Hey Parents – Here’s a page designed to keep you in the loop with all details surrounding the afterschool program. We’ll post our monthly news letters, registration information, updates and any relevant information that we have for our programs.

Check back regularly so that you are always aware of what’s going on!
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Check out what we are teaching your children in the Go-Go Gymrichment After School Program for the month of January!

Hello & Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone has had a great start to the 2012 year, and that the first week back at school has been a wonderful one for all of our Gymrichment children. At the beginning of this week, you should have received a handed out schedule that gives you a peak into what we are up to with our curriculum this month. You will receive these calendars from your coordinators on the first of each month, and they will have all activities outlined for your convenience. You will receive these calendars from your coordinators on the first of each month, and they will have all activities outlined for your convenience.

Based on surveyed requests from the children, we have decided to make some exciting changes to our program. We have decided to amalgamate our entrepreneurship and leadership topics to run together on one day. We will still visit the 7 habits, but utilize these habits for more hands on experiences in order to communicate the message in an applicable way. Partnered with Junior Achievement, we have made our entrepreneurship block totally hands on, teaching the principals associated with the curriculum in a group involved setting. We will be doing mock interviews and job processes, and learning about production, producing our very own materials for "business". Our leadership block will also include an anti-bullying campaign each and every month. We are hoping to focus positively on this topic, utilizing group activities to communicate this important message.

Our literacy component has changed as well, fitting into our daily schedule instead of being attributed to one day a week. We have put together 'literacy packets', which are available to the children on a daily basis, and which are also ranging in age appropriateness.

Arts & culture has remained the same, as this topic seemed to be well received across the schools. This topic will keep its own day of focus, and will continue to be hands on and informative. The children will continue to learn about different cultural topics, as well as participate in corresponding activities.

We have added science to our curriculum, which will allow for a totally interactive experience of teachings. We will host experiments and get creative with scientific principles, teaching the children about anything from the constellations and solar system to how to make your own silly putty. We are hoping that this endlessly interesting topic will be a big hit with the children!

In addition to re-vamping the curriculum topics and teaching styles to be less lectured-focused and more hands on, we have re-vamped our daily schedules so that each day of the week runs on a different platform. Some days will start with curriculum, while others will start with creative station free time. We will participate in our activities in a different order each day of the week, which will never allow for children to miss a portion of their day, regardless of their pickup time.

Our phys-ed component has changed as well, as we implement a more innovative focus to the Physical Education day, relying on 21^st century fitness adventures that will change each month. Once a month Wednesdays will serve as our Circus day where we will bring in Bouncy Castles, Face Painting, Parachute Games, Relay Races, Prizes, and more.

We will rotate on each other Wednesday to provide a Guest Speaker (once a month), Specialize Party Days (once a month and month specific!), and in response to an overwhelming interest have implemented a monthly field trip. To celebrate our new curriculum topic of Science, our first field trip will take place on January 25th to Science East! The children will witness a live scientific experiment, have a guided tour of the center, as well as have opportunity to play outside on their interactive playground. Go-Go Gymrichment will provide bussing to and from the field trips, as well as all field trip services for no extra cost. Field trips will vary each month, and will be slotted out on your monthly calendars so that you can prepare! Permission slips will be coming your way this week and must be returned no later than January 20th in order for your child to take part.

We hope you are just as excited about all of these changes and that your children will absolutely love being a Go-Go Gymrichment kid.

We hope you and your children enjoy our re-vamped curriculum and have a fantastic January!

Best,

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Kristin MacDonald
Go-Go Gymnastics/Go-Go Gymrichment