Here’s what you need to know about Evaluation Week

It’s evaluation week starting November 18! It’s a great opportunity for coaches, athletes, and parents to celebrate the progress that’s been made during the session.

Each athlete will receive a written evaluation from their coach for their recommended class for the next session. Coaches use a standardized list of skills for each level to see what skills your child has accomplished this session. If your child has mastered all the skill standards they will move up to the next level class.

Setting Goals

Evaluations are helpful because they give both our coaches and athletes concrete goals to work toward. The list of skills our instructors use during evaluation week is the same list they use all session to guide their coaching. This means children are very familiar with each skill before evaluation week arrives.

Finding a Good Fit

The other reason Gem City uses evaluations is that it allows us to place children in the appropriate class. Nothing is more frustrating than being in a class that is either too difficult or too easy. (This is frustrating for coaches too!) A coach can better emphasize needed skills and efficiently manage time if the children in a class have the same approximate skill level.

Mastering Skills

Sometimes a child is really close to doing a skill. Coaches will often comment “Almost” or “Getting close!” on evaluation sheets in these cases. Coaches look for mastery of skills with fluidity, confidence, and consistency when a child performs a skill. This is why we don’t just move a child up to the level when they can sometimes or almost perform a skill.

If you have questions about your child’s evaluation please feel free to speak with your child’s coach.

Enrollment for spring classes starts on Monday, December 2

• You can access Gem City’s entire spring class schedule is available. Access the schedule here.
• An online account is needed for every family at the gym. Follow the directions below (or read all details here about the new system.) This account must be active in order to enroll in classes for the next session, so please be sure to set it up before you call or stop in the office.
  • For existing students: Be sure to create you account in the Parent Portal then call or stop in the office.
  • For new students: All new athletes to Gem City must fill out our registration then call or stop in the office.
• Spring classes will begin the week of January 6, 2025.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a coach, stop in our Pro Shop, or call us at 217.224.8491.

Starting This Week: Raffle to Win a Leotard a Year for Life
Beginning today (November 18, 2024) and running for one month, you can buy a raffle ticket in Gem City’s Pro Shop for a chance to WIN A LEOTARD A YEAR FOR LIFE (or rather, your gymnastics life).

The winner will get a FREE leotard once a year for as long as they are an active athlete at GCGT! Size and style are up to you! We will draw the winner on Wednesday, December 18 at 6 pm. We will NOT announce the winner on social media until AFTER the holidays. We know that there might be some enter this drawing and use this as a Christmas gift! We will keep it a surprise until after the first of the year, just in case!

Tickets will be $1/1, $5/6, $10/15, or $20/50. Retail offer of this raffle is $45-$450 – it all depends on the leotard you choose and how many years you remain an athlete at GCGT!