Laura Jeffrey Academy Students Compete in The Miracle Kids Triathlon!!

Laura Jeffrey Academy Students Participate in the Miracle Kids Triathlon

Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, MN Twelve Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA) Students completed their first Miracle Kids Triathlon last Saturday at Lake Nokomis in South Minneapolis. The Triathlon is part of annual fundraising initiatives for The Miracle of Mitch Foundation, an organization set up by the family of Mitch Chepokas, whose mission is to advocate and support families who care for young children with cancer. Pledges for this event provide the Foundation with a majority of its annual funding—without this event, many Minnesota families would not receive the care they need.

LJA students signed up for the triathlon in early June and began training twice a week with the Social Studies Teacher, Kelly Armstrong. “None of the students that participated in the triathlon had done something like it before,” Armstrong said. “They trained, only having a vague idea of what to expect. When they got to the race, the people and the music had them all excited and nervous. They raced for a child who couldn't, and all of them did an amazing job. The water was cold, the air was brisk, but at the end when asked if they would do it again, they all said ‘absolutely’!”

According to the Melpomene Institute, “[during] adolescence, from approximately 12 to 18 years of age, new thought processes merge that allows young people to think about themselves in new ways. It is important that during this time girls find something beyond their external appearance that gives them a sense of self-worth and self-esteem. For many girls, athletic participation can be just the thing. In fact, researchers have found that organized athletic participation has a greater positive effect on girls' sense of self esteem than family income, parent education, or gender.” (http://www.melpomene.org/melpomeneResearch.asp#factsheets)

The triathlon aligns perfectly with the mission of Laura Jeffrey Academy. LJA is named after Laura Jeffrey, a long-time Minnesota resident whose life exemplified the love of learning and serve to community that are the goals of our school. Despite the limitations imposed on her, Ms. Jeffrey was an honors graduate of Macalester College and the only African-American in her class. Laura Jeffrey Academy provides an environment where students are free to learn, to explore their potential, to discover their brilliance and develop their intellect. LJA’s motto is “Asking questions, making choices.”

Serving a culturally diverse student body, LJA exemplifies that people most thrive when they work with others and take responsibility for their own learning. At LJA, students learn from their successes, failures, and experiences. In the spirit of Laura Jeffrey, LJA provides a stimulating learning environment that will foster confident young students—students with the skills to be a positive force in their communities.

We are currently accepting applications for fifth, sixth, and seventh grades for the ’09-’10 academic year. To learn more, please visit us online at www.laurajeffreyacademy.org or email info@laurajeffreyacademy.org.