Happy Friday Sharks!

It’s been a few weeks so I wanted to check in with a final summer farewell with a couple reminders.

Thank you again to everyone that was involved in our Shark community this summer. Us coaches do our best on the pool deck, but it’s the parents, families, and friends that make it a community outside of the pool.

We had storms on banquet day for the first time in my 8 years but we still had a fantastic time with good food and good company. If you were not able to attend the banquet, stop by the pool as soon as you can to pick up your award plaque/bag and check the ribbon box one last time.

We will be hosting a collection for any Southdown swim suits/clothes/equipment items that your children may have outgrown and you want to pass along to future swimmers. There will be a clothing hamper at the pool starting this Sunday 8/17 and running through Labor Day. Drop off any old Southdown swim gear and feel free to take anything you would be able to use! Tess will collect whatever’s left on Labor Day.

I also want to take this time to encourage winter swimming!! Whether it is stroke development lessons or a recreational winter league, any practice outside of summertime is extremely beneficial. Many families have expressed interest/plans to enroll in winter programs so I am eager to see the progress next May. The AACo Parks and Rec Fall Guide is published and offers multiple swim classes including RecRacers for swimmers that are still learning all four strokes. They also do the same in the winter season. The YMCA in Arnold also offers stroke development clinics that can be helpful. There is another club that I learned about that this summer through some other coaches called Crossing Currents Aquatics that offers various swim lessons, swim team prep, and they are waiting on approval into USA swimming.

The end of summer is bittersweet. It’s always so much fun to spend it all with you and your kids. There were a few people that asked so I am going to plug my Amazon Wishlist for my classroom here. It’s not necessary but it’s always appreciated. To any of the older kids, reach out during the year if you need me to sign off on volunteer hours from this summer.

Have a safe and wonderful rest of the year!! (Sending this from Acadia National Park in Maine) 

-Coach Nastya :-)