Did you know SJASD has a swim program?
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The St. James-Assiniboia School Division (SJASD) offers a range of aquatic programming designed to build water safety skills, foster confidence, and promote community engagement. These programs are tailored to meet the diverse needs of students and families in SJASD.
The Grade 3 School Swim Program teaches children essential water safety skills in a supportive, collaborative environment. Over the course of six weeks, students build trust and camaraderie as they work together to develop water skills. The program emphasizes safety, both physical and emotional, as students learn to support one another. Students help each other with life jackets, encourage swimmers to finish their distance swims, and cheer for classmates as they take on challenges like jumping off the diving board for the first time. The skills learned in the program not only promote safety but also increase enjoyment of outdoor activities such as boating, camping, and swimming at local pools.
The Adapted Swim Program launched in 2017–2018 and is designed to meet the needs of individuals in Grade 3 to 12 with special needs or other support requirements. Divisional physiotherapists and occupational therapists collaborate with school resource teams to determine, based on set criteria, which students would benefit the most from the program. It offers a more personalized approach to swimming lessons, ensuring that participants receive individual attention in a small class setting. A caregiver or support person is required to accompany each swimmer in the water. Equipment like fins or paddles may be used to help participants improve their skills. The Adapted Swim Program emphasizes inclusivity and provides training for staff to ensure they can support participants effectively.
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SJASD is committed to offering swim programs as a life skill, as it significantly reduces the risk of drowning.
The Newcomer Swim Program launched in the fall of 2024. The primary objective is to offer valuable swimming instruction, teach water safety, and foster community integration for families who may not have had prior access to such activities. This program is a crucial step toward ensuring that newcomer families feel comfortable and confident in aquatic environments, promoting both individual and community well-being. Winter safety classes are also offered to newcomer students.
In 2025, 650 students took part in Grade 3 Swim; 65 students participated in Adapted Swim one-on-one with an educational assistant and swim instructor; 10 newcomer families took in-class water safety instruction; and four more newcomer families got into the water with their loved ones for six lessons!
SJASD is committed to offering these swim programs as a life skill, as it significantly reduces the risk of drowning. Children who know how to swim are stronger, more capable around water, and less likely to take dangerous risks.
The Trustees would like to thank everyone involved in this program.
Fiona Shiells, Cheryl Smukowich, and Sandy Lethbridge are West Ward Board Trustees.