Common questions asked by parents and students regarding our swimming unit:
- Do the boys and girls swim together? No. We separate the boys from the girls during our swimming unit. However, in the second semester, we will offer choice activities and if your child chooses to swim, both girls and boys may be in the pool at the same time.
- What if I don’t have a swimsuit? No problem. Students can swim in their PE uniform. Athletic shorts and any T-shirt. They may also wear a shirt over their suit. Please see your PE teacher for other possible options.
- What if I’ve never swum before? No worries. Our swimming unit is designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced swimmers. This is a great opportunity for those individuals who have never tried to swim to get great experience and learn how to swim.
- How much time do the students have to get ready for class after they've swum? We allow the girls 20 minutes to change and dry their hair. We allow the boys 15 minutes.
- What if my child doesn’t want to get her/his hair wet? We have swim caps that the students can borrow, or they can bring their own from home.
Other Information:
The Olathe Public Schools physical education curriculum encourages up to four weeks of swimming for middle school students. We feel this is a privilege as we are one of the few districts in the state where every middle school has a swimming pool.
A doctor’s note is required for any student who is unable to swim due to a medical condition. Female students who are menstruating will have the opportunity to swim with another class on a different date or can swim on designated dates after school from 3:15-3:40 p.m.
If a student refuses to swim, a call will be made home and if behavior continues and the student does not complete the required swimming, the student will not receive a grade for that unit and risk failing that quarter or semester of physical education.
Days missed must be made up on designated make-up days or with another class during their swimming unit.
Check with your assigned PE teacher for the exact dates of when you will swim. We encourage students to bring a swimsuit to keep in their locker.
We provide one towel for each student every day. We encourage our students to rinse off in the shower after swimming (with a suit on).
We provide all necessary equipment such as goggles, life jackets, kickboards, etc. Students don’t have to bring items from home.
All of our PE teachers are highly qualified to teach swimming and are certified in CPR/AED - safety is their number one priority.
*Parents: We appreciate your support throughout the year and especially during our swimming unit. Swimming is a life-long physical activity that your son/daughter can use to stay in shape in years to come.
