Two-and-a-half-year-old Hannah Partlow showed no fear while jumping into the pool at Ceres High School on June 25.
Father Jack provided encouragement as he waited in the water.
Hannah, and her two brothers, Hayden (6) and Caleb (5), signed up for swim lessons through the Ceres Recreation Division.
“I put both of my boys through the same program,” Jack said. “It teaches them the essentials they need to know. This was my first day in the pool with her (Hannah). I’m glad to see she’s adapted. She had fun. That’s what’s important to me.”
The Yoders, mother Kelly and 22-month-old daughter Jadynn, participated for the second straight summer.
“We did this last year too,” Kelly said. “We want to make sure she’s used to the water.”
Jadynn, Hannah and 26 other kids, aged six months to four years, were paired off with their parents as they spent a total of four hours in the pool over a two-week span. Classes were held Monday through Thursday.
Approximately 245 children, teenagers and adults registered for the city of Ceres’ Session I swim lessons, staged June 17-27.
The youngest and oldest students were aged 10 months and 64 years old, respectively.
“We have record numbers this summer,” said Traci Farris, recreation supervisor, who pointed out that 224 people signed up for Session III last year. “To be honest, I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because we have a lot more followers on our social networking.”
“Ceres has a good program,” Jack said. “The kids enjoy it. I think they should learn young.”
Additional swim lessons will be offered July 9-19 (Session II) and July 29-Aug. 8 (Session III).
Cost is $40 per participant.
For additional information, call 538-5628 or visit www.ci.ceres.ca.us.