Second Graders Make A Splash At First Day Of Swim For Life

Photo by Daniel Avila

On October 15, NYC Parks’ Assistant Commissioner for Public Programs Annika Holder joined 26 second graders from P.S. 124 - The Yung Wing School in Manhattan for their first day of swim lessons at the Asser Levy Recreation Center. The first lesson covered topics ranging from the roles of swim instructors and lifeguards, to the use of equipment such as kickboards, and basic pool rules such as “no running on the deck.” Afterward, the children were tested by Parks Aquatics staff to determine their ability level in the pool, and the day concluded with a swimming lesson.

Asser Levy is one of 29 locations across the city where second graders will be learning how to swim for the first time through the Swim for Life program, which teaches children vital water safety skills and promotes lifelong fitness habits. Collectively, more than 2,000 students will participate in the first session of this program, and sessions run from October to May.

In the United States, accidental drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among kids under the age of 14, with drowning incidences disproportionately impacting minority children. Since launching in January 2011, Swim for Life has reached more than 14,500 students in more than 130 public elementary schools, and has partnered with more than 30 indoor pools across New York City. The goal of the program is to reach 14,000 students during the 2012-2013 school year.

Launched in January 2011, Swim for Life is dramatically changing the way public agencies and private organizations work together to benefit NYC kids. The program accesses swim facilities and delivers swim instruction, working with a variety of experts, to teach NYC’s public school children how to be safe in the water. It began with 10 pools has rapidly expanded to 29 locations throughout the City. Its top three providers of swim instruction are NYC Parks, the YMCA of Greater New York and Asphalt Green. Each ten-session program offers full classes of students instruction in the pool, as part of the school day, one hour per week. Pre- and post-swim evaluations ensure that students have successfully learned basic skills. The long-term goal of Swim for Life is to teach each of NYC's second graders basic water safety skills.


Green Tip of the Week: Make your own scrap paper notebook:

What you will need:
- 8 ½” x 11” scrap paper (faxes, printing, mail, etc.)
- binder clips
- scraps of cardboard cut into 1” inch strips
-Elmer’s glue
- paint brush
- decorative scrap paper (ads, magazine paper, etc.)
- masking tape or decorative tape

Steps:
1. Fold 40-50 sheets of the scrap paper (8 ½” x 11”) in half.
2. Stack the pages (make sure to line the folded sides together and the cut edges together), and then press down on the stack (keeps pages evenly lined up).
3. Place cardboard strips slightly below the top shorter edge. Attach binder clips to hold together cardboard and paper (this keeps everything in place).
4. Squeeze glue along top shorter edge. Use paint brush to even it out.
5. Let the glue dry, and then repeat the process about 5 times (this holds the edges together).
6. Once the glue dry for the last time, removes clips.
7. Attach and glue the decorative paper across the top of notebook.
8. Secure the decorative paper in place with clips while it dries.
9. Attach tape carefully on top (so glue, uneven edges, and mistakes are covered).
10. Decorate notebook as you see fit.

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