SHST Weekly Newsletter - March 3, 2025
A Great First Week Sea Lions!
HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS
Congrats to the first Swimmers of the Week!
Group 1: Agnes Cowling and Kai Reza Peters
Group 2: Keana Karpeno and Wilfy Wild
Group 3: Charlie Bennett and Emme Parker
Group 4: Hunter Panzica and Ava Cook
Note: on Wednesday, Feb. 26 someone took a swim team parka home by mistake. If you have a group 2 or 3 swimmer who has a parka please check the inside label and if you realize you have a parka that doesn't belong to you, please give it to Mark.
National Anthem Singers Needed!
Swimmers.... kick off a swim meet with your beautiful voice or instrument! If your swimmer is interested in performing the National Anthem at the start of one of our home meets, contact Erin Hill.
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 2025. THANK YOU!
Get Your Gear
There are two ways you can gear up for the swim team season - through T&B Sports and through Spirit Wear Sales. And, don’t forget the recycle and reuse option of the Gear Swap Box. Read below to understand the difference.
T&B
T&B is the official vendor for the team uniform. This is where you can purchase the swimsuits and caps that should be worn at meets. See official guidance here. T&B comes to the pool one day per season to showcase what they sell and allow kids to try on samples so they can determine their size. They sell suits, caps, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and parkas, all with the SHST logo. Ordering is done online through the T&B online store link. They deliver your order to the pool approximately one month after the store closes so that all swimmers have their uniform before the Practice Meet. 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.
When: The store opens on March 1, 2025. Uniform Try-On day at the pool is March 12 from 4pm - 6pm. The last day to order online is March 17.
How: T&B Online Store (by March 17). Orders must be picked-up on April 15 from 4pm - 6pm.
Who: SHST swimmers, youth and adult sizes are available.
Proceeds go to: T&B and a portion of your purchase supports the Sleepy Hollow Swim Team!
Spirit Wear
The Spirit Wear team is excited to share the 2025 season offerings!! SHST Spirit Wear is a variety of clothing and accessories, including hoodies, t-shirts, straw and mesh-backed hats, and other accessories, all designed by professional graphic designer (and SHST parent) Tamar Kondy-Berberich. Spirit Wear will be available for purchase at the Pasta Potluck on March 14th as well as all home meets. There's something for everyone, parents and grandparents, even younger siblings who want to show their Sea Lion pride, anyone who supports the team.
When: At the Pasta Potluck and all home meets
How: For sale at the pool during Pasta Potluck and home meets, payment by cash, Apple Pay and all major credit cards.
Who: There’s something for everyone, even younger siblings who want to show their Sea Lion pride!
Proceeds go to: Sleepy Hollow Swim Team
Gear Swap Box
Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce... Sea Lion gear! We encourage families to drop off outgrown sweats, tee shirts, and swim suits that your swimmer no longer uses, to the bin sitting near the snack bar during practices. Please wash before dropping off clothing and suits ;). Anyone is welcome to look through the bin and take an item or two for your swimmer this season.
Fun Activities for 2025 Begin!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL SWIMMERS
Friday, March 7th: 11 & Up Pizza Night
Tuesday, March 11th: Last day to drop from the team and receive a refund - email Mara Bailey-Olson.
Wednesday, March 12th: T&B Sports will be at the pool for swimmers to try-on team uniforms (4pm-6pm).
Friday, March 14th: Pasta Potluck @ 6-8pm. More information below.
Friday, March 14th: Practice will end @ 6:00 for Group 3; Practice cancelled for Group 4 due to Pasta Potluck
Monday, March 17th: Last day to order Uniform gear from the online T&B store. More information below.
Friday, March 21st: SLIC Store & 9/10 Movie Night. More information below.
Friday, March 28th: 8 & Under Movie Night
April 13, 2025: Pool Clean up, 9am - 12:00pm
April 15, 2025: T&B orders must be picked up between 4pm - 6pm at the pool. Ask a friend to pick-up for you if you can't make it.
April 19, 2025: Practice meet
April 25, 2025: 9/10 Karaoke Night
April 26, 2025: First home meet, vs. Lucas Valley Lightening
May 3, 2025: Team picture day
May 7, 2025: Home meet, vs. Terra Linda Orcas
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....
Practice Groups and Practice Schedule
Swim practice started on Monday, February 24th. 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.
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 24th and go through June 13th.
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 16th.
- For more information, please read Getting Prepared for Practice.
Volunteer Assignments
The Family Volunteer Commitment is an important part of being on the Sleepy Hollow Swim Team. It takes hundreds of volunteers to make each meet possible. All families except for those who have paid the opt out fee or have only high school swimmers have been assigned a job.
All families must sign up for 5 shifts during the swim season.
The ALL-Stars Meet and Champs Meet, like in past years, will be an additional commitment, required by all families who participate.
Job sign-ups for Poolside (timer, clerk of course, runner etc.), Officials, Medical, Photography, and Traffic, will be sent out on March 15 @ 10am using a link to Sign-up Genius. All volunteer families must sign up for 5 shifts to fulfill their volunteer commitment, by March 31st. All shifts are filled on a first come basis, so if you know your family has schedule constraints sign-up as early as possible to ensure you have access to spots that work for your family. All shifts will be finalized by the first week of April. Once all shifts are finalized, you are required to find a replacement for your shift if something should come up to avoid being charged $150 for a missing job assignment. The board will not fill missed job assignments or reassign jobs due to scheduling conflicts. Contact lists of your committee will be provided to help facilitate finding a replacement should the need arise.
Those who have been placed on the Snack Bar, Meet Setup/Take Down, Awards, Timing Desk and Fun Committees will be contacted directly by each committee chair.
In the meantime, please read more about our team’s Family Commitment on our website, or if you have additional questions about volunteering please contact Kerry Dahnke at [email protected].
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
Interested in Water Polo?
Meets
Our first meet is Saturday, April 19th 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 26th will be our first Dual Meet which will be a home meet. To have a look at our full Meet schedule look here and for more information on meets look here.
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!
No Dogs
Donations
Big shout out to our donors this season:
