Gator Gazette

🎆🎆🎆Week of June 30-July 7 🎆🎆🎆

Greetings from Cape Henlopen and our 2024 Gator Teen Trip!! We’ve enjoyed a full weekend of bonding, eating, playing games and more eating!! Thanks for sharing your 52 teens (!!) with us – they are really lovely. A HUGE shout out to Priscilla Bacon for organizing this weekend from start to finish. A massive thank you to our chaperones: Jenny Blasdell, Ellie Wooden, Christie Moffat, Ed Fisher, Abbie Fekade-Sellassie, Donna Case, Courtney Collis, Vanessa Gillon, Megan DiNicola, and Joletta Humpert - thank you for giving your weekend to allow our teens to create such special memories. Big thanks to our shoppers, Julie McCarthy, Jess Colburn, Jen Reilly and Andrea Giaudrone for helping to keep these hungry Gators fed! Our coaches did an amazing job inspiring team building and having fun at the beach. Hoorah!

We have a big week ahead!

Tuesday, we will host Adelphi Pool for our B meet @ 6 pm! Theme is Red, White and Blue!

Thursday is July 4th. See below for an opportunity to march in the Woodmoor Parade with fellow Gators, and join in the fun at Franklin Knolls 11-6 pm. Happy Independence Day!

Saturday we’ll celebrate our Seniors at our last home meet against Manchester Farm, and finally on SUNDAY we will go toe-to-toe will our entire Division at the 2024 Division C Relay Carnival.

All of this Gator action means we need you to declare your swimmer’s availability for Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. We also need volunteers to help make Tuesday and Saturday’s home meets a success.

Thank you in advance for your declarations and volunteerism. We hope your family has a wonderful July 4!

Go Gators!

Please see below for the following:

• Weekly Calendar
• Mini Gators Info
• Revised Calendar. Tuesday Night B Meet July 2
• Coaches Corner: Gators of the Week!
  
• TUESDAY B meet Info
• Saturday A Meet Info
• SUNDAY Relay Carnival Info
• Clinic Info
• Sponsorship Opportunities to help the Gators, All Set Dine Out Night, 7/9
• Introducing 2024 Sponsors of the Franklin Knolls Gators
• Gear Updates
• Updates on Swim Lessons, Instructors, Masters Swim, Adult Swim League

Please note the meet themes on the revised Calendar have been changed. CLICK HERE TO REVIEW

Please note the following Wednesday Night "B" meets will now be on TUESDAY:

Tuesday, July 2 Adelphi Pool at Franklin Knolls (moved in observance of July 4)

Please note Tuesday afternoon clinics will move on those weeks as follows:

Wednesday, July 3 Afternoon Clinic

As you pay for items, concessions, merch, etc. on Venmo or Zelle, please use simple text (not emojis) as much as possible. "Gear" or "Concessions" is the perfect language to use. It helps to streamline our bookkeeping.

PLEASE CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT SENDING SNACK SHACK PAYMENTS TO THE GATORS!!

Clinic this week will be held Tuesday from 5-6pm, as usual. Reminder that 5-5:30 is the 11&Over clinic while 5:30-6 is for 10&unders. The coaches will send out the clinic's focus and signup sheets tonight. There will be no clinic on Thursday due to the holiday.

This week, practices will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday only from 11:00-11:45 am Please see the list of assigned helpers for the following weeks.

July 2-3

Alyssa Baumann

Jake Balatan

Lane Gillon

Lillian Daniel

Maira Riley

Tim Ryder

July 8-11

Addie Conrad

Aleme Fekade-Sellassie

Gigi Fekade-Sellassie

Ellsworth Pauley

Maddie Highfill

Mary Collis

Mini Gators you are so amazing and SO MUCH FUN!! We had a fantastic Fun Friday and double-whammy ice cream social and birthday celebration!! Our Minis continue to impress us with their hard work and positive attitude.

Due to the Teen Trip and 4th of July, Practices will be on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings ONLY this week.

We look forward to our final week of practice and our Mini Gator meet on Thursday, 7/11 @ 11 am. Parents/Caregivers, you are welcome to attend the meet to cheer on your Gator!

GOOOO MINIS!

All swimmers must arrive to Franklin Knolls by 4:45. Please come dressed for warmups with costumes in your bag. We will warm up, get dressed in costumes, and head out to the parking lot to do photos and parade in.

THEME IS: Red White and Blue

B-Meet lineups are based on parent signups for various events. You must commit to attend the event AND select events you want your swimmer to compete in. 12&U swimmers must be approved to swim I.M. The Coaches will review meet entries on Monday. They reserve the right to remove your swimmer for an event if they do not feel the swimmer is ready to compete. The coaches will release the final Meet Program on Tuesday morning.

If your swimmer can no longer make the meet, please contact the B-Reps Allison and Tracy.

Please note: we will not allow any last minute entries the night of the meet.

We know Team Unify looks different this year. We’ve created tutorialsl (thanks, Allison!) showing the step-by-step process to register for the meet and sign up for jobs. While you’re there, we ask that you look ahead and declare your swimmers’ availability for as many meets as you know of.

1. How to Sign Up for Time Trials OR a B Meet

2. How to Sign Up for a Volunteer Job

3. How to Sign Up for an A Meet

As always, these How-to’s can be found under PARENT INFO on our TeamUnifymainpage

All swimmers must arrive to Franklin Knolls at 7:40 am.

Please arrive to Franklin Knolls' parking lot by 7:20 am. Coaches will take attendance, give a brief pep talk, and we will caravan together as a team to Clarksburg Village Pool

Please remember, swimmers may wear a Team suit or their own. No logos or branding of any other clubs/teams on suits or caps.

THEME IS: RED WHITE AND BLUE

All Gators and their Families are encouraged to attend the meet and stay at the end to celebrate our 2024 Seniors!! We will do a small tribute to them at the end of the meet, 11:30-12:30.

Saturday A-Meet rosters are based on best times. Parents must declare swimmers' availability for the meet. Races will be seeded based on top times, with a max of 3 INDIVIDUAL STROKE events per swimmer, and a max of FIVE events per day. The Coaches will release the meet lineup on Thursdays for the Saturday meet and on Tuesday mornings for Wednesday meets.

You MUST declare your swimmer as available or unavailable to participate in the meet by Tuesday, July 2 at MIDNIGHT! CLICK HERE or the button below to declare your swimmer.

We still need timers, take off judges and runners for Saturday's meet. If you haven't timed before, it's easy and no training is required. To Sign up for a volunteer job, CLICK HERE or the button below.

We also need shoppers, volunteers for concessions on Saturday.

The Relay Meet Lineup will be issued Thursday morning. Please contact Megan immediately if your child cannot make the meet. fkpswim@gmail.com

Please note the coaches work extremely hard to put together the relay teams based on strategy, top times, and sometimes oddball combinations. We appreciate your understanding that this is a complex lineup and we trust the Coaches' expertise to give us the best shot for victory.

All swimmers must arrive to Franklin Knolls at 6:50 am.

Please arrive to Franklin Knolls' parking lot by 6:50 am. Coaches will take attendance, give a brief pep talk, and we will caravan together as a team to Mill Creek Towne

Please remember, swimmers may wear a Team suit or their own. No logos or branding of any other clubs/teams on suits or caps.

THEME IS: RUBBER DUCK.

Megan, Ingrid and Jenny will determine all Volunteers based on Division rules this week. We will contact folks individually as needed. Please come cheer on your Gators!

This week's FUN FRIDAY will be the ICE CREAM SOCIAL!!! Our 11-12 parents are hosting. We are still in need of some shoppers, some whipped cream/chocolate sauce servers and a few people to help with set up and clean up. Please sign up here.

Also since this is 4th of July week we understand some of you may be away traveling for the holiday. Please fill out this form to let us know if you are able to attend Fun Friday this week and if your child has any dietary restrictions. We want to make sure we have the right amount of ice cream or treats for everyone to enjoy!

FUN FRIDAY VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS

For the rest of the season’s Fun Fridays, we will have the parents of each age group help host a Fun Friday. Parent volunteers will shop for and help on the day of your age group’s Fun Friday. I will be at each Fun Friday to lead but need your help to pull it off. We aim to make this a bonding experience for parents within the age groups! Additional information is in each SignUpGenius, linked below.

7/12 Gator Olympics: 15-18 parents

Happy to answer any questions about Gator Fun Fridays- please email Jennifer at jameyer85@gmail.com

Feel free to head over to Capital Sport and Swim for Team Suits. Their knowledgeable staff will help with sizing, and have all the selections for our Team Suits on file. If you'd prefer, you are welcome to bring a black or green suit to Capital Sport and Swim, and they will put a Gators logo on it for a small fee.

The online store is closed. Thank you for purchasing and supporting our team! You will get an email when your order is ready for pick up at Capital Sport & Swim store or has been shipped. We expect the orders to be available the first week of July, but ask for patience in the event of shipping delays.

Personalized Caps will be available in 2-3 weeks.

Tumblers have arrived!!! Feel free to email fkpswim@gmail.com to arrange pickup, or seek out a rep during practices. Cheers to cool drinks and Gator pride all summer long!

We will have Gator hats and T-shirts available for sale at the ping pong tables during home A & B meets.

Questions? Text Susanne at 301-404-8973 or Jennifer at 301-793-9692

The Gators swim in Division C of MCSL and Division C shirts and more are ready for order! Please visit the MCSL Division C store to see a full selection of tees, tanks, sweats, and bag tags that will help commemorate this incredibly fun and competitive summer.

The store will be live through July 7. Orders will be delivered to the team reps and we hope to have it by Divisionals. A portion of the sales will come back to the Gators!

Please indicate Franklin Knolls in the school and teacher fields and your swimmer's name in the student field.

This year's logo was designed by award winning graphic artist Matt Hood of the Silver Spring Store and Graphics Without Borders. We appreciate his support of MCSL Division C and the Gators. Thank you, Matt!

Any members who make purchases on behalf of the Gators can submit for reimbursement by submitting this FORM. You can also click on the green button above!

Thank you in advance for streamlining our reimbursement requests

Are you (or do you know someone who is) the proud owner of a local business? For the first year ever, we are looking for sponsors to help us make a splash this season!

Why sponsor Gators?

• Reach a dedicated community: Gain exposure to a large network of families through announcements at meets, website promotion, and team gear.

• Give back to your neighborhood: Support local youth and healthy competition!

• Unique marketing opportunities: Choose your level of sponsorship and benefits, including announcements at meets, dine-out nights at your establishment with a portion of proceeds going to the team, or logo placement on team apparel and promotional materials.

By sponsoring our team, you'll help us:

• Keep dues affordable: We want swimming to be accessible to all families, and sponsorships allow us to offer discounted or waived dues for those in need.

• Invest in our future: Funding helps us provide the best equipment and coaching for our swimmers, allowing them to reach their full potential.

Become a Team Champion!

Contact Yasmin Mesiya (631.353.1755/yasminmesiya@gmail.com) to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

Together, we can make a wave!

Join us at All Set on July 9th from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM for Dine Out Tuesday. All Set will donate 25% of the pre-tax total of every check to Franklin Knoll Swim Team. This includes dine and takeout. We hope to see you there !

At All Set, we put a contemporary twist on seasonally inspired dishes that reflect our passion for fresh ingredients, nutritious foods & unforgettable flavors. We cook American cuisine influenced by the traditions of coastal New England – comforting, classic, warm & friendly.

Please contact Katie Joselow (202-615-2226) if you have any questions and thanks!

DC Pediatric Smiles was crafted with a vision to help kids love going to the dentist and look forward to their next visit. Our bright, coastal-inspired space is the perfect setting for a comfortable introduction to dentistry.

Zinnia, voted one of the best kid-friendly restaurants in the DMV, is a proud sponsor of the Franklin Knolls Swim Team! After the meet, swing by Zinnia for a delicious meal and a cold drink. At Zinnia, we bring an all-day experience to the historic Mrs. K’s grounds. Chill in The Gardens with tasty pub and picnic fare and a great drink menu. Cozy up in The Tavern’s barrel room with its charming stone and brick walls. Our newly renovated dining rooms use ingredients from our own organic raised beds. And don't forget to grab a freshly roasted coffee at our Cafe. Go Gators!

The Silver Spring Store (thesilverspringstore.com) is a boutique, online gift shop dedicated to and celebrating Silver Spring, MD. All of the T-shirts, merchandise and original artwork is created by award-winning graphic artist Matt Hood, who calls Silver Spring home.

Matt has designed the soon-to-be released Division C t-shirts and tanks! Look for those beauties soon!

Kim O’Brien, Doctor of Physical Therapy, is the owner of Refined Physical Therapy & Wellness. With 16 years of experience, she is an accomplished manual therapist with a strong interest in sports medicine. Her treatment techniques are influenced by advanced certification courses, including trigger point dry needling, Pilates for rehabilitation, and postpartum women’s health rehabilitation. For any physical therapy needs, please reach out to Kim at 315-382-2344 or email to Kob@refined-pt.com.

If you are interested in offering your photography talents to capture Gators in and out of the water this summer, please contact Kim at briroo4@yahoo.com. Please remember, in compliance with MCSL and USA Swimming's Safe Sport policies, only approved photographers may stand behind swimmers to capture images.

If you capture a great photo throughout the season, please share with Kim at briroo4@yahoo.com

A reminder, each family is required to volunteer four shifts or one significant job per season. All volunteer positions are described HERE.

We need CONCESSIONS Volunteers for our home meets! This is a fairly easy job, show up and help sell or grill, we also need folks to pickup online orders. We will have them paid for and ready for curbside pickup. No shopping needed! Sign up HERE

Please signup to volunteer for Meets via Team Unify, or sign up to help for social events through various sign up geniuses throughout the summer.

If you have questions regarding open Volunteer positions or ways you'd like to help out, please contact our 2024 Volunteer Coordinator, Jenny Blasdell at jenblas@gmail.com

Session 2 of swim lessons begins next week, Tuesday July 2! An email with the schedule and instructor assignments has been sent, so please contact fkpswimlessons@gmail.com if you were expecting to receive the email and did not or if you have any further questions. Registration for session 3 is now open. All information - including session descriptions, timing, and the registration link can be found here.

Huge thank you to all masters swimmers for coming out this week! We hope you are having as much fun as we are. Masters swim will be held Tuesday July 2nd & Wednesday July 3rd this week in light of celebrating July 4th and requests for movement from Friday July 5. The registration form is still open here and for more information about the program, click here.

Workout Wednesdays

Thank you to all that came out for Workout Wednesday last week! We had a blast and can’t wait to do it again this week on Wednesday July 3 on the basketball courts from 9:30-10am (later time than last week). The workout will focus on building overall strength and endurance, and will be led by Erin McLaughlin! Please bring a yoga mat or towel and water, and feel free to bring your choice of dumbbells for an extra challenge! When you arrive, please venmo @FKPSwim or bring cash! Cost is $8 per person. Can’t wait to see you all there!

Questions about swim lessons, swim instructor applications, masters, and Workout Wednesdays can be directed to Erin and Kelsey at fkpswimlessons@gmail.com

There is still time to register to swim meets with our Silver Spring Sailfish Team! There are 3 meets left! The fee is 75.00 to join. There is no commitment other than showing up to swim and have fun when you can make it. We have 25 swimmers registered and almost everyone will be participating in the second meet on June 16th! We had a great time at our first meet last weekend. Come cheer us on and check it out if you are on the fence, it’s a lot of fun. We have an updated team website for your reference to check out the rest of the meet dates and locations. You must pick your events by the Thursday prior to the Sunday meets to be allowed to swim. Relays will be determined once swimmers get all their entries in! If you have any questions please reach out to Kim O'Brien for assistance. Kstepienpt@gmail.com, 315-382-2344.