SHST Weekly Newsletter - March 24, 2025

Sarah Franklin

The Fun Keeps Coming!

HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS

 
 

Our first SLIC Store this past Friday was a huge success! Eight & Under swimmers enjoyed using their SLIC’s to buy small toys, candy, and treats. A special thank you to Eveli Loveman and Kristina Matulich for making our youngest swimmers smile and feel recognized as they traded in their hard earned SLICs! 
 

9/10 Swimmers enjoyed a fun movie night watching The Garfield Movie and eating pizza and popcorn with teammates. Thank you FUN volunteers: Kim Garrison, Lindsay Noelting, and Melissa Garon for making this evening possible. Also, thank you to Red Boy Pizza in Fairfax for giving us a swim team discount! Yum!

 


Congrats to the Swimmers of the Week!

Group 1: Ransom Stielau and Emory Hanks 

Group 2: Lucy Cereghino and Shane Newby

Group 3: Bella Robinson and Boone Holhurst

Group 4: Ben Wolf and Paige Taplin


Volunteer Assignment Update

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for all of their volunteer shifts!! It warms my heart to see this community coming together to make such a special swim season happen for our swimmers.

If you haven't had a chance to sign-up for your 5 shifts yet, please sign-up ASAP as the SignUp Genius' will be locked on March 30th.  

If you never received an email with a link to a sign-up, please contact Kerry Dahnke at [email protected] promptly so that we can get you that information.

Also, please remember that 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 have been provided to help facilitate finding a replacement should the need arise.


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].


Mark Your Calendars: Friday, April 18th is our first Lapathon!

Lapathon to Raise Money for the Pool

We are excited to support the Sleepy Hollow Homes Association, as they undertake a complete renovation of our beloved community pool! This project is a big one, beginning in the Fall of 2025.

In order to help with fundraising efforts, the Sleepy Hollow Swim Team will be running an online fundraiser that can be sent to friends and family. Additionally, we will host a Lapathon at the pool on Friday, April 18th during normal practice times. Mark your calendars and look out for more details to come.


March Fun Activity
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! Evite was sent out to all 8 & Under Swimmers on Tuesday, 3/18. Please remember to RSVP.


IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL SWIMMERS

Friday, March 28th: 8 & Under Movie Night

April 11, 2025: NO PRACTICE

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 18, 2025: Lapathon during practice

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....

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!

If you have not already signed up for a meal, please Sign up here for 2025THANK YOU!
 


Reminder: 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!

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.

When: The online store is now closed. You can contact T&B directly if you want to see if you can place a late order.
How: 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.


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

 


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.


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. 
 

Big shout out to our donors this season:

The Grimm/Spooner Family 
The McMaster/Dixon Family 
The Mullen Family
The Dricken Family
 
We really appreciate your support!