Mission:
At Rising Tide Swim School, our mission is to inspire every child to love swimming and to feel confident, safe, and joyful in the water. We believe that swimming is not just a life skill but a gateway to building confidence, overcoming fears, and having fun. Our goal is to create a positive, nurturing environment where every student can thrive, regardless of their starting point.
About Us:
Welcome to Rising Tide Swim School! We are a brand-new swim school located in Northern New Jersey. We are dedicated to helping children of all ages learn to swim while fostering a lifelong love of the water.
Our founder, Alexandra (Alex) Pappas, has been swimming competitively since childhood and has over 10 years of experience teaching swim lessons. She swam competitively on the Cornell Club Swim team throughout college and loves teaching in her free time. Her passion lies in working with all children, but she takes particular joy in helping students overcome their fear of water and discover the fun and freedom that swimming brings. Alex’s hands-on approach ensures that every child receives the attention, support, and encouragement they need to succeed.
Starting small but with big dreams, Rising Tide Swim School aims to grow into a thriving community where every swimmer feels like part of the family. Our carefully designed curriculum, featuring nine levels from Starfish to Sharks, is tailored to help swimmers progress confidently at their own pace.
Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your child’s swimming journey. We can’t wait to welcome you to the water!
FAQs
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On our Programs & Classes page, you’ll find brief descriptions of all nine levels to help guide your choice. If you’re still unsure, don’t worry—submit a sign-up form, and we’ll be happy to discuss your child’s level with you to ensure the perfect fit.
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At Rising Tide Swim School, we value every minute your swimmer spends in the water with us. That’s why we ensure small class sizes: For Levels 0-5, no more 2 swimmers are in a class. For Levels 6-8, no more than 4 swimmers are in a class. The small classes ensure that every child receives the attention, guidance, and support they need to succeed!
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We know life can be a little unpredictable, and that’s okay! If you can’t make it to a class, just let us know at least 24 hours in advance. We’ll happily schedule a makeup lesson for you at no extra charge. Makeup lessons can be 1) back-to-back classes fit into the same day you’re already coming for another lesson or 2) End-of-Session Makeup added at the end of your 5-week session.
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We love seeing swimmers make quick progress—it’s what we’re all about! If your child advances to the next level before their session is over, we’ll celebrate their success and work with you to move them to the appropriate class at no extra cost!
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At Rising Tide Swim School, our instructors are the heart of what we do! Each one shares a passion for swimming and teaching, bringing a positive attitude and a big smile to every lesson. While every instructor has their own unique style, all of them undergo extensive training on our level skills to ensure consistency and quality in every class.
When you swim with us, you’re not just learning skills—you’re gaining a cheerleader, a coach, and a friend in the water!
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The pool is located at the Bradley Center at Ramapo College. It is a 6-lane, 25-yard-long pool, perfect for swim lessons and training! The water temperature typically averages around 78°F but may increase to up to 82°F during the spring!
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That’s no problem! Shoot us a sign-up message, and we can make something work!
