A swimming pool pass for parents of schoolchildren

A young mother rushes through the footbath. All the other parents have already left the Saint-Jean pool, but she’s determined to get her certification so she can accompany the schoolchildren on their future outings to the blue pool. So, under the watchful eye of “examiner” Magali Charbois, a physical education (PE) advisor, the mom dives gracefully, swims one length, retrieves an object from the bottom of the pool, and returns to her starting point. She’s got her certification. Just like the 68 other volunteer parents who, on Tuesday, September 15, flocked to the Saint-Jean municipal pool.
The test was brief. It consisted of a theoretical portion and a practical portion, described in more detail below. “We mostly took the opportunity to chat about our vacations,” jokes a mother wrapped in her large towel. However, in addition to the swimming “exam,” parents of students from the island’s three schools (Gustavia, Lorient, and Colombier) also presented their identification documents to Magali Charbois. This formality will make it possible to verify that the parents’ criminal records do not contain any offenses incompatible with supervising children. “This should be required for all activities involving kids,” comments one mother.
The certification will allow parents to accompany their children on trips to the pool but also, and most importantly, to be in the water with them if necessary. Additional sessions are expected to be held during the school year.