March 2019 Newsletter
Student Spotlight: Tony, Lanier High
Tony is an 11th grade student from our JKL program at Lanier High School in Austin, TX and he is finding his voice! With only a few months under his belt, Tony has strived to become one of the most active students in the JKL program.
After being exposed to Zumba, Hip-Hop Dance, and proper stretching techniques, Tony has found a new passion. Sharing dance moves with his family members is becoming a weekly ritual. He is focused on eliminating junk food and eating more veggies. He is becoming a role model and really sees it as a way of life now. Despite being busy with his fire academy obligations and chemistry hobby, Tony always makes the time to enjoy JKL fitness sessions.
Tony is full of energy and wants to share the love he has found in movement with his peers. Says Tony’s JKL teacher, Ms. Willis, “While last year he only watched, this year Tony has become very active in JKL. He has been very engaged in our community service activities and takes pride in helping others. As Tony has learning disabilities and has been teased in the past for being different, he has dedicated his time now to doing as much as he can to make others feel included and cared about.”
Gratitude Quote of the Month
"I’m grateful for these Gratitude Circles, because they have shown me that I am not the only one going through something. They have bonded me and my classmates into something stronger than friendship."
— Joy, Venice
A Race to the Finish
Team JKL Los Angeles recently enjoyed a fun-filled morning with students from our Fairfax and Huntington Park programs who participated in Upward Bound House’s 7th Annual Home Run For Kids in the Brentwood neighborhood.
This community event included a 5k and a Kiddie Fun Run for the little ones, along with expo booths featuring UBH programs, partner organizations, activities for children and adults and great food. The Home Run for Kids is a great opportunity for parents, kids, local businesses, schools and the community to come together to help solve family homelessness, a growing crisis across Los Angeles. We were so proud of all of our runners for taking advantage of this great event benefiting a wonderful cause!
Making a Splash For Spring
Our JKL program at Fremont High School in Los Angeles is making a big splash this Spring by utilizing their indoor pool!
Says JKL teacher Ms. Dill, “We did this for several reasons. First, the JKL Monthly Quote for February highlights the virtue of courage, and for many of our kids in south central LA, swimming is not a skill in which they have much confidence in themselves. We wanted to give them the courage to try something new. The second reason is that swimming and water survival skills are very important for everyone to know. If we can at least teach these students what to do if they fall into a pool or body of water, I would consider it a success! Our goal was to make the kids more comfortable in the water, to push their limits, and to show them their strength and their courage!”
Camila’s Tip: Camila’s Tip: Post-Workout Green Shake
After a workout try turning to a healthy snack to re-fuel! Camila like to make this healthy Post-Workout Shake! And, don’t be shy with the spinach! A healthy shake is the way to go a because it’s easy for when you’re on the go, is packed with nutrients (like fiber and omega from added chia seeds!), and works perfectly as a meal substitute.
Ingredients
1/4 cup frozen mango chunks
1/4 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 banana
1 heaping handful organic baby spinach
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth
ENJOY!
Beller Nutrition Recipe of the Month
Cucumber Refresher Salad
Rachel Beller MS, RDN
If you’re looking for a quick, nutritious, refreshing salad, I’ve got it for you. With just 4 healthy ingredients, you are set! My tip: make this salad ahead of time, keep it in the fridge for a bit, and enjoy it chilled. And to make it a complete meal, pair this salad with a serving of tuna or grilled chicken.Try adding parsley, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and pepper. Yum!
Fun Fact: cucumbers are about 96% water and are super low in calories. The expression ‘cool as a cucumber’ comes from the fact that the inside of a cucumber can be 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. (Now, I wish I was as cool as a cucumber sometimes, literally!) Besides being super cool and hydrating, cucumbers are also a good source of potassium, vitamins C and A. And you don’t really have to come up with anything fancy to turn them into a super delish and refreshing meal.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
6-8 Persian cucumbers or 2 English cucumbers
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
3 lemons, juiced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Slice cucumbers as thin as possible
2. Place them into a large bowl.
3. Add the chopped parsley
4. Add fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and sea salt and pepper to taste. Stir all ingredients together.
Swag of the Month
Cool Beans. Keep your noggin warm with this fleece lined knit beanie. $24