The Spark! Discovery Programs Newsletter: January 2024

A Note from the Director

Dear Parents,

What a long January it is, but we have had some fun highlights at Discovery, such as the start of competition season, Dance Day samples, parent observation, and birthday parties! At our first official competition of the season, our gymnasts won many trophies, including first place for Copper 1, Bronze, Diamond and Silver and third place for Copper 2. We are so proud of our gymnasts and coaches.

I often say that children don't just take one class, they grow up with us. We are really highlighting that through our new quarterly Student Spotlight series. Looking back over when our oldest students started class with us, I found that many started in Baby Gym. If they didn't start in Baby Gym, they may have started in Toddler Gym or Ballet. It's been amazing to see these children develop, progress their skills, and grow up over the years. We've also built long-term relationships with their families. This community is so special. I hope you enjoy these stories!

Warm Wishes,
Katie Kheel

Winter/Spring classes start next week!

Discovery has a long 50+ year history of family connections. This month, we're highlighting some students who have grown up in baby and toddler classes, ballet, gymnastics and more. Now, they are on pointe in ballet, on the gymnastics team, and earning high level belts in karate.

We're starting a new quarterly Student Spotlight series, highlighting different long-time students and families. Meet a few below!

Quinn has been at Discovery for her whole life, starting in Baby Gym and On My Own, and then in pre-ballet and gymnastics classes. Quinn and Clara's mom, Sarah, shares that she would volunteer as a chaperone at dance recitals and loved experiencing these milestones with her children.

Now Quinn is 14 and on the gymnastics team. Quinn shares, "a lot of the people that I've met here I’ve known for a really, really long time and those are the close friendships in my life. I talk to the people I’m friends with here outside of gymnastics and I've grown close to everyone."

According to Sarah, "the girls have grown in the sport - and, more importantly, as humans - in so many ways over the years. Quinn started on team when she was eight and just this little peanut and now she is a strong, self-determined young lady who has skills that we could never have imagined when she started. She has been on team with many of the gymnasts for years - it's been a real treat to watch them all grow and mature over the years, and they are so supportive of each other and have a really nice community."

Quinn agrees that Discovery is a supportive and welcoming environment. She and Clara attended World Championships in Orlando last summer and during their down time from competing, the gymnasts strengthened their bond by relaxing at the resort and going to theme parks together.

When Clara was a baby, she and her babysitter would wait in the lobby while Quinn was in classes. Sarah says that "the front desk team and teachers loved her and she was always being held and passed around. She was like an unofficial mascot - the baby of Discovery."

Clara remembers taking ballet with Miss Katrina and gymnastics on the roof with Coach Aubrey during the early days of the pandemic.

Clara is now 10 and on the gymnastics team! She says she has made good friends at Discovery and also hangs out with them outside of gymnastics. One of her favorite memories is "getting new skills like my squat on (and winning candy from Coach Mary!)."

Sarah says, "Clara is making her own way on team after being dragged to many a meet as a spectator. We are so proud of her for setting her mind to competing at the team level and accomplishing that goal - even if it makes for VERY long meet days! We can't wait to see where [she and Quinn] go from here!"

Clara loves competing and the meets that stood out to her from last year are World Championships and Popstar Invitational.

Emily started taking ballet classes at Discovery in 2016 and her first recital was "Romeo and Juliet!" According to her mom, Rachael, Emily "was always so enthusiastic to put on her leotard. She felt so proud and special in her recital costumes. She was completely unflustered being on stage and passionate about performing."

Now, Emily is 14 and on our gymnastics team. Emily shares that "being on the gymnastics team has helped me improve my problem solving. Whenever I am learning a new skill in the gym, I break things down, analyze, and keep trying." Rachael shares that the early performances have helped Emily master her nerves at gymnastics competitions.

Emily remembers sitting at the coloring table before class and her favorite memory from ballet class is jumping over the red scarf. She says, "I remember the teacher pointing how big I could leap every single time."

Emily also remembers "being a little kid watching the older gymnasts on team and thinking that they were so cool." Now, she is one of the gymnasts that the younger students watch with admiration.