Hello Riptide families!

Once again, there is A LOT of information in this newsletter. Please take the time to read it as there is a lot going on this week and important SAFETY INFORMATION.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

• This week’s calendar items
• Action Items - meet declarations!
• Safety Reminders
• Shirts, caps and suits
• Picture Day order form and Make Up opportunity
• Volunteer Sign-ups
• This week’s Meet Info
• Stay informed with Facebook, Instagram and Swimtopia App

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Our Week at a glance:

• Monday
  • Regular practice schedule and first day of LR
  • Meet declaration deadline at midnight!
  • First evening practice - 8U 6-6:30 (no LR), 9 and ups 6:30-7:30
• Tuesday
  • Regular practices - no evening practice
• Wednesday
  • Regular practices
  • Evening practice
• Thursday
  • Regular practices
  • Meet day - see meet info below
• Friday
  • Fun Friday- Awards and Donuts 9:30-11:00 (no Little Ripples)
  • Picture Make-Up opportunity for all in attendance

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Meet declarations:

• Meet declarations close and lock on Monday at midnight prior to all of our Thursday meets
• Declarations let the coaches know definitively if your swimmer will or will not participate in the meet- it really makes their job harder if you don’t declare at all
• Please take a minute to go ahead and declare your swimmer for ALL six of our meets - it is ok if plans change but get it done now so we aren’t trying to track you down each week to see if your swimmer is participating
• For information on how to declare your swimmer click this link - Meet Sign Up for Parents

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Parking Lot and Pool Deck Safety Reminders:

• Our parking lot presents a bit of a safety hazard with the blind turn into the lot from the drive way.
• Please remind swimmers who bike or walk to practice to access the pool deck via the stairs across from Trailridge Drive and NOT the driveway entrance
• Parents of young drivers PLEASE remind your drivers to enter and exit the lot slowly as we have witnessed a couple close calls with drivers coming and going too quickly around the curve of the driveway and narrowly missing other cars or bikers/walkers
• Parents/babysitters/guardians are asked to remain outside the pool gates during practice times to allow coaches to keep their focus on the kids in the pool ( and kids to be focused on coaches)

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Team Shirts, Caps and Suits!

• Team shirts will be distributed to all registered swimmers this week (not LR). Please put your swimmers name in the shirt IMMEDIATELY!
• You can still order spirit wear for the whole family.  Use this link: Spirit Wear Order 
• We have a few team caps for sale if you missed the cap order deadline. $15 payable via cash, check or Venmo. Just ask a coach or board member at practice or the meet.
• We also have the remaining sample team suits available for purchase. You can have your swimmer try on sizes that we still have available before deciding to purchase. Female suits are $45 and male jammers are $40. Payable via cash, check or Venmo - ask a board member or coach during practices. You must pay before taking home!

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Picture Day Order Form and Make-Up Opportunity:

• If you came to picture day and would like to order pictures you can find the link here or on the team website.
• M4 will be back this Friday at 9:30 during Fun Day to take photos of any swimmers that were not able to make it last week. Wear your team suit or another blue suit if you have it!

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Volunteer Sign Ups:

• Sign Ups for volunteer shifts have officially closed and locked. You are responsible for the shifts you have chosen!
• If you failed to sign up for your full 4 points then your swimmer(s) are not currently eligible to swim in meets. Please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator, Amie Wilson, [email protected], to requests additional shifts!
• Please pay attention to arrival times for your positions - especially parking lot attendants and Safety Marshalls. We can’t get started without people in place!
• If you find a sub or hire out your shifts, you must submit the person's name and age to Amie in advance of the meet.

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This week’s meet info at a glance:

• Home meet vs. Old Pike Sharks
• Declaration deadline- Monday, June 3rd
• Meet theme: Country/Western- Yee Haw!
• Lot opens for crash no earlier than 4:00!
• Team theme photo at 4:30
• Warm ups for 10 and unders - 4:35-4:50
• Warm ups for 11 and olders - 4:50-5:10
• Meet start: 6:00

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STAY INFORMED!

• Be sure you have downloaded the Swimtopia App to your phone. Turn on alerts so that you get important information in a timely manner. Information regarding practice adjustments or cancellations due to weather will go out via this app. The app is directly connected to our Swimtopia website so your login credentials are the same. It provides a quick and handy way to check upcoming team events, check meet sign ups, and volunteer commitments as well as see your swimmers meet results.
• Find us on Facebook by requesting to join the group “Riss Lake Riptides!”.
• Follow us on instagram:

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Thank you to all of you who read all the way to the end! I know it is a lot!

Please reach out with any questions NOT ANSWERED IN THIS EMAIL.

Go Riptides!

The Riss Lake Riptides Swim Board