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Saturday, December 6, 2014 • 1B
Knowledge is Power
Photos by Betsy Denson Lisa Fegen, an Oak Forest resident, emphasizes a “hands on, minds on� philosophy to her business, Raising the Bar, which hosts summer programs for students in second through tenth grades.
Oak Forest business ‘raising the bar’ for local youngsters By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com When Oak Forest resident Lisa Fegen was trying to find quality summer activities on a teacher’s budget for her then middle-school age son, she came up short. Then, the light bulb went off. “I said ‘I’ll put on my cape. I will change this’,� Fegen said. A long time science teacher at Lanier Middle School, Fegen started Raising the Bar in 2007. First she offered summer programs for middle school children, before expanding the classes to meet the needs of kids in second through tenth grade. Then after talking with parents at the camps and hearing their needs, Fegen made the move into tutoring as well. “Over time my colleagues came because they wanted to do something different,� Fegen said.
Two years ago she left her job She’s also looking to rent addiat Lanier to focus on Raising the tional space, perhaps in the Med Bar full time. Center. The 60+ tutors visit clients “All our staff are certified eduin their homes. cators, most of whom are full time Fegen describes the summer teachers during the school year,� camps as Leisure Learning for kids she said. “We all believe that and says that what is offered has teaching is an art.� evolved organically as participants Today, Raising the Bar offers discover their interests. individual and group tutoring for “I thought, let’s see what the kindergarten through 12th grade, public wants,� Fegen said. test preparation, home consultaNow, there is cooking, photogtions and parent workshops, as raphy, archery, guitar and even Lisa Fegen well as their summer day camps duct tape creations among other and academic classes. offerings. All sessions are Monday through Raising the Bar does not have a storefront. Thursday for three hours a day with Friday set Fegen rents space for her camps during the apart as a ‘fun day’ where activities and games summer. For the past few years, she’s been revolve around a specific theme. A week costs at Emerson Unitarian Church at 1900 Bering about $150. Drive, between Westheimer and San Felipe. “We have so much fun planning it,� Fegen
said. She notes that the camps offer kids a chance to explore a talent or interest that they may not have a chance to develop anywhere else. “Maybe volleyball is their thing, and they haven’t done a lot outside of that,� Fegen said. “We give them opportunity and exposure.� The academic classes become more of a priority in August as the start of school approaches. But no matter what the concept being taught, Fegen says she has a ‘hands on, minds on’ philosophy. “It’s important to me that they really understand what they are learning,� Fegen said. Information regarding next year’s summer classes will be posted in the spring. For more information about Raising the Bar, visit www. raisingthebarcc.com.
From the Chamber: Sharing happiness, joy with local businesses vices you have used this past year and let them know that you appreciate them. It can be as simple as a Facebook post on their page, a Yelp I love the holidays. We celebrate Christmas review, or a quick email. Let the owner know in my home, and I have the privilege of watch- that you referred them to a friend, or that you ing my two young boys experience it each year. have been looking forward to doing your shopMagic is still very real to them, and my child- ping with them. Take the time to explore retail in the Greater hood memories of that very magic are so much crisper and clearer for watching them. Decora- Heights Area. We are blessed with some of the tions, food, carols, and of course Santa all per- greatest antique shops and specialty boutiques meate the very air in the Millwee house from in Texas right here in our very neighborhood. Thanksgiving until New Years. Even simple There’s no better place to find a unique gift that will stand out from all the gift things like baking cookies becards. We also have a wealth come a ritual filled with eldritch of fine eating establishments, wonder for my boys. They will great for a quick bite during swear that the cookies taste a shopping expedition or for better, that they heard noises treating out of town guests. on the roof, that Christmas carAs stressed as we get doing ols can be felt as well as heard. the shopping, remember these While it may be magic for shops are run, staffed, and the boys, there is nothing magifrequented by your neighbors. cal about the stress, the planThey are stressed too, often in ning, and the expense that goes ways we don’t see. To engage on behind it. Schedules fill up, fully in the holiday spirit I enbank accounts run dry, shopcourage you to be good customping never seems to get done, Jacob Milwee ers. Have some patience and and on the whole nerves get a be appreciative. Wear your smile! little frayed. The cooking seems to generate exponentially more cleaning than it One of the most overlooked gifts of the season should, and inevitably I find myself wrapping is the easiest one to give – courtesy and well gifts on the 24th. None the less, my spirits stay wishes. Be the neighbor you want to live next up and I am happy to share the holiday cheer to. Shop like you are in a friend’s home, not a strange store. Eat at the restaurant like you are with everyone I meet. We all have an opportunity this season to do at a family gathering. Treat your waiter like an that very thing, and share that holiday cheer old friend. Create the community you want to not only with our family and friends, but with live in. We also have a number of local charitable orour neighbors as well. One way is to find time to reach out to the local businesses whose ser- ganizations who would love your support. I enBy Jacob Millwee For The Leader
courage you to keep your donations as local as your shopping. Don’t know who to donate to? Go to your Chamber of Commerce’s website, to the membership directory, and peruse the Non-Profit category. Or call your local Church or YMCA for donation ideas. Whatever holiday your family celebrates this
time of year, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, I encourage you to make a point of greeting and thanking your neighbors and businesses this month. Happiness and joy tend to yield greater returns the more you share them, and who knows? You might re-discover a little magic yourself.
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