Y Helps Red Bank Youth Develop Valuable Life Skills

Red Bank, NJ (June 16, 2016) – Third-grade students at Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Charter School gained valuable swimming and water safety skills in the Y’s annual Third Grade Swim program, which concluded this week. The water safety initiative was developed to give all third graders the opportunity for no-cost swimming and water safety lessons as part of their school day.

“The Y is committed to nurturing the potential of all children and giving them opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive,” said The Community YMCA President and CEO Rhonda Anderson. “Basic swimming and water safety are important lifelong skills and essential for children in our Shore area.”

The Third Grade Swim program began in 2011 and has helped approximately 600 children learn how to be safe in and around water. This year’s program included four, 45-minute swim lessons at the Y’s Family Health and Wellness Center. Swim lessons included basic stroke development, paddling, treading and floating skills.

Y Senior Aquatics Director Jaimie Hinshelwood said about 70 percent of the 141 third graders completing the program had little or no swim skills when they began the program. However, after completing the four swim lessons “100% have strong water safety knowledge and are able to paddle on their own with no flotation device.”

Red Bank Primary Principal Luigi Laugelli said the district “is grateful for the opportunity of third graders to learn how to swim and to be aware of how to be safe in and around the water.”

The third graders will have the chance to continue to practice their swimming skills at the Y this summer as part of their free Healthy Kids Membership, which The Community YMCA provides to all Red Bank children in grades pre-k to 8.

“The Red Bank Charter School community is grateful for the water safety program and all the opportunities the Y has provided our children to strengthen our focus on healthy lifestyles,” said Red Bank Charter School Principal Meredith Pennotti.

The Third Grade Swim program was made possible through a $1,000 grant from the Redwoods Group and the generosity of local donors who contribute to the Y’s annual campaign. Through gifts to the campaign, the Y is able to provide community programs and scholarships to over 2,000 area children and families in support of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This includes the Learn-to-Swim initiative, a week-long program, June 20-24, which invites local residents with little or no swimming ability to receive five swim lessons for a nominal fee.

For more information, visit www.TheCommunityYMCA.org.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Nine-year-old Madeline Ortiz-Morales from Red Bank Primary School said she now feels “safe and comfortable” in the water after completing the Y’s Third Grade Swim program with help from instructor Casey Mansfield.

PHOTO CAPTION 2: Red Bank Charter School students ( L to R) Alana McNair, Lizette Perez and Krissy Chen get ready to make a splash in the Y’s water safety program.

PHOTO CAPTION 3: Christopher Hernandez, a third-grader at Red Bank Charter School, practices his kicking skills in the Y’s water safety program.

About The Community YMCA
The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County through programs such as preschool, before and after school care, health and wellness, leadership, arts enrichment, personal and family counseling and summer day camp. With a mission to serve all, more than $350,000 in direct reduced and free membership fees and programs is provided by the YCares financial assistance program to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.

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