North Shore
Children IN THIS ISSUE Celebrating Our 7th Year & the Holiday Season! Celebrating Holidays with Moderation & Gratitude Ask Dr. Kate's Q&A: Sharing on Social Media Healthy Ways to Start Your Days: Hot Cereals Working with IEP Teams Aaron's Presents: Spotlight on Holly's Costume Project Children's Book Review: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Education Feature: Brookwood School Community Calendar
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FAMILY From Our North Shore Family to Yours ~ May Your Holidays Be Filled With Family, Friends, & Love
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WINTER ISSUE: DECEMBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015
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Family & Friends
Celebrating the Season & Our 7th Year as THE LARGEST Distribution Free Parenting Publication on the North Shore! by Suzanne Provencher, Publisher/Editor
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Another year older – another year of sharing important tools, tips, ideas, resources and helpful information with local, North Shore families! We are SEVEN – and entering our 8th year of being a part of your family. So thank you, dear readers and advertisers, for your continued interest and valued support. We are here for you – and because of you. North Shore Children & Families is the LARGEST distribution free parenting and family publication on the North Shore! We offer our advertisers a cost-effective and efficient way to reach moms, dads and families throughout the entire North Shore region – in print and online. We deliver custom, unique and vital information which parents “need to know”, rather than just share fluff that is “nice to know”. And we deliver results for our advertisers, most of whom have been with us for many, many years. Whenever you can, please thank our advertisers for making this
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As we reach our 7 birthday and enter our 8 year – and as we celebrate the holiday season – I send you the very best wishes, blessings and holiday cheer as you decorate your trees, light your menorahs and Kwanzaa Kinara – or however you choose to celebrate the season and welcome the New Year. Please remember those who are less fortunate – and come up with a way for your family to make a positive difference this holiday season and on a regular basis. Older kids can shovel snow for elderly neighbors, you can make an extra helping of a meal to share, you can volunteer at your local shelter or visit your local nursing home and collect winter coats and mittens for those who need them. The greatest gift we can give is to give of ourselves, because it is in giving that we receive what matters most. Leave a larger tip for your favorite server, put an extra dollar in the donation bucket, drop off a toy or warm jacket at the many
drives in the area and involve your children so they can understand that not every little girl and boy is as lucky as they are. Resist the urge to overindulge your children with material things and they will appreciate the simple things more: making cookies with mom to give to the neighbors, creating greeting cards for the patients at your local children’s hospital or spending some time with a family member or friend who would otherwise be alone. Teach your children that there is always room for one more at your table. May 2015 be filled with wonderful blessings and peace on earth for all – and may we be filled to our brims with gratitude. Count your blessings – not your burdens – and you will always come up rich and full. From Our North Shore family to yours – may your holidays be wrapped in family, friends, love & gratitude. Until Next Year – Suzanne
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North Shore Children & Families
The Reason For The Season
Celebrating The Holidays With Family: Moderation & Gratitude by Dr. Kate Roberts For many people, the closer it gets to the holidays, the more their stress increases. The holidays are supposed to be joyful and yet, so often in our culture, the focus is on what we are going to get instead of what we can give to others. Holidays such as Christmas should be an opportunity to exercise limits with children instead of overindulging them with possessions they don’t need. It is a time to teach them the value of family and to show gratitude and appreciation. When it comes to gift giving, it’s normal and natural for children to request everything and the moon – it’s part of their development. In our consumerism culture, it is also “normal” for parents to believe that they have to oblige. Parents are often conflicted about limiting spending on children, especially when they can afford to overindulge their children. However, it’s not good for kids to have excess material items – even at Christmas – as it promotes focus on “things” instead of people and relationships. Resisting excessive materialism is especially difficult today, when children have so much exposure to media messages. Parents must use their judgment and reason to exercise control over their desires to overspend on their children. It’s still difficult, I know. But it’s also true that problems can arise when parents give too much or do too much for their children without discretion. Parents worry that if they do not buy everything on their children’s wish list, they will be disappointed on Christmas morning. It’s true that children may appear
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A publication of North Shore Ink, LLC © 2014-2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in full or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
Suzanne M. Provencher Publisher/Editor suzanne@northshorefamilies.com Designed by Group One Graphics Printed by Seacoast Media Group Please see our Calendar in this issue for our upcoming deadlines. Published and distributed monthly throughout the North Shore, 10x per year, and always online. Information contained in NSC&F is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. Individual readers are responsible for their use of any information provided. NSC&F is not liable or responsible for the effects of use of information contained in NSC&F. Established 2007.
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4 North Shore Children & Families Celebrating the Holidays Continued from page 3
momentarily let down when they do not receive every new gadget they requested, but this is typical and fleeting. Once they absorb what they have received, they will enjoy their gifts and their time with the family on Christmas Day. Many parents tend to struggle when setting limits, yet most children thrive with limits and moderation. Parents can establish appropriate expectations by asking their children for a list of their top three big-ticket items and three to five smaller items. Parents can let them know they will receive some of what is on their list, but not everything. Keep gently reminding them of these guidelines as the list grows and Christmas nears. Parents can benefit from those reminders, too, and refuse to give in to their desire to buy “just a few more things” when you feel that last-minute panic about not having bought “enough” for your children. During the holiday season, parents can set a tone before Christmas day that promotes the values of gratitude, family, giving back and the importance of moderation. Parents can frame Christmas as a time for giving, a way of showing gratitude for all that you have as a family, including everything your children already have. It’s important to teach children to appreciate all they have and to be grateful every day. Studies have shown that people who are grateful are 25% more happy than those that are not grateful. This fact alone inspires me to teach an attitude of gratitude to my children. The concept of gratitude can be abstract for many children and teens. The challenge for parents is making gratitude a concrete, everyday experience. Here are some ways to instill an attitude of gratitude in your children during this holiday season: • Make the practice of gratitude a habit. For example, try to have a regular time, such as during dinner, when your family members share something in
their lives for which they are grateful. Expressing gratitude as part of the routine can be habit forming, as it reinforces the message in a continuous way. • Emphasize the use of “thank you” as an example of how to demonstrate gratitude. Communicate to your children that part of saying “thank you” extends beyond manners and etiquette to appreciation. • Try to find ways to expose your children to diverse cultures and life experiences. One of the greatest benefits of children seeing how other people live is that it gives them perspective and a sense of how their lives compare to others, allowing a natural appreciation to develop. • Acknowledge our veterans and other people who have committed their lives to service for the greater good. Do this by sending cards or thank you notes, as well as honoring them on days of remembrance. Sending them gratitude cards during the upcoming holidays is one way children can do this. • Donate time and money during the holidays as a way of acknowledging those who don’t have as much – and try to find a way to incorporate the value of giving back into tradition. • Whenever possible, offer to help those in need around you. Examples are holding the door for others, helping someone manage packages and being patient when the cashier makes an error in the checkout line. By acting in these ways, you are role modeling random acts of kindness as a way of giving back. • Tell your spouse often and in vocal ways that you appreciate them and are grateful for what they do. This communication between parents, in front of children, demonstrates that parents appreciate each other and don’t take each other for granted. Wishing you all wonderful holidays and a very Happy New Year! Dr. Kate Roberts is a licensed child and school psychologist and family therapist with offices in Salem and Hamilton. She welcomes newcomers to her private practice. She specializes in cognitive-behavior therapy, family therapy, anxiety and learning disabilities. She can be reached at kate@drkateroberts.com and www.drkateroberts.com.
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Ask Dr. Kate
Ask Dr. Kate Roberts: Q&A for North Shore Parents Question: I see so many pictures of kids today on Facebook. I want to share, but I’m afraid to post my kids pictures on social media. Is this really safe and how much is too much? Answer: It’s true that more than 62% of moms today use Facebook – and of those who post, 96% post pictures of their children. It’s a personal choice, however parents may want to review the following considerations before posting too much about their children: • Your child’s life is not your life. When you post about your child, recognize that you are sharing about another individual’s life, not yours. • It’s imperative to role model discretion, privacy and sensitivity whenever posting. This is especially
true when you post about your children, who may not have an outgoing personality or who may not want to share on social media. As they get older, they may want to develop their own personality, separate from their parent’s personality. • Don’t view your child’s life like you would your own. You may want to show every detail of your wedding, but your child is not you and therefore don’t blur the boundaries. Treat them as individuals. • Children are not trophies to display to the world and too much sharing may result in them feeling that way. • Consider safety. Always check privacy settings before posting and always know who will see what you post. That being said, we know that
privacy settings are only so secure on the internet and therefore don’t post anything you don’t want the entire world to see. Posts can come back to haunt your kids. A post may seem “cute” at the time, but could be embarrassing for your child later on. Posts can be found forever and therefore they could be used for purposes that parents did not
intend, such as by a peer, by a bully or even a predator. Parents need to be cautious and protect their child’s emotional and physical safety. • Children need time to develop their own internal sense of self-worth. Their sense of value and how they feel about themselves needs to come from within and not from Facebook “likes”. Therefore, parents need to be cautious about promoting the importance of outside validation when what really matters is how people feel inside. If you want to post about your children on Facebook, that’s okay. But parents need to think carefully about these considerations before deciding to click “share”.
If you have a question for Dr. Kate, please email her at kate@drkateroberts.com. We may publish your question, anonymously, in a future issue – along with Dr. Kate’s response. This feature is brought to you, courtesy of Dr. Kate and North Shore Children & Families.
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Education Feature
Brookwood School – It starts here.
Brookwood’s new Lower School, designed to facilitate small group work and collaborative exploration, opened September 2014.
What starts here? In a word, everything. At Brookwood, we develop academic excellence, and we do so using the means and methodologies we know to be best suited to that end: We are “warm” and “child-centered” because it is educationally sound to be both; we are mindful of the relationships we offer and those we nurture and supervise because we know that vigilance to be an educational imperative. Very simply put, we know that how kids feel determines in large measure whether kids learn, and that is a powerful bottom line. A passion for learning and the courage to break new ground. Brookwood School is much more than a place where learning happens. It is a state of mind, a willingness to take risks, the inspiration to reimagine what teaching and learning can be. Our Strategic Plan aims to fan these flames of creativity, identifying our newly opened Lower School as a key component in supporting our rich and vibrant academic program. Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 comprise the widest developmental range in a child’s life. Our new Lower School facility is designed to support the varying stages that take place during these formative years, providing a welcoming entrance, an inviting community space, and a learning environment that accommodates the innovative, child-centered program Brookwood’s talented teachers offer in PreK through Grade 3. Dedicated to Academic Innovation Our children will inherit a complex world and preparing them requires a program of both balance and breadth. In a time when many schools are cutting programming and trimming staff, Brookwood has continued its tradition of academic innovation. Brookwood’s curriculum employs the most current methodologies, focusing on inquiry, experience and collaboration rather than simply rote memorization –and it introduces age-appropriate challenges with each subsequent grade level. Whether it’s expanding coursework in the “outdoor classroom” in science, building upon social curriculum in the Lower School, beginning the study of French, Spanish and Mandarin in Grade One, or partnering with MIT’s D-Lab in Upper School Science, teachers and administrators continuously analyze, improve and strengthen the program offered to our students. Guiding Brookwood students is a top-notch staff of teachers who have graduated from many of the country’s finest colleges and universities; four out of five of them hold advanced degrees. Brookwood teachers love teaching kids and are keenly aware that superior learning springs from their ability to build
and sustain meaningful relationships with their students. For full curricular descriptions by department visit brookwood.edu. Click the “Academics” tab and go to “Curriculum at Brookwood.” Fostering Artistic Expression Kids are full of creativity, and at Brookwood that is something to celebrate and empower. Brookwood students have many opportunities to express themselves artistically as well as musically, with all grade levels receiving art and music instruction several times each week. Nourishing the Developing Athlete Through a carefully sequenced program focusing on skill development, individual and team play, and of course, sportsmanship, we encourage healthy competition and the pure joy of physical activity. The decision to install two regulation turf fields is in keeping with Brookwood’s tradition of always striving to enhance the experience of its students and prepare them for athletics at the secondary school level. Moving to Secondary School Brookwood students matriculate to the finest independent day and boarding schools in the country as well as regional public and parochial schools. The majority of the Class of 2014 was accepted to their first or second choice secondary school. LOCATION & BEFORE- and AFTER-SCHOOL CARE Located on Boston’s North Shore, Brookwood’s 30 acre campus is minutes from Route 128 on the Beverly/Manchester line. To meet the needs of families during the school week, Brookwood provides extensive before- and afterschool programs. Early Birds: supervised coverage for students of all ages beginning at 7:15 a.m. daily. Early Childhood After-School Program: active and quiet indoor and outdoor activities for Pre-K and Kindergarten students. REACH (Recreation, Enrichment and Arts for Children), for students in Grades 1 -3. Homework Club: supervised daily study for Grades 4-8 students. Care is available for all ages until 6 p.m. Monday – Thursday, until 5 p.m. Fridays. After-school enrichment classes are offered in the fall, winter and spring. Past offerings include Yoga, Chess, Legos, Martial Arts, Boston Children’s Theater, and Multisport. Private music lessons offered for voice, piano, strings, band instruments, guitar and drums. ADMISSIONS The best way to get to know Brookwood is to visit. Open Houses will be held on: Thursday, December 4, from 8:45 – 10:45 a.m. Saturday, January 24, from 1 - 3 p.m. Affordability Nights will be held on: Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, at 7 p.m. For more information, please call 978-526-4500 or visit www.brookwood.edu. One Brookwood Road, Manchester, MA 01944 The information contained in this education feature was submitted by Brookwood School, and published in partnership with North Shore Children & Families; www.northshorefamilies.com.
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Healthy Ways to Start Your Days
Start Your Morning with Hot Cereal by Mary Higgins Most of us are familiar with the little fair-haired maiden who visited the house where the Bear family lived. She took her time evaluating the comfort of their chairs, the springs of their mattresses and taste of the porridge left on their kitchen table. Oh those bears knew the benefits of eating a hot cereal before heading out the door. As a children’s book writer, my curiosity about the origins of porridge simply had to be satisfied, so I did a bit of research. Porridge, I found out, is simply a grain cooked in either milk or water. As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, let’s explore this topic for the cold winter months. Breakfast
acidosis. You may want to share this information with your teenage daughter who goes out the door without breakfast. When the aroma of cinnamon wafting from your hot breakfast cereal reaches her bedroom, she may soon start her day with a high energy breakfast cereal.
literally means “break the fast” – the first meal that most of us eat after “fasting” overnight during sleep. For some, no food has been eaten from supper the night before. For children, this means 12 or more hours may have elapsed since getting any food into the stomach. Eating, besides being a pleasant activity, is a way to fuel the body, especially our muscles and brains. Whatever food is eaten is subsequently broken down into glucose, the form of sugar our bodies need. While we sleep, our blood sugar becomes quite low. On waking, we need to refuel our engines. After 1216 hours of being without food, our bodies, desperate for glucose, start a scary cannibal-like process of breaking
down muscle tissue to provide food for the brain. The blood pH moves into the acidic range. Have you ever waited too long to eat, finding your hunger disappeared? The body’s metabolism has now shifted into
Photo: Montessori students are capable of great effort and long periods of concentration. This student completes a map of North America using a Montessori puzzle map as a reference.
Maybe your porridge is oatmeal every morning and you’re looking to change it up. The aim is to choose whole grains over refined, at least most of the time. Whole grains lower triglyceride levels and act like a broom to sweep the intestines. And because they take a while to be digested, they provide energy to fuel the entire morning. Watching your weight? Whole grains, with their bran intact, will help you to slim down. Whole grain cereals are different from refined cereals as the vitamins and minerals remain untouched in whole grains. Refined grains have been bleached, crushed and flattened
into sheets so they can be shaped into little balls, rings and letters of the alphabet – processed so heavily that the fiber disappears, vitamins leach out and synthetic vitamins need to be added back in at the end of processing.
and a dash of cinnamon. While not high in fiber, you can increase the fiber content of the meal by serving grits with frozen blueberries, heated with some honey or unprocessed agave or try canned peaches. Grits provide 2 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving.
Whether you like a smooth cereal or one with some chewiness, you will find something listed here to satisfy your taste buds and hopefully get the whole family started on a hot cereal habit.
Millet: This is one of the most easily digested grains, owing to its alkalinity. Since it requires a six to one ratio of fluid to grain to cook into a smooth cereal, you may wish to get this one ready the night before and then heat it in the morning. Millet cooked in milk is great with dried cranberries, chopped dates and cinnamon. Millet provides 5 grams of fiber per 1/4 cup serving.
Quinoa Flakes & Quinoa: Quinoa (Keen-wah) is an ancient grain dating back to the time of the Incas. This high protein grain can be found in flakes at the supermarket. They look much like instant potato flakes. Even without the use of a microwave, these only take 90 seconds to cook in water. Quinoa is a gluten-free grain. I like to swirl orange marmalade into my hot quinoa. Each 1/3 cup serving of flakes provides 2.4 grams of dietary fiber. If you have the time, purchase quinoa seeds, which need to be rinsed before cooking. Cook these in a ratio of two parts milk to one part grain for a fluffy, light cereal topped with berries and a drizzle of honey. Grape Nuts: This ready to eat cereal is a combination of two grains: wheat and barley. Delicious cold, it takes on a different dimension when heated in the microwave oven, with milk, for only one minute. It provides 7 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving. Grits: This cereal originates in the corn fields of the deep South. Buy them organic since the majority of corn in this country is genetically modified but not labeled as such. Gluten-free, whole grain grits are tasty with a teaspoon of real butter
Buckwheat: This stalwart whole grain cooks to a chewy texture. You are probably familiar with it in pancakes, pilafs and kasha. When roasted, it will be referred to as “groats”. You simply add a two to one ratio of fluid to buckwheat groats and cook on medium heat. I enjoy adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to my bowl of hot buckwheat, with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Buckwheat provides 4 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving. Oatmeal: This whole grain is available in many different forms: rolled, flaked and steel cut. Besides making the most delicious and healthy cookies, oatmeal lowers cholesterol with its soluble fiber. If you find oatmeal too mushy, you may wish to sample steel cut oats that retain a more chewy texture. Choose Irish or Scottish oatmeal, often soaked overnight to shorten the cooking time to 10 minutes. Serve with milk, coconut flakes, pieces of apple and a dash of cinnamon. Oatmeal provides 4 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving.
Mary Higgins is a nutrition educator who writes about food for several websites. She graduated from Simmons College with a Bachelor’s degree in both Nutrition and Education. She studied Exercise Science and received her Master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has worked as a Sports Nutritionist and personal trainer at YMCA’s in the Greater Boston area and is certified by both the American Council on Exercise and the American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists. She is the author of a children’s picture book, Daddy Trains for the Marathon, a family-friendly story about a young father’s journey to lose weight, which was first published in 2011.
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Individualized Education Programs
How to Work with Your Child’s IEP Team by Lisa Rau Staff As a 15 year veteran of the IEP wars, I am often asked how I have managed to survive my son’s IEP meetings without having an attorney or an advocate present. The answer is a simple one. I always remember that I am his best advocate, and that I bring an insight to the table that is invaluable because no one knows him as well as I do. Also, I assume that the team has my son’s best interests in mind (at least most of the time) and will collaborate to meet his needs. I worked in a high school for two years as a mental health intern, and observed that the majority of the teachers cared for their students and wanted them to make progress. I remember this when I am preparing for a meeting. What can you do to develop a special education team that is easy to work with? Get Organized: Being as organized as you can makes it easier for you to work with the team because you will have the information about your child at your fingertips. When a question comes up, you can refer to your binder or communication book to prove a point, dispute a statement or find an answer. You will feel more confident and less anxious. Purchase a large, 3-ring binder and paste a photo of your child on the front (until your child no longer allows it). Occasionally, you may be in a meeting with someone who has not met your child and you will be able to show his or her photo. Using dividers, fill the binder with any information about your child that you feel is pertinent. This may include medical reports, school evaluations, IEPs and communications from the school. Take this binder to each team meeting and to any other meetings that might be appropriate. When writing your child’s IEP, add “communication book” and request that this be written in every day and sent home. By the time you have your next team meeting, you will have a wealth of knowledge about your child’s days at school and can refer to it when writing goals and objectives or discussing progress. I have always prepared an agenda for each meeting with the team, and sent it to the Team Leader prior to the meeting. Copies are usually made and handed out to each team member, but I always take extra copies to the meeting, just in case. I have often found that with the agenda, the leader will contact me ahead of time and we will resolve some of the issues beforehand. I keep my notes from the meeting on the agenda and file it in my binder. Continued on page 12
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Raising Compassionate Children
Teaching Kids to Give Brings Happiness, Healing and Purpose Editor’s Note: Last month, we told you about Aaron’s Presents, a non-profit organization that offers grants to local kids who want to help others. This month (and in future issues), we feature a recent grant recipient and her project.
Spotlight on Aaron’s Presents Grant Recipient: Holly, 3rd grader from Andover Costume Collection Project by Leah Okimoto Holly first heard about Aaron’s Presents when I presented my program at her elementary school’s assembly in September. Shortly after, she told her parents that she would like to apply for a grant to provide Halloween costumes for homeless children. This idea was completely hers, and her parents supported her initiative. She completed the application on her own
and wrote, “I would like to find a homeless shelter that [has] children… so a homeless child will be able to trick or treat.” Holly’s project is the first to be completed in the 2014-15 school year, and it perfectly captures what the Aaron’s Presents program is all about. Holly, at 8 years old, noticed a need in the world – the fact that she and her brother and friends are able to enjoy
a fun childhood holiday experience while other children cannot – and she asked herself what she might do about it. Acting as a true leader, she went ahead and filled out the application, putting together a plan and a budget, got her parents’ permission and submitted it.
We then connected with FINA House in Lawrence, MA, which houses and provides services for women survivors of domestic violence, and the staff was thrilled at the prospect of being able to give the 21 children living there Halloween costumes in Continued on page 12
Individualized Education Programs
12 North Shore Children & Families Aaron’s Presents Continued from page 11
time for their Halloween party. They gave Holly a list of the children’s ages, genders and their requested costumes. When we told them about Holly’s project, Spirit Halloween generously agreed to give us a significant discount on the costumes, and because of their huge selection, Holly was able to find most of the requested costumes! She then took them home and packaged them in Halloween bags and created cards for each child, with personalized messages and jokes, depending on their age and interest. In addition, she devised a sticker coding system to help the staff identify two groups of children and more easily distribute the packages.
Continued from page 10
to experience, simply because Holly had thought about how she might help other people and had chosen to make the effort to put her thoughtfulness into action. Holly’s project received a total grant of $375.99, which was made possible by The Dr. Alan Metwally Presents Fund, a fund started by Dr. Metwally’s loved ones to continue his legacy of generosity and love towards children. 100% of Presents Funds contributions are used solely for project expenses. Please visit www.aaronspresents.org to learn more about how a child you know can apply for a grant or to support our work in some way. We would love to hear from you!
Lastly, she and her family delivered the packages and met with the staff to learn more about the house and the children living there. Everyone in the room could not help but be moved by the joy that these children were going
Leah Okimoto is a North Shore mother who lives in Andover with her husband and 6 year old daughter. Her son, Aaron, lives on in her heart and through her work with the amazing Aaron’s Presents grant recipients who bring her and others joy and inspiration every day.
Waringschool
Open School Date 35 Standley Street, Beverly, MA (978) 927-8793
www.waringschool.org
Friday, January January 9 9 -- Friday,
Be proactive in asking for information prior to the meeting, including the rough draft of the IEP, what is on the school’s agenda and any evaluations or reports that were done. Get Personal: The most important information that I can give you is to develop a positive, professional relationship with one or more members of your child’s team. You will feel that you have an ally and it will be easier for you to feel supported in the meeting. Volunteer at your child’s school or in the classroom, as often as you can. It will be eye-opening to see what is happening, both negatively and positively. In addition, when you are a volunteer, it is easier to develop relationships with those professionals who are working with your child because you are in front of them more often. These relationships can be invaluable in many ways. The greatest reward that can come out of working with your child’s special education team is to see your child receive the services that he or she needs, to have a wonderful school year and to progress. This is best achieved when you are feeling organized, confident and strong when working with your child’s team. It is important that the team communicates, is open to other opinions, builds trust and works towards a goal. There will be adversity in most cases, and if you are prepared, you will be able to face it and move forward. Developing organizational skills and fostering relationships with as many professionals as you can will be to your best advantage. The reward will come with your child’s progress. Lisa Rau Staff, a mother from North Andover, has graduate degrees in clinical mental health and business administration. She is working on a handbook for parents of children with special needs, and consulting to a Hollywood film.
North Shore Children & Families
Children’s Book Review
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cover his horse with a cozy blanket. He sleds away to a New England farmhouse where eager children await.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Written by Robert Frost and Illustrated by Susan Jeffers Dutton Children’s Books, $16.99, Ages 3 and up by Cathy Ballou Mealey
Author Robert Frost, four time Pulitzer Prize winner and Poet Laureate, was once a farmer in Derry, NH. By capturing images of rural New England in plainspoken verse, he became one of the most popular 20th century poets. Rare is the graduation speech that does not reference his most famous work, The Road Not Taken (“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by”). This poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, was first published in 1923.
For many of us on the North Shore, early November brought the first snowfall of the season. A wind-whipped, blustery Nor’easter brought down power lines and whipped dry autumn leaves into frenzied, frosted piles, providing just a brief preview of the weather headed our way! For a gentler, wonder-filled exploration of winter delights, pick up this beautifully illustrated excerpt from the classic poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
Illustrator Susan Jeffers brings Frost’s memorable words to life for children by including an abundance of creatures throughout the book’s pages. Bright pops of rich red, yellow, blue and green add warmth and dimension to the snowy, serene landscapes done in pencil, pen and ink. She masterfully captures a wintry scene in grey, white and brown tones, and shows the gusty movements of wind, the twirling dance of falling snowflakes and the soft, deep hush of a thick forest. Tucked into the snow are squirrels and deer, a silent audience for the narrator and his horse.
A farmer, bearded and wearing heavy cold-weather garb, greets his barn animals and loads his sleigh. Through the snowy countryside he glides, passing foxes, owls and rabbits. Pausing to “watch his woods fill up with snow”, he spontaneously flops down and creates a snow angel, much to the animals’ surprise, before leaving a gift of seeds and hay in the midst of the forest.
This is a short book to read slowly and savor while snuggled inside on a snowy day. It is a lovely way to introduce young readers to a snippet of classic American poetry, and children will enjoy counting and naming all the animals. Also take note of the wide variety of native New England trees, plants and birds that are depicted with elegant but simple detail. This is an enchanting story that will surely grow richer with repeated readings!
Delicately etched downy snowflakes begin to fall, turning the woods “…lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep…” The grateful animals, hidden among the snow-covered boughs, watch him
Cathy Ballou Mealey is a picture book writer and mom to two great kids. She lives in Lynnfield, MA and shares book reviews through Twitter via @CatBallouMealey. Cathy borrowed Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening from her local library, where she discovers wonderful new stories every week.
Preschool and Kindergarten
an independent school for infants eighth grade What if your child’s education sparked curiosity, confidence, and enthusiasm? Come visit our new location at 2 Audubon Road!
OPEN HOUSES: Dec. 4 • 6:30-8pm Jan. 29 • 6:30-8pm
Open House: January 15, 9:30-11:30a.m.
781.245.6050 odysseydayschool.org
173 Washington Street, Boxford, MA myvillageschool@gmail.com 978-352-7294 www.myvillageschool.com
14 North Shore Children & Families
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Community Calendar
Cape Ann Figure Skating Club offers private lessons, group lessons and Learn to Skate in Gloucester and Hamilton. See ad on page 2; www.cafsc.org.
Thinking of Nanna Roderick on her birthday.
DECEMBER is the month for: Bingo, Writing to Friends
DECEMBER 25:
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Happy 7th Birthday to North Shore Children & Families – now entering our 8th year!
Happy New Year’s Eve!
To Submit to our Community Calendar: Please visit us at www.northshorefamilies.com and submit your listings directly through our website. From our Home Page – click on Calendar – then click on Submit and our form will open for you to complete and submit your listings. ALL calendar listings must be submitted directly via our website. While we will make every attempt to post all appropriate listings in our online Community Calendar, space is limited in print – and priority will be given to those events that are free and family-friendly – and those submitted by our advertising partners & sponsors. Calendar listings received online by the 20th of each month will be considered to also appear in our upcoming print calendar. If you need to guarantee that your listing will be posted in print – please contact Suzanne to advertise. To advertise, please contact Suzanne at suzanne@northshorefamilies.com or 781.584.4569.
For complete listing accuracy, we recommend that you call ahead or check the websites listed. Featured listings do not constitute an endorsement from this Publisher and we encourage our readers to always do their own research. MONDAYS: Musical Storytime Jam, at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, So. Hamilton; for parents w/children 0-5. Two sessions each Mon.: 10:15-11am & 11:15am-noon. TUESDAYS:
Pajamas and Books, at HamiltonWenham Public Library, So. Hamilton; for parents w/children 0-5. Meets every Tuesday evening through Dec. 23. WEDNESDAYS: Fall Lego Club, at HamiltonWenham Public Library, S. Hamilton; meets every Wednesday at 7pm. START SAVING TODAY: Open a MEFA U.Fund College Investing Plan account with Fidelity Investments today! See ad on page 5!
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2015 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue
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To explore your advertising options or to secure your space, please contact Suzanne at 781.584.4569 or suzanne@northshorefamilies.com. To learn more, please visit www.northshorefamilies.com.
DECEMBER 4: Admissions Open House at Brookwood School, Manchester, 8:45-10:45am. See pages 4 and 7. Open House at Odyssey Day School, Wakefield, 6:30-8pm. See ad on page 13. DECEMBER 5-21: Bill Hanney’s North Shore Music Theatre presents A Christmas Carol; www.nsmt.org. DECEMBER 8: PJ Library Hanukkah Story Hour, 4pm, Lynnfield Public Library. DECEMBER 10: Affordability Night at Brookwood School, Manchester, 7pm. See pages 4 and 7. Human Rights Day DECEMBER 13: Informational Gathering at Devereux School, Marblehead, 10am. See ad on page 12.
DECEMBER 23: Remembering Mrs. Chelsea. Merry Christmas!
Remembering Aunt Jean and Tami. JANUARY is the month for: Bath Safety, Blood Donors, Braille Literacy, Hobbies, Hot Tea, Oatmeal, Soup JANUARY 1: Happy New Year! JANUARY 8: Admission Open House at Pike School, Andover, 9am. See ad on page 10. JANUARY 9: Open School at Waring School, Beverly. See ad on page 12. JANUARY 10: Informational Gathering at Devereux School, Marblehead, 10am. See ad on page 12. JANUARY 13: Happy Birthday to Stephen & Veronica! Make Your Dream Come True Day JANUARY 14 (NOON):
DECEMBER 14:
AD DEADLINE: If you need to advertise in our FEBRUARY issue, and if you need any ad production assistance, please confirm your ad size and submit your ad materials by NOON TODAY! You can see our display ad rates, sizes, available discounts & more at www.northshorefamilies.com/advertise or contact suzanne@northshorefamilies.com.
International Children’s Day
JANUARY 15:
DECEMBER 16: DECEMBER 20:
Application deadline for Heronfield Academy, Hampton Falls, NH; see ad on page 2.
Holiday Community Sing-Along, 6pm, at Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport; free.
Open House at The Village School, Boxford, 9:30am. See ad on page 13.
Winter Festival & Ice Skating Exhibition presented by Cape Ann Figure Skating Club at Dorothy Talbot Rink, Gloucester; free. 11am-noon Skating Exhibition; 12noon-1pm Arts & Crafts, Used Skate & Dress Sale, Bake Sale; 1-2pm Open Skate/$5/family. www.cafsc.org
Hanukkah begins at sunset.
Holiday Storytime at HamiltonWenham Public Library, 11am; free for ages 2+ w/caregiver.
JANUARY 16 (NOON):
JANUARY 25:
AD DEADLINE: FINAL Advertising Space Reservation DEADLINE at NOON for ALL COMPLETED ADS (that do NOT require any ad production assistance) for our FEBRUARY issue! To advertise, contact suzanne@northshorefamilies.com! If you need any ad production assistance, please confirm your ad size and submit your ad materials by noon, Wed., Jan. 14! You can see our regular display ad rates, sizes, available discounts & more at www.northshorefamilies.com/advertise.
Open House at Shore Country Day School, Beverly, 11am1:30pm. See ad on page 9.
JANUARY 21: National Hugging Day JANUARY 22: Open House at Glen Urquhart School, Beverly, 9am. See ad on page 11. JANUARY 24: Admissions Open House at Brookwood School, Manchester, 1-3pm. See pages 4 and 7.
Open House at St. Pius V School, Lynn, 12:30-2:30pm. See ad on page 3. JANUARY 28: Remembering Madison on his birthday. Affordability Night at Brookwood School, Manchester, 7pm. See pages 4 and 7. JANUARY 29: Open House at Odyssey Day School, Wakefield, 6:30-8pm. See ad on page 13.
Please visit us online at www.northshorefamilies.com/events for more calendar listings for North Shore parents, children & families!
North Shore Children & Families
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From Our North Shore Family to Yours – We Wish You the Happiest of Holidays! Peace & Goodwill to All from North Shore Children & Families
www.northshorefamilies.com