MJCC Stingrays Swim School

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1 MJCC Stingrays Swim School Parent Handbook Dear Parents, Welcome to the Stingrays Swim School at Mittleman Jewish Community Center! We are pleased to offer a progressive, educational swim lesson program dedicated to instilling a life-long love of water. Our in-house program was developed by the J s Aquatic Program Manager with the additional input of experienced swim instructors of many different backgrounds. We feel our program is well-rounded and adapted to fit the needs of the Portland community. Each of our instructors bring their own unique style to our program, allowing us to have diversity while maintaining a consistent standard. The policies and procedures outlined in this handbook are designed to provide you with information about our program, swim levels, and operations. We appreciate your keeping this handbook to use as a reference in case questions arise. We are excited about your child s participation in the Stingrays Swim School and look forward to helping them reach their full potential! Sincerely, Ryan Ochoa Aquatics Program Manager Rochoa@oregonjcc.org

2 Registration + Policies Registration, Payment, Refunds, Cancelations, Make-ups, Credits, etc. Table of Contents Registration + Policies What to Bring First Day of Lessons Strategies for Success Last Day of Lessons FAQ s Swim Lesson Levels , 6 6, 7 We are pleased to offer free swim lesson assessments to participants who are new to our program or who have taken a break from swim lessons. During the assessment, one of our instructors will lead your child through a series of skills to determine their appropriate level. Please call ahead to schedule your assessment. Registration is available on a first come, first served basis. We strongly recommend registering in advance to help avoid any conflicts with full class times. Some classes and times are extremely popular and due to the small nature of group lessons, spaces are limited. You may register online or in person at the Member Services Desk. Payment must be provided at time of registration to guarantee a spot. Swim lesson registration fee does not include open swim before/after class. As always, all persons participating in open swim must pay the daily admission fee or use their membership card before entering the pools. Supervision policy applies. No pro-rating, refunds, or make-up lessons will be provided for missed classes, tardiness, or withdrawal after the first lesson. If a participant misses a class, they are not allowed to drop-in to other classes or levels. If a class or program is canceled due to inclement weather or other cause out of our control, we are unable to schedule makeup sessions or provide refunds. We will give one voucher per session, for 10% off enrollment of one class during the next program session, even if more than one class is canceled. This voucher may not be turned into a refund. MJCC members get discounted rates for swim lessons. To receive this discount, the participant must be a member at the time of registration. All programs operate with minimum enrollment requirements and maximum enrollment capacities. We reserve the right to cancel, change, or combine programs when minimum program enrollments have not been met. Once a program is filled, a waitlist will be created. You will be called if an opening becomes available or if additional classes are created. Note: If additional classes are created, they may not be at the same time or day as the original program. 2

3 What to Bring First Day of Lessons Meeting instructors, assessing levels, dividing classes, etc. Swimsuit: All swimmers must wear appropriate swim attire when in the pool. Swim diapers with tight fitting waist and legs are required for children not yet potty trained. Towel: MJCC offers free towel service to our members and guests. As swim lesson time is a particularly busy time, towels are in high demand. While not a requirement, swim lesson participants are encouraged to plan ahead and bring their own towel. Goggles: We allow all participants to use goggles, if desired. Goggles can help a child acclimate to the aquatics environment more quickly, but children can risk becoming dependent on always having goggles. Our instructors may require that swimmers learn how to do certain skills without the use of goggles because of the value placed on the safety of being comfortable opening one s eyes under water. Swim Cap: Trying to learn how to swim while your hair is in your face can be a challenging proposition! Swim caps are not required, but can be a very useful tool for those with long hair. Swimmers with at least shoulder length hair are encouraged to wear their hair tied back or to wear a swim cap. Positive Attitude: The learning process can be rewarding but frustrating at times. With patience and a positive attitude, you and your participant can get the most out of swim lessons and be on your way to increasing your enjoyment of the water. It s a good idea to show up 5 10 minutes early for your first swim lesson. This will give you and your child time to change and familiarize yourselves with the facility and pool areas. If it s your child s very first swim lesson, we encourage you to drop-in during an open swim time and enjoy the facility. Some of the anxiety first-time swimmers experience comes from an overload of new (new environment, new instructor, new classmates ). Our instructors will call the names of the students in their classes. It is helpful (and less confusing) if you also come prepared, knowing the time and level for which you signed up. On the first day of the session, our instructors will assess each participant to gauge their abilities and make sure they are in the correct level. If your child is not in the appropriate level, we will transfer your child to the appropriate class level/ time. Our instructors are happy to provide feedback after every class. Regularly checking in with your child s instructor will give you more insight into their progress and if you will need to register for a different level in future sessions. In the event that the appropriate class is full or you are unable to attend the session, you will be provided a refund. When multiple classes are running simultaneously, instructors may switch out certain students in order to ensure participants are all appropriately grouped. This helps us deliver program content in a more effective, efficient manner. 3

4 Strategies for Success Last Day of Lessons Report cards, registering for the next sessions, etc. It is our goal to provide your child with quality instruction in a safe, orderly, disciplined class environment. Often times, parents want to know how they can be involved in helping their child succeed. Here is what you can do: Ask the instructor which skills your child should practice, then make practicing fun at home or at the pool! At the end of the session, instructors will hand out report cards for each student. Report cards will indicate which skills your child has mastered and which skills are still in progress. The report card will also let you know which level to sign up for in the next session. This is helpful to bring to our Member Services Desk if you are registering in person, or to have on hand if you are registering online. Bring your family to open swim times. Children tend to get excited about their progress and like showing off the skills they ve been practicing. Unstructured play time allows children to explore the water on their own terms, enabling them to learn and retain skills more quickly. Understand that children develop swimming skills at different times. Avoid putting pressure on achievement; encourage your child to enjoy swim lessons and take pride in personal successes. Regular, consistent attendance is very important. Some children may have anxiety or express fear about going to lessons. Keep them coming back and allow our instuctors to build a relationship with them to earn their trust. Be patient! Some children acclimate more quickly than others. Setting a specific, achievable goal for the swim session with an incentive can be an effective way to motivate your child. 4

5 FAQ s How do I know which level is right for my child? Class descriptions and prerequisites are provided in our seasonal program guide, on our website (oregonjcc.org/fitness-wellness/swim-lessons), and in this handbook. We are also pleased to offer free swim lesson assessments to participants who are new to our program or who have taken a break from swim lessons. During the assessment, one of our instructors will lead your child through a series of skills to determine their appropriate level. Please call ahead to schedule your assessment. What if my child isn t signed up for the appropriate swim level? On the first day of the session, our instructors will assess each participant to gauge their abilities and make sure they are in the correct level. If your child is not in the appropriate level, we will transfer your child to the appropriate class level/ time. Our instructors are happy to provide feedback after every class. Regularly checking in with your child s instructor will give you more insight into their progress and if you will need to register for a different level in future sessions. In the event that the appropriate class is full or you are unable to attend the session, you will be provided a refund. What if the time available for the swim level my child needs doesn t fit my schedule? Our program guides are printed and published and online 4 6 weeks prior to the session start date. Signing your child up for the wrong level because the time fits your schedule is not an appropriate solution. This actually hinders the learning process not only for your child, but for the other participants in the class as well. To set your child up for success, it is your responsibility to make sure that any vacations, appointments, or other activities do not interfere with the class times offered. Can I stay and watch lessons? We have an open door policy for all parents of swimmers. However, for many swim participants, parents on the pool deck can be a distraction. We ask that parents refrain from coaching from the deck or otherwise interfering in the lesson. Instructors must be able to build trust and a relationship with your child with as few distractions as possible. If the instructor feels some separation is necessary, you may be asked to go to another area of the pool deck or facility. If you have questions, comments, or concerns during the lessons, please address them with the Aquatic Program Manager or wait until after lessons to approach your child s swim instructor. When can I talk to my child s instructor? The best time to talk to your child s instructor is just before lessons or just after the lesson has ended. Our instructors make every effort to communicate with each family after each class, but may have to attend to other responsibilities as well. If necessary, you may forward questions to the Aquatic Program Manager. What if my child gets cold during lessons? Our Main Pool for our youth levels is set at a recreational temperature between F. Our Warm Pool for our preschool levels is set to a warmer temperature of F. Warm showers and warm towels are the best option for warming small children safely. Additional, snug-fitting layers (such as a rash-guard) may provide insulation for your child. Please note that additional clothing layers must be appropriate swim attire. What if my child misses a lesson? If a participant misses a class, they are not allowed to drop-in to other classes or levels. No make-ups or refunds will be offered. In the event of a medical absence, a credit may be given after a note from the participant s medical provider has been given to the Aquatic Program Manager. Requests for medical exceptions will only be considered if submitted during the current session in question. 5

6 FAQ s continued Swim Lesson Levels What if my child cries? A young child crying during a lesson is very common. They often become nervous in a new environment and/or experience separation anxiety from a parent. Our instructors are very understanding and know how to take care of a frightened child. We encourage you to step back and let the instructor resolve your child s fear in order to gain their trust. The child will often relax after just one lesson, but sometimes it takes multiple lessons to gain the full confidence of your child. Why wasn t my child promoted to the next level? Our instructors actively push each student to be the best they can be, but everyone learns at different rates. The success of your child in our swim program can be influenced by prolonged absences or missed classes. Even those who have taken lessons before may need a refresher if they have taken a break from swimming. It is common for children to participate in several sessions of the same level before advancing. A reasonable estimation of progress is that if a child is enrolled in consistent, year-round swim lessons, they may progress at a rate of one level per year, just like school. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill. Starfish: Parent + Child Ratio 1:15 Learn water entry, bubble blowing, kicking, floating, and underwater exploration. Warm Pool Puddle Jumpers: Parent Assisted Ratio 1:5 Make the transition from parent-assisted swim lessons to independence in our regular group lessons. Instructors will help parents and children navigate the waters as the parent is gradually phased out of the class and the child develops independence while continuing basic water acclimation and exploration. Warm Pool Angelfish: Intro to Water Ratio 1:5 Learn to enter and exit the water, submerge face, exhale underwater, explore floating, and moving with support. Work on water acclimation and breath control. Prerequisites: None. Warm Pool Blowfish: Fundamental Water Skills Ratio 1:5 Learn to submerge entire head, float, glide and paddle on front and back, roll over, and use combined arm and leg motions. Progress to independent floating, swimming, and jumping. Prerequisites: Child is comfortable in the water, willingly able to submerge eyes, nose and mouth, can float with assistance, and move independently in shallow water or with floatation. Warm Pool Crocodile: Stroke Development Ratio 1:5 Learn front and back crawl and elementary backstroke. Work on endurance and treading water. Practice swimming 25 yards. Prerequisites: Child can float on front and back and swim 15 feet independently without flotation. Child is comfortable going under water and entering the deep end of the pool. Warm Pool and Main Pool 6

7 Dolphin: Stroke Improvement Ratio 1:5 Improve front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, and treading water. Learn the basics of breaststroke, sidestroke, butterfly, and standing dives. Prerequisites: Understands front and back crawl, is comfortable swimming 25 yards in deep water, and can perform a sitting and kneeling dive. Main Pool Eel: Stroke Refinement Ratio 1:6 Refine and coordinate all the strokes. Learn racing and surface dives, open turns, shallow angle dives, breaststroke, and butterfly. Prerequisites: Can perform front and back crawl, understands breaststroke and dolphin kicking, can perform a standing dive, and is comfortable swimming 50 yards. Main Pool Flying Fish: Stroke + Skill Proficiency Ratio 1:8 Refine strokes to increase ease, efficiency, power, and smoothness. Learn the principles of fitness swimming such as drills, interval training, flip turns, and basic lifeguard rescue techniques. Prerequisites: Able to swim front and back crawl, breaststroke, and has a basic understanding of butterfly. Can dive from the side of the pool and swim 100 yards. Main Pool 7

8 Where Portland learns to swim. Mittleman Jewish Community Center 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland oregonjcc.org