Archive for year: 2022

By now, you’ve probably figured out that we offer toddler swim lessons. I’ve heard the service we offer get called everything from essential life-saving skills to torture and waterboarding. 

I get it. To onlookers – sometimes strangers and sometimes family – infant/toddler swim lessons appear cruel and uncalled for. The new student is “taken” from their parent and introduced to the pool, many times kicking and screaming. This is just the first of many scary events over the next few weeks.

Next, the precious little one hears the call to action – “Ready…GO!” and suddenly, these little ones grow eight arms and ten legs. They try to cling on to anything they can latch onto to no avail. The instructor hears them take a quick breath to scream and that’s the cue. Into the water, face first they go, only to be lifted out of the water by another strange person, who then repeats the process.

Then, they go onto their backs. The screams that were stifled by the water at first are full tilt now. What child likes to be put on their back in the water. Really? And then they’re brought back the next day for more?

To the average person, that doesn’t sound like much fun or even necessary. Maybe even unsettling. But, listen to the stories from the parents who brought their children here in the first place. One momma told me the story of the day she was working around her pool. She said she looked up to see that her 3-year-old had stepped off into the water over her head.

This could have ended in disaster, but the mother stood amazed as she watched her precious little one put her newly learned, life-saving skills into action and reach safety on her own.

That’s why we do what we do at The School of Yaya’s Fishes.

Have you ever heard a child drown? No, and you probably won’t. Witnesses of children falling into a pool have said that all they heard was a soft “plunk” and then nothing. No sound at all. Drowning is silent, and it could happen anywhere – even in a bathtub.

The next time you are deciding whether to invest in infant/toddler swim lessons, know that they are worth it. Remember this: If they are screaming, they are breathing.

Here’s to your little one earning their fins!

Yaya

Help us share these vital survival lessons with other children in Northeast Arkansas by donating to the scholarship fund, made possible by the SAFE Swim Foundation.

This one’s for the parents of fostered and adopted children. We at The School of Yaya’s Fishes absolutely support the safety of children around water. On the 4^th of July, we will be giving away ***10*** SAFE Swim 1 scholarships to adopted or foster children in memory of Levi Nash Potts.

To enter this giveaway, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/8hMSNHVkjJof9Nwb9

For our followers who are not parents of fostered and adopted children, please tag a family who qualifies in the comments section of our corresponding Facebook post.

Also, if you or your business wants to support the life of a child through our program, contact us. We would like to partner with you! Email amy@yayasfishes.com for information on our sponsorship packages.

Donations can also be made at safeswimfoundation.com/donate.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

• Cary Nelson
• Lindsay Roberts
• Tonya Wright
• Emery Winningham
• Stephanie McDonald
• Kayla Rose
• Monica Weisenfels
• Jennifer Foust
• Holly McNight
• Whitney Shepherd

Congratulations to all!

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ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF YAYA’S FISHES

Our goal at The School of Yaya’s Fishes is for babies, toddlers, children and the child at heart to develop mental and physical skills that promote safety in and around water.

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ABOUT SAFE SWIM FOUNDATION

The SAFE Swim Foundation (Swim And Float in Emergencies) supports and promotes drowning prevention, including survival swim training for infants, toddlers and children of various backgrounds.

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—OFFICIAL RULES—

The entry period for this contest runs from Monday, June 27, 2022, until Monday, July 4, 2022, at Noon.

To enter, parents of fostered and adopted children will fill out the form provided here: https://forms.gle/8hMSNHVkjJof9Nwb9. Upon completion, the registering parent will be automatically entered to win one of four SAFE Swim Training scholarships, provided by SAFE Swim Foundation. 

Registrants may enter to win once per family.

Contest winners will be drawn after noon on July 4 (Independence Day). The winners will be announced and contacted by phone before close of business on the following day. Upon contact, a representative of The School of Yaya’s Fishes will work with the winning guardian to select a training schedule that will work for the student, family, and trainers.

Each scholarship is valued at $500, based on the average four weeks of Survival Swim Training. Survival Swim Training sessions are everyday Monday through Friday in 10-to-15-minute sessions for the length of the student’s training. While the average length of training is four weeks, this timeline may vary, based on each student’s rate of improvement and task comprehension.

The winners of this scholarship giveaway will be selected at random from the pool of registrations.

This scholarship does not have an age limit. Registrants must be a member of a foster family or have a child adopted by them.

Only one winner is permitted per household within 60 days of after a household has a winner.

The School of Yaya’s Fishes and SAFE Swim Foundation restricts winners to the immediately serviceable area only. Any means of transportation to redeem the scholarship will not be provided. The responsibility of cost to travel rests solely with the scholarship winner. Neither Terri (Yaya) Mommsen, nor a member of her Staff, will travel to provide lessons to a winning family. Survival Swim Training sessions must be performed at The School of Yaya’s Fishes facility.

No purchase necessary. This scholarship is not redeemable or transferable for cash. This scholarship is not retroactive and cannot cover the already-paid tuition of a student who has previously been through the program. The School of Yaya’s Fishes and SAFE Swim Foundation shall have no further responsibility in connection with the scholarship if the scholarship winner, for any reason, cannot or decides not to use any of the survival swim lessons provided.

May is Drowning Prevention Month, and we’re giving away *TEN* scholarships to help raise awareness!!

That’s right, we’re giving away two scholarships per week during the month of May. All you have to do to enter is like the corresponding Facebook post and tag someone else who would benefit from survival swim lessons at The School of Yaya’s Fishes!

Drowning Prevention Awareness is so very important. Did you know that drowning happens in seconds and is often silent? It can happen to anyone, any time there is access to water. According to CDC.gov, drowning deaths are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of death in children ages 1-14. Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning, and our mission is to teach survival swim skills to as many children as possible in Northeast Arkansas. Let’s work together to make this area a SAFE Swim Zone!

This giveaway was made possible through donations made to SAFE Swim Foundation in memory of Levi Nash Potts, who would have turned six during the month of April. We want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in our fundraiser. If you didn’t get a chance to donate and would still like to, you may do so at safeswimfoundation.com/donate. No amount is too small.

If you or your business would like to sponsor one (or more) full scholarships through SAFE Swim Foundation, please call (870) 565-3733 for more information.

First Week Winners: Kelly Hays and Miriam Corona

Second Week Winners: Haley Soo and Breeanna McCollum Crews

Third Week Winners: Natalie Burke and Kaitlyn Hester

Fourth Week Winners: Anna Marie LeBlue and Tami Nowlin Crocket

Fifthe Week Winners: Sarah Emerson and Camille Richie

—OFFICIAL RULES—-

The entry period for this contest runs from Monday, April 25 at 2 p.m. until Sunday, May 29, 2022 at Noon in observance of Drowning Prevention Month.

To enter, parents and/or guardians will like the corresponding Facebook post and tag a friend in the comments. Upon liking the post and tagging a friend, the registering parent will be automatically entered to win one SAFE Swim Training scholarship, provided by SAFE Swim Foundation. 

Registrants may enter to win once per family.

Contest winners will be drawn each Sunday during the month of May 2022 announced and contacted by phone before close of business on the following day. Upon contact, a representative of The School of Yaya’s Fishes will work with the winning guardian to select a training schedule that will work for the student, family, and trainers.

Each scholarship is valued at $500, based on the average four weeks of Survival Swim Training. Survival Swim Training sessions are everyday Monday through Friday in 10-to-15-minute sessions for the length of the student’s training. While the average length of training is four weeks, this timeline may vary, based on each student’s rate of improvement and task comprehension.

The winner of this scholarship will be selected at random from the pool of registrations.

This scholarship does not have an age limit. Registrants must be the parent and/or guardian of a minor with the ability to crawl.

Only one winner is permitted per household within 60 days of after a household has a winner.

The School of Yaya’s Fishes and SAFE Swim Foundation restricts winners to the immediately serviceable area only. Any means of transportation to redeem the scholarship will not be provided. The responsibility of cost to travel rests solely with the scholarship winner. Neither Terri (Yaya) Mommsen, nor a member of her Staff, will travel to provide lessons to a winning family. Survival Swim Training sessions must be performed at The School of Yaya’s Fishes facility.

No purchase necessary. This scholarship is not redeemable or transferable for cash. This scholarship is not retroactive and cannot cover the already-paid tuition of a student who has previously been through the program. The School of Yaya’s Fishes and SAFE Swim Foundation shall have no further responsibility in connection with the scholarship if the scholarship winner, for any reason, cannot or decides not to use any of the survival swim lessons provided.

***UPDATE: Congratulations Natalie Allen!!! You have won the scholarship for our SAFE Swim I course!

Hello, fishies! We’re giving away another scholarship!

This time, we are giving the scholarship to a child with Autism.

To be entered to win a scholarship for our SAFE Swim 1 Course, all you have to do is leave a comment below, letting us know that your family is interested in teaching one of your littles to swim. We’ll pick a winner in the afternoon on 4/10.

We’re so proud to be able to share these opportunities to learn with all of you. Thank you, On Point Directional Drilling for making this scholarship possible!

—OFFICIAL RULES—

The entry period for this contest runs from Monday, April 4, 2022 at 4 p.m. until Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Noon.

To enter, parents and/or guardians will leave comment on the corresponding Facebook post, letting The School of Yaya’s Fishes know that their family is interested in survival swim lessons. Upon leaving a comment, the registering parent will be automatically entered to win one SAFE Swim Training scholarship, provided by SAFE Swim Foundation. 

Registrants may enter to win once per family.

The contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, April 10, 2022 after 3 p.m. and announced and contacted by phone before close of business on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6 p.m. Upon contact, a representative of The School of Yaya’s Fishes will work with the winning guardian to select a training schedule that will work for the student, family, and trainers.

This scholarship is valued at $500, based on the average four weeks of Survival Swim Training. Survival Swim Training sessions are everyday Monday through Friday in 10-to-15-minute sessions for the length of the student’s training. While the average length of training is four weeks, this timeline may vary, based on each student’s rate of improvement and task comprehension.

The winner of this scholarship will be selected at random from the pool of registrations.

This scholarship does not have an age limit. Registrants must be either the parent and/or guardian of a minor diagnosed with Autism, or a person over the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with Autism.

Only one winner is permitted per household within 60 days of after a household has a winner.

The School of Yaya’s Fishes and SAFE Swim Foundation restricts winners to the immediately serviceable area only. Any means of transportation to redeem the scholarship will not be provided. The responsibility of cost to travel rests solely with the scholarship winner. Neither Terri (Yaya) Mommsen, nor a member of her Staff, will travel to provide lessons to a winning family. Survival Swim Training sessions must be performed at The School of Yaya’s Fishes facility.

No purchase necessary. This scholarship is not redeemable or transferable for cash. This scholarship is not retroactive and cannot cover the already-paid tuition of a student who has previously been through the program. The School of Yaya’s Fishes, SAFE Swim Foundation, and On Point Directional Drilling and Trenching shall have no further responsibility in connection with the scholarship if the scholarship winner, for any reason, cannot or decides not to use any of the survival swim lessons provided.