THE DOLPHIN

                                                                         October 2004

 

This newsletter is dedicated to those that have come to realize that swimming is a way of life.

 

Plain Talk

The Silver Dolphins have been in the water for nearly one month and in that short period of time, many new drills have been learned, good work habits developed, and the importance of regular practice has been ……obvious.

We want to stress to the swimmers that you are responsible for your effort in practice, listening and following direction.  It is important that every swimmer learn to use the clock as a valuable aid for pulling, kicking, and swimming.  Swimmers should know their times for all distances in kicking, pulling, and strokes.  We also want to encourage all swimmers to strive to become lane leaders.  This is the one position in the lane that is admired and respected by the coaches.  It is a fact that these swimmers gain more conditioning than those behind them.

We want to welcome all the new swimmers and their families to LESD.  We hope your stay is long, enjoyable, and highly satisfying.

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new coach to our team.  Janice Splain will be coaching a younger group of swimmers, many of them transferring from the Peak swimming team.  Janice will continue coaching this group throughout the winter season at the Cleveland State University – Welcome Janice!

           

Sad Note

Our hearts are saddened at the loss of teammate Ma-An Samonte in a car accident.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Samonte family during this difficult time.

 

            New Swimmers

Any new swimmers who have joined LESD from another team must get transferred.  Pick up a transfer form from your coach or you can find a form in your group mailboxes. Fill it out and return it to your coach with a check for $2.00 made out to LESD.

           

            Message Service

Please remember to call the message service daily to get the practice schedule for the following day and any other pertinent information.  The number is:  216-561-3423

           

            Student Achievement

Each month, we note the swimmers that are excelling in the classroom as well as the pool.  In order to be recognized, please submit a copy of your report card showing above average marks to your coach.

           

            Ideal Swimmer

Each month, the coaches submit names of swimmers that have been regular in attendance, are attentive in practice, and put forth a good effort.  These are values we try to instill in all our swimmers.  We are pleased to honor the following as Ideal Swimmers for the month of September:

           

                        White :                          Morgan Trau and Robert Ranallo

                        Red :                            Rachel Kennedy and Jantzen Mace

                        Blue :                            Carolyn Vekstein and Roman Kowalysko

                        Bronze :                        Lizzi  Aronoff, Sarah Koucheki and Nikolai Levinsohn

                        Silver :                          Andrea Chan and Jason Pinkerton

                        Gold –Hawken :            Louise Gliga and Sam Belkin

                        Gold – CSU :                Laura Clark, Alyssa Kiel and Chad Kusa

                        Viking Group – CSU :    Megan Splain and Colin Daney

 

 

Coaching Fee Changes

As communicated at the Parents Night meeting held on September 19, 2004, we have had to increase the coaching fees slightly to cover the increase in operating expenses for the team.  The new fees will be as follows: White: $ 58, Red: $58, Blue: $ 66, Bronze: $74, Silver: $ 78, Gold: $ 84 - $ 92.

            Families with more than one swimmer will be charged the normal rate for the swimmer in the higher group, a 15% discount for the swimmer in the 2nd level, a 30% discount for the swimmer in the 3rd level, and a 45% discount for the swimmer in the 4th level.

The high school swimmers who are not practicing on a regular basis with LESD starting November 1, 2004 the fee will be changed to $ 25 per month throughout the high school swimming season.

 

Mark Braun Meet

            Parents need to mark the dates of November 19th - 21st on their calendar.  If your child is entered in the meet, you will need to work each session that your child swims in.  Make work and babysitting arrangements now so that no conflicts arise.  The workers list will be available on the website.  This meet is one of our two main fundraisers for the year in order to pay for part of the pool rental fees.

 

Mark Braun Meet Event Sponsorship

            We are asking for your commitment and continued support by becoming an event sponsor.  There are 148 events to be sponsored and the cost is $ 20 per event.  Your name will appear on the psych sheets under the event name.  This sponsorship will be credited to your booster fee obligations.  Sponsorship forms are due by November 1st.  Forms are available in the mailboxes.  Checks are made to LESD Booster Club and mailed to Claudia Bacon, 7615 Thistle Lane, Novelty, Ohio 44072

           

LESD Booster Fees

            The first $75.00 installment of the LESD Booster fees is due by October 15th.  Please do not include the Booster fee with your monthly coaching fees.  The Booster fee payment is made to LESD Booster Club and mailed to Claudia Bacon, 7615 Thistle Lane, Novelty, Ohio 44072

The first installment of the booster fee must be received by the due date in order for swimmers to be entered in meets.

 

Swim-A-Thon

            The second annual LESD Swim-A-Thon will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Hawken Upper School pool and lobby.  All white, red, blue and bronze swimmers are encouraged to attend.  DJ entertainment, food and prizes will be provided from 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m.  Don’t miss the fun……get started on collecting donations from your sponsors now!

All LESD swimmers are able to participate in the Swim-A-Thon.  Older swimmers (silver, gold and high school) are asked to do their laps during practice the previous week and turn in their sponsorship sheets and collection envelopes to Jerry by October 23rd.  If you need a sponsorship sheet or envelope, they are available on the Upper School pool bulletin board.  Please call JoAnn Arnold at 440-461-7858 if you have any questions.

 

Candy

            Helen Grace Chocolate Bar ($1.00 chocolate bars) fundraiser - orders needed by November 5th.  CVAC swimmers can give orders to Rick Belcam.  Payment in full is required with the order although the checks will not be deposited until the candy is delivered at the Mark Braun meet.  Envelopes are available at both Hawken School pools.  One half of the candy sales will be credited to you booster account.  Checks are made payable to the LESD Booster Club.  If you need additional information, please call Claudia Bacon at 440-338-6133.

 

Uniforms

            The deadline for the LESD uniform order is October 1st.  Swimmers participating in the Mark Braun would need to wear an LESD shirt.  The meet workers are required to wear an LESD t-shirt as well.  You can place orders for the following t-shirts (these items are not listed on the uniform order, please write them in):

 LESD Rocks the Blocks $ 8, Women sleeveless red polo $ 20, Men red polo $ 25.  

Pannell, the LESD apparel vendor, informed us they no longer can negotiate or match other vendor prices.  If you have any concerns, please contact me at 440-943-6788 after 6:00 p.m.

                       

Parents Night

            Any parent, who missed the Parents Night on September 19th, needs to check the website www.LESD.org.  Click on the parent’s corner button on the left to find out what you missed.  The three forms that must be turned in as soon as possible are available there in addition to the other hand-outs discussed.  This information is needed to complete our roster and medical form books.  Please put the completed forms in Marie Salibra’s plastic envelope located in the mailboxes.

 

Mail Boxes and Newsletter Handling

            Thanks in advance to the parents who volunteered to maintain the mailboxes and keep our team informed:  Josie Cerer for the white/red/blue groups, Dana Trau for the bronze, Nancy Choban for the silver groups.  The gold group needs a volunteer.  Thanks to Maria Giordano and Jen Tramer who were recruited to help with the newsletter distribution on a regular basis.

 

Flu Shots

We are recommending the swimmers receive a flu shot to help protect them from getting sick thus missing school and practices.

           

            Guests and Proper Behavior

A brief reminder.  LESD swimmers and parents are GUESTS at Hawken school and are expected to behave as such.  Obey general parking regulations on the oval.  Pets are not allowed inside the facility.  They are permitted and welcomed outside the facility but must be monitored by their owner.  The general athletic facilities – weight room, gym etc.-are unfortunately not available to the general public and may not be used by our parents.  Swimmers and parents should clean up after themselves, with no trash or debris left in the stands, on the deck, or in the locker rooms.  Thank you for your cooperation!

           

            Parking

LESD (applies to parents from all practice groups) parents are not allowed to park in the oval in front of the Holtrey Pool.  This oval is only for drop off.  Please wait in the parking lot across the street until your child is ready to be picked up.  Many buses and parents of Hawken athletes use this driveway for Hawken athletic events and need access at all times.  Cars left with flashers running and left for “just a few minutes” are not acceptable.  Parents should park across the street and walk into the pool if they need to speak with a coach or to get their child ready for practice.

 

Website Updates

            Check out the new calendar button on the website.  In addition to posting team activities, meets, meet entry due dates, and results will be posted.  Meet entry forms will be available in the swimmers’ mailboxes.  Please check this calendar for meet due information.

 

Volunteers Needed

            A parent is needed to help compile the monthly birthday list for the team.  Also need a volunteer to maintain the gold group mailboxes.  Anyone interested in helping out should email LESDWebber@hotmail.com. 

 

            Swimming Practice schedule changes

The high school swimming season starts in November.  The coaches will inform you of any changes in the practice schedule by the third week of October.  Information will be posted on the team web page as soon as it is available.

 

 

            2004-05 Short Course Meet Schedule

Developmental meets are for less experienced swimmers with slower than A times. Open meets are open to all swimmers.  A cut meets require A times for entry.

Possible travel meets Pittsburgh in mid December, Ann Arbor in mid February.  Quads will be held January 10-11 in Indianapolis and swimmers must apply and be selected to represent Ohio.

Coaches cannot attend all meets.  Check with the coaches to determine if a meet is suitable for your swimmer.  We are trying to coordinate meets so that a LESD coach is always present at the meets.  The schedule below is the first attempt to coordinate everyone’s schedule and changes may be possible:

 

Date                Meet                           Meet Type                  Coaches

Oct. 10-11        Season Opener              Open                            Paul and Cheryl

Oct. 16-17        Canton                          Open                            Rick S. (Saturday), Ian (Sunday)

Oct. 24                         Solon                            Developmental              Janice

Oct. 30             Mile                              A cut                            Rick S. and Ian

Oct. 31             Pentathlon                     A cut                            Rick S. and Ian

Nov. 6-7           Hudson                         odd age                         Paul, Cheryl and Betsy

Nov. 14                        USC                             Developmental              Janice  

Nov. 19-21        Mark Braun/LESD        A cuts                          All coaches

Dec. 3-5           Shaker                          Open                            Ian

Dec. 18                        LESD                           Intra Squad

Dec. 19                        Candy Cane                  Open               

Dec.                 Pittsburgh                     A cuts                          Rick S.

Jan. 8-9                        LRST                           Developmental              Paul and Cheryl

Jan. 15-16         LSSC (pre/finals)          Open                            Betsy

Jan. 22              LESD Pentathlon          A cuts                          Rick S.

Jan. 23              Winter Wonderland       Slower than A               Rick B.

Jan. 30              Odd Age-Westlake        Relay/Open                   Betsy

Feb. 6               Berea   Odd age            Developmental              Rick B.

Feb. 4-6            Ann Arbor, Michigan                                         Ian

Feb. 13             CSU- Distance              Slower than A               No Coach

Feb. 20             Last Chance- Solon                                           Rick B.

Feb 27              BMSC-                         8&Under Champs         Cheryl and Paul

Mar. 4-6           CSU                             A Champs                    All Coaches

Mar. 11-13                                            Jr. Champs                   All Coaches