STUDENT HANDBOOK
November
2007
Dear Parents,
Thank you for choosing
Please save the yellow copy of your registration form. You will need it for any schedule changes or
cancellations. If you registered online,
please save the email that you received from PayPal. This serves as your receipt.
Please read the
Your child will need the following items on the first day of
class:
- Swimsuit
- Goggles - We
strongly recommend the use of goggles.
Goggles are helpful in getting a child to put his face in the water
and in getting him to open his eyes under water. We recommend Lane 4 goggles.
- Swim Diaper – A
reusable swim diaper with tight fitting elastic around the waist and legs
is REQUIRED for each child under the age of 5 years,
regardless of whether the child is potty-trained. Even potty-trained children have
accidents. Disposable swim diapers,
such as Huggies Little Swimmers, are NOT ALLOWED. They may be worn under the
reusable diaper. This requirement
is for the safety of all participants and is strictly enforced. Please purchase the diaper before the
first day of class.
- Towel
- Swim cap or ponytail holder –
These items would be for children with long hair. Students with long hair should wear a
swim cap. Swim caps are required
once a child is introduced to side-breathing
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The
Grade School Program: Ages 6 – 14 years
Student/Teacher Ratio
is maximum 5:1 for Levels 1-4 and 6:1 for Levels 5-10.
Our grade school program is very technique oriented. The
grade school curriculum has ten (10) levels.
Keep in mind that the program is a progression. Each level builds on the preceding one. In order to develop strong and
competent swimmers, we must first build a solid foundation. For example, before a child is taught the arm
strokes he/she must be able to float on the front and the back*. The child also should have a kick that helps
to keep his body on top of the water.
For the child whose goal it is to make Dynamo’s swim team,
they could probably tryout after completing Level 7 or 8. For the child that does not want to compete,
Levels 9 and 10 will give them the opportunity to increase endurance and
proficiency in all four strokes.
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The Preschool Program: Ages 3 – 5 years
Student/Teacher Ratio is maximum 4:1.
The preschool program has nine (9) levels. As with the grade school program, the
preschool program is a progression. We
begin by getting the child comfortable in the water, and then we are able to
begin teaching swimming skills. Once
comfort is established, we progress from blowing bubbles on top of the water to
gentle submersions, first with help, then independent submersions. When the child is able to float on both the
front and back* then we begin to teach propulsion through the water. Preschool Levels 1 – 4 are primarily about
comfort, buoyancy, and safety skills.
Arm strokes (front and back) are taught beginning at Level 5.
We take a gentle approach to teaching swim lessons with our
preschoolers. We want them to learn to
enjoy the water environment. Therefore,
we allow each student to move along at his/her own pace. We do not push the child to do more than they
are physically and emotionally ready to do.
We ask you not to pressure your child by comparing him/her to other
students or siblings.
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On the first day of class, each new student is evaluated and
then placed in the proper level. The
site director or an assistant does the evaluation. Returning students are placed in the level
that they were in last, and then reevaluated.
Each
new student will receive a certificate.
The child will receive one sticker for each completed level. When a child masters the skills for one
level, he gets to ring the bell, and he is promoted to the next level. This is the procedure for both the preschool
and grade school children. Evaluation
of the students is done throughout the session.
A written progress report is handed out on the last day of the session.
*The Importance of Floating on the Back:
Floating on the back in a relaxed fashion is a basic safety skill for
all children. In our program we see this
position as a place of “safety.” In this
position your child can always get air. If
a child is unable to float on the back, then they will be unable to do many of
our other safety skills. Therefore, we
do not skip this important skill. We
realize that some students will need to kick to be able to float.
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DynaBabies (Parent & Tot) Program: Ages 6 - 36 months
Parent & Child/Teacher Ratio is maximum 10:1
This program is a water adaptation class. It is not a “drown proofing” class. It is a wonderful class for helping to make
your child comfortable in the water. It
helps prepare children for the next step—swimming without Mom or Dad. It is not our intention to teach these
children to swim. We use a gentle,
loving approach to introduce swimming skills to our youngest students. We work with the parent to introduce basic
swimming skills such as breath control, submersion, kicking, reaching, back
float, and safety. Gentle submersions
are introduced when the child is relaxed and ready. We use a structured program of songs, games,
and fun activities to teach you and your child.
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We do hope this helps you understand our program. If you have questions, please do not hesitate
to ask. Remember that it is always best
to speak to us between classes, not during, when we
need to be focused on your children.
Following this letter you will find:
- General
Information and Guidelines
- Grade
School Advancement Goals
- Preschool
Advancement Goals
770-772-6789 ext. 14
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Jamie
Scheuneman Alpharetta
Site Director 770-772-6789
ext. 16 |
Chamblee
Site Director 770-451-3272
ext. 17 |
Kyle
Hagen Dunwoody
Site Director 1445 770/280-1224
ext. 3055 |
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Please read the
following policies carefully. Each
policy is enforced: |
REFUND POLICY
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No refunds will be issued. We hire instructors based on student registration. |
CANCELLATION POLICY
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If you cancel your class, you will not receive a refund. You will receive a Dynamo Swim School
Credit for the amount you paid for the class (registration fee not
included) less the following cancellation fees:
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SCHEDULE CHANGE POLICY
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Schedule changes are subject to
class/session availability. Schedule
changes will be allowed only within the current season. For example, if you registered for a class
in the Fall Season, changes will only be allowed within the Fall. If you wish to change to another season, it
will be considered a cancellation (see Cancellation Policy). Please choose
classes carefully. Changes are
subject to the following administrative fees:
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ILLNESS POLICY |
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If your child is absent from class for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE
CLASSES, a credit will be issued when a note from his doctor is
presented. The note must include the
dates that the child was not allowed to be in class. No credit will be issued without a note
from the doctor. The credit will
be $9.00/class for a child’s swim lessons, $13.00/class for an
adult’s swim lessons and $16.00/class for stroke clinic. |
MAKE-UP POLICY
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We do not offer make-up classes. However, we do give you a card at
registration that allows your child to come in and practice during our public
swim hours free of charge during the session for which he/she is
registered. For students under 6 years
of age, one parent may be in the water with the child free of charge. Each visit has a value of $5.00. We encourage you to take advantage of this,
should you miss a class. |
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CREDIT POLICY |
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Dynamo Credits will be
issued for extended illness (see illness policy above)
and pool closures only. Credits will
not be issued for conflicts with other activities or vacations. |
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Dynamo Swim School Credits may be
applied toward future swim lessons, either group or private. Credits may also be used towards other
non-competitive programs, such as recreational swim pass or water
aerobics. ·
Dynamo Swim School Credits may not
be applied towards swim team dues or entry fund, unless the child for whom
the credit was issued is moving from lessons to swim team. ·
Dynamo Swim School Credit slips
must be presented in order to be used.
Please treat the credits slips as you would cash. ·
Dynamo Swim School Credits will not
be replaced if lost or stolen. They
are not transferable. ·
Dynamo Swim School Credits will NOT
be redeemed for cash. |
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SWIM DIAPER POLICY |
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All students
under the age of five (5) years are required to wear a
reusable swim diaper that has tight fitting elastic around the waist and
legs. Disposable swim diapers are NOT
allowed in the pool, unless covered by the required reusable diaper. Students under the age of five will not be
allowed in the pool without the approved diaper. NO EXCEPTIONS. Swim diapers may be purchased in the swim
shops located inside of Dynamo Alpharetta and Dynamo Chamblee. You may also find them on the internet by
searching under swim diaper. Swim
diapers should be purchased before the first day of class. We understand that most children
of this age are “potty-trained.”
However, this policy is about accidents that occur when children are
in the pool. Even potty-trained
children have accidents. These
accidents always result in the pool being closed. Everyone loses when this happens. This policy is for the safety and
well-being of everyone that uses our pool. |
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POOL CLOSINGS |
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The teaching pool will be closed
for the following reasons: 1.
When a child vomits or has a bowel movement in the
pool. The pool must be closed for
sanitation. 2.
Inclement weather – Please call the facility at
which you are enrolled for information. 3.
If conditions in the pool make it unsafe for
students to be in the pool, the pool will be closed. This is for the safety of all of
our patrons. When the pool is closed for any
of the above reasons a Dynamo Swim School Credit will be
issued. The credit will be $11.00/class
for swim lessons, $16.00/class for adult swim lessons and $20.00/class
for stroke clinic. If your child vomits or has a
bowel movement in the pool resulting in the pool being closed, you will be
assessed a fee of $200.00. Your
child will not be allowed to participate in lessons until the fee is paid. |
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SEATING FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS |
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Parents and siblings of students
that wish to remain in the building during class must
sit in the following locations: Alpharetta
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Seating is located in the bleachers near the
competition pool. ·
You may not sit or stand on the pool deck
surrounding the teaching pool. ·
You may not sit or stand in the area surrounding
the front counter, the entrance, or the lifeguard stand. ·
All entrances and exits must be kept clear at all
times. Chamblee ·
Seating is located in the bleachers in the balcony. ·
You may not sit or stand on the pool deck
surrounding the teaching pool. ·
You may not sit or stand on the stairway, or block
it in anyway. ·
All entrances and exits must be kept clear at all
times. At both facilities: The
last five minutes of each class and the last class of each session you may
sit or stand in a designated area near the pool to watch the progress of your
child. |
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The seating policy is designed
with two purposes in mind: 1.
To reduce the amount of distractions and noise for
both the children and teachers during class 2.
To keep the deck area, entrances, exits, and
stairways clear in case of emergency |
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General Information
and Guidelines |
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1. |
There is a non-refundable registration fee to
cover the administrative costs of processing each child’s enrollment and
liability insurance for each child’s participation in swim lessons at 1.
$50 Family: The annual fee may be paid at any time during the
year. However, it covers classes from
January-December of the current calendar year. 2.
Per Session: $10/Student Please
decide which option is best for your family. If you
choose the family registration fee, you will be given a registration card
that you will need to present each time you register for classes during the
year. |
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2. |
Please enter and exit the building through
the front
doors. This is especially important during the cold, winter
months. |
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3. |
Children ages 5 years
and up should use their gender appropriate restroom. If you feel uncomfortable sending your
older child into the restroom alone to dress, please take them home to shower
and dress. |
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4. |
Do not allow your child
to enter the pool until it is time for class to start and his/her instructor
is in the water. |
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5. |
Parents in the DynaBabies classes should not
enter the water until your instructor is ready to begin class. |
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6. |
Parents
and siblings that wish to remain in the building are required to sit in the
bleachers at the end of the competition pool at the Alpharetta facility. Please do not sit or stand around the pool
deck, front counter, or lifeguard stand during lessons. Parents
and siblings that wish to remain in the building are required to sit in the
bleachers in the balcony area or in an area designated by the site director
at the Chamblee facility.
The stairway must be kept clear by order of the fire This policy is designed to create the
best environment for learning with the fewest distractions for the child and
instructor. |
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7. |
Parents
are encouraged to watch the last five minutes of each class. On the last day of each session you may sit
in a designated area and watch your child’s class. |
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8. |
Keep
your child’s fingernails and toenails cut and filed on a weekly basis. A child may be removed from class if this
becomes a problem. |