About our School

During the months of March-September Susie Truby (Ann's daughter) and her staff offer group swimming lessons in her heated pool for your children. During the peak months there are usually 10-12 children in each class,with 3 to 5 instructors and/or assistants in the pool depending on ages and levels of the kids. Because the class is divided up by level, not age, any age can attend at any time of day. This way, siblings may attend the same class. The children are divided into different groups in the pool. The very young non-swimmers are seated on the steps. The ratio between teacher and child varies with age and ability. With the very little ones,the ratio is usually 2 to 1. There may be 4 or 5 in each little group though. If this is the case, then there will be 2 teachers/assistants.The older kids or kids that can swim, the ratio can be 3 or 4 to 1.The number of children in a class may vary, but no matter if the class is small or full, the ratio will always be the what is needed.

The ages are 19 months and older.

*Please note*

If you were looking for the Anne Truby Thompson (Susie's sister, but different school and location) Swimming School in the Cutler Bay area, please call

 305-251-5309

Ann's Swimming School only has one location, here in South Miami at

7050 Sunset Drive.

We also do not offer private lessons nor do we  go to peoples homes to teach.

We also do not do any lifeguarding or birthday parties'. You may try Anne Truby Thompson.

    Parent and baby classes are given for children ages 6 months - 18 months. Please read the Parent and Baby class page for more about these classes.

Our Classes and Sessions

Our classes are 40 minutes long. They are offered on the hour, every hour.

The class times are

10,11,12,1,2,3,4,5,6,& 7 o'clock.

Each session consists of 10 lessons (some are 9 lessons due to holidays). They start on Monday's and run thru Friday's. Two weeks together. You must sign up for a full session, both weeks together, coming at the same class hour everyday.If you choose a session knowing that you will miss class due to some other reason other then illness or bad weather, keep in mind, you will not be given a make-up class, but you still have to pay the full amount.Keep this in mind when deciding on your session! Also, there is no switching of class times during your session. We are closed on the weekends.

To view the class schedule, please click on the Schedule and Prices link on the left of the page.

Parental Viewing

Parents are not in the pool area during the lessons, but the pool is visible from the parents' waiting area. You will be invited in on each Friday to view the class. The 1st Friday you will be invited in to view the last 15 minutes of the class and on the last Friday you will be invited in a few minutes after the class has begun,so you will view the whole class. On the viewing days, you may bring other family and friends. Also, don't forget your cameras! On the other days of your 2 weeks, please try to limit extra cars and people! Our parking spots are limited as well as our seating under the cheekee hut. Thank you!

Non-Potty trained Children

If you're child is not potty trained or just recently enough where accidents may happen, they will not be allowed to swim without a swim diaper on. These may be disposable or the re-usable ones. The swim diaper must fit snuggly. Disposable swim diapers must be worn under a bathing suit for added protection. If the diaper is too loose, the poop will come out! We don't want this to happen in the pool!

If your child has had any type of stomach ache or loose poop during the day/night before their class, please do not bring them to class if you think there might be a possibility of an accident in the pool! It is not a fun thing to have happen.

We do sell bathing suits here with built in swim diapers and re-usable swim diapers as well.

Strokes and Technique

We do also teach all the different strokes and techniques to the older children. These are not separate classes. The classes are divided up according to ability and levels. Each child is worked on their individual needs. This means that siblings can all be in the same class.

Children with Special needs

If your child has any type of special needs, you must let us know this when you are registering on the phone so that we can plan accordingly. In order for them to be able to take our group classes they must be able to listen,understand and take direction. They must be able to physically sit on their own and understand that they have to wait their turn. Please call and speak to Cornelia or Susie to see if we will be able to have them in our classes.

Towel

Your children must have a regular sized towel with them. They will be bringing it into the class with them everyday. No big bath sheets or beach towels. The kids walk in to and out of the class and they may trip on too big of a towel. Please have their name written on their towel.

Location 

 The house sits on the S.E. corner of Sunset Drive (72 St.) and 71 Ave. Enter on 71 Ave. because we keep it one way for safety. If you pass the street,please make a u-turn and enter on 71 Ave.

Illness

Illness is the only reason that we will give a make up class. Nothing else.

If your child is ill and not coming to class, in order to be able to receive a make up, you must call the school at 305-661-3820 as many hours before your class as possible.When you call, please just leave a message leaving your child's name, and class time.

      If your child becomes ill and is unable to complete their session(missing 3 or more classes) leave your name, number, child's name, class time and we will call you back.

If you do not call, you will not get a make up class.

*Very Important*Please Note*

When you call and tell us your child will not be coming, you cannot just change your mind and show up without first calling and checking with us. We might have put someone else in to the class or sent a teacher home.

Also, if you have more then one child in the class or come with friends, you still must call! Telling us at class time will be considered a no show!

Please click on the All about Make up Classes page to the left, to find out how you'll be able to schedule your make up classes for illness and weather cancellation.

Weather

Important, please read carefully!

We do swim in the rain, but we do not swim in threatening weather. You will only be given a make up class if we have canceled the class. Most of the time, the decision to cancel will not be decided until class time.

If it is a heavy rainy day or hurricane type weather, or if you're just not sure if we're having class, just call the school to check the message close to your classtime, not hours ahead. If we are able to cancel ahead of time, we will post a pre-recorded message on the phone.If not,we will put a sign in the driveway stating that class was canceled at the time of class. Because the weather changes so quickly, we will wait until class time to make our decision. It is your responsibility to call and check or drive over.You signed up for a two week session, knowing that you will be coming everyday for the session. We are sorry if you make the trip and the class is canceled, but the weather is out of our control. If we do hold class and you just do not show up, no make up  class will be given to you.No exceptions!

We all life in south Florida and we know how quickly the weather can change. Also, it could be bad at your home and not here. So, there is NO WAY to determine what the weather will be like hours or even sometimes minutes before the class. Do not call and ask if we are having class, we will not call you back, because we do not know either. Sometimes a decision isn't made until almost class time. We are doing the best we can!

Make-up classes can not be scheduled during your session. You must wait until your session has finished, then call us at 305-661-3820 to schedule them!

 A little something else to read if this is the first swimming lesson experience for your child:

It is very normal and most likely that they will cry. This is only because they are used to swimming with family or, if they are young, they maybe have not been away from you before. After 2 or 3 days  of lessons they will stop crying once they have gotten to know us. Susie has been doing this for over 30 years with her mother Ann and they've never advertised. It's all been word of mouth.So please just put your trust in them and their staff.

Here are a few things that you can do in your pools and tubs to get them ready before their lessons:

Pour the water on their heads in the tub. Know that you are not hurting them by doing this. In fact you are helping them. Yes, there might be some yelling and temper tantrums, but as  I'm sure you're aware, drowning is a horribly silent thing. Let them see you pour water on your head. Also let them see you going under water! You are helping them by doing this because if they were to fall into a pool and had never had water on their faces, they will panic, more than likely freeze up and not try to help themselves. If you let them think that water on their heads is something to be afraid of you are hindering and lessening their chances of survival, not helping them at all.

Try not to use water wings and such (only life vests on the boat). Water wings, etc., can do two things. They can give a false sense of security and a child may jump into a pool without them on, thinking they can swim. Also, if they were to fall into a pool without them, they may not try to get out because they are in such a panic, only thinking about that they do not have the water wings on.This also applies to goggles.It is okay to let them wear goggles and masks as long as they understand that it is alright to open their eyes under water without them. You do not want them to fall in and shut their eyes and not know where the side is.This is just as dangerous as not knowing how to swim! Hopefully by doing these things you will help them to learn to swim faster! Remember there is water every where in South Florida!

Language

  For those parents wondering about Spanish speaking kids. We teach many children, from all over, who speak and understand languages other than English.All the kids do great. We do a lot of demonstrating to show the kids what to do.They also learn by watching the other kids in their class.

  We haven't had a problem yet and we've been doing this here in Miami for many years.

Swimming is a universal language!

We do sell solar shirts, boys and girls swim suits with built in swim diapers and re-usable swim diapers at the school in many different sizes and styles