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Sebastian Fischer invites you to a scheduled Zoom meeting every Wednesday from 2 to 3 pm. If this time is inconvenient, please send me an email (sfischer@uni-kassel.de).

Topic: Sebastian Fischer's personal meeting room

Join the Zoom meeting:
uni-kassel.zoom-x.de/j/4507336884

Meeting ID: 450 733 6884
Identification code: H3A55x

Kasseler Welle - W.E.L.L.E. 2026" teaches all second-graders basic swimming skills (moving in a prone and supine position, controlled breathing, diving, gliding, floating (jumping)). These objectives correspond to the requirements of the Hessian core curriculum for sport ("Safe movement in water") and can be integrated directly into the school curriculum as a lesson plan or project module. In addition, basic skills such as risk assessment, self-rescue and rescuing others as well as the appreciation of water as a habitat are covered, all of which are central components of the interdisciplinary educational objectives (health promotion, environmental education, road safety education).

Six height-adjustable underwater platforms (60-120 cm deep) are used in the Auebad in Kassel to create flat learning areas within all pools (including the 50 m pool). Each platform has non-slip surfaces and meets all DIN standards for swimming pools. Each learning group (max. 20 children) is supervised by trained swimming instructors, who are also DLRG & First Aid trained, as well as the regular pool supervisors. In addition, an AI-supported camera system at the Auebad permanently monitors the water surface and the bottom of the pool, detecting unusual movement patterns in advance, divers in distress or excessive immersion times and alerting staff in fractions of a second. The safety concept therefore includes:
- AI monitoring with real-time alerts to each rescue worker per team
- Supervision ratio maximum 1:10 (teacher/specialist : children)
- Daily material, water depth and temperature checks by pool staff
- Emergency plans and fully equipped first aid station on site
This means that even anxious or motor-impaired children have safe, level-appropriate access to the water, while state-of-the-art technology provides additional support for supervision.

Kasseler Welle deliberately opts for a division of labor so that neither the university nor the school are overloaded.

Tasks of the project team (City of Kassel & University of Kassel)
- Pool logistics: setting up/dismantling the underwater platforms, providing materials (swimming aids, rescue equipment)
- In-water management: If required, specialists take over the planning and implementation of swimming lessons, including documentation
- Theory modules: The university creates elaborate teaching materials in the form of worksheets, short videos, experiment cards that you can use directly in lessons
- Evaluation & reports: conducting pre/post tests, preparing results for teachers and parents
- Organization: scheduling with the pool, booking time slots, coordinating transport (if necessary) of platforms and teaching materials

Tasks of the school / teachers
- Scheduling of the project week in the school year
- Organization of student transport (public transport or bus) - the project team provides support if required
- Accompanying the classes in accordance with the supervision decree; active participation in the water is welcome, but not mandatory
- Implementation of the theory units provided in the classroom
- Participation in a three-hour introductory workshop for the teaching staff
Additional preparatory steps at school
- Preparation of content: Brief preliminary discussion with the children on rules of conduct (bus, changing rooms, poolside), bathing rules and procedures on site
- Familiarization: viewing photos or videos of the Auebad together so that the children recognize the surroundings
- Ideally before the summer vacations: Visit the Auebad on a class-by-class basis or view the current swimming ability in order to divide learning groups optimally

1. School and administrative law page
   The project week counts as a school event under the Hessian Schools Act and is covered by the Hiking Decree. All pupils are therefore covered by statutory accident insurance with Unfallkasse Hessen, both on the routes and during the swimming lessons. Teachers act within the scope of their official duties and are subject to the official liability of the State of Hesse. Personal liability only arises in cases of intent or gross negligence. Thanks to the clear safety concept with a supervision ratio of no more than one to ten, AI-supported water monitoring and professional rescue personnel, the risk is extremely low.
2. Legal responsibility of adult rescuers
   All swimming instructors at the university and the specialist staff at the Auebad have valid rescue certificates and are covered by liability and accident insurance through their respective providers.
3. Scope of action for teachers
   Participating teachers (passive or active) can independently control the number of children in the water at any one time. Individual groups of children can be removed or exchanged with a short signal or in consultation with the instructors, so that the supervision density can be flexibly adapted to the anxiety level, learning pace and daily form of the class. This option strengthens supervision and gives teachers the opportunity to have a direct influence on the situation at all times.
4. Distribution of liability in the event of damage
   In the rare event of damage, liability is distributed among all active adults capable of rescuing, as they are legally obliged to provide assistance.

The changing room concept of "Kasseler Welle" is designed so that up to 320 children per day can safely change in four staggered time slots, separated by gender and without crossing points.

1. Clear time slots and rooms
   - Passages 1 and 3 (08:30-10:00 and 11:30-13:00) use the changing rooms in the pool, separated into boys and girls
   - Passages 2 and 4 (10:00-11:30 and 13:00-14:30) move to gender-separated tents in the outdoor area. This avoids bottlenecks in the indoor pool.
2. One-way routing
   All groups follow signposted one-way routes (videos and route maps follow). This prevents oncoming traffic and makes supervision easier. Teachers and supervisors accompany the children from arrival to the pool and back
3. Supervision and key authority
   The organizing team retains key authority over all changing rooms and tents. Teachers therefore do not have to worry about valuables and can focus on their class.
4. Hygiene standards
   The changing rooms are wet-cleaned in 15-minute slots between rounds. The tents are aired regularly.
5. Flexibility and adaptation
   Should the weather or number of participants change, the organizing team will adjust the room allocation at short notice, but will maintain the principle of separate routes.

Yes, for all teachers who actively go into the water or supervise at the edge of the pool, we strongly recommend a current rescue certificate. To make refresher training as easy as possible, we offer a compact, officially recognized training course led by Christoph Loose (licensed DLRG instructor, ZfS).

1. Legal background
   According to the Hessian decree "Safe swimming lessons", the duty of supervision in swimming lessons requires proven rescue skills. With the refresher course, you fulfill this requirement and are legally protected.
2. Course organization
   - Minimum number of participants: 6, maximum 10 (up to 15 with two instructors).
   - Date: Wednesdays, 8:00 - 14:00 at Auebad Kassel.
   - Instructor: Christoph Loose, supported by certified DLRG trainers.

You can choose between three supervision models. The costs vary depending on how many external instructors you need. All calculations are based on 3 learning groups of 20 children each (60 children in total), 5 days of lessons of 90 minutes each. The central organization team is estimated at a flat rate of 0.5 "trainer person" per group.

1. "Full external supervision" model
   - 2 external instructors per group (6 in total)
   - Orga team pro rata
   Total costs: approx. €1,406
   Costs per child: approx. €23
2. "Shared supervision" model
   - 1 qualified teacher from your school + 1 external trainer per group (3 external)
   - Orga team pro rata
   Total costs: approx. 844 €
   Costs per child: approx. 14 €
3. "School's own team" model
   - Lessons taught entirely by your teachers who are able to save
   - Orga team only pro rata
   Total costs: approx. 281 €
   Costs per child: approx. 5 €

Which model you choose depends on how many of your teachers have a valid rescue certificate. We will be happy to support you in your decision and offer a compact refresher course if required.

Just a small, well-packed swimming bag - we provide all the specialist equipment. Specifically, we recommend

Compulsory

1. Swimwear (well-fitting swimming trunks or swimsuit or cover-up)
2. Large towel
3. Shower gel or soap and small towel for the shower
4. Labeled cloth or plastic bag for wet things
5. Sufficient drinking water in a shatterproof bottle
6. Hair band or bathing cap for longer hair