May 13 Newsletter

Events / Activities / Updates

We Need Coaches & Volunteers—Join Our Team!
As our Without Limits - Team Galaxy programs continue to grow, so does our need for dedicated coaches and volunteers. To maintain the quality and safety of our sports programs, we must meet athlete-to-coach ratio requirements—and right now, we’re falling short in several areas. Whether you have experience in sports or simply a passion for inclusion and teamwork, your support can make a huge impact. Training is provided, and your involvement helps create meaningful opportunities for athletes of all abilities. If you’re interested in joining our coaching team or supporting in other ways, please reach out—we’d love to have you on board!

Quarterly Sports / Sports Committee
The quarterly Sports meeting will be held on 14 May 2025 at 6:00 (Laderman Park). We need all
coaches for summer sports or new coaches or parents that wants to be on the sports committee to
attend. Agenda found here.  ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

Upcoming changes to schedules:
To align practices for each sports the following will be implemented after 27 August:

• Softball: Mondays - Mascoutah JV Softball field
• Soccer & Soccer skills: Tuesdays - Laderman Park @ 6:00
• Track: Wednesdays - Mascoutah High School track @ 6:00
• Golf: Thursdays - Orchards Belleville @ 6:00
• Tennis: Saturdays - Mascoutah tennis courts @ 9:00
• Once summer games are over Flag Football will replace soccer on Tuesday.
  Volleyball will be on Wednesdays

WLTG Prom Night

• June 13, 2025 - FRIDAY
• Swansea / Belleville Moose Lodge 1221

Caring for Families

• This is for parents and anyone who takes care of someone. Support Group focus. 
• We are taking an interest poll so let us know and we will get back to you. 
• For contact info - it’s at the time or in person when you see​

Thank you Millstadt Autism Walk!!!!
Kelly and John Touchette family and the Millstadt Autism Walk presented a donation to Without Limits - Team Galaxy on Friday night at our Bingo Fun Night!!!
We are just overwhelmed with their generosity and their outpouring of support for our organization!!! Thank you so much for all the time and hard work you put into the walk to make such a difference in your community and so many lives!! We are so incredibly thankful for the donation you have made to Without Limits - Team Galaxy!!
This donation will ensure we can continue the many programs we offer and will allow us to grow to offer even more - to “Go Beyond” and give our members a chance to make their dreams come true!!
We are so incredibly thankful for you!!!!! Thank you SO much again!!!!

We Need Pullers for the Team Without Limits - Team Galaxy for the Southern Plane Pull! 
Are you ready to test your strength for a great cause?  Without Limits - Team Galaxy is forming a team to compete in the 1st Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Southern Plane Pull on May 31, 2025, at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport!

This ultimate tug-of-war challenge will have teams of 10 pulling a United Airlines aircraft 12 feet as fast as possible – all while raising funds to support Special Olympics Illinois athletes.

•  We need YOU on our team! 
•  No experience needed – just a big heart and a little muscle! 
•  Help us reach our goal of raising $500+ to compete.
•  Have fun, support a great cause, and show off your teamwork!
•  Sign up today and be part of the action!
•  Register here: https://support.soill.org/team/644562
•  Message us or comment below if you're in!

Let's come together as Without Limits - Team Galaxy and make a difference for our incredible Special Olympics athletes! 

Ainad Shriners Parade - June 6th

• Without Limits - Team Galaxy will be participating in the 2025 Shriner's Parade. The Without Limits SO Cheer Team will be performing and we welcome all of our members and athletes to ride or march along with us in this fun and spectacular parade!!!
• Please let us know if you would like to participate.
• MORE DETAILS TO COME

2025 Membership Dues are Due
We have a number of unpaid sports Membership Fees that have not been paid.  If you have been contacted by Marcia in regards to this, please pay them.  Thank you all!  

Its a new year and with a the new year comes our membership dues.  
To complete your 2025 Membership Dues, please visit our online Square to make your payment!  

2025 Event Dates & Deadlines Website Links

• 2025 Special Olympics of IL Event Dates & Deadlines 
• Fun Nights for 2025 - Schedules

Summer Games
Held on 20 June. If you receive a gold medal, you are eligible for Summer Games. Athletes
please get with your coaches if you are attending, if you are staying in the dorms and if you need
a ride to the games.

Dance / Theater / Gymnastics / Cheer

​Good luck to our Artistic & Rhythmic Gymnastics Teams at Regionals this weekend!

Artistic Gymnastics

• Sundays 9:00-10:00am
• Gateway Elite Gymnastics -- 700 Old Collinsville Road / Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Rhythmic Gymnastics:

• Wednesdays
• 5:15 pm Group 1
• 6:00 pm Group 2 
• Stars R Us Dance Studio / 9241 B Bellar Dr., / Mascoutah, IL

Dance Scheduling  --  Choreography / Practice Scheduling
See the latest schedule on the "Without Limits - The Arts" Facebook page!!

Theater Schedule for May

• Saturday, May 10th: NO REHEARSAL
• Saturday, May 17th, 10:30am, Work Finale (pgs 61-64)
  People needed: EVERYONE
• Saturday, May 24th, 10:30am, Review pgs. 1-10 "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think"
  People needed: EVERYONE
• Saturday, May 31st, 10:30am, review pgs. 14-20 AND pgs. 22-29
  • People needed:
    • Cats (1-3)
    • Jojo
    • Mr. Mayor
    • Mrs. Mayor
    • Whos

Theater Group Announcements
We have a venue!!!! Thanks to everyone that helped and reached out to places. Special thanks to Alice Howe who literally went knocking on doors for me.

• VENUE: O'Fallon First United Methodist Church
• 504 E Hwy 50, O'Fallon, IL (across from the high school)
• SHOW DATE: July 19, 2025
• TIMES: 12 NOON AND 2 PM
• REHEARSAL DAYS AT THE CHURCH:   July 15, 16, 17, 18 from 6 to 8 pm each night

SHOW SHIRTS are now available for order. They will be white short sleeve T shirts with Seussical logo on front and cast on back.
Prices are:

• $18.00 youth sizes & Adult S, M, L, XL
  
• $20.00 for XXL $21.00 for 3XL $22.00 for 4XL
  
• To place an order please Email [email protected]
  
• Payment can be check (made payable to Ellen Schwoebel) or venmo (@schwoebels)

Other WL theater merchandise is still available to order, see attached Picture below for prices.

• To place an order please Email [email protected]
• Payment can be check (made payable to Ellen Schwoebel) or venmo (@schwoebels)

Further info about the venue. Keep in mind this venue is a church so all participants and their family members must be respectful of the property at all times.

• The venue is small. Backstage areas will be cramped.
• The church is excited to help us

​
I Feel Like Dancin' Recital
Recital is scheduled for Saturday, July 12th at 2PM
To be held at Christ Church - Scott Campus

Nutcracker & Theater & Dance Updates - Exciting News for 2025!  From Kati!!!
See the latest schedule on the "Without Limits - The Arts" Facebook page!!

Nutcracker 2025:

• Rehearsals Begin: June 2025  
• Performance Date: December 2025  
• Nutcracker Tea: Prior to the performance – an opportunity for friends and family to take pictures and meet our beloved characters! Date to be announced.  

Important Nutcracker Notes:

• If you were assigned a part and wish to keep it, **let me know ASAP.**
• If you were assigned a part but no longer want to participate, **let me know ASAP.**
• If you were not originally cast but want to participate, **let me know ASAP.** I would love to include you!
• We are returning to the original Nutcracker version – forget any new choreography you may have started. We’re going back to the classic!  

Choreography Help Needed:

• I’m scheduling choreography now and need a few more people to help finish by February 2025. If you need choreography, please let me know!  
• Also, if you have any recordings of past choreography I’ve done, please send them my way. I lost my iPad with all my choreography notes! :(  

St. Louis 2 -- Solos/Duets

• Recital or Competition: Let me know if you want to compete or just perform at the recital.
• Addiction Nationals (Chicago): Solos/duets welcome! Approximate cost: $200/dancer
• Addiction Regional (St. Louis): May 9-11, 2025  
  • Cost: Around $150/solo or $75/dancer in duets  

General Reminders: 

• Stay tuned to our Facebook page for class updates.  
• We follow Mascoutah school cancellations – if they’re closed, so are we. 
• Purchase your "SO-Cheer Gear" today!!!

The Merch Store is Open with new Logo
Follow the link and order today!

Sports & Athletics

Coaches Training
Region J will be holding a coaches training session on 16 July. Most activities will be held inside to avoid the heat or rain. There will be special sessions for Basketball, Volleyball, Bocce, softball and track. Coaches this is an opportunity to get your certification in your sport you coach. Please use the link here to take a survey   We will take the results and offer trainings in the sports with the most interest.

Requirements for Special Olympics Sports at WLTG
There are three steps that need to be done / accomplished before joining Without Limits-Team Galaxy (WLTG) Sports or prior to their first practices. 

1. Each member must have a Without Limit-Team Galaxy membership and must be in the Special Olympics Digital Center of Excellence (COE).  If you have questions about the COE, please contact Marcia Morgan
2. You must also have a Waiver and Release on file with WLTG.
3. If you need to pay your WLTG annual membership fees:  please contact Ellen Schwoebel.  If you need a membership, you can bring a check to the first practice.  

​Sports Committee Needs You! 
The Without Limits-Team Galaxy Sports Committee is looking for any parent or coach that would like to be on the community. We would address Special Olympics sports, coaching and assuring we have the right equipment. If interested in part of the committee, please contact Rich Crothers

WTLG Upcoming Sports
We will be starting an interest for the following sports real soon; tennis, golf and softball. Please note: Signing up is important. This way we can assure Without Limits-Team Galaxy has enough coaches and resources. If interested in one of those sports, please contact Without Limits Team Galaxy.

Sharks Swimming Team - 2025 

• May 18th practice is ON!
• The competitive team will continue practice at the same times on Sunday.  
• Purchase your "Shark-ware" today!!!​

New Announcement from Rich
I want to extend an invite to all of Without Limits-Team Galaxy parents and athletes to come out
and cheer for one of our coaches. Chloe (track and soccer coach) will be running her 2 mile race
for regionals at Mascoutah High School at approximately 4:00 on 15 May (Thursday).
Currently, she is ranked in the state for this event.

Golf 2025
Without Limits Team Galaxy Golf will begin Thursday May 1st at the  Orchards Golf Course at 6pm. The practices will last 1 hour and will be held every Thursday at 6pm. Regionals will be August 1st.

Course Address:
Orchards Golf Course / 1499 Golf Course Dr / Belleville, IL 62220

• A very special thanks to PGA Professional - Dan Polites for assisting with Special Olympics Golf Practices.
• In addition: Special thanks to Orchards Golf course for donating their practice facilities and providing golf balls for the driving range.
• If you have any questions feel free to email myself or Marcia Morgan Jeff Elder - [email protected]

Soccer Teams & Skills

• Soccer practices will be on Tuesday, May 13th at 6:00 at Laderman.
• Scrimmage is canceled
• State will be on 20-22 June 2025
• Soccer Camp will be on 17 June at 5:00 at O’Fallon Family Sportsplex Park.=
  • We will be on field #1. Show time is 4:45 if possible.
    Wear uniform: Without Limits-Team Galaxy jersey, black shorts, black socks (must cover shin
    guards).
  • We will do a camp and then play a scrimmage. I am also trying to arrange another
    game for June.
• Skill athletes are invited.

Athletic Teams / Track & Field

• Track practice will be held on 14 May (Wednesday) at Scheve Park at 6:30.
• Practices will continue to be on Wednesdays next week at 6:00 at Mascoutah High School Track
• State will be on 20-22 June 2025

Tennis

• Tennis will be held on Sunday's at 9AM at Mascoutah High School Tennis courts.  
• Some athletes will be asked to stay longer to get matches in
• Need a couple doubles teams to play some matches on Sunday to get the needed games in before we have to turn them in to the regional office on May 20th

​Flag Football

• Starting on June 24th (Tuesdays) at Laderman Park at 6PM
• Without Limits-Team Galaxy will be co-hosting a Flag Football game on 18 July in the evening in Edwardsville for Illinois and St. Louis Region.
• The co-host is a development program out of Dallas, Texas.

Softball
Softball practices will be on Monday at Mascoutah High School JV Field at 6PM.
It's time for softball , and this year we are looking to try our hand at traditional!
Coach Adam and Rich are excited to challenge our very talented players . 

• Practices after that will be for all players . 
• Practices will be held at the Mascoutah high school at the softball field on Mondays at 6 pm they will probably last an hour to hour fifteen minutes. 
• Please email Jenn for questions and interest to play . 
• All athletes must be entered into the CoE and members of Without Limits - Team Galaxy

Volleyball

• We will be starting Volleyball on Wednesday evenings starting July 9th (5PM & 6PM starts)
• Practice will be help at the Leu Civic Center.
• One hour will be scheduled for Skills and one will be schedule for teams.
• email:  withoutlimits-teamgalaxy.com to express your interest

Bags / Cornhole is coming soon!!!!
Interested?  A tournament will be scheduled sometime this summer.  ​

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