Frequently Asked Questions - Aquatics
Q. How old does my child have to be to attend a swimming lesson on their own?
A. Children 3 years and older can attend independent lessons.
Q. Can I bring two children with me to a parent assisted class?
A. Each child in a parent assisted class must have a guardian 13 years of age or older.
Q. How can I determine what level my child is in if they haven’t taken lessons before?
A. During any open swim children can come in to the pool and see a lifeguard that is on break in the office and ask for an assessment.
Q. What level does my child go into once they have turned 6 years of age?
A. The preschool levels and the learn to swim levels work consecutively so a child’s preschool level will determine what learn to swim level they will be in.
Q. How old does my child have to be to go in the water alone without a parent?
A. Children 10 and under must have a guardian in the water within arms reach at all times during every open swim.
Q. Can my child attend a fitness swim with me?
A. Children must be over the age of 10 and be able to swim one length of the pool independently.
Q. What are swim ratios for Open Swims?
A. For Children ages 0-3: 3 Children : 1 Guardian For Children ages 4-9: 5 Children : 1 Guardian For Children ages 10+: 10 Children : 1 Guardian
Q. How long are the swim sessions?
A. There are two sessions through out the year. Fall, Winter, Spring Session begins at the end of September and continues through until June. Summer Session starts at the beginning of July and ends at the end of August. (Note: within Summer Session there are two week blocks of classes, therefore creating 4 mini-sessions in the one summer session.)
Q. What is Rolling Registration?
A. Rolling registration is a new model for our swimming lesson program that allows for the progression of a participant without out the hassle of continuous re-registration. Rolling registration allows swimmers to progress through levels at their own pace. The only guideline to rolling registration is that children do not miss more then 3 consecutive classes, excluding holidays and periods of illness. We ask that if a child is going to be absent from their class, that parents call ahead of time and let the aquatics department know that they will be missing.
Q. How can I get feedback about my child’s progression in their swim class?
A. Progress reports will be issued to each child every 5 weeks from the instructors. At any point in time parents are encouraged to talk to the child’s instructor and ask for feedback frequently.
Q. Do I need to wear a bathing cap in the pool?
A. No, there is no requirement that bathing caps be worn.
Q. Can I leave during my child’s swim lesson?
A. All parents with children under the age of 10 must stay in the pool area or in the gallery during lessons. We encourage all parents to stay around the pool area while their children are in lessons.
Q. What is the dress code for the pools?
A. All participants are encouraged to wear swimsuits while in the pool. If T-shirts and shorts must be worn they must be light in colour and completely doused in the shower prior to going in the pool.
Q. Where do I go when I have concerns regarding aquatics?
A. Please contact the Aquatics Supervisor in the Aquatics Office beside the pool. By phone, the Aquatics Department can be reached at 497-1915 Ext. 228.
