MMA Belt Tests and
Promotion Ceremonies
MMA students, mark your calendars!
Belt Tests will be conducted on Tuesday, February 18th during regular class times.
Promotion Ceremonies will take place on Saturday, February 22nd according to the following schedule:
Ages 3-5.5: 10:30-11:15 am
Ages 5.5-7: 11:15 am-12:00 pm
Ages 8-10: 12:00-12:45 pmAges 11-14: 12:45-1:30 pm
Please note
Dream will be closed Monday, February 17th for Presidents' Day.
Other News and Updates
Earlier this week, we announced some class schedule changes:
Monday Class Addition: Ages 7-10 BJJ 3:15 pm-4:00 pm
Saturday Class Changes: Ages 3-5.5 MMA 10:30 am-11:15 am
Ages 5.5-7 MMA 11:15 am-12:00 pm
Ages 8-10 MMA 12:00 pm-12:45 pm
Please note that Saturday classes are open level and grouped according to the age groups listed above.
All other class times remain the same.Camp Registration for Spring Break and Summer is now open!
Spring Break will be here before we know it. Sign up for the whole week (Mon. Apr. 13-Fri. Apr. 17) or one-day sessions here.
Our Summer Camp offers six fun weeks of nature- and martial arts-based adventures and activities in July and August. Click here for more details and to sign up.
Camp spots are limited for individualized attention, so sign up today!
We recently hosted a day of service on Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Service to others is a value ingrained in our school and we were grateful that our group was able to support Toni's Kitchen and its Healthy Backpack Program, which provides healthy food to local families with food need. Thank you to all of the students and family members who contributed to our food drive and who volunteered at Toni's Kitchen!
Get to know our Staff!
Joann Olivo joined our team as our Administrative Manager in September 2019. Joann supports our communications, administration, customer service and our work with various charities and nonprofit organizations. You may have seen Joann at one of our events, participated in a drive she coordinated or received an announcement she crafted.
Joann holds a Master's Degree in Child Advocacy from Montclair State University and is fluent in Spanish. She believes in the uniqueness and potential of every child and embraces our mission of being a welcoming, inclusive environment to nurture students' individual growth and success.
Joann enjoys writing, hiking, baking and having adventures with her family.
Moral of the Month: Patience
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”
― Aristotle
In a world of instant gratification it can be difficult to cultivate patience. The embodiment of patience allows us to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
Offering children opportunities to learn patience is integral to healthy development and offers them the opportunity to experience happiness and success throughout their lives. Patience is not innate. It is a skill that must be practiced and reinforced regularly.
This month we will talk to students about patience and the immediate and long term benefits of practicing it. We will reinforce the practice patience in class by waiting for a turn in a game and staying at pace with peers who are new to the Dream community. We will also discuss how patience is integral to the achievement of long-term goals such as earning a black belt in martial arts, sustaining friendships and excelling in academics to name a few.
If you notice your child demonstrating patience please let us know. We will make sure to recognize them in class.
Put it into practice:
1. Model Patience
The best way to develop patience in our children is to practice patience in our day-to-day lives. I wish there was an easier way! Some examples of this are taking a mindful breath and waiting patiently while a child struggles to get their shoes on or unbuckle themselves from their seat. We can also model patience by slowing down on the road and waiting peacefully while in line at the grocery store, butcher or airport. Show them what patience looks like!
2. Start small
Challenge your children to wait patiently for things that they request such as snacks and meals or drinks of water. As children grow encourage them to prepare their own snacks or assist in dinner prep. Try not to let children interrupt. If you are in the middle of a conversation ask them to wait until you have finished speaking to ask questions. Remind children that patience is a skill that needs to be consciously practiced by the whole family. Cultivating patience is important for grown-ups too!
3. Acknowledge Patience
Look for opportunities to acknowledge the practice of patience by children and adults in the home. It can also be helpful to call attention to times when you are struggling to remain patient. Patience requires effort and dedication.
Articles about the importance of patience:
8 Ways Practicing Patience Radically Increases Your Capacity for Success