Newsletter Sept 2020

Visit from NZ Olympic Gymnast - Courtney McGregor
We were very excited to welcome Olympic Gymnast Courtney McGregor to the gym last Saturday. Courtney spent time encouraging and supporting our WAG competitive Gymnasts, some of whom were attending their first ever practice competition. Courtney also did a very inspirational Q&A session after the comp and showed us some of her amazing routines. Many thanks to Courtney for generously giving her time to support our young gymnasts and to those gymnasts who came along.

Aspiring Gymsports Classes
We run a range of recreational and competitive gymnastics programmes (see our timetable at https://aspiringgymsports.co.nz/timetable). This month we'd like to highlight the drop in teen class at 6:30pm on Friday nights. This class is for girls and boys age 13+ to learn to safely execute and develop gymnastic skills. It is designed to be fun, challenging and to help develop physical skills and confidence that can be transferred to any sport. It is open to all abilities and no previous experience is required. A wide range of gymnastic equipment is used and may include the double mini tramp, tumble track and aerial equipment. As it's a drop in session it's very flexible and you do not have to commit to come everyone week. If you'd like to attend any of the drop in sessions please text Rae beforehand to check availability on 0274 149 562. Fee is $10 cash on the night.

Competitions

We have a few competitions coming up:On the 12th of September 4 girls (Lara, Keira, Stella and Charlise) will have their first WAG Step 1 competition in Dunedin. Mea and Honor will compete in Step 2; Ivy in Step 3; Vienna, Lucy and Fleur in Step 4 and Bella will compete in Step 8. Marshall and Charlie will compete in MAG Level 2; James will compete in MAG Level 3.Two weeks later the Step 4 girls will do a second competition in Dunedin. The boys have anotherchance to compete in Invercargill during the same last weekend of September.Good luck to all!

What to wear to Gym

Just a little reminder of what we like to see our gymnasts come dressed in. Please have clothing suitable for gym, which may include any of the following: bike shorts, leggings, a close fitting t-shirt, sweat shirt or leotard, please avoid baggy clothes or school uniforms. In the winter layers are ideal. Shoulder length or longer hair must be tied up and jewellery should be removed.
For Sale RackWe unfortunately can’t facilitate the selling of leotards at the gym anymore. Please collect any leotards that are currently for sale if they belong to you before the end of September. Leotards left in the gym after this date will be considered as donated to Aspiring Gymsports. You can advertise leotards for sale on our parent FB page (see below).
Keep in TouchFor updates on what is going on at Aspiring Gymsports please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/AspiringGymsports/posts/?ref=page_internalor or visit our website www.aspiringgymsports.co.nz. We have also got a new Facebook parent hub where you can swap lifts or sell your leotards etc. https://www.facebook.com/groups/442480176427640/
Save the date31 October: We plan to have our Aspiring Gymsports club competition 31 October. More details to follow.

Covid

We want to thank everybody for their co-operation during Level 2 so that we are able to continue running our term classes safely. Just a little reminder:

• Ideally drop and pick up on time from the main front door to the building (please allow for classes to finish 10 mins earlier to allow for cleaning time).
• In the corridor please distance using the markers.
• At the end of the session please leave promptly and don't block the corridor so we can maintain distancing. (We do not have to distance inside the gym but will maintain distance where possible).
• All gymnast are automatically in our system attendance records for contact tracing but parents entering the gym need to fill in the form on the gym door. We also have the NZ covid tracer ap QR code displayed for your use.
• Everyone needs to apply hand sanitiser or wash hands before entering the gym
• If your gymnast is not 100% well, please don't attend.

Payment of fees & Sporting Chance fund

We understand that in these unprecedented times the payment of fees in full at the start of the term can be a challenge. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us at admin@aspiringgymsports.co.nz to discuss alternative payment arrangements. We also would like to make you aware of funds that exist to increase the accessibility for sports to children. Sporting Chance is the Sport Otago programme that provides financial assistance to children whose families are experiencing financial hardship to help them take part in sport. It funds participation and will assist with the basic costs of playing a sport. Please contact tiny@sportotago.co.nz for more details.

Grant Application Success

We are very pleased to let you know that we were successful in obtaining a QLDC Community Grant for $15,000 towards our rent expenses in 2021. Thank you to all of our members and friends who supported our submission - we couldn't have done it without you!  
We have also received a grant of $17,700 from Sport Otago to cover expenses from July-Sept due to Covid 19.

Wanaka Recreation Centre Master Plan
This has now been released for public submission. Aspiring Gymsports will be joining other sporting communities to lobby for our facility needs to be included within the master plan within the next 3 years. The Master Plan is up on https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/ , please make sure to have your say too.The initial plans include an adult wellness center/gym but at present don't include a gymnastics facility and other community facilities geared towards our youth.
There is a QLDC drop in Q&A session tonight (31st Aug) at the Lake Wanaka Cenre from 6.30 - 8.30 if you would like to find out more about the plans.

Thank You

As many of you know, April Nijland resigned from her role as coach last month. We thank April for her service to Aspiring Gymsports over the past 6 years and we wish her the best with future endeavours. 
Have you noticed that the wall in one corner of the gym is looking very smart and tidy? Thank you to Gerald and Jess for the work and of course Painters Online for the free paint!

From the Committee

Introducing our new Committee member Kelli McArthur....I've called Wanaka my home for the last 17 Years. I was an active member of the Wanaka playgroup for a number of years and also held the presidency for a time. I have 2 school age children Chloe & Josh and also run a successful engineering business with my partner. I'm looking forward to helping the committee and seeing Aspiring Gymsports grow.  

Thank you to our Sponsors & Funders
We are very grateful to all of our funders and sponsors for their support: Bayleys Realty Group/Todd Soper; beSure Tailored Insurance; Mitre 10; Casa Mia; Lake Wanaka Carpet Cleaning; The Lion Foundation; SkyCity Queenstown Casino Community Trust; Findex NZ Limited, NZ Community Trust and Watertight Systems, QLDC and Sport Otago.