Lake Ridge Lancers: My Site News

Lancers,

Today’s email is relatively short (hooray!).

1.        Tomorrow is the Pasta Party.  It begins, under the Pavilion, at 6:30.  Swimmers will be fed first, then siblings and families as the food holds out (it always does – it’s like loaves and fishes!)  Please bring your own drinks.

2.       If you volunteered to cook pasta, please bring it with you tomorrow night.  We’d like it a little early so that we can heat it up – we’ll be starting the heating process at 6:00.

3.       Tomorrow’s Spirit Week Event is Banner Painting (for 9 to 18 year olds) and Rock Painting (for 8 and unders).  We had to switch things up a bit because of today’s Lil’ Lancer meet.  WE WILL NEED LOTS OF PARENTAL HELP DURING THE PAINTING TOMORROW.  Please see Kelly Carpenter under the pavilion if you can help.

4.       I am still collecting donations for the coach’s’ bonuses.  I will be at the pool everyday this week and you can even catch me in clerk of course at the meet on Saturday.  Please don’t forget!

Lori McDonald

Lancers,

I realize that this is a very long email, but it is full of important information and I ask that you take a few minutes to read it completely.  Everywhere you see yellow highlighting, I am asking for parental help!

This email contains information regarding the following:

·         Spirit Week

·         Lil’ Lancer Meet

·         Practice Schedule Adjustment for Tuesday, July 21^st (this refers to swimmers ages 8-10)

·         Pasta Party

·         Divisionals

·         Lancer Mom’s Night Out

·         Banquet

·         Lost and Found

·         Last Year’s Trophies

·         Lancer of the Week

·         Coaches Bonus

Spirit Week

This week is Lancer Spirit Week – our theme for Divisionals is Lancers Rock the Red and Lancers are Back in Black.  We are striving for a red and black Rock & Roll Theme.  We have lots of activities planned for the swimmers.

Parents – we need help Monday – Thursday with the activities.  Please see Kelly Carpenter under the pavilion if you are willing to help out before, during, or after your swimmer’s practice.

Lip Sync Air Guitar Talent Show

Show everyone your rock & roll talent by lip syncing to your favorite rock & roll song.  You can go it alone, or perform with a group of your friends.  Be sure practice!  Everyone will get 30 seconds to 1 minute to show off their lip-syncing talent!  Remember to bring your music.

This will be done at the very end of practice so the swimmers will have to stay late after practice.

Golden Lancer Relays

Another long standing Lancer tradition, the Golden Lancer Relays are tons of fun.  Each relay consists of a coach and a swimmer from each age group.  If you would like to participate, you must sign up with Coach Kristen by Wednesday (in person please).  They coaches will then divide up the teams (we’ve got to make it fair!) for Friday’s festivities.

Guitars

Lancers, if you would like, you may bring a large piece of poster board to practice to trace a guitar pattern to decorate at home.  It will look perfect with your bandana!

Lil’ Lancer Meet

This Tuesday, July 21^st, will be our 2^nd and final Lil’ Lancer meet.  This time we plan to use all 6 lanes of the pool!  There will be ribbons for all Lil’ Lancers attending as well as a special treat afterwards!

Lil’ Lancers please plan to arrive at 9:00 so that we can get you all checked in and get the volunteers organized.  We want to start the meet promptly at 9:15.

Parents – I’m going to need lots of help – 18 timers, 3 recorders, scorers, & a ribbon lady!

Be sure to stick around and cheer on our Lil’ Lancers!

Practice Schedule Adjustment for Tuesday, July 21^st

Due to the Lil’ Lancer meet on Tuesday the  practice schedule for swimmers ages 8 – 10 will be adjusted such that the swimmers will not be in the water as long.  However, their practice arrival and end times will remain the same.   When the swimmers are not in the water, they may participate in Spirit Week Activities (above) as well as cheering for the Lil’ Lancers.

Pasta Party

Wednesday at 6:30 there will be a pasta party for all Lancer swimmers.  We’ve got to start loading up on carbohydrates before the big divisional meet!  The pasta party will take place at the pool, under the pavilion. 

I will need parents to pre-cook the pasta and bring it to the party on Wednesday.  I already have the pasta purchased!  If you are interested, please see Lancermom during practice on Monday or Tuesday and pick up your box of pasta.

I also need parental help on Wednesday to assist in getting all of the swimmers fed!

We will feed the swimmers pasta and rolls; however, you will need to bring your own drinks.

Divisionals

Meet entries will be posted on Tuesday morning.  Be sure to come to practice to see what you will be swimming on Saturday.  Entries will be finalized on Tuesday afternoon.

D ivisionals will be held at Sudley this year.  Important things to note:

-          There will be no drop off of tents or children on Saturday.  Lancers will be setting up in the parking lot as we did for our dual meet with Sudley.  Remember, we will be sharing this space with the Kingsbrooke team!  You may set up your tent in the parking lot after 8:00 on Friday night.

-          Unless you have received a parking permit, you must park across the street in the mall parking lot and walk over.

-          Deck access is restricted to volunteers and we ask that you honor this – it enables the meet to run more smoothly.  Parents will be allowed to stand on the side by the baby pool and on the deck at the shallow end of the pool in order to take pictures or film swimmers (you can’t camp out there, though!)

-          Lancer arrival time is 6:20 am.  Remember, if you do not arrive in time for warm-ups, you risk losing your relay spot.

-          The Lancers will have a white tent set up in the parking lot at the entrance to the clerk of course area.  This is where all Lancer swimmers will meet when their events are called before going into the clerk of course area under the pavilion.  This is also the spot where all Lancer Relays will meet. 

-          Sudley takes great pride in the appearance of their pool.  Lancers will not be permitted to throw confetti, spray silly string, or use any kind of body or hair paint. 

-          At the end of the meet, there will be the usual fun relays – crescendo, coaches, dads, and moms.  I have already filled my mom’s relays, but am looking for a few more dads to round out our 2 relay teams.

Lancer Mom’s Night Out

Attention all Lancer Mom’s (sorry Dad’s – plan your own get-together!)  We will be getting together for dinner one evening during the week after divisionals.  I don’t have any hard plans yet for location or date, but am open to suggestions!  See Lancermom to sign up!    

Banquet

The Lancer Banquet will be held on Sunday, June 26^th.  Everyone should have already received an evite to the banquet.  Please be sure to respond.  We will be having Chik-Fil-A again this year.  (A word of caution to those with peanut allergies:  I am told that this chicken is cooked in peanut oil.)

Please bring the following to correspond with the first letter of your last name:

A-C  Please bring bread
D-M  Please bring side dish with serving utensil
N-Z Please bring dessert with serving utensil

We also need volunteers to help with set-up, take-down, serving and decorations.  If you are willing to help, please indicate so when you reply and we will contact you with more details.

Lost and Found

Found Items:

1.       There is a large box of clothing and miscellaneous stuff in the Lancer Shed. 

2.       Coach Kristen also has a child-sized Lancer Sweatshirt that was left in the coach’s tent after one of the meets. 

3.       She also has a bag of caps and goggles.

4.       Clear plastic bin with lid that was left behind after the watermelon social on Friday.

Lost Items:

1.       Large white Tupperware bowl lid was lost during the watermelon social on Friday.

Last Year’s Trophies

I have some trophies and family folders from last year (and maybe even the year before that!).  If you never got yours last year, please see Lancermom in the morning.  I will dispose of anything not claimed!

Lancer of the Week

Congratulations to our Lancers of the Week!

Week 7

July 6 – July 11, 2009

Lancer of the Week Qualities:

Sportsmanship

Great Attendance

Respectful of Coaches and Teammates

Good Listening

Leadership

Coachable

Super Attitude & Effort

Perseverance

Cheers at Meets!

J Smile J

Coaches Bonus

Parents – Lancermom is still collecting for coach’s bonus.  Please find her under the back pavilion this week during practice.  Remember – this is the last week of practice!

See you at the pool!

Lori McDonald

1.        Movie night for 13-18 year olds is cancelled for tonight due to lots of swimmers not being able to attend

2.       Tomorrow is Pajama Day at Friday Fun day.  Please come to practice in your pj’s, but be sure to have your swim suit on underneath!

3.       Saturday’s arrival time is 6:00 am.  Remember – you need to warm up in order to be eligible to swim in a relay.

4.       Be sure to see Janet Woesnner (at the announcer’s table) by Saturday in order to secure your volunteer position for the Divisional Swim Meet at Sudley next weekend.  Only volunteers with name tags will be allowed on the pool deck.  No newbies, please.  Only sign up for a position that you have done previously.

See you at the pool!

Lori McDonald

This email contains information regarding the following:

·         Divisional T-Shirts – Orders are due TOMORROW

·         Wednesday Wish Day

·         13-18 Movie Night

·         Friday Meet Setup / Lancer Buddy Social

·         Saturday Meet Needs

·         Divisional Heat Sheets – Orders are due next week

·         Secret Stuff (COACHES DO NOT READ)

Divisional T-Shirts – Orders are due TOMORROW

Orders for divisional t-shirts are due to Lancermom by the end of practice tomorrow.  Payment must be given with the order.  The order form is attached to this email.  Please print it out for yourself (I won’t have any copies with me!).  Very few, if any, extras will be purchased (and if we do get extra, they are going to sell for $20).

Wednesday Wish Day

"Wednesday Wish Day" is tomorrow.  Make sure your swimmer comes to practice tomorrow to make his/her meet entry requests for the Dale City meet.  Please remember...  only "in person" swimmer requests will be taken (please no email and/or parent requests).  Year-around swimmers are encouraged to stop by the pool on Wednesday morning to chat with Coach Kristen.

13-18 Movie Night

All Lancers ages 13 to 18 are invited to a Movie Night at Coach Michelle’s house this Thursday, July 16^th from 7:00 until 11:00 pm.

There will be food, soda, ping pong, a movie (age appropriate, of course!), and fun!

Everyone needs to bring $3 for pizza.   Drinks will be provided.

Directions to Coach Michelle’s house (from the pool it’s about 8.5 miles)

·         Turn right off of Harbor Drive onto Old Bridge Road

·         Stay straight onto Prince William Parkway

·         Turn left onto Coloriver Road

·         Turn left onto Hemlock Ridge Court – Coach Michelle’s house is at 6358 Hemlock Ridge Court.

Friday Meet Setup / Lancer Buddy Social

This Friday we will be setting up for our last home meet of the season.  Please come on out to help.  Remember – the Lancer Buddy Social starts at 7:00 and pool setup begins at 7:30.  The more people we have helping, the quicker it goes!

Saturday Meet Needs

Here’s what we need for Saturday’s meet:

·         Pasta Salad - I just need a few more people.  Some of you have already signed up – Pam has your names.  Please bring your pasta salad (1 pound noodles, Italian salad dressing, veggies) in a zip lock bag to the Starting Block Café on Saturday morning.

·         Volunteers – We need to fill all of our volunteer positions.  Not sure what to do – just ask a swim team board member – we’ll find something for you to do!  (I can always use help in clerk of course!)

·         Information – if your child is not going to be at the meet, I need to know now!  I understand that kids get sick at the last minute (use my cell phone number, 703-795-1393), but we have had a significant number of no shows.  Please just let us know – that’s what the Lancer Book is for.

·         Tear Down Help – We need people to stay after the meet to help put the pool back in order. 

Divisional Heat Sheets – Orders are due next week

Don’t forget to place your orders for Divisional Heat Sheet Ads or Event Sponsorships.  Please use the attached form for your order.  Payment is due at the time the order is placed.  I will send out samples soon (so you can get an idea as to what they might look like!)

Secret Stuff (Coaches do not read)

Lancermom is still collecting donations for the coach’s bonuses.  No amount is too large or too small!

See you at the pool!

Lori McDonald

This email contains information regarding the following:

·         Lancer Parent’s Party

·         Friday Fun Day

·         Saturday Meet Details

·         Practice Reminders

·         Lost and Found

·         Volunteer Notebook (BE SURE TO READ THIS!)

·         Lancer Buddies

·         Lancers of the Week

Lancer Parent’s Party

Would you like to get to know other Lancer parents a little bit better outside the confines of practice and swim meets?  Please plan to join us this Saturday from 8:00 – midnight at the pool.  We will all bring a snack to share and whatever beverage you care to enjoy.  I plan on bringing Sangria!  You can swim, eat, drink, talk, and laugh.  We always have a grand time (even if it pours down rain with thunder and lightening like last year!).  ADULTS ONLY.

Friday Fun Day

Our first Friday Fun Day will be this Friday from 8:30-10:00 am for all the Lancer swimmers who are eligible to swim in the Sudley meet on Saturday. 

Saturday Meet Details

This Saturday we will be swimming against the Sudley Seahorses. 

Location – 8613 Rixlew Lane, Manassas, VA 20109, 703-368-5931

Directions – The pool is located across from the J.C. Penney’s at Manassas Mall.  MapQuest gives odd directions!   I’m going to try to give some that are different.

From the pool:

·         Turn right onto Old Bridge Road

·         Old Bridge Road will turn into Prince William Parkway

·         Stay straight on Pr. William Parkway

·         Once the parkway crosses Liberia Avenue, it becomes Wellington Road

·         Stay on Wellington (you will cross Rt. 234, go over RR tracks, cross Rt. 28, cross Godwin Drive)

·         After crossing Godwin Drive, take the next right onto Rixlew Lane (yes, you have to cross railroad tracks again).

·         Sudley is located on the right across the street from the J.C. Penney’s parking lot (there is a traffic light in front of the pool).

·         REMEMBER to park in the mall parking lot (on the left).

Arrival Time – Lancers should plan to arrive at the Sudley Pool at 6:50 am.  Right after warm-ups, please go to the coaches tent to check-in for your Medley Relay.  If you show up late, don’t warm up, or don’t check in, you may get replaced in your relay.

If for some reason (fever, vomiting, etc) you wake up in the morning and your swimmer is unable to attend the meet, please call Lancermom at 703-795-1393 (leave a message if I don't answer).

Parking – Parking is available across the street from the pool, in the mall parking lot.  You will need to park at the mall and carry your things across the street to the pool.  There is usually a policeman facilitating.

Team Area – Our team area will be in the pool parking lot.  Please be careful not to leave trash behind.

No one is allowed on the pool deck unless they are volunteering.  (There will be deck marshalls checking for deck passes.)  This means that you must watch your child swim from behind the ropes.

Volunteers Needed – We need you to volunteer!  Hey – it gets you on the pool deck and closer to your swimmers!  Please check the Lancer Volunteer Notebook or see George Ehlers to secure a volunteer position.

Practice Reminders

Please remember to clean up after yourselves before you leave practice.  We are trying to leave the pool deck the way we found it.  This means pushing your chairs (4 per table) in, laying the lounge chairs flat, and cleaning up your breakfast/snack trash.  Please dump your trash in a can with a bag in it.

Lost and Found

We are starting to accumulate items from practices and meets.  If you are looking for lost goggles, check with Coach Kristen – she keeps a found goggles bag!

June 13^th – At the first meet (against Victory Lakes) a Gameboy Advanced game cartridge was found – Lizzie McGuire 3 Homecoming Havoc.  If this is yours, please see Lori McDonald

June 23^rd – This morning after practice, I found a pink sticky note with several phone numbers written on it.  It was stuck to a table near the snack shack.  If this is yours, please see Lori McDonald.

Volunteer Notebook

We have a new place to keep our volunteer sign-up sheets.  No longer will you have to look for the volunteer sign-up sheets on the bulletin board.  We have a new Volunteer Notebook which can be found next to the Lancer Book during all morning practices. 

Lancer Buddies

The Lancer Buddy program is in full swing now.  Please know that the each buddy should be an active participant and the nice deeds should be reciprocated.  If you have not filled out a "Lancer Profile" form and exchanged it with your buddy, please do so.  Please see Coach Michelle if you have any questions.

The "Lancer Buddy Ice Cream Social" was such a huge hit, we are planning two more Lancer Buddy Social events the evening before our home meet against Kingsbrooke and Dale City.  While parents help set-up for the home meet, the kids can socialize with their Lancer Buddy!  Stay tuned for more details.

If you are not quite sure what to do for your buddy, below is a brainstormed list of nice deeds and inexpensive gift ideas: 

Free, but thoughtful:
* Make a poster for your buddy (and hold it while you cheer for your buddy during his/her events!)
* Take a picture with you and your buddy and print a paper copy of it to make a card
* Email your buddy a special note wishing him/her "Good Luck!"
* Send an Ecard to your buddy wishing him/her "Good Luck!"

Low Budget ,Crafty Items:
* Make a red & black beaded necklace or bracelet
* Make a red & black string friendship bracelet
* Decorate a T-shirt
* Decorate a water bottle
* Decorate a lunch bag or white gift bag and fill with some trinkets or food items

Food Items:
* Bake some cookies or brownies
* Favorite candy
* Bubble Gum or Lollipops
* Breakfast food items for Saturday meets (pop-tarts, bagels, donuts, granola bars, orange juice, etc.)
* A baggie filled with Gold Fish crackers, Teddy Grahams, Pretzels, etc.

Drink Items:
* Propel or Gatorade
* Bottled Water
* Capri Sun or Juice boxes

Low Budget Items:
* Dollar Store, 5 Below, or Party Store trinkets
* A balloon (and tie it to your buddy's gift bag, tent, or chair at the meet)
* Stickers or Tatoos
* McDonald $1 coupons
* Crossword Puzzle or Suduko book for an older buddy (Dollar Store)
* Deck of cards to play together/keep entertained at the swim meet
* Coloring book and crayons for a younger buddy
* Teen/Tween magazine

End of Season BIG gift ideas:
* $5 Gift Cards for younger buddies (Blockbuster, Coldstone, AMC Theater, Target, etc.)
* Gift Cards for older buddies (ditto on all the above, Itunes, Best Buy, 5 Guys, Cici's)
* Beach towel (swimmers can never have enough towels!)
* Framed photo of the buddies

Lancers of the Week

Congratulations to our Lancers of the Week!

Week 4

June 15 – 20, 2009

Lancer of the Week Qualities:

Sportsmanship

Great Attendance

Respectful of Coaches and Teammates

Good Listening

Leadership

Coachable

Super Attitude & Effort

Perseverance

Cheers at Meets!

J Smile J

See you at the pool!

Lori McDonald