First time in the water this season

On Thursday 18 people (7 teaching staff and 11 volunteers) took the basic water safety course so that they can supervise swimming sessions at the pool. The course was delivered by Lynette, who has provided training for us before. Based on the National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches, the course covers general risk awareness, resuscitation and rescuing a casualty from the water, and has been tailored to our pool.

I can report that the water was warm, sparkling and very pleasant to be in, especially when the sun was out. If you're interested in doing the course next time please contact us. Here are a few photos from the day.

Tile-tastic

The tile painting session earlier this week went well. The children's designs were really creative and will look fab when we get them displayed by the pool. As a bonus, the event also raised £86, which will go towards the cost of running the pool. We are expecting to get the tiles back from the kiln after half term.

A splash of pool history

How often do we really look around us? Last night, I was up at the pool yet again, and I noticed two plaques on the outside wall of the plant room for the first time. The first told me that the pool was originally opened in 1965, the second that it was refurbished and re-opened in 1992. So now you know.

Painting the pool blue

We have finished painting the pool and yep, it's blue, although it is an attractive combination of two different tones of blue.

Just for the record, it took three tins of forget-me-not blue paint, two tins of white paint, and last year's left-over cornflower blue to get it all done (all acrylic water-based swimming pool paint).

Thank you to the volunteers who did the painting: Alex, Bev, Claire B, Claire D, Stacey and Tim - hope I didn't miss anyone out.

Spare places for chemical training

Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool has arranged a chemical training day on Friday 28th May to give volunteers the necessary information about carrying out chlorine checks etc. Some volunteers have signed up but there are more places available. If you think you may be able to help carry out chemical tests at the swimming pool, then please speak to Mrs Spice or to any of the Committee. Thank you.

UPDATE: the training course takes a full day, from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm.

Tile-painting sessions!

Tuesday, 25th May 2010
HALF-HOURLY between 2.30pm and 5.00pm
(in the TERRAPIN class room)

Maggie, from The Pottery Place in Witney, has kindly offered to spend an evening at Northleach School with both pupils and/or their siblings who would like to paint a tile (or two!) after school next week. The sessions start at 2.30pm to allow for any pre-school children that would like to have a go at finger painting or hand prints. After school hours, older children can enjoy decorating their tiles however they like, as we’d love to end up with a wonderfully colourful collection of tiles that, once fired in the kiln, will be used to brighten up one of the walls around our swimming pool area, where they are sure to be admired by future young swimmers for years to come.

Please see the chart in reception where you can book your time slot (either 2.30pm, 3.00pm, 3.30pm, 4.00pm, 4.30pm or 5pm). The cost is only £5 per tile, and any profit made will go towards maintenance of the pool. Please bring payment with you on the day - there is no limit to how many tiles you can paint! Paints are fully washable but you may bring an apron if you prefer.

Logo competition winner

Well done to Niamh Bleakley who was the talented winner of our “Design a Logo” competition - her wonderful design will appear on our letterheads shortly. Thank
you to everyone who entered for all your great ideas.

Wednesday raffle

Natalie was the raffle winner yesterday. She wins £15 worth of vouchers to spend in our local butcher W J Castle.

Water safety training

Swimming is all set to start after half term, and we also hope to open the swimming pool after school and during the summer holidays. But we will only able to do this if we have one trained supervisor and an additional adult helper available for each session. Please let us know if you are willing to help. If we have more volunteers we will be able to open the pool more often.

Supervisors must have a water safety qualification, and we have organised a training course for new supervisors, which will take place on Thursday 27 May from 3:30pm to 7:30pm. The training course is paid for by Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool. All we ask in return is that you agree to supervise a minimum of four swimming sessions during out of school hours.

The course covers first aid and general pool safety, and includes a short time in the water learning how to recover a casualty. You don’t need to be an Olympic swimmer because the pool is only 0.9 m deep at the deep end.

Benefits of training include:
# learn first aid – including how to give mouth to mouth resuscitation to a child
# priority for booking pool parties – no worries about finding a qualified supervisor
# your children can swim free of charge when you’re on duty

If you would like to go on the water safety course or would be willing to join the rota as the adult helper, please fill in the form and leave it with Mrs Spice in the school office or contact Pauline Rigby.

Create a logo competition

Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool is holding a competition to design a new logo for us to use on our stationery and posters. The best design from each year group, as well as the overall winner, will be announced in school assembly on Friday 14 May.

Entry forms were handed out at school. If you don't have one, or you need another, you can download it here.

Please return your completed entry together with a £1 donation to Mrs Spice in the school office by Wednesday 12 May at the latest.