Dear Members and Friends, Summer is off to a great start and we had an amazing Priority Enrollment for the upcoming 2013-2014 Season. With the changing of sessions, we have received a number of really great questions about the transition and future enrollment decisions. We thought you might find the value in reading some answers to question you have, or maybe didn’t even know you had.  Q: Is Priority Enrollment over? A: Yes. Priority Enrollment ran from May 13th – June 1st. This time period allowed our current members the opportunity to save their spot before we open enrollment to customers who are not currently members. However…it is not too late to enroll. We anticipate that many of our classes will fill quickly, and some Summer and Season classes are at or near capacity already. Don’t miss your chance to save the class time you want. And if the class you want is full at the time that you enroll, please ask to be put on the waiting list. Q: Why has the schedule changed? A: During the summer session, we offer amazing “Anytime Summertime Camps” that offer families great flexibility to stay involved at The Little Gym over the summer. These camps are a great opportunity for families, but do have an impact on the other classes that we offer. We have made our best effort to offer a variety of class times for each age group. Any of our team members are happy to discuss options with you. Next school year, during the 2013-2014 Season, we have added several new classes to accommodate the increased enrollment demand (as well as being prepared to easily expand our offerings even further if needed as the season progresses). In addition to the new times we’ve added to the schedule, you will notice that our age groups and program offerings also offer a bit more flexibility in class time scheduling and make-up class availability. Q: My child is 3 years old, but is not ready to leave the parent-child class. Is that OK? A: This is an individual parent decision. The biggest advantage of the Funny Bugs class is that it prepares your child for pre-school and helps your child overcome any separation anxiety issues. Many times your child will surprise you. During the first week or two, your child may be unwilling to enter the class but we have found that even the most “clingy” children usually let go when they realize that all the other kids are having fun. We encourage parents to “give it a try” before deciding whether or not their child is ready. However, we do not object if you feel your child needs a bit more time in the parent-child class. You may switch mid-session when you feel your child is ready. Q: How do I decide if my child should be in the 3-4 class or the 4-5 class? A: This is an individual parent decision. The learning units and lesson plans are similar, and our awesome instructors will individualize instruction to fit the skill of each child. Your decision is about determining if you feel your four-year old would relate better in a group with younger classmates or older classmates. Q: I have a six-year old. Which class category is more appropriate – Pre-School/Kindergarten or Grade School? A: These classes are quite different. Although every class at The Little Gym is FUN, the Pre-School/Kindergarten (Good Friends) class is physical skill development with a focus on imagination, creativity, a bit of silly, and more “citizen kid” activities preparing them for their experience in school. The Grade School (Flips/Hot Shots) class is a more physical, aerobic, gymnastics “workout” type class for children that are ready to build their confidence through more challenging skills. Q: Will the lesson plans be different from last year? A: The Little Gym International is always developing new learning units, lesson plans, themes, music, and activities. Plus, with the structure of our learning units, the themes do change as the children progress up through the program. The Little Gym believes in working with each child at his or her pace…age appropriate development to “keep it fresh.” Some children naturally advance faster than others and our instructors will always attempt to challenge your child while allowing them to enjoy success and receive positive feedback. Q: There are some programs that I haven’t seen before. What are these about? A: Jazzy Beasts is a new Parent-Child Dance program that we launched last year. This class is a great opportunity for child and adult to learn an appreciation of music and movement while continuing the FUN! The class is a great balance of ballet, creative movement and also some great gym time. Hip Hoppers is a high energy class with lots of personality, rhythm, and style. 4-6 year olds will find their own groove as they learn the walks, bounces, tricks and attitude that is seen in the hip hop dance style. 30 minutes of this class is in our dance room, while the other half is in the gym. Come check it out and have a blast! Mini Jacks/Cracker Jacks is a classic program that introduces various sports throughout a session, teaching fundamental skills such as throwing, catching and kicking plus understanding rules and strategies. We don’t “keep score” since our focus is skill development rather than competition. Chopstick/Choppers is a Karate program, taught in a non-competitive, non-contact, non-belting system. This FUN program teaches fundamental martial arts skills, self defense, and self-discipline. Gymnastics skills are also incorporated in this program to develop strength and coordination in the students. Q: I really liked a particular instructor this semester. Will I still have him/her for the next session? A: The availability of our team members and changes to the schedule are not always predictable and we cannot guarantee that a particular instructor will be teaching your child’s class. We do our best to maintain consistency in instructors in your child’s class throughout each session. We feel that all our instructors teach great classes and there are advantages to your child getting exposure to different teachers. Once a schedule is in place, you may switch your child to any class of your choice for any reason, if there is space available.