‘Stewie the Duck’ brings water safety message to Seymour kids



By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

SEYMOUR >> On average, statistics show 10 people die in the U.S. every day from unintentional drowning, with 20 percent of those drowning victims children age 14 and under.

And with beach and pool season upon us, Seymour schools’ Director of Security Richard Kearns doesn’t want children here to become part of those tragic statistics. That’s why Kearns recently teamed up once again with local police to present a lifesaving water safety program called “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim.”

The program was founded by Kim and Stew Leonard Jr. The parents turned their personal tragedy of losing their 21-month-old son in a drowning accident in 1989 into a foundation named after their son that teaches parents and young children the importance of water safety.

Read more here.

Stewie the Duck teaches swim safety in Seymour

These are some of the first graders who learned about water safety from Stewie the Duck and Seymour Police Officer Mike Jasmin (pictured) during a program last week for all Seymour first grade students. / Contributed photo 

SEYMOUR - Last week Stewie the Duck visited Seymour students as Seymour Public Schools in partnership with the Seymour Police Department presented a water-safety program for the second consecutive year to all first grade students.

The program, “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim,” was founded by Kim and Stew Leonard Jr.

It teaches children and parents the importance of water safety. The Leonards turned their personal tragedy of the drowning of their toddler son into inspiration and created this invaluable program. 

Through the generosity of the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities, 225 “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim” Books and CDs were donated to Seymour Public Schools and each child took home a free copy. 
The total cost of these books with CD totaled just over $1,100.

The program was presented by certified lifeguards Amanda Garcia and Katherine Acquavella, Seymour High School students, Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns and Seymour Police Department Officer Mike Jasmin. 

This post is taken from a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.