CrossRoadsNews, July 18, 2015 - Section B by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Family & Back-to-School Expo Saturday, July 25, 2015

July 18, 2015

www.crossroadsnews.com

Section B

Education front and center

Each year, kids get to sign the perfect attendance pledge at DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston’s booth at the Family & Back-to-School Expo.

Information & resources to get you excited about the new school year! Noon to 5 p.m. • Lower Level • the Mall at Stonecrest ■ Free Back-to-School screenings

■ Informative presentations

■ Entertainment

■ Door prizes & giveaways

CrossRoadsNews

Expo

July 18, 2015

Expo-goers who visit 12 or more exhibitors can enter the drawing for a fabulous Back-to-School Basket, compliments of the Mall at Stonecrest.

2015 Family & Back-to-School Expo Program Highlights 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.CrossRoadsNews.com editor@CrossRoadsNews.com The Family & Back-to-School Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews, Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporter Jennifer Ffrench Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without . the written permission of the publisher © 2015 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

July 25, 2015 • Noon to 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest Noon

Expo kicks Off with Rae Rae “Exercise Motivator” Clark

12:30 p.m.

Georgia Academy of Stars Glamettes

1 p.m.

Singer/Dancer Zion Moore

2 p.m.

Dancers Lauren Thomas & Ryann Phillips

2:30 p.m.

Jenae’s Dance Experience

3 p.m.

DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston

3:30 p.m.

Georgia Academy of Stars Jr. & Sr. Ensemble

4 p.m.

The Beulah Boys

4:40 p.m.

Grand Prize Drawing

5 p.m.

Expo Ends

Rae Rae Clark

Georgia Academy of Stars Glamettes

The Beulah Boys

Zion Moore

Sherry Boston

2015 Family & Back-to-School Expo Exhibitors & Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 12 of these exhibitors* at the 2015 Family & Back-to-School Expo and enter to win a Back-to-School Gift Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. Drawing takes place on July 25, 2015, at 4:40 p.m. at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. _____ Atlanta Gastroenterology

_____ DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office

_____ Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage

_____ CrossRoadsNews

_____ Georgia Stars Academy of Dance

_____ Oakhurst Medical Centers

_____ DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau

_____ Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

_____ Paxen, LLC

_____ DeKalb County Board of Health

_____ Green Pastures Christian Academy

_____ Ramsey Realty Services

_____ DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court

_____ Greenforest-McCalep CAC

_____ Shekinah Glory Tabernacle Academy

_____ DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

_____ Jenae’s Dance Experience, LLC

_____ Woodruff Medical Training & Testing

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________________ Home phone _________________________________________________ Cell ___________________________________________________________ * Eligible entries must be validated by at least 12 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, e-mail address and telephone number. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible to win. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You MUST be present to win.

CrossRoadsNews

July 18, 2015

Expo

“It may still be 90 degrees outside, but preparations have to be made. … We help to get the ball rolling.”

Expo helps kids, parents get in mood for new school year Ready or not, the new school year is right around the corner. On Aug. 10, DeKalb County students will head back to class for the 2015-2016 school year with new School Superintendent Stephen Green at the helm. On July 25, the annual CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-to-School Expo will be at the Mall at Stonecrest with more than a dozen exhibitors offering information, resources, back-to-school screenings, giveaways and entertainment to get kids excited about a new year of learning. The expo, which is co-sponsored by DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston, will highlight the importance of perfect attendance during the school year. Even though her office prosecutes parents who don’t send their kids to school, Boston prefers to underscore the value of a good education in building future earning power. She says that since kids have no idea how much education will affect their lives in the long run, adults must step in. “As parents, it’s our job to keep our children interested in learning and help them see the big picture,” she says. Boston will speak from the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level at 3 p.m. As always, she will encourage kids to pledge to attend school every day it is in session this school year and underscore the responsibility of parents to get their kids to school. Expo exhibitors include county officials, private schools, dance academies, and the Girl Scouts. Oakhurst Medical Centers will offer back-to-school screenings for kids and blood pressure and diabetes tests for adults. Expo-goers who visit 12 or more exhibitors and get their numbers can enter the

Children and adults take the Perfect Attendance pledge at the 2014 CrossRoadsNews Family & Backto-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.

drawing for a fabulous Back-to-School Gift Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. There also will be book bags and gift card giveaways from the stage. The Main Stage will be hopping with performances by talented students. Columbia High School junior Zion “da fro” Moore will be back to dance. This year, he also is singing his newly released song, “Splash.” Lauren Thomas, a rising eighthgrader from Woodward Academy and a talented dancer, will perform with her friend Ryann Phillips. Dance students from Jenae’s Dance Experience in Conyers and Georgia Stars Academy

in Stone Mountain also will perform. The popular Beulah Boys step group, who are regulars at CrossRoadsNews expos, will take the stage at 4 p.m. both to entertain and to show audience members how to do some of their smooth moves. Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor/ publisher, said this is the 10th year of CrossRoadsNews Expos at the Mall at Stonecrest and that as always, the newspaper is happy to help bring together exhibitors and families to kick off the new school year. “Every year, the Family & Back-to-School Expo helps to get parents and kids in the mood for heading back to school,” she

said. “It may still be 90 degrees outside, but preparations have to be made, screenings and immunizations to get, and documents to collect for registration. We help to get the ball rolling.” The Family & Back-to-School Expo is one of three hosted annually by CrossRoadsNews at the mall. Its Senior/Baby Boomer Expo is set for Oct. 17. It will be followed on Jan. 30 by the Health & Wellness Expo. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-2841888.

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CrossRoadsNews

Expo

July 18, 2015

“The more children who are fully immunized, the less the risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Immunization can protect children, help prevent outbreaks As students head back to school for the fall on Aug. 10, health officials are underscoring the importance of all children having up-to-date immunizations for vaccinepreventable diseases like measles, mumps, and pertussis or whooping cough. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says that vaccines are the most effective means of protecting children from potentially serious infectious diseases and to stop the spread of disease. Dr. Bea Files, Emory University School of Medicine’s clinical associate professor of pediatrics, says a back-to-school checkup is an ideal time to make sure that children’s

immunizations are current. “The more children who are fully immunized, the less the risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases, and the less risk of a regional or statewide outbreak occurring,” Files said. Across the country, there have been outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, which were once considered controlled. Last winter’s multi-state outbreak of measles, a highly contagious disease, that began in a California amusement park sickened more than 170 people, most of whom were not vaccinated. Outbreaks of pertussis have been af-

fecting schools. More than 321 cases were reported in 2014 in Georgia, up from 180 cases in 2011. Pertussis can last for weeks or even months and infected children can pass it on to unvaccinated infant siblings, who face the greatest risk of serious illness and death. In 2011, pertussis cases were reported in 48 counties across Georgia, and most of the cases occurred in metro Atlanta. Infants 6 months and younger were most impacted. The majority of the victims were younger than 3 years old and 17 percent of them were hospitalized. The CDC recommends that pregnant

women, family members, and caretakers also should be vaccinated to protect infants, especially those too young to get their own immunizations. The flu season follows fast on the heels of the new school year, and each year, about 20,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized with complications. The best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated annually. With rare exception, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are especially important for pregnant women, who face a higher risk of complications for themselves and their babies.

Oakhurst offering BTS screenings

Children can get back-to-school hearing and eye screenings on July 25 at the Oakhurst Medical booth at the Mall at Stonecrest. The health care provider will offer immunizations at its Aug. 1 health fair at its Memorial Drive headquarters.

Back-to-school hearing and eye screenings will be available at the CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-toSchool Expo on July 25 for children headed back to school. Oakhurst Medical will screen children for hearing and eye problems during the expo, which takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. While they will not offer immunizations at the mall this year, Tarri Johnson, Oakhurst Medical’s community outreach manager, said vaccinations will be available at their Aug. 1 Back to School Health Fair & Family Fun Day at the 5582 Memorial Drive headquarters. During the 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. health fair, children ages 4 to 12 with their immunization record will get immunized and will receive a free book bag while supplies last. The hearing and eye screenings will take place at the Oakhurst Medical booth. The Mall at Stonecrest is at Turner Hill Road and I-20 in Lithonia.

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Zack and Quack ready for close-up Nickelodeon stars Zack ways to solve problems and making the bigand Quack will be at the gest adventures possible. CrossR oads On July 25, fans of the show can meet Ne w s Fa m and greet the TV stars and have their phoily & Backtos taken with them starting at noon to- School Expo on the mall’s lower level. helping get kids Donald Bieler, the mall’s marexcited about the upketing manager, said it will be a lot coming start to the new of fun. school year. “Bring the kids, The popular Nick bring the camera,” Jr. show follows the he said. “The fun adventures of Zack, a begins at dynamic and advennoon.” turous 7-year-old The boy, and his best 2 0 1 5 friend, Quack, Faman impulsive young ily and duck. BackThe two live inThe Nick Jr. stars t o side an amazing popuwillp be available for School photos starting at book full of “fantastical surExpo prises” where pulling popunoon p s on July 25 at takes makes exciting and unexpected t h ithe n g sexpo. place happen. noon to 5 From the second they step into their gar- p.m. on the lower level of the mall. den, the adventure begins. Zack, the leader, The Mall at Stonecrest is at Turner Hill is constantly finding surprising and creative Road and I-20 in Lithonia.

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CrossRoadsNews

July 18, 2015

Expo

“As parents, it’s our job to keep our children interested in learning and helping them see the big picture.”

Right words can encourage a great attitude about education By DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston

With the new school year right around the corner, most families are busy trying to soak up those last few days of summer. Before we know it, we’ll have to get the kids up extra early, pack lunches, get uniforms ready, help with homework. … The list goes on and on. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by the daily grind. However, with the start of this school year, I want to urge parents to consider how their attitudes can impact their children’s education. Far too often I hear adults say things like, “You must be glad to be out of school”; “I know you’re dreading going back”; or even, “I bet you don’t like school.” Then later parents wonder why their children aren’t doing well in their classes. When we say negative things or just assume our kids don’t like school, they learn that it’s bad to enjoy learning. Since kids have no idea how much education will affect their lives in the long run, they may decide to give up on their schoolwork – especially in harder subjects – altogether. As parents, it’s our job to keep our children interested in learning and help them see the big picture. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, our kids could earn $630,000 more during their lifetime simply by not dropping out of high school. And if they go on to graduate from a four-year college, the U.S. Census Bureau shows us they will earn an average of 235 percent more than a high school dropout. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us high school dropouts also have a 47 percent higher unemployment rate than graduates. As your DeKalb County solicitor general, I oversee the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes including educational neglect, when parents don’t send their children to school as required by Georgia law. These parents face criminal prosecution because their kids have five or more unexcused absences, and sadly, some have missed as many as 40 days

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston presents a pledge of school attendance at the 2014 expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.

in just six months. We have a diversion program called the Attendance Review Team or ART to help parents get back on track because I want to make sure every child gets an education. Failure to complete the program will result in hefty fines, community service or up to 30 days in jail.

Even if you don’t have kids, you should care about our children staying in school because it makes our neighborhoods safer. Almost all – about 90 percent – of the inmates in the DeKalb County Jail never finished high school. This school year, I hope you will help us encourage kids to strive for perfect atten-

dance and always go to school unless they’re sick. And let’s watch our own attitudes about learning. Helping our children get an education is one of the most important things we can do to improve our quality of life and help all of us build a safer DeKalb. Sherry Boston has been DeKalb solicitor general since 2011. She has two children.

By the numbers

$630,000

235

Percentage of inmates at the DeKalb County Jail who didn’t finish high school

Additional lifetime income possible by not dropping out of high school

Percent more income made by a four-year college graduate over a high school dropout

Number of unexcused absences that can expose parents to criminal prosecution

Percent higher unemployment rate among high school dropouts over graduates

The Clerk of Superior Court Is a

Proud Supporter of the CrossRoads News

Back to School Expo Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court

DeKalb County

Stonecrest Mall

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CrossRoadsNews

Expo

July 18, 2015

“We instill in both youth and adult members to never give up on their dreams and always set out to make a difference.”

‘We teach them to pay it forward’ Singer-dancer makes ‘Splash’ Bridgette Rucker has been training kids to pay it forward for 20 years at the Georgia Stars Academy of Dance & Performing Arts in Stone Mountain. Rucker was working in hospital management in 1995 when she started Georgia Stars Academy of Dance & More LLC to change lives through the performing arts and track and field. Her students ages 18 months to adults learn all genres of dance, including tap, ballet, lyrical, liturgical and hip-hop. The year-round school also offers a musical theater, cheerleading, gymnastics, majorettes, fitness, modeling, and track and field training. The Georgia Stars Glamettes and the Junior and Senior Rucker, known as “Coach Company will perform at the expo on July 25. Rucker,” has lost count of the number of children she has impacted in the Stonecrest on July 25, Rucker’s students past two decades. will take the Main Stage, near Sears on the “Countless,” she said. “Thousands.” mall’s lower level, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. “We instill in both youth and adult The Georgia Stars Glamettes, students members to never give up on their dreams ages 5 to 10, will perform at first. Rucker and always set out to make a difference in said they will do a jazz piece to the song someone’s life. Even if it is just one person “Move” from the soundtrack of “Dreambecause that one person can turn into a girls.” thousand persons.” The Junior and Senior Company, ages Georgia Stars Academy is still in down- 10 to 16, will dance to the song “Contown Stone Mountain where she first started. queror” from the soundtrack of “Empire” Rucker said that she gives kids skills. When at 3:30 p.m. parents can’t afford it, she tries to find scholThe annual expo, which gets students arships for them. excited about the start of the new school Now her kids who are in college come year, takes place noon to 5 p.m. back in the summer to help out. The Mall at Stonecrest is at Turner Hill “We teach them to pay it forward,” she Road and 1-20 in Lithonia. said. For more information, visit www.georAt the CrossRoadsNews 2015 Fam- giastarsacademyofdance.net, call 678-499ily & Back-to-School Expo at the Mall at 1035, or email gastarsdance@gmail.com.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Columbia High School junior Zion Moore is firmly on his way to becoming a triple threat with the July 7 release of his new hip-hop song “Splash” on YouTube. Zion, who has been dancing since age 4, is already well-known around town for his “hopping and ticking” dance moves. He is making a singing name with “Splash,” which he first performed for a live audience on July Fourth at the AEBLE Hoops Celebrity BasketBall Game in Atlanta. And, he is taking acting lessons to soon add the last rung to his triple threat. Zion says he lives to perform and feeds off the reactions of his audience. “I just like entertaining people,” he said. “I like their response. When I sing and I see their faces blow up, I realize that I can actually do this.” Last year he wowed audiences with his dance moves at the CrossRoadsNews annual Family and Back-to-School Expo. He will be back for the 2015 expo on July 25. He will be on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level at 1 p.m. This time, Zion will both sing and dance. “Splash” is produced by Zion’s cousin, Atlanta music producer Mike Da Rockman, whose other artists include rappers Future, Rich Homie Quan and Gucci Mane. Rockman, who has been producing music since 2005, said he had no idea his little cousin could harmonize until two weeks Zion Moore, who performed a dance routine at the 2014 expo, ago. “I made the song a week will sing and dance at 1 p.m. on July 25 at the expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. “Splash” can be heard on YouTube. ago and it’s blowing up,” he said. Through last week, “Splash” had no airplay but has been viewed 3,519 times on https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH5kvu8GAbE&feature=youtu.be. Rockman said Zion has done open mic at eight shows in Atlanta since July Fourth. “He shut it down,” he said. “After he performs, the audience walks out because they don’t want to hear the lesser acts.” Rockman said the song should be on iTunes by July 21. He will have copies for Zion to sign for fans after his performance at the expo. Right now Zion is networking and performing. To book him, contact Mama-Mo Management at itsziontheartist@gmail or 678-508-3112.

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CrossRoadsNews

July 18, 2015

Expo

“When I dance, I feel happy. … It’s surprising considering how much I cried when Mom first registered me.”

Dancer is also choreographer Dance training imparts life lessons By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

words into movement.” Her other joy is perLauren Thomas was 4 forming. when her mother, Rhonda “I like performing beThomas, enrolled her in fore lots of people even dance. though it makes me nerShe hated it. vous,” she said. “I cried so much she She also dances at First took me out of the class,” Baptist Church on Gresham she said. Road where her father, But not for long. When the Rev. Norman Thomas, she was about to turn 5, her is pastor, and regularly mother enrolled her again. performs at Black History “By then I was able to unMonth programs and has derstand more,” she said. participated in dance comNine years later, Lauren petitions, including Dance is just simply “in love” with Moms, where she placed in dancing. the top 10. Although she’s Lauren Thomas helped “It’s like a passion,” she choreograph the hip-hop mixed only 13, she is choreographsaid. “When I dance I feel piece she and friend will dance. ing dances. She also likes to happy. … It’s quite surprising watch others do it. considering how much I cried when Mom “I just love to see the process. I like first registered me.” starting from scratch and see how it all Lauren, a rising eighth-grader at Wood- develops.” ward Academy, says that when she dances she Before attending Woodward, she danced just lets everything go. at the Academy of Dance in Stone Mountain. “I just focus on the music and the words To continue to hone her skills, this summer because I want it to be meaningful.” she is doing a two-week dance intensive at the At the CrossRoadsNews 2015 Fam- Adamsville Recreation Center in Atlanta. ily & Back-to-School Expo at the Mall at She is reveling in the success of American Stonecrest, Lauren and best friend Ryann Ballet Theatre’s Misty Copeland, who made Phillips will dance a hip-hop mixed piece she history last month when she became the first helped choreograph with dance teacher Leo African-American to be named a principal White. They will be on the Main Stage near dancer. She said Copeland has long been Sears on the mall’s lower level at 2 p.m. her idol and she wants to be a professional Lauren, who lives in Conyers, and Ryann, dancer just like her. who lives in Lithonia, dance to all genres of “I have written so many papers on her. music – tap to ballet, jazz, modern and con- She is even the screensaver on my phone.” temporary. Lauren loves dance so much, she She’s excited for Copeland. happily rehearses 16 hours a week. Contem“I felt like it showed that African-Ameriporary ballet is her hands-down favorite. can dancers can just be as swell as Caucasian “It’s so flowy and I can interpret the dancers.”

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In the five years since she opened her dance studios in Conyers, Jenae Duncan has touched the lives of about 400 young people. In their training at the Jenae’s Dance Experience studios, students ages 4 to 19 learn to be active and even to eat well. Duncan, who has 20 years of dance experience, says she loves exposing the kids to movement such as hip-hop, jazz, ballet, tap, African and gymnastics pointe. “We are using dance to fight obesity in kids,” she said. “We even have a Jenae’s Dance Experience students will perform a jazz and hip-hop boot camp where we routine at 2:30 p.m. on July 25 at the expo. teach kids to jump rope, do double-dutch and hopscotch. Duncan said they will dance a jazz and These days it’s all about technology and hip-hop routine. kids don’t know how to do these things.” The Family & Back-to-School Expo takes Duncan also loves that she can have place noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower a positive impact on the children she level. trains. Duncan said the skills she is imparting “I can give someone the opportunity to her students will stay with them a long to shine,” she said. “I love that.” time. At the 2015 CrossRoadsNews Family “It’s something that they will remember & Back-to-School Expo on July 25, Jenae’s even when they are 30 years old,” she said. Dance Experience students will shine at “They can say Miss Jenae taught me that.” 2:30 p.m. from the Main Stage near Sears For more information, visit JenaesDanceat the Mall at Stonecrest. Experience.com or call 678-379-8983.

CrossRoadsNews

July 18, 2015

Encouraging Perfect School Attendance to Build a Better Future { smart

prosecution for a better quality of life }

my goal is to: ➤ keep our community safe ➤ improve our quality of life ➤ keep our kids in school and out of trouble ➤ protect the vulnerable solicitor-General boston wants to help kids stay in school to ensure a brighter future for dekalb’s youngest citizens. our office works hard with families and school administrators to provide support and resolve attendance issues before they rise to the level of prosecution of parents and guardians.

Sherry Boston dekalb county solicitor-general

404.371.2201 www.dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org