Flower Mound - Highland Village - Argyle | February 2025

Business

BY KAREN CHANEY

Argyle swim school utilizes sweets as symbolic teaching tools When stepping into Swimming Fishies Swim School in Argyle, a sweets-themed environment is on full display. Business owner Danielle Bakic is quick to point out each image is symbolic of how she teaches swim lessons. The swim school is known for teaching kids to swim in nine days. “Floaty donuts go underneath their chin. They hold onto the donut, lay back, relax and they will start oating within minutes,” Bakic said. “By the next lesson, we start taking the donut away, and it trains them to lay back ... If we say ‘donut’, it means they need to ip over and oat to save their life.” The backstory Prior to opening Swimming Fishies Swim School in June 2023, Bakic taught swimming lessons from her backyard until she faced homeowners association conicts. She also tried running the business at various pools across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex but found that to be extremely stressful. Her husband, Preston Bakic, a co-owner of the business, decided it was time to build a permanent space for the swim school. “My husband is an airline pilot. In 2020, he took a leave of absence to build my swim dream. He found raw land in Argyle and designed and built the entire thing,” Bakic said. “I spent over 300 hours painting all those murals.” The details Bakic personally trains all new hires and makes sure they know swimming basics. “I used to hire only people that were compet- itive swimmers. I learned that [it] is very irrele- vant when it comes to becoming a great coach,” Bakic said. “Now, I hire based on personality, how patient they are and how outgoing they are with kids. If you have that foundation, I can train you to become a great coach.” The business uses a heated pool and the depth ranges from three-and-a-half- to four-and-a-half-feet. Going forward When the school reopens in March, this will be the rst time swim lessons will be oered year round. This year will also be the rst time the school will oer infant aquatics.

Part of the swim program uses in-house imagery like reaching for cotton candy paintings to encourage proper stroke form.

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Swimming Fishies owner Danielle Bakic personally trains all swim coaches to be her “mini mes” she said.

Coaches are chosen based on their personality and patience with children.

Quote of note The school also oers swim lessons to adults and children with special needs. “[A boy] couldn’t use his right hand and was born without kneecaps, and so they said he would never be able to walk. He’s had about 30 surgeries and he can walk,” Bakic said. “He learned to swim across our entire pool on day one. The mom was crying. It was amazing.”

FRENCHTOWN RD.

INDIAN TRAIL

377

820 Indian Trail, Argyle www.swimmingshies.net

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