Wonderful Character Lesson for all the Children

by Ray Overmann, Owner of Olympiad/Executive Director of Team Central

I have been attending the Stan Musial Awards for several years.  It illustrates heart warming examples of life lessons that I believe you and your children will benefit from watching.
The Stan Musial Awards were held on December 5th at the Peabody Opera House.  There was an encore presentation broadcast of the show on Christmas day at noon on KSDK Channel 5.

You can watch the show online.  Here is more information regarding the show and broadcast.

Olympiad Tips for Choosing a Summer Camp

There are so many options to choose from for your child's summer activities.  If you are interested in choosing a summer camp for your child this summer, here are a few tips in choosing:

2016 Summer Opportunities Fair is
Saturday January 30 10:00a-3:00p at
John Burroughs School

1. Do Your Research, look for a camp early!  There are several options for you to get information on summer camps in the St. Louis area.  You have various Summer Camp Expos that are hosted early in the year, St. Louis Magazine offers a camp guide, you can also check out the Summer Opportunities Fair where you can visit different vendors and learn more about their summer opportunities, this fair is usually hosted in late January. Many camps will offer "early bird" specials, so getting the jump on camps early in the year may save you money too.

Things to consider:

• History & Philosophy
• Safety
• Certified Staff
• Schedule 
• Ratios
• Accommodations of special needs

2. Location, Location, Location...

Unless you choose to send your child to a sleep-away camp, you’ll need to find a camp that is close to your home or work. This is helpful in case of an emergency you will be close. Another thing to think about getting the right location is choosing the right location increases your chances of seeing some familiar faces such as, friends from school or neighborhood or activities your child is involved in.  

3. Look for camps that are ALL-WEATHER 
Summer can be loads of fun, but keep in mind St. Louis summers can also bring thunderstorms, hot days and bugs.  You will want to look for a camp that provides air conditioning and/or alternate indoor activities when the weather is not cooperating, to keep kids safe from sun exposure, heat exhaustion and severe weather. 

4. Safety is Key!

If possible, it is important to visit the camp facility prior to choosing.  You can look at several things while visiting:

• Is the facility clean and void of safety issues or hazards
• What are the emergency procedures and policies
• Have the staff been appropriately trained, certified in safety, First Aid and/or CPR
• Is there plenty of supervision in and around the facility
• If the campers go off location, what are the procedures and policies

5. Look for the camp that is a perfect fit for your FAMILY!

There are so many options here is St. Louis to make choosing the best camp for your family easy.  To help you make your decision, try making a list of your family's need and wants.  

Jot down what your child needs and what they want, make sure all (or most) of your needs are met.  Needs may be location, safety, price, schedule or special need accommodations and wants may include fun activities, friends, learning, camp themes. 

Whatever you choose, have a great Summer and have LOADS of FUN!

by: Shelly Peterson

Olympiad is Hiring!

Olympiad Gymnastics has been in business since 1979. With 5 locations to serve the St. Louis Metro area, we pride ourselves in being the largest and complete gymnastic center.

We offer gymnastics to girls and boys ages toddler - teens.  We also offer special activities such as birthday parties, kid's night out, summer camps and much more.  We are always looking for fun, energetic and compassionate people to work for us!  

Our committed staff believes that every child is full of possibilities and it is our goal to create a fun, safe environment in which they can discover that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. Our staff has specific performance expectations that reflect excellence in our programs and company.

We currently have the following positions open:

• Gymnastics Instructors
• Cheer Instructors
• Assistant Women's Competitive Team Coaches
• Tumbling Director/Instructors
• Special Activities Staff 

For more information or to apply visit www.olympiadgymnastics.org/employment.html 

Healthy Snacking for After School

AFTER SCHOOL HEALTHY SNACKS!

ANTS ON A LOG (prep time - 5 minutes)

Ingredients:
5 Celery Sticks
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup raisins or cranberries

Directions:
Cut the celery sticks in half
Spread the peanut butter
Sprinkle the raisins or cranberries
(allrecipies.com)




FRUIT KABOBS (prep time - 10 minutes)


Ingredients:
Skewers (I find them in the baking aisle at my grocery store
Strawberries
Orange chunks
Pineapple chunks
Kiwi chunks
Grapes 

*Please feel free to swap fruits in and out as you see fit. (blueberries, raspberries, green grapes, and bananas). 

Directions:
Wash and prepare all of your fruit by cutting the oranges, pineapple, and kiwi into chunks. Take a skewer and begin adding one piece of fruit at a time. Start with a strawberry, then add an orange, pineapple, kiwi, and finally grapes.

(Recipe: http://www.centercutcook.com/rainbow-fruit-kabobs)



APPLE SANDWICHES (prep time - 5 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 small apples, cored and cut crosswise into 1/2 inch thick rounds
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
3 tablespoons peanut or almond butter
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons granola

Directions
If you won't be eating these tasty treats right away, start by brushing the apples slices with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Spread one side of half of the apple slices with peanut or almond butter then sprinkle with chocolate chips and granola. Top with remaining apple slices, pressing down gently to make the sandwiches. Transfer to napkins or plates and serve. (wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes)



Granola, Yogurt, Berry Parfait (prep time - 10 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 cups plain yogurt
2 cups your favorite granola
2 cups fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and/or other fruit such as bananas, peaches or mangos (peeled and sliced)
4 tablespoons honey (optional)

Directions:
Line up parfait or any kids cup
Spoon 2 tablespoons of yogurt into each cup and smooth surface
Spoon 2 tablespoons of granola overtop and smooth surface
Spoon 2 tablespoons of fuit over top and smooth surface
Repeat the process, adding a bit of honey here and there to taste

Courtesy Bob Blumer, Surreal Gourmet
Compliments of http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/granola-yogurt-berry-parfait-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Spirit Elite Inferno Gets Bid for World Championships

Our Spirit Elite Cheerleading program has broken another barrier within it’s road to success.

Success is “progressively realizing a worthy ideal”.   This is a definition that fits our culture.  We establish goals and are most always looking for ways to improve and I sincerely hope that we enjoy the journey.

OUR SPIRIT ELITE STEPS UP AND MOVES FORWARD

SPIRIT ELITE level 5 Inferno has qualified for the World Championships to be held in Orlando Florida the last week of April.  We are very proud of the commitment and hard work of our head coach Karrie Tumelson nominated as Coach of the Year candidate by Jam Brands in 2010 and has given leadership not only to the level 5 squad but also to over 240 competitive athletes on 12 competitive squads. 

The Spirit Elite coaching staff consists of Karrie Tumelson, Ricky Schulte, Jessica McCammond, Heather Koch, Josh Newberry, Jessica Rchie,  Courtney Vaugh & Jordan Conner.

Of course we are very proud of our young athletes and the families that support them.

Best wishes Spirit Elite!

To learn more about Spirit Elite visit us at www.spiritelite.net

How Much Exercise Do Kids Need?

Borrowed from Flipping Education flippingedu.com  

How Much Exercise Do Kids Need? 

With childhood obesity, asthma, and type 2 diabetes rates on the rise, kids are more susceptible than ever to life-long health problems. As children progress through the stages of development, providing exercise opportunities for an active lifestyle--typically in the form of play.

History

Physical education (PE) has been a part of school curriculums since the mid-1800s, evolving over time to include more lifetime fitness activities. More recently however, the amount of activity in schools has decreased, with recess and PE being reduced or eliminated to devote more time to other academic requirements. Kids also used to get more exercise walking or riding their bikes to and from school and doing household chores that provided physical activity. The advent of multimedia distractions--such as cell phones, video games and the Internet--have also contributed to a less active lifestyle.

Misconceptions

A common misconception is that fitness and play do not affect academic progress. However, according to a study published in the January 2009 issue of the "Journal of School Health," students who are more physically active and at greater levels of fitness are more successful in the classroom. Another misconception suggests that kids get enough exercise outside the school day, even as the rates of watching television rise (over three hours a day on average) and after-school programs fall victim to budget cuts.

Types

To meet developmental needs, all children need to spend time improving strength, developing flexibility, and training their cardiovascular systems. With the exception of organized PE classes, children get the bulk of their exercise during play. Kids are more likely to exercise when it includes activities they enjoy such as tag games, sport practices, dance classes, or climbing on playground equipment.

Benefits

As stated by the American Heart Association, increased physical activity in kids decreases their risk for heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. They are also more alert, confident, and focused at school and at home. In addition to the physical benefits, emotional wellness and relationships are improved when kids have the opportunity to participate with others in fitness activities.

Solution

According to the National Association for Sport & Physical Education, children ages six through twelve need to be engaged in physical activity for at least an hour per day. Organized sports and games, special interest classes such as dance or martial arts, and family activities including walking, racket sports, and swimming enhance a child's social and cognitive growth as well. Healthy and happy children will be more productive and achieve more as adults.

Gymnastics Term of the Day

Back Walkover:
Back walkovers can be performed on floor or beam.  It is taught in the lower levels of gymnastics on floor and in the higher levels of gymnastics on beam.  There are many progressions before performing a back walkover (e.g. bridge, bridge kick-over, back bend, back bend kick-over)

In a back walkover, the gymnast starts in a standing position, then:

• Lifts one leg up and arches back until his/her hands touch the ground
• Pushes off the leg on the ground and shifts his/her weight to his/her hands
• Passes through a handstand position, with legs close to or in a split position
• Steps down from the handstand

(courtesy of about.com)

Here is video from YouTube that shows you how the back walkover is performed on floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzCqy-R9oo (courtesy of expertvillage).