Our three children started learning karate in kindergarten and it was one of the best decisions we took. Jerry Hansman’s Okinawan Karate has been a very positive experience in our family and over the last four years we have seen incredible growth in all our children in terms of leadership, discipline and motor skills. Jerry is a wonderful role model and provides a safe and fun environment for learning. All the teachers at the Dojo are friendly and encourage learning. Our eldest is now a black belt and our twins are steadily progressing towards the same. They learn various kata and sparring. 2
Weapons training is probably one of the most enjoyable parts for them and the children learn to manipulate six different types through the year. Having a wide choice of class times also allows flexibility for our busy family of five. The In-School tournaments are a great way to allow the children to gain confidence and experience and the awards they win are proudly displayed in their rooms. We hope our children continue this karate journey for many years to come. We would recommend this to anyone who is interested in teaching their children or themselves a valuable life skill.
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Monday Thru Sunday Multiple Days
Jim Dandy Family Restaurant Kids’ 5 and under eat free 2301 Conner St.773-3288 Noblesville PaPa Roux 8950 E. 10th Indy 603-9861 Nightly after 4 Perkins 250 Noble Creek Dr. Noblesville Monday Thru Wednesday 4 to close 776-2800 Barley Island Brewing Co. 630 Conner St.Noblesville 770-5280 Tuesday and Wednesday Quizno’s 14300 Mundy Dr Noblesville 7 days a week 4 to close dine in only 773-7041 The Original Pancake House 3 Free Pancakes for children 7 and under with adult entrée purchase Monday through Sunday at Noblesville, Fishers, and Indianaopolis locations Tucanos Brazilian Grill Noblesville Kids 7 and younger eat free everyday. Chef Mikes Charcoal Grill 102 Woodland Dr Indy Kids 5 and Younger eat for 99 cents Wuzzlers Grill and Spoon Greenwood 884-9468 Kids eat free w. adult meal Monday-Friday
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Chick Fil-A 3360 W. 86th St. The Pyramids, Indy 871-5330 Mexico City Grill Emerson Ave Indy and Fishers In. Free kids meal with adult meal. Roscoe’s Taco’s Greenwood Kids meal free with Minimum $6 adult meal. Mexico City Grill Fishers 11653 Fishers Station Rd 577-1900 Mexican City Grill Indy 8028 S. Emerson Ave 884-4901 Castlers Kitchen and Bar 11501 Geist Pavilion Dr.596-9810 Fishers 5-9 Texas Road House Fishers 12950 Publishers Dr. 585-5020 Family Night 1.99 Kid’s Meal Culvers Kids NightFishers 96th St Every Monday, 5:30-8:30 pm and Indy 71st and Georgetown – Every Monday, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Face Painting Balloons and Clowns Tuesday
All area Fazoli’s 99cent Kids meals Tuesday evenings 5-8 call for details. MacKenzie River Pizza Carmel and 82nd St Castleton 564-4211 and 288-0609 Scotty’s Brewhouse 3905 E. 96th Street Indianapolis, IN & 1 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 CR Heroes 10570 E. 96th St. Fishers 576-1070 5-p Face Painting & Balloon Animals Cancun 6714 E 82nd St, Indianapolis 578-7054 Chick Fil A Avon Rt 36 Family Night First Tuesday each month from 5:30-7:30 Chick Fil A Noblesville Family Night First Tuesday of each Month from 5-8pm 773-4100 Chick Fil A Carmel 14647 US 31 North Family Night each Tuesday from 5-8pm 815-9465 Hellas Café 8501 Westfield Blvd 257-6211 Indy Champps Indy Northside 8711 N. River Crossing Blvd. 2 children eat free with 1 adult meal all day Tuesday Bob Evans’ Family Night from DJ 6-8pm One kid eats free with adult meal purchase. Greenwood In Joe’s Shelby St. Diner Indy 783-9590 10-01 Food & Drink Broadripple Kids Eat Free Tuesday with purcahse of adult meal. Call for Details 6
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ily Tuesday Con't. Fam ht Cheese Burger In Paradise South Indy 883-4386 Nig & ree Patriot Grill Restaurant 1265 N. Madison Greenwood 851-8252 Kid’s Eat Free and Magician at F E Teddy’s Burger Joint 222W.Southport Rd Indy 893-2791 s Kid Con’t. Thr3e Wise Men Brewery 1021 Broad Ripple Ave Indy 255-5151 Max and Erma’s Carmel and Greenwood 705-3988 and 882-4477 Max and Erma’s Carmel Free Kids Meal with adult meal. Panda Express 17055 Geist Pavilion Dr. Fishers 5-9, 770-9684 Bob Evans all area locations. Kid’s meal free with adult meal. Teddy’s Burger Joint Southport Rd. Free kids meal w/ adult meal 5 to 9 evening. Chili’s Grill and Bar Greenwood & E 82nd St. Two free kid’s meal with each adult meal. Joe’s Shelby St Diner 783-9590 One kids meal free with adult purchase 5 to close. Thr3e Wise Men Brewery Broad Ripple Kids eat free on Tuesday with VIP Club Membership. Detour American Grill Fishers In. Kids Eat Free with adult Meal Tuesday and Thursday.
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Michaelangelo’s 550 Westfield Rd Noblesville Kids Eat Free 773-6066 Johnny Rockets Greenwood Mall and Castleton Mall 881-6240 and 578-8015 5 to 9 Barley Island Brewing Co. Noblesville In Free Kids Meal with Adult meal Wednesday and Thursday Johnny Rockets Castleton Mall Kids meal free with each adult meal 5 to 9 Books and Brews 9402 Upton Dr Suite 1400 Free Kids meal w/ Adult Purchase Continued Page 8
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ily Fam ht Thursday g Ni Johnny Carino’s Greenwood 885-5735 & ree F Eat . Barley Island Brewing Co. Noblesville Free Kids Meal with Adult meal Wednesday & Thursday s d i K Con’t Detour American Grill Fishers In Kids Eat Free with adult Meal Tuesday & Thursday. Johnny Carinos Greenwood Kids meal free with adult meal. Culvers Kids Night Noblesville – Every Thursday, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Face Painting Balloons and Clowns Friday
Illinois Street Food Emporium Indy Free kids meal with each adult meal 4 to close Skyline Chili Indy Locations Kids meal 99 cents 5 to close.
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Steak N Shake all Indianapolis locations Chick Fil A Avon Rt 36 Indianapolis Indianas Victory Field Kids Eat Free with at least an $8 purchase.
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Scotty’s Brewhouse 3905 E. 96th Street Indianapolis, IN & 1 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Granite City Food and Brewery 150 W. 96th St Carmel 218-7185 5-9 Magician 5-8 Grindstone Charley’s Rockville Rd and Crawfordsville Rd’s Indy 243-8760 and 481-1870 Steak N Shake all Indianapolis locations Rock Star Pizza 922 E. Main St. Brownsburg 858-1188 all day dine in Only Indianapolis Indianas Victory Field Kids Eat Free with at least an $8 purchase. Books and Brews 9402 Upton Dr Suite 1400 Free Kids meal w/ Adult Purchase Grand Junction Brewing Westfield Free kids Meal with Adult Meal (Please call ahead to verify details)
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Sensitive Kids Need to Process Feelings Some kids are just born sensitive. You know the type … the child who cries at the drop of a hat, or worries about his or her friends, or is afraid to bother you with his or her problems. Children like this often times have difficulty processing the world. They're not able to watch news segments because they are truly bothered by the current state of affairs. They read an article and they will empathize with the characters with such intensity that they can actually be bothered by what the character is going through. This type of child requires that you help him process things. You will likely have to anticipate what is going to bother your child. And you have to watch for all the cues that says that your child is being affected negatively by his environment. As a parent it is your job to help your child to process what is going on inside of him. This means you have to use a lot of reflective listening and share with your child what you believe you see in either body language or nonverbal's. You might find yourself saying “Johnny, you look sad that Susie's parents are getting a divorce.” Johnny will hopefully be able to identify his feelings and validate your assumptions about his feelings. He may clarify by telling you "no he's not sad he feels lonely for Susie because she will not get to see both parents at the same time anymore. When you're dealing with a very sensitive child you may even have to “play the conversation forward” and make an assumption that Johnny may also apply his concerns for Susie onto his own life. This would look like "Johnny do you ever worry that mom and dad might get a divorce?" In many situations Johnny will confirm his concerns because he is not only empathizing with his friend but he
has generalized his concerns to his own life. Very sensitive children often times feel extra anxiety. If you believe your child feels an undue amount of anxiety, it is important to acknowledge the Carol Juergensen Sheets feelings and then reassure your child that he can feel very safe and secure in knowing that mom and dad are doing just fine. You have to be able to project how your child feels and what your child thinks. This can be very difficult to do in such a busy world when you're stretched in so many different ways but it requires that you stay focused on being able to read your child's expressions, posture, and questions. If you can apply this formula to your very sensitive child it will be easier to react appropriately, project the inevitable, and reassure as needed. Having a very sensitive child requires that you tune in to his or her energy. You focus on the non-verbal’s and you enlist your child in identifying his feelings. This will allow your child to externalize his concerns and anxieties. Then as needed you get your child to express his concerns Ask some inquiring questions that focus on your child's life and then reassure him that his concerns and worries are not necessary because his life is different than his friend Susie.
As you begin to show him the pattern of projecting his fears onto his own life he will begin to interrupt those patterns and reassure himself. Anxious children need a lot of reassurance and you are the key to making that happen!
Carol Juergensen Sheets LCSW PCC is a psychotherapist and personal life coach. She does motivational speaking and empowerment trainings locally and nationally. To find out more about her services--contact her at www.carolthecoach.com or call her at 317-218-3479. 10
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Kennedy's Story Robert Brault once said, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize that they were big things.” Isn’t that what the basic ideology behind applied behavior analysis really is: little things, when put together add up to very big things? For nearly three years, the amazing team at ABC has been working on each small step in my daughter Kennedy’s progress -- her little things. Kennedy was diagnosed with autism shortly before her third birthday. After trial and error, we decided to give ABA a try in hopes that it would be what we were looking for to open doors that had once appeared to be locked tight. I still remember her enrollment meeting like it was yesterday; I was anxious and wondered how she would handle working eight hours a day five days a week. It was a big leap of faith to trust that she could do it and that these were the right people to help her. It didn’t take long, however, to start seeing really positive changes in my little girl. I can honestly say that was the best decision I ever made. When she first started, her language was limited to only labeling things and a few basic commands. She didn’t socialize with other kids and while she was loving, there was disconnect between her and the rest of the world- including me. Over the years she has blossomed into a smart, funny, and caring young lady, and I am so proud of her and how far she has come. Now Kennedy never stops talking! She talks about her favorite movies and which characters she likes. She tells me what she did at school and who her friends are.
She tells me it makes her sad when her brother pulls her hair and that spiders scare her. She loves to play with kids at the playground and often asks to play with me as well. These are things that to most parents wouldn’t seem like much at all, but to me, these little things are very big things! The next big thing is coming quicker than I can blink. This summer was truly bittersweet because Kennedy started kindergarten in August, which means that our time at ABC has come to an end. I am so excited to see what the next chapter holds for her, and I’m sure she will do amazing. However, I am a little saddened that she will no longer be working with her therapists or seeing her friends that she has grown to love at ABC. They have become family. There is nothing I could say to express how grateful I am to have these wonderful people in our lives. The world is waiting for my sweet girl, and they have made her ready. There was a time when I was terrified at the thought of enrolling her in school. It seemed like such an unobtainable goal. There isn’t an ounce of that fear left. I have complete confidence that she will love school and learn new things and make new friends quickly. She will thrive. So to ABC: thank you. You have made the world of difference for Kennedy. My hat is off to all of you, and every small thing that you do. It really does add up to big things. And to my sweet Kennedy: in the words of the great Dr. Suess, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
To make a difference in the lives of children and teens with autism, apply today! www.appliedbehaviorcenter.org Please say “I found it in the IndyKids’Directory!” Thanks!
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Rebuilding the Modern Village… Independent Mothers “MOMMMMMM…I don’t feel so well.” “Baby…you need to go to sleep.” “Please… a three-second snuggle?” “Baby…I have to work.” Three seconds. That’s what I’ve allotted myself time to snuggle with my kids at night after they go to bed. Three precious seconds. As a single working mother, that is IT. That is ALL the time I have for snuggling with my kids. Any more time than that, and I will fall asleep next to them. Their small perfect bodies snuggled up against mine, taking me back to a time when they were 7 and 9 months, not 7 and 9 years old. Taking me back to a time, when life was a little bit easier; a time when I shared home care and parenting with another adult. Without another adult in the household, I have to be everything. There is no divide and conquer. I was expecting myself to do it all. To have a successful career, be an actively engaged school parent, clean the house, go to the gym, cook healthy square meals, chauffer my kids to their weekly activities, pursue self-enrichment, pay the bills, grocery shop, find time for dating, and time for friends. Then reality hit. I couldn’t do it all on my own. When I was doing well in one area, there was another area of my life (usually my house) that was a mess. The golden standard of balance is a myth, and it doesn’t matter how many self-help books I read or diagrams I draw, I am not going to achieve balance in my life. Then instead of hopelessness, I started to feel real pride in my situation. I wasn’t perfect, but I was doing a lot of things right. I was taking care of myself, I was building a career, I was taking care of my children, and I was doing it all on my own terms. I started to develop a fierce pride in my self-proclaimed independent mother status. No longer was I defined by the struggle of the balance illusion, I was now defining myself by my own right. As I started to regain my own power, I began to uncover a whole underground network of single mothers. I say underground, because
while I was loud and proud about being an independent mother, I found that other women weren’t necessarily as proud. If they were coming out of divorce, they were often embarrassed. Sometimes, they were overshadowed by the struggle. When they heard me speak with pride about my independent mother status, many women reached out to me. We were forming a tribe. We didn’t have to be alone because together we were so much stronger. IndyMom.org was born. Independent Mothers and other women in support of single mothers are coming together to support and encourage each other. We share stories of triumph and failure. We share advice on topics like fitting
nutritious meals and fitness into an already taxed time schedule, getting out of debt, negotiating for better salaries, career advice, and embracing failure as an important part of life. We’re also providing a random act of kindness in our community through a Free Laundry Day where we surprise unsuspecting families at laundromats throughout the city and pay for their laundry. We are rebuilding the modern village, and we’re waving our independent mother flag with pride. Being surrounded by a group of other independent mothers who understand makes me feel a little bit better and a lot less guilty about those three precious seconds. www.indymom.org
Diana Ratcliff, the founder of IndyMom, has a background in politics, nonprofit, theatre and marketing. After living in Germany for 6.5 years, she moved to Indianapolis with her two bilingual children to rebuild her life as an Independent Mother. She currently works for Collective Alternative as an Account Executive. Please say “I found it in the IndyKids’Directory!” Thanks!
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June 2016 Saturday, May 28, 12:00pm IPL 500 Festival Parade in Downtown Indianapolis. Held at the Plaza Pavilion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Adding color to downtown Indy since 1957! One of the original events produced by the 500 Festival, the IPL 500 Festival Parade, has grown to be one of the signature events held in the United States each year. The parade is the only 500 Festival event that has taken place every year since our founding in 1957. The parade is held on the eve of the Indianapolis 500. 300,000 spectators are expected to line the streets of Indianapolis, joined by another one million watching from their televisions around the country, to view one of the nation’s premier parades, alongside the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The IPL 500 Festival Parade allows all spectators to witness the pageantry and largerthan-life floats light up the streets of downtown Indianapolis. Well-known celebrities, costumed characters, marching bands, patriotic units, specialty units, spectacular floats and giant helium balloons will fill the streets to celebrate the world's largest singleday sporting event, the Indianapolis 500. The tradition continues with the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 serving as honorary grand marshals the day before the race, riding in the traditional rows of three, with the winner of the pole position bringing up the rear. http://www.500festival.com/ other-events/breakfast Sunday, May 29, 12:00pm 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, The Indy 500 is where the world's greatest open-wheel drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series race for the coveted Borg-Warner trophy. This year marks 18
the 100th running of the race and you can expect many celebrations for this landmark event. http://www. indianapolismotorspeedway.com/ Saturday, June 4, 12:00pm Color Vibe 5K at Indiana State Fairgrounds. Grab your friends, family and neighbors for the most COLORFUL 5K you've ever been a part of! The Color Vibe is coming to Indianapolis and you don't want to miss out on all the fun - join us as we throw #Vibrant color on you as your run/walk our 5K course. You'll come a blank canvas and leave a colorful mural! http://www.thecolorvibe.com/ Saturday, June 4, 12:00pm Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival at Military Park. Wine connoisseurs can sample 200+ award-winning wines at “The Biggest Celebration of Indiana Wines” while enjoying delicious food from Indiana’s finest restaurants and food trucks, artisans, wine and food pairing demonstrations on the pavilion stage, and music from talented, local bands. Enjoy delicious food from some of Indiana's top culinary experts Visit the Wine & Food Experience Pavilion for food and wine sessions with chefs and winemakers. Browse through the artisan booths. Bring your blankets, pop up tents, and lawn chairs! We ask that you don't use pop-up tents at the stage area so as not to block anyone's view. Monday, June 6 - Friday, June 10 Science Camp for Girls at Conner Prairie. Week of tinkering, thinking and playing without those pesky boys! Girls will explore science and engineering by designing machines and building gliders, and discovering alternative sources of energy. www.connerprairie.org
Friday, June 10, 5:30pm Zoobilation at the Indianapolis Zoo presented by IPL. Are you ready to get WILD in celebration of Zoobilation's www.IndyKidsDirectory.com
Fun Events thirtieth year of partying for animal conservation? On June 10, 2016, dress up in your favorite animal print formalwear and join us for an evening of eight rocking musical groups (thanks to our friends at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP), one notorious Indy DJ, more than 70 restaurants and their marvelous cuisine, remarkable wine, bourbon and specialty drinks! Friday, June 10 – Saturday, June 11, 5:00pm Italian Street Festival at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 520 Stevens St in Indy. The city's much-loved and most-attended church festival! Join us and enjoy delicious Italian food, wine & beer, live music, amusement rides, free admission, and free parking! Food specialties include homemade spaghetti sauce, homemade alfredo sauce, homemade pizza, homemade cannoli. Be there Saturday at 6:45 pm to see a traditional Italian religious procession before the special 7 pm Mass. http:// www.holyrosaryindy.org/ Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12 Curiosity Fair at Conner Prairie. Be amazed by the “America’s Got Talent” trick dog show. See Professor Steve’s “Unseen Forces” show. Give spear throwing a try at this festival of wonder and exploration. Learn about robots and making video games, explore 3D printing, discover what living things are in your own backyard and find out how milk goes from udder to glass. Interact with the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fuel and Indianapolis Indians teams. Through a series of activities, presentations and handson demonstrations, the whole family will be encouraged to ask questions, share knowledge and ignite the urge to discover. Monday, June 13 - Friday, June 17 Science Camp for Boys at Conner Prairie. Week of tinkering, thinking and playing without those pesky girls! Boys
will explore science and engineering by designing machines and building gliders, and discovering alternative sources of energy. www.connerprairie.org Friday, June 17 & Friday, June 24, 5:30pm Zoolapalooza Concert Series at the Indianapolis Zoo. Zoolapalooza concerts presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers are a great way to kick off your weekend with a wild lineup of live music on Friday evenings. This series features hit songs the whole family will love by some of Indy's top bands. Zoolapalooza days are the perfect time to enjoy the Zoo. Concerts are included with Zoo admission, so you can come play all day and dance all night! The after-hours ambience feels like a Zoo trip like no other. Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19 Indy PopCon at Indiana Convention Center. PopCon is a convergence of innovation, pop culture, and fandom, where we celebrate the spirit of the independent creator and their fans. If you’re a fan of tv/movies, gaming, internet culture, cosplay, and/or comics, then you’ll be able to support budding artists and find fun at PopCon. Hundreds of artists and creators will have unique, one-of-a-kind artwork, toys, and collectibles for sale. Discover new podcast and YouTube channels. Meet some of your favorite celebrities, participate in unique workshops and events, play board and video games, and enjoy a wonderful weekend in downtown Indianapolis. www.indypopcon.com If you would like your event included in our monthly calendars, submit it by going to wwwIndyKidsDirectory.com.
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Something new and exciting is coming to the 71st. & Michigan Road area located in Plaza 71. Aj’s Family Clothing Consignment & Resale 2989 W. 71st. Street. Owner Pamela Robinson is very proud and pleased to be a part of the neighboring merchants and neighborhood. We are hoping to add another option to the community and meeting a demand for Consignment and Resale We are very excited to announce the Grand Opening of Aj’s Family Clothing Consignment & Resale Saturday, June 18th. The store opens at 10:30am and will have hourly door prizes and give a-ways. The store will be packed with lots of inventory for great shopping. Aj’s Family Clothing Consignment & Resale will offer the one stop family consignment. Accepting and selling infant, toddlers, Boys, Girls, Teen Boys & Teen Girls, Jr Girls, Women’s sizes small to 3X and men’s clothing. Aj’s wants to meet the demands of all shoppers and will accept designer, non -designer, name brands and non- brands items. In addition to clothing, book bags, jewelry, purses, school uniforms, sport gear and small home goods are always welcome. No appointment is needed for consigning. This is a great place to turn your
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items into cash and share the 50/50 sales split. With growing families you will always notice the savings when shopping at Aj’s. However, if you would like to bring your items in before the Grand Opening consignments are accepted every Saturday for 1pm – 4pm. Aj’s will offer some unique donating programs to partner with the community. The Consign It before you Donate It. This program will allow items that do not meet the consign or resale requirement to be donated and sold. A portion of the donated sale will be used in winter months to help families in need with heating or food. A way of giving back where it is really needed. Aj’s will offer online sales from their website with merchandise being updated daily and will offer free shipping to clients unable to bring their consignment items in to the store location. Our mission is to sell quality pre-owed items at affordable prices, to be an eco-friendly business “green” committed to recycling quality items. We will operate on the principle of giving excellent service and satisfaction to our clients and shoppers.
For more information please visit www.ajsfamilyconsignment.com or call 317-224-4453.
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& Access Behavioral Solutions Clinic Pg 2 www.accessbehavioralsolutions.com Info@accessbehavioralsolutions.com 317.802.7447 Access Behavioral Solutions is making ABA services available by bringing the therapy to you- in your home, in your community, or in the clinic. Applied Behavior Center for Autism Pgs 14, 15 & 28 www.appliedbehaviorcenter.org ABC for Autism is proud to be Indiana’s largest and longest running ABA therapy provider. With 7 locations statewide (Indy North, Early Childhood Center, Indy West, Greenwood, Richmond, Terre Haute and Carmel), ABC provides one-onone individualized programming in the areas of ABA therapy, behavior consulting, speech therapy, occupational therapy and special needs swim lessons for ages 2 and older. Autism Childproof-Resistant Portable Door Lock Pg 25 www.assurancelockingsystems.com 317-786-8724 Don't wait for a tragedy to happen! The Indiana Department of Child Services has purchased 100 locks. The Autism Lock can Travel with you on Vacation.
Proud Sponsors of Resources for Special Needs Children Brain Balance www.brainbalanceindy.com 317.843.9200 9510 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis Brain Balance’s Program has changed the lives of kids suffering with ADHD, learning disorders and behavioral issues. We integrate cognitive, sensory-motor and nutritional training into a highly effective, drugfree program that targets your child’s specific challenges. Natural Valley Ranch Pg 27g. 7 www.NaturalValleyRanch.com www.NaturalValleyTherapeuticRiding.org Marie@NaturalValleyRanch.com 317-509-3577 Birthday Parties, Trail Rides, Lessons, Petting Zoo Hayride/Bonfire, Therapeutic Riding St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf Pg 5 www.sjid.org 317.471.8560 Leaders in Listening and Spoken Language. Supervision Infrared Sauna SupervisionWeightLoss.com 317-849-8446 For treatment of autism.
Brain Balance
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Education
Spotlight Anna Shults, Founder and Head of School of ACE Preparatory Academy Charter School, is a champion for ensuring every child receives a dynamite education especially in the early years. “The foundational years are so crucial to building strong readers, writers, and thinkers,“ says Shults, “and with a typical school year lasting around 180 days, we can’t afford to waste any moment.” Anna has spent twenty years in education and was honored as Indiana’s Teacher of the Year before deciding to design, found, lead and sustain a high-performing elementary charter school in Indianapolis. Charter schools are free, public schools with open enrollment and an increased amount of accountability in exchange for a bit more autonomy. They are governed by a Board of Directors, who are responsible for strong fiscal oversight and maintaining a high bar of academic excellence. ACE Prep was unanimously approved by the Indiana Charter School Board last spring and will open this coming August to inaugural classes of kindergarten and first grade students. The school will grow one grade level each year until it’s at full capacity with 432 kindergarten through fifth grade students. Shults predicts class sizes of 24, with a co-teaching model during reading time – meaning instruction taught by two licensed teachers making the student to teacher ration as low as 6 to 1 some portions of the day. “During reading, for example, our teachers will instruct in small groups with students rotating between working independently, to being on the computer, or learning alongside an adult. This allows us to really tap into different learning styles while also providing instruction tailored to individual needs.” The school’s name is an acronym for academics, character, and excellence. Backed by a mission statement focused on rigorous academics and positive character development, ACE Prep believes the pathway to college begins in kindergarten. The school explicitly promotes the BE GREAT core values – bravery, enthusiasm, growth, responsibility, endurance, achievement, and team, developing the character needed within all students for future school success and lives of opportunity. Shults frequently talks about “making history” and is a firm believer that an excellent education can change one’s life trajectory. 26
Located in the vicinity of 54th and Keystone, but able to enroll students from all over the state, ACE Prep has a vision of becoming a true neighborhood school – one where local businesses and organizations support the school’s mission and in turn, the school helps to meet deep neighborhood needs. To Shults, family and community partnerships matter. “We have been hard at work this past year building relationships, meeting with community members, and supporting local events and are really excited about calling the Midtown area ACE Prep’s home.” The school is currently enrolling children eligible for kindergarten or first grade during the 20162017 school year and spots are quickly filling up. For more information, or to enroll online, visit www.aceprepacademy.org. If you are interested in speaking with Ms. Shults or attending an information session, please contact her directly: ashults@aceprepacademy.org.
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