SHST Weekly Newsletter - March 10, 2025
Prepare to Eat Pasta!
HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS
Last Day to Drop The Swim Team is Tuesday, March 11
Friday, March 14: Season Kick-Off Team Pasta Potluck Dinner
Let's Get Ready To Rumble at the team Pasta Potluck this Friday, March 14th: 6p-8p at the Clubhouse! This swim season kick off event will happen rain or shine! 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 raffle prizes!
Families are asked to bring the following:
Last names A through E: Bring a salad to share (with serving utensils)
Last names F through Z: Bring a pasta dish to share (with serving utensils)
The Fun Committee will provide lemonade, sparkling water, and cookies.
Remember, this event is also a fundraiser for the team. We are super excited because we have stepped up our game with bigger and better raffle items. Local San Anselmo and Fairfax businesses have given incredibly generous donations, including OCN Culture, Kismet, Olema Skin Care, Hendrix Barbershop and Fradelizios! There will also be a Priority Start children's BIKE donated by a former swim team parent! Raffle tickets will be sold presale at Uniform Try Ons on March 12th and at the event. $20 for an arms length of raffle tickets, so be sure to bring some cash…and long torpedo arms! You won’t want to miss out on these amazing prizes!
The Evite was sent out last Wednesday, so please check your email and RSVP if you have not yet done so.
Note that Group 3 practice will end at 6p and Group 4 practice will be canceled on 3/14 for the Pasta Potluck.
This past Friday was 11+ Pizza Night. Lots of pizza was eaten and it was a success! The older swimmers had a chance to grab a slice or 2 with their friends and Coach Mark on their way out of practice. Thank you to the Mullen family for sponsoring the 11+ Pizza Night!
Xtracycle is the Bay Area’s original electric family-cargo bike manufacturer. Designed and sold out of their Mill Valley flagship store, Xtracycle has been helping families discover the joys of riding together for over 27 years. With the addition of the Priority Bicycles Adventure Center, housed in their Tam Junction location, Marin County residents and visitors can treat themselves to a personalized bike shopping experience with models for kids, families, commuting, and off-road adventuring.
Xtracycle is generously donating a Priority Start kids bike to the Sea Lions at the Pasta Potluck. Additionally, Xtracycle will donate to Sea Lions 5% of any bike and accessories purchased at their showroom when you mention you are a Sleepy Hollow Sea Lion. This is an exciting way community members can support the team!
www.xtracycle.com - Family Cargo Bikes
www.prioritybicycles.com - Low maintenance bicycles
Congrats to the Swimmers of the Week!
Group 1: Mary Shorrock Chen and Caden Stockness
Group 2: Owen Nelson and Frankie Parker
Group 3: Ben Smida and Ariana Biesecker
Group 4: Evan Hyer and Meg Kramer
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. Thank you for keeping our swim team events substance free.
Can you help?
"Many hands make light work", "It takes a village"... however you put it, the team always needs a bit of help here and there.
- 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. We have openings on May 10 and June 21.
- Fill the Swimmer Crossing sign with sand, to prevent the wind blowing it over this season.
- Organize the Lost and Found throughout the season.
If you can help out, please contact Erin Hill.
Mark Your Calendars: Sunday, April 13th is our Annual Pool Clean Up!
Parents and swimmers, bring the whole family for pool clean up day on Sunday, April 13th from 9 am - 12 pm! Every year before our first meet, we gather to get the pool area ready for the season. We scrub, sponge, sweep, whack some weeds and have fun as a community to get our pool in tip top shape. Bagels and coffee will be provided. We have some cleaning equipment, but if you have Mr. Clean MagicEraser pads, brooms, rakes, pruning tools, or a good pressure washer, please let us know by emailing Erin Hill at [email protected].
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
Friday, March 21: SLIC Store
8U swimmers will be coming home with plastic yellow coins each Friday. These are Seal 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 21st. The shop will be open from 4:30-5:15 pm in the courtyard at the pool. Group 2 8 and under swimmers need to shop before practice (the store will be closed after group 2 practice).
Friday, March 21: 9/10 Movie Night
Attention all 9 and 10 year old swimmers: Friday, March 21st is Movie Night! We will be showing The Garfield Movie. Wear something comfy, bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and come watch a movie with your friends after practice! Swimmers will enjoy pizza followed by some yummy treats for the movie!
Friday, March 28: 8 & Under Movie Night
Attention all 8 and under swimmers: Friday, March 28th is Movie Night! We will be showing Harold and the Purple Crayon. Wear something comfy, bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and come watch a movie with your friends after practice! Swimmers will enjoy pizza followed by some yummy treats for the movie!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL SWIMMERS
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.
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 16, 2025: Q&A at 4:40pm. Come with any and all SHST questions you have. Meet on the grass.
April 16, 2025: Bark Buddies, 4:30pm-5:00pm
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: Home meet, vs. Strawberry Seals
May 7, 2025: Team picture day
May 10, 2025: Home meet, vs. Terra Linda Orcas
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....
Practice Groups and Practice Schedule
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:
