Shelley Lechnir, aquatics director at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, reads the book “Josh the Baby Otter” to kindergarten students at Rogers Elementary School on May 16. This water safety program is being delivered to all Marshalltown kindergarten students this month.
The Marshalltown Rotary Club and the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA are sponsoring a water safety program focused on the book “Josh the Baby Otter” for all Marshalltown kindergarten students during their physical education classes this month.
Presenters from Rotary and the Y deliver the one-time program about how to stay safe around water from the point of view of Josh the otter, who is featured in the book. Students receive a free book to take home to share with their families. Shelley Lechnir, aquatics director at the YMCA-YWCA, visited Rogers Elementary School on May 16.
“Kindergartners were very receptive to the tale of Josh the Baby Otter,” said Nicki Boliver, PE teacher at Rogers Elementary School. “The importance of water safety is something that many of the students have already been introduced to and this activity helped reinforce the efforts of our community and its mission to keep kids safe around bodies of water. As the activity concluded, kindergartners pledged to stay away from water unless they were with an adult. They made a real connection to what was being taught to them through this program.”
