PONDERAY — The sound of laughter could be heard echoing from The Pond earlier this week courtesy of two trips by Southside Elementary students.

The trips for all students at the school were made possible by a donation from the president of North Idaho Ice, Tim Wilson. Lake Pend Oreille School District officials said Wilson’s donation paid for the cost of buses while Ponderay waives the rink use fee for any elementary school field trips. 

Wilson is a parent of a second grader at Southside and grew up playing hockey, making the trip to The Pond personal for him. 

“Sports of any kind are a great way for kids to grow and stay out of trouble,” Wilson said. “We want to get kids hooked on ice sports, not just for athletics, but for the joy of skating itself.” 

Most of the kids were inexperienced on the ice but didn’t waste the opportunity to take on a new skill. The students enjoyed the little wins as they glided, tumbled and used The Pond’s unique polar bear skating aids to move around the community rink. 

In the press release, teachers said they enjoyed the trip, especially seeing the students’ excitement and teamwork which goes beyond what can occur in a typical classroom setting. 

“For the vast majority of our students, this was their very first time on the ice,” Southside Elementary Principal Jenny Smith said. “I am so grateful they’ve had the chance to embrace a new skill and explore a local resource they might not have discovered otherwise.” 

    A Southside Elementary School student gets a helping hand to skate around The Pond on Monday.
  

    A Southside Elementary School student holds onto the Polar Bear skating aid at The Pond.