Mastery students, family, and friends are invited to participate in several upcoming events starting this Saturday.

Mastery will be at “Treat Yourself Right,” a health fair set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Sat., March 31, at the Smithfield Elks Lodge, Rte. 104, Smithfield.  Mr. Russo will teach a kickboxing class at 2:30 p.m., followed by a performance of our demo team.

Next Friday, April 6, is day camp at the Centredale Academy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Cost is $25 without an Activity Pass.  That night is Parents’ Night Out.  See your academy for times.

Next Sat., April 7, is a Confidence Board-Breaking Class at 10 a.m. at every academy to benefit the father of a student who is undergoing a bone-marrow transplant in April.  Boards cost $5 and can be reserved at every academy.  Net proceeds will benefit the family.

Please direct questions to staff at your academy or mrsantoro@masteryma.com

We invite all students to compete in the Mastery Martial Arts Tournament on Saturday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick.  The tournament is open to all ages and all ranks.   The competition will begin with the Little Dragons and finish at approximately 2 p.m.  with the black belts.

Tournament forms can be completed through Friday at any academy. form.  The registration fee is  $35 for individuals; $70 per family through Friday.  The fee is $55 for individuals and $120 for famlies on Saturday.

The tournament is free for spectators.  Concessions will be available for purchase.

We look forward to seeing you there.

See the events page on the Mastery blog for copies of the poster, schedule, and registration form.

We hope you enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving Day with family and friends.  It’s amazing to realize December is this week.

By now, you should have received our Thanksgiving card and holiday savings coupon.  Please ask any staff about our offers.

The Activity Pass, our annual popular savings package for individuals and families, is back for 2012.  The pass includes tournament fees, private lessons, free beginner passes for six months, and more.  There is an individual price and a family price for two or more people in a family for only $100 more.  Time is limited to order these.

The last black belt pretest will be held on Friday starting at 7 p.m. at the Cranston Academy.  This test will focus on breaking and kicking. 

Parents’ Night Out will be held on Friday, Dec. 9 at all academies.  See your instructor for times.

And, seating is very limited for tickets to the holiday party.  The event will be held on Sat., Dec. 17 at the Kirkbrae Country Club and will include D.J. music and a murder-mystery dinner theatre.  Children are welcome.  Get your tickets now at your academy.

Our holiday apparel sale begins tomorrow with zip-up fleece, quarter-zip fleece, soft-shell jacket, hat, scarf, water bottle and T-shirt.  Custom uniforms can also be ordered.  Order forms were sent out this week.  Samples will be on display during the sales. 

Here is the schedule:  Friday, Nov. 11:  Centredale:  9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  And 1:30 to 6 p.m.; Cranston, 2 to 6 p.m.; Smithfield, 2 to 5:45 p.m.  Monday, Nov. 14:  North Smithfield and Smithfield, during class times.   Tuesday, Nov. 15:  Centredale, Cumberland, during class times.  Wednesday, Nov. 16:  Cranston and Warwick, during class times.

We are taking orders only during these times.  You can use cash, credit card, or check for payment.

In addition, we will be putting baskets together for the Trudeau Center tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.  Please bring your food items there directly.  Thank you already to those who have donated.  We hope to meet our goal of 1,000 items. 

Parents’ Night Out will be held at all academies.  Check yours for the time.

Tomorrow begins our last curriculum cycle for 2011.  Best of all, parents can train free for the entire month.  So why wait until New Year’s to get healthy, lose weight, or just try something new?

It’s easy to get started.  Just tell an instructor.  Uniforms for parents  cost $20, which is half price.

The weapons of the cycle are bo staff for all underranks; bokken/sword for leadership classes, and dagger for black belt classes. 

The leadership life skill is self-esteem. 

Remember to complete your yellow stripe form this week.  If you missed graduation at your academy, please call your instructor so he/she can be prepared to present you with your new rank.

Testing for new ranks begins tonight at all academies.  Testing takes place during regular class times.  Monday and Tuesday night testing content is the same; Wednesday and Thursday night is the same.  So, if you miss the first night, then return on the second night as a make-up or to try again.

Graduations for Little Dragons, beginners and black belts happens on Friday night.  Regular classes are canceled.  Check your academy for times.  Graduation for intermediate and advanced levels will be on Saturday morning.  Also, check your academy for times.

Try your best and show enthusiastic spirit.  Remember to wear your complete uniform and bring all of your equipment.  Practice the honesty life skill one more time this cycle.  Good luck on a successful experience.

Mastery is sponsoring two events today, Oct. 15:  a flu clinic and board-breaking fundraiser.

Mrs. Danielle Ferreira, Mastery student and registered pharmacist from CVS, will give flu shots today from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Smithfield Academy.  Please bring your insurance card.  The clinic is open to ages 18 and above.

Mr. Gallagher will teach board-breaking to guests from Sargent Rehabilitation Center starting at 11 a.m. today.  Mastery students, families, and friends are welcome to attend.  Boards cost $5 each, and net proceeds will benefit the Sargent Center, where Mr. Gallagher teaches two programs:  one for adolescents with brain injuries and the other for children with autism. 

This is event is part of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play.  Stop & Shop from Warwick will be there with snacks for the participants. 

For information about either event, call 888-MASTERY.  Press 1, then 5 for the North Smithfield Academy; press 1, then 6 for the Warwick Academy.

Gloria Gemma:  We have outdone ourselves with board sales this year.  Right now, we are sold out, but more are arriving next week.  Please return decorated boards and payment to you academy.  We only have 300 or so received so far.

If you have taken boards to sell, then please either purchase them or return them as is.  We have collected nearly $7,000, which means $18,000 is outstanding.  Either way, we appreciate everyone’s efforts. 

Also, if you still plan to volunteer, please submit your volunteer form and T-shirt order.  I need an accurate count by the beginning of the week to get parking passes.

I plan on having a meeting either next Thursday night or Friday night at the Centredale Academy to distribute parking passes and T-shirts and assign jobs.  I am waiting to find out times from Gloria Gemma.

Weekend Events:

Cranston Open House:  Sat., Oct. 1.  Bring a friend and stop in 60 Walnut Grove Road, for raffle prizes, pizza, and free classes starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow.  Come see the newly revamped academy.  If you bring a friend, you’ll get a raffle ticket to win an iPod, flat screened TV or $100 Providence Place gift certificate.

Whole Foods Market:  Sat., Oct. 1.  We will be at three Whole Foods Markets (Waterman Ave. (10-noon), No. Main St. (12:30 to 2:30) and Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston (3-5) tomorrow selling boards.  There are food-tasting events and more happening at each location.  Just stop and say hello.

St. Augustine’s Fair, Providence:  Sat., Oct. 1.  11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.  Stop by our booth and say hello to the staff.

American Diabetes Association:  Sun., Oct. 2.  Walk to stop diabetes.  Our dragon and demo team will be at Roger Williams Park Temple to Music.  We will be there from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or so.  Demo is 12:30 p.m.

Reminder:  Demo practice tonight at 6:30 p.m., Smithfield Academy.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me, mrssantoro@masteryma.com.