On the morning of Friday, March 5th, Aquatics Coordinator Mark Wascavage was the guest speaker for Kent Island High School, in Queen Anne County's, Pre-Vocational Job Readiness class. This class is in the PARC D program for students with special needs.

The class' teacher, Ms. Madison Margas invited him to speak to the class about the job of a pool manager.

Using the Google Meets format, Mark spoke to the group for 30 minutes and told them that Bowie State is a HBCU here in Maryland and their teacher would tell them more about a HBCU. We gave the class a tour of the pool with the help of videographer Mary Wascavage.

As the pool manager Mark emphasized the most important part of my job is keeping the pool safe for everyone showing them the layout of the pool, the reasons for the lines on the bottom, and the depth markers on the deck. He also showed them the rescue equipment that the guards use and importance of staying away from the drain in the bottom of any pool where they may be swimming. Mark further emphasized that when they are in the pool, they should be only in chest deep water and their teacher will help them measure from their feet to the middle of their chest.

Mark showed them how to test for the chlorine in the pool and advised them on how it is used to keep the pool safe. To help the students relate, Mark told them that our chlorine is the same as the Clorox that their parents use when they wash clothes at home to get rid of the germs. Mark also told them that they have a part in keeping the pool safe by following the rules and listening to the lifeguard.

Mark got a nice Thank You note for coming to their virtual classroom and that the students loved it.