Detailed information about our curriculum and philosophies. New students should start here.
Please contact us if you have additional questions regarding our policies.
Session dates, tuition information and online enrollment.
Professional Teaching Environment & Parental Involvement Guidelines
We encourage you to sit close enough to your child’s class to hear the instructor. In fact, at the end of the session, we will ask you to evaluate the instructor. However, please respect our knowledge and experience as professionals. We have specific requests regarding your participation:
We encourage you to sit close enough to your child’s class to hear the instructor. In fact, at the end of the session, we will ask you to evaluate the instructor. However, please respect our knowledge and experience as professionals. We have specific requests regarding your participation:
Please do not interrupt the instructor during class. We do encourage your input. However, if you need to speak with the instructor, please approach him/her at the end of class. If you have a quick question, the instructor can answer it then. If you need to speak with the instructor at length, please ask him/her to call you. The instructor will obtain your phone number from the office and follow up with you before the next class.
Please do not approach the class and attempt to assist your child with a specific skill. If the instructor needs your assistance or would like to show you how to help your child at home with a particular skill, he/she will ask you to come to the side of the pool.
Please do not approach the class and reprimand your child. This is distracting for the instructor and other students. Please allow the instructor to handle all discipline issues during class. As you will see in our “Behavior Expectations and Discipline Procedures,” the instructor will involve you in the discipline process as appropriate. In fact, you can be most helpful by thoroughly reviewing this information with your child(ren) and providing us with your full support of the discipline procedures.
Behavior Expectations for Personalized Swim Instruction© Students
From Jeff: How do children most effectively learn? I have been studying this topic since 1985. There are many schools of thought on the subject. The theories range from extremely rigid learning environments to unstructured and undisciplined environments. Like so many things in life, theories are just that – theories. Therefore, the best we can do as parents and educators is to create and select environments that we believe to be the most effective for our children and students.
From Jeff: How do children most effectively learn? I have been studying this topic since 1985. There are many schools of thought on the subject. The theories range from extremely rigid learning environments to unstructured and undisciplined environments. Like so many things in life, theories are just that – theories. Therefore, the best we can do as parents and educators is to create and select environments that we believe to be the most effective for our children and students.
When I began designing the Personalized Swim Instruction© curriculum in 1987, I knew very little about educational theories. I simply created the learning environment that came naturally to me. I asked myself how I best learned information and skills. I knew that I could not function in chaotic, disorganized and unstructured class settings. I liked a quiet, organized, disciplined and structured class environment. I liked consistent rules for everyone. I felt confident when I clearly understood the expectations of the teacher. I was already biased to this type of environment because it was the only environment that I had known.
I was raised in an Irish-Italian-German-English family of nine. Before having a family, my father spent five years in the seminary studying to become a Catholic priest, followed by several years in the military during the Korean War. Those years in stoic, disciplined and structured settings set the precedent for raising his children. I never questioned my father’s authority. He established it absolutely. Though he was a very loving and gentle father, he had zero tolerance for misbehavior or disrespect. We only had to misbehave or be disrespectful once and we never made that mistake again.
You can imagine how difficult it is for me to adjust to some of the parenting concepts of this latest generation. I have observed some parents allowing their children to show disrespect by interrupting their conversations, “talking back” to them, and even yelling at them. Some parents believe that it is important to allow children to express themselves in this way. I disagree. Many parents are afraid that if they are too strict, their children will not like them. I loved and respected my parents. We had a great relationship. (They died in 2011 and 2012). In fact, they both worked for my corporation from 1996-97 to 2006. My father and mother never had to tell us anything twice. They only had to look at us with “that look” and we sat up straight. We had strict rules and strict and consistent consequences if we broke the rules. There were no “second warnings” or “if I have to tell you again…”
I understand that you have a choice when selecting a swim lesson program for your child(ren). I hope that you choose to enroll in our program. We would love the opportunity to serve you. Before you make that decision, however, I feel that it is only fair that you are aware of our behavior expectations. You have probably already surmised by now that they are like my father’s expectations. You are correct, but don’t worry; my instructors are much more gentle and patient than was my father. 🙂 I understand that few people were raised as I was. Some of our students just need an adjustment period with us in which they gain an understanding and appreciation for our behavior expectations and discipline procedures.Our behavior expectations and discipline procedures have been established to ensure the safety of our students and to create an optimal learning environment for all. We have identified specific behaviors that jeopardize these goals. Therefore, we have itemized each expectation and its rationale. One of the many benefits of our program is to prepare or reinforce the structure students must follow in school.
Should learning always be fun? I believe that the process of learning is fun and exciting. However, that does not mean it is easy, nor does it mean that we need to play games to “entertain” students into learning. We have all been to school, whether public or private. Was school always fun? Did our teachers allow us to talk while they were talking? Did they allow us to disrupt other students just so that we could have fun? Was it a legitimate excuse that we were disruptive in class because we had a hard time paying attention? I think we would all agree that the answer to these questions is no. School is not always fun and games. Structure and discipline are necessary components for learning to take place. We hope to show the students that it is “fun” to make improvements to their swimming skills and that they can feel good about working hard to do so.
We consider aquatic education as important as any other subject your children will learn in school.
Our expectations are as follows:
Expectation: Students are not allowed near the water until the instructor has called their names.
Rationale: Safety.
Expectation: Students are not allowed in the water until the instructor has entered the water. This is not applicable at home pools and homes associations, etc. when the pool is open to all members and the students may already be in the pool prior to their lesson time.
Rationale: Safety.
Expectation: On the first day, the instructor will assign each student a specific “seat” for the entire session. Except when performing a skill with the instructor or swimming to the instructor, the students are required to remain in their assigned seats. During the part of the lesson in which the students are required to practice techniques individually, they must stay within the area near their assigned seats.
Rationale: Safety. In addition, having an assigned seat provides the class with consistency and establishes organization. By setting a simple but feasible expectation for the child, the instructor can initiate the process of immediate, positive critique.
Expectation: While the instructor is talking or demonstrating, students are required to sit still with their hands in their lap.
Rationale: This enforces the importance of concentration and respect for authority, and prevents students from disrupting each other.
Expectation: Students are not allowed to touch other students.
Rationale: Safety. In addition, this emphasizes the importance of respect for others.
Expectation: Students are not allowed to speak to the instructor or to other students without first gaining permission from the instructor.
Rationale: This emphasizes the importance of respect for others and allows the instructor to listen to the needs of each student.
Expectation: Students are not allowed to splash or spit water.
Rationale: Safety and of course, this emphasizes the importance of respect for others.
Expectation: During the part of the lesson in which the students are required to practice techniques individually, they are not allowed to talk with other students. We realize that many of our younger students may need short breaks during this independent practice time. They will not be allowed, however, to prevent the other students from practicing.
Rationale: Justice. Each parent is paying tuition and each child has the right to have the best possible opportunity to learn.
Discipline Procedures for Personalized Swim Instruction© Students
Our discipline procedures are very straightforward. We expect that students will adhere to the behavior expectations listed above. On the first day of class, the instructor will inform the students of these behavior expectations. On the second day of class, the instructor will review these expectations. If a student does not adhere to these expectations, we will consistently enforce the discipline procedures below. The instructors are trained to be gentle, but firm. We understand that children are excited to be in the water and this excitement can make it difficult to concentrate. We also understand that some children have special needs. However, we cannot allow any student for any reason to compromise his/her own safety and the safety of the other students. We also cannot allow any student to disrupt the other students’ opportunities to learn.
Our discipline procedures are very straightforward. We expect that students will adhere to the behavior expectations listed above. On the first day of class, the instructor will inform the students of these behavior expectations. On the second day of class, the instructor will review these expectations. If a student does not adhere to these expectations, we will consistently enforce the discipline procedures below. The instructors are trained to be gentle, but firm. We understand that children are excited to be in the water and this excitement can make it difficult to concentrate. We also understand that some children have special needs. However, we cannot allow any student for any reason to compromise his/her own safety and the safety of the other students. We also cannot allow any student to disrupt the other students’ opportunities to learn.
To avoid awkward sentences, we will use the feminine pronouns of she and her to represent the grammatically correct he/she and him/her pronoun combination.
1. We educate the student that she has not adhered to the behavior expectation by reviewing the expectation with her.
2. We provide one kind, but firm warning that if this happens again, she will have to sit out of the pool for two minutes.
3. If the student violates the expectation again, the instructor will follow through with the warning by sitting her out of the pool for two minutes. The instructor will also inform the student that if she fails to adhere to the expectation a third time, she will be removed from the water for five minutes.
4. If the student violates the expectation a third time, the instructor will ask that you come to the poolside. The instructor will inform you of the situation. The instructor will inform you and your child that if this happens again, the student will not be allowed to continue with that day’s class. You will be asked to escort your child to your seat and review the behavior expectations with her. She may return to the class after five minutes.
5. Finally, after all the above attempts have been made to nurture the child into cooperation with the behavior expectations, we will follow through with removing her from the class for the remainder of the day. The instructor will ask you to come to the poolside. She will inform you of the situation and you will be asked to escort your child to your seat or you may sit poolside with your child while she observes the class. We understand that children have bad days and we hope that the next class day will bring better cooperation.
6. We will not use valuable class time continuing to discipline the student. Please review the behavior expectations with her. Please inform your child that she will not receive any warnings during the next class. If she does not adhere to the expectations, she will not be allowed to continue with that day’s class or the remainder of the session. You will be given a refund for the remaining classes in the session. The instructor will ask you to call the office (816-942-7946) and speak with an enrollment counselor regarding the situation. We hope that you will reschedule for a later session when you feel that your child would be prepared to follow the behavior expectations.
Rescheduling Policies for Weather & Pool Maintenance
* All classes, unless otherwise specified are on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays during our spring program; and run Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week during our summer program.
* Fridays are reserved for make-ups, but ONLY for the following situations:
* All classes, unless otherwise specified are on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays during our spring program; and run Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week during our summer program.
* Fridays are reserved for make-ups, but ONLY for the following situations:
1. Pool problems such as but not limited to the pool water-heater malfunctioning.
2. Extreme weather conditions. Of course, we offer classes at an indoor facility that is well protected from rain, lightning, etc. Therefore, ONLY the most extreme weather events would cause us to cancel classes and thus reschedule for the forthcoming Friday: A. Snow storm during late March or April that would make driving too dangerous. B. Tornado Watch or Warning. C. Extreme thunderstorms that would make driving to\from the location and walking into and out of the facility too dangerous.
3. Unsafe Environment for the Students and Instructors: If blood, vomit or fecal material is found in the pool, the instructor will immediately clear the students from the pool. Remaining time in the current class and all classes for the remainder of that day will be rescheduled for Friday at the regularly scheduled class times. If the contamination results in the facility being closed for multiple days, we will still provide no more make-up lessons than the two Friday classes. If this situation impedes our ability to provide a make-up on Friday, we will not provide an additional make-up lesson.
* In case of any of these events, we will contact you as soon as possible to inform you of the cancellation and rescheduling.
* We do not offer special arrangements if you are unable to attend the Friday make-up lessons.
Enrollment Procedure and Policies
Enroll Online
Please read the details below:
Our “online enrollment” system allows you to easily and efficiently perform all of the steps that lead up to the actual placement of each student into a specific class. This will allow you to provide us with all of the necessary information about the students (ages, abilities, goals for each student, etc.); as well as your preferences for sessions (date ranges) and class times. You will be able to provide us with all of this information at your convenience. Of course, this will prevent the frustration of phone-tag that too often occurs with telephone communication. The data you submit to us through our online enrollment system will be imported into our custom software. All “online enrollments” will be completed by our Enrollment Counselors*. They will manually make the final determination with regard to the classes most compatible for each student. As a final step, you will receive an email from us with all of the details of your enrollment.
Enroll Online
Please read the details below:
Our “online enrollment” system allows you to easily and efficiently perform all of the steps that lead up to the actual placement of each student into a specific class. This will allow you to provide us with all of the necessary information about the students (ages, abilities, goals for each student, etc.); as well as your preferences for sessions (date ranges) and class times. You will be able to provide us with all of this information at your convenience. Of course, this will prevent the frustration of phone-tag that too often occurs with telephone communication. The data you submit to us through our online enrollment system will be imported into our custom software. All “online enrollments” will be completed by our Enrollment Counselors*. They will manually make the final determination with regard to the classes most compatible for each student. As a final step, you will receive an email from us with all of the details of your enrollment.
The dynamics involved in building compatible classes are complex and best accomplished by those with experience teaching our curriculum. Specifically, all Enrollment Counselors must first serve as Swim Instructors. Therefore, they have been thoroughly trained with regard to our curriculum, teaching methodologies and instruction techniques. Because they have actually taught all of the various class compositions (different age\ability combinations), they can best determine which classes are most compatible for each student.
Of course, you are always welcome to contact us via telephone at 816-942-SWIM (7946). Hours for enrollment vary throughout the season. Thus, please call whenever it is convenient for you. If you reach our voicemail system, please leave a message spelling your first and last name, and the best times you may be reached. One of our Enrollment Counselors will return your call as soon as possible. To assist us in reaching you at your preferred time, please provide your cell phone number. Thank you.
Enrollment Policies
When you enroll in our program, you are making a class reservation. Therefore, your confirmation to us is a payment of the total dollar amount of the classes reserved. Because we limit our group class size to only 4 students and overall availability is limited, we do require this tuition immediately. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Prior to your financial confirmation via the online enrollment system or via telephone with an Enrollment Counselor; we need you to agree to the following policies:
We do not offer make-ups or refunds for classes missed due to personal conflicts, cancellations or students who refuse to participate.
We do not offer special arrangements if you are unable to attend Friday make-up classes.
We will adhere to these polices because your payment is reserving a position(s) in a class(es) that we can no longer offer to anyone else from that point forward. Your payment will confirm your agreement to these policies and it will confirm your reservation(s).
Goggles: We require that each student bring a reliable pair of goggles to class each day.