VHHS Aquatics FAQs

We have found over the years that parents know the ability level of their children pretty well and would rather use the first day of class for instruction instead of testing.  Kids will be evaluated by the instructor during the first lesson and we will make any necessary level adjustment changes.

We ask that all parents watch the lesson from either the spectator seating area upstairs or from the foyer area outside of the pool.  This will allow our instructors to work with your children without any distractions.  Parents are welcome to walk their kids out on deck to get them to their class.

Every child is different however we have found that by the age of 4 most kids are able to handle the separation anxiety from their parents and have fun at swim lessons.If your child is under the age of 4 we suggest enrolling them in a parent-tot program. Unfortunately we do not offer a parent-tot class at the swim school.

You can register your child using a mail-in registration form and a personal check.  Please contact the aquatics director, Jim Pardun via email to have the form sent to you.

Because of strict teacher to student ratios we cannot allow any children to switch times during a session.

Yes!  Our philosophy is to place kids in a level where they will be challenged to learn new skills without being in too far over their heads.  Kids may move up or down a level at the instructor's discretion anytime throughout the session.

Because of our pool schedule, we do not offer any make-up swim lessons.

The VHHS Swim School accepts registrations from all families whether you live in Vernon Hills or not.

For levels 1 and 2 we try to keep a 1:2 teacher to student ratio. For levels 3 and 4 we strive to maintain a 1:3 ratio and for levels 5 and 6 we have a 1:5 ratio.

All children learn at a pace unique to them and they each have a unique learning curve depending on the skill being taught.  If a child does not pass a particular level, we would recommend enrolling them in the next session to keep their learning curve climbing in the right direction.  Extra practice during open swims is highly encouraged as well.  If you have concerns about the progress of your child, you are invited to talk to the instructor or the swim school supervisor.

Because of our teacher to student ratios we do set a maximum number of kids per level.  If your particular level is full, you may contact the aquatics director, Jim Pardun to get put on a waiting list.  We do not recommend registering your child for a level other than what you think their current skills allow for.

All of the instructors are current VHHS students or VHHS alumni.  Most of them are members of the swimming, diving & water polo teams at Vernon Hills High School.  Many of our instructors have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the field of teaching.  Some of our instructors are rookies while others have 4 (or 5) years of teaching under their belts.  We make it a point to put all of our first-year instructors with our veteran instructors throughout the session.

Because of pool scheduling issues as well as instructor availability we found it more beneficial to offer lessons on Sunday afternoons.  By doing this we are able to have lessons every week instead of skipping a week (or two) due to high school athletic competitions.