swim practice start & new parent mtg

May 23rd

May 23, 2026

Summer 2026 is loading! We are so excited to have you as part of the StH Swim Team family and have a lot of fun in store!

Action Items:

Registration is final once you have paid and must be received by May 29.
- Check mailed to Catherine Stoddard, 613 Stone Brook Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37415
- Deliver cash/check to one of the board members, at the pool during practice. We try to wear bright pink shirts for easier identification.
Sign up for at least three volunteer shifts this season. Required for each family.
RSVP for all events, YES or NO.

Practice & Team Info:

Katie Sallee - Head Coach
Josie White - Assistant Coach
Cooper Lehman - Jr Coach
Ava McCoy - Jr. Coach
Emma Saunders - Jr Coach

Our first official practice kicks off Wednesday, May 27, for all Sharks!

New swimmer evaluation and new parent meeting Tuesday, May 26 at 8:30 AM.

Big Sharks practice from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
Camper Practice runs from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM—this is strictly for swimmers who need an early exit to get to a summer camp.
8 & Under Swimmers (Our Little Sharks) practice from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
- Parents of younger swimmers - please note that they might finish early during the first couple of weeks as they build up the stamina to stay in the water for a full hour.

Logistics: Please send your kids to the pool already dressed in their suits and completely ready to go. The pool restrooms are not always open first thing in the morning. When you arrive, park in the lower parking lot. The upper pool gate will remain locked during standard practice hours.

No parents, grandparents, sitters, or spectators are allowed on the pool deck during practice. You must stay completely outside the fenced area. This is an established safety norm that applies to absolutely everyone and allows our coaches and swimmers to focus 100% on training without interruptions. If you walk onto the deck during practice, a staff or board member will ask you to leave, so please save us all the awkwardness and stay outside the fence. We highly recommend taking a walk through the neighborhood, running your morning grocery errands, or bringing a good book to read in the shady spot up on the hill.

Bring: Goggles, a towel, and any standard one-piece suit, brief, or jammer works fine—they don't need to wear the official team suit to practice. Early summer mornings can get chilly, so pack some warm clothes for them to throw on when they get out.

End of Practice Promptness: Practice wraps up at 9:30 AM, and we must completely clear the pool deck and bathrooms immediately so the pool staff can prepare for the day. Because of this, changing at the pool after practice is not permitted. If you are a pool member and plan to stay and swim for fun, you must leave the deck area entirely until the pool officially opens at 10:00 AM.

Pool Memberships: We have a fantastic, symbiotic relationship with our home pool. If you aren't a pool member yet, Stuart Heights swim team families who join as new members get an exclusive discount, so check out stuartheightspool.com for details.

Our Big Fundraising Goal: This year, our primary goal is to raise at least $12,000. This money will go directly toward purchasing brand-new starting equipment and a high-quality pool sound system. We offer corporate and family donor tiers, and this Friday, May 29, is the last call to get a sponsorship logo on our official City Meet shirts. Please connect with Julie Saunders at [email protected] or 423.400.6230 to learn more or contribute.

Stay Connected: Please pull out your phones right now and join our Remind App using code @e7eh68. This is our primary tool for instant updates, especially when we face summer weather delays on meet days. You can also follow the team on Facebook @CHA.sharks4life and Instagram at @sth_sharks. *note - for a multitude of reasons, we had to start a new Facebook account. Please join us here

Calendar of events:

May 26 - 8:30 AM, New Member Evaluations & New Parent Meeting
May 27 - First Practice for all swimmers
June 1 - StH at Dalton
June 4 - Signal @ StH
June 8 - Ooltewah @ StH
June 11 - Sth @ Signal
June 18 - Sth @ FtO
June 22 - Dalton @ StH
June 29 - FtO @ StH
July 2 - StH @ Ooltewah
July 10-11 - City Meet
July 12 - End of Season Party