Darby Schools include swimming lessons in the curriculum

HAMILTON — In the winter there is skiing, snowboarding and now swimming lessons.

Thanks to a grant and program, the Darby School District has been able to incorporate swimming lessons into its curriculum.

Darby first grade teacher Morgan Pelkey ​​says the lessons are the highlight of her students’ week.

“They are having a fantastic time. I’m pretty sure this is their favorite part of the week. The last time we came on Tuesday, the first time the next day, they said: swimming, swimming? Is it swimming?” Pelkey ​​said.

With swimming lessons you not only learn swimming skills, but also other skills.

“I think they’ve been really good at teaching the kids to only go in the water when it’s their turn and to be really good listeners,” Pelkey ​​said. “And I’ve seen them practice some of their floats, their basic survival skills, which is great and I know it’ll lead to more down the road, but I feel like they’ve been really good at learning the basic floating and things they can use right away. You know, if they found themselves in a situation where they had to help themselves.”

It is also a way for students to shine in school, as well as outside the classroom.

“I think it’s been super cool and really helpful for us. I feel like it gives students an opportunity to shine that might not shine as much in your academic environment. Some of them are really discovering that this is their niche, and that’s super exciting,” Pelkey ​​told MTN.

It is also the growth in just three lessons that makes the bus trip worth it.

“I can just see, like, they’re all growing a ton, even just like over the three lessons, and seeing them get a lot braver and, you know, they’re swimming a little bit on their own and they’re not all panicking, you know , when the teacher lets go for a moment. So they are doing very well,” said Pelkey.

Fer Schreckendgust with the Bitterroot Aquatic Center explained the importance of the program.

“What the end result is, we see kids with more skills. We see that these premier programs with Corvallis and Hamilton have fluent swimmers. Children we can turn our backs on in the water, children who are safer in the water. We also teach a water safety program, reach or throw,” Schreckendgust said. “Be careful on ice, things like that… it’s mainly getting these kids to float and swim and feel comfortable in the water.”

But the skills you learn in the lessons can also be a launching pad for a lifetime of swimming in any environment.

“Hopefully we’ll move them on to competition or whatever swim team environment, which is our goal, and the basics, is to save lives. It’s all about saving lives,” Schreckendgust said.

Safety is also a top priority when teaching young children to swim.

“Just getting that water, education, that safety, getting rid of that fear aspect number one, we’re really trying to focus on the non-swimmers as much as possible,” Schreckendgust explained. “We just want them to be as safe as possible. in any aquatic environment, making them our first priority. But we see the long-term effects of this program in our regular group lessons.”

“I think the parents are very happy with it. They have been very supportive of the program and very helpful on both sides,” Schreckendgust continued. “I know Darby posted about it before, before this program started this season, and their parents, the comments from parents on social media were huge and so positive. It’s great, it’s just a fantastic program.”

Having a warm pool on colder days makes starting swimming lessons easier for students to get in and learn basic skills.

“We are so lucky. We can supply it with our hot water. We have a warm indoor pool. It’s 91, so it’s like this, so we don’t have to go through that cold water experience. We can get in right away. It’s like taking a bath. We are having a great time,” said Schreckendgust.

And there is only one word that can describe the next generation of safe swimmers.

“It feels fantastic. Anything we can do to help our community grow and prosper. That’s what we’re here for. And we feel so lucky to be where we are and to be able to provide what we can with what we have. Of course, we are always looking to expand to be able to provide more services in the winter,” says Schreckendgust.