Welcome Keelin!

Hey Monarchs!
I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday break. Now that it's time to get back in the gym, I wanted to inform everyone on the exciting addition we've made to our Monarch Family! I would like to welcome Keelin Elmer to the team. She's been on pre-team for the last 7 months and like the other pre-team girls she was invited to join us during practices over the past 2 weeks. Well, Keelin did so well and liked us so much the coaches and her family decided it was best for her to continue on her gymnastics journey as a Monarch. Her mom Mandy has been watching in the gym so if you come in to help please introduce yourself. Let's make the Elmer family feel welcomed and comfortable in our program. We coaches are so blessed to have you great families who support our team and program. Let's continue to build a great environment for these wonderful talanted girls.

Thanks so mcuh,
Kristin

Gym Updates

All news isn't always good news. We are having a few issues in the gym that were discussed at practice today. The coaches want to let parents know that we are coming across some respect issues towards coaching staff and teammates during practice. We reviewed the expectations in the gym and hope that by re-itterating them we will see an increase in the respect level towards each other. Our practice policies are very important to us. The rules we have in the gym help us to create the best positive learning environment possible. Gymnasts, Coaches and Parents are expected to behave according to the YMCA Member Code of Conduct and the core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility during practice, at meets and everywhere within the Y. We need the support of families to help us do our job, knowing that what we do is with the best intention of the girls.

Please be aware of the fact that set up/tear down of the equipment is mandatory for all gymnasts. I know life happens and girls have to leave early. Parents, please make every effort to assist with set up/tear down so that we can have as much practice time as possible . All hands on deck is the only way to get the job done.

Discipline action will be taken if necessary. Please refer to the Monarch Handbook for a reminder of the disipline policy.

Thanks for all of your support!
Kristin, Anna, and Bekah

Captains

Monarch,

I wanted to let everyone know the outcome from our 2011-2012 Monarch Group and Team Captain Election. I just want to start by saying that being a Captain is a great honor and should be treated respectfully from the entire team. Being the leader of a group or team is a huge responsibility, leading by example is the best way to influence. Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.-- George Van Valkenburg. The role of a Captain isn't to be a coach but to be the voice of the gymnast. Every Monarch on our team is a leader in her own way and will only continue to grow in the direction as a great gymnast and leader.
We must become the change we want to see.-- Mahatma Gandhi

For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility.

Bekah's Group Captain:

Sophie

Kristin's Group Captain:

Becky

Anna's Group Captain:

Sarah

Team Captain (s):

Allyn and Kelly

Congrats girls!

~ Coach Kristin

Gym Updates

Monarchs,

New and returning, they're a ton of exciting things happening in the gym right now. On Monday the girls started to learn their new routines! This is a very new, exciting and hard time for both gymnasts and coaches. We as coaches do expect the girls to practice the dance at home because gym time is short . Sometimes we even ask them to right the routine down on paper. I know life can get busy but please help us coaches to better prepare the girls for our first competition of the season.
We also have "Bring a friend day" this Friday August 19th. The girls are very excited so please get those waivers signed by Friday so our gymnasts get to show their friends the gym and what we do. There's a lot of fun in store for Friday so we don't want anyone to miss out.

Also on Monday the Gallardo girls decided not to return for the 2011-2012 season. It wasn't an easy decision but it was their own and we respect them for that. We will miss them very much and wish them the best of luck on their next adventure.

Coach Kristin

Coaches News!

Monarchs,

I just wanted to update all of the Monarch Families of the news the coaches told the gymnast today. As of the week of July 11th 2011 coach Laura will not be permanently coaching the Monarchs. She has struggled with the decision to leave for the past few months and unfortunately her career isn't allowing her the commitment that is required for this team. We are going to make the transition as smooth as possible on the girls. Kaitlin is going to coach every Saturday practice this summer starting June 11th while Laura continues weekday practices. Coach Anna Battoclette, Blue Ash's former head coach will be joining our Monarch family. She will be coming in one practice a week starting next week to work with Laura to get to know the girls and our gym better. This again was super hard on all of us but is better for the girls in the long run. We love Laura and we wish her the best of luck starting her life. She will continue to sub in the gym and will be around to support us. We wanted the girls to know first so this was the best way I could think of to get the news to all of the families.

Thanks for your support,
Coach Kristin

Hello Monarchs,

Well it's be awhile and I have some very exciting news! The 2011 PCY Annual end of the year Banquet is right around the corner. Literally, May 6th 6:00pm in the Y Lodge. Invitations are in the family folders with more specific details. Please save the date, this Banquet means a lot to the girls and it's too much fun to miss out on. The great part about the Banquet is the girls stay with us coaches in the gym all night long:) Pick up from the sleep over the next morning is 8:00am, unless they stay to help with classes;) Listed below are a few items to sign up for so the girls have some snacks and a quick breakfast in the morning. The movie for the night will be Tangled. Any questions regarding the Banquet/Overnight you know what to do!!

Beverages

1) Milk – ½ gallon only needed

2) OJ - - 1 gallon only needed

Snacks- 6 total

Breakfast food – bagels, fruit, donuts

*If you bring bagels please remember to bring cream cheese.

If you want to bring something that's not listed for breakfast then feel free, these are just some suggestions. Please just email me the item(s) and I will post them to keep everyone informed of what we still need.

Thanks for all your support throughout the season, let us come together to celebrate.

~Coach Kristin

Up Coming Events

Monarchs,
I want to start by saying Thank you to all of you and your families for doing such a great job with our home meet. It's one of the most successful meets we have hosted. I've received such great feed back from our Executive Director and class participants that came to support us. I know that girls had a great time so it was totally worth all of the hard work. Everyone really came together and created such a positive experience.
Back to business, everyone should have received districts information in their family folders on Friday and it's also posted on the our website if you need to find the information. This is our last meet for some of the gymnast so we are trying to get them prepared and staying focused. This is the meet that we work so hard for all year long. The girls are going to go into Championships with a positive attitude and no holding back. Good luck Girls:)
This Saturday March 12th at 12:30-2:00pm we're holding a Free Vault Clinic coached by Denise Brunck and Rebekah Grossman. The focus is only going to be on Vault. I encourage everyone to come and benefit from this Free vault practice. While the girls will be working hard in the gym I'm holding the Parent Nationals meeting right outside my office at the same time. If your gymnast(s) is a level 5 or higher and has received the nationals score you are strongly encouraged to come and listen what Nationals is all about. Please let me know if you can or can't make it.
Zones information will be shared whenever it gets to me. Please book hotels now and then cancel if need be.
Please keep the Cleghorn family in your prayers, they are going through some hard ships right now and could really use the extra thoughts and prayers.

Any questions please do not hesitate to call or email me.

Thanks for everything you do,
Kristin