Jul 17, 2016
Dear Penguins and Parents:
Only one week left!! This swim season has just flown by. Please read through this entire email, as there is a lot of information here about Champs, the Banquet, and all the fun events going on during Spirit Week.
PENGUINS TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE SHARKS
We closed out the dual meet season with a convincing victory over the Silver Creek Sharks, winning both in place points and improvement points for an overall score of LPAC 104.3 to Silver Creek 85.6. Now let’s continue that momentum into Champs this weekend!
RECORD-BREAKING BOYS
Special congratulations to Everett Leung-Thomas, Daniel Cendejas, Braedon Hoge, and Christian Wise for breaking the 13-14 Boys 200 Freestyle Relay record with a time of 1:47.60. The previous record from 2012 was held by David Olson, Nikolas Mamola, Ben Jackson, and Nico Fasan. Way to go boys!
THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE
Although swimmers will be tapering and resting up for Champs this week, it’s still very important to come to practice very day to keep refining those small improvements that can add up to big points at the meet. Please note that there will be no dryland exercises the rest of this week. Night practices will be Monday through Wednesday at the usual time; there is no night practice on Thursday because of Spirit Night.
Remember to dress up for our theme days:
- Manic Monday: Dress backwards, inside-out, or all mixed-up
- Dress Like a Coach Tuesday: Dress up like an LPAC coach!
- Woyalty Wednesday: Dress like a prince or princess
- Thuperhero Thursday: Dress like your favorite superhero
- Black and White Penguin Formal Friday: Wear black and white and show your penguin spirit!
PENGUIN POOL PARTY ON MONDAY
Swimmers of all ages are invited to the Penguin Pool Party today (Monday) at 4:00 pm to enjoy root beer floats and make tie-dye shirts for Champs. Please bring a white or light-colored shirt to tie-dye. The cost is $2 for Association members and $3 for non-members. Parents of kids 12 and under are asked to please stay and help out; this is not a drop-off event.
SPIRIT NIGHT ON THURSDAY
Parents and swimmers are invited to attend Spirit Night on Thursday (7/21) from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Swimmers will get together to eat pizza, decorate posters to hang up at Champs, and elect swimmer reps for next year. Meanwhile, parents have a meeting to discuss Champs and elect next year’s Board members. Then we’ll all get together in the clubhouse for Swim-a-Thon awards and a slideshow/video that celebrates the season and energizes the team to do their best at Champs. There is no cost for this event. Look forward to seeing you all there!
PURCHASE A DVD FOR $20
If you’re interesting in getting a DVD copy of the team slideshow/video, please bring $20 to Mark or Melinda Doutt at Spirit Night on Thursday. It’s a great way to remember all the fun we had this season!
SPAGHETTI DINNER FOR TEENAGERS ON FRIDAY
All teenage swimmers (ages 13-18) are invited to the clubhouse on Friday (7/22) from 6:00 to 7:00 to “carbo-load” before Champs at the annual Spaghetti Dinner. We’ll also decorate cars to show our penguin pride. The cost is $7 per swimmer; please pay at the door. We do need some parents to help serve and clean up as well; please email Dave Blacow if you’re available to help out.
BANQUET FORMS DUE TODAY!
If you haven’t already done so, please turn in your meal order form NOW for Sunday’s Awards Banquet. Swimmers eat for free, but we still need you to fill out a form so we know how much food we’ll need. See the Banquet page of the website for more information. The Banquet will be on Sunday, July 24 from 4:30 to 8:00 pm.
CHAMPS ON SATURDAY
The VCSL Championship Meet (“Champs”) will be held this Saturday (7/23) at the Morgan Hill Aquatic Center. This is a huge meet, with swimmers from all six teams competing to determine the overall league champion. LPAC swimmers will need to check in no later than 7:00 am. The meet starts at 8:30 am and usually lasts until around 4:00 pm. Entries have already been submitted to the league and will be posted to the website later this week.
Champs volunteer assignments have been posted to the Champs page of the website. Please check to see what shift(s) your family has been assigned. Please note that families with more than one swimmer may be assigned to multiple shifts. If you have any questions, please send email to volunteers@swimlpac.org. Even if you don’t see your name listed here, please check in with the volunteer coordinators on Saturday morning, as you may still be needed to help fill in.
There is also a map posted to the Champs page showing our assigned team area (which is the same as last year) as well as posts for marshals. If you are assigned to a marshal shift, please be sure to check the map so you know where to go.
We’ll have even more information about Champs at Spirit Night on Thursday during the parent meeting.
A NOTE OF THANKS
As many of you already know, LPAC parent Wendy Marley was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy over the last few months. She wanted to pass on this message to the team:
To the wonderful 15-18 year old swimmers, their parents and coaches,
We’d like to thank you all for coming to the Relay for Life and your tremendous show of support. The LPAC family and Los Paseos community have been nothing short of truly amazing for our family through this journey. Thank you!
Fondly,
Wendy Marley & family
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jul 15, 2016
Some quick reminders before the weekend:
- Tomorrow’s meet is at Los Paseos against Silver Creek. Swimmers need to check in with the coaches no later than 6:30 am. Meet entries have been posted to the website.
- Remember there is NO PARKING in the church parking lot this weekend due to a funeral. If you must drive, please leave a little earlier than usual so you can find street parking nearby.
- Volunteer shifts for Silver Creek have been posted to the website. Please check to be sure you know what shift(s) you are working. Remember that families with multiple swimmers may be required to work more than one shift if needed. And be sure to sign up for a volunteer shift at Champs if you haven’t done so already.
- On Saturday, please remember to turn in your Banquet forms and payment as well as Swim-a-Thon pledges. See Judy Seps if you’d like to contribute to the coaches’ gifts. Jennie Anderson also has extra LPAC merchandise for sale if you want to get ready for Champs.
- We say this every time, but parents and swimmers, PLEASE stay to help clean up after the meet. All high school swimmers should help put away the lawn chairs as soon as the meet is done. If you see garbage, pick it up. We’re all hot and tired at the end of the meet, but if everyone stays and helps out just a little bit, it goes much faster!
- The Beach Trip is also on Saturday (7/16). If you haven’t already RSVPd, please reply to this email NOW. The cost is $8 per swimmer (no charge for parent drivers). Please bring money that afternoon. Plan to meet at the pool at 4:30 pm to carpool to the beach.
- Lots of fun Spirit Week activities coming up next week! We’ll have more details in the Monday morning email, but plan to kick off the week with “Manic Monday” and come to practice dressed backwards, inside out, or all mixed up. The Penguin Pool Party (with root beer floats and tie dye) will also be on Monday from 4-6 pm.
GO PENGUINS!
Jul 11, 2016
Dear Penguins and Parents:
CONGRATULATIONS to all our penguins for a great win on Saturday against Almaden! The Gators actually had a slight edge in overall place points, but LPAC had a higher improvement percentage and won the meet by a score of 113.1 to 108.2. Great job everyone! Let’s try to continue that momentum this weekend against Silver Creek and carry it all the way to Champs.
It’s hard to believe, but there are only TWO WEEKS left in the swim season. It is crunch time now! Please take time to read through this entire email. There are lots of activities coming up, and we don’t want you to miss out on any of the fun!
A RECORD-BREAKING DAY
We had some fantastic swims on Saturday, and no less than FOUR team records were broken. Congratulations to Sarina Seps for getting the 7-8 Girls Backstroke record with a 19.44. That record was originally set by Cherisse Hughes back in 1986 and has stood for 30 years! We should probably find out what John Anderson had for breakfast Saturday morning, as he tore through the 6 & Under Boys Breaststroke record with a 25.31 (breaking Cameron Klinger’s 2004 record by more than 2 seconds) and then got the 25 Freestyle record as well with a 20.35 (bumping Coach Connor Bleeg off the record board). And Daniela Fasan got in on the fun too, shaving a little more time off her own 13-14 Girls Freestyle record with a blazing fast 26.06. Way to go!
WILL YOU BE AT THE MEETS?
This week the coaches have to do meet entries for both the Silver Creek meet on Saturday (7/16) and Champs (7/23). It is very important to let both the coaches and volunteer coordinators know TODAY if your child will be missing any part of either of these meets.
The swimmers we know who will be missing some or all of the Silver Creek meet (7/16): Alex Delgado, Coco Delgado, Aleyna Espinoza, Phyllis Hansen, Dylan Marley, Viola Sunderman, Ishir Vaidyanath, Cooper Wyness, Madison Wyness, Ryan Yacono.
The swimmers we know who will be missing some or all of Champs (7/23): Aleyna Espinoza, Jake Fuss, Everett Leung-Thomas, Dylan Marley, Viola Sunderman, Cooper Wyness, Madison Wyness.
LAST CHANCE FOR CHAMPS MEAL ORDERS!
Nancy Keslin has kindly extended the due date for Champs Meal Orders, but you MUST get your order forms in by tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at 10:15 am. You can write one check (payable to “LPAC”) for both snack bar and Panera orders. Please remember the snack bar will serving pre-orders ONLY until 8:00 am for breakfast and until 1:00 pm for lunch. So you really need to get your order in ahead of time if you want to be sure your family eats! If for some reason you are unable to get to the pool before tomorrow morning, please email Nancy Keslin TODAY.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PARKING FOR SILVER CREEK MEET (7/16)
Please note that parking will be very tight for our home meet this Saturday (7/16) due to a funeral at the church. Please plan to walk or arrive early enough to find street parking nearby. Carpool if you can, so we can leave space for the visiting team!
BEACH TRIP FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS
The annual Beach Trip for the high school age group will be on Saturday, July 16. Plan to meet at the pool at 4:30 pm, and we will carpool to Twin Lakes beach in Santa Cruz. We do need parent drivers for this event, as swimmers are not allowed to drive themselves. The cost is $8 per swimmer; there is no charge for parents. If you did not already sign up at the meet on Saturday, please RSVP by responding to this email.
BANQUET MEAL ORDERS DUE!
The LPAC team Awards Banquet will be on Sunday, July 24 from 4:30 to 8:00 pm. This year the banquet will be a catered taco bar featuring freshly grilled tacos with chicken, carne asada, or vegetables, plus rice, beans, chips and salsa. All swimmers eat for free, but we do need you to turn in an order form so we know how many meals to prepare. Parents and siblings may also purchase additional meal tickets ($10 for adults, $7 for kids 12 and under). Please download and print the Banquet Meal Order form and turn in with payment to the “Banquet” folder no later than Monday, July 18.
SWIM-A-THON PLEDGE FORMS DUE!
Monday, July 18 is also the last day to turn in your Swim-a-Thon pledges to be eligible for prizes. All donations are tax-deductible.
ROOT BEER FLOATS & TIE-DYE: MONDAY, JULY 18
We’re planning a penguin party with root beer floats and tie-dye for Monday, July 18 at 4:00 pm. Please plan to bring your own light-colored shirt to tie-dye. Stay tuned for more details.
COACHES’ GIFTS
Judy Seps will continue collecting money for coaches’ gifts all week during practice and Saturday at the meet. Please see her if you’d like to contribute!
EXTRA MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE
We still have some extra LPAC team merchandise available for sale. Please check with Jennie Anderson at the meet on Saturday if you are interested in purchasing any of the following:
- Kid’s jersey shorts $12 – 1-XL and 2 S
- Kid’s hooded sweatshirt $22 -1size M
- Kid’s sweatpants $15 -1 size M
- Girl’s shorts $24 -1 size S
- Junior Girl’s boardshorts $28 1size 5 and 1size 7
- Junior Girl’s hooded sweatshirt $27 1 size M
- Ladies V neck shirt $22 1 size 2XL
- Ladies black razor back tank $14 -1size 2XL
SPIRIT WEEK NEXT WEEK!
The last week of the swim season is always jam-packed with fun activities. Stay tuned for more details about dress-up theme days. And mark your calendar for the following events:
- Monday, July 18: Root Beer Float & Tie Dye Party (all swimmers – 4:00 pm)
- Thursday, July 21: Spirit Night (all swimmers and parents – 7:00 pm)
- Friday, July 22: Spaghetti Dinner (all teenage swimmers 13-18 – 6:00 pm)
- Saturday, July 23: Champs (all swimmers and parents – ALL DAY!)
- Sunday, July 24: Banquet (all swimmers and parents – 4:30 pm)
Jul 8, 2016
A few quick reminders:
- Tomorrow’s meet is at home. Swimmers need to check in with coaches no later than 6:30 am. Try to get to bed early tonight!
- If your child is ill in the morning, please call or text Coach Scott: 408-613-5126.
- Please double-check the Volunteer Assignments that have been posted to the Almaden meet page of the website; there have been some changes.
- Meet Entries have also been posted to the website.
- Don’t forget to turn in forms and payment for Champs Meals and Champs Ads — both are due tomorrow (7/9).
- Always check OUT with the coaches if you have to leave the meet early.
- Please remember that we need all LPAC families to stay and help clean up after the meet. It goes pretty fast if everyone pitches in!
See you all bright and early tomorrow morning…GO PENGUINS!
Jul 4, 2016
Happy 4th of July! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend and the day off from swim practice!
WILL YOU BE AT THE MEET ON SATURDAY?
This Saturday’s meet (7/9) will be at home against the Almaden Gators. Swimmers will need to check in with the coaches Saturday morning no later than 6:30 am.
If your child will be missing any part of this Saturday’s meet (7/9), please email the coaches and volunteer coordinators TODAY. Due to the holiday, we will have a short week to complete meet entries. So far the swimmers we know who will be missing at least part of the meet are: Alexie and Shaelan Barber; Alan and Ethan Calderon; Nicholas and Marcus Fumigalli; Nick Mamola; Zoe Marley; Melani Quezada,
NEW BLOCKS ARE IN!
Most of the swimmers already know this, but our new diving blocks have been installed and are working out great! Thanks to all penguins and parents for raising Swim-a-Thon funds over the last couple of years to purchase the new blocks. And special thanks to Nancy Keslin and Kevin Nicholls for getting them ordered and installed. We’re excited to use them in the meet this weekend. We’ll see if penguins really CAN fly!
CHAMPS FORMS DUE JULY 9
Remember to get your Champs meal orders and payment turned in to the “CHAMPS MEALS” folder by July 9. You can write one check to “LPAC” for all meals. Champs Program Ads are also due on July 9. Both of these are important fundraisers for the team and the league, so please show your support and get those forms in on time! Forms are posted to the Champs page of the website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jun 27, 2016
Dear Penguins and Parents:
It was a close one, but Oaktree ended up winning Saturday’s meet by a final score of 109.8 to 108.6. Once again, LPAC actually had the edge in overall place points, but Oaktree pulled ahead in the second half with more improvement points. It’s a good reminder that every race and every swimmer really can make a difference! Meet results are posted to the Oaktree page of the website.
WILL YOU BE AT THE MEET ON JULY 9?
This weekend is a bye, so there is no meet on Saturday, July 2. But if you will be missing any part of the Almaden meet on July 9, please let both the coaches and volunteer coordinators know this week.
SWIM-A-THON ON WEDNESDAY
This Wednesday (June 29) will be the annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser. Swimmers should get pledges now (either a flat rate or price per lap) and then come to their regular practice time to swim as many laps as they can. Parents, we need at least five volunteers to stay at each practice and help count laps (but the coaches will take care of the early-morning high school practice). There are lots of fun prizes planned this year, and anybody who swims has a chance to win! Check the Swim-a-Thon page of the website to download a pledge form. Funds raised this year will help purchase new team EZ-Ups and other equipment. Please note that all donations are tax-deductible.
RAFT TRIP IS FULL
We’ve filled all the boats for the Raft Trip this Saturday. If you’ve signed up but end up not being able to go, please let Chad Seps know ASAP, as there are people on the waiting list hoping to attend. Those of you that are signed up, be sure to check the Raft Trip page of the website for a map and a list of what to bring (and what not to bring). Happy rafting!
NO PRACTICE ON MONDAY
Happy Fourth of July! Remember, there is no morning or evening practice on Monday, July 4. Regular practices resume on July 5.
GIFTS FOR COACHES
If you’d like to contribute to team-wide gifts for our awesome LPAC coaches, please see Judy Seps at the Almaden meet on July 9.
CHAMPS MEAL ORDERS
It’s hard to believe, but there are only four weeks left in the swim season! That means it’s already time to start thinking about Champs. The VCSL Championship Meet will be held at Morgan Hill Aquatic Center on Saturday, July 23. With all six teams competing against each other, this is a very big and very long meet (typically lasting until about 4:00 pm). We strongly recommend that you pre-order breakfast or lunch (or both!) from the Snack Bar or from Panera. This year the snack bar will serve only pre-orders until 8:00 am for breakfast and until 1:00 pm for lunch, and will prepare only a limited number of additional meals. So if you want to eat, be sure to get your order forms in ahead of time! Please turn in orders and payment to the “CHAMPS MEALS” folder by July 9. You can write one check to “LPAC” for all meals. Order forms are attached to this email and are also posted to the Champs page of the website.
CHAMPS PROGRAM ADS
Show your penguin pride and place an ad in the Champs Program! 100% of the proceeds go directly to LPAC, so this is a great way to help support the team while giving a shout-out to your favorite penguins or promoting your business. The cost is $15 for a business card-size ad, $30 for half-page, and $50 for full-page. Use the attached order form to design your own ad, or just email photos and text to Kris Fuss and she can design one for you.
UPCOMING EVENTS
