Swim Lessons

Group, Tiny Tykes, Private/Semi-Private, Adult, and Homeschool are listed below.

All registrations for classes are done through the Comm. Ed. Office.  Click Here to find out Registration details.

Parent-Tot (Tiny Tykes)

Tiny Tikes class is a great first-time swim class for children 15-35 months of age.  It is a great way to help your child feel comfortable in the water.  The class will emphasize shallow water adjustment, how to enter and exit the water, blowing bubbles and playing games. Parents are required to accompany their child in the water.  Children must wear a swim diaper or plastic pants over a cloth diaper. 


Ages: Registration Deadline:

15—35 months Three business day prior to the first class.


Location: MS Pool (until May 20, 2023) 

  HS Pool  (June 5, 2023 through school year 2023-2024) 


Click here to see classes offered.


Swim Lessons

Group lessons (3-10 years old) and preschool classes (3-5 years old, during the school day) are open to all children who are ready for swim instruction. Student/Instructor ratios are kept low to ensure safety. Participants will be initially grouped by age, then ability.  Instructors will make changes to groups as needed.  All participants must complete the required skills –aquatics and water safety at each level in order to move on to the next level.  A progress sheet will be handed out at the end of the session.

Ages: Registration Deadline:

3-11 years old Three business days prior to the first class.


Location: MS Pool (until May 20, 2023) 

  HS Pool  (June 5, 2023 through school year 2023-2024) 


Click here to see classes offered.


Private / Semi-Private Lessons  -- LIMITED

Enjoy personalized swim lessons for swimmers 3 years old and older, through to adults.  A swim instructor will contact you after registration to arrange times and dates. A minimum of three lessons is required, and payment is due at registration. Lessons will be conducted during pool availability or lap and open swim times.



Note:  Cancellation must be made 24 hours in advance. Failure to cancel with the instructor will result in forfeiture of the lesson.

Adults or Children 3 years old and older are welcome!

3 classes / 30 min. each

Lesson Ratio Fees

Private 1:1 $85 

Semi-Private 1:2-3 $104


Location: MS Pool (until May 20, 2023) 

  HS Pool  (June 5, 2023 through school year 2023-2024) 


Click here to see classes offered.


Adult/Teen Swim Lessons

It's never too late to become a swimmer!  Learn beginning skills in a small class setting that is individualized to meet your goals. Beginner level is designed for non-swimmers to learn basic water adjustment skills, floating, safety skills, and basic swimming on front and back.  Ages 13 and up.

 

Ages: Registration Deadline:

13 years + Three business days prior to the first class.


Location: MS Pool (until May 20, 2023) 

  HS Pool  (June 5, 2023 through school year 2023-2024) 


Click here to see classes offered.


Homeschool Swim Lessons

This is a great opportunity for your home-schooled children to fulfill their physical education requirement. Lessons are available for children 7 years of age or older.

Ages: Registration Deadline:

7-9 Three business days prior to the first class.

10-13 Three business days prior to the first class.


Location: MS Pool (until May 20, 2023) 

  HS Pool  (June 5, 2023 through school year 2023-2024) 


Click here to see classes offered.

Swim Lessons FAQ’S

 

What time should we arrive?

It is important to be on deck and ready to go 5-10 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin. Before arriving on deck, before sure you are early enough to make sure your child uses the restroom before class. Children can get anxious if hurried. For safety reasons, please do not allow your children to sit poolside unless the instructor is present.


My husband is brining my 6 year old daughter to class. Can she change in the boys’ locker room so my husband can help her?

Anyone 6 years and older must change/use the locker rooms intended for them. We understand you may have extreme reservations about this. But as children age, there comes a time when situations can become uncomfortable for everyone in the locker room. We also have to respect and consider the thoughts of other in the locker room as well.  Unfortunately, we do not have family locker rooms. If there are concerns, there public restrooms in the hall. We can also have a staff member or another reliable parent walk the child through the locker room to get familiarized and changed. We ask that moms not walk through the boys’ locker room or dads not walk through the girls’ locker room. We also ask that you please respect this rule. We will do our best to accommodate your child in learning something new and (maybe) fearful. 


Where should I go to watch my child’s lesson?

You are welcome can sit in the balcony during your child’s class. We find that a little separation from the parents (sitting in the balcony) allows the instructors to bond with the child, and more can be accomplished. If your child is crying over the course of 2-3 lessons, the instructor will have a suggestion as to where they believe it would be best for you to sit, but they will certainly discuss that with you.

 

What should my child wear?

Most bathing suits and swim trunks are acceptable. We ask that you make sure that your child’s swimwear fits snuggly so it will not hinder any movement. Children should not attend swim lessons with any built-in floatation.

 

What about long hair?  

For swimmers with hair that interferes with their vision, we want it tied back away from the face so not to interfere with learning to breath or see.

 

What about goggles?

Goggles are not a requirement but very useful. Wearing goggles can help with accomplishing the skills and open up a wonderful world of swimming without fears. You don’t have to go buy goggles just for the class, but they certainly help!

 

What if I see that my child needs to use the restroom during the class time?

We might need your help and call on you from the balcony to help with bathroom breaks. The instructor will raise his/her hand and ask you to meet your child by the locker room door.

 

Why do I see my child playing or sitting on the side when they should be learning to swim?

We see play as an important part of learning for children. Through games your child will gain considerable knowledge and skill development by staying engaged. Sometimes, through play, they will accomplish skills that they won’t do for the instructor. There are also times where we might ask the children to sit on the side for safety reasons, but they also might choose to sit on the side.

 

Why does my child wear floatation when they can swim on their own?

We use instructional floatation devices (IFD’s) as teaching tools to help children focus on mastering arm and leg movement. Using IFD’s give our swimmers the freedom to concentrate on their stroke development without having to maintain their own floatation. With our newest upgrade to our swim lesson program, you will probably see instructors use IFD’s less and less, but they could be used from time to time due to the benefits they provide.

 

Why does my child work on the same things every day?

Repetition is the key to learning for most young children. Repeating games and skills give children something to look forward to. Swim lesson participants also feel a greater sense of success by mastering a skill they have been replicating.


What do I do if my child is crying or won’t get in the water?

Rest assured that it is not unusual to see tears and hear crying. Most often children experience fear due to separation anxiety or the overwhelming feeling caused by the pool environment. We ask that you trust our staff in helping your children overcome their fear. With your permission, an instructor may be comfortable pushing your child a little, but there is a fine line between pushing too hard and causing a greater fear, and helping a child realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Our instructors have seen both situations and have developed the ability to know when they can push a little harder and when we may have to say a child simply isn’t ready yet. No matter the decision of the instructor, they will be sure to discuss all situations with you and make sure you and your swimmer are getting the best instruction and communication possible.

 

What do I do if my child is misbehaving?

Not all disciplinary problems are addressed and taken care of by our instructors. We use positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate class behavior such as self-identification of the problem, warnings and time-outs. If our instructor does not have success with this approach we may approach you in an effort to find a better method that is more effective for your child. We ask that you teach, talk about and review appropriate class behavior and pool rules with your child. We encourage parents to lead by example and to help children understand “respect” for the water, classmates, and instructors.

 

What about the diving board?

We use the diving board as part of the curriculum. There are many backyard pools that have diving boards; docks on rivers, lakes, and ponds; it conquers fears; and it builds independence and confidence. Please tell the instructor, by the end of the 2nd lesson, if they do not want their child going off the diving board. After that point, we will assume that the parent is ok with it. If a child continues to have fears/issues, the instructor might ask you what you’d like to do in the situation.

 

What about the deep end?

All children will be exposed to all depths of water. Our program teaches safety skills that will help them act/react in deep and shallow water situations. We also encourage deep-water swimming to eliminate the fear that the shallow is somehow different than the deep end. Being comfortable at all depths of water builds confidence.

 

My child doesn’t like getting their face wet and blowing bubbles.

Blowing bubbles in a crucial part of swimming and being safe in the water. It is expected that children must blow bubbles at every level in order to pass the level. The portion of the face in the water and blowing bubbles depends on the level. This skill also prohibits water from going in the mouth, which can lead to choking and swallowing water. Once this fear is conquered, their confidence grows exponentially. If there are concerns, the instructor will be sure to have a conversation with you about the best way to proceed.

 

Why can’t my child where a swim mask the cover their nose? Why can’t they plug their nose?

This skill goes along with blowing bubbles, and is also a crucial part of the curriculum. Blowing bubbles out of the nose won’t allow water to travel up the nose; therefore, no choking and coughing. But we also know that this skill is more difficult to learn than blowing bubbles out of the mouth. It will take more time and patience.

 

How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?

Within our swim lessons, there are a series of developmental steps in a natural progression working towards mastering the following skills: water adjustment, buoyancy, body position, arm and leg development, forward movement and ending with stroke technique. In general, each child’s readiness is influenced by physical development, previous experience and behavioral maturity. The most important thing to remember is to never compare your child’s progress to another child. All children are different and we need to let them learn at their own comfort level. It also depends on what you are looking to get out of the lessons. If you want your child to learn competitive swim techniques, that will take longer than if you want your child to learn basic water safety skills. On average, a typical student could be in the beginner stage for 6 to 12 months.

 

Is my child in the right level?

On the first day of every swim lesson, we are evaluating proper stage placement. For some, it may take time for a swimmer to warm up and build a relationship with a new instructor. After time has been given for a swimmer to adjust to their new instructor, should the instructor determine a swimmer has been placed in a specific stage in error, the instructor do their best to put that swimmer in the group that best fits them. 

 

Are private lessons better than group lessons?

It is our experience that children will progress more quickly and have more fun in small groups of two to four students. This small group encourages fun, competition, peer interaction and often give students a visual model of the skills. However, if you prefer private lessons we are happy to try to accommodate you.

There are a few situations when we could recommend that you register for private lessons versus a group lesson:

 

I have to run an errand. Can I leave and come back?

Please let the instructor know that you are leaving for any reason. Situations may occur where you are stuck in traffic, etc. and can’t make it back on time to get your child. We will not let children leave at the end of the class unless connected with a parent/guardian or they are old enough to maneuver the locker rooms on their own.

 

What if my child is sick? Can I make up the sick day?

Children who have been ill should be kept at home. This is in the best interest of their health as well as other class participants and their instructor. In order to maintain the integrity of our classes in regards to content and to size, we do not offer make-ups. We have found that adding swimmers to classes for make-ups disrupts the rhythm, safety and integrity of the class. Please do your best to attend! Sorry, no make-ups for illnesses, recitals, vacations, etc. If a class is cancelled by the instructor, the instructor will schedule a make-up lesson before the end of the current program session. Not attending a make-up class will not entitle you to a refund or credit, please do your best to attend.

 

What if I have a not from the doctor saying my child cannot continue with the class?

If a doctor has stated that your child cannot continue with the class, please contact the Comm Ed Office (254-6553) on how to proceed. A written note must be presented to the Comm Ed Office as verification.