Goldfish Swim School, the leading premier learn-to-swim concept, recently opened its first school in the state of Arkansas. The Rogers school, located at 4319 Pleasant Crossing Blvd., provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. The opening comes at a critical time as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns of an increased threat in childhood drowning this summer as a result of the pandemic. Families in the community now have access to the school’s renowned proprietary curriculum, The Science of SwimPlay®, which helps to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment.

Goldfish Swim School – Rogers is owned and operated by the Fleming family. They have two children – who learned to swim at their local Goldfish Swim School in Michigan – and recently moved to Arkansas to begin this new endeavor. As a result of opening amid the pandemic, the school has made adjustments to its traditional class sizes, sanitization procedures and is enforcing policies to ensure social distancing and to abide by Arkansas’ health department regulations.

“Starting a business during a global pandemic can certainly be a scary feat, but we are so grateful to have the opportunity to safely open our school and begin teaching swim lessons and water safety – both lifesaving skills that will help keep our community, friends and families safe,” said Mark Fleming. “We watched our own children’s confidence blossom in the Goldfish pool, and are lucky to now teach water safety skills to generations of children to come.”

In line with the company’s core values, their number one focus will be educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water. The 10,000+ square-foot school features a 30’x 80’ pool – kept at a comfortable 90 degrees – and a viewing room nearby for families.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Fleming family to the Goldfish Swim School network,” shared Chris McCuiston, who co-founded the franchise with his wife Jenny McCuiston. “As we continue statewide expansion, it’s so important that we partner with community leaders who are just as passionate about water safety as we are. The Fleming family is aligned with our core values and we are confident this team will help make a true impact in their community, ultimately getting us one step closer to our goal of reducing the number of accidental drownings.”

The brand is seeking qualified, active and engaged individuals who are involved with their community, have a passion for water safety, and are hungry to dive into the world of franchising. Today, with 104 schools open and more than 100 in development, the franchise continues to seek new partners to develop throughout Canada as well as the southern and western region of the United States. Specifically, company executives see substantial growth opportunities in the English-Speaking provinces of Canada as well as California, Texas, and Florida where there is strong demand for the brand’s services.

As a whole, Goldfish Swim School teaches more than 138,000 children each week how to be safer in and around the water, and each school strives to be active within the community it serves. The brand is an official partner of the Lifesaving Society. The company is fully committed to spreading awareness on the importance of water safety with the support of Brand Ambassador Ryan Murphy, the recent launch of Goldfish RX - a program that provides resources to local pediatricians to support the updated American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on drowning prevention, and providing free W.A.T.E.R Safety presentations to communities nationwide.

About Goldfish Swim School

Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Goldfish currently teaches more than 138,000 students per week to swim and be safer in and around the water. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. They are currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with 104 schools open, and an additional 128 in development in more than 28 states and Canada.