​The Adapted Swim Program in SJASD is helping students with special needs grow their swimming abilities and accomplish their individual goals in the pool environment.

  The program launched on a trial basis in the 2017-18 school year with 15 students participating alongside their educational assistant(s) and local swim instructor, Jodi Hutchison. Additional funding from the school division paired with a grant from Variety Manitoba allowed the program to expand this year. The Adapted Swim Program now offers four sessions each week from October to June involving a total of 60 students in Grades 3 through 12 across the Division. SJASD previously offered a recreational swim program for many years, but the decision to move to an instruction-based model, mirroring the Pembina Trails School Division program, is already seeing great results and increasing student benefits. 

  Grade 12 participant Jared M. from John Taylor Collegiate says he took swimming lessons in Grade 9 but didn't get to where he wanted to be.

  "This program helped me achieve where I wanted to go in getting my swimming to a higher level," said Jared. "I like that I've strengthened my swimming abilities, am learning new stuff that I didn't know I could do and just the fun of it."
    Educational assistant Noah R., whose been working with Jared for two years, says he's noticing it has become easier for Jared to swim laps in the pool. He says it helps that the exercises are aimed at the individual. Instructor Jodi creates an individual lesson plan for each student and updates it on a weekly basis to reflect each student's progress and next steps in the pool.

   Jodi explains how all students begin the program by learning safe water practice, such as entering a pool safely, being aware of their surroundings, not running on a pool deck, etc. Next the students explore the steps of learning to swim, based on their individual abilities, going from blowing bubbles, bobbing or floating, all the way to working on swimming patterns and building endurance.

  "I build a lesson plan for each child and instruct the EA's on how to work with their students," said Jodi. "Each student is different, with different goals and different ways they learn."

   She shares how those involved with the program have seen amazing developments happen among many students — a big one being when they feel confident to let go of the wall.

  "Letting go of the wall is a huge achievement because it shows they are trusting the person they are with and the supplies we are giving them, whether it is a life jacket, a noodle, their EA or their EA and me to protect them."

  Jodi has been running the program for eight years now and instructs 180 students throughout the school year. She is a major asset to the growth of the program in SJASD but is the first to point out how the program would not be possible without the dedication of the EA's who work with the students each week. Each student in the pool has a minimum of one-on-one contact with their EA, as well as there are two life guards on duty, the instructor in the pool offering guidance and physiotherapists in attendance for pool side support. Divisional physiotherapists and occupational therapists are closely connected to the program as physiotherapists are at the pool each week and occupational therapists attend sessions once a month. Together, they partner with school resource teams to determine which students would benefit the most from the program based on set criteria.

  "One thing we look at is physical skills," said Divisional physiotherapist Ms. Fraser. "Swimming is fantastic for all physical skills like range of motion, muscle strength, endurance, and coordination. Also, social skills, like being able to be in the pool with so many other people, listening and taking direction."

   Ms. Fraser sees many of the students improving
their skills outside of the pool too, which benefit their daily lives, such as dressing or combing their hair.

  The program has evolved to provide students with the tools they need to develop a new life skill as well as gain confidence in a new learning environment. As students continue to grow their abilities, a future goal is to introduce a swim team for more advanced swimmers in the program. This may lead to future competitions against students in other divisions. While we celebrate the milestones of this new program and look towards an exciting future, we also must thank the following partners who had a huge role in implementing the Adapted Swim Program in SJASD. These partners include: Physical Education and Health Coordinator Mr. Ross, the St. James-Assiniboia School Board, Variety Manitoba, all of our EA's and student participants, instructor Jodi Hutchison, Holy Care Transit Ltd., St. James-Assiniboia Centennial Pool and Fitness Centre staff as well as our Educational Support Team (ESS). A special thank you to ESS members Ms. Fraser, Ms. Ogloza and Mr. Wu.

  As one session wraps up and students exit the pool deck, another 15 students prepare to enter the pool and work on their personalized lesson plans in a safe and supportive environment.

Photo captions:

Top: John Taylor Collegiate student Sam B. working on his individual lesson plan with swim instructor Jodi Hutchison and educational assistant Mr. Bonnell.

Middle: Grade 3 Buchanan student Cassius P. swimming at Centennial Pool with Educational Assistant Ms. Reimer.