Lesson Information

The Shaler Area school district swim lessons are taught by certified Water Safety Instructors (WSI’s), with the assistance of several Water Safety Instructor Aides (WSIA’s), and are based on the Red Cross Progressive level criteria. The Infant and Preschool classes are not included in the levels program. Our instructors require these criteria to be mastered by the students prior to advancing to the next level. Our program strives to provide a 3:1 student to instructor ratio from preschool through level 3.

Parents will find a minimum of 2 certified Lifeguards and 1 Staff Supervisor on deck at all times. School District and insurance policies require that parents and guardians be seated in the stands at all times during the lessons. Should you have any questions, please seek out the Staff Supervisor and not our Guard staff as the Guards are not to be distracted from their duties. If you have questions for your child’s instructor, please see them before or after class.

No child (or adult) of the opposite sex is permitted in the other’s locker room. Please use the Pool Office area or the co-ed classroom (across the hallway from the girls bathroom) as necessary.

Levels 2-6 run approximately 50 minutes in the water while Level 1, Preschool, and Infant classes run approximately 25 minutes. Please have your children on the deck on time for attendance as this is one of our biggest challenges to starting classes on schedule.

We are conscious that several parents are unsure of their child’s skills prior to class sign-ups and our instructors actively shifts children upwards (and downwards) according to their observations throughout Weeks 1 and 2. This serves both the child’s and the classes’ best interests.

How can you help us help your child(ren)? The youngest swimmers need encouragement and bravery. The pool temperature is always the 1st barrier to overcome, no matter how warm it may be (It’s cold for us too!). Children with long hair should have hair ties or bathing caps so that they can see at all times. Also, there is also no substitute for repetition and practice.