Aquatics Program Frequently Asked Questions How do I get a current schedule and register for swimming lessons at Gath Pool, Crystal Lake and Newton North Indoor Recreation Programs and Classes?
Current Schedules of events under the direction of the Recreation Department can be found on other pages with in this document or at www.activityreg.com The on-line registration site for our lessons and other programs can be found at this site and is updated frequently. We also provide Adobe Acrobat files with calendars of events on this page
What age do you begin swimming lessons at?
The American Red Cross has changed the program back to an age based program. We will offer limited pre-school classes for children ages 3, 4, 5 as we see the need. In order to participate in the progressive learn to swim program levels 1-6 participants must be a minimum of age 6.
How do I know what level to put my child in?
Lessons are ability and age based and each child learns at different rates. We encourage you to read the course descriptions that can be found at the following link Swim Level Descriptions However, we do want your child to have a postive experience with swimming and encourage you to place your child in a level that will be challenging but still offer success.
When is Swim Registration?
Swim registration for our outdoor facilities Gath Pool and Crystal Lake is scheduled for June 1 and June 3 from 3-6PM as well as June 5 from Noon - 4PM. We will then continue registraion on a daily basis beginning June 14, 2010 at 3PM daily while the facilites are open until lessons are filled or are underway for a given session. Registration dates for the Newton North Indoor Recreation Center are published on the facility brochure and listed within the pages for the North Indoor Recreation Center.
How long and how many sessions of swimming lessons do you offer?
- The outdoor facilities Gath Pool and Crystal Lake offer 4 sessions of lessons.
- The start date is a difficult date to pin down as we have to take into consideration the end of the public school year, but generally we begin lessons the week prior to July 4th and end lessons by the third Friday in August.
- Lessons are held every day for a two week period for 30-35 minutes in duration.
What qualifications do the swimming instructors have?
The Recreation department offers American Red Cross Learn to Swim Instruction to its residents. This program has over 100 years of succes in teaching people to swim. Instructors in our programs are certified American Red Cross Instructors.
Why is there no rate for families?
The recreation department made the decision to eliminate family passes at the outdoor swim facilities over fifteen years ago. This decision was based on the ability to track season permits and have them applied to the individuals that purchased them.
Do I need to purchase a pool pass for my children to take swimming lessons?
Yes.
The staff at the Park and Recreation Facilities
can help you choose the most appropriate option for your situation.
I will have guests visiting me for a week this summer. Can they come to the pool and lake?
Absolutely! Each guest is expected to follow the rules of the pool and lake, including having non-swimmers pass the deep-water test in order to swim in the deep sections of the lake or pool. If you are a Newton resident, and you are present at all times with your guest, you may purchase the resident daily pass for the guests $4.00 for children and $6.00 for adults instead of the $10.00 non-resident daily fee.
Why are children required to take the Deep Water test each year?
Over the winter, many children do not have the opportunity to swim, and therefore, their skills do not progress, and many cases will regress. The test allows them to make sure they have the strength to swim for extended periods of time in deep water, without being able to touch the bottom of the lake, the pool floor, or to hang onto an object.
Water Slide Rules and Regulations:
- Wait at bottom of ladder for your turn
- All Participants must pass deep water
test prior to use of the slide.
- Minimum weight limit is 35 lbs.,
- Maximum weight limit is 350 lbs.
- Only one person at a time is permitted to
use the slide, no double riding allowed.
- Feet First Only entry into slide Chute
- Wait at bottom of ladder for lifeguard
instructions on when you can proceed.
- Do not use slide if you are pregnant.
- Do not use if you have history of back
problems, fainting, fear of heights, heart
conditions or suffer from seizures
- Standing at top or jumping from slide
prohibited.
Why are there hourly rest periods?
Rest periods are for both children and staff. Many children are not aware of how tired they become when playing and swimming in the water. The rest period gives each of them the chance to come out of the water, rest and build up oxygen levels, and prepare to go back into the water. For the staff, they have the opportunity to clear their heads and allow their eyes to rest and refocus, get out of the sun for a short period of time, and get fluids into their systems. When they return, they will each sit at a different guarding station, allowing them to be more alert, than if they had stayed in one section for several hours.
What are the benefits of having a season pass?
- Economics: If you feel you will use the pool/lake on a regular basis, it is most economical to purchase a season pass.
- A season pass for a Newton resident individual is
- $45.00 for adults and
- $20.00 for children
- $20.00 for Senior Citizens age 62 and older
- The daily admission rate is
- $6 for adults,
- $4.00 for children and
- $10.00 for non-residents
- Non-Residents do not have the option to purchase a season pass.,
- Therefore, if you plan on using the pool more than 5 times for children and 7 times for adults, it is less expensive to have the pass.
- Patrons with pool passes are able to move quickly through the check-in gate, rather than having to stop and purchas a pass on a daily basis.
What
type of pass should I get if my husband won't go to the pool
often, and our child is one year old?
Your
child does not need to have a pass under the age of 3, unless
they are in the lesson program and you want the discounted lesson
price. If your husband doesn't go often, it would probably
be best to purchase an individual pass for yourself, and have
your husband pay the daily admission rate. No permit is needed to use the Baby Pool at Gath Memorial Pool, entrance to the baby pool is outside the facility. Permits are individual and may not be shared.
Can I share my season passes with friends and family?
- All Names are registered into the computer and are assigned with a barcode during each permit sale and are to only be used by that individual.
- Our bar-code reader logs the activity of each user when they come to the facility each time.
- The staff actually gets to know most regular patrons, and recognizes when a non-family individual tries to come through, but there is certainly an honor system to the passes.
- The result of many people sharing passes would be a large increase to the cost of season passes and daily admission rates, in order to cover the operational costs of the pool, and this increase would be unfortunate for all.
Can I wear a t-shirt in the water?
- In most instances, t-shirts are not allowed, along with other additional clothing.
- Swimsuits are designed to hold very little water, making your body weight as light as possible.
- Other types of clothing can hold on to more water, and create tangling situations, all which can interfere with safe swimming.
- The Supervisor on duty can make an exception to this rule for swimmers who need to minimize their exposure to the sun.
- The Supervisor will alert the guards to the exception, so that extra visual attention can be put towards that swimmer.
- This is a situation in which a difficult decision must
be made between the swimmer (or guardian) and the staff-
the prevention of drowning vs. the prevention of skin cancer.
In the event that a "T" shirt is allowed,
it must be a white shirt and the person wearing the shirt
in
the water must remain in the areas of the facility where
they can stand.
Can
my child wear "floaties" or wear a suit with flotation
devices?
- For the safety of the child, flotation devices are not permitted at Gath Pool, Crystal Lake or the Newton North Indoor Complex.
- The swim facilities are built in such a way that young children are able to touch the ground in the shallow sections, and learn to creatively use their bodies to move in the water.
- Flotation devices give children a false sense of security in their abilities.
- Parents can also become too confident in the security of the flotation device.
- There are some children with disabilities that need flotation devices to assist their bodies in the water.
- In those instances, the parent/guardian may speak to the Supervisor on duty to receive permission for use of the flotation devices.
Is the water clean?
How are fecal accidents handled at the pool?
- Chlorine is an extremely effective sanitizer.
- When a solid stool is found in the water, that section of the pool is closed
- the stool is removed
- and the section is given extra chlorine in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Standards.
- The most dangerous types of bacteria, including E-Coli, are found in loose stool or diarrhea.
- The entire pool must be shut down, for at least two filtration cycles approximately 12 hours, in order to allow the chlorine to work on all water surfaces.
- The best way to handle a fecal accident is to prevent them from happening.
- Young children using the pool need to be trained or in a commercially re-usable swim diapers with the bathing suit covering that particular item.
- We do not allow disposable swim diapers, they do not have the elastic waist and legs for retention or the rubber pant to prevent entry into the water.
- In addition children should never be changed in or near the water.
- Anyone not feeling well should avoid being in the water.
- Washing hands with soap and water, and cleansing showers are required by health department regulations for all swimmers prior to entering the pool.
Why does state health code require all bathers to take a shower before entering the pool?
- For your safety and the safety of all bathers in the water with you.
- A cool shower will help you close up your pores, making it difficult for bacteria to penetrate.
- A cleansing shower, with soap, will remove bacteria from your skin, decreasing the amount of work needed by the chlorine.
- It is also highly recommended that a hot, soapy shower be taken after swimming, without your swim suit, to make sure that all potential areas of bacteria are cleansed away.
Can
I swim if I'm wearing a band-aid? - State Sanitary Code does not allow anyone with a communicable disease, sores, or evidence of skin disease to use the pool. Since band-aids rarely stay attached to the skin surface in the water, it is best not to swim when a band-aid is necessary.
- An open wound is an "open door" to
bacteria.
Can I go in the water during lessons if my child is afraid of taking lessons?
Parents are welcome to join the child on the first day, and the staff will assist with moving the parents gradually away from the water, so that the child can participate with the group and develop confidence in his/her skills.
Can my 3 year old child, who loves the water but has not had swim lessons, start in the learn to swim program?
- Children's success in Level One through Level Six classes is
dependent on their having the physical and emotional ability
for those levels.
- The American Red Cross, the developer of our learn to swim program, has determined that children should age 6 and over to participate in the levels 1-6 program. We will offer limited pre-school selections for ages 3, 4, & 5 year olds.
- We also have an additional requriement of toilet trained for all class levels.
- Crystal Lake has made a managment decision to start children at age 4 for lessons due to safety concerns in an open space facility such as the lake so no 3 year old preschool will be offered at this site..
Can I sign up for two classes during the same session to give my child more practice?
- Yes,
- however we recommend that children should only be registered for one class in order for the classes to be most effective.
- Instruction is only one part of learning to swim, and children should spend time outside of instructional classes practicing and playing, to learn to depend on their own skills.
- Some children are able to develop their abilities through play, and others like to participate in the Newton Swim Team, challenging themselves with others with a variety of abilities.
Who do I go to if I have questions or concerns during swim lessons?
- The first person available to help you is your child's instructor.
- He/She has a few minutes between classes before moving to the next class, so if additional time is needed, ask the instructor to contact you later in the day.
- The Head Swimming Instructor responsible for lessons will be on site, and also teaching.
- You can ask to meet with the head instructor with your questions or concerns, or arrange a time outside of swim lesson time if you feel that is more beneficial.
- If you still don't have answers to your questions, please
contact the facility director at 627-796-1500.
Crystal Lake Facility Manager
Gath Pool Facility Manager
What can I register for if my child has difficulty learning in a group setting?
- Park and Recreation offers Individual Lessons.
- These lessons are one-on-one for children who need individual instruction.
- Swim instructors are available to teach classes on weekday afternoons and eveinings, or some weekend mornings prior to our regular opening time.
- Fee for private swim instruction is $30.00/half hour of instruction and is due at the time you make the arrangements for an instructor.
Are swim classes cancelled when it rains?
- In most instances, swim classes are held rain or shine. In the event of thunder or lightning, or when pool/lake water conditions are not appropriate for swimming, classes are cancelled, and notification is put on the Recorded Information Line at 617-796-1536. The decision cannot be made until approximately 8:30 AM, when the morning staff is on duty, and all testing of the pool and lake water and evaluations of the site and weather are completed.
Can the swim instructors help my child with the Deep Water Test?
- Absolutely! Mention it to the instructor on the first day. If your child has a fear of taking the test, the instructor may try to do the test during the lesson.
Can my other children play in the water while one child is taking a lesson?
- At the Pool no, but at the Lake yes,
- The wading pool is open for children to use that are age appropriate for this area of the pool..
- For the safety of the children in lessons, all of the guards must concentrate on the lesson program at the pool.
- At the Lake children may play in the sand areas or areas where lessons are not happening.
How can adults learn to swim or strengthen our skills?
- Over the years, classes have been offered for adults, but due
to low registrations will not be offered in Summer 2010.
- The Supervisors can offer some helpful hints for skill strengthening, and adults may sign up for private lessons at the Pool.
- Private lessons are taught by staff who are certified to teach, and choose to teach private lessons when they are not on duty.
Why are registrations only taken in person?
- The Newton Parks and Recreation Department offers two ways to register for swimming instruction.
- In Person at each facility - Crystal Lake, Gath Pool or NNHS Receation Center
- On-Line - we accept Master Card or Visa only as form of payment at the time of registration visit our on-line page at www.activityreg.com
- The first day of any registration period is only open to members of your immediate family (they must live under the same roof)
- All sessions are available for selection once registration opens.
- To be fair to all residents we limit you to only one registration until June 19, 2009
How can I register my child if I am not able to be at the Park and Recreation Office during registration times? There are several options:
- ask another family to register your child when that family registers their children; only allowed from the second day of registration on
- ask another family member to do the registration (we get to meet lots of nice grandparents!)
- register on-lin, it is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Does the Recreation Department offer Lifeguard Training Courses?
Yes, click on the link below to go to the information page for Lifeguard Training Classes. Click link for information on Lifeguard Training Course
Does the Recreation Department offer Water Safety Instructor Courses?
Yes, click on the link below to go to the information page for Water Safety Instructor Classes Click for information about our Water Safety Instructor Course
Does the Recreation Department offer C.P.R. and First Aid Courses?
Yes, we offer courses in CPR and First Aid to our own staff members, this is by agreement with the American Red Cross. If you are a staff person looking for CPR or First Aid, click on the link register on-line here at the bottom of this page.
Links
of Interest General Instructional Program Information
Swimming
Level Descriptions
Gath Pool Schedules
Summer
Swim Team Information
Crystal
Lake Schedules
Newton North Schedules
Winter
Swim Team Information
Lifeguard
Training Courses
Water
Safety Instructor Course
Register on-line here
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