Swim News delivered to PPS Elementary School Swim Meet

Dear Swim Coaches, Swimmers, Guardians and Families: All are invited to participate in our Saturday Swim School hosted for the next few weeks at Pittsburgh Public Schools' Allegheny Middle School on the Northside right across the street from the Aviary. Meet us at the pool, both kids and adults, from 11:30 am to 1 pm. No charge. This is a “labor of love.” 11:30 to 1 pm on Saturday, December 8 & December 15, 2018 Location: In December 2018, we'll be at PPS Allegheny. We held the Saturday Swim School for the past two years at Oliver High School on Brighton Road, but the pool there has been out of commission throughout the fall of 2018, sadly. Perhaps we'll go back to Oliver HS in early 2019. Activities: On Saturdays, we have some swim instruction and often play a game in the pool called SKWIM. It is with a water disk but a lot like water polo too. To learn more about SKWIM, see https://SKWIM.us. Kids and Adults are able to participate from 11:30 to 1 pm. Adults, Triathletes and Varsity high school swimmers looking improve and gain in fitness and are able to swim on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am. We run two sessions on Saturdays. Being a good swimmer makes you safe and can lead to becoming a lifeguard in the future. We train lifeguards in the spring at the Saturday Swim School too. Being safe in and around the water, especially at the beach and in other settings beyond an indoor swim pool with lifeguards, should be a goal for all citizens. We want you to test your AQUATIC KNOWLEDGE with a fun, online quiz. There are FOUR levels. Free. See https://SKWIM.us to click on the quiz and learn more about rip-currents and test your decision-making. Extra: We also do programs on Sundays at Moon High School, Tuesday nights at Chartiers Valley High School, play water polo in the fall at South Park High School, and swim at many outdoor pools in the summers including at the Pittsburgh Project on the Northside on Charles Street and at Citiparks Ammon Rec pool on Bedford Ave in The Hill District. Stay in touch with an email or visit, https://4RS.org. Thanks for your interest and keep on swimming! Coach Mark Rauterkus of Pittsburgh's South Side 412-298-3432 = cell Mark@Rauterkus.com

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Questions from a parent

I received a flyer about swimming yesterday for my daughter from a Pittsburgh Public School. We are interested in the swim program from 11:30-1 but wanted more information. Are adults expected to get on the pool with their kids? Do children need to be able to swim to participate? Is their a younger age cut off (can my 4 year old participate)? Thank you for offering this program.

Answer:

Adults do not need to get in. I encourage it. I aim for that family experience as it is different, and I feel valuable. Most adults just watch. Some get in. With the wee one at 4, I would really like the adult to get in, but you would need to be present. I don’t expect many to be there however.

Thank you for your speedy reply.

Just to be clear my four year old would not be able to participate if I do not get in the pool? I do not plan on getting in the pool and we will not attend if that is the case. Both my 6 year old and 4 year old have taken previous swimming lessons and were (Its been a long time since summer) comfortable in the water but cannot actually swim. And again thank you I think it is great you are offering this opportunity for the children in Pittsburgh.

Answer:

Since I don't think we'll have many folks there this Saturday -- I'm okay to get in with your kids without you in the water this week for a part of the time -- for sure for about 30-minutes. Can you come around 10:30 or 11 am? I don't want to have a dozen middle school kids (doubtful) and the wee one's get a bad experience. I don't expect that they'll want to be swimming much past 40-minutes total anyway. Good to be able to meet you and start up something with them. I'm flexible for sure. But this is a wide-ranging invite. No scout groups, football squads or lifeguard classes are happening / booked in December.

Question

I looked around on the website on the flyer some but was not able to find some information. Can you tell more more about the program in general. From what I understand this is just a free trial but you offer swim lessons throughout the year? I saw on the calendar the Saturday Swim School for kids and adults on the 8th and 15th but it also looks like it is on there for the 22nd so I am assuming you would have to pay for that one? How much are lessons usually? Or is it always just a free program? Are parents expected to swim during normal swim lessons (I really hate getting in pools in winter, I don't know why, haha)? My daughter is also in a Girl Scouts Troop. Can you give me more information about a troop signing up for programming? What is the cost, what does it involve, are parents expected to get in the pool, etc.? Thank you for your time.

Answer

The swim lessons I offer throughout the school year on Saturdays have been free for three years. I don't expect to charge anything any time soon. Some of the places we go to need a small fee, such as Moon Area HS pool on some Sundays is $2 for a drop in fee. Girls Scouts are welcome. Just call ahead. No charge. I want to figure out what day and be sure I'm there (no wedding / away swim meet). And, -- sadly -- what pool is available. We had done it at Oliver. Had to shift to Allegheny. Both are fine, but there is more room at Oliver for larger groups. I am alone -- so yes -- we'd want to build up a host of volunteers with the kids in the water. I wouldn't want to handle a whole girl scout group -- say more than 6 -- without another adult or two. Best if adults are in the water and I'm out of it even. I do have some other guard friends to call. Sure. Let's plan something. We'll go all the way through May, I expect.