The Spark! – May 2018

A Note From The Director
Dear Parents,
As I mentioned last month, we have many exciting events happening at Discovery. The first of which was NY State Championships.  Check out the Team news below!  Our gymnasts are Co-State Champions! I am so proud of this team and the coaches.  Let’s not forget about our recreational gymnasts. We are having a big gym party at the beginning of June called Flip into Summer. Don’t miss it! We are also busy preparing for the spring ballet recital, Enchanted. The teachers and dancers are working so hard every week.

This month, Tori, our Office Manager, writes about her first year at Discovery. In her reflections, she really highlights some of the nuances of our day-to-day business. Teachers and staff will always come and go. Some are here for many years, some are only here a short time, and some leave and come back again. They all leave their mark here and add to our beautiful canvas. Tori also highlights our small business mentality of each of us wearing many hats. To be a good team member, we all have to be flexible and on our toes. We really threw her into the deep end that first week and she swam. Hats off on her first year! 

Warm Wishes,

Katie Kheel
Celebrating One Year at Discovery
by Tori Champion
May 15th marks my one-year anniversary as the Office Manager at Discovery, and just two days before that marks my one-year anniversary as a New Yorker. The end of my first week was the annual Gymnastics Team Gala, so I learned very early on that to work at Discovery, you have to be light on your feet, willing to wear many hats, and able to juggle infinitely many tasks in the same moment. This impressive commitment is a testament to the dedication of each staff member. At that event, I remember not only donning an apron to help prepare food in the kitchen, but also serving as principal photographer, and of course serving in my normal role as an administrative assistant. What took me by surprise in all the best ways then has become the epitome of normalcy for me now. 

The past year has been quite the whirlwind, thanks in no small part to the amount of growth and change I have witnessed at Discovery. Since my very first day, I’ve seen the seasons change from summer, to winter, to spring, and back to summer once more. Each piece of the year has its own distinct flavor, its own routines and unanticipated events. I’ve seen beloved staff members move on to new chapters in their lives, and others, no less beloved, who have come to take their place.
Our programming has morphed and been reinvented to meet the ever-shifting needs of our families. I’ve seen a veritable parkour explosion (when I arrived, most parents I spoke to didn’t know what parkour was – now they’re scrambling to sign up their children, and even to take class with them!). I’ve seen our gymnastics team go from force to be reckoned with to unstoppable champions. I’ve seen Sensei Karin revel in the triumph of promoting her first black belt student. I’ve seen myself grow more confident, both in my role at Discovery and in my own skin as an individual.
Most poignantly, I’ve seen children come into the world and grow at a rate that seems astounding. Mothers in the early stages of pregnancy when I moved to the city now have little ones that can blink, smile, and (almost) crawl. Coach Cristian became a first-time father. Youngsters that used to arrive in strollers now come barreling down the stairs. 

And even though all of these things have taken place over the course of a year, I’m sure I speak for us all when I say: it feels like it was only a New York minute.
 

 Gymnastics Team
State Championship Victory!
Congratulations to our USAIGC Team on winning First Place Co-Champions Copper Level at the New York State Championships! We are so proud of these strong and amazing gymnasts. Special thanks to our coaches, Mary, Cristian, Denise, and Joe, for all of their dedication. This team has made leaps and bounds. This is our first State Championship since rebuilding the team six years ago.

Also, this year, two of our gymnasts, Iris Friedman and Isabel Vanderveen, placed first and third, respectively, All-Around in the Copper level in New York State. Many of our gymnasts won All-Around awards and individual awards. It’s been a thrilling season and we look forward to more accomplishments at Regionals and Worlds!

Discovery Announcements!
Upcoming Closings
– Discovery will be closed on May 17th, 21st, 26th, 28th, and 29th.
Make-Up Deadline
– The last day for make-up classes is Saturday, May 19th. Please schedule all make-ups prior to or on this date.
Join us for Summer Camp!
– Register ASAP for Summer Camp at Discovery! We have morning programs for 3-5 year olds and both half and full day gymnastics programs for ages 5-13. 
Spring Ballet Recital
-This year’s spring recital will take place on Sunday, June 3rd. The theme is Enchanted! Performances will occur at 11:00am and 2:00pm. Information on ticketing TBA. 
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