Orca Synchro programs
All programs, dates, times, and fees are currently tentative and to be confirmed!

Fall-Winter 2008-2009
•  AquaSquirts and AquaSquirts Too fall 2008 -- once a week for 10 weeks, for 5 to 7 year olds
•  SynchroKids September to March -- once a week, 7 to 10 years old, beginner to Star 2
•  SynchroStars September to March -- twice a week, 8 to 14 years old, Star 1 and up
•  Seasoned Synchro September to March -- once a week, 15 years old and up, Star 6 and up
•  Synchro Moms September to March -- once a week, beginner women
•  NEW! Cross-training Mondays September to March -- once a week, an optional supplement open to all Orca swimmers
•  AquaSquirts and AquaSquirts Too winter 2009 -- once a week for 10 weeks, for 5 to 7 year olds
•  SynchroKids January 2009 intake -- once a week, 7 to 10 years old, beginner to Star 2

Notes
•  Water show
•  Attendance
•  Fractional fees
•  Advantages of Orca Synchro

Most Orca Synchro programs run from September 18, 2008, to March 22, 2009. However, there are no practices on Thursday, October 2, Sunday, October 5, or Monday, October 6 (due to the Synchro Alberta conference) or over Christmas, from December 8, 2008, to January 3, 2009.

Orca Synchro programs
Fall 2008

AquaSquirts (AS1) -- fall 2008

AquaSquirts is a play-based aquatic program for boys and girls (usually 5 or 6 years old) developed by the Red Cross and Synchro Canada. Children are given opportunities to improve breath control, floating skills, body awareness, and methods of propulsion. Specific synchronized swimming skills such as sculling and eggbeater are also introduced in AquaSquirts. AquaSquirts do not participate in Star level testing. Find out more about AquaSquirts.
Maximum class size is 8.

AS1 fall 2008
Sundays 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Sep 21 to Nov 30, 2008 -- 10 weeks, starting a week after and ending a week before our other programs
(no class October 5)
Parent meeting on September 28, 2:45 p.m. -- optional, but an opportunity to find out more about Orca Synchro
Water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 3:00 to 4:30 at Scona Pool -- AquaSquirts do not participate in the water show but are invited to come and watch

$45 -- fractional fees and casino shift credits do not apply to AquaSquirts

Click here to register.

AquaSquirts Too (AS2) -- fall 2008

AquaSquirts Too is a play-based aquatic program for boys and girls (usually 6 or 7 years old) developed by the Red Cross and Synchro Canada. Children are given opportunities to improve breath control, floating skills, body awareness, and methods of propulsion. Specific synchronized swimming skills such as sculling and eggbeater are also introduced in AquaSquirts. AquaSquirts do not participate in Star level testing. Find out more about AquaSquirts.
Maximum class size is 8.

AS2 fall 2008
Sundays 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.
Sep 21 to Nov 30, 2008 -- 10 weeks, starting a week after and ending a week before our other programs
(no class October 5)
Parent meeting on September 28, 2:45 p.m. -- optional, but an opportunity to find out more about Orca Synchro
Water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 3:00 to 4:30 at Scona Pool -- AquaSquirts do not participate in the water show but are invited to come and watch

$45 -- fractional fees and casino shift credits do not apply to AquaSquirts Too

Click here to register.

Orca Synchro programs
Fall-Winter 2008-2009

SynchroKids (SK1)

SynchroKids practise once a week for 1.5 hours on either Sundays or Thursdays, consisting of half an hour on deck and an hour in the pool. Typically swimmers are 6 to 12 years old. At a minimum they are comfortable in deep water, although they may not yet be able to swim a length. Or SynchroKids may have some experience with synchronized swimming, up to the Star 2 level. Teams are organized based on the ages and skills of the swimmers.
SynchroKids participate in Star level testing.
Maximum team size is 8.
Swimmers must wear nose clips, goggles, and swim caps. Nose clips and swim caps are available from the Orca Synchro head coach.

SK1 Sundays
Sundays 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Sep 14, 2008, to Mar 22, 2009
(no class October 5 or from December 8 to January 3)
Parent meeting on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 or Sunday, September 28, 2:45 p.m.
Star testing in November and/or March (at coaches' discretion)
Christmas water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2008, 3:00 to 4:30 at Scona Pool (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- tentative!
or
SK2 Thursdays
Thursdays 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Sep 18, 2008, to Mar 22, 2009
(no class October 2 or from December 8 to January 3)
Parent meeting on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 or Sunday, September 28, 2:45 p.m.
Star testing in November and/or March (at coaches' discretion)
Christmas water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2008, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- note that this is a Sunday!
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- note that this is a Sunday! -- tentative!

$360 is the full fee for fall and winter for 36 hours plus up to 18 hours of free swimming after class. Thanks to fractional fees returning Orca Synchro swimmers pay less. See the fees on the registration page.

Click here to register.

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SynchroStars (SS2)

SynchroStars practise twice a week for two hours per practice, each consisting of half an hour on deck and 1.5 hours in the pool. Typically swimmers are 7 to 15 years old. They must have at least synchronized swimming Star level 1.
SynchroStars participate in Star level testing.
Maximum team size is 8.
Swimmers must wear nose clips, goggles, and swim caps. Nose clips and swim caps are available from the Orca Synchro head coach.

SS2
Sundays 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
plus 15 minutes free time after each practice
Sep 14, 2008, to Mar 22, 2009
(no classes October 2, October 5, or from December 8 to January 3)
Parent meeting on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 or Sunday, September 28, 2:45 p.m.
Star testing in March (at coaches' discretion)
Christmas water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2008, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- tentative!

$720 is the full fee for fall and winter for 96 hours plus up to 12 hours of free swimming after class. Thanks to fractional fees returning Orca Synchro swimmers pay less. See the fees on the registration page.

Click here to register.

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Seasoned Synchro (SS3)

Seasoned Synchro is for intermediate/advanced swimmers who want to keep up their skills without swimming competitively. Typically swimmers are teens or adults with at least Star 6 or tier 3. Seasoned Synchro swimmers practise once a week for an hour and a half.
Maximum team size is 8.
Swimmers must wear nose clips, goggles, and swim caps. Nose clips and swim caps are available from the Orca Synchro head coach.

SS3 fall-winter 2008-09
Sundays 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Sep 14, 2008, to Mar 22, 2009
(no class October 5 or from December 8 to January 3)
Meeting on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 or Sunday, September 28, 2:45 p.m.
Christmas water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2008, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- tentative!

Click here to register.

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Synchro Moms (SM)

Synchro Moms is beginner-intermediate level synchro for adults. SynchroMoms do not participate in Star testing, but they demonstrate their skills at water shows.
Maximum team size is 8.
Swimmers must wear nose clips, goggles, and swim caps. Nose clips and swim caps are available from the Orca Synchro head coach.

SM
Sundays 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Sep 14, 2008, to Mar 22, 2009
(no class October 5 or from December 8 to January 3)
Meeting on Thursday, September 25, 6:30 or Sunday, September 28, 2:45 p.m.
Christmas water show on Sunday, Dec 7, 2008, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- tentative!

$480 is the full fee for fall and winter for 48 hours plus up to 12 hours of free swimming after class. Thanks to fractional fees returning Orca Synchro swimmers pay less. See the fees on the registration page.

Click here to register.

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NEW! Cross-training Mondays (CTM)

To develop strong, well-rounded athletes, cross-training specific to synchro is an optional supplement for all our synchro swimmers -- SynchroStars, SynchroKids, Seasoned Synchro, and SynchroMoms. Skill-level and/or age-based groups will visit stations for 20 to 30 minutes of diving, stroke improvement, synchro figures, ballet, acting, yoga, or pilates, but not team routines.
Swimmers must wear nose clips, goggles, and swim caps. Nose clips and swim caps are available from the Orca Synchro head coach.

CTM
Mondays 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
plus 15 minutes free time after each practice
Sep 15, 2008, to Mar 16, 2009
(no classes October 6 or from December 8 to January 3)

$330 is the full fee for fall and winter for 33 hours plus up to 5.5 hours of free swimming after class. Thanks to fractional fees returning Orca Synchro swimmers pay less; see the fees on the registration page.

Click here to register.

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Orca Synchro programs
Winter 2009

AquaSquirts (AS1) -- winter 2009

AS1 winter 2009
Sundays 2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Jan 11 to Mar 15, 2009 -- 10 weeks, starting a week after and ending a week before our other programs
Water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 3:00 to 4:30 (tentative!) -- AquaSquirts do not participate in the water show but are invited to come and watch

$45 -- fractional fees and casino shift credits do not apply to AquaSquirts

Click here to register.

AquaSquirts Too (AS2) -- winter 2009

AS2 winter 2009
Sundays 2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Jan 11 to Mar 15, 2009 -- 10 weeks, starting a week after and ending a week before our other programs
Water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 3:00 to 4:30 (tentative!) -- AquaSquirts do not participate in the water show but are invited to come and watch

$45 -- fractional fees and casino shift credits do not apply to AquaSquirts

Click here to register.

SynchroKids (SK1) -- January 2009 intake

SK3 Sundays
Sundays 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Jan 4 to Mar 22, 2009
Star testing in March (at coaches' discretion)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- tentative!
or
SK4 Thursdays
Thursdays 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Jan 8 to Mar 22, 2009
Star testing in March (at coaches' discretion)
Spring water show on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 (Swimmers arrive by 3:00; the show starts at 3:30) -- note that this is a Sunday! -- tentative!

$180 is the full fee for winter term, 18 hours (plus up to 9 hours of free swimming after class)
If you registered previously with the Orcas, fractional fees apply.

Click here to register.

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Water show

A couple notes about the water show:
- it's about an hour long
- it's very warm on deck at Scona Pool so dress appropriately
- bring lawn chairs to Scona Pool
- arrive early for good seats -- a few of the performance are in the shallow end, but most begin by the slide and move across the deep end
- refreshments are served afterwards

Attendance

Synchronized swimming is a team sport, so attendance is very important. Team members are relying on you to attend every practice.
•  Please contact the head coach, Karen, at 893-5342 if you are unable to attend a practice.
•  If you are not too sick, come to the practice and observe it on deck.
•  If you do not attend a practice and did not let your coach or the head coach know, a coach will contact you.
•  Being on time is important too!

Fractional fees

Starting in 2006, thanks to revenues generated at our fundraising casino, Orca Synchro has "fractional fees":
1st year -- you pay full fee
2nd year -- you pay 1/2
3rd year -- you pay 1/3
4th year -- you pay 1/4
5th year -- you pay 1/5
and so on.

Fractional fees do not apply to AquaSquirts, AquaSquirts Too, or summer camps.

Our next casino is scheduled for October/November/December 2009. Note that if for any reason Orca Synchro does not host a casino, fractional fees and casino credits may not be in effect; instead, full fees would apply.

Also note that prior to April 2008 fractional fees applied as of January of the second calendar year. The application date has changed to September, a year after most people start with the club.

Synchro advantages

Synchronized swimming is:
• great for developing aquatic skills
• a combination of aquatics and team skills
• a challenging sport combining athleticism and grace
• not expensive -- if you start in the fall of 2008, the full fee for SynchroKids over the fall and winter terms is $7.50 per hour, not counting the free time at the end of every practice. Plus there's free swimming for the rest of the family!
• great exercise for any body

Orca Synchro advantages

Orca Synchro is:
• the only purely recreational (noncompetitive) synchronized swimming club in Edmonton
• a member of Synchro Alberta and Synchro Canada
• active for over 10 years
• run by parent volunteers and coaches

The Orcas have:
• a congenial synchronized swimming club
• synchronized swimmers working together in teams
• no fundraising except a casino (the next one scheduled for October, November, or December 2009) -- no selling chocolates, sausages, or raffle tickets; no scrounging pledges; and no bingos!
• synchronized swimming for the fun of it
• at least 15 minutes of free time at the end of practices
• FREE swimming for family members
• no competition fees and no travel fees
• testing for Synchro Canada Star levels (For more info visit www.synchroalberta.com/recreational.htm)
• certificates for participants
• water shows
• certified coaches and instructors
• small classes
• convenient pool times
• a cheery, central location at Scona pool, 10450 - 72 Avenue, Edmonton
• plenty of free parking
• a fall season that ends by mid December, well before Christmas
• a winter season that ends by mid April, before outdoor soccer begins

Star level testing

Synchronized swimming stars and tiers are levels of difficulty learned and earned by recreational and competitive synchronized swimmers respectively. Orca Synchro performs Star testing once a term at the coaches' discretion.
The Synchro Alberta website explains the different levels and tiers.

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Orcas swim at Scona pool, 10450 - 72 Ave, Edmonton.

Dates, times, and fees are subject to change.
Orca Synchro does not charge GST.

Program

Updated May 1, 2008.
Please report errors and updates to webmaster@orcasynchro.org.