handedly earned six of the 36 medals won by athletes from the Niagara region. The talented athlete, who is training for a decathlon, won gold in novice boys javelin, high jump, long jump, shot put and 100-metre hurdles. He added a silver in novice boys discus, finishing second to Thorold Elite teammate Tommy Dallman.

Thorold Elite’s athletes won an additional 13 medals at the meet including: Caleb Grover, gold in junior boys shot put and silver in junior boys discus; Kaleb Kennedy, silver in novice boys javelin; Victoria Massoom, silver in novice girls 80-metre hurdles; Ava Young, silver in novice girls javelin; Adam Kleinsmith, silver in open boys 2,000-metre steeplechase; Matthew Kleinsmith, silver in novice boys 3,000 metres; Chad Thorpe, silver medal in junior boys 400 metres and a bronze in the 300-metre hurdles; Denis Tzvetkov, bronze in senior boys long jump; Tyrese Gibson, bronze in novice boys 100 metres; Sammy Tonnies, bronze in novice boys 800 metres; and, Mikhail Dwyer, bronze in novice boys javelin.

Zavio Prato of the Niagara Olympic Club was a triple medalist, earning gold in the junior boys 200 and 400 metres and a bronze in the 100 metres.

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August 3, 2021 - Board update: Return to School

Good afternoon:

As you may have heard today, the Ontario Government has announced plans for a safe return to school for September. Many things will remain in place from last year as we reopen on September 7, such as the need to wear masks indoors for all students in Grades 1-12. Other things will change, such as allowing students to play outdoors without masks and in mixed cohorts during lunches and recess.

Secondary students will attend school all-day, Monday to Friday (no cohorts). Plans are being discussed how to safely implement a return to extracurricular activities like sports, band, choir and other clubs for both elementary and secondary students. You will learn more about that in coming weeks, as information is made available.

Virtual learning is permitted again in 2021-2022. Secondary families have already submitted plans for student attendance next year. Elementary families will be contacted about their final choice next week. We look forward to welcoming the majority of our students back to school for in-person learning.

The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Niagara Region Public Health continue to promote vaccinations for students aged 12-17 and staff, but they are not required to return to school or work in September.

The Ministry of Education has allowed local public health units to provide insight and to place their own recommended measures on schools in their communities. We will work closely with Niagara Region Public Health to balance the need to begin returning to a more normal school year with the need for continued vigilance as the Delta variant remains strong in Ontario. We expect to have more detailed information for you next week, after we meet with Public Health.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work towards a safe and happy 2021-2022 school year for everyone.

Congratulations Miss. McKinley!

Along with our Stage walk last night we were able to pay tribute to Miss. McKinley! After 33 years of service to the NCDSB Miss. McKinley is retiring! We wish her happiness and success on her next journey! Thank you Miss. McKinley!!