Chasing bubbles and learning to swim at PAR classes

Photo by Paul Robeson

JUMPING IN: Ashley Leonard jumps into the pool at Anderson High School to pool manager Adawna Purdie.

Photo by Paul Robeson

I CAN DO IT: Beginning swimmer Samantha Matheson, 4, jumps into the water as pool manager and swim instructor Adawna Purdie waits to catch her — if necessary.

Photo by Paul Robeson

SHOULD I OR NOT...: Peyton Moreno isn’t quite sure about jumping into the water as swim instructors Adawna Purdie, left, and Brittnie Assad tell her that it is okay.

The Parks and Recreation learn to swim program at the Anderson High School pool is now into the fourth and last session of the summer.

Last week at the classes the young swimmers with no prior experience were learning to walk along the side of the pool, using their hands. They then lined up to jump in the 4-foot end of the pool as the swim instructor/life guards assisted in the pool.

West Valley High School graduate and pool manager Adawna Purdie said that all the instructor/life guards were from West Valley High School with the exception of Fraser Berry, a graduate of Foothill High School in Palo Cedro.

Parents, grandparents and friends sat poolside to watch the young swimmers at various locations around the pool go through their instructions, their tribulations and their triumphs.

Nicholas Rigsby’s grandmother Kathleen accompanied him from Cottonwood and Dylan and Owen Booth were also from Cottonwood. Melissa Gordon was there from Montgomery Creek and Ashley Leonard and Jeremy Heryford were there from Happy Valley. Garrison and Kendal Jesmer, Rylie Smay, Peyton Moreno, Samantha Matheson and Devin Gosche represented Anderson.

The instructor/life guard crew consisted of Purdie, Berry, West Valley High School graduate Alyssa Christensen, and WHS students Brithnie Assad, Megan Taylor, and senior lifeguard Michael Chalfant.