Dear Penguins and Parents:

It sure feels good to get a win! Our powerful penguins defeated the Belwood Dolphins on Saturday and won the meet by a final score of 119.14 to 116.21. Meet results have been posted to the LPAC @ Belwood page of the website.

Next up: the Montevideo Piranhas! There are also lots of fun team events coming up in the next few weeks, so be sure you read below so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement.

**IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PARENTS AND SWIMMERS**

The Los Paseos Association Board has asked for our assistance in maintaining their rules during swim meets and practices. Safety is of course everyone’s top concern. We also need to to be respectful of the HOA property, some of which has been damaged recently. Parents and siblings are welcome to stay during swim practices, but we do ask that you please follow these guidelines:

• Children should not be at the pool without adult supervision; the coaches need to focus on the swimmers in the water.
• Kids should not be playing on the pool deck during practices. They are welcome to play on the grass but should not play in the horseshoe pits or around the storage shed area.
• Parents, please do not move furniture or adjust umbrellas during practices, and be sure to straighten up the area when you leave.

We appreciate your help keeping the pool environment safe and enjoyable for everyone!

RECORDS ARE STARTING TO FALL

Congratulations to Emily Scott for getting her first (but probably not her last) LPAC team record. Emily swam a blazing fast breaststroke at Belwood, and her time of :17.38 beat Daniela Fasan’s 9-10 Girls 50 Breaststroke record from 2012. No need to feel bad for Daniela, however, since she set a new record of her own, going :26.47 in the 13-14 Girls 50 Freestyle. That broke the previous record of :26.63 by Cherisse Hughes—a record that has stood for 23 years! Great swimming girls!

THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE

We are heading into the second week of the Two-Week Attendance Challenge in a dead heat: team-wide, the girls are tied with the boys for overall attendance. Be sure to come to practice every day if you can and earn a doughnut for yourself and for your friends!

SATURDAY’S MEET: MONTEVIDEO @ LPAC

Remember, if your child will be missing any part of the meet this Saturday, you must let the coaches know TODAY. Please send email to the coaches (coaches@swimlpac.org) and also notify the volunteer coordinators (volunteers@swimlpac.org). This will be a home meet, so we are going to need everyone’s help to keep the meet running smoothly. Parents, you may be needed for more than one shift. And we will need everyone’s help to clean up after the meet.

Here are the swimmers we know will be missing all or part of the Montevideo meet: Alan Calderon, Ethan Calderon, Isabella Espinoza, Jake Fuss, Luuk Janssen, Mackenzie Keslin, Madison Mamola, Sarina Seps, Siena Seps, Sofia Seps, Hannah Waldron, Elizabeth Webb, Jessica Webb, Steven Webb, Alexa Wise.

MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS (6/20)

This Saturday, June 20, Nancy Keslin is hosting a Movie Night Under the Stars for all swimmers in the 12-14 practice group. Come around 8:00 pm to enjoy a movie under the stars and s’mores. You might want to bring a blanket to sit on and some snacks or drinks to share. Parents are welcome to stay too! See the Age Group Events page of the website for additional details and a map.

SWIM-A-THON FUNDRAISER

Our annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser will be coming up on Wednesday, June 24 during regular practice times. Please visit the Swim-a-Thon page of the website to download forms (they are also attached to this email) and start collecting pledges! It’s  a great chance to help raise funds for the team while challenging yourself and getting a great workout.

This year, we’re trying to raise additional funds so we can purchase new diving blocks. In addition to prizes for meeting goals set by the coaches, most laps swam, and most pledges collected, there will also be a raffle in each age group to win a one-on-one coaching session with a coach of your choice. So come on out and swim, swim, swim!

OVERNIGHTER AND CARDBOARD BOAT RACES

The team Overnighter this year will be the night of Saturday, June 27. This annual event is one of LPAC’s most treasured traditions and a highlight of the swim team season. LPAC swimmers get to camp out in tents on the grass next to the Los Paseos pool and stay up late swimming, dancing, playing dodge ball, and just having fun with their friends. LPAC Board members and their spouses stay the night and take shifts to be sure children are supervised at all times. The cost is $15 per swimmer. Swimmers ages 6 and under are welcome to come on Saturday evening, but must be picked up by 10:00pm. You can find more information and download the form on the Overnighter page of the website.

The Penguin Regatta Cardboard Boat Races also take place during the Overnighter, starting at 6:00 pm. All penguins are encouraged to team up with their swim team friends to construct a sea-worthy vessel using only cardboard, duct tape, and paint. Unofficial prizes are awarded for the fastest boat, best boat theme and the most spectacular sink. Parents are welcome to stay and cheer. Please be prepared to take home the remains of any boats that you bring. There is not enough room in the Los Paseos dumpster for all the soggy shipwrecks! Check the Cardboard Boat Races page for more details.

RAFT TRIP: TURN IN FORMS NOW!

The annual LPAC raft trip will be on Saturday, July 4 (there is no meet that weekend). This event does usually sell out, so if you’re planning to go, please go to the Raft Trip page of the website and print out entry forms. Turn those in with payment to the “RAFT TRIP” folder no later than June 27. The cost is $25 per person. Please note that you also need to bring signed waivers on the day of the trip.

ONE CHECK FOR ALL FUN ACTIVITIES

This year we’re going to try something new that will (hopefully) simplify your life a little. We’re going to give families the option to write just one check for various team events, including the Swim-a-Thon, Raft Trip, Overnighter, Banquet, etc. Please bring your checkbook with you when you drop your kids off at the Overnighter, and you can make one payment instead of writing 4 or 5 different checks. Please note that you will still need to fill out separate entry forms, permission slips, etc.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday, June 20: Montevideo @ LPAC
• Saturday, June 20: Movie Night Under the Stars (12-14 practice group)
• Wednesday, June 24: Swim-a-Thon
• Saturday, June 27: LPAC @ Silver Creek
• Saturday, June 27: Overnighter and Cardboard Boat Races
• Saturday, July 4: Raft Trip
• Wednesday, July 8: Rockin’ Jump (9-11 practice group)
• Saturday, July 11: Oaktree @ LPAC
• Saturday, July 11: Beach Trip
• Thursday, July 16: Spirit Night
• Friday, July 17: Spaghetti Dinner
• Saturday, July 18: Champs
• Sunday, July 19: Banquet

See the full LPAC Calendar

Just a few reminders before tomorrow:

1. The meet tomorrow is at Belwood (100 Belwood Gateway, off Blossom Hill Rd.). See the LPAC @ Belwood meet web page for a map.
2. Swimmers must check in with coaches no later than 7:15 am.
3. Call or text Coach Scott (408-613-5126) if your child is ill Saturday morning.
4. Parents, please check in with the volunteer coordinators even if you are not assigned a shift. We may need extra helpers for second shift. And remember to bring your volunteer badges!
5. Swimmers, please remember that you cannot wear any high school, college, or year-round team caps during races. If those are the only caps you have, please turn them inside out. We do have LPAC caps available for $10.
6. Please do not bring any tarps or tents with bottoms. EZ-Ups are OK.
7. Remember to always check OUT with the coaches before you leave the meet!

Look forward to seeing you all in the morning…GO PENGUINS!

Dear Penguins and Parents:

Our penguins swam great at Almaden and actually beat the Gators in place points, but Almaden had a higher percentage of improved times and ended up winning the meet by a score of 129.64 to 124.11. This week we’ll be getting ready to take on the Belwood Dolphins.

WILL YOU BE AT THE MEET ON SATURDAY?

If you will not be swimming at the meet this Saturday, or will have to miss any part of the meet, you must let the coaches know TODAY. Please send email to the coaches (coaches@swimlpac.org) and also notify Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Marley (marleywl@yahoo.com).

So far, we have heard that the following swimmers are missing all or part of the meet this Saturday (6/13): Holland Adam, Zurie Adam, Easton Apolinar, Sophie Bagoye, Shaelan Barber, Lexie Barber, Tara Buchanan, Trevor Buchanan, Tanner Buchanan, Ty Buchanan, Madison Doutt, Jake Fuss, Izabella Hasse, Jazmine Hasse, Mackenzie Keslin, Ainsley Keslin, Matthew Lombardi, Claire Lombardi, Nikolas Mamola, Madison Mamola, Zoe Marley, Alexa Wise.

THE TWO-WEEK DOUGHNUT CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES

As we start up morning practices, we’ll be doing our two-week attendance challenge with a new twist. For the next two weeks (6/8 – 6/19), the coaches will keep track of attendance for each practice group. At the end of two weeks, they’ll compare the total attendance percentage of girls vs. boys. The winning group (either the girls or the boys) in each age group will get doughnuts. So come on out to practice every day if you can!

THIS WEEK’S DRESS-UP DAY: JERSEY THURSDAY

This Thursday (June 11), wear your favorite sports team jersey or shirt to practice!

DUAL MEET #2: LPAC @ BELWOOD (SATURDAY, 6/13)

This weekend is another away meet at the Belwood Pool & Cabana Club (100 Belwood Gateway in Los Gatos). Swimmers will need to check in no later than 7:15 am. We’ll post volunteer assignments and meet entries to the LPAC @ Belwood web page later in the week. Belwood runs six lanes, so the meets usually go a little faster than our home meets.

RAFT TRIP: TURN IN FORMS NOW!

The annual LPAC raft trip will be on Saturday, July 4 (there is no meet that weekend). This event does usually sell out, so if you’re planning to go, please go to the Raft Trip page of the website and print out entry forms. Turn those in with payment to the “RAFT TRIP” folder no later than June 27. The cost is $25 per person. Please note that you also need to bring signed waivers on the day of the trip.

8 & UNDER GOLFLAND TRIP ON FRIDAY

On Friday (June 12), all swimmers in the 8 & under practice group are invited to a fun trip to Golfland right after practice. Check the Age Group Events page of the website for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Friday, June 12: Golfland Trip (8 & Unders)
• Saturday, June 13: LPAC @ Belwood
• Saturday, June 20: Montevideo @ LPAC
• Saturday, June 27: LPAC @ Silver Creek
• Saturday, June 27: Overnighter and Cardboard Boat Races
• Saturday, July 4: Raft Trip
• Wednesday, July 8: Rockin’ Jump (9-11 age group)

See full LPAC 2015 calendar