Elementary school kids in the Roosevelt pool (photo DCPS)

by Cesse Ip

Since the beginning of the school year, over 50 third graders at Dorothy Height Elementary School have been crossing 13th Street NW to take weekly swim lessons at nearby Roosevelt High School’s pool. The swim program at Dorothy Height is part of DCPS’s Health and PE program’s larger goal of teaching all DCPS students how to swim.

DCPS believes that swimming is an essential life skill, and it opens the door to other opportunities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming for fun. According to DCPS, 42 schools across the city participate in the program, consisting of 18 weeks of 45-minute lessons.

Third grade participant Marley Edwards is enthusiastic about the swim program. She said she was excited to learn about the program at the beginning of the year and now looks forward to getting in the pool every week. Over the summer she participated in DPR’s aquatics camp and is happy she can continue working on her skills and become a stronger swimmer. Even though Marley has had exposure to the water, she is still learning how to glide, float for a longer time and is strengthening her strokes.

“It’s a great idea to teach all kids to learn how to swim and get over their fear of the water,” Marley said. She agrees that swimming is an important life skill and is also fun. Her only complaint about the swim program so far is that she wishes they could stay in the water for longer!

The third-grade teachers at DHES walk their students across the street to the Roosevelt Pool, but DCPS employees from the Central Office’s Health and PE team are the actual instructors in the water. They teach a Red Cross swimming curriculum, Learn to Swim.

Four other elementary schools are participating in the DCPS swim program at Roosevelt: Brightwood ES, John Lewis ES, Raymond ES and Whittier ES. Next semester Powell ES, LaSalle ES, Burroughs ES and Barnard ES will participate in the program as well. While these are the only schools to participate this year, DCPS is committed to expanding the program as they are able to in future years.

It’s a great use of a local resource.