Pocantico Hills Partners with Rivertown Aquatics to Manage Pool

The Pocantico Hills School District is pleased to announce a partnership with Rivertown Aquatics to serve as the pool management company this year.

Rivertown Aquatics, which is based in Sleepy Hollow, is familiar with the community and the pool at Pocantico Hills School. The company is charged with strengthening the instructional swim program, creating fun events for children and families, and providing appropriate staffing levels and site supervision.

“We look forward to working with Rivertown Aquatics and believe the company’s expertise will enhance and add value to every dimension of our pool program,” Superintendent Carol Conklin-Spillane said.

The facility opens for the season on Memorial Day weekend. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. on May 26-28. “The pool is in perfect shape,” said Jeff McClung, president of Rivertown Aquatics.

The schedule for the rest of the season is:

• May 29-June 22, weekdays 3-8 p.m.; weekends noon-8 p.m.
• June 23-July 1, noon to 8 p.m.
• July 2-August 10, 3-8 p.m. weekdays, noon to 8 p.m. weekends (reserved for summer camp use 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays).
• August 11-September 4, noon to 8 p.m. weekdays and weekends.
• September 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23, noon to 6 p.m.
• Weekdays from May 29-August 31, 6-8:30 a.m., early morning swim.

Students who are interested in joining the Pocantico Hills Swim and Dive Team can attend a meeting at 7 p.m. June 5 in the school cafeteria. They can meet the returning and new coaching staff and register for the team.

Rivertown Aquatics is looking for opportunities to offer more programs at the facility and to maximize its use, Mr. McClung said. Staff members will plan theme days and events during the summer, such as water basketball day.

“We’re going to be expanding the swim team and just make it fun to come back to the pool,” he said.

Mr. McClung said Rivertown Aqautics will use the moveable wall to split the pool in half. That will ensure the swim team and pool members won’t get in one another’s way.

One of the priorities for the company and the district is to offer lifeguards a chance to learn additional skills, such as pool maintenance and swim instruction, he said. Another goal is to help staff improve communication and teamwork with peers and managers.

“We want to provide them with opportunities to learn and ask questions,” he said.

Residents of the school district must show proof of residency on their first visit to the pool and have their photo taken for the computerized check-in system. Children under 13 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. The charge for non-residents is $5 per visit, and they must be accompanied by a resident.

For more information about pool hours, rules and events, visit www.pocanticohills.org. Click on “community,” then “district pool” in the drop-down menu.