New Swimmer Assessments & Lots of Fun to Come

Kelly Crossley

 

 

New Swimmer Assessments & Lots of Fun to Come

HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS

 

Hello SHST Families - We hope everyone is enjoying mid-winter break! 

  • Remember, all NEW swimmers MUST ATTEND our MANDATORY swim clinic this Saturday, Feb. 24th with Coach Mark. The schedule and more details are below.

  • For those new to the team, parents sign up to bring dinner(s) (breakfasts for summer practices) to our wonderful coaches. Mark and Paul really appreciate it! Sign up here for 2024 THANK YOU!

  • Mark your calendars for our team kickoff dinner on Friday, March 15th! More details and other fun events listed below!

  • Please read on... everything you need to know is below!

 

Mandatory Pre-Season Assessment for All NEW Swimmers - Sat, Feb 24th

If you have a NEW SWIMMER of any age, he or she must attend a MANDATORY assessment at the Sleepy Hollow pool:

***Schedule Change - Only Sat Feb. 24th***

Saturday, February 24th

10:30-11:00am: NEW 8 & Under swimmers- last names A – G

11:00-11:30am: NEW 8 & Under swimmers- last names H– Z

11:30-12:00pm: ALL NEW 9/10 + swimmers

If you are not able to attend the assessment or if you have questions regarding swim assessments or readiness, please email Mark Anderson.

****If your child decides not to swim this year, please let us know ASAP by contacting [email protected]. You have until March 12th to receive a full refund. There is a waitlist of swimmers hoping to join the team. 

 

Volunteer Assignments

Except for those of you involved with the "Fun" Committee,  Family Commitment volunteer assignments will not be sent out until later in March. In the meantime, read more about the Family Commitment, or if you have questions about volunteering please contact Carol Williams.

We are lookng for a volunteer to create our End-of-Year Video. This is a great opportunity to get creative and create a one-of-a-kind memory for our Sleep Hollow Sea Lions! This project will serve as your family's entire volunteer commitment.  Contact Erin Hill if you are interested in this opportunity.

 

Fun Activities for 2024 Begin!

Friday, March 8: 8 & Under Movie Night

Attention all 8 and under swimmers: Friday, March 8th is Movie Night! Wear something comfy, bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and come watch a movie with your friends after practice! Swimmers will enjoy pizza for dinner followed by some yummy treats for the movie!

 

Event details and invitation coming soon!

 

Friday, March 15: Season Kick-Off Team Pasta Potluck Dinner 

Let's Get Ready To Rumble at the team Pasta Potluck on March 15th,

6p-8p at the Clubhouse! This family fun event is a great opportunity to meet new families, learn more about the season from Coach Mark and Coach Paul, enjoy a night with this amazing community, and win prizes! 

 

Families are asked to bring the following: 

  • Last names A through E: Bring a pasta dish to share (with serving utensils)
  • Last names F through Z: Bring a salad to share (with serving utensils)

The Fun Committee will provide lemonade, sparkling water, and cookies. 

 

This event is also a fundraiser for the team. We sell raffle tickets ($20 for an arms length of raffle tickets) with the chance to win some fun prizes, so be sure to bring some cash…and long torpedo arms! 

 

Note that Group 3 practice will end at 6pm and Group 4 practice will be cancelled on March 15th for the Pasta Potluck.  

Invitation coming soon!

 

Friday, March 22: SLIC Store

8U swimmers will be coming home with plastic yellow coins each Friday. These are Sea Lion Incentive Coins or SLICs for short. Your swimmer can collect them and then "spend" them at our SLIC stores for little prizes and candy. We will have two stores during the season. The first one is on March 22nd. The shop will be open from 4:30-5pm in the courtyard at the pool.

 

Friday, March 22: 9/10 Movie Night

Attention all 9 and 10 year old swimmers: Friday, March 22nd is Movie Night! Wear something comfy, bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and come watch a movie with your friends after practice! Swimmers will enjoy bean and cheese burritos for dinner followed by some yummy treats for the movie! 

Event details and invitation coming soon!

 

Friday, March 29: 11+ Pizza Night

Pizza night for our 11+ swimmers will be Friday, March 29th and will take place directly after group 4 practice. Parents, please pick your swimmers up at 7:15 pm.  

 

A reminder about the evening…The older swimmers grab some pizza, chat about weekend plans, high five the coaches, and head out to start their weekend...sometimes shoveling food in their mouths as they walk out the gate. We only serve the food after Group 4 swims, but this event is for all 11+ swimmers. So if your 11+ swimmer is not in Group 4, it's up to you if you want to bring your swimmer back to the pool. Please keep in mind, this event is very quick and it is only for the swimmers (no parents). It lasts about 10 minutes from about 7:05- 7:15 ish.

 

IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL SWIMMERS

Saturday, February 24th: Mandatory assessments for all NEW swimmers (information above)

Sunday, February 25th: You will receive additional information via email about practice group placements. 

Monday, February 26th: Practice begins!!  More information below.

Friday, March 8th: 8 & Under Movie Night. More information above.

Tuesday, March 12th:  Last day to drop from the team and receive a refund - email Kerry Dahnke.

Wednesday, March 13th: T&B Sports will be at the pool for swimmers to try-on team Uniform.

Friday, March 15th: Pasta Potluck @ 6-8pm. More information above.

Friday, March 15th: Practice will end @ 6:00 for Group 3; Practice cancelled for Group 4 due to Pasta Potluck

Sunday, March 17th: Last day to order Uniform gear from the online T&B store. More information below.

Friday, March 22nd:  SLIC Store & 9/10 Movie Night. More information above.

Friday, March 29th: 11 & Up Pizza Night

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....

A Note from Coach Mark

Hello All,

Welcome to the 2024 SHST/MSL swim season. I am excited to announce the return of Paul Birich to the Sealions Coaching staff and Sleepy Hollow community. Paul has coached SHST with me for 10 years. He is a super addition to our team and is available for private and group lessons. Please email him at  [email protected] if interested. 
 
We have lots of new swimmers this spring and it will be fun getting them up to speed. We also have lots of very good returning swimmers who will help guide and lead the team. Getting to know each other better and giving kids some attainable goals is my objective each year. 
What is important to me are the little things we do every day at practice. These things have very little to do with swimming. Checking in, making eye contact, saying hello and how are you, and using our manners are huge on our pool deck.
 
As always, if there are any special needs, please let me know in confidence. My email is [email protected].
 
I am looking forward to seeing everyone very soon.
 
Coach Mark

GO SEA LIONS!!!

 

Practice Groups and Practice Schedule

Swim practice starts on Monday, February 26th. Practices are Monday through Friday and swimmers may attend as often as they like. Our coaches recommend that swimmers attend practice at least three days a week in order to progress throughout the season. Click here for more information.

Swimmers will be placed in one of four practice groups prior to the start of the season. You will receive an email on Sunday, February 25th stating which group your child/children are placed. Remember, practice groups are based on ability and motivation, not age. We recommend you give it at least two weeks of practice before requesting a change to another group. Questions regarding your child's practice group should be directed to Mark Anderson.

Practice Schedule

Swim practices start on Monday, February 26th and go through June 14th. 

Group 1             4:00 PM - 4:40 PM

Group 2             4:40 PM - 5:25 PM

Group 3             5:25 PM - 6:15 PM

Group 4             6:15 PM - 7:25 PM*

*on Fridays Group 4 practices from 6:15 PM - 7:10 PM

A few important notes about practices:

  • We ask that parents of groups 3 & 4 not hang around the pool deck/watch practices.
  • Due to the nature of the landscaping, we ask that all swimmers wear shoes when entering the site to keep the pool clean.
  • Practices will change from the afternoons to the mornings starting Monday, June 17th.
  • For more information, please read Getting Prepared for Practice.​

 

Paul's Lessons and Swim Clinics

Private Lessons and Swim Clinics with Paul are now open for registration. Early season is the best time to work on technique and set good habits and intentions for the season ahead. 

Register here for Lessons and Swim Clinics

 

Help Feed Our Coaches

For those new to the team, parents sign up to bring dinner(s) (breakfasts for summer practices) to our wonderful coaches. Mark and Paul really appreciate it! Sign up here for 2024. THANK YOU!

 

T&B Sports Uniform & Swimsuits TRY ONS at the pool

On Wednesday, March 13th, our vendor T&B sports along with parent volunteers will be at the pool allowing swimmer to try on gear. You will be able to make all purchases of our Team Uniform & Swimsuits online starting February 28, including Sea Lion TYR swimsuits, sweatshirts, parkas, sweatpants, pajama pants and caps.
 
The online store will close March 19th and all merchandise will hopefully be ready before our Practice Meet on April 20th. If you have questions or need help with sizing, please contact Winona at T&B Sports ([email protected]) or visit their store in San Rafael.
 
 

Raising the Bar

The Sleepy Hollow Swim Team is proud to be partnering again with Raising the Bar, Keep Youth Events Substance Free. The goal of this important county-wide initiative is to shift the norms of substance use and encourage healthy choices by keeping youth events substance free. Data shows that adults have a significant impact on kids' decisions regarding alcohol and by working together to prevent under-age substance use, we can have a direct impact on the health of our local youth and decrease the short and long-term consequences to adolescents, families, and our community as a whole.   

 

Parking and Driver Safety

Please be aware of increased pedestrians and bikers around the Clubhouse, with the start of swim team. Be very careful when walking along and crossing Butterfield Road. Help teach our Sea Lions to be responsible pedestrians and bikers. If driving, slow down and focus. When dropping off your swimmer and/or parking for practice:

  • Do not park in front of the Clubhouse, this is strictly for drop off.  

  • Park perpendicular (not parallel) in the gravel spaces to maximize space for other people.

  • Please don’t ever park in the no parking zones across from the Clubhouse or in the handicapped parking spot in front of the Clubhouse - not even to wait for your swimmer after practice/if you remain in the car.

  • Please do not let your child "jump quickly out of the car" in the middle of the road.  This is not safe!  Please take the extra minute and use the drop off circle.

  • Use the dirt walkway in front of parked cars, and do not walk on the bike path on Butterfield, behind parked cars.

  • Do not block driveways or mailboxes.  Please be respectful of our neighbors!

  • And again, please slow down, and watch out for Sea Lions and parents crossing Butterfield and riding and walking in the bike lanes. These Sea Lions are all of our children!

 

Bikes

 

As we partner with the Sleepy Hollow Homes Assocation to increase safety along Butterfield Road, we encourage families to bike to and from practice, if your child is ready for this.  As a community, we are working to decrease the number of cars along Butterfield Road. If you bike, please remember:

  • Please use the bike racks outside of the main black gate and do not block the Fire Zone/No Parking area. 
  • Don’t forget to bring bike locks! SHST and SHHA are not responsible for lost or stolen bikes.
  • Bikes are not allowed inside the gated pool area.​

 

Meets

Our first meet is Saturday, April 20th and is our Practice Meet. This meet is just for Sleepy Hollow Swim team swimmers to record their first times and for our volunteers to get comfortable with their poolside jobs. April 27th will be our first Dual Meet which will be an away meet. To have a look at our full Meet schedule look here and for more information on meets look here.

 

No Dogs

Please remember that the Sleepy Hollow Homes Association forbids dogs at the Clubhouse and pool area.  Swim team families MAY NOT BRING DOGS to practices or meets.  Dogs may not be tied up or left outside the gates and fence in front of the Clubhouse ,  even if you are just running in to drop off your swimmer. Please help us abide by this SHHA rule and leave your dog at home. Thank you!
 

Donations

As a volunteer based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we rely on swimmer registration fees and generous donations to help us operate while maintaining and building upon our incredible community. Donations specifically help us do this while expenses and costs continue to rise. Donations to our team also help us fund the many FUN events that we host during the season where kids build camaraderie and get to know each other outside of the pool (movie nights, karaoke, casino night, etc). 
 
Every dollar and donation counts! You can donate any amount to our team HERE, and/or donate/sponsor a specific Fun event HERE. Your donation will be tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. 
 
We would like to thank Zamira Solari Realty for sponsoring the team's Fun Fridays again this season! We appreciate your generosity and support!