Piranha Bites
Volume 3
May 7, 2004

Well, the first week of practice is almost behind us.  I’m pretty sure most of the kids can relate to this comic – thanks, Don McShanog for your contribution to our humor!! I think all of the kids are doing a super job, and I’ve heard they are having a ton of fun!! Thanks for getting your kids to practice during the time I call May Madness!! Stuff you need to know about…. 

For the next week, please write your swimmer’s name on their backs with a permanent marker. This will help the coaches learn the kids’ names more quickly.  It’s kind of like any sport – they all look the same at the beginning of the season, especially if there are almost 200 of them!! Thank you, Diane Fick, for the great idea! 

Get ready to show those pearly whites – Pictures are NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 13^TH:           4:00 Individuals
                      5:00 Team

Come in your team swim suits, but there will be no practice….There will be sign-ups for several fun spirit activities and merchandise sales taking place at pictures, so get out of your cars and come on in, Mom and Dad!

Speaking of team swimsuits – are they good-looking, or what?!?!  Thanks, Shery Dollihite for the awesome job picking out the suits for us this year. I know that the kids are very proud of their suits, but I would discourage them from wearing them at practice. They were designed to be two-year suits, but I can almost guarantee that they won’t last two years if the kids wear them every day. 

Starting immediately, you can sign up for private swim lessons with our fabulous coaches! They will be offered in 15 minute increments from 8:00am until noon at the Knightsbridge pool every Saturday beginning May 8^th. Each 15 minute private lesson costs $5.00. Yes, you can sign up for back-to-back time slots if you would like more time….Check the pool deck for sign-up sheets at practice.

Some more important dates….June 2^nd and June 3^rd – Time Trials. For you veterans, you know what this means. For you rookies, the activity called “time trials” is the process of recording each individual swimmer’s time for individual events they will swim when the real meets begin. Obviously, attendance on these two days is EXTREMELY important. These results will be used to place the swimmers in the different heats. These time results will also be used to determine relay teams. The schedule will be as follows:

June 2^nd     6 and under, 7/8, 11/12

June 3^rd     9/10, 13/14, Open/

Yes, I know that I don’t have the swimmers in order by age group. We are trying to keep  the two days pretty evenly numbered, and this is how it worked out! If your child cannot come to the day assigned to their age group, have them come on the other day. If your child cannot come to either day, let a coach know by May 28^th so that a different time can be arranged. Lastly, we will need timers for this process. This is a great time to practice for the real meets. We will be asking….

A few pieces of housekeeping…..and one plea for assistance!!

Lost and Found – Check the white shelves/”cubbies” located between the Coke machine and the bathrooms for items you may have lost.

Parking – Please do not park in the circular drive in front of the Knightsbridge clubhouse. This area is for drop-off only. We have to keep it clear in case of an emergency situation (don’t worry – we’re praying those away!).

Baby Pool – Here are the guidelines:

• No children over age 6 allowed.
• Piranha swimmers age 6 and under – only allowed after practice and with adult supervision.
• Siblings of Piranha swimmers age 6 and under – allowed with adult supervision.

Thank you for your cooperation. These guidelines will be strictly enforced.

Plea for assistance/fun service opportunity: I am looking for someone to oversee a fundraiser/pool party for the team to take during the week of June 21^st. This week marks the midway point through the meet season. What we’d like to do is have a swim-a-thon where the swimmers collect pledges for each lap they swim at the event. The event would conclude with a pizza party and fun swimming complete with music and games.  Several teams in the area have an event like this every year, and I understand that they are a HUGE hit with the kids. What are we raising funds for? Equipment – for example, we are currently borrowing kick boards from Strake Jesuit!! Also, we will donate 50% of our proceeds to a charitable organization – yes, I would love your input on what charity we should support! Email me – today!

I think that’s it for now – I’ve decided to stop promising that this newsletter will get shorter – we have a lot going on!!

GO PIRANHAS!!

-Bubbles

sowens@houston.rr.com