Hi there, my name is Billy and I'm a Basking shark.
Like my friend Barnaby, I am huge and known to be the second largest living fish. I like to glide though the water and we are going to have lots of fun this term doing skills to do this like butterfly legs with our Finns on! We are still going to have fun on self-rescue day in our pyjamas and see if we can swim even faster with more techniques and games to make you stronger swimmers! Like my friends I can't fit in your pool but I will be relaxing at the side and will enjoying seeing all the fun you have to come this term.
Let me tell you a little bit more …
We have another fun filled term to come for your child with huge life saving value! On self-rescue day they will be in their pyjamas again while they learn to tread water for longer and jump in to collect a ring from the bottom of the pool.
We will continue to develop your child's swim stroke using alternate arm breathing techniques for front crawl and Finns to really accentuate butterfly legs. We have more relay races to come and a technique to show the children the correct way to complete a breaststroke race with a two-hand finish.
Distance day is still included this term and your child may be given a longer period to swim as some can swim anywhere between 200 and 500 meters and in some cases even more! This is where you often see the extent of their stamina but don't forget it can be thirsty work so bring a drink for them!
Even though I am known as the second largest fish people do not know as much about me as they do about my friends that have taught you previously. I am called a "Basking" shark however as I like to glide in the sunshine at the surface of the water with my mega mouth wide open eating tons of plankton!
I have one hundred small teeth in the top and bottom row of my mouth and when it is not wide open people can mistake me for my friend George the Great White Shark. Even though our eyes are small we have excellent vision that we use to find our friends and like Barnaby I am known as a very friendly fish!
Unlike others sharks we are known to have twin, triplet or up to 6 brothers and sisters and can live to an older age. My granddad lived until he was 50 years old! I love to swim slowing in warmer waters and we are going to have lots of fun this term gliding through the water with your flippers and butterfly legs so you feel like you have an actual Finn like me!
Next term, you will be meeting Wilbur The Whale Shark