Fall 2026 Session Information

Fall Session 2026

Welcome to the Fall 2026 Session!

I am SO excited to jump into these next 13 weeks with you and your swimmers.

Please take a few minutes to read through this newsletter before your first class. It includes important information about your pool location, what to expect, what to bring, and ways to help prepare your swimmer for a positive first lesson.

Our Fall Session starts September 14 and ends December 20. It is 13 weeks long, includes two make-up opportunities, and has a break during the week of Thanksgiving.

VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB - PLYMOUTH

30 Golf Drive
Plymouth, MA 02360

When I'll Be There
Monday 10am to 7:30pm
Tuesday: 10am to 1pm
Wednesday: 10am to 7:30pm
Sunday: 7am to 1pm

Parking & Entering
There is a parking lot directly in front of the gym. Enter through the main entrance; the pool will be on your left-hand side. A Swim Love deck coordinator will help check you in and show you the bathrooms, changing areas, and where to wait for class.

Changing & Bathrooms
There are four changing stalls on the pool deck and a family bathroom that can be accessed from both outside and inside the pool deck. Please do not use the facility locker rooms; they are reserved for Village Sports Club members.

Important Plymouth Notes
• No food is permitted on the pool deck.
• If your class begins at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, please wait outside the pool deck until the water aerobics class has finished. You may enter a few minutes before your lesson.

PERCY WALKER POOL - DUXBURY

175 Saint George Street
Duxbury, MA 02332

When I'll Be There
Thursday mornings 8am to 11am

Parking & Entering
The parking lot is directly beside the facility. After parking, walk around the building on the street side to reach the main entrance. Look for my Swim Love deck coordinator at the entrance for check-in, questions, and directions.

Changing & Viewing
Percy Walker has women's and men's locker rooms available for changing. There is also a viewing/stands area on deck for families. To make things easier, I still recommend arriving with swimsuits already on whenever possible.

SANDWICH HIGH SCHOOL POOL - EAST SANDWICH

365 Quaker Meetinghouse Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537

When I'll Be There
Sundays 2pm to 6pm

Parking, Changing & Viewing
Sandwich High School has ample parking, full locker rooms available for Swim Love families, and a viewing area on deck.

What Else Will Be Happening at the Pool?
During our lesson time, there will be open swim on the opposite side of our lanes. AquaSafe swim lessons will also be wrapping up around the time Swim Love begins.

A Note About My Arrival
I will be traveling directly from Plymouth to Sandwich, so there may be Sundays when I arrive only a few minutes before our first class. If you don't see me right away, don't worry - I'm coming!

ARRIVING FOR CLASS - ALL LOCATIONS

Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled class so you have time to park, check in, use the bathroom if needed, and get settled.
I do ask that you do not walk over to the actual Swim Love class area until a few minutes before your scheduled
class begins. Classes run back-to-back, and having the next group gathering nearby can distract swimmers who are finishing their lesson. Please give the class before yours their space, and we will give your swimmer that same focused time when it's their turn.

MY MOM-OF-THREE POOL HACK

To make life a little easier, I suggest that both you and your swimmer arrive already wearing your swimsuits. After class, you can decide whether changing at the facility or heading home wrapped in something warm works best for your family. Less changing, less juggling, more swimming!

SWIM DIAPERS - PLEASE READ

If your swimmer is not fully potty trained, they must wear two layers of swim diapers:
• 1 disposable swim diaper
• 1 fitted reusable swim diaper

Both layers should be snug and properly fitted underneath your child's swimsuit.

The "Diaper Trick"
For the car ride: put on the disposable swim diaper, then the fitted reusable swim diaper, then the swimsuit.

Finally, put a regular diaper over the swimsuit. When you arrive, remove only that outside regular diaper and your swimmer is ready. This can help prevent a wet car seat on the way to class.

Links to suggested disposable and reusable swim diapers will be listed at the end of this newsletter.

PARENT-CHILD CLASS EXPECTATIONS

I strongly encourage one parent/adult to be the designated person in the water during parent-child classes.
Whenever possible, having the same adult participate each week can create helpful consistency for young swimmers.

If another parent, grandparent, or adult comes to watch, I ask that they sit on the opposite side from where we're holding class whenever possible so the swimmer can stay focused.

BEFORE THE FIRST LESSON: PRACTICE AT HOME

Play Swim Class in the Bathtub
If your child still takes baths, use a doll or favorite bath toy and role-play swim class. Show the toy swimming and putting its face in the water, then celebrate the toy. Make it silly and fun.

Practice Water on the Face
At the end of bath time, try using the shower to gently let water drip over your child's face. This can help them become more comfortable with the feeling of water on their face.

"1...2...3!"
You'll hear this cue from me frequently. At home, practice saying 1...2...3! before briefly introducing water over the face/head, or before your child puts their face in the water if they're comfortable. Keep it short - about two or three seconds - then come up, smile, cheer, and give positive reinforcement. The goal is familiarity, never force.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN CLASS STARTS

Every Swim Love class starts OUT of the water. This includes parent-child classes and independent small-group
classes.

This is intentional. We are beginning to teach water-safety boundaries from the very first lesson. Swimmers wait outside the pool until they receive a verbal invitation to enter. No matter how old your child is, we are building the understanding that we don't simply enter a body of water because it's there - we wait for permission.

"WHAT IF MY CHILD CRIES?"
Some children are going to cry on the first day. Some may be hesitant or prefer to observe. Others may jump in and have the greatest time ever. All of those reactions are okay.

Our demeanor as parents and caregivers matters. When we approach lessons with confidence, positivity, and
excitement, we help communicate: You're safe. This is fun. You can do this.

I will meet your swimmer where they are. We are not comparing your child to the swimmer next to them. We're building their confidence, their skills, and their relationship with the water.

ATTENDANCE, SESSION DATES & MAKE-UPS

The Fall 2026 session starts September 14 and ends December 20. We will have a break during the week of
Thanksgiving, and the session includes two make-up opportunities after the first week of classes.

I will send a Google Form for you to complete when you know your swimmer will miss a class and would like to request a make-up. Make-ups will be scheduled based on appropriate class level and available space.

* CLICK HERE FOR MAKE-UP CLASSES

To see the most progress, I recommend making attendance as consistent as possible. For parent-child classes, using the same participating adult whenever possible can also help.

I'm a parent of three, so I understand that things happen. Kids get sick, schedules change, and sometimes you simply can't make it. Don't stress about the occasional missed lesson. When your swimmer comes back, we'll pick right back up where we left off.

HAVEN'T MET ME YET? HI, I'M MICHAELA!

My name is Michaela Colon, owner and instructor of Swim Love by Michaela LLC. I've been teaching swim lessons on the South Shore of Massachusetts for over a decade.

I am American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified and certified in CPR/AED and First Aid for adults, children, and infants. I'm also a mom of three and live right here on the South Shore in Kingston.

Before starting Swim Love, I spent six years teaching at my previous swim program, working extensively with young swimmers - including babies beginning at just eight weeks old. During that time, I developed a true love for teaching children and finding a positive way to approach every skill.

My teaching philosophy is centered around respecting each swimmer, meeting children where they are, building confidence before pressure, creating positive associations with the water, teaching meaningful water-safety skills, creating an inclusive environment, and adapting to each child's individual way of communicating and learning. There isn't one single way every child learns to swim - and that's exactly why Swim Love classes are intentionally small.

NEED SOMETHING? PLEASE REACH OUT!

CALL OR TEXT 781-798-4994
EMAIL admin@swimlovebymichaela.com
WEBSITE swimlovebymichaela.com
INSTAGRAM @swimlovebymichaela

On lesson days, my deck coordinator will have the Swim Love by Michaela phone. If we don't answer immediately, please leave a voicemail or send a text and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
As a teacher and business owner, I believe almost everything is figure-out-able, and open communication makes things easier for everyone. No question is a bad question.