(CMR) The newly minted Swim Free Program, which teaches young children to swim, is celebrating a major milestone after over 70 students from Edna Moyle Primary in North Side and East End Primary successfully completed the program.
Over the past two months, each of the campuses hosted several weeks of mandatory swim lessons for students from Reception through Year 2. Swim Free presents a unique concept of bringing “the pool to school” by transporting a mobile container pool to government school campuses around the island.
The unit is approximately five feet deep with a custom railing, built-in temperature control, and multiple filtration systems to ensure the highest sanitation and safety standards. Utilizing the KSWIM curriculum, classes were taught in small groups by Swim Free Coach Jeff Wiseman alongside support staff from the schools who completed special KSWIM instructor training so they could get into the water with the students. Kerry Hylton (Lead Physical Education Specialist Teacher) has been a key advocate of the program at both locations.
With 36 students at East End and 37 at Edna Moyle, over 90% of students completed the requirement to swim 10 feet unassisted, while the others will progress towards that goal next year. Swim Free ensures no more than a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
At the East End graduation ceremony, Miss Jones said, “We have saved 36 lives and unearthed 36 future Olympians if they continue to swim.”
Each of the graduates (aged 5-8) received a certificate that detailed individual skills that they acquired during the program. Some examples include safe entry and exit, starfish float, front-to-back roll, dive toys, and Teddy Bear kicks.
“We're truly doing God's work….this initiative is bigger than all of us and has set the precedence for generations to come. Everyone needs to learn to swim,” Swim Free Coach Jeff Wiseman said.
Swim Free is designed for each student to learn at their own pace surrounded by familiar faces, with the ultimate goal of being able to swim 10 feet, since statistically, most childhood drownings happen within 10 feet of safety.
Frank Flowers Snr and Dara Flowers Burke were also present for the graduation ceremonies and made a surprise announcement regarding the Annual Flowers Sea Swim, which will take place next on June 15th 2024. After thanking the parents for seeing the value in having their children learn this life-saving skill, Frank Snr. said he will be adding a special short course event exclusively for Swim Free Program Graduates during the Flowers One Mile Sea Swim weekend.
At Edna Moyle Primary, Director of Education Mark Ray joined Senior Customer Service Manager at DES, Kimberly Kirkconnell, and Assistant PTA President Moore to give medals to participants.
“This life-saving program is one of the most significant initiatives we have been privileged to partner on, standing on par with literacy, numeracy, and other critical teaching and learning interventions being implemented in our Government schools,” Ray said.
There was excitement from students with musical performances and big applause for their achievements. Edna Moyle students created a Swim Free Baton to pass on to the next school as the Swim Free mobile pool travels to Theoline McCoy Primary in Bodden Town. The Swim Free Program is also scheduled to provide classes for primary schools in Red Bay, Savannah, Prospect, George Town, West Bay, and Cayman Brac by summer of next year.
Before classes begin at each location, the parents are invited to attend an open house session to learn more about the program, meet instructors, and tour the mobile container pool.
Swim Free uses the KSWIM curriculum designed by a former US Olympic and Cayman Islands National Coach, which is based on global research to create a unique approach that gently pushes each child to learn at their own pace without being too aggressive.
Each student receives a Swim Free uniform, and all gear needed for the lessons is provided for free by sponsors.
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