The Westmoreland County Family YMCA and Westmoreland County Public Schools recently announced a partnership to provide swimming lessons for all second grade students during the 2018-2019 school year. One hundred and one students will receive eight swim lesson sessions during the May 28-June 7 period.
The program will be funded through the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA Endowment Fund, which has a long term goal to provide many years of training to second grade students throughout the Pen Met YMCA area. The YMCA’s Second Grade Learn to Swim program can help children learn the basic water safety skills. Since the inception of the program in 2007, 10,508 second graders have participated in the program. Terrie W. Suthard, program director of the Richmond County/Westmoreland County Family YMCA, noted, ‘It is an honor for the YMCA to be able to work in collaboration with the Westmoreland County Public School System to provide swimming lessons for the second graders during the 2018-2019 school year.”
Students will receive their training at the Glebe/Cabin Point Pool in Mt. Holly during the school day. Students will be transported by WMLCPS buses and the structured training will be led by the YMCA staff and certified swim instructors. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes. At the conclusion of each session, students will return to their school and continue their regular classes. All students will need a bathing suit and towel each day of training. The YMCA may provide these items for children in need.
The YMCA’s motto, “Impacting Lives through Drowning Prevention,” is especially important to Westmoreland County residents. Living so close to waterfronts requires an awareness of the dangers of drowning. Cathy Rice, Deputy Superintendent of WMLCPS, said, “This program has been a much needed program for our students. We are delighted to have the YMCA offer this program to our young students at no cost to our parents.”
Parents will be receiving the information packets soon. All permission forms must be returned to the schools by Friday, March 15.
Picture and story provided by Westmoreland County Schools
Colonial Beach News 