Learning a life skill

For Orange Grove Elementary Charter School first-grader Jada Murray, last August was a lifetime ago.

Within a span of her school year, the child with the broad smile went from being so afraid of the water that she'd sit as far away from the pool's edge as possible and cry to diving for rings at the bottom of the pool. The conversion from fear to confidence, from not knowing what to do to swimming proficiency, didn't happen overnight. It took dozens of weeks of devotion and dedication by three volunteers.

But it happened.

Jada is but one of 40 success stories that started when, in the wake of yet another tragic drowning last spring, physical education teacher Michael Walsh was among dozens of local people who met to explore options for helping break the cycle of drowning, particularly of children who may not have the privileges of swimming lessons.

Walsh got the approval of Principal Larry DiCenzo and recruited the help of guidance counselor Susan Chase and his mother, Daisy Walsh. He applied for and got a grant for $2,000 from the Logan Rutledge Foundation to pay for expenses, such as goggles, extra swimming instructors and gas for the school bus.

It's not the only initiative undertaken in the Charleston County School District, which at 2 p.m. today will join with the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and other recreation departments at the Isle of Palms County Park to launch a new swimming initiative and website, www.swimsafelowcountry.com.

What happened at Orange Grove, however, was an example of someone not waiting for something to happen and faculty members willing to go the extra mile.

"Sure, it's more work," says Chase, "but it's the best kind of work because you can see the progress for the kids who used to cry and are now thrilled to go swimming. It's a life skill, and we hope it will prevent something bad from happening."

Breaking cycle of fear

Last Wednesday, the group met for the last class, and parents were invited to observe.

Kishia Gibbs, mother of Zamaria Williams, admitted to worrying when her daughter went over to her sister's apartment complex pool because "Mama can't swim."

Gibbs says the swimming class has provided the children with an important life skill that everyone should know.

"This is a wonderful program," says Gibbs. "It opens the door for people who would otherwise not have swimming lessons in their lifetime.

"You know, some people can't afford to provide swimming lessons to the children," she says. "The kids not only love this, but it has broadened their horizons. They've overcome an obstacle, and that's a good lesson in life."

Like many of the parents, Eddie Green, father of Troy Green, didn't have swimming lessons but says he views Orange Grove's program less as "swimming lessons" and more as providing the skills to survive in the water. As a result of the program, he's playing a more active role in getting other kids in his neighborhood to discover swimming lessons.

Over the past year, Walsh and Chase witnessed major changes. Some children refused to put their face in the water. Last week, some were swimming across the 8-foot-deep end as Walsh watched. In one case, Walsh told a child who reached the edge that he should not dive in the deep end without getting his parents' permission and being observed by an adult.

"I'm guarding against them having too much confidence," says Walsh. "My biggest fear is that they think they can dive into the deep end without supervision."

He advises that parents continue to provide them lessons, and having seen their children progress, parents are more aware of its importance.

"A lot of them may not know how to swim, but they see that it's OK now," says Walsh.

The starting blocks

When Walsh was among a group called together by Charleston County School Superintendent Nancy McGinley last year, the complexities of fitting swimming safety into an already overburdened system were evident.

District Physical Education Coordinator Dave Spurlock said efforts have been more on a school-by-school basis, based more on the proximity of a school to a pool, such as Sanders-Clyde Elementary to Charleston's Martin Luther King Jr. Pool and Belle Hall Elementary to Mount Pleasant's Richard L. Jones Recreation Center Pool.

"Logistically, we realized we didn't have enough pools and enough time during the school year (to provide lessons across the board)."

Yet some progress was made.

With another grant from the Logan Rutledge Foundation to the Red Cross, books from the nonprofit's drowning prevention program, WHALE (Water Habits are Learned Early) Tales, were purchased for kindergarten classes. And Charleston County parks teamed with the school district for the website to serve as a clearinghouse for safe swimming resources.

Lowcountry Splash & more

School's almost out, and the water's warming up. So now's the time to think about water safety. Several related events will take place in the Lowcountry in the coming month:

--In the past year, the Logan Rutledge Foundation has committed funding, current and future, from proceeds of the Lowcountry Splash Open Water Swim to water-safety programs in Charleston County. While founder Mark Rutledge earmarked $20,000 in the past year, only about $3,700 was actually tapped. Money still is available.

--Meanwhile, the ninth annual Lowcountry Splash, a 2.4-mile swim from Hobcaw Yacht Club to Charleston Harbor Marina in Mount Pleasant, is set for 7:30 a.m. June 5. The cost to participate is $50 until June 2 and $60 after that date. No registration will take place after 7 a.m. June 5. More at www.lowcountrysplash.com.

--For swimming lessons near you, go to www.swimsafelowcountry.com.

--May is the perfect time to prepare for water safety, and resources to that end are available at www.watersafetymonth.org.

--The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission will participate in the U.S. Lifesaving Association's National Beach Safety Week, through Memorial Day, which emphasizes using safe swimming practices, learning about rip currents and using sunscreen, among other safety practices.

--On Saturday, PRC will hold beach safety demonstrations at the Isle of Palms, Folly Beach and Beachwalker county parks. See www.ccprc.com for a schedule.

--And finally, lifeguards from across South Carolina will converge on the Lowcountry for the 13th annual S.C. Recreation and Parks Association Lifeguard Competition on June 26. The event will feature pool events beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the R.L. Jones Center in Mount Pleasant and beach events at 1:30 p.m. at Folly Beach County Park. www.mtpleasantrec.com/index.cfm?section=2&page=1&mesg=art629.32379.

Reach David Quick at dquick@postandcourier.com.

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