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South Jordan Journal

Jordan Ridge Winter Olympic fun gives students bonding time with parents

Feb 28, 2018 02:50PM ● By Julie Slama

Jordan Ridge second-grader Jonah Hardy tries out the luge course with the help of his mother, Rachel, in the school's mother-son Olympic night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

It may look like sliding on paper plates or jumping from dot to dot, but in reality, the mothers and their sons were competing at Jordan Ridge’s Winter Olympics.

“We love mother-son night,” said Rachel Hardy, who came with her sons, fifth-grader Noah and second-grader Jonah. “It’s great to be with my kids and their friends. We come every year, but having Olympic events is exciting.”

While the luge — lying on scooters with the student’s mom pushing him or her around a course outlined with orange cones in the multi-purpose room — was a family favorite, skating was a bit trickier.

“I kept falling off the paper plates,” Jonah said.

The events, including the scooter luge course; speed skating on paper plates down the carpeted hall; ice skating by learning and practicing moves on the stage; and Frisbee curling in the multi-purpose room, were some highlights of the Feb. 1 event.

Holly Humphrey, who attended with her third-grade son, AJ, said that it was fun to compete against one another.

“We’ve done figure skating on the stage, the luge and speed skating so far, but the luge is a favorite,” she said, adding that she recalls the 2002 Olympics and has fond memories from when Salt Lake City hosted the games. 

Sixth-grader Nathan Mader moved from Tennessee and had been attending the school for three weeks when he and his mother, Danielle, came to Jordan Ridge’s Winter Olympics.

“This is fun, and it gives us a chance to get to know the school better,” she said. “We’re having some fun, like doing the slalom, where we had to jump from spot to spot down the hall. It’s challenging.”

Other activities included Olympic training exercises, name that Olympic sport game, make a flag of a country, standing on a medal stand and taking a break for snacks at a hot chocolate bar.

“This is a Jordan Ridge tradition,” said Parent-Teacher Association president Todd Hougaard about the event that attracts about 500 people to the school. “It’s a fun night that people love and come get involved in our school.”

He said that the event also costs little, and many former students come to volunteer. Previous themes have included “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and comic con.

Former Olympic speed skater gold medalist Derek Parra was expected to attend the Feb. 22 mother-daughter night.

For Logan Sampson and her fifth-grade son, Sammy, it’s more than competing at curling or on the luge.

“It’s a mother-son night away from our family,” she said. “Since the baby was born, I haven’t done as much with him, and I’ve missed him. He thrives on the time we have together.”