SWIM to SURVIVE is for Gr. 3 Students only – pending approval from OCDSB planning committee

Your child’s swim dates for 2023/2024:

Not Announced Yet

 

Recently, the Ministry of Education awarded a grant of $1,000,000 to the Ontario Branch of the Lifesaving Society to deliver the Swim to Survive program to grade three children across Ontario. Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is an affiliate of the Lifesaving Society and has been approved to teach the Swim to Survive Program.

The program is free as the grant covers busses, pool time and instructors. The program is offered to children in all levels of swimming including beginners.

The Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim To Survive program is designed to teach children the basic skills and knowledge necessary to avoid drowning and other water-related accidents and to learn to make wise choices in any aquatic environment. This is accomplished by focusing on three minimum skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.

The program consists of 3 in-water lessons (1 hour each) focusing on a sequence of 3 skills.

1. Roll entry: To simulate an accidental fall into the water.

2. Treading water for 1 minute: A reasonable time to reorient and support themselves while seeking help.

3. Swim 50 metres: Most accidental drownings occur within 50 m of safety.

4. Three in-classroom water safety lessons:  To be presented by your child’s school health teacher.

As you know, not all children can afford the opportunity to participate in swim lessons and yet they are highly represented in drowning statistics. A school-based program is an effective way to ensure that all children have the opportunity for water safety education.

NOTE: Children should wear a bathing suit but are also welcome to wear clean “light weight” (cotton) pants and shirt over top. They must bring their own towel and plastic bag. Goggles are optional.

Our school has been selected once again to participate in this program! Please fill out and return the questionnaire that was sent home in your child’s agenda on Monday.  The Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim-to-Survive program aims to reduce drowning in Ontario by teaching Grade 3 students the essential minimum skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. The program is funded by the Province of Ontario, the Lifesaving Society and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, and is completely free for your grade 3 students. (unfortunately, grade 2 or 4 students in split grades are not funded) For more information about Swim to Survive, please visit:  http://www.lifesavingsociety.com/swim-to-survive.aspx