Start of Term 2 – Mon 11 April

2016 term dates
Term 2      Mon 11 Apr – Sat 25 June
Term 3      Mon 11 Jul  – Sat 17 Sept
Term 4      Mon 3 Oct – Sat 17 Dec

Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to our new families.

Thank you to everyone for spreading the good word about us, this term we are welcoming many new families into our classes due to word of mouth. 

Why Life Saving Victoria’s Swim and Survive Program?

Swim and Survive is a comprehensive swimming and water safety initiative of Royal Life Saving that seeks to increase the swimming and water safety skills of all Australian children in order to prevent drowning and increase participation in safe aquatic activity.

Learn to swim, swimming lessons and infant aquatics are all terms commonly used across the aquatic industry for programs that seek to build swimming skills. Swim and Survive is all of these, but most importantly it ensures that the essential components of personal survival and water safety are provided, in addition to a process of developing strong and effective swimming technique.

Skills and knowledge learnt in the Swim and Survive program provide a level of protection and aim to provide children with solid foundation skills in swimming, survival and basic rescue skills.

Swim And Survive All Year Round

The importance of continuing swimming and water safety lessons during the colder months?

Despite the many myths associated with swimming lessons in winter, it is a great way to stay active and healthy during the colder months. Given that exercise contributes to a stronger immune system, children are less likely to catch a cold and more likely to stay confident and remember those vital survival skills.

Many people may think that summer is when most drowning deaths occur but during 2014/2015 almost a third (31%) of  incidents occurred in Winter.

To view further information, please download via:

LSV Drowning Report 2014/2015

Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll – Key Findings

59 people have drowned in Australian waterways between 1 December 2015 and 18 January 2016 (inclusive). This year’s data shows a 16% increase on the same period last year.

Last Summer, across the same period, there were 51 drowning deaths between 1 December 2014 to 19 January 2015 (inclusive).

10 drowning deaths in 2015/16 have occurred on public holidays.

There have been a further 66 non-fatal drownings nationally across the same period.

Summer Fatal Drowning Toll 2015/16 – Top 3 Age Groups
25-34 years – 10 drowning deaths (17%)
35-44 years – 9 drowning deaths (15%)
45-54 years – 8 drowning deaths (14%)

Summer Fatal Drowning Toll 2015/16 – Top 3 Activities Prior to Drowning
Swimming and Recreating – 17 drowning deaths (29%)
Watercraft Incidents – 12 drowning deaths (20%)
Falls into water – 6 drowning deaths (10%)

Please take care as we all enjoy the beaches, rivers and swimming pools.

Our Team

We welcome Tash and Zoe to the team in Term 2 and farewell Matt and Gen. We thank them both for their enthusiasm, dedication and commitment and wish them every success in their futures. Matt is off to Mauritius to complete a postgraduate study in the Endangered Species Recovery and Gen is full time completing her Environmental Honours studies. Sarah has also had to change her days to care for her mother.

Swim School Policies

We have formalised our policies in a brochure. These are available from the desk or online from the website. There are no changes in policy, we are just updating our documentation.

Fee Payments

At the start of term before your child goes into class you will need to pay their fees. Either by direct debit three days prior to your first class or by cash/cheque at the pool on the day of their first lesson of the term.

If your direct debit is within three days of your first class, please bring a copy of your receipt.

Unfortunately your child will not be able to swim unless payment is made or an arrangement is made with us prior to the start of term.

Please see Kylie to discuss any concerns you may have.

Term 2 has two holidays: Monday 24 April Anzac Day and Monday 13 June Queens Birthday. This means Monday Swimmers have a 9 week term and everyone else have a 11 week term.

Water Familiarisation Classes

Tuesday 9.30am – 10.00am & 6.00pm – 6.30pm,
Wednesday/Thursday 9.30am-10.00am
Saturday 9am – 9.30am, 9.30am – 10am & 11.30am – 12noon.

There are no discounts for Water Familiarisation as this is already discounted.

Swimming Squad Classes

Tues 5.00pm – 6.00pm & Wed 5.30pm-6.30pm

There are no discounts for squad classes as these are already discounted.

Missed Classes

Missed classes are not to be deducted from the fees unless relating to serious injury/illness and must be discussed with Kylie first – catch up lessons are available for any missed class for any reason where class sizes permit. As I’m sure you understand we have to pay teachers each and every week once term classes are set.

Term 2 2016 – Class Payment Calculation

Direct Debit details:
Account name: Swim Like A Fish
BSB 633-000
Account no. 140351032.

If you have any queries please phone us on 0433 446 403 if you don’t catch us at the pool.

Many thanks,
Kylie

Start of Term 1- Wed 27 Jan 2016

2016 term dates

Term 1      Wed 27 Jan – Thu 24 March
Term 2      Mon 11 Apr – Sat 25 June
Term 3      Mon 11 Jul  – Sat 17 Sept
Term 4      Mon 3 Oct – Sat 17 Dec

Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to our new families.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great break over the holidays.

Thank you to everyone for spreading the good word about us, this term we are welcoming many new families into our classes due to word of mouth. 

Over the holidays it was bought home to us once again how quickly and easily someone can get out of their depth and into all sorts of trouble and drown.

The number of drowning’s was incredibly sad and the number of rescues and near drowning’s just horrifying.

Too many have lost their lives, almost double the number of last year and the number of rescues by Life Saving Victoria on patrolled beaches has also almost doubled last year’s numbers.

The Swim Australia catch phrase “Arms Reach @ the Beach” is so important and relevant to now.

Are you a Water Hero?
Take the online quiz at www.waterhero.com.au

Be Aware – Don’t let kids out of your sight
Be Secure – Keep fences and gates locked up tight
Be Confident – Learn to Swim, and how to get to safety
Be Prepared – Always have a plan in case of emergency

Our Team

We are looking for another teacher for Term 2 onwards. If you or anyone you know may be interested please have a chat to us.

Fee Payments

At the start of term before your child goes into class you will need to pay their fees. Either by direct debit three days prior to your first class or by cash/cheque at the pool on the day of their first lesson of the term.

If your direct debit is within three days of your first class, please bring a copy of your receipt.

Unfortunately your child will not be able to swim unless payment is made or an arrangement is made with us prior to the start of term.

Term 1 2016 – Class Payment Calculation

Term 1 has a number of different holidays -It includes Tues 26 January Australia Day, Monday 14 March Labour Day, Friday 25 March Good Friday and Saturday 26 March Easter Saturday.

This means Monday Swimmers have a 7 week term, Tues, Fri & Sat have an 8 week term and Wed & Thurs have a 9 week term.

Water Familiarisation Classes

Tuesday 9.30am – 10.00am & 6.00pm – 6.30pm,
Wednesday/Thursday 9.30am-10.00am
Saturday 9am – 9.30am, 9.30am – 10am & 11.30am – 12noon.

There are no discounts for Water Familiarisation as this is already discounted.

Swimming Squad Classes

Tues 5.00pm – 6.00pm & Wed 5.30pm-6.30pm
There are no discounts for squad classes as these are already discounted.

Missed Classes

Missed classes are not to be deducted from the fees unless relating to serious injury/illness and must be discussed with Kylie first – catch up lessons are available for any missed class for any reason where class sizes permit. As I’m sure you understand we have to pay teachers each and every week once term classes are set.

Direct Debit details –
Account name: Swim Like A Fish
BSB 633-000
Account no. 140351032.

Finally as always as we have moved so many students up to after school classes and various kinder changes there are many challenges.
No doubt our start of year will still provide lots of changes.

If you have any queries please phone us on M: 0433 446 403 if you don’t catch us at the pool.

2014 TERM DATES
Term 2 Tues 22 Apr – Sat 28 June
Term 3 Mon 14 Jul- Sat 20 Sept
Term 4 Mon 6 Oct – Sat 20 Dec

Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to our new families. I hope everyone had a great break over the holidays. Thank you to everyone for spreading the good word about us, this term we are welcoming many new families into our classes due to word of mouth.

LAYERS OF PROTECTION

Four levels of safety measures that must be applied
together and at all times in and around any aquatic
environment.

• Be Aware – Don’t let kids out of your sight 
• Be Secure – Keep fences and gates locked up tight 
• Be Confident – Learn to Swim, and how to get to safety 
• Be Prepared – Always have a plan in case of emergency

OUR TEAM
This term we welcome Emma to our teaching team. Emma is one of our mum’s – her children James and Lily swim with us.

We farewell Madi as she heads to Mt Hotham to work for the ski season. She will be returning in term 4. We also farewell Ashlee. We thank her for all she has done for us and we wish her well with her continuing studies.

We will be running a number of shadowing lessons as part of our teacher’s professional development. You may therefore have two teachers in some lessons as we each watch and learn plus provide feedback to each other.

This is part of our continuing commitment to ensuring we have quality and consistency in our teaching and that all lessons continue to be tailored to meet the needs of your child. We are confident that your child will enjoy all the programs and have continued success. Please speak to me if you have further questions.

Please be aware of some changes to rosters.

Fee Payments

At the start of term before your child goes into class you will need to pay their fees. Either by direct debit three days prior to your first class or by cash/cheque at the pool on the day of their first lesson of the term. If your direct debit is within three days of your first class, please bring a copy of your receipt. Unfortunately your child will not be able to swim unless payment is made or an arrangement is made with us prior to the start of term. Please see Kylie to discuss any concerns you may have.

Term 2 2014 – Class Payment Calculation
Term 2 has three different holidays -It includes Monday 21 April Easter Monday, Friday 25 April Anzac Day and Monday 9 June Queens Birthday. This means Monday Swimmers have an 8 week term, Friday have a 9 week term and all others have a 10 week term.

Sibling Discount
Second and third child discounts apply where you have 2 or more children in classes (not water familiarisation or squad as they are already discounted).
They are calculated at $17.00(1st Child), $15.00(2nd Child) and $13.00(3rd
Child) per class pro-rata of how many weeks there are in the term, taking into account any public holidays that occur. (It’s $13.00 per class for each child beyond 3)

WATER FAMILIARISATION CLASSES
Tuesday 9.30am – 10.00am & 6.00pm – 6.30pm,
Wednesday 9.30am-10.00am
Thursday 9.30am-10.00am
Friday 10.30am – 11.00am
Saturday 9.00am – 9.30am, 9.30am – 10.00am & 11.30am – 12.00noon.
Where the Parents are in the Water with their children. New Water Familiarisation starters commencing after the first week can work out payments pro rata of $13.00 per class.

SWIMMING SQUAD CLASSES
Tuesday 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Wednesday 5.30pm-6.30pm
The full term fees are $170.00
There are no discounts for squad classes as these
are already discounted.

MISSED CLASSES
Missed classes are not deducted from the fees unless relating to serious injury/illness and must be discussed with Kylie first Make up lessons may be available for missed class where class sizes permit. As I’m sure you understand we have to pay teachers each and every week once term classes are set.

In working to reduce our carbon footprint, unless requested, Receipts will be available for cash and cheque payments only from the Wednesday the week after you pay and will be found in the receipt box next to the Payment Tin.

If you have any queries please phone us on M: 0433 446 403 if you don’t catch us at the pool.

Many thanks, Kylie

We hope all students and their families have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Thank you to all our families for swimming with us this year. We really appreciate your continuing support and value your feedback.

2014 term dates
Term 1 Tues 28 Jan – Sat 5 April
Term 2 Tues 22 Apr – Sat 28 June
Term 3 Mon 14 Jul – Sat 20 Sept
Term 4 Mon 6 Oct – Sat 20 Dec

Start of Term 1 – Tues 28 Jan 2014

Our Team

The end of this year sees us farewell another of our founding staff members.

Ben has taught in many classes – after school and Saturday. He has shared his knowledge and experience while mentoring many of our teachers. I sincerely thank him for his enthusiasm, dedication and commitment and wish him well in the future.

During Term 4 we have welcomed 4 new teachers – Gen, Lauren, Katie and Ash. While none of our other teachers are leaving us a change in university workloads will mean some changes to rosters. Jill and Nick will still be Lifeguarding during hydrotherapy classes.

Invoices for next term

You will find attached to your Child’s certificate an invoice for term 1 fees. Our Fees for 2014 have increased $1.00 per child per lesson. See the complete new fee schedule at the pool and below for the term calculations.

Fee Payments for 2014

All fees must be paid before the term starts.

2014 will see a new arrangement for fee payment. This has become necessary due to the amount of outstanding fees we have had over 2013. At the start of term before your child goes into class you will need to pay their fees, either by direct debit three days prior to your first class or by cash/cheque at the pool on the day of their first lesson of the term. If your direct debit is within three days of your first class, please bring a copy of your receipt. Unfortunately your child will not be able to swim unless payment is made or an arrangement is made with us prior to the start of term. Please see Kylie to discuss any concerns you may have.

Term 1 2014 – Class Payment Calculation

Term 1 has two different holidays – It includes Monday 27 January in lieu of Australia Day and Monday 10 March Labour Day. This means Monday Swimmers have an 8 week term and all others have a 10 week term.

 Sibling Discount

Second and third child discounts apply where you have 2 or more children in classes (not water familiarisation or squad as they are already discounted).

They are calculated at $17.00(1^st Child), $15.00(2^nd Child) and $13.00(3^rd Child) per class pro-rata of how many weeks there are in the term, taking into account any public holidays that occur.  (It’s $13.00 per class for each child beyond 3)

Water Familiarisation Classes

• Monday 6.30pm – 7.00pm
• Tuesday 9.30am – 10.00am & 6.00pm – 6.30pm
• Wednesday 9.30am-10.00am
• Thursday 9.30am-10.00am
• Friday 10.30am – 11.00am
• Saturday 9.00am – 9.30am, 9.30am – 10.00am & 11.30am – 12.00noon

Where the Parents are in the Water with their Children. New Water Familiarisation starters commencing after the first week can work out payments pro rata of $13.00 per class. There are no discounts for Water Familiarisation as this is already discounted.

Swimming Squad Classes

• Tuesday 5.00pm – 6.00pm
• Wednesday 5.30pm-6.30pm &
• 6.30pm – 7.30pm

The full term fees are $170.00. There are no discounts for squad classes as these are already discounted.

2013 Term Dates

Term 4    Monday 7 October 2013 – Saturday 21 December 2013

2014 Term Dates

Term 1    Tuesday 28 January 2014 – Saturday 5 Spril 2014
Term 2    Tuesday 22 April 2014 – Saturday 28 June 2014
Term 3    Monday 14 July 2014 – Saturday 20 September 2014
Term 4    Monday 6 October 2014 – Saturday 20 December 2014

Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to our new families. I hope everyone had a great break over the holidays. Term 4 already – the year just seems to fly by but maybe that goes with getting older?

School Holiday Program

Monday 30 September – Friday 4 October 2013

We have a school holiday program running from Monday to Friday in this week. The classes run for one hour each day and cost $105.00 per child. If you are interested please call Kylie as soon as possible.

Our team

Welcome to Bec and Jen and welcome back home to Madi.

We farewell Alex who has been with us for nearly 3 years. He has mentored many of our teachers as well as sharing his knowledge and experience. I sincerely thank him for his enthusiasm, dedication and commitment and wish him well in his future endeavours.

Swim SAFER

Swimming Australia talks consistently about layers of prection for safer swimming for our children:

1. Supervision
2. Barriers
3. Swimming and water safety skills
4. Emergency action plans

You will see these up on the wall at the pool. We also have a checklist for those who have a pool and other thought starters for safety around water – pool, bath, beach and more.

As part of Swim Australia’s SwimSAFER program, across all the program, the one central idea is that nothing we can do can make children “safe”, but all the things we do in combination can go a long way to reducing a child’s risk around the water. This includes things children themselves become aware of and do.

Swim SAFER Week in term 4 is from Monday 9 December – Saturday 14 December.

We encourage all children to practice all of the SwimSAFER week’s activities without their goggles on. Although this can be uncomfortable – in reality they would rarely have goggles on in an accidental fall in. Similarly, during Swim SAFER week we will swim in clothes for each lesson apart from water familiarisation.

Clothes Donations for SwimSAFER

 We are asking families for donations of any clothes you no longer need which could be used for our SwimSAFER week activities such as t-shirts and shorts. Any would be gratefully received.

Children’s Activities

This term we have a number of under the sea animals to be decorated and returned plus the word search on the back page. Please ask at the desk for an animal.

Invoices for Term 4

These fees must be paid before the term starts. If you have not paid your fees by the start of term, we are unable to keep your place. Please see Kylie to discuss any concerns you may have.

Term 4 has a is an eleven week term for all classes, other than those on Tuesday (which is a ten week term due to the Melbourne Cup holiday). Click here to see our term fees.

Sickness

An SMS is appreciated if your child is unwell and unable to attend class. Please speak to us once your child is well if you would like to organise a makeup class.

Facebook

Don’t forget to join our Facebook Group for Swim Like A Fish!  and “like” us if you are a Facebook user.

If you have any queries please phone me on 0433 446 403 or catch me at the pool.

Thanks, Kylie Spears