August 27th, 2012
Dear Flying Kick Families,
Welcome back! It is exciting to think of starting our 16th year at Flying Kick! Once again we have many hopes and plans. We are sending this letter during the week we are closed – Aug. 26-Sept. 3 – as a good time to reflect on the past year. We have just finished 11 weeks of summer camp. As always, we had a wonderful time with old campers and new, staff and students, all learning and growing together. Summer wouldn’t be summer for many of us without the camp as a part of it.
Looking ahead to next summer, we have some exciting new plans. We hope to begin a tutoring service which would be held at the studio during camp hours, when the camp is at Concord Hill. We are planning to hire qualified college students to tutor students in the sciences, math, English, writing, and Spanish – to keep kids schools fresh during the long summer break.
We look back on a year of many accomplishments and landmarks. Several of our students reached the rank of 1st Dan Black Belt. Here at Flying Kick that is always a challenge and an achievement. Two students – Alison Kronstadt and Alex Wendell – took the next step and reached 2nd Dan. Congratulations to all of them! We are very proud of all of them and the hard work and perseverance they displayed. We are also excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Shane Fletcher to the position of Vice President of Flying Kick! This is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication Shane has demonstrated during the past 16 years at Flying Kick. We also had an in-school tournament, and plan to hold two of them this year. These tournaments offer kids a chance to compete in a safe, fun and friendly environment, and are always popular.
Our of our most special achievements during the past year was our Kick-A-Thon. It was held on Saturday, April 28, here at Flying Kick studio. Unlike previous Kick-A-Thons, this one was for one of our own Flying Kick families, as part of a fundraising effort for Derek Park, who died tragically Thanksgiving weekend, 2011. Derek is the son of Chong and Marie Park and brother to Adam and Jessie Park. Chong is one of our most devoted black belts, and Adam and Jessie are students in the school also. Together we raised $10,000 to benefit the Montgomery Parks Foundation. The result has been new equipment for and improvements to a Montgomery County Park soccer field, which will be dedicated in Derek’s memory in the coming fall, as well as a bench with Derek’s name by the side of the field. We are so proud of our Flying Kick family, that we were able to come together as a community for such a special cause. Many thanks to all who participated in so many ways!
For those interested in wider competition than our studio can offer, we will be happy to offer training and assistance. Two of our adults placed 1st & 2nd in the 2011 National Championships and will freely share their experience. Another black belt student, Emily Hardgrove, went to the Junior National Championships this past May 2012 and placed 3rd. Congratulations, Emily! Our Friday evening sparring class is going strong, and is open to yellow belts and above. These classes are taught by Master A or Mr. Thearin Wendell. Mr. Thearin is a 2nd Dan black belt and has always been an ardent supporter of our junior competitors. He coached our competition team during the years we went to state and national competitions, and was instrumental in helping our studio produce three National Champions. Whether interested in more competitions or simply improving their fighting techniques, these classes offer a good chance for both in a safe and positive way.
Our website is in its second year of its facelift. Many thanks to Mr. Chad Connally, one of our adult black belts, for his hard work in redesigning and maintaining it. Keep visiting us at flyingkicktkd.com or on our Facebook page to keep up with the new pictures and information. We also welcome a new member of the staff, Janet. She is doing an excellent job handling tuition and student financial records. She is always happy to address any questions about tuition you may have.
We will continue to have promotional exams approximately once a month during the coming year, for those qualified and approved by Master Al-Atrash or Mr. Shane. The big exams will be held in December, March, and June. These will include our black belt candidates and current black belts. We already have several possible candidates for December. Keep up the hard work, guys!
This September we are again having a special: the one-time registration fee of $70 will be waived for new students (the uniform will still be provided at the time of enrollment). PLEASE NOTE: All students, returning or new, MUST fill out, sign, and return an enrollment form, both front and back. We will also need these forms to be renewed and received every six months. We especially need new (and LEGIBLE) email addresses, so we can keep the communication flowing.
Our school programs are continuing successfully at Georgetown Day School, Concord Hill School, Lafayette Elementary, the Lab School, Lowell School, Chevy Chase Elementary, Westbrook Elementary, and Somerset Elementary. This year Mr. Tiger will be running the Lab School Program, while Mr. Shane begins a new class at St. Patrick’s School in Washington, DC. We also plan have a new class at Wood Acres Elementary, also run by Mr. Tiger, and plans are pending for a similar program at Burning Tree. We are always looking to expand the locations, so if you or someone you know would like us to come to their school please talk to Master A.
As always, the safety, well-being and education of every child is our primary concern. Flying Kick is a family community, striving to help every student grow and learn to their full potential in a positive, safe, and encouraging environment. We take a personal and caring approach to each and every student. If you have any concerns about your child you should always feel free to approach Master Al-Atrash to talk about the matter. Remember, too, that our staff is here to assist. Feel free to email us at [email protected], or call the office at 301-951-0543. We want to hear from you about your concerns and needs. Everyday concerns including but not limited to private lessons, birthday parties, scheduling, uniforms, equipment, etc., should also be addressed to the staff. We are here to help.
So welcome to the beginning of the 2012/2013 year. We will continue to work together to make it a healthy, happy, and learning time for all!
Master Khaldoun Al-Atrash, 7th Dan
Head Instructor
Flying Kick Fitness Center
301-951-0543