The first gymnasts, their parents and our coaches helped create our first gym in an old building that had been vacant for over a decade. They painted, cleaned and removed grafitti from the inside and outside of the building, which had dirt and grime built up from a decade without use. Then we tackled the in-ground pit (20 ft x 30 ft x 6 ft) because that was the newest and greatest invention to prevent injuries. Digging equipment would not fit inside the building, so the entire pit was dug by hand, shovel by shovel and bucket by bucket.

It was a sight reminiscent of Disney’s Fantasia as we watched the digging and the gymnast’s bucket brigade remove the dirt up the stairs and into the waiting trucks. The sore bodies those weeks were not from gymnastics but from construction! And all of this was done after school and on the weekends by kids and families that loved gymnastics and wanted to create their own special program, the program we call Gym Magic.

Gym Magic grew from its original 8 students to 30 students by the time our building was ready to open, and we were finally ready to try our hand at small business. Within 3 months, we had over 200 students in gymnastics without any office staff (that didn’t last long!) and only one phone line.

Much has changed over the years. We are now in our own building; our office staff has grown and incorporated computers for class management, but most importantly, our original desire to build the very best program for kids is still the foundation of all our programs! We believe kids learn best when it’s in a playful, engaging environment and that through our sports, we can teach that learning can be fun and exciting. Once kids internalize that learning is fun, their futures can explode with possibilities!

OUR FACILITY
In 2004, we built the first floor of our present location with over 19,000 square feet of brand new space!

After 7 years of planning, the first phase of construction was finally completed in late 2004. We opened New Mexico’s first dedicated learn-to-swim program and a new dedicated licensed preschool for 3 to 5 years olds. In addition, we had over 10,000 square feet of dedicated GYM for gymnastics and cheer. And after years of having only 1 bathroom, our new building had 14 bathrooms on the first floor and also had “real” air conditioning in the lobbies and offices! Pure heaven to us!

In 2006 we completed Phase 2 of our construction and opened our second floor adding another 5,000 square feet. Our new upstairs gave us a beautiful preschool gym, dance, and fitness studio, classrooms, an elevator and offices. Now we are complete!

With almost 24,000 square feet of space, Gym Magic offers more than anyone else in our region! With state-of-the-art indoor, heated swimming pools, dance studios and Olympic grade gymnastics equipment, Gym Magic offers the very best! We have air-conditioned observation areas on each floor, a proshop for essential ware, a concession to quench your thirst or take a bite out of hunger and a plethora of restrooms and dressing rooms in each area!

OUR PEOPLE
We now have dozens of people on staff with a combined coaching experience of well over 100 years – that’s 100 years of experience working for and with kids! Our hiring practices are taken from a mentor of mine, Jeff Metzger of Kids First in Cincinnati, who has set the industry, standard for sports clubs. He has built one of the best businesses in our industry by developing leadership skills in both his staff and students. For staff, hiring is the key; and in hiring, we hire character first and skill second because we know that skill can be learned (yes, we teach skill), but good character is the one defining principle that outweighs everything else. Just as it is more difficult to correct behavior in a teenager than it is in a preschooler, it is much harder to correct poor attitude or character in adults than it is to teach someone new skills when they have a positive attitude. We want people that love to work with kids and share our passion for helping them be the best they can be.

Quantity is nothing without quality, of course, and our record speaks highly about skill development: Gym Magic has won numerous individual and team state championship titles in gymnastics over the years plus numerous state, regional and national  titles in cheer. Our gymnastics coaches hold USA-Gymnastics Safety Certification and receive on-going training every month. We attend the USA-Gymnastics Congress every year and bring in certified clinicians to continually update and develop our programs. We are part of the USA-Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program and have been a USA-Gymnastics Member Club for over 10 years. We have been a USA Jr. Olympic Program and a USAG member club since opening in 1993. We are also a US All Star Federation Member Clubs (USASF) for cheer.

We are the only US Swim School Association member in the area and have been a member since 1999. In the Lily Pad Swim School, our teachers have taught thousands of young students to swim. In order to join our staff, our swim teachers must pass written exams and complete 40 hours of in-water training. But first and foremost, our teachers must be great with kids and love teaching!  Plus, our daily swim lesson plans have over a 30-year history and have been used to teach over 100,000 kids to swim.

Across all of our programs, our coaches are CPR/First Aid certified and are trained to teach kids in safe progressions that reduce risk and fear while increasing student success.

Our teachers in Ashley’s Garden really shine! They receive training in S’Cool Moves, swimming, gymnastics, dance plus all the traditional preschool components.

Our dance program was named ‘Best in the City’ in the Sun-News’ in 2005 Best of Las Cruces poll. Our dance instructors are seasoned performers who aim to instill a love of dance in every student.

In conclusion, we’re here for the long haul, and we’re here to do our very best. We want your input because that helps us to do and be better, which is exactly what we ask our students to do and be!

Thanks for visiting our website, and we also invite you to come by and let us show you around our children’s world, a world of imagination, fun and hard work all mixed together!

With warm regards,

Nancy Bates, PhD, MT(ASCP)
President, Gym Magic, Inc.

Q. When can I enroll?

A.  You can enroll at ANY TIME in any class with openings. Just call the office to check the days and times you prefer and your tuition will be prorated from your start date.

Q. How do I register for class?

A.  It’s as EASY as 1, 2, 3! You can register by phone or in person.

1. The office can give you a listing of all available classes in whatever programs you’re interested in – what days and times are you most interested in? Call 523-1616 for this information.

2. Fill out a Registration Form. There is a registration form online (click on ‘Registration’ at the top of the home page; click on ‘Registration Form’ and print a copy).  Bring your completed registration form to the front desk.

3. Pay your tuition by credit card, check or cash to complete your registration. Your tuition will be prorated from your start date.

Q. What are the Payment Options?

A. For your convenience, there are 3 payment options with 2 auto-debit plans. The auto-debit plans guarantee your child’s class status and guarantee no late fees!

1. Automatic monthly debit from a checking or savings account (we use your cancelled check each month)

2. Automatic monthly debit from a credit card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express)

3. Cash or check: monthly payment. We ask to have a credit or debit card on file. If payment is not made by the due date, the credit or debit card will be used.

Tuition is due on the 16^th of each month (Ashley’s Garden is due on the 1^st of the month; all other programs will be run on the 16^th. Please see the office if you have problems with these dates). The automatic debit systems are simpler and more economical plus they guarantee no late fees, no missed sign-ups and no schedule changes.

If you decide to withdraw from a program, we simply ask for a 30 day notice (call the office, email us or drop by the office) so we don’t inadvertently charge your account. There is a $10 refund processing fee for all refunds.

Q. What is the annual registration fee and how much is it?

A. The annual registration fee is a non-refundable administrative fee which is due upon initial registration and on your anniversary date each year thereafter:

1^st Student in a family:  $35 per year

2^nd Student in a family:  $25 per year

3^rd Student in a family:   FREE

You pay only one registration fee regardless of how many programs you enroll in. Your registration fee covers ALL programs – you can add Swim or Dance to Gymnastics, for example, and pay only one registration fee PLUS receive a discount on your second or third program’s tuition.

ADULT FITNESS REGISTRATION fee is $25 per year. If you have a child in any of our programs, your Adult Registration fee is waived. Yup, as part of our family discount, adult registration is FREE once you have a child in any of our programs!

Q.  When is tuition due?

A.  NEW in 2010: Tuition will be due MONTHLY. To simplify, beginning AUGUST 16, 2010, all tuitions will be due MONTHLY. We will have only 2 Terms: SCHOOL TERMS and SUMMER TERMS. Your first month’s tuition will be prorated from your start date. Monthly tuition will be due on the 16^th of the month.

Q. What are the NEW Terms beginning August 2010?

A. To simplify tuition beginning August 2010, we will bill monthly and only have 2 Terms: School Terms and Summer Terms. There are no priority due dates; tuition is due monthly; it is the SAME tuition each month; easier on the budget and with the same holiday structure as before.

School Terms August 16 – June 18

Summer Terms June 20 – August 13

The calendar year has 52 weeks and we schedule approximately 48 weeks between School and Summer Terms, so we will still be closed 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week at Spring Break and 1 week in August before the School Term begins.

Students can enroll at any time during the month and their tuition will be prorated from their start date. Students can withdraw by giving us a 30 day notice (there is a $10 refund processing fee for all refunds).

We will still have evaluations and move-ups throughout the year.

Q. Why are Gym Magic’s prices higher?

A.  Children are the future, and our dedication to providing the best possible program stems from our love of our own families. We understand that your children are the focal point of a parent’s life and also of many grandparents’ lives. These are precious years of learning and developing positive skills.

Our goal is to provide the very best teachers, curriculums and facility that we possibly can. All of this equates to extra cost, but we believe it is extra expense that is well worth it!  Note the extra training required for our teachers and staff, the special teaching design for our pools, the heated water for our pools, the in-ground pits and in-ground trampolines for our gym, the floating hardwood floors for our dance studio, the air-conditioned lobbies for our parents for the gym, pool and upstairs areas, the special gym for our preschoolers (away from the active gym floors for added safety), the emphasis on integrative movement and brain development in our curriculums, the special toddler and preschool-sized gym equipment, the special classes given to our preschool students…the list could go on and on, but the bottom line is that much has gone into our programs which simply adds to the cost of our programs. Our facility is next to none in the entire state, and our staff is hired first and foremost for their love of teaching because this is what we would want for our own children.

In short, we believe in going that extra mile as we believe success is learned and can, therefore, be taught. We feel they deserve the best we can offer!

Q. Do you offer a family discount?

A. YES! Siblings receive approximately 15% off tuition plus a discount on the registration fee (see above). Only the most expensive tuition in an immediate family will pay full tuition; all second or third children in a family receive a sibling discount on tuition and registration. A 15% discount is also offered on all second classes for a student whether in a different program or the same program. Adults with children in our program will not be charged a registration fee.

Q. Do you offer a 100% money back guarantee for tuition?

A.  New Students: Yes. If after your first 30 days, you are not completely happy, we will gladly refund 100% of your tuition. We know that children learn on their own schedule and at their own pace. We understand that not all kids are ready for class at the same age because each child is unique. Given time, they may want to try class again or try another program. We believe the physical and mental activity our programs offer is so important to development that we hope you will want to try again later. Please contact us if your child is having difficulty in class so that we might be able to assist them in their new surroundings.

Q. What should we wear to class?

A.  Gymnastics students should wear comfortable clothing (girls usually like leotards but t-shirts and shorts are also fine; boys should wear t-shirts and shorts). Our students go barefoot in the gym to prevent slipping on mats. You can purchase beam shoes to wear if you desire, but they are not required.

Swim students should wear comfortable swim suits. Children under 3 years of age MUST wear cloth swim diapers (even if they are potty trained). Cloth diapers should fit snuggly. These can be purchased in the office. Many students prefer swim goggles to protect their eyes.

Dance students: Ballet, Jazz and Tap:  Girls should wear a leotard, tights and ballet, jazz or tap shoes; Boys should wear dance pants, sweatpants or shorts and jazz or tap shoes. Gym/Dance Combos:  Girls are the same as above except the tights should be footless; Boys are the same as above. Hip Hop: Girls and Boys should wear loose, comfortable clothing and jazz sneakers.

Cheer students should wear shorts and t-shirts with indoor Cheer shoes. Please do not wear your indoor Cheer shoes outside.

Q. Do we offer make-ups for missed classes?

A.  Tuition pays for your child’s space in a designated class. However, as a courtesy, we offer one make-up per month which must be made up within 4 weeks of the absence. You must call in advance of the absence to notify the office in order to be eligible for a make-up. Once made, it cannot be rescheduled. All 1½ and 2 hour classes will only be entitled to 1 one-hour make-up class.

Q. Do we pro-rate for missed classes?

A.  No, we do not pro-rate for missed classes. As a courtesy, we offer one make-up class per month (see above).

Q. Can I stay and watch my child in class?

A. Yes, we love to have our parents stay and watch. We have observation rooms both upstairs and downstairs plus in the pool area. We are not equipped to supervise children before or after class. If your child cannot safely supervise themselves before and after class, please remain on the premises.

Q. Do you send out bills or statements?

A. No, to save costs we do not send statements. Beginning August 16, 2010 tuition will be due on the 16^th of each month (Ashley’s Garden is due the 1^st of each month). We offer 3 easy payment plans with auto-debit systems for your convenience.

THE NITTY GRITTY OF REGISTRATION:

Call us at 575-523-1616 if you need additional information about registering for classes.

NEW THIS YEAR!!! Beginning August 16, 2010, we will divide the year into 2 Terms, a ‘School Term’ and a ‘Summer Term’ – similar to the public schools. This will allow us to use monthly billing, which will be easier on everyone’s budget and easier to follow!

School Term: August 16 – June 18

Summer Term June 20 – August 13

Instead of paying tuition for the entire year or term, tuition will be due every 4 weeks. But to make it simple, we will bill on the same day of the month, the 16^th of each month (since we’ll begin on the 16^th of August).

To also reduce hassle, we will offer 3 payment plans that everyone is familiar with – an automatic debit system so there are no late fees; no missed sign-up dates; no schedule changes.  The 3 payment plans are:

1)   automatic monthly debit from a checking or savings account (we just use your canceled check)

2)   automatic monthly debit with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express)

3) cash or check: monthly payment. We ask to have a credit or debit card onfile. If payment is not made by the due date, the credit or debit card will be used.

Many businesses are using the automatic debit system because it’s simpler and more economical to use. For our programs, it guarantees no late fees, no missed sign-ups and less hassle. If you decide to withdraw from a program, we simply ask for a 30 day notice so we won’t inadvertently charge your account. There is a $10 refund processing fee for all refunds.

Our programs are year round programs that allow you to start at ANY TIME – we simply prorate your tuition from your start date. Simply call the office (523-1616) for openings in the programs you are interested in. The office will do their best to find classes that meet your child’s needs and your busy schedule. We will have evaluations throughout the year for move-ups and placements.

Our hope is to streamline our systems and make them EASIER. If you have questions, please stop by the office or speak directly with Nancy (upstairs and to the left). We’re here to help!

NEW EASY CALENDAR 2010-2011

School Term: August 16 – June 18

Summer Term June 20 – August 13

HOLIDAYS

Labor Day, Sept 6

Thanksgiving, Nov.  25

Christmas, Dec 20  -  Jan 4*

Spring Break, Mar 21 – 26

Memorial Day, May 30

July 4th

*Class resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 5^th, 2011.

SUMMER Gym N’ Fun CAMP: 2011

Camp is from 9:00 to 4:00 with Pre and Post Camp available from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

May 31^st – Aug 12^th 11 Weeks of Supervised SUMMER FUN for kids 6 to 12 years of age (3 to 5yr. – see Ashley’s Garden for Preschool Summer Camp

We are always looking for great people!

Do you love kids?  Do you love to teach?  Do you get a kick out of watching a young child learn something new?  Do you watch for that shy, timid child that needs a little extra encouragement to join the group?
…Gym Magic may be the place for you!

We require 3 or more written character references plus our completed application form.

We accept applications in gymnastics, swim, preschool, dance, cheer, adult fitness, water aerobics plus our front office.

We are open from 8:00am to 8:30pm Monday through Friday and Saturdays from 8:00am to 1:00pm.  We also host birthday parties on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

How to Apply:

1. Print out Application Form.
2. Complete our Application Form.
3. Make 3 copies of our Personal Reference Form.
4. Secure 3 to 4 personal references with preference given to current or former supervisors, teachers, coaches, business leaders or people for whom you have baby-sat.
5. Deliver sealed completed forms to Gym Magic, 2341 Entrada del Sol, Las Cruces, 88001.

Change the month: click on the arrow (left or right) or click the drop down arrow to the (right of the month/date) and select accordingly.

Change View : Click “Week”, “Month”, or “Agenda”

Other Options : Click the drop down arrow to the right of “Agenda” and be given the option of seeing certain program events by themselves or in combination with other programs.