Trying to get something serious going with Citiparks -- my city, my toys

More info with extra links at the blog, https://blog.swimisca.org/pushing-my-city-to-re-establish-swim-lessons-swim-teams-and-an-all-city-sports-camp/

Meet the Dual Boards and how another editor has a transformational summer

Ken's article / blog post about swimming history.

Check it out.

https://kaszakblog.com/miracle-in-the-water/

PPS Public Hearing -- speaking

Statement from Mark Rauterkus

I am Mark Rauterkus. 

We reside at 108 S. 12th Street on Pittsburgh’s Historic South Side. 

I am a former PPS Varsity Coach. I led the first city league team of any sport to a WPIAL Sectional title. I also had the privilege to coached the first PPS athlete to win a WPIAL event and set a WPIAL record.

I directed Swim & Water Polo Camp as part of PPS Summer Dreamers for 10+ years. At the peak of the program we coached more than 200 students with 35 employees at five different sites for 27-days, including running the Liberty Mile.

I'm an afterschool provider with other nonprofits. 

I'm on the Take a Father to School Day Committee too, did PPS Sports Reform Task Force and other community projects.

Presently I'm webmaster with the International Swim Coaches Association.

Vice President for the World Aquatic Federation of Schools and Universities. – WAFSU.org.

My sons are proud PPS graduates, and I’ll be happy to share proud dad updates on their whereabouts after my 3-minutes have expired.

In my view, the swimming pool is the best learning laboratory ever. It is a classroom where students get to learn thousands of lessons.

Swimming – so when a family vacation happens people can enjoy themselves and come home, not in a coffin.

Physics, biology, training, goal setting, accountability, safety, hospitality, – and above all, Teamwork.

Sports, swimming, water polo – is about playing well with others. Sadly, that’s not being developed at our pools in the city.

The Olympics are happening in a matter of days. We have two OLYMPIC Swimmers from PA. Good luck to Josh Methaney from Upper St. Clair – now a IU Hoosier.

At the Swim Trials, high school swimmers were striving to make the team from Mt. Pleasant and Bedford, PA.. An Oakland Catholic grad was racing in finals too.

Sadly, in the city, we’re not creating literate Olympians here.

The city isn’t hosting its swim meet, nor teaching lessons.

There used to be dozens of PPS teams in meets for Elem Schools and Middle Schools. It is sad as to how that experience has been allowed to evaporate.

I do all these things internationally, and when I put in an ESSER Grant Proposal in December of 2023, I don’t even get a score or a call back. Seven great letters of reference, and not a peep from PPS.

https://read.swimisca.org/esser-pittsburgh-public-schools/

Meanwhile, we are very happy to be utilizing the swim pool at PPS Oliver High School throughout the winter with the Renegades. I gathered folks (adults and HS kids) every Monday evening to play water polo. We had a fine year. Some players went to events in Ocala, Florida and Cleveland even.

This summer, we had 30 people playing water polo at Citiparks Ammon pool – Bedford Ave, Hill District – every Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 7:30 pm. See the poster on my Facebook page.

Consultants are here! 

My invite is clear. 

I will be happy to meet with them to explain what SHOULD happen at PPS pools. With a little cooperation and latitude, the aquatics programs could be a bright start for the district and generate jobs, community engagement, scholarships, sponsorships and wellness. – PLUS – I dare say, over time, REVENUE.

Rather than having our district and city in decline – we’d be retaining kids and their families.

Call me: 412-298-3432

Mark@Rauterkus.com

WAFSU.org@Gmail.com

The swim pools are the low rungs on the ladder for civic engagement. The activities there should be for all ages too.

Ironic how many of the issues before the PPS Board today are matters that citizens battled against as they were hatched by Mark Roosevelt. Get rid of those 6 to 12 schools. We knew that they were a bad idea. 

But, it is the parents and community that knows best. Listen. Engage. Let's build that capacity at the PPS pools. 

PITTSBURGH BOARD OF EDUCATION

PUBLIC HEARING

JULY 22, 2024

6:00 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

CONFERENCE ROOM A

1. Ja'Bree Wiginton - Organization

412 Justice

Estudiantes preocupados

2. Shirley Hill - Retired PPS Teacher

Unfair treatment of Montessori teacher. Lack of Black teachers at Carrick High School. Scheduling concerns at Carrick High School.

3. Karen Sloan - Parent

Montessori Administration Concerns

4. Shannon Striner - Parent

Town Halls are performative

5. Gina Grotelueschen - Parent

PPS Fulton Parents

6. Lauren Abt - Parent, Community member

Frustration multiplied

7. Jalayne Allison - Organization

412 Justice

Concerned Student

8. David Abt - Student

Course offering at Schiller

9. Meredith Knight - Parent, Community member

Extend the Timeline for the Facilities Utilization Pan for better process efficacy, community feedback and future-proof planning

10. Laura Mullen - Parent

Facilities Utilization Plan

11. Jacquelyn Schriver - Family member

Ripple Effect Counseling, LLC

Do not close Fulton. These students matter. Their educations matter just as much as any of Pittsburgh resident.

12. Katy Rank Lev - Parent

Lainey Davis

Plan to increase or maintain enrollment?

13. Martha Riecks - Parent

Concerns regarding school closure plans and strategies

14. Goldette Shields - Organization

Shields Of Joy

Grieving and health awareness in the schools

15. Jessica Merlin - Parent

Jessica Merlin

16. Jala Rucker - Parent

412 justice

Don’t close Manchester school

17. Angel Gober - Organization, Community member

149.99

Stop the FU Process

18. Lily Allman - Student

A Student's Perspective on the School Closure Process

19. Valerie Webb-Allman - Parent

Rushed process leads to terrible outcomes

20. Lauren Stuparitz - Teacher/Staff, Parent, Community member

412 justice. Education rights network.

Closed Minds Close Schools

21. Andrea (Andy) Kubis - Parent

Attracting Families to the District

22. Jude Abt - Student

Manchester

23. Alice Valenta - Parent

Disappointment

24. Walitta Abdullah - Community member

Not providing testimony

25. Laura Gallagher - Organization

Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network and 412Justice

Not failing schools, as some say, but schools that are being failed

26. Debra Hall - Community member

None

27. Emily Sawyer - Parent, Other substitute

And the band played on

28. Marcia Bandes - Community member

School Closures

29. Pam Harbin - Community member

Stop the facilities utilization - AKA school closure - plan. Accountability for authentic community input and access

30. Rachel Schlosser - Parent

Authentic Community Input

31. Holly Munson - Parent

Stop the school closure process and start listening to what students actually need

32. Lars Munson - Student

Don't close schools

33. Rita Porterfield - Parent

The Silence Is Deafening

34. Jude Porterfield - Student

I've Had Enough of It

35. David Munson - Parent

Stop the school closures

37. Ghadah Makoshi - Parent

Accessibility and Accountability

38. Naomi Chambers - Parent

Concerned Parent…

39. Laura Petty - Organization

Advancement Project

School Closures Harm Children and Families

40. Paul James Dell - Parent

Response to initial facility presentation and listening sessions methodology

41. Jazlynn Worthy - Parent

The Foundation for the Future

42. Annette Hall - Parent

Taking away online public hearing attendances is taking away accessibility for many

43. Mark Rauterkus - Parent, Organization, Community member, Other Afterschool partner & former scholastic coach

Renegades Water Polo, International Swim Coaches Assn, World Aquatic Federation of Schools & Universities

Swimming, our pools are the best learning labs - yet under utilized

Swim lesson program

Current Wave to U CAN Swim with ISCA's LAP from Mark Rauterkus

Forming, WPIAL Swimming & Diving Alumni Group -- accepting founding members

Visiting the ISHOF pool, years ago

Talking to the swim coaches about SKWIM & Water Polo

Fwd: Obama Academy Information

This newsletter has an interesting mention about the swim team schedule. I blog about it at the Dystopia blog. See: https://dystopia.4rs.org/two-major-policies-changed-for-this-years-2019-20-obama-varsity-swimmers/

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies

Nothing in life is so complicated that it cannot be achieved by discipline and hard work. OBAMA ACADEMY INFORMATION December 2, 2019 Seniors See the bottom of this email for important information. 8th Grade Families!!!!! Friday Dec 6 is the deadline to submit your magnet application to be able to return to Obama for 9th grade. PTSA EVENTS Zumba Classes December 10, Tuesday, 4pm: BHS presents Zumba in the Obama cafeteria December 17, Tuesday, 3pm: BHS presents Zumba in the Obama cafeteria PTSA Meeting December 10, Tuesday, 6:30pm: Obama PTSA meeting in the Obama library. Featuring Dr. Dwyer, Chief of Data for PPS. PTSA PARTY December 17, Tuesday, 5-7pm: Obama PTSA invites you to join us for an Ugly Sweater Happy Hour at Primanti's!  5491 Penn Ave. (Garfield) Pittsburgh, PA 15206 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Ugliest Sweater Prize, Appetizers and Giveaways! Hope you will join us! Adults Only High School Swim Team Schedule M: 6-7:20; 3:30-5:00 (morning and afternoon) T: 3:30 - 5:00 (afternoon only) W: 6:00-7:20 (morning only) R: 3:30 - 5:00 (afternoon only) F: 6:00-7:20 (morning only) GRADUATION INFORMATION Graduation Practice Friday, June 12 /11:30-1:00 @ Peterson Event Center Graduation Sunday, June 14 / 3:00-4:00 p.m. @ Peterson Event Center Barack Obama Academy of International Studies Phone 412-529-5980 Fax 412-622-5983 https://www.pghschools.org/ibworld2

Barack Obama Academy of International Studies | 515 N Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Learning names

Citiparks Swim Meet

A day at the pool -- three days ago. (copied from a FACEBOOK posting)

Story of a day at the pool. See below.

+ + + 

Maribeth Leeson is with Kristin Moon.

July 23 at 10:25 AM

My son drowned 3 days ago. His limp, gray, lifeless body was pulled from the pool and it was every mother's worst nightmare. He was dead. I heard screaming, and after a minute realized the screaming was coming from me. I watched in slow motion as people rushed to him, as he was laid on the concrete, as CPR was started.

A million thoughts were flying through my head as I stumbled around, not knowing what I was doing, screaming. I saw my dead baby on the ground. I thought about his twin brother and how could his life go on without his twin. I saw my 10-year-old son, hysterically sobbing, in his bright blue swim trunks, his beautiful tan skin glistening with pool water still. His life ruined because he just watched his brother die, drowned in the same pool where he was playing. I saw my sassy little 3-year-old daughter, in her pink unicorn and rainbow suit, just watching me, confused. And how was I going to tell my husband that I let our perfect 5-year-old son drown?? It was exactly like I've read other people say in emergency situations: I thought this must be a dream, one of those dreams that you wake up sweating from, short of breath, because it was so real. Wake up! Wake up! But no, I was already awake. Then the screaming was worse. This is happening. My funny, silly, sweet, handsome, artistic, thoughtful little blondie was dead.

I finally was able to force myself to stop screaming, I ran over to where CPR continued on my precious baby. I have no idea how long it was. 10 seconds? 3 minutes? I don't know. But I ran to him and watched and cried and talked to him as my friend tirelessly and relentlessly continued CPR. He looked awful and perfect still at the same time. I watched as water and vomit poured out of his mouth, eyes swollen and rubbery looking. Then a miracle happened! I don't remember what it was first, but he showed some sign of life because several people at the same time exclaimed "there he is!" and encouraged me to keep talking to him. My friend kept working, I kept talking. He started to try to open his eyes and another round of exclamation occured. My friend said she could feel a pulse, they decided to move him off the concrete to the pool house. A million thoughts continued racing through my mind. I was sure even if he was saved, it was too late. I was sure machines were going to be doing his living for him. I was sure it had taken too long.

Everything that happened next seemed like an eternity. The ambulance took forever to get there. They tried to get an IV on the scene but couldn't. The ride to the hospital was painfully long. But my baby started coming around! He jerked his arm back with the IV needle stick! He cried! He was coughing! Somehow, my baby was still with me!

We have now been in ICU at Peyton Manning for the last 3 days. He is sitting beside me in bed right now playing with a stuffed puppy a friend brought to him and watching Captain Underpants for the 70th time. He's off all oxygen. He will very likely come home with me today. Home with me 3 days after drowning, home to live happily with his family instead of us burying him today.

The reason I'm sharing? This happened in a pool full of people. A pool full of ADULTS. I've read so many stories about kids slipping away from their parents and getting into a pool, to be found drowned shortly later. I've never considered the possibility that my child could drown right in front of people who were watching him bob up and down from the bottom of the pool to just below the surface, but didn't think he was struggling because he looked like he was PLAYING. When I found him myself, 2 feet from adults who were in the pool, my first thought was that it wasn't him, that it was someone else's kid who was seeing how long they could hold their breath. I can 100% understand why the adults who were RIGHT THERE didn't recognize that he was drowning because when I saw him, I too thought he was just a kid who was playing. What tipped me off was the kid I saw was wearing a shirt: Adam had gotten in the pool in his shirt. He doesn't know how to hold his breath. GET HIM OUT!!!! THAT'S ADAM!!!!

This was 100% preventable. The fault was MINE. He's a big 5-year-old. He has a very needy twin who makes it easy for me to forget that Adam is still 5 too and has needs that other 5-year-olds need. He's not self-sufficient even though sometimes I feel like he is because he's so capable. I didn't tell him to get in the pool without his Puddle-jumper on, but I was aware that he had. I simply told him to stay in the shallow end while I got his sister's swimsuit on, then I would be over. I thought it was fine for 5 minutes, as he could touch just fine in the shallow end, he wasn't alone because there were multiple adults IN the pool, and I'd be right next to the pool getting her suit on. Wrong. I have never ever been so wrong. He remembers what happened. He said he slipped off the edge. Based on where he was in the shallow end, and where we found him, he means the ledge from the shallow to the deep end. He said he kept going to the bottom then to the top and tried to yell "Mommy!" It kills me to hear that. It kills me to know that his last thoughts were that mommy didn't come for him. But God decided to give me another chance to do better. He gave my baby back to me. Now he knows I DID come for him.

Who knows what we'll face from here? Physically, it is beyond comprehension that he is suffering no consequences. He is asking to go back to my friend's to swim and says "this time, I'll wait for Mommy" before getting in the pool. But he yells for me every single time I'm out of his sight. He clearly has some anxiety that he didn't have before. I pray that some counseling and lots of reassurance will fix that.

I'm sharing this because I want to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Before going to any pool, first make sure your kids know not to get in until the adult who is responsible for them is ready to watch them. That sounds like common sense, but I was thinking because so many adults were present, he was fine, but those adults didn't know his swimming ability so they didn't question when he was under water. Second, KNOW THE SIGNS OF STRUGGLE! Adam didn't look like he was struggling! He wasn't splashing, thrashing, or screaming. He was simply underwater and couldn't get his head above water. Third, know CPR. I do know CPR. Could I have performed it in that moment? I like to believe I could have if I hadn't seen someone else taking charge. I like to think if I had been alone, my survival skills would have kicked in. Luckily, I don't know, because my amazing friend was busy saving him, but I do know that if I didn't know CPR, my helping him if we'd been alone wouldn't have even been a possiblity.

I said I wasn't going to share what happened. I feel so responsible (I am responsible!) because I let him get in without any sort of safety device on, and he was in before I personally was ready to watch him. But I decided to share because I see parents at pools doing these same things every single day! And I'm sharing to hopefully spread drowning awareness.

I'm also sharing to thank my friend for saving him, to thank her over and over and over. I am eternally grateful to her and will never ever be able to repay her. Ironically, I was there for her as her nurse when her son took his first breath after he was born, and now she was here for me as my son took his first breath after he died.

Please take water safety seriously. I never thought this would be me. It was me, but thanks to God and my dear friend Kristin, my son is still safely here. Learn from my mistakes so it's not you.

Adam Jeffrey Leeson, born 3/15/14
Adam Jeffrey Leeson, saved 7/20/19

I have no pictures of what he looked like when he drowned. Unfortunately I only have the image forever tattooed on my brain. I've shared a few images of him in the hospital and the most important one, the one with his guardian angel, Kristin Moon.

Please please please share this. I'm a nervous wreck to share what happened, sick to my stomach to hit "share" actually. But I feel this happened to save others. In my heart of hearts, I know other parents need to read this.

Outreach letter to families of summer campers

Mark Rauterkus
Head Lifeguard at The Pittsburgh Project
412-298-3432 = cell
https://4Rs.org


Dear Swimmers and Guardians of TPP's Summer Camp 2019:

This summer has been filled with many achievements with swimming, SKWIM and other pool activiites -- and this note details some dreams for future participation for you:


Parents & Guardians should come to to the pool and see your child swim -- soon.

Our summer isn't over and there are plenty of opportunities to keep swimming in the weeks and months to come.


1a) TPP's pool is closing at 7 pm on August 4. Come to the pool from 1-7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

1b) All kids and adults are invited to drop in for SKWIM game play from 6-7:45 pm every Tuesday & Thursday at Citiparks Ammon Pool on Bedford Ave & Memory Lane, Pgh Hill District.

1c) All kids are invited to sign up a SKWIM CLINICS at Allegheny County's North Park, 11:30 to 1 pm, M-F, (week 1) August 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and
(week two) August 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2019. Summer is not over yet. Links to the County's sign up at https://4Rs.org - See other side.

1d) We want to field a TPP team in a SKWIM tournament on Saturday & Sunday, September 7 and 8, 2019, at Citiparks Highland Park Pool. Shallow water. Kids & adults. If interested, email Coach Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com.

1e) For six Sundays this fall, from 2-4 pm, we'll be able to play SKWIM at Moon High School Pool. Sign-ups required. Great pool.

1f) Coach Mark's Saturday Swim School provides opportunities to swim, play SKWIM, and get Lifeguard training throughout the year, often at Oliver HS and/or Allegheny MS.


Thanks for the consideration. Let's keep building strenght and fitness in the water so that next year can be better than ever with a swim team and more games with outside groups.



Mark Rauterkus
412-298-3432
mark@rauterkus.com

Play SKWIM with the game's inventor at 1 pm on Saturday, June 22 at Northside pool

A special friend is coming to town for a short visit, and we're going to be hosting a special event -- a SKWIM game with the inventor of SKWIM, Kevin McCarthy, from the state of Washington.

Get your friends and family and join us at 1 pm at outdoor pool at The Pittsburgh Project, 2801 North Charles Street, (corner of Wilson), on Saturday, June 22, 2019. 

All ages and abilities welcome. Pay $3 at the gate to enter or free with your city pool tag.

This summer we got a mini-grant from Pittsburgh Play Collaborative to spread the aquatic game throughout the region -- and champion water safety as well as the concepts of playing well with others, sportsmanship, teamwork and plain-old fun! 

Plus, this summer, we're happy to report that the pool at The Pittsburgh Project is open again -- unlike in 2018 when serious plumbing upgrades became necessary. A wonderful staff has gathered too.

If you can't make it on Saturday, we also gather to play water polo and SKWIM every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 7:45 pm, weather permitting, at Citiparks Ammon Pool on Bedford Ave in the Hill District. 

More updates throughout the summer with our google calendar at https://4Rs.org.

BTW, one of my goals is to get a new bottom on the pool at The Pittsburgh Project for next year -- and a SPORTS COURT bottom seems perfect for UWH and our needs. Come check out the pool and offer your ideas. 

Fwd: IUP Summer Camps

-- Forwarded message ----

From: Christopher Villa

Greetings!

Sign up for camps at IUP!  Space is limited!

Sign up at https://ep01.iup.edu/C20877_ustores/web/classic/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1442.

Call with any questions or concerns,

GO HAWKS!

-Chris Villa

Angel Eye devices and system that helps in swim pools.

------ Forwarded message ---------

From: AngelEye

Thank You For Visiting NDPA 2019 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Technology in the Service of Aquatic Safety We at AngelEye Technologies would like to thank the organizers, participants, and sponsors of the NDPA 2019 Conference for an excellent event! The goal of safety and service, particularly when it comes to aquatic facilities, was exemplified in the professionalism of every member of NDPA.  AngelEye Technologies is proud to have modestly helped sponsor the conference and to have had the opportunity to showcase our drowning detection system and the technology that is reshaping lifeguard science.  We look forward to participating again and to help NDPA increase layers of safety where it is needed most. We may not have been able to speak to everyone at the conference, but AngelEye Technologies is here to answer your questions and to mobilize a lasting partnership with aquatic facilities dedicated to increasing public safety. Reach out to us out us and let us bring a presentation to you! Kind Regards, Bob Thurmond US Marketing and Sales Manager robert.thurmond@angeleye.tech In The News:  AngelEye Technologies is one of the Best of California Award Winners for 2018! Best of California Awards recognize public-sector professionals and innovative companies for their use of emerging technologies to improve citizen services.