February brought a wave of exciting leadership changes that reflect just how much this team has grown. Elizabeth Erdey, who has been a standout at Manchester, is stepping into a co-leadership role at Gateway Gymnastics alongside Dean Howren. They'll be building on the strong foundation laid by Jen Thomasson, who is off to a new adventure in Las Vegas. We're so proud of what Jen built and can't wait to see what she does next.
Over at Team Central, Madie Ewing steps into the role of Girls Director as Chastity moves into a full-time administrative position—a well-earned shift that puts her strengths to great use. At Ellisville, Bailey Clarke takes over as Head Team Coach, bringing fresh energy to that role. And we're thrilled to welcome Jacob Brunts, a Lindenwood Exercise Science major, as our new Ninja Director. Great things ahead.
This month gave us two great examples of what happens when our teams lean into creativity. Manchester hosted the first trial run of our Premier Birthday Parties —and by all accounts, the red carpet treatment was a hit. Guests loved it, and the birthday kiddo definitely felt like the star of the show. Expect to hear more about this as we continue rolling it out.
Meanwhile, the Ellisville team knocked it out of the park with their lobby display marketing our 2026 Summer Camp themes. The creativity, the execution, the sheer "out of this world" energy they brought—it's exactly the kind of initiative that makes families excited to walk through our doors. Well done.
Starting March 2, 2-Step Verification (2FA) will be required for all Olympia Google accounts. It only takes about 2–3 minutes to set up, and the easiest method is simply approving a Google Prompt on your phone. Please don't wait on this one—getting locked out of your email mid-shift is nobody's idea of fun.
On the horizon: two-way texting through iClassPro is coming soon. Being able to communicate with families directly through the system will save time and keep our messaging consistent. We'll be rolling it out carefully, with templates and guidelines to help keep that personal, human touch we're known for. Stay tuned.
Why We Ring the Bell
If you've been in the gym lately, you've heard the bell. And you've seen what happens right after—that burst of pride on a child's face when they know they just did something hard. That bell isn't just a sound; it's a signal to everyone in the room that effort was just rewarded. That's not a small thing. That's confidence being built in real time.
The Power of One Hour
In just one hour a week, you have the opportunity to influence a child's confidence, mindset, and entire experience of sports. That hour truly matters. Great coaching goes beyond setting up a circuit—it's about moving through the room, observing closely, and adapting your feedback so every child feels seen. Because no two gymnasts are the same, the most effective coaches react in the moment to deliver bespoke support that helps every athlete progress in their own way.
This month gave us two stories that perfectly capture what coaching at Olympia looks like at its best.
Jen at Rock Hill noticed a student struggling with a transition and didn't just wait and hope for improvement. She connected with Hayley at Ellisville and together they moved the student into our HUGS program—where she now has a best friend and is genuinely thriving. That's problem-solving with heart. That's what it looks like to put a child's experience first.
At Mid Rivers, a parent reached out to rave about Coach Katelyn Shea and her "Baby Bees" classes. From heart-shaped floor beams for Valentine's Day to hand-painted photo ops, Katelyn's intentionality is evident in every detail. She knows every child's name on day one. She turns a gymnastics class into an experience families look forward to all week. That's the standard.
We are always hiring—and some of the best people who have ever joined this team came in through a recommendation from someone already on it. You know our culture. You know what it takes to thrive here. That makes you the best recruiting tool we have.
That's the idea behind our hiring cards. They're small, wallet-sized cards you can carry with you and hand out whenever the moment feels right—whether that's a parent's teen who lights up around the kids, a college student you met over the weekend, or a friend you've always thought would be a natural fit. No pitch required. No follow-up expected. Just hand them a card and let it do the rest.
Cards should be available at your location—check with your manager if you need a fresh stack. If you're proud of where you work (and we hope you are), don't keep it to yourself.
A massive congratulations to Kylene Herr at Rock Hill on the birth of her baby girl, Vienna Mae. What a beautiful addition to your family, Kylene—we are so happy for you!
A heartfelt thank-you to the entire Rock Hill team. Your manager Jen wanted to make sure you know how much she noticed: when things got complicated last month, you stayed positive, stayed professional, and stayed together. That's a team.
To all of our team coaches —thank you for getting through meet season with your smiles intact and your athletes fully supported. It's a grind, and you made it look good.
February also brought birthdays to several of our team members, and we're so glad to have people worth celebrating. You know who you are. And this month we welcomed new faces into the Olympia family—people who walked in ready to contribute. We're glad you're here.
