THOMASVILLE- The Thomasville Junior Service League has a longstanding history of providing donations to ensure every pre-k student is provided with swim lessons by the YMCA. On Thursday, the JSL continued its tradition by presenting a check to CEO Tom Everett and Aquatics Director Sammy Morrow.
According to Everett, the swimming lessons are provided to both the city and county schools for pre-K and K-5 students and is one of their longest-running offers.
Each class is brought to the YMCA as part of the regular curriculum for two weeks, where kids not only learn to swim but also learn water safety.
“Swimming is about 95 percent confidence and 5 percent physical,” Everett said. “We want them to be confident, but also we want them to have a healthy respect of the water.”
Everett explained the kids are taught that the pool is a place where they can have fun and interact with friends, but they also learn what their capabilities are.
“We want them to know that if they can’t swim very good, then to have a healthy respect and not go out to the deep end where they can’t touch the bottom or swim too far away from the side of the pool,” Everett said.
The lessons learned at the YMCA pool are applicable in everyday life, as Everett pointed out kids are often invited to swim parties throughout the year.
“If they can’t swim, but all of their friends are out there swimming, as a kid, the first thing they want to do is get out there and be with their friends, that’s when kids can get in trouble is if they see their peers doing something, but their skill level isn’t where their peers are,” Everett said.
Morrow has helped the students learn how to save their friends, in the event they get caught in the situation.
On Thursday, he taught all of the kids to extend a noodle out to their friends and pull them in.
“It’s just amazing to see what they learn in these two weeks,” Everett said. “On day one, they come in here and they’re scared to death because this can be a big, intimidating environment for young kids.”
However, in just two short weeks, these once-intimidated preschoolers grow into confident swimmers, capable of putting their heads underwater and saving friends when necessary, he said.
“It’s pretty cool to see the progression that happens in the two weeks,” he said.
These two-week courses and ensuing progress wouldn’t be possible without community sponsors who have allowed all kids to take swim lessons at no cost.
“With the JSL’s support, it is totally free. Their families don’t have to pay a penny,” Everett said. “The schools handle all the transportation and logistics.”
To continue providing for the cause, the JSL will be hosting its inaugural Rose Ball on May 11, 2024, at the Biscuit Company.
The ball’s proceeds will benefit the YMCA’s Learn to Swim Program, with tickets costing $50 each. The night will be filled with music by Deep Velvet and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased at thomasvillejsl.org.