For these children, a swimming pool day is part of the school day

Swimming may not be on your mind as we head into the colder months, but it is on the curriculum for a Stark County school district.

I’d like to highlight the unique ways children learn in Northeast Ohio, which brought me to Uniontown, where glasses for the kids are included!

It’s not what you would expect, but a pool day is part of their school day.

“It’s so much fun,” smiled Mrs. Lindsey Dingies. “We love swimming lessons. It’s our favorite day of the week.”

Every first grader at Plain Local Schools now receives free swimming lessons at the local YMCA. That is approximately 450 students spread over six primary schools in the district.

“We are the Middlebranch Minnow Club,” Dingies said, referring to her shirt with a fish logo and name. “All teachers have our matching shirts for swim days.”

Different schools come on different days.

The district provides buses, the YMCA provides instructors and the kids bring back the results.

Dingies told me that she is so proud of her students and the progress they have made, which she sees reflected in their confidence in the pool and also in the classroom.

“They’re so brave now,” she said. “Our highest group actually does real dives off the diving board. They were nervous to even step up to the plate before. Our lowest group, they were nervous about putting their heads in, and now they’re bobbing around all the time!”

The students come once a week for eight weeks for 30-minute swimming lessons. Then it’s time to dry off and go back to class.

Kaylee Ortega, a first-grader, told me it was scary at first.

“But now that I know what it feels like now, I’m really confident,” Kaylee smiled.

“We have the best teachers ever, and they are so nice,” said Phoenix James, a first-grader.

Justis Conley said swimming used to be a little difficult for him.

“I had to wear something that made me float, but now I’m better,” he said confidently.

Nevin Walker said about his new rocket dive he just did in class that starts off like a cannonball, but then there’s a change.

“When I’m about to hit the water, I like a pencil dive,” he explained.

“I don’t really have a favorite part because it’s all a lot of fun,” Lucas Lepley added.

The pleasure is functional.

According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of death among children in this age group.

“Many of these children would never have access to swimming lessons and so we are fortunate to be able to give them to them, and now we know that when they go out this summer they will be safe,” said Dingies.

The parents I spoke with told her how grateful they are for this program.

The free swim lessons are made possible thanks to a private donation and partnerships between Plain Local Schools and the YMCA of Central Stark County.

“It’s an opportunity to really teach these kids life-saving skills,” said Ben Wheeler, VP of Operations for the YMCA of Central Stark County. “If they fall into a backyard pool, they will know how to get to the edge and get out.”

Wheeler told me that water safety and drowning prevention are fundamental to the YMCA and its community service.

“It’s not our job to teach Olympic swimmers,” he said. “We are building self-esteem and confidence and developing a life skill that these children will have forever.”

Wheeler said that because of the additional funding, the YMCA is confident that the free swimming lessons during the school day for all first graders will continue for years to come and possibly even expand to other school districts.