Weight Room Update

Dear GSA Families,

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone in our athletic program! For the first time, Gateway Science Academy is proud to offer a fully-equipped Weight Room for our student-athletes, physical education classes, and students looking to improve their fitness. This facility is a huge step forward in providing our students with more opportunities to grow, develop, and strengthen their skills in a safe and supervised environment.

Weight Room Goals & Safety

• Supervised Training: Every session in the weight room will be overseen by a coach or staff member. No student will use the facility without adult supervision.
• PE Class Integration: Strength and conditioning activities will be incorporated into PE classes to promote overall fitness and wellness.
• Sports Team Use: Our sports teams will have scheduled time in the weight room, allowing them to improve athletic performance and reduce injury risks.
• Open Slots for Non-Athletes: In addition to teams, students who are not on sports teams will have designated time slots to sign up for weight room access.

Weight Room Rules for Non-Athletes

Students who sign up for open slots must attend their scheduled time. Failure to show up will result in losing the privilege to use the weight room, ensuring fair access and accountability for everyone.

Our Equipment

Our weight room features essential equipment, including:

• Dumbbells & Kettlebells for upper and lower body strength
• Squat Racks & Barbells for core lifts
• Benches for various exercises
• Multifunctional Trainer for various strength exercises
• Lat Pulldown for upper body work
• Rowing Machine for full-body conditioning

Safety & Liability

To ensure safety, all students and staff who use the weight room must sign a Liability Waiver. This will cover guidelines, safety protocols, and responsibilities for all users. Before you sign this form your child must have a sports physical (hs.gsastl.org/sportsphysical).

Key Points for Families:

1. When Will It Open?
   The weight room is officially open now for sports teams, and PE classes. We will have Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3pm-4pm and 4pm-5pm. Depending on the interest these dates might change.

2. What Will My Child Need?
   Students should wear appropriate athletic attire and bring water bottles when using the weight room.

3. Who Can Use It?
   The weight room will be accessible to GSA high school athletes, students in PE, and non-athletes who sign up for open slots.

4. Sign-Up & Attendance
   Non-athletes will need to sign up for weight room slots. Regular attendance is mandatory, and failure to attend will result in losing access to the weight room.

5. What if school is over at 3 pm and I picked up a slot at 4pm?
   Student must leave the school and come back for the his/her slot time. There will be no waiting room for those.

Next Steps

• Make sure to have a sports physical ready before you sign the liability waiver.
• Sign the Liability Waiver form. (Parents MUST sign the forms)
• Look out for team and open slot schedules. We will be sharing them soon.
• Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!

We’re incredibly excited about this new chapter for GSA athletics. The weight room is just the beginning of many exciting improvements to come!

Together, we build champions. Together, we are Gators!

Sincerely,
Coach Salih
Athletic Director
Gateway Science Academy Gators