Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Sunday, September 02, 2018
Great times at Highland Park Pool for water polo games with NCAA teams and Renegades
Wow. Great day. Thanks Citiparks.
Monday, February 05, 2018
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
More Bike Lanes -- as I've got some experience with them in Chengdu, China
More bike lanes! Because, some day, I'm going to be the one in the back seat! Plus, the brakes on that sucker didn't work so much. The brake on the bar for the front tire flew off the first time I applied pressure, flipping forward. The only real stopping power came from the sick break, in the middle of the frame. To stop, push downward. The question was always, use both hands to turn away from the crash, and be with less grip in the pending collision. Or, put a hand on the brake while reaching downward getting out of balance, but protecting some other vulnerable body positions.
I am born in the year of the rooster -- as per the story at The Moth.
See and listen to more insights from my wife, Catherine, at https://themoth.org/storytellers/catherine-palmer
I am born in the year of the rooster -- as per the story at The Moth.
See and listen to more insights from my wife, Catherine, at https://themoth.org/storytellers/catherine-palmer
Monday, November 13, 2017
Aquatics and Pittsburgh Public Schools
Tip: You might want to view this on the SlideShare site so it can easily go to full screen.
Ask for the PDF or Keynote if you want parts or all of it.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Greenfield..... ACTION.... Play
Pssst.
What are you doing tomorrow, Wednesday, night? First meeting.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Obama Academy Varsity Swim Calendar
Tips:
When in doubt, call. Coach Mark is 412-298-3432. Okay to text, but the text messages are not seen as quickly.You can bookmark this page, or get the google calendar to work with your set up on your phone and computer. Subscribe to it.
Another google calendar is the one at CLOH.org.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Recap: Final Public Hearing for Pittsburgh Public Schools in its Hiring Quest for a New Superintendent.
Replacing the retiring Linda Lane can be an opportunity to recreate Pittsburgh recreation. We're a sports and river town and should use our swim pools.
From Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, varsity swim coach at Obama Academy and leader of the PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
On Thursday night, January 28, 2016, right after our home swim meet at Pittsburgh Obama against South Fayette, I dashed over to U-Prep for the public hearing concerning the search for the new PPS superintendent of schools. We lost the swim meets, but game them a good scare. One new school record was set by Obama sophomore, Sead N, leading off the 400 free relay in a 49.
I was speaker 13 and took some notes as the others before me gave the school board their thoughts. It was wild to hear what the others would say as nearly everyone else had statements that resonated with my message too. What they want, and what I want, are identical in terms of values and vision.
Pittsburgh Public Schools needs to make an overhaul to its sports and after-school programs.
Two years ago, the wake of Doctor Linda Lane's state of the district speech when she said she wanted to cut a number of sports from the budget, I released a position paper. Thankfully, those cuts never occurred. Now that there are some new board members, it is prudent to re-introduce this document again to get them aware of these situations.
http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives
When Mark Roosevelt became superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, a few of us shared concerns with him. Mr. Roosevelt, a former tennis player, understood the value of sports. To his credit, he was in agreement but said sports reform and athletics were not a priority – yet. He had bigger problems: principal accountability, teacher evaluations and contracts, merit pay, and of course, right-sizing. Nothing changed for years. Then, finally, Mark Roosevelt sent me an email around New Years Day and he promised me that sports reform was coming off the back burner. Wow!
A study was done on Title IX, a consultant was hired with grant money. A committee was established and meetings were held. Real issues were talked about. Mark Roosevelt came to a meeting with about 35 people, VIPs in PPS in terms of coaching, sports, security, transportation, administration, principals, and said, “I'm sorry.” Roosevelt apologized for the terrible treatment and lack of support his administration had given throughout the years to sports and athletics. He had seen the light and now understood what was happening with PPS and how many of the pitfalls could be rectified through a more robust attention to these areas. Improvements in school spirit, attendance, grades, student health, graduation rates, discipline and scholarships are evident. I was so excited to hear of the new change in direction and within the month, Mark Roosevelt resigned and took a new job at a college in Ohio.
Linda Lane was hired by the board without interviewing anyone else so as to sustain the changes Mark Roosevelt was championing in PPS. But sadly, she failed and fumbled the whole sports reform movement. She was clueless. She pulled the plug and wouldn't do anything else in this regard except cut and starve.
When Dr. Lane gave her State of the District speech at CAPA in the fall of 2013, she talked about saving $600,000 from a budget by cutting some sports and all intramural programs and upgrading computers less frequently. That's some line item: Sports and technology upgrades for $600,000 savings. That move seemed to be a surprise to everyone, even within PPS, who had worked on sports reform. I pushed back with a position paper, “Fewer sports alternatives,” and the cuts to the budget never materialized, thankfully, due in great part by board members who knew better. Two years later in the fall of 2015, the PA auditor general and city controller told the newspapers of a PPS surplus of more than $120-million. Go figure.
The first suggestion in the position paper reads: PPS Superintendent, Doctor Linda Lane, should re-establish our Athletic Reform Task Force. Suggestion #1b: This position paper can fill the early agenda for task force meetings. Suggestion #1c: The next task force should include a research component. Examine student data along with Pittsburgh Promise data.
Some other of my favorite suggestions to PPS administrators include the establishment of PPS H2O for city-wide aquatics, an All-City Sports Camp from May to September and the formation of a private-public partnership, an Olympic Sports Division, to manage the scholastic sports of Swimming, X-Country, Track-and-Field, Tennis and intramural programs. After a three month wait, I finally did have one 30-minute meeting with Dara Ware Allen, PPS Administrator in charge of all student services (including athletics). She hadn't even read the position paper. No follow up since.
Linda Lane's Administration lacks leadership in terms of sports, after-school and community building – that's my top concern with PPS.
With the superintendent search, and new board members, it is time to double down. I want to re-visit the 2014 position paper and to insure the new PPS Board Members see it. But I am releasing a new document, a new vision. We can build upon our Summer Dreamers experiences with Swim & Water Polo and turn them into Year-Round Achievers. Let's train 250 new lifeguards in the next five years. You know, PPS has 14 indoor swim pools and there was a time a few years ago when every pool was closed all summer long. We ran the numbers, we have the opportunity to train 6,000 students a year in a five-week Swim & Water Polo Camp. We can teach every kid in PPS how to swim. And, we already have these facilities. They are too often closed. And, these plans are affordable. The pools are there. The water awaits. The plans call for no extra time for custodians. Done well, I expect sensational health benefits and community school interactions.
In the final public hearing concerning input for the new superintendent search, I was the 13th speaker. Every other speaker that came to the microphone to share insights had common ground with my central message as well.
Speaker #1 said: Services and support are not in place in PPS.
Speaker #2, a young woman, remembered that the only thing she was jazzed about at Allderdice through 9th, 10th, and 11th grade was her involvement in marching band. That experience kept her going through high school.
Speaker #3 works as a professional in out-of-school time activities as a community-based provider. She wants PPS to embrace partnerships and have that as a skill-set. The new superintendent needs to have a “track record” (pun to me) and display “small wins” in after-school programming. Well, I want big wins.
Speaker #4, an 8th grade student in Higher Achievement, spoke of the need for a fresh environment. In past years I coached water polo with students in Higher Achievement. Of course, that's fresh!
Speaker #5, a 7th grade student, wants communication skills and respect in communities.
Speaker #6, Hill District Economic Council spoke of being healthy. Wishing for transforming students, leadership, innovation. Athletic do that.
Speaker #7, a Pitt Education Professor and a parent spoke about deep and sustaining partnerships. Pittsburgh has an incredibly rich network. Civic and community engagement are needed and golly, she said that PPS often seems as if it does not want input. Spot on!
Speaker #8, Sala Udin, wants to see someone articulate a strategy. That's exactly what the position paper did. That's exactly what the Sports Reform Task Force did. That's what was ignored by PPS. Sala wants a “turn around” and I do too. We'll even teach flip turns! Yes, Sala, Pittsburgh is a segregated city with a large number of poor people. That's why we are excited to do water polo in the Hill District's Ammon Swim Pool again in the summer of 2016 and champion swimming and water polo, activities that don't cost much beyond having swim suits.
Speaker #9 wants community schools and job training for parents. I've been working with the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, but that's not the social skills job training that is really desired. But the new document speaks of community fitness for the parents and guardians of the students we coach. I want adults to start to train when their kids are youngsters so that a few years later as the kids are in high school we can kayak together in our rivers.
Speaker #10, the President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers hit a home run and made mention of the word “athletics.” She wants none of this as an “after-thought. Rather, authentic working together is desired. Bravo.
Speaker #11, a U-Prep teacher, Chris, made mention that Pittsburgh has been a sports town with some graduates in the NFL and NBA. Who is going to stand up and take the heat, he asks? I think we teach that in athletics too.
Speaker #12, Fred Logan of Homewood, wants the PSCC (Parent School Community Councils) to return with gusto. And our sports boosters, sports leagues and sports advocate efforts should be a part of those PSCC gatherings, perhaps bringing purpose for some to show up and get more involved.
I spoke at #13.
Speaker #14 ranted about knowledge being power. Learn everything and many things. “We should do better than that so our kids can survive in the world.” Learning to swim is a survival skill.
Speaker #15, a Linden teacher and advocate with gifted referrals wants a universal screening so that all the kids who qualify as gifted get an invite to the Pittsburgh Gifted Center. Of course, all the kids should have some of the same opportunities. We could tie a universal gifted screening approach to a mission to have universal swimming lessons.
Speaker #16, Obama Academy senior, spoke of Teen Block and speaking up with student voices. The most popular messages among the kids have been about school starting too early and PPS teaching the whole person. I just released a new video about the AM Swim Practices we have at 6 am. And, I'm a big fan of holistic coaching.
Speaker #17, a U-Prep junior, a young Mr. Sanders, wants to be an entrepreneur. His personal finance class doesn't have a stable teacher and there are many faculty who seem to change often. The lunches do not seem to be nutritional and he and his classmates do not seem to be energized after eating. With athletes, great nutrition is vital. With growing kids, nutrition matters. I also expect that with more athletes, we'll diminish violence. Learning to play well with others is a central theme we should embrace often.
Speaker #18, a parent wants to develop amazing adults and wants inclusion with the disability community. Unemployment is at 70% in that sector, and teaching needs to be visual, auditory and kinetic.
Speaker #19, Ron Lawrence, 100-Black Men and an A+ Schools board member is one I want to get to meet. Closing the achievement gap is important. That achievement gap happens at the swim pool too.
Speaker #20, Education Rights Network advocate wants to end that pipeline to prison. I agree, the PPS administrative cabinet should have a commitment to include an administrator to work full time on efforts to better support those with disabilities. Another after-thought it seems.
Speaker #21, Kenneth, a long-time community activist and friend wants student government and school newspapers to be a first contact with visitors to the school. The newspapers teach ethics and are a place to get focus in a crisis. What's going on should be written about and he feels Mark Roosevelt was a terrible person, especially as he sold off the printing presses in all the schools.
Speaker #22, Tim Stevens, spoke and sang of his days in the U-Prep school, site of the meeting, as it was then called Herron Hill. He spoke at a past meeting and he highlighted the slogan above the stage, “We are all learning.” Enough said.
Speaker #23, Chris Moore, the new U-Prep principal, a former teacher at Schenley, is back in PPS and he feels the new superintendent should be one who is “called” to the job. That is a great trait. He also says that the new superintendent should have the discipline to put students first as he or she makes decisions. I got to chat for a minute after the meeting with the new principal. He'll help to get the word out to the students about the opportunities to play water polo in the neighborhood on Fridays at the Thelma Lovette YMCA.
From Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, varsity swim coach at Obama Academy and leader of the PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
On Thursday night, January 28, 2016, right after our home swim meet at Pittsburgh Obama against South Fayette, I dashed over to U-Prep for the public hearing concerning the search for the new PPS superintendent of schools. We lost the swim meets, but game them a good scare. One new school record was set by Obama sophomore, Sead N, leading off the 400 free relay in a 49.
I was speaker 13 and took some notes as the others before me gave the school board their thoughts. It was wild to hear what the others would say as nearly everyone else had statements that resonated with my message too. What they want, and what I want, are identical in terms of values and vision.
Pittsburgh Public Schools needs to make an overhaul to its sports and after-school programs.
Two years ago, the wake of Doctor Linda Lane's state of the district speech when she said she wanted to cut a number of sports from the budget, I released a position paper. Thankfully, those cuts never occurred. Now that there are some new board members, it is prudent to re-introduce this document again to get them aware of these situations.
http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives
When Mark Roosevelt became superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, a few of us shared concerns with him. Mr. Roosevelt, a former tennis player, understood the value of sports. To his credit, he was in agreement but said sports reform and athletics were not a priority – yet. He had bigger problems: principal accountability, teacher evaluations and contracts, merit pay, and of course, right-sizing. Nothing changed for years. Then, finally, Mark Roosevelt sent me an email around New Years Day and he promised me that sports reform was coming off the back burner. Wow!
A study was done on Title IX, a consultant was hired with grant money. A committee was established and meetings were held. Real issues were talked about. Mark Roosevelt came to a meeting with about 35 people, VIPs in PPS in terms of coaching, sports, security, transportation, administration, principals, and said, “I'm sorry.” Roosevelt apologized for the terrible treatment and lack of support his administration had given throughout the years to sports and athletics. He had seen the light and now understood what was happening with PPS and how many of the pitfalls could be rectified through a more robust attention to these areas. Improvements in school spirit, attendance, grades, student health, graduation rates, discipline and scholarships are evident. I was so excited to hear of the new change in direction and within the month, Mark Roosevelt resigned and took a new job at a college in Ohio.
Linda Lane was hired by the board without interviewing anyone else so as to sustain the changes Mark Roosevelt was championing in PPS. But sadly, she failed and fumbled the whole sports reform movement. She was clueless. She pulled the plug and wouldn't do anything else in this regard except cut and starve.
When Dr. Lane gave her State of the District speech at CAPA in the fall of 2013, she talked about saving $600,000 from a budget by cutting some sports and all intramural programs and upgrading computers less frequently. That's some line item: Sports and technology upgrades for $600,000 savings. That move seemed to be a surprise to everyone, even within PPS, who had worked on sports reform. I pushed back with a position paper, “Fewer sports alternatives,” and the cuts to the budget never materialized, thankfully, due in great part by board members who knew better. Two years later in the fall of 2015, the PA auditor general and city controller told the newspapers of a PPS surplus of more than $120-million. Go figure.
The first suggestion in the position paper reads: PPS Superintendent, Doctor Linda Lane, should re-establish our Athletic Reform Task Force. Suggestion #1b: This position paper can fill the early agenda for task force meetings. Suggestion #1c: The next task force should include a research component. Examine student data along with Pittsburgh Promise data.
Some other of my favorite suggestions to PPS administrators include the establishment of PPS H2O for city-wide aquatics, an All-City Sports Camp from May to September and the formation of a private-public partnership, an Olympic Sports Division, to manage the scholastic sports of Swimming, X-Country, Track-and-Field, Tennis and intramural programs. After a three month wait, I finally did have one 30-minute meeting with Dara Ware Allen, PPS Administrator in charge of all student services (including athletics). She hadn't even read the position paper. No follow up since.
Linda Lane's Administration lacks leadership in terms of sports, after-school and community building – that's my top concern with PPS.
With the superintendent search, and new board members, it is time to double down. I want to re-visit the 2014 position paper and to insure the new PPS Board Members see it. But I am releasing a new document, a new vision. We can build upon our Summer Dreamers experiences with Swim & Water Polo and turn them into Year-Round Achievers. Let's train 250 new lifeguards in the next five years. You know, PPS has 14 indoor swim pools and there was a time a few years ago when every pool was closed all summer long. We ran the numbers, we have the opportunity to train 6,000 students a year in a five-week Swim & Water Polo Camp. We can teach every kid in PPS how to swim. And, we already have these facilities. They are too often closed. And, these plans are affordable. The pools are there. The water awaits. The plans call for no extra time for custodians. Done well, I expect sensational health benefits and community school interactions.
In the final public hearing concerning input for the new superintendent search, I was the 13th speaker. Every other speaker that came to the microphone to share insights had common ground with my central message as well.
Speaker #1 said: Services and support are not in place in PPS.
Speaker #2, a young woman, remembered that the only thing she was jazzed about at Allderdice through 9th, 10th, and 11th grade was her involvement in marching band. That experience kept her going through high school.
Speaker #3 works as a professional in out-of-school time activities as a community-based provider. She wants PPS to embrace partnerships and have that as a skill-set. The new superintendent needs to have a “track record” (pun to me) and display “small wins” in after-school programming. Well, I want big wins.
Speaker #4, an 8th grade student in Higher Achievement, spoke of the need for a fresh environment. In past years I coached water polo with students in Higher Achievement. Of course, that's fresh!
Speaker #5, a 7th grade student, wants communication skills and respect in communities.
Speaker #6, Hill District Economic Council spoke of being healthy. Wishing for transforming students, leadership, innovation. Athletic do that.
Speaker #7, a Pitt Education Professor and a parent spoke about deep and sustaining partnerships. Pittsburgh has an incredibly rich network. Civic and community engagement are needed and golly, she said that PPS often seems as if it does not want input. Spot on!
Speaker #8, Sala Udin, wants to see someone articulate a strategy. That's exactly what the position paper did. That's exactly what the Sports Reform Task Force did. That's what was ignored by PPS. Sala wants a “turn around” and I do too. We'll even teach flip turns! Yes, Sala, Pittsburgh is a segregated city with a large number of poor people. That's why we are excited to do water polo in the Hill District's Ammon Swim Pool again in the summer of 2016 and champion swimming and water polo, activities that don't cost much beyond having swim suits.
Speaker #9 wants community schools and job training for parents. I've been working with the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, but that's not the social skills job training that is really desired. But the new document speaks of community fitness for the parents and guardians of the students we coach. I want adults to start to train when their kids are youngsters so that a few years later as the kids are in high school we can kayak together in our rivers.
Speaker #10, the President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers hit a home run and made mention of the word “athletics.” She wants none of this as an “after-thought. Rather, authentic working together is desired. Bravo.
Speaker #11, a U-Prep teacher, Chris, made mention that Pittsburgh has been a sports town with some graduates in the NFL and NBA. Who is going to stand up and take the heat, he asks? I think we teach that in athletics too.
Speaker #12, Fred Logan of Homewood, wants the PSCC (Parent School Community Councils) to return with gusto. And our sports boosters, sports leagues and sports advocate efforts should be a part of those PSCC gatherings, perhaps bringing purpose for some to show up and get more involved.
I spoke at #13.
Speaker #14 ranted about knowledge being power. Learn everything and many things. “We should do better than that so our kids can survive in the world.” Learning to swim is a survival skill.
Speaker #15, a Linden teacher and advocate with gifted referrals wants a universal screening so that all the kids who qualify as gifted get an invite to the Pittsburgh Gifted Center. Of course, all the kids should have some of the same opportunities. We could tie a universal gifted screening approach to a mission to have universal swimming lessons.
Speaker #16, Obama Academy senior, spoke of Teen Block and speaking up with student voices. The most popular messages among the kids have been about school starting too early and PPS teaching the whole person. I just released a new video about the AM Swim Practices we have at 6 am. And, I'm a big fan of holistic coaching.
Speaker #17, a U-Prep junior, a young Mr. Sanders, wants to be an entrepreneur. His personal finance class doesn't have a stable teacher and there are many faculty who seem to change often. The lunches do not seem to be nutritional and he and his classmates do not seem to be energized after eating. With athletes, great nutrition is vital. With growing kids, nutrition matters. I also expect that with more athletes, we'll diminish violence. Learning to play well with others is a central theme we should embrace often.
Speaker #18, a parent wants to develop amazing adults and wants inclusion with the disability community. Unemployment is at 70% in that sector, and teaching needs to be visual, auditory and kinetic.
Speaker #19, Ron Lawrence, 100-Black Men and an A+ Schools board member is one I want to get to meet. Closing the achievement gap is important. That achievement gap happens at the swim pool too.
Speaker #20, Education Rights Network advocate wants to end that pipeline to prison. I agree, the PPS administrative cabinet should have a commitment to include an administrator to work full time on efforts to better support those with disabilities. Another after-thought it seems.
Speaker #21, Kenneth, a long-time community activist and friend wants student government and school newspapers to be a first contact with visitors to the school. The newspapers teach ethics and are a place to get focus in a crisis. What's going on should be written about and he feels Mark Roosevelt was a terrible person, especially as he sold off the printing presses in all the schools.
Speaker #22, Tim Stevens, spoke and sang of his days in the U-Prep school, site of the meeting, as it was then called Herron Hill. He spoke at a past meeting and he highlighted the slogan above the stage, “We are all learning.” Enough said.
Speaker #23, Chris Moore, the new U-Prep principal, a former teacher at Schenley, is back in PPS and he feels the new superintendent should be one who is “called” to the job. That is a great trait. He also says that the new superintendent should have the discipline to put students first as he or she makes decisions. I got to chat for a minute after the meeting with the new principal. He'll help to get the word out to the students about the opportunities to play water polo in the neighborhood on Fridays at the Thelma Lovette YMCA.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Summer Learning -- even after 3 pm.
In Taking Summer Seriously, the Packard Foundation examines a growing trend in California to improve access to high-quality learning after 3 p.m. and in the summer.
As part of the Summer Matters campaign, schools across California are building new models of summer enrichment programs designed to engage kids in a more hands-on way. Advocates say these expanded learning options are vital for low-income children at risk of falling further behind.Learn about the latest research and hear from school administrators, educators, parents and the students themselves about how these new models are making a difference for California's children on the Packard Foundation's website.
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Playing Well With Others Matters Greatly
KDKA Talk Show Host, Marty Griffin, points out that there have been 58 homicides in Pittsburgh this year in the city. Of those, 52 are "black on black." He asks, "Who is responsible?"
My reply on his FB wall:
Theme: We must do a better job of teaching our children how to play well with others. There are social skills that come from various settings that are often learned at formative ages that are important to individuals and the larger society. Sadly, much of these lessons are not being taught to a wide sector of our kids who are in urban areas. What goes on in our city schools in terms of sports, orchestras, and other higher level, fun, life-long, full on, year-round activities are poor, frail and UNLIKE what happens in most suburban settings. How to act, behave, wellness and relationships all matter greatly. And these are skills that need to be taught, practiced, rehearsed, challenged and supported / rewarded. It is a competitive world. Some don't have a fighting chance, so I'm not surprised when a fight breaks out on the field at the end of a Westinghouse / Perry football game.
My reply on his FB wall:
Theme: We must do a better job of teaching our children how to play well with others. There are social skills that come from various settings that are often learned at formative ages that are important to individuals and the larger society. Sadly, much of these lessons are not being taught to a wide sector of our kids who are in urban areas. What goes on in our city schools in terms of sports, orchestras, and other higher level, fun, life-long, full on, year-round activities are poor, frail and UNLIKE what happens in most suburban settings. How to act, behave, wellness and relationships all matter greatly. And these are skills that need to be taught, practiced, rehearsed, challenged and supported / rewarded. It is a competitive world. Some don't have a fighting chance, so I'm not surprised when a fight breaks out on the field at the end of a Westinghouse / Perry football game.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Play Water Polo in Pittsburgh on Friday Evenings at the Thelma Lovette YMCA
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByN94c3Pp4BpX2VsOWZnQ2lyTEdid25idGNWQmFLS1U3cGRj/view?usp=sharing
Click the link above for a one page handout that can be posted elsewhere.
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
We are having fun at Water Polo and wish you were there. Join us at 6 pm every Friday at the Thelma Lovette Y
We had another great session at the swim pool tonight. Adults get to learn and play water polo at 6 pm every Friday night. The game ends about 7:15 pm. If you want to swim some laps before or after, that's fine too. The Y closes at 8 pm.
This week was the third week and we had 11 players. Gave was 5 on 6. Worked out fine. The score isn't important.
Out of the 11 players, only two had been there in the past. So, nine new friends arrived. Some of the regulars were on travels and we understand -- it is the weekend. We want a drop in culture where folks can come and go without pressure. But, it would be GREAT if we had another five or six and then we'd be able to have a few subs.
Some fine athletes were in this week two. Two are 09 graduates of the US Coast Guard Academy and have had swimming experience.
Put it in your schedule. Bring a friend or come alone. We're in the water at 6. Come a bit early and check out the Y. It is new, clean, warm enough, and a wonderful asset to the city. If you work in Oakland or Downtown, you don't have an excuse.
The kids play at noon on Saturdays.
Check out our open Facebook group too: Pittsburgh Schenley Waterpolo. That's where I generally post the updates.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Pittsburgh, Community, Water Polo begins in January, for free, for adults on Friday evenings.
Friday evenings:
Adult Water Polo Clinics for Rookies!
No experience necessary. Shallow and deep water positions.Check it out.
First time in Pittsburgh at the brand new Thelma Lovette YMCA, Centre Avenue, just 5 blocks from the Consol Energy Center.
Co-ed, community water polo is geared to any want-a-be athletes, young adults, triathletes, master swimmers and even non-swimmers, as we'll need shallow end goalies and have liberal play off the bottom in a mostly shallow, friendly pool. Come out for a new winter-time, high energy game. We'll learn new skills, drills and play modified scrimmages and games. Bring your friends and make this a new challenge for the next weeks to come.
The 6:30 pm Friday night open practices are free as an introduction to the sport as we build up for a potential, in-house, water polo league slated for the fall of 2014.
Sign up now with Seth Pfannenschmidt, Aquatics Coordinator, Thelma Lovette YMCA, 412-315-0989.
Lead instructor, Mark Rauterkus, head varsity swim coach and founder of Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camps. Assistants, captains and volunteers welcomed. Contact: Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412-298-3432 to lend a hand.
Adult Water Polo Clinics for Rookies!
No experience necessary. Shallow and deep water positions.Check it out.
First time in Pittsburgh at the brand new Thelma Lovette YMCA, Centre Avenue, just 5 blocks from the Consol Energy Center.
Co-ed, community water polo is geared to any want-a-be athletes, young adults, triathletes, master swimmers and even non-swimmers, as we'll need shallow end goalies and have liberal play off the bottom in a mostly shallow, friendly pool. Come out for a new winter-time, high energy game. We'll learn new skills, drills and play modified scrimmages and games. Bring your friends and make this a new challenge for the next weeks to come.
The 6:30 pm Friday night open practices are free as an introduction to the sport as we build up for a potential, in-house, water polo league slated for the fall of 2014.
Sign up now with Seth Pfannenschmidt, Aquatics Coordinator, Thelma Lovette YMCA, 412-315-0989.
Lead instructor, Mark Rauterkus, head varsity swim coach and founder of Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camps. Assistants, captains and volunteers welcomed. Contact: Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412-298-3432 to lend a hand.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Erik and then myself, Mark, at PPS School Board public comment with back to school message
Speaker # 20, Erik Rauterkus.
Speaker # 21, Mark Rauterkus.
Speaker # 21, Mark Rauterkus.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Message to PPS Board and Administrators at public comment about Erik and Summer Dreamers too
My name is Mark Rauterkus
My family and I live at 108 South 12th Street, South Side.
I'm a proud parent, concerned citizen, scholastic coach and the lead activity provider with the BGC with Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp.
Erik is going to make a great swimmer for Swarthmore. Of course he'll take care of his studies and figure out what to devote his life to along the way.
Erik was also a varsity golfer. He was in the top 10 in PA Junior cycling.
As governor, he delivered more than a dozen podium speeches to hundred-plus audiences. He gave 2 keynote speeches. One to the PA Lobbyist Assn and another to the state-wide YMCA professionals.
He attended three week-long conference: One for fellow youth governors and twice went to CONA, a Congress of North American Affairs. As he enters college he already has good friends and contacts from around the nation.
Erik was a fixtures on a great Ultimate Frisbee team that played in the regional semi-finals.
He and his mates went to Ohio twice for water polo. Last year our side had 8 wins and 1 loss there.
He was 7th in his graduating class.
For 4 years he went to the PIAA Swim Championshps. Last year our relays set new city records in the pool, going faster in 2 events than than anyone ever in the city.
But this is what I want to stress. For the past 3 years, Erik worked as a coach for PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp.
This summer, Erik, with 2 other recent PPS graduates, led Swim & Water Polo activities at Camp Carmalt. They bonded with the kids, taught butterfly, and backstroke. They played great water polo. Almost all passed their deep water test. The last day of Summer School, tears came with their Good Byes. They bonded with the kids. Eight of the Carmalt kids, ran in the Liberty Mile. Erik WON the Liberty Mile in 2012.
It was a busy, action packed summer for myself and the 25 others on the staff in five sites. We ran, exercised, swam, played water polo, raced and did an “A for Athlete” literacy project that we're sharing with the world on a wiki.
The staff, like Erik are mostly young adults, mostly varsity swimmers. They worked half a day and made some money. Plus, they made tremendous impacts on the lives of the PPS students. The students, mostly going into 4th grade, learned a life skill that they'll never forget and had a sports-camp experience.
I think it is imperative that PPS put at the top of its priority list a vision that screams: WE PLAY Well with Others.
That is what we need in our neighborhoods. The wellness has to spring to life in the afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and summers.
Summer Dreams is 5 weeks. I also worry about the other 47. Summer Dreamers had 5 sites, 2 with PPS pools, and had more than 1,300 rejection letters.
Our capacity in terms of QUALITY interactions leaves something to be desired.
We had a lot of help: Shoe vendors, Pgh Marathon, PPS, sponsors, partners, Citiparks.
With a little more help from PPS and a philosophy that puts Erik and other kids much like him on our team – together – we are 10-times better, stronger and more robust.
The key to a thriving PPS comes with a serious change of heart to the overall after-school approach within PPS.
PPS has to be a place were we value, teach and learn how to play well with others. Playing well with others is a learned skill that must happen year-round and beyond the school day.
My family and I live at 108 South 12th Street, South Side.
I'm a proud parent, concerned citizen, scholastic coach and the lead activity provider with the BGC with Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp.
Erik is going to make a great swimmer for Swarthmore. Of course he'll take care of his studies and figure out what to devote his life to along the way.
Erik was also a varsity golfer. He was in the top 10 in PA Junior cycling.
As governor, he delivered more than a dozen podium speeches to hundred-plus audiences. He gave 2 keynote speeches. One to the PA Lobbyist Assn and another to the state-wide YMCA professionals.
He attended three week-long conference: One for fellow youth governors and twice went to CONA, a Congress of North American Affairs. As he enters college he already has good friends and contacts from around the nation.
Erik was a fixtures on a great Ultimate Frisbee team that played in the regional semi-finals.
He and his mates went to Ohio twice for water polo. Last year our side had 8 wins and 1 loss there.
He was 7th in his graduating class.
For 4 years he went to the PIAA Swim Championshps. Last year our relays set new city records in the pool, going faster in 2 events than than anyone ever in the city.
But this is what I want to stress. For the past 3 years, Erik worked as a coach for PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp.
This summer, Erik, with 2 other recent PPS graduates, led Swim & Water Polo activities at Camp Carmalt. They bonded with the kids, taught butterfly, and backstroke. They played great water polo. Almost all passed their deep water test. The last day of Summer School, tears came with their Good Byes. They bonded with the kids. Eight of the Carmalt kids, ran in the Liberty Mile. Erik WON the Liberty Mile in 2012.
It was a busy, action packed summer for myself and the 25 others on the staff in five sites. We ran, exercised, swam, played water polo, raced and did an “A for Athlete” literacy project that we're sharing with the world on a wiki.
The staff, like Erik are mostly young adults, mostly varsity swimmers. They worked half a day and made some money. Plus, they made tremendous impacts on the lives of the PPS students. The students, mostly going into 4th grade, learned a life skill that they'll never forget and had a sports-camp experience.
I think it is imperative that PPS put at the top of its priority list a vision that screams: WE PLAY Well with Others.
That is what we need in our neighborhoods. The wellness has to spring to life in the afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and summers.
Summer Dreams is 5 weeks. I also worry about the other 47. Summer Dreamers had 5 sites, 2 with PPS pools, and had more than 1,300 rejection letters.
Our capacity in terms of QUALITY interactions leaves something to be desired.
We had a lot of help: Shoe vendors, Pgh Marathon, PPS, sponsors, partners, Citiparks.
With a little more help from PPS and a philosophy that puts Erik and other kids much like him on our team – together – we are 10-times better, stronger and more robust.
The key to a thriving PPS comes with a serious change of heart to the overall after-school approach within PPS.
PPS has to be a place were we value, teach and learn how to play well with others. Playing well with others is a learned skill that must happen year-round and beyond the school day.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wow, another park opens. Some interaction expected.
Parks are great, of course. But, I'm longing for parks where coaches can interact with kids so we can learn to better play with others. The music is great. The trails are great. Hope to see you there.
Perhaps we can do some open water swimming there?
Perhaps we can do some open water swimming there?
Thursday, May 3, 2012 * 6-8 PM *
27th & Water Streets in the SouthSide Works
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), WYEP, the City of Pittsburgh and Riverlife have teamed up to bring you "Rhythm 'n' Flow" - a special event to celebrate the Grand Opening of South Shore Riverfront Park and Amphitheater.
Join us for an exciting evening on the riverfront in this spectacular park. Hosted by Cindy Howes, WYEP Morning Mix host and producer, this family-friendly, FREE event will feature the fun indie pop sounds of Delicious Pastries and the high-gain electric/punk/indie rock of White Wives . Kids can enjoy arts and crafts courtesy of the Citiparks Roving Art Cart. Light snacks and beverages provided by Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh. Bike Valet provided by BikePGH.
Walk there, bike there, drive there - just get there!
This world class urban park project has transformed the industrial riverscape at the Monongahela River shoreline into a key link within Pittsburgh’s beautiful trail system. The new park will eventually provide access to the river for recreation, entertainment, a private marina, water taxi service and public docking for recreational boating.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Statement to Pittsburgh Public Schools Board and Administration from Mark Rauterkus, October 24, 2011
Statement to Pittsburgh Public Schools
Board and Administration from Mark Rauterkus, October 24, 2011 *
Hello Board members, Superintendent and
staff. My name is Mark Rauterkus. I live in the South Side and have
two children that attend Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Later in your agenda you will see a
personell matter. I am very happy and excited to say that I've
accepted the swim coaching position for the high school boys swimming
coach at Pittsburgh Obama. I am really thrilled. It is going to be
exciting to work with the kids and such. I won't let the students or
you down.
One person emailed me and said the
whole burden of PPS Athletic Reform Task Force, something that I was
working on prior, is now falling on my shoulders. This is something
that I'm willing to accept. If I have enough access and good support,
and I think that will come, we will do some amazing things and
hopefully we can be that model.
A lot of sports, and I don't want to
get all Knute Rockne on you, is about playing well with one another.
I think we need to use sports as best we can to keep the kids good
goals.
It is alarming that the Schenley
building is for sale for $2-million and it is a loss of a swim pool,
something I care about most, but also the gym.
My suggestion to you is, if you must,
sell the school building but do not sell the athletic facilities.
Perhaps you can put a rider on the sale of some sort.
When the schools with grades 6 to 12
were created, you have to remember you have a middle school facility
with their own middle school teams. They need to be practicing after
school. Then these schools also must serve high school teams as well.
They all need to be practicing after school.
Let's hold onto those athletic
facilities and use them.
Even right now, with the closed Peabody
facility, we have to use that, all the time. That is another access
thing. It is sitting idle and we should be using it for our swim
season, swim lessons, water polo, fitness.
In September I took a team of high
school boys to Columbus, Ohio, for a water polo tournament. We played
in the JV brackets as Pittsburgh Combined in Worthington. In the last
game, at Worthington, we won in a game over Upper Arlington. I want
to thank Dr. Lane for putting that news into the Superintendent's
report and our players were very happy to hear her congratulations on
their play. Two weeks ago I gathered 17 players from the city and a
few from Shaler, and we played two games on a Saturday evening
against North Allegheny's Club Teams. The kids did great. Everyone
was proud, as they should be. Then they figured, "Boy, if we
had practices and a legit schedule, we'd be really, really good."
Speaking of access, I'm expecting we'll
work out access to Westinghouse High School so we can do afterschool
programs there and build up some aquatics programs there.
Speaking of Westinghouse, it appears to
me that the name, Westinghouse, the colors and the mascot is
important to them. It would be best to keep the name Westinghouse as
well as the colors and the mascott.
Houses in the Schenley Farms
neighborhood sell for more than $2-million dollars. This is a giant
building and it has a swim pool and gym. If you must, sell the
school, but get a fair price. And by all means, do NOT sell the
school on the cheap and then have the new owners expect to get a tax
break or tax abatement into the future. I'd say "No way to
that." I have always been against TIFs and tax-breaks that take
money from today's students. Different people, like homeowners, need
to carry more of the tax burden. Plus, a tax break for some amounts
to a bribe. That is never healthy.
We could use that swim pool and gym
that is within Schenley. It is new. It is of great size for a high
school programs. A condition of sale could be for the new owners to
occupy the school and the district to retain the sports facilities.
We have talked about this before with
the creation of the schools that span from grades 6 to 12. These
schools need to have VARSITY, JV, FRESHMEN and MIDDLE SCHOOL teams.
The Sci-Tech and U-Prep schools were built for middle school teams.
Use the sub-standard gyms and pools in those schools for sports play
for middle school students and then give access to the high school
students of both U-Prep and Sci Tech, an easily walk, to Schenley for
their JV and Varsity teams practices and games.
Intramurals present another area where
PPS needs great expansion. We need to have the space available in the
evenings to do those programs. Some can be done on a city-wide basis
at Pittsburgh Schenley.
It is with sports where be learn how to
best play well with one another. We have heard plenty from the
factions at Oliver High School and Perry High School. We need more
common ground. We need sports facilities so we can have better
coaching opportunities, better school spirit, better fitness and a
district that is going to retain its students and families.
Our kids need high goals. So don't take
away these goals, the physical hoops in the gyms, by selling the
facility that is necessary for our schools to thrive.
And when the time is right, I would
like to work to put in swimming and water polo programs at either
Perry or Oliver High School as well.
* These were not my exact words.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Roast Roosevelt in the $125 cheap seats, anyone?
You're Invited!Have a good time.
As Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and his family prepare to begin a new chapter, we as a community would like to celebrate Mark's remarkable accomplishments. In just five years time, Mark lead the Pittsburgh Public Schools on a journey that established The Pittsburgh Promise and instituted an agenda of school reform that attracted national attention, as well as almost $80 million in funding from outside the region. His leadership also inspired the confidence of Pittsburgh's foundation and corporate communities to again invest in our schools and students. Most importantly, Mark's work has equipped our students with the tools to achieve academic success and the reason to believe in a future full of promise.
Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st at Carnegie Museums' Music Hall to celebrate and honor Mark Roosevelt for all he has given to the students and families of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Food and drinks will be served in the music hall foyer from 5:30-6:45pm and the Roast and Sentiments of Gratitude will begin at 7pm in the auditorium. Tickets to the event are $250 each for reserved front of house seating and $125 each for regular seating. If you would like to purchase a ticket to this wonderful celebration or make a contribution to the Mark and Dorothy Roosevelt Excellence in Urban Education Fund, please contact Marsha Kolbe at marsha@pittsburghpromise.org.
PPS has been in a funk for decades that has been about the management of decline. That is what needs to break with the next superintendent. That character trait is what I think Pittsburgh needs in the search for a new superintendent. We need a person who is going to do much more than just manage decline.
The VERY BEST place for our rebirth in PPS is with sports, afterschool, play, community engagement, athletics and extra stuff. That's where we have fumbled most of all. It takes time and not much money to play with our kids. These activities are cheap. This is rewarding as well. That struggle and devotion is all about volunteers. Volunteers put on the Olympic Games. That's total engagement and where both cooperative and competitive spirit is kindled.
Mark Roosevelt made a semi-public apology to me and the others on the sports reform committee a month before he resigned. He said he had put sports on the back burner for the past five years. He was out to change that -- and then he quit.
Finally, we had a ray of hope.
Furthermore, and more presently, the suggestions from part of the athletic reform committee calls for widespread adoption of these sports' teams cooperatives where kids of different schools have to join another school's sport squad. That's more yanking of kids and families around town. That's more management of decline. Sports coops make a horrible solution for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
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