The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Amy Olenick taught in Kuwait for three months and recently moved back to Canada, but the new phys-ed teacher at Hapnot Collegiate said Flin Flon was never really on her travel list. The Swan River native joined the high school this year and is eager to get things going. Olenick recently returned to Canada from a three-month teacher placement in Kuwait with an English Additional Language course. Now she's back in phys-ed mode. Olenick graduated from Brandon University with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education as well as a minor in English. She made her way to Flin Flon two weeks before the school year started and she says she's already in love with the community. 'I love it. It's nice and a really friendly community,'Olenick said. 'And it's close to home, which is nice.' Olenick hasn't had any trouble fitting in as she picked up a spot on the Burkees Bedlam slo pitch team and quickly made new friends. 'It's been really easy to settle in,' she said. 'Everyone's been super helpful.' Putting her English courses on the back burner, for now, Olenick will teach gym classes at Hapnot this year as she secured a full-time position with the Flin Flon School Division. She joins the school with ideas for changes in mind. 'I would like to see more baseball,' Olenick said. Growing up playing the sport, she says she hopes to introduce more students to it. 'It's something I've been interested in and trying to get more (interest in) ball,' she said. Olenick is interested in teaching the sport in school, but could see it taking off in the community once again. 'It's all depending on numbers,' she said. 'But I'm going to try and get students involved with slo pitch and baseball. 'It's an area that has been lacking.' Olenick joined Burkees for her first two weeks in town and she says it was a great way to meet people and have fun. She will also take over some coaching responsibilities at Hapnot this year. She will take charge of the JV girls' volleyball team _ along with Sharon Beck _ as well as coaching a JV basketball team. Olenick will find herself busy this volleyball season as the teams are on the road every weekend _ starting this coming weekend in Dauphin. Coaching isn't new to the teacher as she said she's been doing it since her childhood. 'I've been coaching since I was (in Grade 8) and I love it,' she said, noting that she also coached while completing a teaching practicum. Previously, Olenick was involved with the Manitoba Summer Games and was quickly reminded of the importance of sport. 'Being involved with the Summer Games got me interested in advocating for youth sports,' she said. The 2013-14 school year is underway now as volleyball teams are getting their practices in and working toward success at their upcoming tournaments.
