The way these Fall months have been flying by, it'll be 2012 before we know it! Even though October is half over, there's still plenty of fun left with Red for Red Ribbon Week, Blue for National Anti-Bullying Month, and Boo for our Halloween Ninja Night this Saturday!
Red Ribbon Week kicks off this Saturday, October 22nd and runs until the 30th. Staying drug-free isn't only necessary to be a great Martial Artist, it's also one of the most important commitments that kids and families can make to ensure they have a brighter future. We're celebrating by posting up a pledge to stay drug-free in the Dojo for our students and their friends to sign. All of our Pee-Wee, Juniors, and Teen students who sign the pledge will receive a free patch. Non-students who sign will receive a voucher for one free group class.
October is also National Anti-Bullying Month. Throughout the month, our Instructors have had "Mat Chats" with students during some of our Kids Group Classes and Private Lessons about bully prevention, dealing with bullies, and when it's okay for kids to use their defensive techniques to protect themselves. We discuss these topics with our students throughout the year, but put a special emphasis on it during the month of October. Martial Arts training helps kids deal with bullies successfully, not just because it helps them to be physically able to defend themselves, but because it gives them the confidence and self-esteem to stand up for themselves and others. If you have concerns regarding your child witnessing bullying or being bullied, please see one of the instructors and we'll spend extra time working with them on strategies to avoid and end bullying.
Of course, when most people think of October, they think of witches, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns... And Halloween! This Saturday (October 22nd) from 7:00 to 10:00 pm is our Halloween Ninja Night for all kids ages 4 to 14! We'll have all of the great stuff from our other Ninja Nights like the Bounce Obstacle Course, Pizza Party, Piñatas, Laser Tag, and a Raffle, all set to a spooky Halloween theme. Kids should wear their costumes so they can win prizes in the Costume Contests and there will be plenty of scary and gross Games and Challenges for added screams. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to sign up so see your Instructor before it's too late!
On a final note, we've got pictures from the September Kids Belt Test up on our Facebook page. You can Click Here to see them. If you'd like a copy of any of the photos in a higher resolution/better quality file, let us know and we'll e-mail them to you.
