Super-Fun Winter/Spring Priority Enrollment Starting Soon!

Before open enrollment for each semester of classes starts, we have a 2-week Priority Enrollment period in which current members may select classes and reserve spots first. For the Winter/Spring 2011 semester, Priority Enrollment starts on Monday, November 8th. The main benefit of Priority Enrollment for members is that they can secure a spot in classes that might potentially fill up once Open Enrollment starts. Children in evening and weekend classes and other key weekday classes are the main beneficiaries of enrolling early.

 

Priority Enrollment helps us at The Little Gym because it helps us determine which classes will need additional instructors scheduled and helps us determine if we have any additional hiring or training needs well in advance of the start of the next semester. To find instructors that love children, are energetic, intelligent, and capable of the best customer service and enjoy getting to know our fascinating customers, is a challenge! (Plus the class payments we receive during Priority Enrollment help ensure I can pay instructors, rent, and other bills through the slower holiday season!)

 

Each Priority Enrollment period, we try to make things fun and festive too. Starting on November 8th, we’ll have coffee, juice, water, and various snacks available for every class, for every day, for two weeks. Plus we’ll have daily raffle prize drawings. Once you enroll your child in classes, they are eligible for every remaining prize. If you win one of the nightly prizes, your raffle ticket goes back into the raffle box. So you can potentially win *every* prize! We have had multiple winners several times in the past. The goal is to encourage early enrollments, without penalizing anyone for doing so!

 

In the past, we’ve typically given away a bunch of The Little Gym prizes, such as t-shirts, hats, and gift certificates towards Parents’ Survival Nights, camps, and membership renewals, plus a few items that were donated from outside businesses.

This year, along with over $550 of The Little Gym prizes, we have over $550 of additional family-friendly prizes. Plus the first 50 students who enroll will get a buy-one, get-one free frozen yogurt from Yo Top It! of Oregon City (19550 Molalla Ave) . Here’s the list of what we’ll be raffling off, plus the dates of the raffles. For days in which there are multiple prizes, we will be drawing one winner per prize.

• Monday, Nov 8
• The Little Gym Parents’ Survival Night
• Three “Have one on us” 3-topping pizzas from Papa Muphy’s Take 'N' Bake of West Linn and Oregon City (3 individual winners of one pizza each)
• Tuesday, Nov 9
• The Little Gym T-Shirt & Baseball Cap
• Wednesday, Nov 10
• The Little Gym Winter Camp
• 4 Tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba! live at 2pm on Sunday the 14th at the Memorial Coliseum ($200+ value)
• Thursday, Nov 11
• The Little Gym t-shirt, slo-mo ball and Foam Flyer
• Friday, Nov 12
• The Little Gym Annual Family Membership renewal
• $25 gift certificate to Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
• Saturday, Nov 13
• Parent’s Survival Night
• $25 gift certificate to Players (dinner and bowling next door!)
• Monday, Nov 15
• The Little Gym T-Shirt and Baseball Cap
• Tuesday, Nov 16
• The Little Gym Winter Camp
• $25 Gift Certificate to Frog Pond Toys and Lily Pad Café
• Wednesday, Nov 17
• The Little Gym Annual Family membership
• $75 gift certificate towards classes or personal training at Flourish Pilates in West Linn
• Thursday, Nov 18
• Set of children’s books from Goodnight Room ($36 value)
• A pair of Men’s Dockers Shoes. You choose the size and style! ($50+ value)
• Friday, Nov 19
• $30 gift certificate for Pampered Chef from consultant, Angelika Heidelberger
• Saturday, Nov 20
• Grand Prize – free Fall 2011 semester of classes (~$333 value)

All of these prizes (with the exception of the Yo Gabba Gabba tickets) were donated by your fellow members! We are very appreciative of these donations and we hope that you will patronize your fellow members' businesses and thank them!

 

 

 

Proud Parent Moments - October 2010

I love talking about pride in our children.  That's got to be the best thing about being a parent -- being able to have those moments of pride -- when our children first smile at us, giggle, walk, hug us, and any time they say "I love you." 

I had another "pride" moment last night when my son and I attended his first ever Cub Scout den meeting.  About fifteen 1st graders were standing around two tables making paper airplanes just before the meeting was called to order.  The Den leader then had all the children take turns saying their name, what school they go to, and what their favorite animal was.  Now, my son is a little on the introverted side.  In his The Little Gym classes at age 3, he was the Funny Bug that would sit by the watching wall during all of the group activities, or go hide in the donut until it was time for the gymnastics stations.  Over time, his confidence grew and he did start participating in all of the group activities. 

Last night, I held my breath a little bit as the turn came around to my son to introduce himself.... and he did!  He even spoke loud enough that I could hear him across the room a bit.  Knowing my child, just the fact that he was able to say his name in front of a group of 15 peers, and about 20 adults, it was a big moment -- for me!

At The Little Gym, we allow children to join in to the activities when they're ready. We allow them to be comfortable watching and joining in at their own pace.  And when they do join in, we feel as proud in them as you do.  Maybe all of those opening circles, saying names and doing a skill in front of the class had an impact on my son?  I think so!

Here's a link to a video we recently posted on our Facebook page of a Giggle Worm who definitely doesn't have any issues with confidence.  Enjoy!

 -Teacher Ron, Owner

Halloween... It's coming!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Is it because of the smell of the crisp leaves that have fallen off trees, or the swish, swish, as you walk through leaf piles that have gathered at the edges of sidewalks?  Or is it because our children get so excited to dress up and talk of nothing else for the weeks leading up to Halloween?  Or is it the fun "scary" stories we read, or the fun decorations we get to put up?

Nope... I'll be honest.  I love candy. :-)  Somehow my son also has a huge sweet tooth.  I love going trick-or-treating with my children.  Last year was the first year that I brought them home because it was getting later, rather than bringing them home because they got tired.   

A few years back, we started a post-trick-or-treat tradition.  We sit at the kitchen table and sort out the candy, discarding the candy that the kids don't like or can't eat (due to allergies and the newly added dental braces).  Then.... we gorge.  We eat whatever candy we want. I usually eat until I'm stuffed. Mom usually cuts off the kids when she thinks it's too much. We keep a tiny portion of the candy for the next day or so, and then Mom throws the rest away, while I sadly watch it go.   I'm usually too stuffed to object when that occurs.  But at least this way, we don't have candy in our house for very long after Hallween.  And there will be plenty of other treats coming as Thanksgiving and other holidays are just around the corner.

At The Little Gym, we have a tradition too.  We have our annual Members-only Halloween Party.  This year it's on Sunday October 31st -- on Halloween.  We're having it a little earlier in the day this year, so the kids can come to The Little Gym and still be able to go home for dinner before going out trick-or-treating.

We've always had a pretty big turnout, so we now have 2 parties -- one at 1pm, and another at 2:35pm (5 minutes after the first party has ended).  We transform the gym into a Halloween extravaganza with a Halloween-themed obstacle course, giant cheese-slide, halloween activities and performances, fun games & prizes, and cookies and juice.  Children (and parents) are encouraged to come in costume.  All of their favorite teachers will be!

We have sign-up sheets at the gym and we're asking parents to RSVP by Saturday the 23rd.  Below is our staff photo from just before last year's party.  We hope to see you there!