SVKW Swim Team News ~ Week #1
Hello Killer Whales!!
We will be sending a weekly newsletter email every week to keep everyone up-to-date on the upcoming week’s plans. There will usually be a lot of useful information in these emails, so please save yourself some stress later and take a few minutes now to read the details that are relevant to you and your swimmers.
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE: Monday May 23rd!
The coaches and SVKW board are very excited to get started with a NORMAL summer swim season at last!!!!
Please bring extra towels and warm clothes as it may be cool in the evenings.
We encourage everyone to wear goggles and, if your swimmer has long hair, a swim cap can be very helpful!
Please check out the Practice Schedule on our website for more details on practice days/times https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/practice-schedule
We encourage kids to try to come to one practice a day, but we don't have a set minimum expectation re # of practices per week. The more kids practice, the better they will swim, but we realize kids and families have other things to juggle in their summer schedules.
Coaching line up for 2022 Season:
We are excited to welcome our new line up of coaches for the 2022 summer swim season.
Co-Head Coaches: EmmaRose DeCaro & Meg Giuliano
Assistant Coaches: Olivia Bergin, JJ Chapman, Lauren Nance & Jac ReVille
WELCOME BACK SPIRIT NIGHT: during practice at the pool
Monday May 23rd @ 6-8pm
- Snacks & famous “pool water” punch
- Poster-making contest for prizes in each age group
- Photo frame picture spot
UPCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS:
Please check out our website regularly for upcoming social events
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/social-events
Parent volunteers needed to monitor bathrooms at practices week 5/23 - 5/27
There will be no lifeguards at SV Pool during the first week of practice.
The pool is not open weekdays until 5/30, so swimmers should NOT be in the pool unless it is time for their age group to practice, when they will be under the direct supervision of swim team coaches .
Swimmers should leave the pool deck as soon as possible. The pool is NOT open for recreational swimming before/after your practice session.
SV Pool would like to offer the swim team the use of the bathrooms during practice times, but swim team will need help from our parents to monitor their swimmers, as there have been issues in the past with kids making a mess in the bathrooms and generally creating a nuisance. The bathrooms will remain locked during practice if there are similar issues this season.
ALERTS FOR DELAYED OR CANCELLED PRACTICES:
Please take a moment to go to our website and download the SwimTopia Mobile app to your phone. You will log in with the same credentials you used to sign up for swim team on the Swimtopia website.
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/
We will use this app to notify you of last minute changes, such as practices being delayed/cancelled, and we don't want you to miss out on those alerts....so please make sure to set the mobile app up before 5/23.
If you are having problems, please take a look at this helpful article that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to download and log in to the Swimtopia Mobile app.
A NOTE ABOUT UPGRADING TO Swimtopia PRO: Our main goal for the Swimtopia Mobile App is to be able to send last minute alerts to your phone. This is available on the free app.
You have the option to upgrade to Swimtopia Pro for a small fee if you wish, but, we want to be clear that, at this time, we do not anticipate being able to add all swimmer times LIVE at the swim meets. So, this feature may not be available to you.
Please see this article for more information about Swimtopia features. https://www.swimtopia.com/products/swim-meet-app/
NEW MEMBERS:
We know that starting swim team for the first time can be very confusing and a little overwhelming for the parents. We have all been there!!
We also have a lot of new swimmers/families this year, so you are not alone in trying to figure out how everything works!!
We promise that everyone on the team will be happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to reach out and ask questions if you are confused about something.
- Please visit our website and click on the Swim Meet 101 tab for some basic information about what summer swim meets look like https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/swim-meet-101
- There is a lot of information on our website, so please try to take some time to look around there if you have questions
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/signup-instructions
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/practice-policies
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/how-to-sign-up
- Attend one of the following New Member meetings at the pool:
- Wednesday May 25th at 5pm (Kate Helmedag)
- Saturday May 28th at 1pm (Anne Hensley & Lesley Kohler)
- Thursday June 2nd at 5pm (Kate Helmedag & Lesley Kohler)
- These meetings are an informal opportunity to meet board members and ask questions about summer swim. How do you sign your swimmer up for a meet? How do you sign up for volunteer credit? What do you need to do if you are away on vacation? etc etc
THIRTEEN AND OLDER SWIMMERS INTERESTED IN HELPING AT PRACTICE?
If you have a swimmer that is 13 years or older who would like to help our younger swimmers during practice, please contact Coach EmmaRose [email protected] or Coach Meg [email protected] for more information.
If you already let us know this information on your registration form, the coaches will be in contact with your volunteers.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
5/23 Evening practice starts & Welcome Back Spirit Night5/25 New Parent Meeting
5/28 New Parent Meeting
6/2 Big Whale ~ Little Whale
6/2 New Parent Meeting
6/6 (Beluga Whales practices start)
6/7 Red/White Intrasquad - picture day
6/13 Morning practices start
6/14 Medfield (Home)
6/20 Papa Murphy’s Spirit Night at Apex store
6/21 Prestonwood (Away)
6/23 Ice Cream Social + Bingo
6/27 Swim Team Breakfast
6/28 Cary Park (Away)
7/5 Scottish Hills (Away)
7/8 Coach Appreciation Luncheon
7/12 Apex (Home) - Senior Recognition Night
7/14 Papa Murphy’s Spirit Night at Apex store
7/16 Cary City Meet at Scottish Hills
7/19 Sunset Ridge (Home)
7/26 Awards Night at pool
Please check the Meets & Events tab on the website for more details and to check for any changes.
https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/calendar-and-meets
We can’t wait to see everyone at the pool!
Go Killer Whales!!!
Your SVKW Board