Greetings from the pool deck!

Happy New Year!

Hard to believe another year flew by. Boy, it was a good year to be a MARSian. I’m very happy and proud of all we accomplished this past year. The team performed with excellence, poise, and with impressive sportsmanship. I think 2019 will be even better. I can’t wait to see.

Our first hosted meet is coming up quickly. On Jan 11-13 we’re hosting another BB & Under meet at GCISD. Of course, we’ll need everyone’s help to again put on a great event. When the jobs get posted, please sign up to help. Other events already scheduled are an open meet at UTA in May, and our Bill Nixon Pro-Am in June. Here’s a sneak peek at our giant banner for the pool wall. It’s going to be a huge event. Please mark your calendars.

January brings the high school season to a crescendo with the various district meets happening the weekend of the 19th. Good luck to all of our MARSian high school swimmers!

Our coaches are starting their championship plans for their swimmers. We should see a hint of where we are in the meets this month.

A couple of new faces on deck for the staff. As you know, Coach Shannon McAfee has accepted a teaching position in Columbia, South America. We wish her the best of luck! Coach Stephen has replaced Shannon and brings a tremendous smile and a lot of energy to the pool. Please welcome Stephen to our MARSian family. Coach Dawn returns from maternity leave, just as Coach Allison leaves us to begin nursing school at Lamar University in Beaumont. Best of luck to Allison as she joins her sister, Coach Ashleigh, in nursing school.

I hope everyone is enjoying the new purple practice caps. Coaches will be passing out an occasional neon green version to special swimmers in special circumstances. If a swimmer gets one of those, they have done something special.

Please take a few moments each week to read the emails that come fro your child’s coach. These always have important information specific to your child’s group. Also, please sign up for our FaceBook and Twitter feeds. Lots of good information and pictures from our various events, and other goings on.

Have a great beginning of 2019!

Coach Brian

Q: How many service hours will we need for 2019?

A: We will each need 18 service hours for families in Bronze and above for 2019. Please keep in mind this is per calendar year.

Q: What is OnDeck Parent application and why do I need it?

A: OnDeck Parent is an IPhone or Android application which allows you as a swim parent to manage your MAR's account and follow your swimmer's accomplishments. See these web sites for more information about the application and download instructions. iPhone or Android

Once you download and install the application on your device you can login by filling in the following entries:

Username - Is your email address that you used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Password - Is your password used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Team alias - ntsmars

Q: My son is a novice swimmer and I am a novice swim parent. We are going to our first swim meet. How do we get ready for our first swim meet?

A: We have a wonderful document created by the original Super Parent Rebecca Dark.

Your First Swim Meet Guide.

Q: I just swam my first swim meet, where are results displayed?

A: You can get event/meet results from the following locations:

• Usually the event results are displayed on some wall at the natatorium. (not always)
  
• Events will be posted within the 10 days after the meet has completed at this web site: http://www.ntswim.org Events-->Meet Results
• Most swim meets utilize "Meet Mobile". This is a fee based smart phone application which allows the user to see live results of the swim meet and other cool options.

Q: How can I see how many service hours I owe?

A: Login to the Mars Team Web Site.

Select My Account on the right.

Select $My Invoice/Payments.

Select the Service Hours tab.

If your number shows a positive value, then that is what you owe.

Q: Why do we have to volunteer at our meets?

A: In order for us to host a successful and safe meet, we need our MARSian families to be part of every meet we host. We all lead very busy lives. However, I can promise you that your swimmer will feel even more supported seeing you as a timer, head timer, meet runner and/or working concessions or hospitality room. Everyone is good at something which means everyone has something to offer. Please be on the lookout for upcoming dates for training classes for each of our volunteer positions. ***Each person will receive volunteer points for attending a training class. ***Please Note: You will receive the points once you put that training into action at our hosted meets. In addition to the points you will receive for your volunteer work at the meet.We will send out the next training class date soon.

Q: Do the service hours start over in January?

A: Yes, service hours are per calendar year (January 1st through December 31st).

Q: What is OnDeck Parent application and why do I need it?

A: OnDeck Parent is an IPhone or Android application which allows you as a swim parent to manage your MAR's account and follow your swimmer's accomplishments. See these web sites for more information about the application and download instructions. iPhone or Android

Once you download and install the application on your device you can login by filling in the following entries:

Username - Is your email address that you used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Password - Is your password used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Team alias - ntsmars

Q: How do I set up the SMS messaging?

A: How to set up and receive SMS from your coach's about pool updates or quick important info.

1- log-in to your account

2- Click on My Account then under the drop down click on My account again

3- Add up to two SMS number and the Carrier and click save

4- Then go to click on Not Verified and you will receive a code via text message that then you type in and hit verify.

5- Set to start getting text from the team when a pool is closed or we need to get you fast information.

Do you have a question for the MARSian parent? Email at askmarsparent@gmail.com

Angelica Le, Margo Triana, Tyler Lane, Ariana Velasquez, Anna Reimer, Isabella Guevara, Luc Nguyen, Blayne Bradford, Levi Keojampa, Katalina Lechuga, Arya Panahgahi-Vijeh, Jacob Welch, Branden Sadriniya, Brittainey Ertel, Krish Raghavan, Nicholas Abraham, Bryan Burch, Yara Albaalbaki, Shiloh Lee, Trenten Thigpen, Juni Beare, Emma Hall, Katharine Tomancik, Blake Gibson, Blaine Paul, Isley Ali, Benjamin Hu, Ian Stalzer, Andy Xiao, Zion Wagema, Naven Acosta