Nola Family Magazine - January 2022 by nola family magazine & nola boomers magazine

nola family Parent Fearlessly

January 2022

Navigating the OneApp Do Children Lack Empathy? Private + Charter Schools in NOLA

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

nola family CONTENTS

Founder ANN BOWER HERREN Publisher BRANDON FOREMAN Associate Publisher AMY L. FOREMAN

JANUARY 2022

Editorial AMANDA MILLER Managing Editor

EMILY DREZ Assistant Editor

SARAH BATROUS ANTHONY BUI LYNZI WHALEN Editorial Interns

Art/Production JENNY ZIGLIN

ON THE COVER

Production Manager

MELODY TAUZIN Senior Graphic Designer

Ava H. is in seventh grade at St. Rita School.

ALEX HERRING Graphic Designer

MADELENE SOILEAU

Photo by Twirl Photography

Multimedia Specialist

CHANEY RAY

Multimedia Assistant

TWIRL PHOTOGRAPHY Cover Photography

Advertising LAURIE ACOSTA Director of Sales

KRISTEN RENFROW Account Executive

A FEW WORDS

EDUCATION & GUIDANCE

IN EACH ISSUE

Publisher

Corner Making Decisions

Bookshelf New Year, New Reads

6 From the FEATURES

13 Do Children

Lack Empathy?

17 Is College Right for Your Child?

22 Navigating

10 Parenting

12 Dear Frankie

Homework Help

14 Wiggle Room Learning with Exceptionalities

15 Hip Grannie

Enrollment in NOLA

24 2022 School Listings

38 School Open

The Eyes Have It

8 From the

21 Spotlight

32 Gear to Get

Start the Year Fresh

33 Dad About

Town Gary Alipio

34 Out & About

What, When, Where: Virtual, On-Going, and Special Happenings

Houses

NOLA FAMILY is published monthly by FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NOLA FAMILY Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

H.Y.P.E. NOLA

Marketing EMILY MANCUSO Director of Marketing

MAGGIE SHARP Marketing Assistant

VICTORIA COTEJAR Social Media Coordinator

Business Operations TERI HODGES

Director of Community Partnerships

ROXANE VOORHIES Community Outreach

SARAH MILLER

Administrative Coordinator For reprint information, contact

jenny@nolafamily.com Business Office:

One Galleria Blvd., Ste. 1900 Metairie, LA 70001

( 504 ) 866 - 0555 A publication of

January 2022 Issue  129

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

from the publisher

New Year, New Plans A new year brings lots of ideas on things you want to change for the year. I have learned not to set resolutions because they always seem to fail. Instead, set small attainable goals for yourself. For instance, work out three days a week, and by February, bump to four days a week. Meal prep and stop ordering food delivery to work. These two things alone will help my heart and my bank account. However, this year, I am setting a new goal: time for myself. My biggest challenge is being a busy mom to three kids who constantly have places to be and things to do. I mean, once school is over at 3 p.m., it’s rush home, get the homework done, go drop one off at dance, come home, and figure out dinner. Some days include soccer practice, or I have to go to dance to bring my daughter dinner in between her teaching and her actual classes. Sometimes I’ll have to read with each boy for 20 minutes, making sure their iPad homework is done. Then it’s time to pick up the tornado that blew through at 3:30 p.m., getting uniforms out for school, packing lunches, picking up my daughter from dance or sending someone to get her, watching a show with my boys, getting all the kids to bed, then finally, getting a little time with husband before I crash for the night. This is just one day in my house! Each day brings different challenges that I am supposed to make work. While most of the time I get it all done, putting an effort into myself falls to the back. Am I ever going to make myself a priority with a crazy schedule like this? I’m trying! I feel like I am getting better at putting things in my calendar, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t snooze them and forget. I really think that this is the best option to keep me on track, but I need a system to keep up with my notes, or random things that come to my brain throughout the day. I have notebooks, use Google Keep (the note-taking service), and Post-its. They are everywhere, which I am sure adds to my stress level! I feel stuck, but I know there is a solution to keeping my crazy brain on a schedule. What do you use? Do you have any tips or tricks that work for you? I would love to hear what keeps you on schedule and allows you to keep your family, work, and self on track. I’m determined to reach my goal this year. Share your ideas with me at amy@nolafamily.com.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

from the bookshelf

NEW YEAR, NEW READS

When Mardi Gras is in late February or early March, January can be a weird month. It’s after the holidays, but Carnival festivities have yet to start. Plus, it’s a new year. Where did 2021 even go? I still feel like it is 2020. But for all the weirdness, I do like to treat it as a fresh start. This January, I’m finally going to start reading the evergrowing list of books that I have in a note on my phone. I know what you’re thinking. “You must read a lot since you work at the library!” I do love to read, but I’ve been going through a personal taste change lately that kind of left me thinking about books instead of reading them. I thought I loved fiction. I thought fiction was the only thing in which I was interested. But, lately, the books on my list are all nonfiction. This change has made me feel more adult. Now all I need is a good crossword puzzle. (By the way, you can check out books about crossword puzzling at the library.) For now, I will feel more adult by reading some of the biographies on my list, starting with Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Already a fan of hers, I cannot wait to dive into her story after hearing about it for months from friends who didn’t take as long as me to appreciate nonfiction. Untamed’s summary reads, “In her most revealing and powerful book yet, the beloved activist, speaker, and bestselling author of Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and start trusting the voice deep within us.” After Untamed, I plan on checking out Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab. I follow her on Instagram, and her book has been on my list for months. As far as influential therapists on social media go, she’s one of the best. Her ability to make me think introspectively and to give practical, helpful advice makes me excited to read more of her wisdom. From the Set Boundaries, Find Peace summary: “End the struggle, speak up for what you need, and experience the freedom of being truly yourself. Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them—in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family.” With these plans solidified, I think I’ve discovered the perfect way to settle into the new year without it feeling weird. I definitely can’t back out now that my plans have been printed, right? Right. Before I finish up here, I want to plug the library’s delicious new collection. We have cake pans available for check out at Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center. Our pans were generously donated* for library cardholders to use at home without having to buy new cake pans. More information can be found at nolalibrary.org. Happy baking!

*The library is not accepting pan donations at this time.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library. When not fretting over new years, she enjoys visiting museums and adding to her plant collection.

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

parenting corner

Making Decisions This month’s school issue brings to mind how overwhelming the selection of a school can feel to parents. But if you are just starting out as a new parent, the first years of life require lots of decisions involving a child’s care: eating, sleeping, childcare arrangements, and discipline, just to name a few. Often the wide variety of parenting advice available may seem more confusing than helpful. Claire Lerner and Amy Laura Dombro, of the national Zero to Three organization, address this dilemma in their book Bringing Up Baby: Three Steps to Making Good Decisions in Your Child’s First Years. They suggest using the following steps when considering how to handle any concern about your child: 1. Develop self-awareness. Reflecting upon your own childhood experiences helps you understand your feelings and reactions to your child’s behavior, and to help you consider different possible meanings behind the behavior. Self-awareness can allow us to be more intentional in how we are raising our children, rather than just reacting to the situation in the moment, especially when it feels stressful. Reflection upon what your own values are as a parent will help you see how your beliefs influence daily decision-making. 2. Tune in to your child. Learning to read your child’s cues is an important skill you can develop using observation, reflection, and a process of trial and error. Ask yourself these questions: What did I observe? Where did it take place? What was happening before and after? What might my child’s behavior be saying? How should I respond? What can I learn from my child’s reaction to my response? Try to stay curious,

rather than slip into anxiety or anger. Also, think about where your child is developmentally in order to develop realistic expectations. There are many reliable sources of information for parents, although it can be difficult to discern trustworthy sources online sometimes. Certainly an open relationship with your child’s pediatrician may be the best place to start when you have questions. Websites such as healthychildren.org (the American Academy of Pediatrics’ site for parents); cdc.gov/ ncbddd/actearly/milestones/ (the Center for Disease Control’s developmental checklists); and pathways.org, all provide clear, evidence-based information about early childhood developmental milestones. 3. Make sensitive and effective decisions. Knowledge and acceptance of your child’s basic temperament will help guide you in this process. Avoid making comparisons between your child and others, and between yourself and other parents. This is harder than it sounds, but all children are different, and what one child needs from us may be different than what another child does, even within the same family. Families, too, have different demands, resources, etc., and coming up with an effective way to address an issue will depend on your family’s specific situation. If you have a partner, discuss a plan for how to handle a particular issue, and then re-evaluate and revise as necessary. Sometimes plans need to be given some time to take effect, but then need some revision if they’re not working for everyone. Regular reflection and problem-solving as a couple can help you handle the normal ups and downs of parenting as a team. Lisa Phillips, MSW, LMSW, has been a parent educator at The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital since 2001 and is a regular contributor to the award-winning “Parenting Corner” column. She can be reached at (504) 896-9591; chnola.org/parentingcenter.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

dear frankie

Homework Help Dear Frankie,

Sunday nights are becoming a killer at our house. After dinner, mom asks my sibling, Billy, if he has completed his homework. He typically says it’s almost done. When she asks to see his work, Billy complains that weekends should be about fun and not school work. Billy is the most active of my three sibs and excels in anything physical. He runs like the wind, swims like a dolphin, and can hit a ball out of the park. But when it comes to school work, Billy struggles with reading and written work. Mom, however, insists he has to finish his homework. She tells him she is willing to sit with him for as long as it takes. Some nights it takes hours because he makes up all kinds of excuses–he’s too tired, needs to go to the bathroom, doesn’t feel well. By the end of the night, everyone in the family is worn out. I honestly feel sorry for Billy. Do other kids have so much trouble doing their homework? Sincerely,

Josie

Dear Josie,

Billy is lucky to have such a compassionate sister who understands his struggles and doesn’t accuse him of being lazy. Yes, many kids like Billy experience similar Sunday night scenarios. Not everyone is good at everything. It seems Billy is a star in sports but not in academics. Perhaps the assignment would be easier for him if your mom broke them into smaller tasks that he could complete Friday-Sunday. Doing a big homework assignment after dinner on Sunday may not be the best time for Billy to do his schoolwork, especially after a weekend of physical activities. Maybe your mom could reward Billy when he completes an assignment. Nothing big or expensive, perhaps something like picking out the dessert or choosing a video for the family to watch. You get the idea. I do suggest the teacher be informed of the issue. She might know of the way other families handle homework. Best,

Frankie P.S. I hear from my friends at the dog park that the amount of homework their siblings get on the weekend is way too much. They also think there is more to life than reading and writing. Just saying.

Frankie is a rescue and a service dog for Geneva Woodruff. Together, they have traveled far and wide. Along the way, Frankie befriended dogs from all walks of life. She thought it would be remiss not to share the many lessons of life she learned from them.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Do Children Lack Empathy? By Susan Marquez While bullying is not a new thing, the awareness of bullying among children has increased in recent years. Some have blamed social media for taking bullying from the playground to the Internet with cyberbullying on the rise. The argument can be made that the real problem is the lack of empathy in children.

Empathy Develops at an Early Age

Empathy is something that develops as a child ages. The ability to feel for others and mentally put yourself in their place is something that is learned, and parents can help foster empathetic behavior and understanding. Sharon Perkins writes in an article on the hello MOTHERHOOD website that it is unrealistic to expect a child under five to truly empathize with others, because they are not yet able to put themselves in another person’s shoes. She says that true empathy for others normally doesn’t start to blossom until age eight or nine. Claire Lerner and Rebecca Parlakian wrote about how to help toddlers develop empathy in an article they wrote for the Zero to Three website. “While empathy can be a complex skill to develop, toddlers can understand that they are separate individuals, and that others can have different thoughts and feelings. They can also begin to recognize that most people experience the same common feelings of happiness, surprise, anger, and sadness.”

Milestones in Empathy

Lerner and Parlakian state there are certain milestones in empathy that are important in the development of a child, including establishing a loving relationship with parents, as feeling accepted and understood by parents helps a child learn how to accept and understand others as he/she grows. They say that babies start using social referencing by the age of six months, such as looking at a parent when he/she greets a visitor to the home to see if the new person is good and safe. “The parent’s response to the visitor influences how the baby responds.” Lerner and Parlakian state that while a child may be encouraged to say, “I’m sorry,” it doesn’t necessarily help a toddler learn empathy. “A more meaningful approach may be to focus on the other person’s feelings: ‘Look at Sierra–she’s very sad. She’s crying. She’s rubbing her arm where you

pushed her. Let’s see if she is okay.’ This helps children make the connection between the action (shoving) and the reaction (a friend who is sad and crying).” Empathy is closely tied with emotions, and learning to manage emotions helps develop healthy identities, maintain supportive relationships with friends or family members, as well as make responsible decisions. Sara Potler LeHayne, founder and CEO of Move This World, has identified Social Emotional Learning (SEL) as an integral part of human development. According to Move This World, SEL encompasses everything from goal setting to stress management, which provides both children with tools they can use to express themselves authentically and appropriately. Through her Dance 4 Peace program, LeHayne has created a series of train-theteacher instructional videos that incorporate dance and movement into lessons about empathy which can be used in the classroom. Based on her experience, LeHayne recognized that children express themselves more authentically through movement and learn more comprehensively through physical experience.

Warning Signs of Lack of Empathy

Michele Borba, a parenting and child expert and educational psychologist has written extensively about empathy in children, specifically about when to worry about a lack of empathy. Signs that a child may have low empathy, according to Dr. Borba, are when a child never cries at movies or is concerned if his/her friends are hurt, if a child is mean, and seems to enjoy when their classmates cry, or that they don’t care about anyone but themselves. Parents may wonder if they can have influence in a child’s capacity for empathy. Dr. Borba says that research says that empathy can absolutely be cultivated in a child. The problem comes when parents think that lack of empathy is a phase a child will outgrow. “Compassion and kindness comprise the essence of humanity,” says Dr. Borba. “Empathy is the critical emotional ability to put oneself in the other person’s shoes to understand their feelings and situations. Because lack of empathy is a risk for aggression and violence, instilling empathy in our youth is essential.” NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

Learning with Exceptionalities What is Provided to Students? During this time, many families are anxiously awaiting acceptance letters to private schools, hoping for a lucky lottery number to be pulled for a public school, or anticipating OneApp enrollment results. This can be extremely stressful for all families, however, when you have a child with a learning disorder, an appropriate school placement is critical and can be very challenging. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, 1 in 5 children have a learning or attention disorder and 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Center for Disease Control & Prevention). Combine these alarming statistics with the pandemic, children with exceptionalities are having greater challenges than ever before as intervention and accomodations were significantly limited for many. Due to the pandemic, many children have missed out on intervention as well as schools being unable to detect or identify children with learning disorders. Now, more than ever, schools are facing greater challenges of meeting the child’s needs in the classroom. Many families, however, do not know the differences in what a school has to provide or does not have to provide for a child with an exceptionality. At a public school or charter school, a child that has been identified with a special need according to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), can either have a 504 plan or an IEP in place. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public schools to provide free and appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the country. It ensures the child receives special education and related services, such as PT, OT, ST, and Adaptive PE. The 504 plan comes from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It was created to improve access to accommodations for students with learning needs in public schools and ensure academic success. Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a legal document and plan that identifies the student’s disability, according to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). An IEP is for those students with disabilities that require specialized educational instruction and related services. It is more involved than a 504 plan, and requires documentation of goals and growth. A 504 plan may include accommodations that can be provided in a regular education classroom, such as preferential seating, extended time, or a pencil grip. An IEP will include special education instructional time and frequency and duration of related services. Public schools are required by law to have IEPs in place for all eligible students and provide special education and related services (OT, PT, ST, and APE) as stated in the IEP. Public schools are also mandated by law to provide 504 Plan accommodations as recommended for identified students.

wiggle room As more children are identified with special needs, many are applying, being accepted to, and attending private or independent schools. However, these schools are not required to have IEPs or provide 504 plan accommodations. Just as they have the ability to accept or not accept children who apply to their school, they have the choice to provide accommodations or not.

With climbing numbers of children with learning disorders, many private and independent schools have been increasingly more accommodating at recognizing this great need for intervention and services for each child’s individualized learning. Some private schools have support built into the student’s day and some offer small and levelized core curriculum groups. Some have speech therapists and reading interventionists on staff, and also allow outside service providers such as OT and PT and ABA therapists to come in to work with students during the school day. Most private schools are very responsive to suggestions and accommodations for success in the classroom provided to them if they are reasonable and attainable. Many families look to private and independent schools as an option for their child with special needs as they often offer small class sizes, individualized attention, various approaches to learning, and the freedom to adapt curriculum as needed. If you are looking for a private school for your child with special needs, it is important to always be upfront and honest with the school regarding your child’s needs. This may include providing current and past evaluations, and signing release forms for the school to communicate with outside providers or medical staff. It is also important to ask these questions: 1. Is there a learning specialist or resource support personnel on campus? 2. If so, how is the need for a learning specialist determined? What is the cost? 3. Is resource support provided in a small group, individual, or consult basis? 4. Do you allow outside providers (private or public) on campus to see students? 5. How often are conferences or meetings held with teachers, families, and resource support to discuss a child’s progress? 6. What are some examples of accommodations that you provide to students? 7. Are there small groups or levelized instruction for certain subjects? 8. Is there a documented plan for children who are in need of accommodations, and how is this plan communicated to all teachers? Private and independent schools have progressively started to include more children with special needs that apply to their schools, as they have learned, with accommodations and support, the school can be more inclusive and diverse. Public school is another option for many children with exceptionalities, and the same questions can be asked to the public schools, as they must legally provide accommodations for children with learning disorders. Kimberly Bradley, MS, LOTR, a pediatric occupational therapist, writes the “Wiggle Room’’ column. She owns Kim4Kids in Metairie and can be reached at kim4kidsnola.com.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

hip grannie

The Eyes Have It In an earlier Hip Grannie, I wrote about our granddaughter Amelia’s love of fashion. Even as a four year old, she could walk into my closet and pull together a great outfit, often using combinations that I never would have thought of. And if you could see the condition of my closet (does the word avalanche mean anything to you?) you’d know what an accomplishment it was. Now that she is 12, and almost a teenager, Amelia has become interested in makeup. If the eyes are truly the windows to the soul, as many poets aptly said, Amelia’s soul is laced with color and mystery. I’m never quite sure which Amelia is peering at me. The other night at her brother Newman’s soccer game, Amelia’s eyes were a smokey, sultry gray. The drama was palpable. Last week, she lined her eyes with a hot pink liner. It looked hip and fun as it accented her deep brown eyes and eyelashes. If I had lined my eyes with a hot pink liner, I would look as if allergy season were in full force.... hello ragweed! Her friend, Gigi, has taken a different route. She has a different hair color each time I see her. I’m pretty sure these are not permanent colors, at least I think they are temporary. At one St. George’s volleyball game, Gigi had hot pink tips on her curly, dirty blonde locks. At another, the tips were bright blue. At the most recent game, she was a full blown brunette with jet black hair. None of this is news to me. I remember returning from speech and debate camp when I was in the ninth grade wearing bold Cleopatra eye makeup, complete with neon blue eyelids and long

black eyeliner stretching across my eyelids. My mother had a true hissie fit, which of course, made me want to slap on another pound or two of makeup. And, honestly, I wasn’t a rebellious kid. I first tried dying my hair “blonde” with McCormick’s yellow food coloring. All it did was make my hair stick to my scalp. Over the years, I’ve colored my hair, frizzed it, straightened it, highlighted it and low-lighted it. I’ve spent a bloody fortune on makeup, skin care products, shampoos, conditioners and hair stylists. In a former life, I was probably a beauty school dropout. What Amelia, Gigi and I (many years ago) are doing is first and foremost, fun. Thanks to YouTube, Facebook and TikTok, there are lessons on the correct way to apply makeup and hair products (not surprising, McCormick’s food coloring isn’t on anyone’s recommended list). With a little talent and some cool supplies, they can transform their look from ingenue to vamp with the strike of brush or a dollop of foundation. All of this, of course, is the beginning of what psychologists call separation and individuation. It’s an adolescent girl’s way of staking claim to her life and who she is. It’s a critical part of asserting an independent identity and establishing a sense of self. Think of it as a pre-teen girl’s way of saying, “Look out world! I’m coming at ya!” I say, bravo to the hot pink eyeliner and blue tipped hair. Under all that goop are smart, hardworking, caring human beings who will one day rule the world. And Lord knows, they will rule the world with a style all their own. Laura Claverie is Nola Family’s Hip Grannie. She is a local mother, grandmother, and writer. NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Is College Right for Your Child? Jannean Dixon, M.Ed.

“I’m an adult!” That’s what I thought when I graduated high school, but I was so wrong. I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Because of my indecision, it took me seven years to earn my undergraduate degree. I think back and wonder, if I’d spent a little more time exploring the real world, would I have had a more direct path? When I left high school, it seemed like the only options were to either go to college, or not. That binary choice system is now, thankfully, a thing of the past.

Your Teen Has Options

“College is not for everyone and we’ve tried hard to stress that to our kids,” shares mom of teens Cathi W. “It’s more important to find something you like and interests you than going to college just to go. We’ve spent a lot of time on Google looking up requirements for jobs and seeing what kind of education is needed.” Local mom Chantell B. shares, “With E, her only option was college because she wants to be a doctor. B is a sophomore now and we have discussed both college and trade school as he is unsure what he wants to do. He has yet to find something that interests him, so I think he still needs time to cultivate his interests before we can even really get into options.” This “time to cultivate interests” is known as a gap year.

Gap Year

A gap year is a semester, or full year, that is taken as a break between the regular studies of high school and starting college. This time is not for Netflix binging and hanging out, but for experiential learning in the form of volunteering, working, travelling, or other ventures.

Travel Abroad

Let them use it before they lose it! All of the Spanish, French, or Mandarin your child took in high school can be put to use. Internships, community-based projects, and volunteering can be great options for young adults wanting to spread their wings and see the world. Camps for children, cruise ships, and au pair work are three popular options for working while traveling abroad.

Volunteering

Is your young adult unsure of their life path? Encouraging them to volunteer and explore options can be an invaluable tool to set them on the path for the rest of their life. Help your child research organizations aligned to their interests and beliefs.

Find and Develop Passion

Sometimes narrowing down a specific passion can be the hardest part of

deciding what to do with the rest of their lives. Helping children explore their passions can help them to understand if they can turn their passion into a career. An internship or apprenticeship may be a great way for your teen to deeply explore their passion.

Military

Joining the military has a lot of benefits: learning the discipline necessary for future endeavours, serving their country, career opportunities both in and out of service, money for education, and a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself.

Trade School

“My father went to trade school and became a very talented electrician,” shares local dad Eric D. “He loved that he was often able to out troubleshoot the young electrical engineers in his department!” There are many trades that offer job stability, opportunity for pursuing passion projects, and competitive wages, such as carpentry, technology, machining, and cosmetology. “Our son saw how much electricians make on HGTV one day, so we researched it together and he decided that’s his path–all because he wants to make decent money without going to college,” adds Cathi.

Work and Save Money

Mom Teresa M shares, “I told mine that as long as they lived in my house, they either had to go to college or go to work.” Whether it is a just-for-now job, a job with growth opportunities, or a hobby-turned-job, young adults can gain experience and expertise through work. “After high school, I got a job at a local veterinarian clinic. I walked and curbed the dogs, cleaned the pet cages and clinic, and eventually earned the opportunity to assist the vet with patients. I loved it! When I got the job, I thought that I wanted to go to vet school. After working at the clinic for a couple of years, I loved my experience, but knew that I did not want to become a veterinarian,” shares college student Emma C. “I was very grateful for the opportunity to find this out before incurring the time and cost of vet school. With the money I’d saved, I was able to travel for a few weeks, then start college the next fall.”

Still Unsure?

Mother of teens Tamika W. reminds, “I allowed my children to decide because, if I chose for them, the careers may not be rewarding and they may not thrive and decide to give up.” As much as we might want to steer our children in the direction we would like for them to explore, ultimately it is up to them. If your kiddo is still unsure of their future path, point them to a career aptitude test such as the free test on whatcareerisrightforme.com. NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

school spirit

PICKING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD IS HARD We let the leaders do the talking to help you make the best choice.

ATONEMENT LUTHERAN SCHOOL 6500 Riverside Drive, Metairie, 504.887.0225, alcs.org As part of God’s family at Atonement Lutheran Church and School, Atonement’s Preschool exists to share the love of Jesus with children and families. Children begin to develop their uniqueness as special gifts of God by interacting with the environment through guided play. Teachers and parents work together and actively pursue community resources to best equip their children for a successful educational journey through life and a growing relationship with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We provide a sensory rich learning experience for children 3 and 4 years old while fostering the child’s independence and active exploration in the classroom and the world. We believe in the development of the whole child: spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. The philosophy behind our curriculum is that young children learn best by doing. The environment at Atonement Lutheran promotes a learning place where children feel safe, secure, and loved. Together with this favorable environment, the curriculum is thoughtfully planned and promotes immediate enjoyment for children, while focusing on skills necessary for success.

We offer 5 full days for 4 year-olds and our 3 year-olds can enroll for 3 full days, 5 half days, or 5 full days. We also offer extended day care for students, before school beginning at 7 am and after school until 6 pm. Join us for our Open House on Wednesday, January 19th from 5 to 7 pm or call 504-887-0225 to schedule a tour.

BEARY CHERRY TREE

3117 Lake Villa Drive, Metairie, 504.455.1950, bearycherrytree.com At Beary Cherry Tree, it is our mission and goal to give children the highest quality care and education available. Beary Cherry Tree is one of the most unique child development centers in the Greater New Orleans area serving infants, toddlers, 3 and 4-year-olds. Family-owned and operated for 43 years, we believe interactions matter! Our center promotes positive relationships while guiding your children in their physical, mental, social, and emotional growth. Our staff implements research-based assessments and aligns our curriculum to meet the individual needs of our children while guiding them through each developmental stage of growth to set a strong foundation.

Since opening in 1976, Beary Cherry Tree has enjoyed growing with our families. Because of our high demand, we recently expanded, opening a fourth building allowing us to accommodate an additional 60 children. We are looking forward to new opportunities for engagement and interaction with our families. Join us for Open House on January 21 from 3:30–6 pm to learn more. A family owned and operated day care center since 1976

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

school spirit

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL 8012 Oak St., 504.861.3743, saesnola.org Your child will build a lot of things here. Prototypes. Dioramas. Character.

At St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in New Orleans, we love to build things. Whether we’re building a rocket for science class, a set for a school play, building friendships, or building upon the lessons we learned just the week before, we’re always building something. More importantly, we aim to build up each child’s self-esteem, because helping them believe in themselves means they’ll have a strong foundation to build their future the way they want it. And with smaller class sizes, your child will have the individual attention they need to thrive. So, if you are looking for a school that will nurture your child’s love of learning while helping to build their self-esteem, leadership skills, and social skills, St. Andrew’s just may be the place for your child. Schedule a tour today to see for yourself what makes St. Andrew’s so special. Curious about St. Andrews? Schedule a tour. (504) 866-6553 | standrewsepiscopalschool.org

KEHOE-FRANCE SCHOOL

720 Elise Ave., Metairie, 504.733,0472, kehoe-france.com At Kehoe-France School, children are nurtured in a warm and welcoming environment. With small class sizes in a secure and picturesque setting, our degreed and certified staff encourage students to explore their curiosities. As an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and candidate for Middle School Programme, Kehoe-France is focused on providing an inquiry-based approach to learning. Our students are actively engaged in their development, education, and activities. We focus not only on academic fundamentals but also a child’s physical health and wellness through our expansive athletic programs, exposure to the fine arts through classes and clubs, and a commitment to service as a school community. Our facilities are newly renovated with more improvements to come. We invite everyone to come tour with us and take those first steps onto the path to success.

STUART HALL SCHOOL FOR BOYS

2032 S. Carrollton Ave., 504.861.1954, stuarthall.org The mission of the Stuart Hall School for Boys is to live the words of Catholic educator, Janet Erskine Stuart, RSJC: “Education is formation, not just information.” Faculty and staff are dedicated to working with parents to help each child build a foundation for a life centered on a love for learning, a desire to help others, and a commitment to Gospel values.

This year, Stuart Hall welcomed its third Head of School, Brian Moscona. A native of New Orleans who grew up with his family in Baton Rouge, Mr. Moscona’s professional and personal calling is centered around his deep faith and family. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Masters of Education from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Kayla, have four young children, including two sons at Stuart Hall. Stuart Hall School is the only school in the greater New Orleans area to offer a Catholic, independent, all-boy education in a traditional, elementary school configuration (PK3-7th). Faith, honor, leadership, and scholarship are the foundations upon which Stuart Hall builds future community leaders who have an unselfish commitment to the service of others. It truly is a school “Where Good Boys Become Great Men.” For more information on Stuart Hall School for Boys or to take a private tour of the campus, please call 504-861-5384 or visit stuarthall.org.

Brian A. Moscona, M.Ed, Head of School

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

school spirit

CATHEDRAL ECOLE BILINGUE MONTESSORI SCHOOL DE LA NOUVELLE-ORLÉANS 9 Fortress Road, 504.252.4871, cathedralmontessori.org Celebrating over 10 years of growth, Cathedral Montessori School (CMS) uses Montessori equipment and materials designed to inspire self-directed learning. A non-profit, co-educational, certified Montessori School, CMS now serves students ages 3-12 and changes the educational landscape of the city by providing a preschool through sixth grade private school Montessori education in New Orleans.

CMS provides an education of hope, self-motivation, and discovery to a greater population of students who will go on to contribute and problem-solve creatively in both the local community and across the world. Growth, transformation, and change are celebrated at CMS, but the curriculum and culture remain constant to support independent academic inquiry and discovery, emotional confidence and empathy, and social justice and collective responsibility. CMS welcomes you to call for a visit to the campus, learn about the school’s philosophy, and join its community. For more information, visit cathedralmontessori.org or call (504) 252-4871.

UNIVERSITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7508 Burthe St., 504.865.1659, umsnola.org University Montessori School is dedicated to the Montessori philosophy and method of education, devoting itself to the total child – their emotional, social, intellectual, and physical wellbeing. There are two classrooms: a 20-months to 3-years-old class, and a 3-to-6-years-old class. By combining age groups, the children develop a sense of community. Younger children teach older children patience, empathy, and competency, while older children practice leadership by helping younger children. The child has the opportunity to progress at their own rate in order to reach their full personal potential. UMS is also a nature inspired school – the children enjoy time connecting with the Earth in the school’s green and lush outdoors.

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

812 General Pershing St., 504.896.4500, ebnola.com Founded in 1998, Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans is a private French immersion school staffed with experienced local and international faculty, a multicultural student body, and a rigorous dual curriculum that combines the best of French and American academics.

La Maternelle, EB’s early childhood program, begins as early as 18 months. The French preschool curriculum creates a learning environment through art, music, and play. Children are introduced to exploring the world around them and what it means to be a student and part of a community, while building a foundation for understanding the French language and culture. EB focuses on teaching Maternelle students autonomy, where routines help build confidence and responsibility - a core value of the culture at EB. Sourced with a significant amount of motricity explorations and imaginative play, the EB early childhood curriculum has children excited about going to school, all while they are expanding their imagination and building their vocabulary. Curiosity knows no bounds and we offer a lot to explore. Foster your curiosity by scheduling a tour and you’ll discover the world of Maternelle.

spotlight

H.Y.P.E. NOLA By Lynzi Whalen Harnessing youth’s potential and energy, better known as the acronym H.Y.P.E., was a dream of David Magee Jr. After working for years in the Jefferson Parish Juvenile System as a court case manager, Magee became inspired to help kids in the New Orleans community stay out of the system and give them the guidance they need. In 2011, he and his wife Wendy, who works with children in foster care, started H.Y.P.E. NOLA with the hopes to educate children and adolescents ages 6-25 on how to find their passions and turn them into actions. In 2016, Magee made his dream a reality after years of hard work and partnering with different schools, mental health counselors, probation programs, and the juvenile and judicial court systems. He started working full-time on H.Y.P.E. NOLA to expand opportunities to the youth of New Orleans and help them acquire the skills and resources they need to be the best versions of themselves. Magee and his family, who are all involved in the organization, take pride in helping youths tap into their undiscovered potential. He explains, “We have a heart for young people and people who don’t have a voice or are falling between the gaps. Out of the neediness of things we saw, we wanted to help children avoid getting into bad situations and come out of the system being independent and functioning members of the community.” H.Y.P.E. NOLA has adopted middle schools that see high arrest rates in hopes of reinvigorating students’ ambition and educating them on drug and violence prevention. Magee states, “We know some areas aren’t always the easiest to grow up in, and we want students to see their growth opportunities. We really want to target these kids specifically and decrease the fighting and arrest rates, so we visit these different schools and do motivational speaking.” Besides inspiring students in the public school system, H.Y.P.E. NOLA works

with adolescents and adults in probation or diversion programs. The goal is to expose people coming out of the system to opportunities and mentors so they have the ability to change their path and create a bright future. Magee explains, “We want to dive into what their interests are. Oftentimes they’re not sure what they want to do, so we will do an interest survey with their parents or guardians or probation officers to get an idea of who they are. Once we have a picture of the things that interest them, we’ll expose them to different opportunities in that field that the city has to offer. We want them to be aware that even if they don’t have a college degree, they can succeed.” H.Y.P.E. NOLA offers volunteering and shadowing experiences so that youths can get the knowledge and training they need to succeed. Magee has big hopes and dreams for the future of this organization. He would like to see H.Y.P.E. NOLA produce an enrichment facility. He shares, “Young adults don’t have much to do in New Orleans, but as an adolescent, you can have a lot of fun and not compromise your standards or break the law.” Magee and his team aim to build a facility where the schools can drop children off after school for enrichment and tutoring programs. The vision is to have a recreational center where they work on their hobbies or play sports, have a cafeteria to feed them, and a laundry facility to wash their clothes. Magee states, “The big picture for this organization is to become a hub or safe haven for these kids. We want to feed them, educate them, recreate them, and send them home equipped to improve their community. We want every person to see their potential. The root word of potential is potent, and potent means powerful. We want these kids to not only see their future as being possible but as being powerful. We want them to have an absolute and chartered course for their future.” If you want to help the H.Y.P.E. NOLA team make their dreams for the New Orleans community a reality, visit hypenola.org/donate to find out more information.

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

Navigating Enrollment in NOLA By Lynzi Whalen Getting your child enrolled and ready for their public school adventure can be daunting, so we put together a how-to guide on the process of registering your kids for New Orleans public school online.

-2 Proofs of Residency -Proof of Income -Sibling Verification

Do I need to do this? Nola Public Schools (enrollnolaps.com) is the New Orleans public school website where you will begin your child’s enrollment process. Formerly known as OneApp, the NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP) should be completed if:

Be aware that a few schools may have additional requirements and testing. Make sure you research the schools you are interested in before applying.

-Your child is new to New Orleans or public schools. -Your child is seeking to transfer from their current school to a new school for the 2022-23 School Year. -Your child is a transitional student, or their current school does not offer their promotion grade next school year. How do I navigate the website? If you don’t already have login credentials for the NCAP, you will create an account and verify your email address. Upon following the link in your email to your Parent Portal, you will log in and begin filling out your family information. It is important that you add every child in your household to your Family Profile if you want sibling priority. Sibling priority is used when your child applies to the school their sibling currently attends and will continue to participate in next year. This may not guarantee placement, and some schools may require verification of sibling status. It is recommended you list all of your application choices in the same order for all children for their best chance of getting siblings placed together in the same school. After setting up your Family Profile, you will create an application for each child who is entering school or applying to change schools. If your child is already in the public school system, or you have created a OneApp for them before, you can simply look them up via their OneApp ID to avoid reentering their information. Documents you may need: -Parent/Guardian Photo ID -Birth Certificate

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

How do I choose preferred schools? Nola.explore.avela.org is a website you can use to search schools, read their mission statements, gather information on their before- and after-school programs, and see their performance records. If you are unsure which schools you would like to choose, you can schedule school visits to tour their grounds which may help narrow down your choices. Keep in mind that school performance records may not be a good indicator of your child’s ability to thrive there. It is okay to pick several school choices for your child. The NCAP uses an algorithm to place your student in a school, so adding more school choices will not affect your student’s chance of getting into your preferred school. How do I complete the process? After submitting your Family Profile, child applications, verification documents, and choice of schools, you have completed the enrollment process. Pat yourself on the back! Applications are due by January 21, 2022, and you can expect results by the end of March 2022. Is support available? Visiting enrollnolaps.com/faqs will answer most of your questions and explain the step-by-step process of enrollment. You can also email enroll@nolapublicschools.com with any other questions you may have. If you would like in-person help, you can visit a Family Resource center on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can find a list of Family Resource centers at enrollnolaps.com/family-support. If you would like to speak to someone on the phone, you may leave a voicemail at (877) 343-4773. We know that the school application process can be complicated, but by following these steps and having these resources in your back pocket, enrolling is a lot easier.

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

2022 NOLA School Listings Orleans Parish

Abeona House Child Discovery Center 3401 Canal St. New Orleans, (504) 486-0510, abeonahouse.org Public/Co-ed Executive Director: Amelia Singleton Grades Taught: 6 weeks-5 years Tuition: $985-1,070 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students Enrolled: N/A

Abramson Sci Academy

5552 Read Blvd., New Orleans, (504) 373-6264, asa.collegiateacademies.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Anthony McElligot Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: 611

Academy of the Sacred Heart

Rosary Campus (Grades 5-12): 4521 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans Mater Campus (Ages 1-Grade 4): 4301 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 269-1213, ashrosary.org Catholic/All Girls Interim Head of School: Micheline Dutil Tuition: $10,215-21,005 Grades Taught: Ages 1-Grade 12 Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1 Total Number of Students: 746 Personal tours available online.

Algiers Point Montessori 621 Bouny St., New Orleans, algierspointmontessori.com Private/Co-ed Director: Liza Drennon Grades Taught: PreK3-K Tuition: $535-1,015 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Alice M. Harte Charter School

5300 Berkley Dr., New Orleans, (504) 373-6281, aliceharte.inspirenolacharterschools.org

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Desmond Moore Grades Taught: PreK-8 Tuition: Free, one PreK class is tuition based. Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Audubon Charter School - Uptown

Lower School: 428 Broadway St., New Orleans, (504) 324-7100, uptown.auduboncharter.com Public/Charter/Montessori/French/Co-ed Principal: Missy Forcier Grades Taught: PreK3-3 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A Upper School: 1111 Milan St., New Orleans, (504) 324-7110, uptown.auduboncharter.com Public/Charter/Montessori/French/Co-ed Principal: Adrienne Collopy Grades Taught: 4-8 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of students: N/A

Audubon Charter School - Gentilly

4720 Painters St., New Orleans, (504) 309-9434, gentilly.auduboncharter.org Public/Charter/ Montessori/French/Co-ed Principal: Tania Coleman Grades Taught: PreK3-8 Tuition: Free (K-2) & $5,100 (PreK3-K4) Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of students: N/A

Arthur Ashe Charter School

1456 Gardena Dr., New Orleans, (504) 373-6267, firstlineschools.org/ arthur-ashe-charterschool Public/Charter/Co-ed School Director: Shanda Gentry Grades Taught: K-8

Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Benjamin Franklin Elementary Mathematics & Science School

Jefferson Campus (Grades PreK-5): 1116 Jefferson Ave., New Orleans, (504) 304-3932 Nashville Campus (Grades 6-8): 401 Nashville Ave., New Orleans, (504) 359-7730, babyben.org CEO: Charlotte Matthew Grades Taught: PreK-8 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Benjamin Franklin High School

2001 Leon C. Simon Dr., New Orleans, (504) 286-2600, bfhsla.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Head of School: Dr. Patrick Widhalm Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Bricolage Academy of New Orleans 2426 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans,

(504) 539-4505, bricolagenola.org Public/Charter/Co-Ed CEO: Antigua Wilbern Principal: Antigua Wilbern Grades Taught: PreK-7 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Brother Martin High School

4401 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, (504) 283-1561, brothermartin.com Catholic/Male Principal: Ryan Gallagher Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $11,640 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Cabrini High School

1400 Moss St., New Orleans, (504) 482-1193, cabrinihigh.com Catholic/Female Principal: Yvonne L. Hrapmann ‘76 Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $11,400 (including deposit) Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Cathedral Montessori School

9 Fortress Rd., New Orleans, (504) 252-4871, cathedralmontessori.org

Montessori/Co-ed Head of School: Billie Andersson Grades Taught: Ages 3-11 & Grades Pre-K-6th Tuition: $9,025 (Primary) & $10,715 (Elementary) Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Head of School: Pierre-Loïc Denichou Grades Taught: N/A Tuition: $10,050-17,355 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

Christian Brothers School

Lakeview Campus: 990 Harrison Ave., New Orleans, (504) 324-7160, hynesschool.com Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: N/A Grades Taught: PreK-8 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A UNO Campus: 6101 Chatham Drive, New Orleans, (504) 359-7700, hynesschool.com Principal: N/A Grades: K-2 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A Parkview Campus: 4617 Mirabeau Avenue, New Orleans, (504) 766-0299, hynesschool.com Principal: N/A Grades: N/A Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

(504) 486-6770, cbs-no.org Catholic, PreK-7 President: Joey Scaffidi Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Total Number of Students: N/A

City Park Campus: 8 Friederichs Ave., New Orleans, (504) 486-6770 Boys’ Middle School Principal: Michael Prat Grades 5-7, all boys Tuition: N/A

Canal Street Campus: 4600 Canal St., New Orleans, (504) 488-4426 Girls’ Middle School Principal: Richard Neider Grades 5-7, all girls Tuition: N/A Canal Street Campus: 4600 Canal St., New Orleans Co-Ed Elementary School Principal: Richard Neider Grades PreK-4, boys and girls Tuition: N/A

De La Salle High School

5300 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, (504) 8955717, delasallenola.com Catholic/Co-ed President: Paul Kelly Principal: Perry Rogers Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $9,850 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Ecole Bilingue de la NouvelleOrléans

812 General Pershing St., New Orleans, (504) 8964500, ebnola.net Private/French/Co-ed

Number of Students: N/A

Edward Hynes Charter School

ENCORE Academy

2518 Arts St., New Orleans, (504) 444-2224, encoreacademy.org Public/Charter/Co-ed/Arts Focused CEO: Terri Smith Grades Taught: PreK4-8 Tuition: Free (PreK-8), PreK is LA4 (free) and tuition based Student/Faculty Ratio: 13:1 Number of Students: 484 School tours every Wednesday.

Holy Cross School

Middle and High School Campus (Grades 5-12): 5500 Paris Ave., New Orleans Primary School Campus (Grades PK-4): 5601 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans (504) 942-3100, holycrosstigers.com Catholic/Male Headmaster: Eric DesOrmeaux Dean of Primary School: Brian Kitchen Dean of Middle School: Ronnie Kornick NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

Dean of High School: Phillip White Grades Taught: PreK-12 Tuition: $8,725-9,315 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

International High School of New Orleans

727 Carondelet St., New Orleans, (504) 613-5703, ihsnola.org Public-Charter/Co-ed Head of School: Sean Wilson Principal: Adierah Berger Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

International School of Louisiana

Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Number of Students: 1,175 Dixon Campus - French and Spanish language immersion 4040 Eagle St., New Orleans, (504) 934-4875, isl-edu.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Rosa Alvarado Grades Taught: K-2 Tuition: Free Uptown Campus - French and Spanish language immersion 1400 Camp St., New Orleans, (504) 654-1088, isl-edu.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Laura Adelman-Cannon Grades Taught: 3-8 Tuition: Free Westbank Campus - Spanish language immersion 502 Olivier St., New Orleans, (504) 274-4571, isl-edu.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Brandon Ferguson Grades Taught: K-5 Tuition: Free

Isidore Newman School

1903 Jefferson Ave., New Orleans, (504) 899-5641, newmanschool.org Private/Co-ed Head of School: Dale M. Smith Grades Taught: 6 weeks-Grade 12 Tuition: $20,712-28,370

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Student/Faculty Ratio: 5:1 Number of Students: 1,055

La Escuelita

1519 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, (504) 784-0364, laescuelitaneworleans.com Private Day Care/Co-ed/Spanish Immersion Founder: Andrea Ruiz Grades Taught: Crawling-3 years Tuition: $590-1,475 monthly Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Lake Forest Elementary Charter School 11110 Lake Forest Blvd., New Orleans, (504) 826-7140, lakeforestcharter.org Public/Charter/Co-ed School Leader: Mardele S. Early Principal: N/A Grades Taught: PreK-8 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Livingston Collegiate Academy

7301 Dwyer Rd, New Orleans, (504) 503-0004, lca.collegiateacademies.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Evan Stoudt Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: 600

Louise S. McGehee School

2343 Prytania St., New Orleans, (504) 561-1224, mcgeheeschool.com Private/Female (Little Gate is co-ed) Headmistress: Dr. Kimberly Field-Marvin Grades Taught: Infants-Grade 12 Tuition: $7,200-23,350 Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1 Number of Students: 458

Lusher Charter School

Lower School: 7315 Willow St., New Orleans, (504) 862-5110, lusherschool.org Middle and High School: 5624 Freret St., New Orleans, (504) 304-3960, lusherschool.org Public/Charter/Co-ed President/CEO: Kathy Riedlinger Grades Taught: K-12

Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans Patton Campus (Grades PreK4-2): 5951 Patton St., New Orleans Johnson Campus (Grades 3-9): 1800 Monroe St., New Orleans (504) 620-5500, lfno.org Public/Charter/Co-ed CEO: Danielle Dufauchard Lower School Principal-Patton Campus: Danielle Dufauchard & Kim Conner-Davis Upper Elementary and Middle School PrincipalJohnson Campus: Gina Bianchi High School Principal: Chana Benenson Grades Taught: PreK4-12 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Morris Jeff Community School

Elementary and (Grades PreK-5): 211 S. Lopez St., New Orleans, (504) 373-6258 Middle School (Grades 6-10): 2733 Esplanade New Orleans, (504) 503-0730 High School (Grades 11-12): 1301 N. Derbigny St., New Orleans, (504) 355-0210 morrisjeffschool.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Head of School: Patricia Perkins Grades Taught: PreK4-12 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Mount Carmel Academy

7027 Milne Blvd., New Orleans, (504) 288-7626, mcacubs.com Catholic/Female President: Sr. Camille Anne Campbell Principal: Beth Ann Simno Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $10,600 Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Number of Students: 1,200

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)

2800 Chartres St., New Orleans, (504) 940-2787, nocca.com Public-Arts/Co-ed

President: Kyle Wedberg Grades Taught: 9-12 Student/Faculty Ratio: 2:25 Tution: Varies Number of Students: 505

Grades: PreK-8 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

PreK4-8 grade: $11,495-23,255 Student/Faculty Ratio: 5:1 Number of Students: 385

Sophie B. Wright Charter School

New Orleans JCC Nursery School and Pre-K

1426 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, (504) 304-3916, sophiebwrightschool.com Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Sharon L. Clark Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

3937 Canal St., New Orleans, (504) 482-2118, stjohnlutherannola.com Lutheran/Co-ed Principal: Bethany Gonski Grades Taught: 3 years-Grade 8 Tuition: $6,100-6,600 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

5342 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, (504) 897-0143, nojcc.org Jewish/Open to all/Co-ed Director: Adrienne Shulman Grades Taught: 13 months-5 years (including PreK) Tuition: $6,650-12,590 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy

425 O’Bannon St., New Orleans, (504) 227-3810, nomma.net Principal: Daniel Garbarino Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: 23:1 Number of Students: 960

Nola Nature School

1009 Harrison Ave New Orleans, (504) 442-0481, nolanatureschool.com Private/Co-ed Founder/Director: Clare Loughran Grades taught: PreK-2 Tuition: $3,600-9,000 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Royal Castle Child Development Center

3800 Eagle St., New Orleans, (504) 488-1045, royalcastlekids.com Private/Co-ed Director: Pearlie Harris Grades Taught: 6 weeks-5 years Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Samuel J. Green Charter School

2319 Valence St, New Orleans, (504) 304-3532, firstlineschools.org/samuel-j-green-charter-school Public/Charter/Co-Ed Director: Ava Lee

St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic School

3131 Eton St., New Orleans, (504) 394-4171, sasno.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Katherine Marchese Grades Taught: 8 weeks-Grade 7 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

8012 Oak St., New Orleans, (504) 861-3743, saesnola.org Episcopal/Co-ed Head of School: Kathryn Fitzpatrick Grades Taught: 12 months-Grade 8 Tuition: $14,240-15,440 (PreK-8) Student/Faculty Ratio: 13:1 Number of Students: 220

St. Augustine High School

2600 A.P. Tureaud Ave., New Orleans, (504) 944-2424, staugnola.org Catholic/Male President/CEO: Aulston G. Taylor, MBA. ’98 Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $9,175 Student/Faculty Ratio: 13:1 Number of Students: 552

St. George’s Episcopal School

923 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, (504) 891-5509, stgnola.org Episcopal/Co-ed Head of School: Dr. Joseph Kreutziger Grades Taught: Nursery-Grade 8 Tuition: Preschool and PreK3: $6,355-13,700

St. John Lutheran School

Number of Students: N/A

St. Mary’s Dominican High School 7701 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans, (504) 865-9401, stmarysdominican.org Catholic/Female President: Dr. Cynthia A. Thomas Principal: Carolyn Favre Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $9,230 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

St. Paul’s Episcopal School

6249 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, (504) 488-1319, stpauls-lakeview.org Episcopal/Co-ed Head of School: Charleen Schwank Grades Taught: 6 weeks-Grade 8 Tuition: $12,110-15,475 Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1 Number of Students: N/A

St. Pius X Catholic School

6600 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans, (504) 282-2811, school.stpiusxnola.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Deirdre D. Macnamara Grades Taught: PreK3-7 Tuition: $5,325-6,175 Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1 Number of Students: N/A

St. Rita Catholic School

65 Fontainebleau Dr., New Orleans, (504) 866-1777, stritanola.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Shanda Theriot Grades Taught: PreK-7 Tuition: $5,200-12,825 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

Number of Students: N/A

Stuart Hall School for Boys

Warren Easton Charter High School

Archbishop Shaw High School

2032 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, (504) 861-1954, stuarthall.org Catholic/Male Head of School: Brian Moscona Grades Taught: PreK3-7 Tuition: $13,150-15,750 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Trinity Episcopal School

1315 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, (504) 525-8661, trinitynola.org Episcopal/Co-ed Headmaster: The Rev. E. Gary Taylor Grades Taught: 15 months-Grade 8 Tuition: $5,925-23,915 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

University Montessori School

7508 Burthe St., New Orleans, (504) 865-1659, umsnola.org Montessori/Co-ed Director: Teddi Locke Grades Taught: 20 months-6 years Tuition: $7,640-13,250 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Ursuline Academy

2635 State Street, New Orleans, (504) 861-9150, uanola.org Catholic/Female President: Dr. Karen G. Jakuback Grades Taught: 6 Weeks-Grade 12 Tuition: $11,655 Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Number of Students: 620

Waldorf School of New Orleans

Main Campus (Nursery-Grade 8): 2539 Columbus St., New Orleans, (504) 525-2420, waldorfnola.org Early Childhood Center: 2010 Peniston St., New Orleans, (504) 345-2236, waldorfnola.org Waldorf/Co-ed Head of School: Joseph Peychaud Grades Taught: 18 months-Grade 8 Tuition: $9,362-13,966 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

3019 Canal St., New Orleans, (504) 324-7400, warreneastoncharterhigh.org Public/Charter/Co-ed Principal: Mervin Jackson Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: 25:1 Number of Students: 1,000

Jefferson Parish Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School

2801 Bruin Dr., Kenner, (504) 443-4564, jpschools.org/bonnabel Public/Co-ed Principal: Sharon Meggs-Hamilton Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Alice Birney Elementary School 4829 Hastings St, Metairie, LA 70006, (504) 885-1044, jpschools.org/birney Public/Co-ed Principal: Deborah Dantin Grades Taught: PreK-5 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Archbishop Chapelle High School 8800 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 467-3105, archbishopchapelle.org Catholic/Female Head of School: Connie Dantagnan, ‘88 Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $9,450 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Archbishop Rummel High School

1901 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 834-5592, rummelraiders.com Lasallian/Male Principal: Marc Milano, ’90 Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

1000 Salesian Lane, Marrero, (504) 340-6727, archbishopshaw.org Catholic/Male Director: Fr. Steve Ryan, SDB Principal: N/A Grades Taught: 8-12 Tuition: $10,800 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Arden Cahill Academy

3101 Wall Blvd., Gretna, (504) 392-0902, ardencahillacademy.com Private/Co-ed Principal: N/A Grades Taught: 6 weeks-Grade 12 Tuition: $700/month (Infant Centre); $7,500 (PreK3); $7,700 (PreK5-8); and $8,300 (9-12) Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish

979 Behrman Hwy., Terrytown, (504) 290-2510, athlosjp.org Charter/Co-ed Principal: Cheryl Martin (K-4) & Dr. Jordan Sanchez (5-8) Grades Taught: K-8 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: 900+

Atonement Lutheran Church and School 6500 Riverside Dr., Metairie, (504) 887-0225, alcs.org Lutheran/Co-ed Principal: Doug C. Molin Grades Taught: PreK3-8 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Beary Cherry Tree

3117 Lake Villa Dr., Metairie, (504) 455-1950, bearycherrytree.com Private/Co-ed Owner: Paula Polito Director: Colleen Eddington

Ages Taught: Birth-4 years Tuition: $185-200/week Student/Faculty Ratio: 4:1 (Infants), 5:1 (1&2 years), & 10:1 (3&4 years) Number of Students: 215

Ecole Classique

5236 Glendale St., Metairie, (504) 887-3507, ecoleclassique.com Private/Co-ed Head Master: N/A Principal: N/A Grades Taught: 2 years-Grade 12 Tuition: $3,000-8,700 Student/Faculty Ratio: 15:1 Number of Students: N/A

Freeman Learning Center (for students with learning differences) 1383 Napoleon St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, (225) 387-8531 Grades Taught: N/A Tuition: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies 1416 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 837-8300, jpschools/haynes.org Magnet/Advanced Studies/Co-ed Principal: Karla Russo Grades Taught: 6-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans

3747 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 887-4091, jcdsnola.org Jewish/Co-ed Head of School: Dr. Brad Philipson Grades Taught: PreK-6 Tuition: $9,850-12,335 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

John Calvin Presbyterian Playschool

4201 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, (504) 888-1378, johncalvinchurch.org/playschool Presbyterian/Co-ed Director: Lauren Crisler Oufnac Grades Taught: 1 year-Transitional Kindergarten Tuition: $1,925-3,850

Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:2 Number of Students: 155

John Curtis Christian School

Upper School: 10125 Jefferson Hwy, River Ridge, (504) 737-4621, johncurtis.com Christian/Co-ed Headmaster: J.T. Curtis Jr. Principal: Leon Curtis Grades Taught: 7-12 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A Lower School: 10931 Jefferson Hwy, River Ridge, (504) 737-0208, johncurtis.com Christian/Co-ed Principal: Deborah Curtis Eutsler Grades Taught: 15 months-Grade 6 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Kehoe-France School

720 Elise Ave., Metairie, (504) 733-0472, kehoe-france.com Private/Co-ed Head of School: Dr. Tanya Price Grades Taught: 6 weeks-Grade 7 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Maine Campus: 2504 Maine Ave., Metairie, (504) 233-4720 (Grades K-4), discoveryhsf.org Vintage Campus: 201 Vintage Dr., Kenner, (504) 233-4720 (Grades 5-8) Loyola Campus: 3837 Loyola Dr., Kenner, (504) 233-4720 (Grades 9-12) Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, Jefferson Campus: 1108 Shrewsbury Rd., Jefferson, (504) 233-4720 (Grades PK-7) Charter/Co-ed Head of School: Patty Glaser, Ph.D Grades Taught: K-12 Tuition: Free- PreK4 is the only tuition-based program. Student/Faculty Ratio: 26:1 Number of Students: 2,800

Kinder Haus Montessori

5201 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, (504) 454-2424, kinderhausmontessori.com Private/Co-ed Director: Brittany H. Grades Taught: 1 year-K Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

The Little School

2216 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 835-9964, thelittleschoolmetairie.com Episcopal/Co-ed Director: Renée Hemel Grades Taught: 2-5 years Tuition: $2,950-6,100 Student/Faculty Ratio: 1:6 Number of Students: 65

Metairie Park Country Day School 300 Park Rd., Metairie, (504) 837-5204, mpcds.com Private/Co-ed Head of School: Rob Hereford Grades Taught: PreK-12 Tuition: $16,980-23,110 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: 700

Mount Olive Lutheran Preschool

315 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie, (504) 835-3891, mountolivelutheran.net Lutheran/Co-ed Director: N/A Ages Taught: 3-4 years Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy

701 Churchill Pkwy, Avondale, (504) 838-2249, jpschools.org/domain/1122 Public-Magnet/Co-ed Principal: Sharmeika Daniels Grades Taught: 6-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: 29:1 Number of Students: 825

Ridgewood Preparatory School

201 Pasadena Ave., Metairie, (504) 835-2545, NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

ridgewoodprep.com Private/Co-ed Headmaster: M.J. Montgomery Jr. Grades Taught: PreK-12 Tuition: $5,300-7,400 Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1 Number of Students: 300

Catholic/Co-ed Principal: N/A Grades Taught: PreK2-7 Tuition: $65-165 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

Riverdale High School

4901 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-6353, steddy.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Thomas E. Becker, Ph.D. Grades Taught: PreK1-7 Tuition: $6,100-14,400 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

240 Riverdale Dr., Jefferson, (504) 833-7288, jpschools/riverdalehigh.org Public/Co-ed Principal: Danielle Yunusah Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: 1,160

St. Angela Merici School

Number of Students: N/A

St. Edward the Confessor School

Number of Students: N/A

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School

835 Melody Dr., Metairie, (504) 835-8491, stangelaschool.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Paige Bennett Grades Taught: PreK2-7 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

4335 Sal Lentini Pkwy, Kenner, (504) 468-3524, seasschool.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Joan Kathmann Grades Taught: PreK1-7 Tuition: $5,525-5,825 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

St. Ann Catholic School

St. Francis Xavier School

Number of Students: N/A

4921 Meadowdale St., Metairie, (504) 455-8383, stannschool.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Lindsay S. Guidry Grades Taught: PreK2-7 Tuition: $2,620-5,950 Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1 Number of Students: 890

215 Betz Pl., Metairie, (504) 833-1471, school. stfrancisxavier.com Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Jessica A. Dwyer, M.Ed. Grades Taught: PreK2-7 Tuition: $5,550-6,425 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School

St. Louis King of France School

400 Codifer Blvd., Metairie, (504) 831-1166, scsgators.org Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Maria Ward Grades Taught: PreK3-7 Tuition: $6,052-6,737 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

St. Clement of Rome School

3978 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-0386, scrschool.org 4317 Richland Ave., Metairie, (504) 887-7821

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

Number of Students: N/A 1609 Carrollton Ave., Metairie, (504) 833-8224,

slkfschool.com Catholic/Co-ed Principal: Pamela K. Schott Grades Taught: 6 weeks-Grade 7 Tuition: 5,623-10,079 Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

St. Martin’s Episcopal School

225 Green Acres Rd., Metairie, (504) 733-0353, stmsaints.com Episcopal/Co-ed Head of School: Ford Jones Dieth Jr. ‘89 Grades Taught: 8 weeks-Grade 12 Tuition: N/A Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Total Number of Students: N/A

Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies 17 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, (504) 363-4300, jpschools.org/jeffersonhigh Public/Magnet Academy/Co-ed Principal: Shawn Rome Grades Taught: 6-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

West Jefferson High School

2200 8th St., Harvey, (504) 368-6055, jpschools.org/westjefferson Public/Co-ed Principal: Vanessa Brown-Lewis Grades Taught: 9-12 Tuition: Free Student/Faculty Ratio: N/A Number of Students: N/A

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

Start the Year Fres h

gear to get

1 1 12 Days of Glow Mask Set

Cleanse, hydrate, renew, exfoliate, and purify your skin with these face masks. $10, target.com

2 Stone Diffuser

Scent your home while adding to your decor with this matte ceramic diffuser. $119, vitruvi.com

3 Willa the Whale Brushie

Willa the Whale swims in the sea and cleans teeth with glee. $9.95, maisonette.com

4 Magic Star Moon Light

Bring the galaxy to your child’s bedroom. This light features four different modes for an out-of-thisworld experience. $24.99, amazon.com

5 Flappy the Elephant

5 32

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

This adorable singing animated plush features two different play modes. $34.99, amazon.com

dad about town

THINGS

I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW

GARY ALIPIO

FOODIE

It’s never a question of if but when. Shogun sushi is our go-to for any occasion, especially takeout for staycation movie marathons. 2325 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie

CREATIVITY

Some know creator Gary Alipio as a digital marketer at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Others know him as children’s book author of The Craziest Fishing Tale on the Bayou and volunteer kidlit advisor for SCBWI. But most know him as DAD of Melina, aged 12, a self-taught illustrator. “She’s fearless with the pencil,” says her dad. Together, they bounce all sorts of artistic ideas off one another, creating things that just need to be shared.

I’ll type letters … what my daughter calls writing … while she works magic with pencil on paper or digital pencil on an iPad. “If her creations were real, oh, what a bizarre world we’d live in.”

ROAD TRIP

I spent several young birthdays with relatives down at Jean Lafitte Public Boat Launch and Rosethorne Playground. So, when it comes to road trips, crabbing is a fun time and tasty dinner, too.

2325 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie

865 Jean Lafitte Blvd, Jean Lafitte

NAMASTE

Our pandemic hobbies were pretty safe: walking the Lake Pontchartrain levee is our “recharge the batteries” time. On a good day, you’ll find clovers galore or be graced with the presence of a bald eagle.

From swan boating to picnicking to fishing, City Park’s Big Lake is a popular getaway for us. Come spring, there’s a fishing pier and shaded trees along Bayou Metairie ... plus lots of BASS.

LOCAL

NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

out & about

January

1 Saturday ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL

information session. Learn how you can become a part of the largest industry in the world. eventbrite.com

Caesars Superdome at 7:30 p.m. SUPER SATURDAY caesarssuperdome.com City Park Tennis Center from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers led by the City Park Volunteer CAMELLIA CITY MARKET Supervisor and Tennis Center staff will work Griffith Park from 8 a.m.-noon. You’ll find locallytogether in reapplying shade screens, damaged grown vegetables and fruits in season, baked from Hurricane Ida, to the fencing surrounding 25 goods, meats, eggs, raw seafood and poultry; tennis courts. friendsofcitypark.volunteerhub.com handmade arts and crafts; and prepared foods. louisiananorthshore.com WATERWAY ECO TEAM

CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS

New Orleans City Park. Celebration in the Oaks is an annual holiday lights festival that’s a favorite for kids, adults, locals and visitors to New Orleans. $10. experienceneworleans.com

FARMERS MARKET AT GIDDY UP FOLSOM

Giddy Up Folsom from 2-5 p.m. Small market of goods featuring local growers and makers, from foods to body care and fine art. louisiananorthshore.com

GRETNA FARMERS MARKET

Historic downtown Gretna from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh local produce and crafts. Rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building. gretnala.com

HOW TO BECOME A HOME-BASED TRAVEL AGENT

Virtual event via Zoom at 1 p.m. One-hour

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

1ST SATURDAY CLEAN UP

Bayou St. John from 8-11 a.m. Battle against invasive plants and litter. neworleans.com

WINTERJAM

Faubourg Marigny/Bywater. Royal Street Visitors will experience over-the-top holiday décor, including “Safe Santa & Friends.” neworleans.com

2 Sunday A VIEW FOR TWO

Painting with a Twist in Metairie at 4 p.m. Instructor is Jacqueline H. Two-hour class. paintingwithatwist.com

CLAIBORNE PLACE MAKERS MARKET

Claiborne Place Mall from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This pet-friendly weekly market is a venue for area makers to sell their wares, whether handmade or homegrown. louisiananorthshore.com

JAZZ LISTENING ROOM

Aprés Lounge Covington from 5:30-8:30p.m. Enjoy live jazz music, jambalaya and cocktails at the coolest new concert series every Sunday. Admission is $20 per person. louisiananorthshore.com

MADISONVILLE MARKET

Madisonville Park & Playground from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The weekly market takes place each Sunday. Over 150 vendors rotate weekly, offering a wide variety of foods, goods and gifts. louisiananorthshore.com

OPEN STUDIO WITH FREESTYLE PAINT AND SIP

Mix It Up from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. For this painting workshop, this is a freestyle method of painting. Guests are provided with all art supplies needed to get started, with an outlined image on canvas to assist with their creative masterpiece. Admission starts at $20. mixitupartstudio.com

PROSPECT.5 - YESTERDAY WE SAID TOMORROW

Citywide, recurring weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Prospect.5 features contemporary art in a variety of disciplines. Expect to see paintings, photography, sculptures, film, and mixed media at the exhibits. Each piece of art is an interpretation of this year’s theme, in which the past informs the present. neworleans.com

SAINTS VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Caesars Superdome starting at noon. Saints

and the Carolina Panthers go head to head. caesarssuperdome.com

VAN GOGH LE SOLEIL (KIDS CLASS)

Painting with a Twist in Gretna at 10:30 a.m. paintingwithatwist.com

WINTERJAM

Faubourg Marigny/Bywater. Royal Street Visitors will experience over-the-top holiday décor, including “Safe Santa & Friends.” neworleans.com

3 Monday PELICANS VS. UTAH JAZZ

Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Utah Jazz. smoothiekingcenter.com

THE GALLERY AT CITY HALL ART EXHIBITIONS

Covington City Hall, weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Rotating art exhibits by local artists. Admission is free. louisiananorthshore.com

4 Tuesday GET LIT BIKE NIGHT

Rides depart from the parking lot of Planet Fitness, 131 Gause Blvd West, at 7:30 p.m. Meet at 7 p.m. Let’s Glow Bike Tours invites you to join a group bicycle ride held every Tuesday evening in Slidell. Four-mile ride with stops along the way for food & drinks. louisiananorthshore.com

PELICANS VS. PHOENIX SUNS

Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Phoenix Suns. smoothiekingcenter.com

TRIVIA NIGHT AT RESTAURANT COTE

Restaurant Coté and The Maple Room present Trivia Night hosted by Kelly Boyd, every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Teams can be up to six players, and there are prizes for first and second place. Admission is $1 per person and is kid friendly. louisiananorthshore.com

5 Wednesday BIKE NITE

Daisy Dukes from 6-10 p.m. Bring the bikes. Enjoy great food and drinks with your fellow bike lovers. louisiananorthshore.com

OPEN STUDIO WITH FREESTYLE PAINT AND SIP

Mix It Up, starting at 4 p.m. For this painting workshop, you will receive step-by-step instructions. This two-hour workshop, led by an expert artist, will demonstrate the featured painting each step of the way, and everyone will have a completed painting. Admission starts at $20. mixitupartstudio.com

TEEN ADVISORY BOARD

Nola Library, starting at 4:30 p.m. Teens can make their voices heard at the virtual Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Teens can share their thoughts about how the library can better serve them. nolalibrary.org

UCF KNIGHTS AT TULANE GREEN

WAVE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Devlin Fieldhouse, starting at 6 p.m. UFC Knights at Tulane Green Wave. tulanegreenwave.com

6 Thursday AN HOMAGE TO JOSEPHINE BAKER

Marigny Opera House at 7:30 p.m. Directly following the opera, there will be five dancers from the Marigny Opera Ballet, including Lauren Ashlee Messina, who will choreograph the piece and star as Josephine Baker. nola.com

ÉLYSÉE ATELIER BRIDAL TRUNK SHOW

Linen Jolie Bridal in Metairie through January 8. Helmed by renowned bridal design stars and artistic directors Christopher Russel and Mark Russel, the ÉLYSÉE Atelier collection takes a couture level approach to the sumptuous and opulent decoration characterized by the ÉLYSÉE aesthetic. happeningnext.com

KREWE OF JOAN OF ARC PARADE

The parade begins at the corner of Bienville and N. Front Street at 7 p.m. The parade continues down Chartres Street with pauses for royalty toasts from the balcony of the Historic New Orleans Collection Williams Foundation Building and the sword blessing ceremony at Saint Louis Cathedral. mardigrasneworleans.com

LOBSTER AND LIVE MUSIC

High Octane Bar & Grill at 6 p.m. Lobster Night with a side of live music. louisiananorthshore.com

PELICANS VS. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Golden State Warriors. smoothiekingcenter.com

7 Friday 2022 NATIONAL JUDGES CUP

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center through January 9. Prepare your gymnasts for the season. judgescup.com

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST AT GIDDY UP FOLSOM

Giddy Up Folsom at 8 a.m. Meet local business owners, community leaders, and residents throughout St. Tammany Parish. Hosted by Jimmy Zamin. The event is free and all ages are welcome. louisiananorthshore.com

FACEBOOK LIVE RANGER PROGRAMS

Online, every Friday, at 10 a.m. Join the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Facebook page for a fun, educational program on a variety of different topics. louisiananorthshore.com

LIVE MUSIC AT GIDDY UP FOLSOM

Giddy Up Folsom at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and blanket to lay out under the trees and stars for live music. The event is free and all ages are welcome. louisiananorthshore.com

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SHACK

The Shack’s patio. Music is 6-8 p.m. Whatever your flavor, shimmy on over to the ShackYard for live music by a variety of popular local artists and great food. louisiananorthshore.com

NUNSENSE 2 AT RIVERTOWN THEATER

Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts through January 8. Theatre show. neworleansrestaurants.com

O FIRST FRIDAY FREE ADMISSION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Ogden Museum from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. College students can explore the world’s largest collection of Southern art free of charge. ogdenmuseum.org

PAGEANT PLAY

Cutting Edge Theater at 8 p.m. louisiananorthshore.com

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT

Culinary Kids at 6 p.m. Every Friday night during the month, drop off the kids for a three-hour, movie themed dinner/dessert/pajama party. Kids bring blankets and pillows for carpet time and enjoy a mini cooking class as they make their dinner, desserts and snacks with the teachers. Ages 5-12 and is $35 per child, tax included. culinarykidsns.com

WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Join tens of thousands of fans as they converge at Wizard World New Orleans to celebrate the best in pop culture. stubhub.com

8 Saturday COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

Chalmette, LA, starting at 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Visitors can enjoy military drills, cannon and musket firing, and crafts and cooking demonstrations. Park staff and volunteers in period clothing will represent American and British soldiers and civilians, while explaining their roles in the battle. experienceneworleans.com

KIDS FAVORITE RAINBOW CHEETAH

Painting with a Twist in Metairie at 10 a.m. This is a children’s class for 5+ years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Snacks and drinks are welcomed. paintingwithatwist.com

MUSICAL STORYTIME: THE GRUFFALO

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at 10:30 a.m. Join the fun for an interactive story and musical adventure featuring LPO musicians. The musicians will play a demo on their instrument, explain a little bit about their instrument and their background, then everyone will read the story with musical accompaniment. This experience is free with no ticket or registration required. lpomusic.com NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

POPP UP MUSICAL STORYTIME

Popp Bandstand at 10:30 a.m. City Park and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra invite you to join them on the second Saturday of each month for storytime. The series continues with violist Catherine Matushek and the story The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. neworleanscitypark.com

SMART COOKIE U

Zoom at 9 a.m. The Product Program team will be hosting an annual Smart Cookie U Rally. Each registered Girl Scout will receive a swag bag which will include a t-shirt, Smart Cookie U patch, and an agenda. gsle.org

9 Sunday CHILDREN’S DANCE WORKSHOP: SWAN LAKE

New Orleans Dance Academy at 2 p.m. Dance class and storytime with a fun theme. Cost is $25. neworleansdancelessons.com

LOVE, HUG AND GROOM

Camp Marydale at 1 p.m. Show the horses some love. In this session, you will have the opportunity to interact with the Camp Marydale Wranglers, and learn about the horses in their herd. Try your hand at grooming, take a barn tour, play some fun horse games, and finish with a pony ride on one of their awesome horses. gsle.org

11 Tuesday DAISY PETAL POWER SERIES VIRTUAL

Virtual meeting every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Join them for the Daisy Petal Power Program Series and learn all about the Girl Scout Law. During this 10-week program, Daisy Girl Scouts will get to learn about a piece of the Girl Scout Law and earn one of their Daisy petals. gsle.org

PELICANS VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. smoothiekingcenter.com

12 Wednesday COLTER WALL

The Bowery at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. All ages. civicnola.com

13 Thursday DOCENT-LED DROP-IN TOUR

Ogden Museum at 12:30 p.m. Meet at the admissions desk for a guided tour of Ogden Museum, home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of art from the Southern region of the United States. Louisiana residents enjoy free admission on Thursdays, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. ogdenmuseum.org

PELICANS VS. L.A. CLIPPERS

Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the L.A. Clippers. smoothiekingcenter.com

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS AT TULANE GREEN WAVE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Devlin Fieldhouse, starting at 6 p.m. South Florida Bulls at Tulane Green Wave. tulanegreenwave.com

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL WEBINAR

Virtual, starting at 10 a.m. Join to learn about resources and programs for people completing high school. fhfnorthshore.org

14 Friday CANCER SURVIVOR RUNWAY SHOW AND CELEBRATION

Jefferson Performing Arts Center, starting at 5:45 p.m. Three runway shows and more than 100 models (all cancer survivors) will take center stage. “You Night” is a year-round empowerment program that addresses the critical need of emotional care for women diagnosed with cancer. nola.com

CHILE DAY 2022

Cafe Istanbul at 5 p.m. Bringing the New Orleans underground community together and aiming to push the culture forward since 2015. Night of live music, food, visual/physical art, and good company. eventbrite.com

CHOIR BOY

Le Petit Theatre on Thursday-Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school’s legendary gospel choir. Can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key? experienceneworleans.com

KM DANCE PROJECT

The Contemporary Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Raw Fruit is a collection of stories that reveals the essence of ancestral values which have been woven into the cultural fabric of our lives. General admission is $25. cacno.org

LEARN DIGITAL PAINTING AND COLOR WORKSHOP

Mandeville Library from 10-11 a.m. Workshops are held every second Friday of the month. Admission is free. louisiananorthshore.com

MY LIPS ARE SEALED (EXCEPT WHEN THEY’RE NOT)

Saenger Theatre at 7 p.m. The stage is now a platform where Darci can open up and display her incredible talents for the world to see. Her skill as a ventriloquist at such a young age is jaw dropping and sure to inspire the next generation to keep the craft alive, but when she sings, her voice leaves her audiences breathless. saengernola.com

SEVEN GUITARS

Slidell Little Theatre at 8 p.m. Seven Guitars by August Wilson will be onstage through the 23rd. Fridays and Saturdays with matinees on Sundays at 2 p.m. louisiananorthshore.com

TANK AND THE BANGAS

Orpheum Theatre at 7:30 p.m. New Orleans’ own Soul, R&B, Hip Hop and Spoken Word band, Tank and the Bangas are back in the Orpheum to create an entirely new musical experience along with the full orchestra. orpheumnola.com

YOU NIGHT CANCER SURVIVOR RUNWAY SHOW & CELEBRATION Jefferson Performing Arts Center at 5:45 p.m. younight.ticketspice.com

15 Saturday 2022 GSLE VIRTUAL COOKIE RALLY & REWARDS REVEAL

Council Facebook & Instagram accounts at 2 p.m. Join the GSLE Product Program staff for a virtual cookie rally and live Rewards Reveal. facebook.com/gslecouncil

AQUA FEST 2022

The Harbor Center through January 16. Shopping event for home aquarium hobbyists. There will be 60 exhibitors selling everything you need for a home aquarium, whether be a freshwater or saltwater. allevents.in

CARS AND COFFEE

High Octane Bar & Grill from 8-10 a.m. Cars & Coffee, a morning of classic cars and the classic morning brew. Benefits Hospice House. All makes and models of cars and bikes are welcome. No registration required, and admission is free. louisiananorthshore.com

INFANT MASSAGE EDUCATION CLASS

Virtual class at 10 a.m. This is a free instructional Infant Massage Education live class for caregivers of babies six weeks to crawling. Caregivers will be taught Infant Massage USA approved strokes by AnnMarie Dunn, certified infant massage USA parent educator. To join, program caregivers will need to pre-register. playingtodevelop.com

KM DANCE PROJECT

O WHAT A NIGHT!

Ogden Museum at 6 p.m. Celebrate the art and culture of the American South with live and silent auctions, Southern cuisine and cocktails, live music, and dancing. This year’s Opus Award will be awarded to internationally recognized photographer and author, Sally Mann. ogdenmuseum.org

16 Sunday KM DANCE PROJECT

The Contemporary Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Raw Fruit is a collection of stories that reveals the

essence of ancestral values which have been woven into the cultural fabric of our lives. General admission is $25. cacno.org

the 22nd, as well as free Music Masses on the 23rd. louisiananorthshore.com

LSU GOSPEL CHOIR

Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, starting at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy from the nation’s largest comedy network. The Comedy Zone is held on the third Friday and Saturday of the month. experienceneworleans.com

Christ Episcopal Church, starting at 5 p.m. Christ Episcopal Church in Covington welcomes the LSU Gospel Choir for a performance. Admission is free. louisiananorthshore.com

17 Monday CAMP DAY AT CULINARY KIDS

Culinary Kids in Mandeville at 9 a.m. Kids cook their own breakfast, lunch and snacks, desserts, make drinks, enjoy gardening, guest visitors with treats, science experiments, indoor/outdoor games and have great fun with friends. Ages 5-12. Admissions is $75 plus tax. culinarykidsns.com

YARN ARTS CRAFT CIRCLE

Nola Library at 2 p.m. Share skills and techniques to learn from and with one another while working on your own yarn and thread art projects. All ages are welcome. nolalibrary.org

18 Tuesday PARENTED TALKS: EMPOWER KIDS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES

Virtual with Nola Family Magazine at 4 p.m. Dr. Ned Hallowell, Founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers, will share how parents can help kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and other syndromes; harness their strengths; identify and celebrate their kid’s talents; tap the transformative power of a creative outlet for their child; and understand the latest brain science behind ADHD/ADD. Free. eventbrite.com

19 Wednesday MEMPHIS TIGERS AT TULANE GREEN WAVE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Devlin Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. Memphis Tigers at Tulane Green Wave. tulanegreenwave.com

20 Thursday GUMBO SPOON WORKSHOP

Myth Gallery at 5 p.m. Bead a spoon with Betsy & learn the basic techniques Betsy uses in her sculptural mosaics. myth-gallery.com

21 Friday FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY

Creole Tomateaux parking lot from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Get your selections to go or enjoy on site (outdoor seating is available) with great live music. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the kids. louisiananorthshore.com

JAZZ IN JANUARY

Christ Episcopal Church in Covington will present the seventh annual Jazz in January, the popular weekend festival of music at the historic church. The three-day event featuring world-renowned musicians is two ticketed concerts on the 21st and

THE COMEDY ZONE

22 Saturday ADVANCED CAMP TRAINING

Camp Covington at 9 a.m. Learn about Knife & Hatchet usage, advanced campfire cooking skills, knot tying, pitching tents & making shelters, compass usages, geocaching, letterboxing, nature trails and nature badges. gsle.org

CROSSRUN SERIES

Fontainebleau State Park beach. Tagglia Events presents the inaugural CrossRun Series. Registration fee is $27 per person and includes a race t-shirt and medal. louisiananorthshore.com

FAMILIES KICKIN’ IT

Lasalle Park at 9 a.m. Join Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation Department at their first ever Family Kickball Tournament. This will be an all-day event. $15 per team with a 7 player minimum, and 10 player maximum for each team. $2 spectator fee. facebook.com/jpparksandrecreation

MADISONVILLE’S BATTLE FOR THE PADDLE GUMBO COOK-OFF

Madisonville’s Tchefuncte River from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Taste some gumbo at the Madisonville Gumbo Cook-off. louisiananorthshore.com

WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS AT TULANE GREEN WAVE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Devlin Fieldhouse, starting at 2 p.m.. Wichita State Shockers at Tulane Green Wave. tulanegreenwave.com

23 Sunday CHILDREN’S DANCE WORKSHOP: FROZEN

New Orleans Dance Academy at 2 p.m. Dance class and storytime with a fun theme. Cost is $25. neworleansdancelessons.com

FAMILY FUN BUBBLEGUM GIRAFFE

Painting with a Twist in Metairie at 1 p.m. Two-hour event. paintingwithatwist.com

JUNIOR HORSEBACK EXPRESS

Camp Marydale at 1 p.m. Learn about horses, how to groom and saddle, how to be safe, and even see some of the basics of riding in the virtual portion of this workshop. gsle.org

24 Monday PELICANS VS. INDIANA PACERS

Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Indiana Pacers. smoothiekingcenter.com

26 Wednesday PELICANS VS. DENVER NUGGETS

Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Denver Nuggets. smoothiekingcenter.com

27 Thursday MANGA BOOK CLUB

Nola Library at 4:30 p.m. Celebrate the manga series available at the library. If you haven’t read the manga they’re discussing, you’ll want to read it when they’re done. nolalibrary.org

28 Friday CAJUN ZYDECO FESTIVAL

With two stages, a huge crafts fair and great food, the Cajun-Zydeco Fest is a dance-happy celebration of the rocking music of southwest Louisiana. gowherewhen.com

JUNIOR HORSEBACK RIDER WORKSHOP

Workshop is through January 30 and starts at 6:30 p.m. Wrangler/Spur program members will share the basics of horseback riding, teach you how to care for a horse, practice your ride, and take you on a trail ride. gsle.org

NEW ORLEANS BOAT SHOW

Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center through January 30. International Boat and yacht accessories trade show. 10times.com

29 Saturday BASIC CAMP TRAINING

Camp Marydale, beginning at 9 a.m. Course topics include health and safety considerations, group dynamics in the outdoors, program and environmental activities. gsle.org

DAISY NUMBERS IN NATURE BADGE WORKSHOP

Camp Covington at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Spend the day exploring camp and learning about all the shapes and patterns found in nature. gsle.org

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES AT TULANE GREEN WAVE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Devlin Fieldhouse, starting at 3 p.m. East Carolina Pirates at Tulane Green Wave. tulanegreenwave.com

KREWE OF CARROLLTON ROYAL WALKABOUT

The Krewe of Carrollton will be parading down Oak Street and Carrollton Avenue, starting at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the revelry, and catch some throws. nola.com

PELICANS VS. BOSTON CELTICS

Smoothie King Center at 5 p.m. The Pelicans take on the Boston Celtics in this exciting game that you and your family won’t want to miss. smoothiekingcenter.com Submit your events to calendar@nolafamily.com. NOLAFAMILY.COM | JANUARY 2022

nola family

January 2022

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES Arden Cahill Academy Grade: N/A Date: Thursday, January 6 Time: 9 a.m.

Beary Cherry Tree Child Care Center Grade: N/A Date: Middle of January Time: N/A

Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Louise S. McGehee School Grade: N/A Date: Thursday, January 13 Time: 8:30-10 a.m.

Metairie Park Country Day School Grade: K-2 Date: Thursday, January 6 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Grade: PreK4-7 Date: Wednesday, January 12 Time: 6-8 p.m.

Metairie Park Country Day School

International School of Louisiana

New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy

Grade: N/A Date: Saturday, January 15 Time: 10 a.m.

Grade: 6-12 Date: Thursday, January 13 Time: 8:30 a.m.

John Calvin Presbyterian Playschool

Grade: N/A Date: January TBA Time: N/A

John Curtis Christian School

Grade: N/A Date: Thursday, January 13 Time: N/A

Grade: N/A Date: Saturday, January 8 Time: 9-10:30 am

Grade: N/A Date: Monday, February 7 Time: 5-6:30 p.m.

Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy Grade: 5-12 Date: Monday, January 10 Time: 6-8 p.m.

Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy Grade: PreK4-4 Date: Thursday, January 20

JANUARY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School

St. Clement of Rome School Grade: N/A Date: Tuesday, January 11 Time: N/A

St. Edward the Confessor School Grade: PK1-2 Date: Friday, January 14 Time: 4-6 p.m.

St. George’s Episcopal School Grade: All grades Date: Thursday, January 20 Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Nola Family Magazine - January 2022

Articles inside

Spotlight

Out & About

Ditch the Reward System

In the Know

Parenting Corner

Top 10 Holiday Destinations

From The Bookshelf

From the Publisher

Gear to Get

Cooking Up Success–Family Style

Financial Lessons

Holiday Gift Guide