CSM Teaches Fifth Graders Water Safety

Fifth-grade students in all St. Mary’s County elementary schools are more aware and confident when in and around the water as a result of training  offered through the College of Southern Maryland at the Leonardtown Campus Wellness and Aquatics Center.

“This is a fabulous program with children completely engaged in class and in the pool,” said Executive Director of Elementary Schools Kelly Murray Hall, who coordinates the program for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. “The impact of the program is in providing needed, quality instruction—and that the kids want to go.”   In all, 18 schools, 57 classes and more than 1,200 students will participate in the program that began in  January and will continue until the end of May.

“Because St. Mary’s County has more than 500 miles of shoreline, water safety is a very big concern for parents,” said CSM Wellness, Fitness and  Aquatics Assistant Director for Leonardtown Campus Judith Ferrara. “Although these are not swimming lessons, the instruction provided will help  children assess dangerous conditions, practice throwing lifesaving rings to others who might be in distress, learn how to safely assist people without  having to go into the water themselves and to always call for help.”

Water safety especially hits home for Dynard Elementary School. That community lost a student to an accidental drowning last spring. The school’s fifth-graders were the first ones to begin the water safety instruction this year.

“You don’t realize the valuable experience that this training provides until there is a tragedy,” said Dynard Elementary School Principal Andrea  Owens. “Students are taught not to go into the water to attempt a rescue, but to look for anything that floats that a struggling swimmer can grab  onto, even a cooler. Children are learning to be quick thinkers as part of the training.”

The water safety program, in its fourth year, is supported through a partnership with CSM, St. Mary’s Commissioners and St. Mary’s County Public  Schools. The Leonardtown Campus Wellness and Aquatics Center opened in 2010 and in addition to water safety classes, the center provides  year-round health and fitness opportunities for CSM students as well as members of the community.

Here is a video of water safety training at CSM. For information on swimming lessons  through CSM’s continuing education programs, visit here.