Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice I've received! I wanted to post an update and see what you think...
I decided to have DD at least try this new pre-pre-team group. I didn’t want her to have too much change at one time and my preference is to stay at this gym.
I didn't want to drop this disappointing news on DD the weekend before she started at her new school. So I replied to the owner's e-mail saying that although DD was begging to get back in the gym, I wasn't going to bring her to practice that first week (this new pre-pre-team started the same week as school) because she was still adjusting to the news that she's going to a new school and I hated to drop another disappointment on her right then. I told her we would be back the following week, but that I wanted DD to just be able to focus on school this first week.
She wrote back and said she understood that kids need time to adjust to going back to school. She again said what a special group this was and that it should not be viewed as a disappointment at all, but as a great opportunity. She said she would like DD to give it a good try.
DH and I tried to be as positive as we could when we told her, but she was devastated of course! At first she said she wasn't going to do the pre-pre-team and that I should take her to the L3 practices anyway, but eventually she calmed down a little and told us that she would do it and she was going to work really hard and show them that she's ready for more. It was so hard to watch her struggle with this disappointment.
So yesterday, at the last minute, she didn't want to go. I think she didn't want to have to see her L3 team practicing at the same time, so I assured her that they wouldn't be in the gym that night. I told her we could just go watch for tonight and that I would bring a leo with me in case she wanted to try it. We got there and at first she had no interest in watching or participating. The coach came over and talked to DD and encouraged her to try it. When DD saw they were going to bars first (her favorite) she put on her leo, watched for awhile, and gradually went over to the group. She did a few turns on bars and then they moved to floor.
Then all hell broke loose. Her BFF from her old school showed up for a rec class and DD ran over to the rec side of the gym and wanted to do the rec class with the BFF. I cannot explain the bond these two have, but when they get together they are glued at the hip. DD is not like this with anyone else and this is literally the only kid in the world that would make her want to be over on the rec side. The BFF is a great kid and I love the family, but it was just bad timing for an already difficult situation. Someone alerted the owner's daughter (owner wasn’t there) to what was happening and she told me that if DD wanted to be in the rec class with BFF, that it was fine. I don't know how much she has been filled in on what has been happening with DD, but she started saying things like, "You just want her to be happy and love gymnastics again. Eventually she'll get bored in that class." I seriously didn't know what to say! DD was perfectly happy and loved gymnastics until they started messing with her! So I just let her stay in the rec class for the rest of the time. The other girls were doing tuck jumps down the tumble track and DD would do ROBHS
While DD was over in the rec class with BFF, I watched the rest of the pre-pre-team practice. These kids cannot even do pullovers by themselves. On floor, they had decent cartwheels, but couldn't do a good HS, and weren't even pushing off their hands on backwards rolls down a wedge mat. Some of them were kicking over from a bridge down a wedge mat, but with completely sloppy form. I don’t mean to put these girls down. I’m sure they are talented and will develop into good gymnasts. It is just that my daughter is way past them right now. They look like she did two years ago.
I didn’t get to speak with the pre-pre-team coach after practice because I had to rush to Open House at DD’s new school. I don’t even know what to do at this point. DD said that she had fun with BFF and wasn’t interested in the pre-pre-team because it “wouldn’t be challenging enough”. I know the coach would let her work on more advanced stuff than the other girls, but she’s not happy or inspired being with kids who are way behind her. I just don’t see how this is the right fit for her. She wants to ask her old coach for another chance at L3, but I doubt they would reconsider.
I’m planning to bring her to the next pre-pre-team practice on Friday. BFF won’t be there, but it will still be tough because her L3 team will be practicing at the same time. I’m trying to give this arrangement a good try, but it’s getting harder by the minute. Thoughts??