Hidden Gems: French Park

French Park

We’re entering the home stretch of summer, and if you’re looking for a new park to explore, consider French Park. This Cincinnati Park is a true hidden gem; a dreamy natural oasis nestled in Amberley Village.

The park is known for the

eponymous French House, which was built in the early 1900s and is a popular venue for weddings and events. The French House stands regally at the end of the park’s driveway, in front of perfectly manicured lawn. Behind the house are rolling hills that beg to be run down, Sound of Music style.

There is a paved path leading down to a babbling creek that’s covered by a canopy of trees, sunshine peeking through in a dreamy way that’s Instagram-worthy. This is the perfect place to creek stomp, as the water is gentle and shallow — perfect for little legs.

For families looking for an adventure on dry land, French Park has incredible hiking trails, including a 3-mile trail that’s perfect for families.

French Park is the perfect place to spend a spring day with your kids; and, at 275 acres, it’s a fantastic place to let your kids run free while practicing safe social distancing.

3012 Section Rd., Amberley Village

cincinnatiparks.com/parksvenues/east/french-park

WORDS BY HALEY PADDOCK

Going back to school can be tough, even in ordinary circumstances — but this has not been another ordinary summer vacation. No one could have prepared for the turn of events that closed out the school year for 2020. E-learning from home was quite the curveball, and brought with it feelings of confusion and frustration, as well as a longer than normal school break. With the lengthened time away from typical classroom instruction, many parents have been left to wonder how they’ll ever get their kiddos in the back-to-school groove.

We spoke to veteran educators to ask for tips on how to help students prepare for the switch back to a normal school routine. Try some — or all — of these ideas, and make the summerto-school transition a success for your family!

Lauren Guip, M.Ed., is the Montessori Director of Summit Country Day School. “Social-emotional wellbeing is critical to a child's success as they transition back into a school environment,” Guip says. “It’s important to have an ongoing dialogue with your child about how they are feeling both before school starts and after they are in attendance.”

Guip also suggests helping your child become comfortable with any new procedures that may be in place due to COVID-19. “If your child is required to wear a mask at school, spend some time helping them get adjusted to a mask at home, or pick out a mask that they would feel excited about wearing.”

Raymond C. Kochis is the superintendent of Cincinnati Christian Schools.

Kochis’ advice starts with a good nights sleep. “Students will need to become accustomed to the routine of getting up early,” he says. “I would suggest that parents begin the gradual adjustment by setting a realistic bedtime two to three weeks before the start of the school year.”

Kochis also stresses the importance of reading over the summer. “The best reading is away from a screen,” he says. “It allows the student to focus on the activity of reading with fewer distractions. Fifteen to 30 minutes a day is an adequate starting point, but the goal is to gradually increase the time to the equivalent of homework from school. Sustained reading enhances the student's language skills, but it will also get him or her used to the time commitment required for daily homework.”

Krista Taylor is the assistant principal at Mercy Montessori. Taylor understands the new year will be filled with change, and recommends the following ideas:

Be Enthusiastic

Regardless of what schedule you are opening under, share with your child in the most optimistic light possible and treat the first day of school like a celebration. Positive energy helps.

Be Patient

Your child hasn’t been in school, or likely adhering to a school schedule since March. Read back-to-school books to prepare your child. A little TLC goes a long way in easing the stress of those first few weeks.

Remember that teachers have spent much of the summer turning their instructional strategies upside-down to prepare. Give them grace to figure it all out, and remember that this takes time.

Be Prepared

Practice hand-washing a lot! Don’t forget the 20-second rule.

Help your child recognize what 6 feet looks like. Make a game of it. Ask your child to stand 6 feet away from something, and then measure to see how close they actually are. Who can get closest to 6 feet? Do this in various spaces — what does it look like in a small room? A large room? Outside?

Be Aware

On behalf of administrators everywhere, please read the information sent home by your school. There will be a lot communicated, and it may feel overwhelming, but it’s more important than ever that you stay informed and up-to-date.

WORDS BY SARAH MCCOSHAM

SWITCHING SCHOOLS: When is It a Good Idea?

TIPS FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

The pandemic has brought a host of changes to life as we know it, including to the way schools will run in the fall. For families on the fence about the upcoming school year, know you’re not alone. While there are many reasons for switching schools, the pandemic — and how your child’s school is responding — is most likely topping your list of concerns.

Read on for a preview at the changes students and parents might see when they head back to school this fall, factors to consider when switching schools — and whether that decision is worth the effort.

Why switch? Bullying, academic boredom or a child who starts to fall in with the “wrong” crowd are all reasons for switching schools. Further complicating matters, COVID-19 is adding extra anxiety for families with school-aged children. If you’d been thinking of making a change before the pandemic hit, switching from public to private schools could be a great solution, as many private schools offer lower class sizes and more creative learning options. Rich Wilson, head of The Summit Country Day School in Cincinnati, explains: “As an independent school, we are blessed with desirable class ratios, highly-trained faculty and an expansive physical plant. While this pandemic presents challenges, The Summit is in a strong position to respond and will do so in a manner that is consistent with our mission of education to include academic excellence, spiritual growth, character-based leadership and student wellness — both social-emotional and physical.”

Of course, before you make a change, talk to your child about why they are unhappy at their current school and consider how they will adjust to a new environment. If appropriate, talk to your child’s school or district candidly and find out what opportunities may exist within the current structure. There may be a program or school available that families have not considered, especially looking ahead to the upcoming academic year.

School during COVID-19 We’re living in extraordinary times, and frankly, it’s scary. Now for some good news: Right now, parents have an incredible chance to essentially customize their child’s education. If you’ve been unhappy

with a particular aspect of school or have been considering switching schools, the 2020-21 school year presents an unprecedented opportunity.

In terms of switching to a different schooling structure, the upcoming academic year is full of options that may provide solutions to families looking for a change.

This fall, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) will offer a “blended learning” model. For students returning in person, parents can expect fewer children in classes, new safety protocols and regular health checks for students and staff. CPS’s blended model splits students into two groups (a Monday/Tuesday in-person group and a Thursday/ Friday in-person group) and will alternate attending in-person on Wednesdays. When not physically in school, students will utilize remote learning. This is all to maintain social distancing. The district will also offer a digital academy for families who aren’t ready to send the kids back.

This model is in line with most other area districts. For example, parents of children enrolled in Mason City Schools can opt to send their children to classrooms or move to a remote learning program when the school year begins.

Regardless of what parents choose, student safety will be the top priority, says Nancy Berlier, communications director at The Summit Country Day School. “Among the [safety] practices we will implement will be temperature checks on entry, face coverings, desks facing one direction and distanced, a narrowing of the scope of student contact with each other, elimination of large in-person events and screening of visitors on campus.”

The bottom line Most schools are giving parents the final say in how to approach the upcoming school year — whether it’s continuing remote learning full-time, sending kids to school part-time, or some combination of approaches. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

In terms of switching schools: You know your kids best. But adding an additional change on top of distance learning, for many kids, might be too much. With all the uncertainty right now, switching schools would certainly be another big adjustment. And if you’ve been thinking of switching schools, using this year as a time for home-based learning and figuring out your next step, might be the best choice.