New Stew Leonard's Swim School In Norwalk To Begin Lessons In June

NORWALK, CT — The Stewie the Duck Swim School will pre-register children ages 6 months and older for swim lessons beginning in May prior to officially opening for lessons in June, the store announced Monday.

According to a news release provided by Stew Leonard's, lessons are slated to begin June 5 in the school's new 6,400 square foot aquatics facility, located at 55 Westport Avenue.

Students can be registered via the school's website, www.stewietheduck.org, starting May 1. Families who purchase a month's worth of lessons for $140 will receive their first 30-minute swim lesson for free.

All proceeds from the Stewie the Duck Swim School, whose mission is "saving lives, one lesson at a time," will be donated to the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation to help fund swimming lessons for children in need, as well as lifeguard training at its partner organizations throughout the country, according to Stew Leonard's.

Stew Leonard Jr. and his wife, Kim, plan to provide over 10,000 lessons lasting 30 minutes to children each year through their new swim school, according to the store.

See also: Stew Leonard's Breaks Ground On New Swim School In Norwalk

Each of the swim school's 30+ instructors and lifeguards will be American Red Cross certified in lifeguard training, as well as certified as a WSI, or "Water Safety Instructor." When hired, instructors and lifeguards will complete extensive in-service training and will then be required to repeat training monthly to maintain a top level of excellence in lesson quality and water safety, according to the store.

Students will progress through an American Red Cross curriculum designed for the Stewie the Duck Swim School focusing on water safety and learning to swim, with class levels ranging from "Parent & Child" through "Pre-Swim Team."

The new swim school is located across the street from Stew Leonard's flagship Norwalk store in a strip mall that also contains a Walgreens and a Stew Leonard's Wines and Spirits shop.

During an April 10 pool-filling ceremony at the facility, Leonard said opening the swim school was a dream-come-true for him and his wife.

"We want to really help moms and dads right now that have young children, get them in here and teach them how to float," Leonard said. "That's our goal."