Swimming carnival CAPS off lessons at Coolgardie

Students at Coolgardie’s Christian Aboriginal Parent-directed School (CAPS) have enjoyed participating in a swimming lesson program and school swimming carnival this term!

The Swim and Survive program for the CAPS students was supported by Principal Community Partner BHP, with lessons running from 2nd to 11th November. The intensive lesson program was then followed up with a Swimming and Lifesaving Carnival for the students which took place on Friday 12th November. 

CAPS Deputy Principal and Physical Education Coordinator, Cherie Koh, has been working with Royal Life Saving WA to increase the water safety education and participation of CAPS students. As part of this collaboration, Royal Life Saving WA trainer Gayle Cruden visited Coolgardie earlier this year and conducted a Water Safety Talk at the school. Students were taught the skills and knowledge to stay safe in a range of aquatic locations and how to perform various aquatic rescues.

Royal Life Saving WA worked together with the Shire of Coolgardie to conduct the recent swimming program, which was attended by 24 students from the school. Lessons were taught by Coolgardie Pool Manager Jessie Brooking, with a swimming and lifesaving carnival to round out the program and provide an opportunity for students to put the skills they had been learning into practice.

“The lessons went really well, and the kids had a great time at the Carnival,” said Jessie. Jessie qualified as an Aquatic Trainer last year and has been instrumental in boosting the aquatic education of the local Coolgardie community. She is now able to teach more courses at the pool, including the Bronze Medallion which she did recently for a group of Kambalda students. 

Jessie is enthusiastic about working with the community’s youth and enjoyed teaching the recent swimming program for the CAPS students. We look forward to seeing more great stories coming out of Coolgardie about students learning vital swimming and water safety skills!