J-Rays Swim School
J-Rays Swim School Offers Tucson’s Premier Outdoor Swim Lessons
Learning to swim puts you in the best position to be safe and have fun in the water! J-Rays Swim School offers weekly, year-round swim lessons for ages 6 months and up. Our instructors use a fun and developmentally appropriate method for teaching children to learn to swim. We believe that consistent exposure to instruction offers students solid building blocks that make swimming a blast at all levels!
J-Rays Swim School Free Lessons Through the USA Swimming Foundation
J-Rays Swim School was chosen as one of 102 youth programs from the USA Swimming Foundation’s nationwide network of swim lesson providers to receive grant money in early 2022. The grant award will help facilitate the J’s mission to provide the highest quality programs and services to all people of all ages, regardless of identity or financial status by allowing us to offer a limited number of free swim lessons to our community.
Eligibility Criteria to receive free lessons paid for by the USA Swimming Foundation is as follows:
-Child must be between the ages of 3-12
-Child must either attend an under-resourced school or qualify for government assistance
-Family must face a financial barrier that would make paying for lessons at full-cost difficult
Group Lessons
Group lessons are available Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; each registration covers one 4-week session that meets once a week for 30 minutes. Swimmers may sign up for more than one group lesson per session. Progression to the next level is suggested by the instructor at the end of every session.
Parent + Me: Ages 6 months-3 years
Introduce your child to the exciting world of swimming! Parent + Me Group Lessons are offered April-October and teach water-based motor skills such as breath control, kicking, and floating. Early introduction to water is proven to reduce risk of drowning by 88% and offers incredible tactile stimulation for babies’ development.
Learn-to-Swim Lessons: Ages 3-12
Our group swim lessons are segmented by age and skill level. Swimmers ages 3-5 may sign up for Preschool Swim and swimmers ages 5-12 should register for Learn to Swim.
Level 1: For swimmers that are new to lessons or not comfortable in the water
Level 2: For children who are comfortable practicing skills with an instructor’s help and are working towards independent swimming
Level 3: For children who can swim on their own and are working to gain stroke technique and endurance
Private Lessons
Private Lessons available year round for ages 3-103! Private swim lesson schedules are customized based on swimmer and instructor availability. Email your swim schedule request to your preferred instructor to get on their calendar today! Not sure who to swim with or have additional questions? Reach out to Mallory Shenker. Private lessons instructors:
Mallory Shenker
Available: Sunday-Thursday
Experience: 14 years teaching and coaching infants-adults, beginner-advanced skills
mshenker@tucsonjcc.org
Morgan Montague
Available: afternoons Monday-Friday and Saturdays
Experience: 5 years teaching toddlers to tweens. Former competitive swimmer.
mmontague@tucsonjcc.org
Avery Howayeck
Available: afternoons Monday-Thursday and Sundays
Experience: 2 years teaching preschool and elementary age group & private lessons. Former competitive swimmer.
ahowayeck@tucsonjcc.org
David Schriesheim
Available: Saturdays & Sundays
Experience: USA Swimming Coach, 1-year private instruction. Former collegiate competitive swimmer.
dschriesheim@tucsonjcc.org
Susie King
Available: Sunday-Thursday
Experience: 1 year preschool and elementary age group & private lessons
sking@tucsonjcc.org
Rick Laing
Available: Saturday & Sunday
Experience: over 30 years coaching beginner to Olympic level.
rlaing@tucsonjcc.org
Jill Howayeck
Available: Sunday – Thursday
Experience: 2 years preschool and elementary age group & private lessons.