FREE Beginner Swim Lessons  

 

The PTSA at South Shore K-8 is running a free after-school beginner swim lesson program for students. Students in the 1st - 8th grade are invited to sign-up. Lessons will be given by Seattle Parks certified lifeguards and will cater to swimmers in need of Beginner Level 1 and Beginner Level 2 swim instruction**

 

Schedule:   Thursdays immediately after school starting April 20 – June 22 from 2:25pm – 4:15pm (with no class on June 9)

 

Each 1 hour 45-minute session includes:

1. time to assemble in the gym,

2. walk to/from pool,

3. change to/from swim clothing,

4. a swim lesson of 30 minutes of in-water instruction,

5. and 30 minutes of supervised free-swim in the leisure pool OR 30 minutes of supervised free-play in the South Shore gym  *Free-swim in the leisure pool depends on the availability of Rainier Beach Pool Staffing

 

Students will be chaperoned to/from South Shore K-8.

Please note: There is no bus transportation provided for this program.

Who is eligible for Swim?:

 

The program has a limit of 48 students, so we may not have a spot available for every student who applies for the program.

 

• Grade Level: Students in 1st through 8th grade are invited to register, however, we are focused on higher grades first (because they are graduating sooner). We will start with the beginner 8th graders (then 7th, then 6th, and so on) and work down through the grades until we reach 48 filled slots.  If there are more than 48 applicants, we'll use a random draw to select participants from the youngest classes. 

  • The swim program will include groups of both boys and girls together in each swim class.

  • If you are in the current (Winter) swim program, you will need to re-apply for this new (Spring) session.
     

• Current Swim Skill Level: We are focused on those students most in need of BEGINNER swim instruction – Level 1 & 2**.  Students who indicate on their application that they “are competent swimming in the deep end of the pool” will be moved to the end of the list.
   

• In the case where 2 or more children from the same family sign-up – we will try to keep siblings enrolled together.  Note: Siblings in younger grades will not get priority over students in grades above.

 

Swim Equipment:  For students who do not already have swim equipment, the PTSA is providing googles, towels, and swim caps for swimmers.  Providing your own swimsuit for your student is not a requirement for joining swim lessons.  For those who need it, we will work with families to supply swimsuits / swim clothing.

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Sign-Up:   The registration for Spring swim lessons will take place between March 17 - March 31.  The link to the registration form will be on this page of the PTSA website.  Please be on the lookout for communications (Talking Points and Community Bulletin) so that you do not miss the registration window.

 

** Level 1 and 2: students learn how to feel comfortable in the water and safely enjoy it. Students will learn basic/fundamental swimming skills.

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Volunteers:   Adequate volunteer staffing is very much needed to continue offering these lessons to our students. Chaperones are needed for supervision only and do not get in the pool.  Please consider signing up for a few sessions here.  

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Register below. The program has a limit of 48 students. We will notify you if you get a spot in the program.