FOSS-Maple Grove Fabulous 5!!

Fab + 5 = FOSStastic

We would like to thank the 2011 Fall Session FAB 5′ers…

Seth G. – I am currently going to school at St. Mary’s University for my B.S in Information Technology. I started teaching swim lessons back in high school and I have been doing it ever since. I love how you can let loose with the kids and be as silly as they are. Working at FOSS is amazing for many reasons: you get to teach kids to swim, how to flip and float, watch kids get the confidence to do it all on their own, and have so much fun being silly. I love working with kids and seeing that light bulb go off when they finally understand something. I also love getting funny looks from the kids that don’t always recognize you outside of FOSS at local businesses. Working at FOSS has so many great staff members. Our little Maple Grove FOSS Family is awesome! Working in Maple Grove at Foss has so many funny exciting staff members which make it an exciting place to work each and every day. Please stop in and say hi sometime when you see me around town or at the pool!!

Sarah G. – Hi everyone.  My name is Sarah and I have been working at Foss for four years.  I started swimming at a very young age and continued in to high school.  I received my degree in Early Childhood Education from Moorhead State University in 2000 and began working with an  ECFE program as the lead teacher. My husband and I moved to the cities in 2005, with our then two-year old daughter.  In the spring of 2006 we welcomed two more daughters to our family.  Being able to stay at home with my girls has been very important to me and I have learned a lot by doing so. Working at Foss has given me the opportunity to combine my love for swimming with my love for working with children.  Introducing a new skill and seeing their expression after they have accomplished it is simply amazing.  It gives me great pride to know that I’ve helped them learn in some way.

Chris N. – I think of my job at Foss as my second career that should have been my first career. Actually it almost was. After graduating from UW-Superior back in 19-something, I headed west and spent five years working at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, lifeguarding year-round and skiing or hiking. I moved to Minnesota and started my official first career working in the sports department at the Star Tribune where I spent 20 years as a “close personal friend of Sid Hartman”! Teaching swimming and being in the water is definitely where I want to be any day of the week. I love figuring out what works for each child in my classes, while keeping it fun. Watching the students from the chaos of the first day of each session to the smooth sailing on the last day is an amazing accomplishment for all of us. Thank you to the parents who bring the kids to class each week! Beware, though, if your kids are not Packer fans already, I just might get them cheering for the Green and Gold!

Mat P. – Hey I’m Mat, I was born in Maplewood and now reside in Ham Lake. The first thing I hear when I say I live in Ham Lake is, “Why don’t you work at the Blaine Foss?” The main answer is that I absolutely love the people and the kids I work with here so why mess with a good thing. I’ve loved working with kids for as long as I could remember and I heard about Foss from a friend who works here and ever since I joined the team here two years ago I’ve loved every minute of it. Working at Foss gives me great experience for my elementary education degree that I am in process of obtaining. My favorite things to do are play baseball/softball and basketball and hang out with my friends. There’s always a good chance you’ll either see me at a Timberwolves or Twins game. And lastly my favorite thing about my job would have to be just the interaction with the kids and putting a smile on their face. That’s probably the best feeling in the world.

Brittney B. – I’ve been swimming since I was six months old. For several years I even swam at FOSS! I continued to swim all the way through high school. When I was younger I always looked forward to coming to swim and seeing my teachers, so now I try to give my kids the same enthusiasm that my instructors gave me! I love coming to work and being able to goof around with the kids. Teaching doesn’t even feel like a job. When I’m not working I like to hang out with my friends, go shopping, be with my family and eat as much as I can.