Karate+for+Kids+Information

February 7, 2008  Dear Parents, Guardians, and Families of Clark’s Taekwondo USA,  Students are in Taekwondo class for two hours per week, learning techniques, physical movements, and mental skills. I often ask the students to “act like black belts,” meaning that I expect them to behave with integrity, discipline, courtesy, respect, and self-control. They demonstrate this to me in various ways: answering up loudly and appropriately, sitting with confidence, and showing respect to their fellow classmates. These are skills that they can carry with them into school and community settings.  A program that emphasizes “acting like a black belt” outside of the Taekwondo class is Karate for Kids Star Program. Students are rewarded for doing good deeds, going exceptionally above and beyond what is expected, and demonstrating great progress and improvement. Actions should not be chores or things that are already expected from students, but should be things that the students do that go above and beyond and demonstrate a “black belt attitude.” These deeds are recorded and verified on track sheets, available from the instructors, and turned in for stars. These stars are put onto a V-Patch that is worn on the left side of the uniform. Once the student accumulates 25 stars on the V-Patch, they move up to the next level V-Patch. Total, there are four levels of V-Patches.  To help off set the cost of the patches and stars, the cost of the first patch is $5.00. All of the following patches and stars are earned by the student and are not purchased. Star track sheets are available from the instructors at any time.  I would like to encourage participation in this program. It is a great way to reward your children for the phenomenal things that they do by acting like a black belt. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Thank you for your continued support,   Shannon Clark Chief Instructor Shannon.clark@ata-owner.com