Hi everyone, a few announcements:

1. Collecting for Coaches' gifts In Lazer tradition, we would like to recognize many of the individuals who make the team run and the year go so well. Hanz and Rebeccah Heinrichs will be collecting money for the gifts that they will buy to present to the coaches and volunteers at the banquet. In the past, $10 per family has been plenty but there’s no set amount and no pressure. Her husband Hanz’s Venmo works well for this. It’s at @Hanz-Heinrichs. You can also give her cash during morning practice. Thank you all for your generosity.
2. Our Chipotle fundraiser is tomorrow night. Please skip cooking and raise money for the pool. The flyer is attached, but the details are: 5-9PM at 6242 LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22312; ORDER ONLINE FOR PICKUP USING CODE DPKETG8 OR SHOW THE ATTACHED FLYER IN RESTAURANT.
3. Team photo Thursday evening after the Little Lazers mini-meet. Remember that at this meet, our big Lazers run it for the Little Lazers, and Coach Natalie has already shared a Sign Up Genius for the big Lazers to sign up for jobs at the mini-meet. So, please sign up to help; we will have both Littles and bigs (and Transitional) in the picture, so even if your swimmer isn't helping or participating, show up for the team picture around 6PM. If your swimmer wants to be in their suit for the picture, remember to bring it.
4. Lessons are still available from our great coaches: Sign up on these forms (details of what level is appropriate for what swimmer are on the forms): Older kids/more advanced swimmers or younger kids/trying to pass the swim test. If you have questions, please reach out to our Head Swim Coach, Natalie.
5. And, remember, winter swim registration is open! We need folks to sign up as soon as possible because we have to make a payment to the JCC for several thousand dollars for the lanes. Please see below for details, but a couple of notes: first, make sure you're registering for the right program, Little Lazers vs. Big Lazers/Transitional. If you're not sure, ask Kate, Natalie, or me. Second, we are generally an all electronic payment organization, but if you really need to avoid the transaction fees, we'll take a check. Your registration isn't complete until the check is in hand, and we may have limited space, so electronic is the safest way to reserve your spot.
   BIG LAZER/TRANSITIONAL REGISTRATION LINK!
   LITTLE LAZER REGISTRATION LINK!
   We will handle adult swimmer registration separately soon.
   Based on the success of the program last year, we will be returning to the Jewish Community Center (just outside the beltway), Saturdays 5:15-6:15PM beginning the first weekend in October and running through the weekend before the pool opens in May, roughly 24 sessions after accounting for holiday weekends off but not accounting for weather cancelations:
   1. We will be able to have Little Lazers of all levels, 1-5. Like last year, we will have 2 half-hour Little Lazer sessions. The cost for the half hour session will be $260 per Little Lazer, and if they graduate to the big kid practice, we will be able to accommodate this. Last winter, our swimmers made tremendous progress and everyone moved up levels and several graduated to Transitional or full Lazers. Looking at the cost of Goldfish Academy and other similar programs, our program will cost roughly one-third as much for the same number of lessons; and, honestly, last year's program was much more effective than those schools, so you'll save money and your kids will learn to swim faster.
   2. Transitional swimmers will practice for an hour and the price will be the same as big kid swimmers ($315 for the first swimmer, $300 for the second, and $285 for each additional swimmer) but they will have access to shallower water than at TSJ and thus will be more comfortable. We had good success last winter graduating transitional level swimmers to the big kid team and anticipate the ability to do as well or better this winter.
   3. The big kid swimmers will have their own lanes and we were very pleased with the general environment last year.
   4. We are reserving a lane for adults; that link will be sent out separately. The pricing will be $315 per participant. Additionally, the JCC has very nice workout facilities (including indoor basketball and pickleball courts and a full gym for workouts) and for a $10 guest fee you can workout while the kids swim. But to swim during this period, you have to sign up for our program.

Thanks!