5th Graders Partner with North Shore Karate Academy

Our 5th graders have been part of something truly memorable—a three-session martial arts program with Mr. Dan from North Shore Karate Academy in Beverly. While they’ve certainly picked up some basic techniques, the heart of the experience has been about something deeper: building trust, showing respect, and learning what it means to persevere—together.

These core elements align beautifully with where our students are developmentally, meeting them with just the right mix of structure and challenge. At the same time, the experience has gently pushed them beyond what they thought they could do—both physically and mentally—helping them grow as individuals while working as a team.

The program was thoughtfully designed to end with a White Belt Test, giving every student the chance to earn a modified White Belt. And while their time with Mr. Dan was short, it was packed with meaningful moments. Each student had a chance to step up, to shine in their own way, and to contribute to their team’s shared success. They’ve worked hard, supported one another, and discovered just how powerful it can be to overcome a challenge as a group. We couldn’t be prouder of them.

As Mr. Dan shared early on, “My hope is this will truly provide them with the opportunity to overcome an obstacle as a unit and achieve something great together.” With several GUS students already part of the NSKA community, this partnership has felt both natural and inspiring—and the impact on our students has been clear. We hope to continue to build upon this partnership in the future!