Tuesday, August 2, 2011

S is for summer and swimming

For the first month after school gets out, the kids have swimming lessons every day, rain or shine. This costs only about $30, and they go together with their after-school program so I don't even need to make a special trip.

Lina made a lot of progress this year, and quickly achieved her goals. On the Saturday after the swimming lessons ended (July 9), all the kids and their families gathered for the closing ceremony. This year, the weather was absolutely perfect! One by one, their names were called and they splashed or swam across the poos according to their ability. Those who swam well enough to be in the deep side of the pool could jump or dive from the diving board or the high dives. Lina chose to jump from the 3 meter platform.



The kids who had reached a certain level of proficiency were then awarded a wreath of willow or oak leaves to wear as they completed their lap around the pool.

After that, the instructors threw candy into the pool for the kids to dive after. (Imagine a frenzy of hungry piranha.)