Deputy Principal's Report

Preparing for Swimming

As we approach two weeks of swimming, this may stir up feelings of stress among the children and their families, who will need to navigate the additional tasks on their to-do lists. Fear not – we have some tips to help you survive this period.

Prepare the night before

We can’t stress this enough: have the swimming bag ready to go the night before. Ensure it contains a towel, swimming cap, goggles, underwear, and slip-on shoes to wear to and from the pool. Swimmers should be worn to school to save time at the pool. Don’t forget a plastic bag for wet swimmers. Make sure everything is labelled, including school clothes, socks, and underwear. From my experience, having two swim bags on rotation works best, allowing time for towels and swimmers to dry.

Pack some extra snacks

Swimming makes children hungry as it uses up a lot of extra energy. Feel free to pack some high-energy snacks for an afternoon boost.

Minimise after-school activities and demands

Your children may come home feeling quite exhausted. It’s perfectly fine to take a week off from extracurricular activities to maintain a sense of calm at home. If necessary, speak with the classroom teacher about reducing homework demands.

Keep the routine the same

Where possible, keep the routine consistent. This will help things run smoothly and reduce any anxiety that may arise during the week.

Focus on the positives and the opportunity to learn

When we’re out of our comfort zone and feeling tired, it’s easy to slip into a negative mindset. Try to keep conversations focused on what’s going well or the opportunities that arise from the experience, rather than on what is difficult or challenging. Some children will approach swimming with great enthusiasm and a positive attitude, while others may feel anxious and worried. We have a social story that you can read together about what the swimming week will look like, which might be helpful. Please reach out if you need extra support.

Thanks for all your support,

Peggy McDonald & Steele Anderson

Deputy Principals