May 18, 2015
THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE
It’s Kick Week at Los Paseos! We’ll be spending every day this week focusing on a very important (but sometimes overlooked) part of stroke technique: kicking. We will also be introducing breaststroke to the newest penguins.
PENGUIN MADNESS THIS FRIDAY
Penguin Madness will be this Friday, May 22 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. There will be no swim practice on this day.
Preliminary team rosters are posted to the Penguin Madness page of the website. Swimmers are encouraged (but not required) to wear the color of their designated penguin team. Note that these are all dryland games, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can run, jump, crawl, etc.
If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late! Send an email today to info@swimlpac.org and include your child’s name and age. There is no cost for this event.
Parents and siblings are welcome to come and cheer for their favorite penguins. We recommend that you bring warm layers, plus snacks, water, and folding chairs or blankets to sit on. (Please note that we are not having a Baja Fresh fundraiser for Penguin Madness this year.) Hope to see you all there!
MEMORIAL DAY SWIM CLINIC
There are no regular team practices on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), but swimmers are invited to attend an optional Swim Clinic that morning from 9:00am to 10:30am. The coaches will be working with small groups of kids on diving from the blocks, backstroke starts, pulldowns, and all types of turns. Swimmers who want to work on any of these skills are welcome to attend. There is no cost for this event.
PRACTICE TIMES CHANGE AFTER MEMORIAL DAY
After Memorial Day, the pool is open to its members until 6:00 pm. This means that we have to compress our swim practices for the last two weeks until school is out (May 26 until June 5). Please note the new times and age groups:
- 8 & under: 6:00–7:00 pm
- 9-12: 7:00–8:00 pm
- 13-18: 8:00–9:00 pm
PICTURE DAY ON MAY 27
Team picture day is on Wednesday, May 27. We will start taking individual photos at 4:00 pm. The team photo will be taken at 5:00 pm, and any remaining individual photos will be taken after the group picture. Please note that we will still be having practices that night at the times noted above.
All swimmers should wear either a black-and-white LPAC team suit or a plain black suit. If you ordered a new suit this year, it will be available to pick up at practice on Tuesday (5/26).
Every swimmer gets a basic photo package for free (included as part of registration fees) that includes an 8×10 team photo, 4×6 individual, and photo button. But you can also order buddy portraits, calendars, magnets, posters, and more. Check the Picture Day page of the website to see all of the options, and remember to bring your checkbook if you want to order any extras!
TIME TRIALS ON MAY 30
The first swim meet of the season is Time Trials, which is just like a regular meet but without the other team. At Time Trials, LPAC swimmers race against their own teammates to establish times in every event under real race conditions. These times are used to determine seedings and calculate improvement points at the dual meets. It’s a good chance for swimmers and parents to get warmed up for the start of the season—and a great opportunity for our newest penguins to experience their very first races!
Attendance at Time Trials is mandatory, and we need parents to volunteer for positions just like at dual meets. If you haven’t yet signed up for a volunteer shift, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Marley.
If your child will be unable to attend time trials, you need to let the coaches know ASAP. Please send email to coaches@swimlpac.org or leave a “Note to Coaches” in the file box. Any swimmers who do not attend Time Trials must come to the make-up day on Monday, June 1, and parents need to stay to help time and record.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Friday, May 22: Penguin Madness
- Monday, May 25: Memorial Day Clinic (no regular practices)
- Tuesday, May 26: Practice times change
- Wednesday, May 27: Picture Day
- Saturday, May 30: Time Trials
- Monday, June 1: Makeup Time Trials (no regular practices)
- Saturday, June 6: LPAC @ Almaden
- Monday, June 8: Morning practices begin
- Friday, June 12: Golfland Trip (8 & Unders)
- Saturday, June 13: LPAC @ Belwood
- Saturday, June 20: Montevideo @ LPAC
May 11, 2015
Dear Penguins and Parents:
On to Week 3! It’s great to have Coaches Nicole and Julia on the deck now. Coach Jaclyn is still finishing up college classes and final exams, but we should have our full coaching staff on duty soon.
PENGUIN MADNESS COMING SOON!
Are you ready for Penguin Madness? If your child plans to participate, please reply to this email TODAY so we can start assembling the penguin teams. This year Penguin Madness will be on Friday, May 22 from 6:00-8:00 pm (there are no regular practices on that day). Parents are welcome to come watch the madness!
THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE
This week, the coaches will be continuing to evaluate each swimmer in all four strokes to determine what specific areas to focus on this season. Please continue coming to practice every day if you can!
RESERVE ROOMS FOR RAFT TRIP
The team raft trip this year will be on Saturday, July 4. We have reserved a small block of rooms at the Motel 6 in Oakdale, but they do fill up fast. Call 209-847-8181 to reserve your room today. For more information, see the Raft Trip page on the website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check the Team Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.
May 4, 2015
Dear Penguins and Parents:
The coaches were happy to have such great attendance at the first week of practice. We know this is a busy time of year for everybody, but try to keep the momentum and continue coming to as many practices as you can.
WELCOME NEW PENGUINS!
We’re excited to welcome 17 brand-new penguins to the LPAC family! They all did a great job during the first-week tryouts and are very excited to be on the swim team. Special thanks to the high school swimmers who have been coming to help out while we wait for Coaches Julia, Nicole and Jaclyn to finish up their college classes.
SWIM CHICK AND PENGUIN PAPA SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE
If you didn’t already order one, it’s not too late to order the cute “Swim Chick” or “Papa Penguin” t-shirts! Contact Jennie Anderson ASAP to place your order.
STROKE & TURN CLINIC ON SATURDAY
If you’re interested in becoming a Stroke & Turn judge, please attend the special training clinic this Saturday, May 9, at 9:00 am at the Los Paseos Clubhouse. The session usually lasts until around noon. For more information, contact Nancy Keslin.
PENGUIN MADNESS COMING SOON!
Most of the year, we’re all one big happy penguin family. But at Penguin Madness, swimmers from all age groups are grouped into different penguin teams to compete in fun non-swimming events like tug-of-war and musical chairs to see who has the most penguin power. This year Penguin Madness will be on Friday, May 22 from 6:00-8:00 pm (there are no regular practices on that day). If your child plans to participate, please reply to this email ASAP.
RESERVE ROOMS FOR RAFT TRIP
The team raft trip this year will be on Saturday, July 4. We have reserved a small block of rooms at the Motel 6 in Oakdale, but they do fill up fast. Call 209-847-8181 to reserve your room today. For more information, see the Raft Trip page on the website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check the Team Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.
Apr 27, 2015
Dear Penguins and Parents:
The long winter wait is finally over—swim practices start today!
PRACTICE TIMES
Please try to arrive at least 5 or 10 minutes before your scheduled practice time. Be sure you have your cap and goggles and are ready to swim!
- All new swimmers: 5:00-5:30 pm (this week only)
- 8 & under: 5:30–6:15 pm
- 9-11: 6:15–7:00 pm
- 12-14: 7:00–8:00 pm
- 15-18: 8:00–9:00 pm
SUITS & MERCHANDISE ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
You can try on and order team suits and merchandise on Thursday and Friday of this week (4/30 and 5/1) from 5:00 to 8:30 pm. Note that we are keeping the same black and white team suit from last year, so if your children’s suits still fit, you do not need to order new ones. If your kids do need to try on suits, please do so before practice begins if possible, as it’s much harder once the kids are wet. We require that swimmers wear either a team suit or a plain black suit to all meets. There will also be lots of fun LPAC merchandise for sale, so be sure to leave some time before or after practice to do some shopping!
PANCAKE BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY
Kick off the start of the swim team season and join your penguin friends at the clubhouse for a hearty pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, May 2, from 8:30 to 10:00 am. The cost is just $5, and all proceeds benefit LPAC. See more details on the Pancake Breakfast page of the website.
RESERVE ROOMS FOR RAFT TRIP
The team raft trip this year will be on Saturday, July 4. We have reserved a small block of rooms at the Motel 6 in Oakdale, but they do fill up fast. Call 209-847-8181 to reserve your room today. For more information, see the Raft Trip page on the website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check the Team Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.
Apr 20, 2015
Dear Penguins and Parents:
It was great seeing many of you at the Polar Penguin Plunge! We’re looking forward to getting all penguins back in the water for the first day of practice next Monday (4/27), when we are assured the pool will be heated to a more comfortable temperature.
PARENT MEETING ON THURSDAY
The New Parent Meeting is this Thursday, April 23. Returning families are invited to come by the clubhouse at 7:00 pm to pick up handouts and sign up for volunteer shifts. New families should plan to attend the meeting, which will start at 7:30pm. Returning families are welcome (but not required) to stay as well.
PENGUIN SWAP ALSO ON THURSDAY
If you have LPAC swim suits, shirts, or sweats that your kids have outgrown but are still in good condition, bring them to the parent meeting on Thursday. We’ll have a table set out for the “Penguin Swap” so you can pass along your hand-me-downs to the littler penguins! Note that we will be keeping the same black-and-white team suits this year.
2015 COACHING STAFF
Coaches Scott Jackson, Ryan Hussey, and Julia Thompson will all be returning this year, and Nicole Richards and Jaclyn Pereira will be joining the coaching staff. Emily Read has generously offered to help out the first couple of weeks while Julia, Nicole and Jaclyn finish up college classes, and she may continue coaching on a part-time basis depending on her work commitments. We’re looking forward to a great season!
PRACTICES BEGIN MONDAY, APRIL 27
Practice times will be as follows:
- All new swimmers: 5:00-5:30 pm (this week only)
- 8 & under: 5:30–6:15 pm
- 9-11: 6:15–7:00 pm
- 12-14: 7:00–8:00 pm
- 15-18: 8:00–9:00 pm
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check the Team Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.
Mar 1, 2015
Dear Penguins and Parents:
Oh boy, we’re getting closer and closer to swim season!
2015 REGISTRATION FORMS DUE MARCH 14
2015 registration forms have been posted to the website and are also attached to this email. Please complete forms and return with payment to the clubhouse no later than Saturday, March 14. Be sure to mark your envelope “LPAC” so it doesn’t get mixed up with Association mail. If you have any questions about registration, please reply to this email or call Julie Jackson at (408) 227-9522.
(By the way, if you stop by the clubhouse to drop off your forms, you might want to peek in through the gate to see the progress of the pool’s “makeover.” It’s going to be beautiful!)
HELP US RECRUIT NEW PENGUINS!
If you know of any new families who might be interested in joining LPAC, ask them to send an email to info@swimlpac.org. They should plan to come to Walk-In Registration at the clubhouse on Saturday, March 28. We expect to have only a limited number of openings this year, and we do give registration priority to members of the Los Paseos Association. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up! (Note: If you have new siblings who will trying out for the team this year, you can just add their names to your registration forms; you don’t need to come to Walk-In Registration.)
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BACK IN SWIMMING SHAPE
Some of our local year-round swim teams are offering programs that are specifically geared toward cabana swimmers who want to get back in the water and shake the rust off before the LPAC season starts.
Quicksilver Swimming (QSS) practices at Gunderson High School and is offering a special “Cabana Prep Session” from March 2-27. Practices will be held from 5:00 to 5:45pm, and you can choose to go 1 day per week ($80), 2 days per week ($120), or 4 days per week ($180). Quicksilver is also offering Saturday clinics (2/28, 3/14, or 3/28) from 9:30-10:30am for $25 per clinic. For more information about any of the Quicksilver programs, send email to swimqss@gmail.com.
The South Valley Stingrays (SVS) practice at Rancho Santa Teresa and are offering a special promotion for cabana swimmers. You can swim in March and April without paying the registration fee (a savings of $100). For more information, see www.southvalleystingrays.com/cabanapromo.pdf or send email to southvalleystingrays@gmail.com.
UPCOMING DATES
- Friday, March 14: Registration forms for returning members due
- Saturday, March 28: Walk-In Registration for new families (8:30-9:15 am)
- Thursday, April 23: New parent orientation meeting (7:30 pm)
- Monday, April 27: Practices begin!
- Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1: Suits and Merchandise Try-Ons and Ordering
Check the Team Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.
We look forward to seeing you all soon!
