Bolles upper school swimmers recently taught an American Red Cross water safety lesson to Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus Kindergarteners as part of a student-led effort to expand access to swim education and prevent drowning.

The lesson, presented April 21 in Davis Gym, focused on age-appropriate water safety concepts as the Whitehurst Campus students began pool and river activities. The instruction was led by Leon Joos ’29, Eli Kuvin ’28, Sawyer Powell ’28, Hudson Powell ’28 and Rollins Powell ’29.

The five students are cofounders of S.H.I.E.L.D.S. in the Water, a nonprofit organization they created to promote water safety awareness and help cover the cost of swim lessons for children in underserved communities across Jacksonville. The organization partners with the Jewish Community Alliance, which is providing a restricted nonprofit fund for the money raised by S.H.I.E.L.D.S., discounted swim lessons and American Red Cross programming.

The students are also looking forward to hosting the 2026 S.H.I.E.L.D.S. in the Water “20 for 20 Swim Challenge” on May 16 at the Bolles Aquatics Center during Water Safety Awareness Month. The students set a fundraising goal of $3,750 to provide lessons for 25 children. As of mid-April, they had raised more than $2,500, enough to fund lessons for nearly 17 children. More information about the organization is available at www.shieldsitw.org. #BulldogsInspiringGoodness