Students at Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy mastered a life skill ahead of the summer, participating in a pilot program that teaches swimming basics while preparing them for future employment.
Integrated into the Lifetime Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits curriculum, the eight-week pilot program met students at their skill level. In partnership with YMCA, beginners worked to overcome a fear of water, while advanced swimmers built leadership skills by mentoring their peers.
Next school year, the program will focus on lifeguard training certification that students can leverage for employment, future careers, and lifelong credentials.
“This year was introductory, but moving forward, our primary objective will be formal certification,” Ivory White, teacher, said. “We want to structure it so students can learn advanced aquatics. My focus right now is evaluating which incoming students are best positioned to take advantage of that specific skill track.”
Rising sophomore, Tyler S. says the biggest challenge for him was moving to the deep end of the pool from the shallow end.
“I would look down at the lane lines on the bottom to stay straight, and I could see the floor dropping away,” he said. “It would completely mess with my head. I would panic and stop dead in the middle of the pool. Over time, I learned to get over it. I loved learning the different swimming strokes, it was a lot of fun.”
The program began with a screening test in a 9- to 11-foot-deep pool where students swam end-to-end to determine their skill group. Beginners started with breath-holding, pool-edge kicking, side-to-side breathing rhythms, and floating. The advanced group mastered complex strokes and advanced floating before completing an evaluation of consecutive laps.
“Students would discuss what they learned and compound on those skills,” White said. “Our advanced students who already knew how to swim stepped up. They partnered with those who weren’t as capable initially, mentoring them, pushing them, and cheering them on.”
Though childhood swim lessons helped rising sophomore Angel R. pass the new program’s initial screening test, she realized she forgot proper breathing techniques, making the relearning process feel completely new. By the program’s end, she was awarded a best swimmer certificate.
“I had formal swim lessons when I was much younger, but then I stopped swimming entirely. I didn’t think I could still do it, she said. “After that first session, I got the hang of it again. It’s an excellent opportunity to master water safety.”
The program concluded with opportunities for YMCA certification and future employment. Beyond aquatics, the initiative built student camaraderie and boosted body confidence. Each student received a Safety Around Water certificate of achievement with a half-off discount on swim lessons at any YMCA Aquatic Center.
“Now, they can carry this capability forward,” White said. “If an emergency situation ever happens to them, or someone they know, they can stay afloat, swim a certain distance to reach safety, and safely assist another person out of the water. The life-saving aspect is the most meaningful part of this entire initiative.”
