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  IT'S ALL ABOUT FARM TO SCHOOL

In This Issue:
Kids Enjoying Vegetables They've Grown Themselves
Study Tip: Eating to Live... and Study
Coach Profile: Tatum Oleskowicz
Quick Links
Academic Success Partner 
of the Month
 
This month we're revisiting a former Success Partner, Westside Neighborhood School. We were thrilled last summer to partner with WNS in teaching an ISEE prep course. 
WNS is the epitome of an academic institution serving its community: A high-quality private school embracing socio-economic diversity. From 64 students at its opening on a small property in 1980 to 450 on a larger campus in the heart of Silicon Beach, WNS is a Los Angeles academic success story. WNS will be expanding to include a preschool in fall 2017 and grow to 520 students PS-8. WNS embraces a child-centered (PS-8) approach that engages kids in a highly differentiated, project-based, active curriculum that challenges students to collaborate, innovate and grow. The school encourages a growth and maker mindset for all students, and integrates the arts throughout a vibrant and rigorous academic program. WNS creates an environment through its commitment to social learning where each child is able to take intellectual risks and experience success while also learning to value the difference between themselves and others. For more info, visit the website or call 310-574-8650.
Looking For A Student 
Community Service Opportunity?
Meet Rickey Smith, social entrepreneur and owner of the sustainable food business Urban Green. He's started a community education venture called the Urban Green Kids Row program, creating opportunities for kids from diverse backgrounds to participate in many activities related to food sustainability, from planting seeds  to learning about how organic food is grown and harvested. For more info on a terrific
community service and volunteering opportunity for kids,  email  Rickey, 

or call (800) 200 3320.

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Academic Success is very proud of the two-minute video we recently produced to give you a feel for who we are, our philosophy and the way we approach our work
How Academic Success Can Support You
At Academic Success we take great pride in finding the right coach to support the unique needs of each student we help.  Please check out the areas where we work on our   web site  and let us know how we can support you.

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Looking for a College Counselor or Ed Therapist?
We work and partner with excellent Educational Therapists and College Counselors throughout the L.A. area.  Give us a call and we can recommend the right fit for your child.

310-823-4398
2017 IS UPON US!

Happy 2017 from all of us here at Academic Successs
As students get back into the academic swing, we thought we'd start the year by focusing on a subject that is often neglected in many schools' curricula: the hugely important topic of Food Education
While there has been an increase in awareness of the need for more nutritious food in our nations' school cafeterias, many of our kids are still drastically undereducated in how food reaches their plates. 
That is now changing, with the emergence of a fantastic new movement in our schools: the Farm to School initiative. 
In this month's issue, we'll focus on the transformation taking place in how our kids are learning about where their food comes from, how it's grown and how it gets to their plate. 
We'll show just how lucky our students are to be living and learning in California, one of the nation's leaders in helping students gain a high level of what is being called Food Literacy

At Academic Success, we believe a student's academic and personal development blossoms when fueled by elements both inside and outside the classroom.

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

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All the best,

The Academic Success Team

"Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments."
- Bethenny Frankel

Education News 

Kids Enjoying Vegetables They've 
Grown Themselves 
 

 
    
   
One aspect of the Farm To School movement that is most exciting is the creation of farms where the food is grown by the student body itself. This feel-good story out of Manteca, California exemplifies what can happen when kids have a part to play not only in their food choices, but how and where it's produced. 

Sonoma Valley Leading the Way
 
While some school districts are just beginning their journey toward the promotion of food literacy in schools, there are others sprinting ahead. This report, focusing on the farm-to-school initiatives in the Sonoma Valley, should be an inspiration to districts across the country. If your school isn't participating in a food literacy program, this report might inspire you to call your local school administrator. 
   
A Growing Movement From North To South
 
And now we travel from Sonoma Valley all the way to Southern California, where the state government is playing its part in developing food literacy. This article out of the San Diego-Union Tribune details how kids, thanks to a government grant, are immersing themselves in the process of food production while also gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of nutrition. 

How Food Literacy is Faring Across The Nation  
No state survives alone, which leads to the question: how is the rest of the country faring with farm-to-school initiatives? This comprehensive US News & World Report article details mixed news: on the one hand, food literacy programs are on the increase. However, these programs bring a level of complexity that is proving to be challenging for many school administrations.

Food Literacy's Roots Run Deep 

While Food Literacy and Farm-to-School action seems to be a recent phenomenon, it actually has a long history in our country. This feature story focuses on a California farmer leading the charge in local food production and education in our schools- and how he drew inspiration from a farm-to-school initiative that took place a century ago.  

Study Tips 

Eating To Live... And Study

The academic load on students' shoulders is only getting heavier. This means not only more work in the classroom but also a commensurate amount at home.
Students are needing to draw on increasing levels of energy to keep up- which is why it's crucial to be putting the right fuel back into their bodies. 
Although a piece of cheese between two slices of bread is quick and easy, it may not provide the boost kids need over the long haul.
One book that can pave the way for high-energy output is Joel Furman's Eat To Live cookbook. It's based on the principle that frequently eating foods that are high in crucial micro-nutrients not only boosts energy- it also lowers susceptibility to illness. 
A low-micronutrient diet creates physical fatigue which quickly gives way to mental exhaustion as well. Added to this is the time and energy lost getting sick, fighting illness and recovering.
With more and more organic, fresh food hitting cafeteria plates, it's never been a better time for kids to begin moving toward foods rich in micronutrients. It will position them for deep work, academic achievement and, most importantly, a lifetime of good health.

Coach Profile 

  Meet Tatum Oleskowicz,
  Coach Profile of the Month

We're constantly on the lookout for high-level coaching talent to add to  our Academic Success Coaching Roster, andwe're excited to kick off 2017 with an introduction to our newest team member, Tatum Oleskowicz. Tatum graduated from Cal State Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in English literature. She is currently a graduate student and research assistant at UCLA. Tatum loves the process of identifying each student's specific academic needs, basing her approach on the principle that no two students are the same. This includes figuring out which kind of learner her student may be- kinesthetic, auditory or visual. Tatum's sessions are highly individualized for each student. While this obviously includes focusing on a student's areas of difficulty, Tatum also believes it's vital to point out strengths to maintain a positive attitude during study time. 
Tatum loves to surf and travel in her spare time, having already visited eighteen countries outside the US. She's delighted to be part of the Academic Success team. 
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We consider it a privilege and an honor to support students and their families throughout the Los Angeles area.  Please call us at any time; we welcome your thoughts and input.  We are available at 310-823-4398.

Sincerely,
 
Jamie Altshule
Academic Success, Inc.