HMS Ski Club Remembers Remarkable 2026 Season

By: Shyella Mayk

For many Heritage Middle School students, winter means so much more than cold weather and snow days—it means Ski Club!  This year, the Heritage Ski & Snowboard Club, coordinated by Health and Physical Education teacher Ms. Shyella Mayk, enjoyed its largest and most amazing season yet. Throughout the winter, one hundred and twenty 7th and 8th grade students participated in seven ski trips to Camelback Ski Resort!  Five trips were originally scheduled, but then two more trips were “added on,” giving the students more time to ski, snowboard, gain independence, build friendships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.  Over the past three winter seasons, Ms. Mayk has coordinated the club on a volunteer basis, a role she describes as both demanding and deeply rewarding. The coordination before the trips even start and during the days leading up to each trip, involves detailed planning, communication with parents and students, coordination with the ski resort and bus company, and scheduling parent chaperones according to their availability.  Ms. Mayk is grateful to Heritage Principal Mr. Kelly, for his support of the club.

What began as an exciting first trip on January 14 quickly grew into a season filled with enthusiasm, teamwork, and adventure. Students eagerly loaded buses leaving school 45 minutes early, hustling to board so they could maximize their time on the mountain. Whether they were experienced skiers flying down black diamond trails and doing tricks at the terrain park or beginners taking their first turns under the guidance of instructors, students embraced every opportunity to challenge themselves and improve.  The season featured trips in January, February and March enabling students to experience a wide variety of conditions throughout the winter—from fresh powder and comfortable temperatures to bitterly cold evenings that required hand warmers, balaclavas, and extra layers. Through it all, their enthusiasm kept growing.

This was the first season that beginner skiers and snowboarders were included on the trips.  This was because in the first two ski seasons, the trips were on Saturdays, a time when Camelback didn’t offer school group lessons.  Through a series of 3 lessons, the beginner students progressed from learning basic turns and stops to confidently skiing green trails and, in some cases, advancing to blue and black trails with supervision and guidance from an instructor. Watching students gain confidence and advance levels became one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.

Safety remained the top priority throughout the season. Students learned the importance of skiing within their ability levels, staying on marked trails, skiing with a partner or small group, and communicating with Ms. Mayk or other chaperones and ski patrol when assistance was needed. The structured check-in procedures, use of communication systems, and caring adult presence helped ensure that students were supported throughout every trip.

Determined to include as many students as possible, Mayk worked to organize a second 55-seater bus on each trip date, a process that required an additional certificated staff person under district guidelines. Officer Chris Wagner, a Livingston dad who loves to ski, made the commitment.  He applied for and received substitute certification to become an employee of the district and committed to attending all of the trips.  Whether helping students on the mountain or other situations requiring assistance, communicating with chaperones or providing support behind the scenes, Officer Wagner's reliability and dedication played an essential role in Mayk’s ability to double the number of students on each trip.

The success of a program this large would not have been possible without the support of an outstanding group of parent chaperones.  Throughout the season, these chaperones gave generously of their time, braving cold temperatures, helping students resolve equipment issues, responding to injuries, assisting with attendance and check-in procedures and ensuring that every student had a safe and enjoyable experience.  Special thanks goes to:

Barbara Scarpa-Pinkham, Chris Pinkham, Gennia Yosifovich, Elly Borenstein, Eugene Vaknansky, JP Park, Jack Moas, Josh Platnick, Brian Spector, Elisa Dinzes, Chad Dinzes, Mark Covitt, Liati Mayk-Hai and Inga Cohen.

Despite occasional challenges—such as weather conditions, equipment mix-ups, or the logistics of coordinating 100 students on each trip—the program consistently ran smoothly thanks to careful planning and the committed team of chaperones.

Additional recognition goes to student volunteers Aaron Vaknansky, Tamar Cohen, Elan Weiss, Eitan Yosifovich, Aaron Moas and Griffin Beiberman, whose assistance with morning equipment drop off and organization and updating bus attendance lists helped keep operations running smoothly throughout the season.