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Sami’s Circuit Goes the Distance
Reminding Kids Everywhere, You Got This! By Allison Hopkins
Tens of thousands of students in northern California have taken part in Sami Kader’s motivational programs since 2012, and with today’s challenges, they need this more than ever. Just like his program teaches—to never give up—Sami has found a way to continue to reach kids during distance learning through his “On Demand” series. Teachers and parents use Sami’s weekly, 20-minute videos designed to support kids’ physical, mental, and social well-being from Pre-K to sixth grade. Sami grew up in Roseville and began struggling with low self-esteem as a young child. He was mocked and bullied by his peers for being overweight, which resulted in what he refers to as a “negative voice” inside, leading him down a bad path. His story shows how one person can change someone’s course forever. When Sami was 16, a family friend insisted that he join him on daily trips to the gym. There was a lot of resistance initially, but after one year, Sami lost a significant amount of weight and, most importantly, gained more mental strength and respect for himself than can be measured. Sami’s two-part program for the past eight school years has involved talking with students during an initial assembly about what he faced throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, teaching them about the tools he used to believe in himself, and engaging them through fun circuit training workouts throughout the year. For anyone who hasn’t seen
Sami’s training in action, it’s an auditorium full of so much energy that you can’t help but be a little stunned! Fast forward to distance learning of 2020 and the new video platform has enabled Sami’s service to reach school districts and parents located anywhere, anytime. His videos focus on a “circuit of powers,” a social-emotional toolbox. He teaches the kids that much like with a superhero, the powers aren’t something that are given to you. Students are shown that these powers already exist and can be accessed at any time once they understand and learn how to use them. A sample video is included at www.samiscircuit.com/homeschool. Family nights have been a popular part of Sami’s in-person program. Now families of schools that subscribe and others who purchase the On-Demand program can participate in the monthly live virtual events. Each event has a different theme and “field trip” location. Courtney Harbman’s fourth-graders at Foothill Oaks Elementary School in Sacramento have been involved with Sami’s program since kindergarten. They are very excited to watch his videos during their online class on Fridays. Harbman explained that the most recent video she shared with the class talked about being positive and finding the good in everything they are doing right now, followed by a circuit training activity. “Sami has become a part of our school climate for the last six years and participates in our annual jog-a-thon,” said Harbman, a mother of two girls who has been teaching for 20 years. “Trying to get my students to do PE can be very difficult, but Sami comes and they will do absolutely anything he asks them to do. He is a magnet for children…
