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Located just down the street from the current site of Clark County Preschool, Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation at 15 Wheeler Avenue is always finding ways to serve the community. 

Recently, several groups of youth found cause for celebration. 

Four different classes of Clark County Preschool students between the ages of three and five graduate from swim classes, allowing them to move on to their next aquatic journey. 

“They’ve been swimming for about three weeks now, and today is a big turning point in their program because they get to graduate and take these skills that they learned with them [to their] homes,” said Alexis Spry, a Clark County Preschool teacher and swim instructor. 

Along with Spry, Clark County Preschool teacher Nelda Conkwright was a fellow instructor. 

Like a school curriculum, the classes featured objectives that students had to meet. 

Spry went into further detail about what students learned during classes. 

“They get taught how to hold their bubbles and not breathe underwater, how to float front and back, how to dive, and how to swim with their arms and legs,” she said. 

As a part of graduating from swim class, each of the 43 students was awarded a Red Cross card showing that they were ready to advance. 

Yet that’s not all.

Students were awarded goodie bags with goggles, bracelets, literature about swimming, and more while having their photos. 

Plus, a special guest arrived for at least one class of students. 

Clark County Public Schools Superintendent Dustin Howard was present to offer both support and congratulations. 

“It’s always good [when] you can take a picture…especially for [their] parents. They can remember the moment,” he said. “I just like celebrating our kids; this is an example and an opportunity to do that.” 

With the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Friends of Parks and Recreation paying for classes, hopes are high for classes and more continuing. 

When asked what the most rewarding aspect of the class and graduation is. Spry offered a prompt response. 

“Watching them learn and grasp it and get confident in doing it,” she said.