New 25 April
Subs - please remember that subs are due on the FIRST Thursday of every month. If a swimmers subs are just 2 weeks in arrears, we may offer their place to someone on our waiting list. Please make every effort to ensure the subs for your child or children are up to date - switch over to standing order if it would help! The form is on the Download page.
Volunteer Vacancy - We currently have a vacancy for someone to help co-ordinate the training courses for teachers, poolside helpers and the Committee. The volunteers need to be kept up to date with opportunities for local Teachers courses, seminars on Child Protection, Equity in Coaching, Coaching Disabled Swimmers, etc. If you have access to the Internet, the role will mean checking two websites for upcoming courses (working between 1-6 months in advance), sending out the information to the volunteers, collecting the responses and forms, and then handing them over to the Treasurer for payment. The role will take up about 1 hour a month in checking for courses and then there will be a couple of weeks every quarter or so when it will be slightly more. If you think you can help, please email us at broadstairsswim@tesco.net or talk to Sue White. Thank you.
Kitbags - our supplier suddenly pulled the plug on the original bags that we had been ordering. We are now looking around for new ones, and Chalkie is taking orders if you wish to put your name down. The price is likely to remain the same, just £12. Please remember that all kit, including the bags, must now be paid for by cheque only, to reduce the amount of cash that we handle.
The main pool teachers been talking about the homework element of the Personal Survival courses. One proposal is that we don't require the written homework to be done. Instead, we will run the courses as usual with the practical assessment on Week 4, followed the next week by a distance swim (not a badge), where the swimmers individually questioned about their knowledge of the Water Safety Code, etc as required for the award. The awards themselves can then be collected that evening. We'll talk about it some more, but if you have a constructive idea as to how to do this better, please tell us about it!
At the start of our sessions, entry to the changing rooms is allowed if there is a lifeguard on poolside and one of our teachers is on the premises, so if this is the case, and it's 7.20 or after by the poolside clock, feel free to go through!
Still on the subject of the changing rooms, there was a lot of noise and some inappropriate behaviour last night in the boys changing rooms when the 7.30 group were changing after their session. If your son is in that session, please make sure that he is behaving safely and supervise him if necessary.
New 22 April
Oops! Slight hitch with the orders email address - it is now orderkit@tesco.net. If you have sent an order to the other email address please resend it to orderkit@tesco.net - thanks.
To have a look at what is available, either get a catalogue from Chalkie or Meryl to look at on a club night, or go to www.swimshop.co.uk to see the stock. Then email your order, including the product code, item name, size, colour if applicable, and your name and contact number. See below for the rest of the requirements.
The teachers are starting to prepare for the personal survival courses that are starting 29 May. Have a look at the Personal Survival pages for an outline of what happens, and there are resources on the Download page. There are some fun sheets for swimmers in the small pool. More info will follow about who is doing what course in the Main Pool.
New 18 April
Thanks to the very small handful of parents who took the trouble to submit nominations for the Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members. These nominations will go to the vote at the AGM on 20 May - please make an effort to come along as the volunteers run the club for the benefit of YOUR children and make decisions as to how we spend YOUR subs. We really need the support of families to help everything tick along efficiently as the Teachers, Poolside Helpers and Committee already do their bit.
Click here to see who has been nominated for which role.
We are still willing to take nominations for ordinary Committee members if you feel you have something to offer - check out the job descriptions on the Club Rules and Info page.
Another thank you to a willing volunteer who has come forward to take over the Swimshop orders. It's good to see a commitment to the swimmers! We have a new orders email address - - please use this to take the pressure off the volunteers time during club sessions. The final details are being ironed out but the following practice takes immediate effect:
- orders will be placed as soon as possible after the first swim session of the month. This is so that we can roll orders together to save on post and packing costs, to keep the cost to you right down.
- please note that in future, we'd like kit to be paid for BY CHEQUE (payable to Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming Club) as we are trying to reduce still further the amount of cash that we handle, and reduce the time that is spent away from club sessions on counting cash. Payment is due when the goods are collected. Badges may still be paid for by cash.
- We sometimes consider including badges within the amount of subs that you pay. If you have got any feelings either way as to why this should or should not happen, please drop us a line on broadstairsswim@tesco.net
On poolside, we have been delighted to welcome the new swimmers who have progressed very soundly from the Teaching Pool, along with Tony New, their poolside helper, who is also doing really well in the main pool. Erica Smallbone and Emma Warren, also poolside helpers, are working towards their Level 1 Support Teacher course in October 2008. We are applying for help in funding these courses, which are around £400 EACH! That's a lot of swimmers at £9 a month!
New 28 March
The AGM is fast approaching (20 May) and we need nominations for a new Committee. Most of the current Committee will be standing for election again, with the exception of Meryl, the current Secretary, and Chalkie, the current Treasurer. We therefore need two volunteers to take these roles on. The Club can obviously not function without people in these roles, so it is in the interest of YOUR children that you consider whether you might be able to help. Please talk to Meryl or Chalkie if you need more details.
Go to the Download page to find the agenda (which doubles up as the form to nominate someone for the Committee) and click here to see and see the Accounts.
New 22 March
We are back on the normal swimming calendar from next Thursday, 27 March, so Main Pool swimmers will need to bring their floats, paddles and fins out onto poolside every week - they just don't work if they are left in a bag or locker! Please remember to mark your kit so that you know which ones are yours. Paddles should be fitted ready for use in the lesson. The middle finger goes through the short band in the middle, the little and ring fingers go through the outside edge band, and the thumb and index fingers go through the inside edge band.
Please remember that open water, scuba type fins are NOT suitable for our swimmers as they put too much strain on their joints and muscles. Level 5's and upwards in the main pool need training fins, and can use paddles when asked to by their teacher.
The order of bags is now in, and we have chased the supplier for the missing straps, which should be on their way this week. We also have a small stock of the Keifer jammer shorts, ask Chalkie if you need a pair, and if we don't have the right size, we will of course order them for you.
New 20 March
Find out who passed their NPTS Level in both pools in March, changes effective from 27 March!
Click here to see who passed their Water Polo awards tonight, and click here to read the tournament report. As always, massive thanks to Lawrence Arnold for coming along in his own time to teach, ref and play.
Remember that now that the sun has started to come out (after the expected snow at the weekend!) we are planning the Personal Survival courses for May/June. Keep an eye on this page for dates and links to who will be doing which award. The swimmers need extra clothing for some of the awards, and there is also homework/theory work to do, too, which we ask for parents co-operation with.
New 3 March
Just a short one today - following feedback from the last gala, we have ordered hats in different colours, printed with the Bays names, so it is easier to pick out who is in each Bay. Check out the Bays page to see who has got what colour! The hats will be here for around mid April, too late for the polo tournament!
New 1 March
It's getting a bit warmer out there (sometimes!) and some people are dusting down their swimsuits for their first dip in the sea in about April or May. If you are interested in sea swimming, did you know that Dover Lifeguard swimming club have an Open Water section? They are looking for new members from age 12+, and are keen to introduce people to the pleasure of sea swimming. The season starts in May and their first sea swim will be in early June. Competitive events are typically between 200m to 4000m. There is potential for Open Water members to take part in the Dover Lifeguards Channel relay too! If that's something that you might be interested in, contact the Open Water Secretary and Coach, Lee Wakeham, via the email dover.lifeguard@btinternet.com
You've probably seen the forms in reception that are for you to complete with your up to date contact and emergency numbers. The forms also ask for your child's school. We are delighted to say that we are talking to Thanet School Sports Partnership to team up with them. The School Sports Partnership is a national drive to bring young people, schools, sport and clubs closer together. It is funded by Lottery money. The Club has to fit into criteria, including affiliation to it's sports Governing Body, all volunteers/staff must be CRB checked, there must be a Child Protection Policy in place, etc.
Here's how it will work for our swimmers - once the forms are all completed, we will select swimmers from Thanet schools who we think are suitable. We will advise the TSSP of this swimmer's name, and they talk to the school to set it up at their end. We can then provide the swimmer with publicity leaflets to put up on the noticeboard, or they can do a class talk on what our swimming club is like, why they like it, etc. They will also be known as the club rep so that other young people can talk to them if they want to know about the club, what they might like about it and what we do. This is a good opportunity for a swimmer if they want to have a bit of responsibility and are good at talking to people.
New 27 February
IMPORTANT - this affects every member - We are now required by the Amateur Swimming Association to have emergency contact details for each swimmer, plus the contact info of another person who has been nominated by the parent or carer. You will be asked by Meryl, Jane or Emma over the next few weeks to check that the information we currently hold is correct, and to provide this extra piece of information.
This is especially important for the children who are dropped off at the pool, so there is no adult on the premises who is responsible for that child in the changing rooms and reception.
We've updated the website with info about various policies, etc that also affect the swimmers and their parents or carers. When you've got a few minutes, check out the Club Rules and Info page to see it all. We've also put stroke descriptors on there, this is how we measure whether a stroke is basic, efficient or effective so that we can tick boxes.
New 21 February
Check out the latest newsletter - there is info about the water polo tournament at the end of March, which has an impact on the 8.15 and 9.00 groups.
New 19 February
We are currently working very quickly and hard behind the scenes to be ready to put in our stuff for Swim 21 accreditation again - and we need your help! You will be seeing various bits of paper that we need you to read - these concern the safety of YOUR child while they are with us.
Do you know what to do if the alarms go off at the pool, which door to go out through, whether you should collect your child, what Child Protection guidelines do we work under? This is all in the papers for you to read over the next 2 weeks. Please just take a couple of minutes to read through the items and sign to say that you have read it.
We've added a copy of our Amateur Swimming Association insurance certificate and the Code of Conduct (which applies to all volunteers and members) to the download page, just in case you want to have a look!
Also, here is a link to the ASA's Child Protection Policy which features SwimLine 0808 100 4001. SwimLine is for anyone involved in swimming, including children and young people who believe that the welfare of a young child is at risk. Calls are free and do not appear on itemised bills unless the call is made from a mobile phone. SwimLine does not use the 1471 code or any other call return or call display facility. This Club supports and publicises SwimLine for the safety of children, adults and families.
New 15 February
Firstly apologies for the gap in updating the website, waiting list, etc. The Wet-muppet has not had a lot of time recently! Keep an eye on this page for a newsletter due out next Weds 21 February.
Calling all Masters swimmers (age 19+) or prospective swimmers - the entry forms for East Invicta are here! It's 5 April at Kings School, Canterbury, warm up 1730hrs, start 1800hrs, finish by about 2100hrs. Click here for the link to go to the East Invicta website for the information and entry forms for the Masters Gala on 5 April, closing date 8 March. If you want to be in it to win it, please contact Sue White via the Clubs email address broadstairsswim@tesco.net
We're delighted to say that we have reduced our Masters membership fees. You can now join for £15 for your first year, and for rejoiners it's just £10 per year. This covers your ASA insurance and membership fee. See the section below for more details.
Thanks to all those prospective members who came along for their try-outs last week and this week. If we contact you with a tryout date, please make sure that you let us know if you can't make it - if we don't hear from you after a couple of email invitations, we will assume you are no longer interested in a place, so please keep in touch. See the updated Waiting List
The Amateur Swimming Association, the sports Governing Body, have made extensive changes to the National Plan for Teaching Swimming, which is our framework for our lessons and progressions. We are currently trying to decipher what we need to do. We will be continuing with the existing system until the end of this rotation in early April, and MIGHT be in a position to switch over then - but maybe not - the Teachers have a lot of changes to implement!
The most immediate thing to be impacted is the try-outs for prospective members in the Main Pool. We will probably be giving the swimmers two group numbers after their tryout - one for the existing scheme and one for the new scheme, so whenever a place crops up with their name on, we will be able to slot them in! We haven't set a date for these tryouts as Sue White needs to make sure she is understanding it all correctly first! She will be in touch as soon as we have set a date. Thanks for your patience.
We're delighted to say that 75% of members are now paying by standing order which is great! We're looking to hit the 90% mark with your help, so if you can't find your cheque book or want to make your life (and ours!) that little bit easier, please ask Chalkie for a standing order form, or find one on the download page. Once complete, just give it to your bank and check that it has gone through the next month, as they often don't stick the first month!
New 17 January
Thanks to Greg at The Trophy Shop, London Rd, Dover, www.kenttrophies.co.uk for sorting out our orders, engraving, making the new medal centres with the new logo and stringing all the medals and providing new trophies at a moment's notice!
Remember that we can get a 20% discount on orders for club members for swimwear and other bits and pieces from Swimshop www.swimshop.co.uk so if you need any kit, have a look at their website or the catalogues that Meryl and Chalkie have got. Swimshop sell swimwear for all ages and types of swimming (competitive to recreational), pool toys, training aids, tshirts, shorts, towels, goggles, hats - all sorts! The discount does not apply to books, DVDs, etc. At the moment, Chalkie is taking the orders for goods from Swimshop but this is as well as all his treasurer's work, so we are looking for someone to take over the orders role - please talk to Chalkie if you can spare a bit of time for this.
New 16 January 2008
Happy New Year to all our readers! We hope 2008 finds you happy and well.
We're receiving a lot of membership application forms at the moment - please bear with us while we set a date (in fact, two dates, as there are so many!) for the tryouts. We have to make sure that we have enough teachers to cover the lessons and the tryouts. Thanks for your patience.
Our Annual General Meeting will be held in May. We expect as many parents as possible to attend - it lasts about 90 minutes and is the best chance to hear what the Club has acheived & what we have spent your money on! The Committee stand down at the AGM and some may choose not to stand for a Committee role again, so we are on the look out for volunteers to help us out. Please have a think about how you may be able to assist us, if possible.
New 6 December
See the Newsletters & Posters page for who passed their NPTS Levels in the Main Pool this evening.
If you're quick, you'll see our Masters section report in the Sports Section of the Thanet Extra and other local papers - fame at last!
The kitbags are here! We'll be selling them this evening and next week (remember it is splash night next week, then we break for Christmas for 3 weeks). The bags are £12 each (payment by cheque preferred) and include a pair of hand paddles (small, medium or large) and a blue/white kickboard. Remember that we are including the kickboards to help solve our storage problems so some may not be in absolutely perfect condition but will still do the job!
New 1 December
Read the outcome of our first ever Water Polo tournament - click here.
Massive thanks go to Lawrence Arnold, who was the Coach for the Hythe Aqua Junior Water Polo team for 4 years, and is a very competant player himself. Swimmers, teachers and helpers all had a great time taking part and watching, and we all learnt a lot from Lawrence. We're delighted to say he will be coming along again to teach and ref our next tournament, probably in March 2008.
(PS does anyone have a load of our yellow competition water polo balls? We may have given these to a parent for safe keeping but we can't remember who!)
Jane Pond, Louise English and Debbie Barnett are your Parent Liaison people. If you have any questions or concerns, please approach them in the first instance and they will be happy to help. If they don't know the answer, they will find someone who does.
Please talk to them instead of coming out on poolside to talk to the poolside staff. The teachers are there to teach and ensure that everyone's children are safe and happy. If your question can only be answered by a teacher, the Parent Liaison people will find out the answer and pass it on to you, or arrange a time outside of lesson time for the query to be answered.
Remember that we are finishing off our NPTS assessments next week in the Main Pool, so please make every effort for your child to come along. We can then figure out where everyone needs to be and let you know who has passed their Level and who needs to move groups! Thanks.
