July 2016 Newsletter

Wise Words from Sifu Rick!

When you soar like an eagle, you attract hunters!

AASD ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Leadership Class Saturday, July 9th at 12:00pm for all Black Belt Club Members, please rsvp asap!
• Next Belt Test for those Little & Junior Dragons eligible Friday, August 12th at 6:30pm
• Next Belt Test for Adults eligible Saturday, August 13th at 10:00am
• Annual Picture Day Saturday, August 27th 9:00am until 5:00pm

Black Belt Pride

July 2016 Student of the Month:

Ethan Gonzalez

As a brown belt, Ethan is well on his way to not just Black Belt, but Black Belt excellence! Ethan & his brother, Marsden, are such a joy in class, not only in their ability, but in their dedication to the martial arts and our Black Belt school as well.

Ethan comes to us from a different martial arts school back east and from the start it was apparent that he must have been a exceptional student there as well. Always giving 100% and then some, Ethan displays ability far beyond his peers. Ethan has shown great loyalty to the school by attending all tournaments and seminars with great attitude and focus!

Sifu Rick and staff wish to thank Ethan’s parents, Dave & Theresa, for all their support of Ethan, his brother Marsden and our Black Belt school as well.

Benefits of Extra Curricular Activities

Any structured activity your child participates in outside his or her regular school classes and activities is considered an extracurricular activity. Any extracurriculars, from sports and clubs to music and drama, can have a positive effect on your child’s growth and development. Studies have shown involvement in activities outside the normal school curriculum has a positive effect on students behavior, grades, and character development.

Students who choose to be involved in extracurricular activities consistently show an increased sense of responsibility, self-discipline and focus. The presence of another adult influence (a coach, instructor, or director) helps students develop a better sense of self and gives the opportunity to interact with another positive influence. The attention, supervision and guidance students receive as they participate in these activities leads to higher self-esteem and self-confidence.

Higher grades and a positive attitude toward school is another effect that extracurricular activities have on students. Those factors lead to higher graduation rates, and, in fact, involvement in athletic programs can reduce the drop-out rate among high-school students by as much as 40 percent.

Studies have shown that involvement in extracurricular and community activities teaches students leadership, organization, problem solving, time management, teamwork, and responsibility. For these reasons, it might be time to encourage your child to get involved in an extracurricular activity they are interested in. If your child has expressed interest in the martial arts, contact us today for information on ways to get him or her enrolled.

Healthy Eating Ideas for Kids

The kitchen can be a fun place for kids. They see adults working in there, watching the steam rise from pots on the stove and smelling what’s on the menu that night. Even older kids might be intrigued by how baked goods and meals come together. It isn’t always convenient to invite them into the kitchen to help, but consider doing so when time allows. It can be a creative and fun way to spend time with your children.

Here are a few recipes to help along the way.

Refrigerator Oatmeal

This easy, no-cook oatmeal is packed with nutrition to get your day off to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars or tupperware for a perfect serving size and an easy grab-and-go breakfast. Keep it cold and serve it chilled – straight from the fridge. This breakfast is high in protein, calcium and fiber and low in fat and sugar. Oh, and kids love it too!

Ingredients
1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup skim milk
1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds or flax seeds
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon honey, optional (or preferred sweetener)
1/4 cup diced ripe banana, or enough to fill your jar
Directions:
In a half pint (one cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cocoa powder and honey.
Put lid on jar and shake until well combined.
Remove lid, add bananas and stir until mixed throughout.
Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or
up to two days.
Eat chilled.
Be creative, you can add any fresh or frozen fruit, flavored yogurt or milk substitutes (soy, almond or coconut milk).

Strawberry Smoothie Popsicles
1/2 cup sliced pineapple or mango
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/3 cup raw kale or spinach (omit if desired)
1/4 cup milk or yogurt of choice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Sweetener of choice, to taste
Directions:
Combine everything in a blender or food processor until super-smooth.
Pour into popsicle molds or paper cups, and insert spoons or popsicle sticks.
Freeze, then enjoy!