Dream in January - 2022

News and Reminders

Indoor Classes

As mentioned in a previous announcement,
Indoor Classes begin Monday, January 10th, 2022!

Where: Studio space at D*FIT
Address: 4 Erie St, Montclair, NJ 07042 (Google Map Location Here)
Free parking available in the adjoining lot. There will be Dream flags near our entrance.

If you plan on attending indoor classes, please make sure to review our attached indoor policy.

We will still hold outdoor classes at Anderson Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well.

***ALL STUDENTS, PLEASE NOTE***

Whether you're planning on attending indoor or outdoor classes—or both—you'll need to reserve your weekly spots via the link provided in your student communications.

Student Portal

Remember, you can find student resources,
like the weekly classes signup page and student event calendar within your student portal.

Visit the student portal page on our website HERE.

The password is provided in student communications

Calendar Updates

*HOLIDAY CLOSURE*

There will be no classes on Monday, January 17th, 2022 
in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

If you're interested in doing service this month, here are a few volunteering resources to check out:

Toni's Kitchen

MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for Hope)

Jersey Cares Virtual and In Person Projects

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

It's a new year! Here are the morals for the first half of the year:

January: Respect
February: Grit
March: Creativity
April: Humility
May: Safety
June: Discipline

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MORAL OF THE MONTH: RESPECT

“Respecting someone indicates the quality of your personality.” —Mohammad Sakhi

To have positive relationships and be able to productively navigate our world, respect is essential. It is one of the most important virtues—as well as one of our school’s core values—because through respect we build acceptance, trust and safety. Simply put, respect is about treating others the way we ourselves would want to be treated.

Respect is the foundation to numerous life skills including kindness and open-mindedness. It involves a certain degree of humility and grace to, for example, communicate politely even when we disagree with someone, or get to know someone or hear them out despite our biases or initial judgments.

In class, students bow in, thank their classmates and instructors for teaching them and experience child-centered, positive discipline. These practices demonstrate respect in how we consider and prioritize the dignity and worth of each person when we interact with them.

“Respect requires empathy, the capacity to anticipate and understand the feelings of others.
It requires consideration.” —Deborah Norville

Respect should be given and received by all. Parents and guardians can instill respect by being kind, calm and self-controlled in all their interactions and by setting clear, consistent expectations for children. Additionally, really listening to children and their needs and wants will allow them to feel heard and important while also teaching them how to treat others.

These and many other means of showing respect set our children up for positive, successful relationships at home, school and beyond so that they grow to extend care and compassion to themselves and those around them.

Dream in December - 2021

Announcements and Reminders

Indoor Space

We are in the process of finding our new indoor space. 
Stay tuned for announcements!

Dream Store
Have you heard? Our online store is now open! Just in time for the holidays!

Check it out HERE and feel good about your purchase.
Not only do your purchases help support our school,
but a portion of store revenue goes toward combating climate change.

Class Signups
Don't forget to reserve your weekly class spots.
We need ALL students to sign up for their allotted days. 
This helps us know when to expect you and maintain appropriate class sizes.
If you haven't already, sign up for your class days/times via the link provided in student emails.

Student Portal
Remember, you can find lots of student resources,
like the class signup page and student event calendar within the student portal.
Visit the student portal page HERE.
The password can be found in the newsletter emailed to students.

Calendar Updates

*HOLIDAY CLOSURE*

There will be NO classes
 from Friday, December 24th, 2021 to Saturday, January 1st, 2022.

Dream will be closed.
Classes will resume Monday, January 3, 2022. 

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: FRIENDSHIP

“People will forget the things you do, and people will forget the things you say.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.” —Carl W. Buehner

No matter how independent we may be, each of us needs the support and company of others to thrive. We benefit from forging and nurturing relationships within our families and beyond, and each of us possesses unique traits and skills to share. These bonds are partly what helped our early ancestors survive and reveal why friendship is so valuable.

Friendships enrich us. They can be some of the most rewarding relationships we have in our lives. They provide a sense of belonging, encourage personal growth, bring support through difficult times, and reduce loneliness and stress. Friendships are linked to greater health, happiness, and well-being.

For these reasons, learning how to foster good friendships is important. As with many things, being and recognizing a good friend starts with the self. Children with a positive self-esteem who are good to themselves are less likely to feel the need to be mean or participate in bullying and are better equipped to have healthy friendships. Essentially, children begin to learn how to be good friends by being kind to themselves.

Social skills like apologizing and making amends, constructively resolving conflicts and accepting no for an answer are also instrumental in building positive, respectful friendships. Being a good sport and showing support for others will also help to develop friendship. This is why we collectively applaud students during class when they excel during certain skill drills or volunteer to discuss or demonstrate techniques.

There are endless opportunities for teachable moments. Adults can roleplay difficult situations and ask their children how they think others feel to nurture empathy. Discussing friendships in books or shows can help them identify the qualities that make a good friend, like kindness and trustworthiness. Additionally, exposing kids to new experiences and people will encourage them to be open to new friendships.

We’re all interconnected, so caring for one another is a common good. With some support and guidance, children can grow to develop wonderful, mutually fulfilling friendships for fuller, happier lives.

Dream in November - 2021

News and Announcements

 
Save the date for

Dream's Annual Gratitude Ceremony

Saturday, November 27th, 2021 at Anderson Park

Ages 4-6 from 10-11 am
Ages 7+ from 11 am-12 pm

All students and their families are invited to attend for
a day of fun activities together

Be on the lookout for your individual event invite from us
 and make sure to register so we know you’re coming!

———

New Class Schedule
beginning Monday, November 8th*

Class Sign-ups

Please make sure to sign up for your preferred class days/times in the link provided in student emails.

*Under normal circumstances we keep our schedule consistent with fewer seasonal changes. However, with daylight saving time ending on November 7, we will lose an hour of daylight and needed to make adjustments.

Once we restart indoor training, such changes will not be necessary. We appreciate your understanding and patience!

———

Announcing our new

 Student Portal!

A member-exclusive page on our site for access to class sign-ups, links and resources,
 including our student calendar for events and activities
that you can add to your own calendar!

(Portal Link and password provided in student emails)

Closures

There will be NO classes on
 Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th, 2021 

(We will host our Gratitude Ceremony on Saturday, November 27th in lieu of classes)


DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: GRATITUDE

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.”

—Melody Beattie

Living a life of gratitude is to view the help, kindness, gifts and favors we receive from others with appreciation and positivity. It is at its core the recognition of good things in this world. Gratitude goes beyond saying thank you, though expressing thanks is a foundational step. Gratitude is a perspective we can choose to have each day, though in places or times of overabundance, consistently practicing it may be a challenge.

Gratitude is linked to many positive benefits including happiness, hopefulness, positivity, life satisfaction and social support and engagement. Gratitude grants a certain peace and joy within our lives that can have a wonderful ripple effect.

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.”

—Brene Brown

It is no wonder then that cultivating gratefulness is such a worthwhile endeavor. Adults in children's lives can help them foster gratitude by modeling it, performing acts of kindness together, and recognizing the silver linings in difficult or upsetting situations.

Getting into a routine of pausing to notice and acknowledge all the things they have to be grateful for is another great step. Children can then begin to reflect on what they think and feel about what they have received and how they would like to respond or possibly reciprocate. All of this can stem from simple conversations and open-ended questions.

Rituals can also be fun and help the practice of gratitude become like second nature. Naming the people or things we are grateful to have in our lives before dinner or right before bedtime, for example, can help make children aware of all that they already have. Some rituals can even be community-based! We hope to see all our students’ faces at our annual Gratitude Ceremony later this month!

Through small shifts, we can make gratitude a habit and really take in the good all around us. With consistent practice, our children will grow to have an attitude of gratitude that will benefit them for years to come.

For more on helping to foster gratitude, here’s a helpful article form the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley.

Dream in October - 2021

News and Announcements

MMA Belt Tests and Promotion Ceremonies!

Saturday, October 30th, 2021 at Anderson Park
Students eligible for promotion will receive separate communications from us.
Be on the lookout for those emails!

Please note: Regularly scheduled classes are cancelled on Saturday, October 30th. 
The belt promotion ceremonies will be held in lieu of classes.

*Reminder about proper footwear*
Proper footwear should be worn during classes.
Crocs or sandal-like shoes are not appropriate or safe for use in class.
Please have students come to class in athletic shoes, e.g. sneakers or boots, if weather necessitates.

Events & Activities

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Judo are back!
Please join us as we demo BJJ and Judo
 during our regularly scheduled classes
Tuesday, October 12th

All MMA students are invited to attend, even if Tuesday is not their regular class day
For those who have trained in BJJ, please bring your gi

There are still a few spots left in our
Day of Camp in October Workshop
Kids ages 6-10 will explore and learn outdoors
at Mills Reservation with Mr. Emilio
Saturday, Oct 16th from 9 am-2 pm

For more details and to sign up, click HERE.

Schedule Updates

*CLOSURE*

There will be no Martial Arts or Nature Arts classes on Monday, October 11, 2021 

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: INTEGRITY

Integrity is all about doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. It entails living your life according to your values even when it is difficult. A person of integrity is, among other things, an honest, responsible, fair and compassionate individual who has developed a strong moral compass.

Integrity lays the groundwork for good, healthy relationships and enables us to lead fulfilling lives. It helps us to distinguish between right and wrong and understand the consequences of our decisions.

Though integrity takes years to develop, learning it can start in early childhood with simple lessons like house/game rules, sharing and volunteering. We often talk to students about being true to our word, living up to our commitments and doing what we say we are going to do.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you.” —Jenny Garrett

Talking about and modeling values and expectations are also useful in helping children understand the importance of making the right choices and how their actions affect others. Play out 'what if' scenarios with them and discuss the decisions they would make and possible consequences. Point out when they do the right thing. Share stories. One classic tale that aptly encompasses the significance of integrity is The Emperor’s Seed, or The Empty Pot.

Our hope is that when our children have grown to be independent adults, they will be able to reflect positively not only on what they achieved but how they acted in accomplishing their goals, as well. In the meantime, we can continue building on daily lessons of integrity that demonstrate how outward actions reflect our hearts and who we really are inside. May we all strive to put our best selves forward.

Dream in September - Consistency

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We're so excited to get back to training! We'll be seeing you at Anderson Park starting today! 

Our Fall schedule is listed on our website.

Reminder: As you may already know, Dream will be closing registration and pausing new student enrollment once we reach our allotted number of students for the Fall as we continue to focus on supporting our current students. To optimize training and progress for every child and to help with planning, we created a class signup page.  

If you haven't already, please be sure to sign up for your classes.

SCHEDULE UPDATES

There will be NO CLASSES on Saturday, September 4th and Monday, September 6 in observance of Labor Day. 

Please note: The Saturday classes on September 18th will take place at nearby Edgemont Park, at the northwest corner by Parkway and Edgemont Road
 (Map Location HERE).

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: CONSISTENCY

Consistency may be one of the most subtle and overlooked virtues, despite its profound impact on success. Simply defined, consistency is steady continuity, an adherence to the same principles or actions in a steadfast way.

With the dedication and reliability it entails, consistency is what helps build us up from birth. Children who grow up surrounded by repeated experiences in a consistent environment have a more solid foundation crucial in developing trust, self-esteem, emotional security, behavior regulation and more. Consistency bears the fruits of its labor over time, which can seem unexciting in a world so full of instant gratification.

However, holding true to the same principles or practice over time makes proficiency and mastery possible. This is how consistency allows for long term progress and success. We put this into practice in our school by having our students commit to 2 classes each week, repeating skills and techniques training and recognizing students’ growth and advancement in our ceremonies. 

“Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity.”

—Bruce Lee

There is truth in the adage “slow and steady wins the race.” Goals should take time and work so that children can see, with regular and consistent effort, there is a positive difference from where they started.

Parents can reinforce these lessons at home by modeling consistency, having some established routines, supporting commitments made, marking small successes and showing ways of recovering from minor setbacks. Children, in turn, are empowered to learn patience, reliability endurance and accountability. With the right consistency in attitude and action, they will be able to achieve success in different areas of their lives.

Dream in July - 2021

News and Announcements

It's the first week of our SUMMER SCHEDULE!

Remember, as Dream community members, you may attend up to two classes per week.
Our flexible schedule lets students choose any two classes in their age group/level.
There are currently NO class sign-ups required to attend.


Schedule Updates

*HOLIDAY CLOSURE*
There will be no classes this Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: RESPECT

Below are Dream's morals for the second half of the year:

July: Respect
August: Discipline
September: Consistency
October: Integrity
November: Gratitude
December: Friendship

Respect is the act of showing care and consideration for others. We can show respect through our words, actions and attitude and demonstrate to others that we hold ourselves to certain standards of how to treat others and how to be treated ourselves. Showing respect means that we appreciate the value others have.

Respect: treat others as you want to be treated.

When we practice respect, we are also exercising humility, self-control, attention, and acceptance of others as fellow human beings with their own beliefs and values. It tells others that their needs and thoughts matter, too, even if we do not agree with or understand them. Doing this is not always easy. Consistently being respectful takes time and practice, so the adults in children’s lives must show patience and model respect so that kids have good examples of what respect looks like in day-to-day interactions.

Respect can also help us to navigate difficult situations with calm and grace, making way for better problem-solving strategies instead of disrespectful and unproductive behavior like yelling or name calling. We firmly believe cooler heads prevail which is why respect is taught and modeled in class. We practice positive discipline, a respectful method of guiding children that is motivating and effective.

Adults can help solidify the concept and practice of respect in many ways including naming emotions, talking through conflict, apologizing when they err or wrong someone, and respecting children’s choices and opinions. Prioritizing self-care is also very important so that children have a blueprint for self-respect; they will know how to listen to and consider their own needs.

When we help kids to grasp and practice the value of respect, it helps build a long-term sense of safety and well-being.

Dream in June - 2021

Special News and Announcements

WE WIL BE HOSTING

Resiliency Promotion Ceremonies

Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Anderson Park

PLEASE NOTE: Regularly scheduled classes on Saturday, June 12 will be canceled. Ceremonies will take place in lieu of classes.

Eligible MMA students will be emailed with their specific ceremony times.

Communications coming soon!

Schedule Updates

*NEXT HOLIDAY CLOSURE*

There will be no classes on Saturday, July 3rd. 

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: VALOR

"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul."

—Michel de Montaigne

People often associate valor with extraordinary acts. Valor often does entail courage in the face of danger or remarkable circumstances, but it is just as often about personal bravery. People who possess valor exude steadfastness and strength of mind, even when facing difficult challenges.

Valor is not always loud or obvious. Rather, it may often be subtle, like showing up to an event outside of your comfort zone or doing the right thing even when others do not. The choices and actions made in these decisive moments are what both shape and reveal an individual’s character.

"In valor there is hope."

—Publius Cornelius Tacitus

We can celebrate valor in our children’s everyday lives. By identifying acts like apologizing or making amends for wrongs committed, or pushing themselves out of their comfort zones to achieve a goal, we can teach our children that their brave choices make a difference and that valor helps not only ourselves, but those around us, as well.

Dream in May - 2021

*Closure*

Dream will be closed for Memorial Day weekend. 

There will be NO classes on Saturday, May 29 or Monday May 31, 2021.

Schedule Changes 

We are adjusting our schedule beginning Monday May 3. Class start times on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be different. We are adding additional sections on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the 4-6 age group. We are also adding a full contact class on Tuesdays for Intermediate students aged 7+. The new schedule and more details about how full contact classes will be conducted are below. The schedule can also be found on our website HERE.

Monday

Dream Play 3:30-4:30 pm

Online Schedule:

Ages 4-6 4:00-4:30 pm

Ages 7-15 4:45-5:15 pm

Tuesday

Dream Play 2:15-3:15 pm

Ages 4-6 Section 1 3:15-4:00 pm

Ages 4-6 Section 2 3:45-4:30 pm

Ages 7-10 4:30-5:15 pm

Ages 11-15 5-5:45 pm

Ages 7+ Intermediate Full Contact Martial Arts 5:30-6:15 pm

Wednesday (No changes)

Ages 7-10 3:15-4:00 pm

Ages 4-6 3:45-4:30 pm

Ages 11-15 4:15-5:00 pm

Thursday

Dream Play 2:15-3:15 pm

Ages 4-6 Section 1 3:15-4:00 pm

Ages 4-6 Section 2 3:45-4:30 pm

Ages 7-10 4:30-5:15 pm

Ages 11-15 5:00-5:45 pm

Friday (No changes)

Dream Play 3:30-4:30 pm

Saturday (No changes)

Ages 4-6 9:30-10:15 am

Ages 7-10 10:15-11:00 am

Ages 7-15 Intermediate 11:00-11:45 am

FULL CONTACT CLASSES

We are adding a full contact class on Tuesdays for intermediate students ages 7+ (Orange Belts and above). If there is demand for full contact classes, we will add more to the schedule.

According to New Jersey state regulations we have been allowed to do full contact classes since September but have held off until now.

Full contact classes will be masked. Students will separate into groups of two or three individuals and will engage in full contact activities exclusively within their group. If your child has a friend who you would prefer they work with please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. Classes will still involve socially distanced warm-ups and other activities but there will be a section of class dedicated to full contact techniques, grappling and sparring. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Online Sessions

Its a new month! Our zoom password for online sessions has changed effective Monday, May 3rd:

Weekly Virtual Schedule:
Ages 4-6 4:00-4:30 pm
Ages 7-15 4:45-5:15 pm

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: Kindness

“What wisdom will you find greater than kindness?”

—Jean-Jacques Rousseau

In a world in which negativity and conflict often overshadow the good, cultivating the noble value of kindness is more crucial than ever. Kindness goes far beyond being nice or polite; it is showing compassion or empathy for others while also honoring one’s own needs and boundaries. Kindness is at the core of empathy, respect, altruism and happiness, and is a deterrent against destructive thinking and behavior such as egocentrism, bullying and intolerance.

Kindness helps develop empathy and cooperation, among other traits, and is associated with higher self-esteem, better outlooks, and more fulfilling lives and relationships. Studies also show kids who practice kindness are more inclusive, helpful and happy and less likely to bully.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

—Maya Angelou

The adults in a child’s life have an important role to play in teaching kindness. In Teaching Kids to Be Kind, author and psychologist Rachel Tomlinson outlines several strategies to achieve this, including modeling kindness, speaking in positive, respectful and self-affirming ways, regulating emotions and widening exposure to different cultures and experiences.

When we teach and practice kindness, we open a path toward a better world, one in which our children can lead happier, more fulfilling lives.

Dream in April - 2021

Special News and Announcements

Many of our Nature Arts Programs are sold out, but there are still a few spots left!

Afterschool Spring Nature Arts
(Ages 6-8) Tues, Fri 3:45-5:45

Summer Camp
(Ages 4-6) July 12-16 9am-1pm
(Ages 4-6) July 19-23 9am-1pm

Register here: https://www.regpack.com/reg/templates/build/?g_id=100905946

PLEASE NOTE

As of March 1st, we no longer offer online classes on Fridays
Virtual Classes are on Mondays
Details below 

Schedule Updates

*HOLIDAY CLOSURE*

There will be no classes on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 

Online Sessions

Its a new month! Our zoom password for online sessions has changed effective Thursday, April 1:

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: PATIENCE

“Patience is not passive. On the contrary, it is concentrated strength.”

 –Bruce Lee

People often think of patience as a passive thing. But it is much more about discernment and perspective than it is about simply waiting.

Consider the story of the Buddha. During a long journey, the Buddha and his disciples stopped near a lake. The Buddha asked his youngest and most impatient disciple to bring him some water from the lake to drink. The disciple went to the lake and witnessed some oxen crossing it, and the water became cloudy. He went back to the Buddha and told him that the water was muddy and undrinkable.

A half hour later the Buddha asked the disciple to go back to the lake for some water. Yet the water was still cloudy. The disciple told the Buddha they couldn’t drink the water and that they should go to town to retrieve some. The Buddha sat motionless and said nothing.

After a while, he asked the disciple to once again go to the lake for some water to drink. The disciple was furious and didn’t understand why he was asked to retrieve muddy water they couldn’t drink. But upon arriving at the lake this time, he saw that the water was crystal clear. The Buddha then explained to the disciple that he merely had to give the water, much like his mind, time to clear up and reach a balance on its own.

The lesson is eloquently captured by Lao Tzu in the Tao te Ching:

Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself?

Patience can be an art, a tool and a skill, all grounded in mindfulness. This is one of the reasons why mindfulness plays a central role in our martial arts training; it arms our students with the means and attitude to practice self-control and positivity, and to delay gratification. Through the practice of mindfulness, patience is also cultivated so that our students can learn acceptance and adopt a good attitude while waiting for the right action.

For useful information and tips on helping children with patience, here is an article link from Greater Good Magazine.

Dream in March - 2021

Special News and Announcements

Schedule Updates

PLEASE NOTE AS OF MARCH 1
WE NO LONGER OFFER ONLINE CLASSES ON FRIDAYS

*SUMMER CAMP*

Summer Camp registration will open this week. Details Below. 

REGISTRATION LINK WILL COME IN A SEPARATE EMAIL IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SPOTS ARE LIMITED.

DREAM MARTIAL ARTS BLOG

MORAL OF THE MONTH: COMMUNITY

Community is Helping Each Other.

“Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.” —Fred Rogers

Community means much more than simply a group of people living in the same place or having the same goal or interest. Beyond proximity or sharing something in common, community is what we as individuals can lean on in difficult times—the friends, neighbors and loved ones who make up the community we belong to is a powerful and crucial element in our well-being, happiness happiness and success.

Through our community, we have a sense of belonging, support, responsibility, and fulfillment.