36 days and counting!

The blog is back up and running, so make sure to check it often for updates;)

Here are a few important dates to remember.  Write them on your calendar, put them in your phone, check your e-mail, visit the blog,check your family folder, go to the parent meetings and talk to your daughters!  Whatever it takes, so that you aren't surprised when something comes up :)

September 20: Fall Bulb Sale info distributed (Check your family folders!)

October 3: Parent Board Meeting
October 7/8: Fall Bulb order due (Don't be late!)
October 12/13: Spirit wear orders during practice
October 18:Let Kristin know if your daughter will NOT be competing on October 26th
October 26: Let Kristin know if your daughter will NOT be competing on November 1/2
October 26: First meet at Darke County!!!

November 1/2: Kettering meet
November 28/29: NO PRACTICE!

December 6: Let Kristin know if your daughter will NOT be competing on December 14th.
December 14th: Sidney Shelby meet
 
 The gym is super crazy right now!  We are still adjusting to having a team of over 50 girls this year.  It's the biggest our team has been which has been a scheduling challenge.  Bear with us as we try and figure out the best system for the girls ;)

To add to all the craziness, routines changed this year!  The dance in these routines is more difficult (or at least seems that way since we haven't had it engrained in our minds for the past 8 years!)  The coaches and girls have been working hard in and out of the gym to learn these routines.  Make sure the girls are still practicing at home!  It's super important if they want to be comfortable with their routines by the time our first meet rolls around on October 26th!
The optional girls have also been working really hard on their routines and they  are looking really good! 
Keep up the hard work everyone!

Only 36 days until our first meet!  That means its crunch time!  It is really important that the girls make it to as many practices as possible since we are so close to our first competition!  It's also important that they are eating healthy and getting enough sleep.  Seeing as they are athletes, this should be a priority!  Parents- make sure you are encouraging this!

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