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WE NEED A VOLUNTEER!
In This Issue:
A Charity Founder & Ambassador at 13
Study Tip: The Power of Auditory Learning
Coach of the Month: Cassandra Chase
Quick Links

 
SuccessPartner
Academic Success Partner 
of the Month

With this month's issue focused on giving to the community, we are featuring a Success Partner very close to home here at Academic Success, Jennifer Caspar. Jennifer inaugurated the Eric Altshule Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of her late husband Eric Altshule, co-founder of Academic Success. Known by its shorter name, Eric's Kids, it commemorates the life and work of Eric by providing scholarships, mentoring and grief support for students who have lost a parent. Working in partnershp with the California Community Foundation and the Catholic Education Foundation, the fund provides financial assistance and support to children who would otherwise be unable to attend quality Catholic schools. In doing so it preserves the memory of Eric, who believed all children deserve a quality education.
For more information visit the Eric's Kids page on the CCF website, go to the Facebook page or email Jennifer with any questions. 
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.

Check out Our  YouTube Video!
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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
HAPPY HOLIDAYS From All of Us At Academic Success!
In this time of celebration and renewal, it's easy to forget there are those whose lives could be transformed by a little help from the rest of us. For several years now, Academic Success has been connected with a wonderful organization, Eric's Kids (created by the wife of our late co-founder Eric Altshule), an inspiring example of adults volunteering and helping others in our community (you can read more about it in our Success Partner Feature).
But when help comes from our community's kids, working together and in concert with their elders, the transformative effects of volunteering can be felt even more keenly by both giver and receiver. 
Fortunately, in this digital age it's never been easier to find organizations ready to make use of students' time, energy and enthusiasm.
In this month's issue, we'll shine a light on elementary and high schoolers doing incredible community service work over the holidays. While volunteering is obviously a chance to practice generosity, we'll also show that it has fantastic mental health benefits for those who take part, not to mention giving kids experience working within an organization. In other words, doing community service work can move everyone involved to a better place.
At Academic Success, we're devoted to ensuring our students fulfill their academic potential while also becoming forces for good in our communities.

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

 

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All the best,

 

The Academic Success Team

 

"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."

                                                         - Khalil Gibran

Education News 

At 13, a Charity Founder & Ambassador

 

Sometimes random acts of kindness transform the giver even more than the receiver. This inspiring Huffpost article details the work done by a teenager to raise people out of poverty. Having just received a grant from the huge charity organization UniLever, this kid can truly say he's changing the world.

  

Local Businesses Partnering With Our Kids

 

One of the most refreshing developments in recent years concerning community service is the extent to which business is now getting involved, especially in providing community service opportunities to our kids. This US News & World report shows the many benefits for all to be gained by partnering up with local business to help the community.

 
Elementary Schoolers Working Together

   

Although it is primarily up to parents to foster a sense of generosity and compassion in their kids, helping those less fortunate in our communities has a different kind of educational power. This piece, detailing the work done by fourth-graders to help their peers, should make us all feel optimistic about the next generation. 

A Life-Changing Moment for A 
Self-Confessed "Brat"
 
Not everyone comes to community service and volunteering with an open heart. This cheeky yet insightful op-ed, written by a recent high school graduate, tells the story of a privileged teenager who experienced personal and lasting transformation as a result of helping others. 


Volunteering = Health!

We quite often anticipate the holiday period as a time to rest. While recharging our mental and physical systems is crucial, a recent conference on volunteering in New Jersey raised the point that community service work usually provides a boost to morale and energy. This important report also highlights the potential for volunteers to meet new friends and expand their social network. 

Study Tips 

Creating A New Study Space for 2015

Whatever you may believe about Feng Shui, there is no question that how you lay out your work area will have an immediate and direct effect on your habits and productivity. The more accessible your work is, the more likely it is that you'll keep returning to it. One way to kickstart the new year is to redo your Study Space. 
All students have a Study Space, no matter how small or unclear its boundaries may seem. The trick is to make it somewhere that is comfortable, pleasant and, most importantly, efficient. 
The most obvious place to start is the desk or work table. A clean, open area on your desk is an inviting place to sit, which means creating storage space for your papers, books and stationery to go back to when your study time is over. 
Adding a small plant on your desk or nearby means you'll be heading back to your study space regularly to water it. The color green is also proven to have a calming effect.
Placing a small mirror on or above the desk can create a sense of space in your room, in addition to reflecting light and keeping your senses stimulated. 
Finally, don't forget to post inspiring messages around your Study Space. It's easy to get stressed or discouraged with study; transforming your academic world at home can lead to better results in the classroom.

Coach Profile 

 
Meet John Boonin,
  Coach Profile of The Month  

One of the most experienced and successful tutors on our team is John Boonin. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, John started acting in plays at an early age, performing in dozens of community theatre productions throughout his adolescence. Upon graduation from high school, John obtained a BFA from the prestigious New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor; it was at this point that John discovered his passion for tutoring. John uses many of the skills he gained in acting school in his approach to tutoring. One of the keys to effective coaching is the ability to listen and to adapt to new and evolving situations. Communication is paramount, and he gets to know each of his students well in order to better cater his approach to their individual needs. Executive functioning skills like organization and time-management are among his specialties.

In his spare time, John enjoys traveling, listening to live music and playing basketball. He is delighted to remain part of the Academic Success family. 

 :   
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.