La Petite Baleen Swim School

About Us

La Petite Baleen Swim Schools has been teaching life-saving swim skills with love and expertise for over 46 years. We provide high-quality, developmentally appropriate swim lessons for all ages.

La Petite Baleen began in the backyard pool of John Kolbisen and Irene Madrid’s Half Moon Bay home in 1979. As public school teachers, they were looking for a creative outlet for their love of children and the water. With three young children of their own and several local families, they developed an in-depth curriculum and ribbon level system for their AQUATIC CLASSROOM® program. John and Irene’s developmental aquatic program emphasizes a balance between love and discipline, thus teaching not only swimming, but also self-esteem and coping skills.

Teaching life skills through swimming in our AQUATIC CLASSROOM® is one of our philosophies at La Petite Baleen swim school. Through progress reports, phone conferences, newsletters and our knowledgeable staff, we educate and inform parents as an important part of our teaching team. We believe that aquatic child development extends beyond our swimming pools and into the heart of our families’ homes. In addition to physical swimming skills, our students learn emotional skills such as:

- Listening to & following directions
- Social interaction & teamwork
- Respect for oneself & others
- Overcoming obstacles & facing fears

Learning to swim is fun hard work and requires much effort. By working as a team with our parents and swimmers, our staff takes great pride in guiding children through the peaks and valleys of swim class.