Parks and Recreation

As the cold weather has approached the city, the Malta Parks and Recreation department has come up with a few ways residents can thaw off this winter.

The department currently has four organized sports going on including an Adult Co-ed Volleyball league and tumbling class both which started on Monday, October 16.

Parks and Rec kicked off an Intro to Yoga Class last Tuesday, November 7, and will kick off a youth Ultimate Dodgeball League tomorrow, Thursday, November 9 at the City Hall Gym.

The Dodge Ball league is in its’ second season and is back by popular demand. This year’s league will be for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, where as last year the league only went up to seventh grade.

“The schools have changed up the junior high sports a little bit,” Co-Director Julia Tatafu said. “Boys basketball isn’t until after Christmas this year.”

The idea of bringing in the eighth graders was that of Co-Director Natalie Judd’s son, who mentioned that a lot of eighth graders are interested.

Though the league will start on November 9, students will be able to join the league all the way up to the last day of play on Monday, December 11, given the child meets age parameters and can pay the one-time fee of $15.

“They can sign up at any time and bring the form to the middle or elementary school office or here (City Hall),” Tatafu said.

The age groups are times for Ultimate Dodgeball are Junior Division – Boys and Girls in Kindergarten through second grade. Juniors will play from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Intermediate Division – Boys and Girls in third through fifth grade. Intermediate will play from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Senior Division – Boys and Girls in sixth through eighth grade. Seniors will play from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Upon hearing many requests for a yoga class, Parks and Rec teamed up with local Yoga Instructor Fallon Handley, who will teach yoga on Tuesday Nights at 7:30 p.m. at the City Hall until Tuesday, December 11.

“We will focus on foundational poses and general alignment,” said Handley (on a flyer). “This is such a great way to stretch, strengthen and learn the basics of Yoga.”

Yoga classes are $5 per class with five classes remaining.

As previously mentioned Parks and Rec began the first session of tumbling classes on October 16.

The course has a variety of age groups during the eight week season, scheduled to run on Tuesdays, until it’s conclusion on December 9. Students are welcome at any time until the conclusion of the course on Tuesday, December 5. The Showcase, an event in which the parents will be welcomed, will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 10 a.m.

The groups and times are Tiny Tumblers, who have a one-time price of $30. Tiny Tumblers are kids three to five years of age. The Tiny Tumblers will have class on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and from 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Intermediate Tumblers are students from kindergarten to third grade. Intermediate Tumblers will pay a one-time fee of $40 and will have class on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

Advanced Tumblers are aged fourth grade and up depending on experience. The advanced class will have a one-time fee of $40 and will have class from 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The Malta Parks and Rec. Tumblers will continue for a second session that will run for 12 weeks and will require students to pay once more for this session. Times are the same as session one but the prices are slightly raised due to the course being four weeks longer. Tiny Tumblers will have to pay $45, Intermediate Tumblers and Advances Tumblers will each be $60 for the session.

The second session is scheduled to kick off on Monday, February 5 and will conclude with a Showcase on Saturday, April 28 at 10 a.m.

The tumbling class became a course offered by Parks and Recreation this year for the first time since the Judd cousins, Kayla and Adessa Judd had taught the classes full time in previous years but now have passed it to the Parks and Rec.

“It’s something that the community needs and they had a lot of participation, so we wanted to keep it going for Parks and Rec.,” N. Judd said.

The Malta Parks and Rec. Adult Co-Ed Volleyball League kicked off on October 16 and will conclude with a league tournament at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 20.

The league has five teams that have up to eleven players per team.