June2020
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Volume 5 Number 4
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Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Therapeutic Parenting
How Mr. Rogers had it right when it comes to really hearing our kids.
Progressive Day Camp A unique way to entertain neighborhood kids this summer.
20 Parenting, Media &
Everything in Between Common Sense Media
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Dave Says
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Dave Ramsey
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Get This! Gerry Paige Smith
Common Sense Media Easy tips to manage TikTok and keep your kids safe.
A Day for Dad
Ideas for making this Father’s Day one he’ll remember.
Departments 6
Bits and Pieces
On The Cover
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School Bits
Bellamy Burns (5), daughter of Cierra Burns and Johnnie Burns. She is the granddaughter of Cynthia and Clayton Cavanaugh and Tonia Burns. Bellamy loves the beach, going to Disney, and cooking with mommy. She also enjoys learning and spending time with her friends at school.
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FromThePublisher
Greater Pensacola Greater Pensacola’s Foremost Parenting Source
Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” I firmly believe that to be true. In fact, I have contemplated and quoted that several times over the last couple of months. When life throws us a curve ball, we are given the opportunity to change our vantage point, to look at things differently, affording us the ability to grow. While it definitely has rocked peoples’ worlds having the kids home from school, and parents now working from home, what a wonderful chance to reconnect as a family. The everyday hustle and bustle has been drastically reduced and families are spending more time together cooking, playing games, and learning together. I have really enjoyed watching how Brad connects with our teenage girls. Usually this means playing video games, teaching car maintenance and home repair or watching a scary movie (I hate scary movies). Fathers and other male role models play such an important part in our childrens’ lives. I know that is the case in my life. My dad, my husband and my father-in-law have always been some of my biggest supporters, encouraging me and standing by me through every phase of life... and they do the same with my girls. This month we have a chance to celebrate these wonderful men. If you are looking for suggestions of ways you can honor Dad this Father’s Day turn to page 22 where you will find ideas from Kimberly Blaker in A Day for Dad: Make This Father’s Day One to Remember. While families manage work and home life, finding childcare and summer entertainment has also shown its share of difficulties. Many camps in the area have made the difficult decision to hold off camp this summer, and others that are open are filling up fast. Not to mention many families are still anxious about larger crowds, and we are encouraged to continue to keep our circles small. If you are faced with the challenge of finding childcare or looking for some entertainment for your children, you may want to flip over and check out Pam Molnar’s feature Progressive Day Camp – A Unique Way to Entertain the Kids this Summer. When I first read this article I was kicking myself for not thinking of this idea when my girls were younger. It is a great way to not only entertain and engage the children, but help fellow parents and keep our circles small. So as we officially kick off summer break, I would like to wish everyone a spectacular summer filled with wonderful opportunities for growth and memorymaking moments. And to all the dads, Happy Father’s Day!
Greater Pensacola Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Greater Pensacola Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.
Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@greaterpensacolaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson editor@greaterpensacolaparents.com Associate Editor Alison Rouse Contributing Writers Kimberly Blaker Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Pam Molnar Dave Ramsey Gerry Paige Smith Cover Photography Naomi McIntosh Photography Facebook.com/NaomiMcIntoshPhotography @naomimcintoshphotography
President Jason Watson Advertising Sales Lynn Knighton ads@greaterpensacolaparents.com (850) 426-6222 Account Manager Eleanor Williams Ad Design Tim Welch
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Visit us at www.greaterpensacolaparents.com
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Greater Pensacola Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: PO Box 6241 Pensacola, FL 32503. The phone number for voice and fax is (850) 426-6222. Greater Pensacola Parents is copyrighted 2020 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Greater Pensacola Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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Open for appointments Fully prepared for your safety in our care At Ascension Sacred Heart, the care you need is available today. From routine visits and health screenings to surgical procedures and specialty care, our caregivers are fully prepared for your arrival. As we all embrace a new care experience, Ascension Sacred Heart will continue to maintain strict precautions for your safety in our care including screenings, social distancing and protective equipment. Yet our compassionate, personalized care remains unchanged. When you enter our open doors, you’ll be greeted by the Ascension Sacred Heart caregivers you know and trust. We are now open to schedule appointments for your urgent and ongoing care needs, including: back surgery, joint surgery, heart screenings, pediatric vaccinations, annual wellness visits, prenatal care visits and more. Schedule now. Ask about virtual visits. GetSacredHeartCare.com
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Š Ascension 2020. All rights reserved.
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by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Mr. Rogers Had It Right It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...and it was a beautiful day sitting on my couch, snuggled up with my kids, watching what feels like movie number 2,074 during this quarantine. And that’s when I heard those wise words come straight from the mouth of Mr. Rogers – “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.” And there it was. Such a profound way to ground us in this time when we are all feeling all the feelings about our current reality. “When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary,” he said. Yes, Mr. Rogers. Yes. If he ever needed a career other than children’s reality show host and master of all puppets in the fictional kingdom of The Neighborhood of Make Believe, then he absolutely could have been in the world of psychology. You see, he gets it. Mr. Rogers understood that internalizing stress and worry and anxiety and uncertainty breeds stress and worry and anxiety and
Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
uncertainty. But mentioning them – which essentially means communicating them – breeds management – it breeds problem solving and eases concern. It brings about a sense of burden sharing with those around us. And as great as that feels as adults – this effect is even more magnified in our children. But in our own parental humanity, we often tend to negate the feelings of our children. Even in love we can be quick to just give a quick pat on the head and say, “Don’t worry, it will be fine,” without actually ever stopping and stooping and leaning in to hear what their little hearts are saying. Think of it this way – have you ever been upset about something and someone near you almost immediately says, “Calm down!” Does that, in any way, make you want to be calm in that moment? I’m guessing no. Instead, what helps you feel calm is when someone stops what they are doing, makes eye contact with you,
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sits near you and really hears your heart. They listen. They lean in. They understand that you are struggling, and because they care for you, they take time to invest in you in that moment. It doesn’t actually matter whether they have the answer to your problem, they were present. This is the difference. This is the way we move away from a culture of pith and trite remarks, empty of any value to us, and toward authentic, deep, relational engagement. As Mr. Rogers would sing to all of us at the end of every show, he understood that, “…You’ll have things you want to talk about…I will too.” So grab your cardigan from the closet by the front door, change your shoes, and be intentional to hear what your little (and big) ones are saying around you. It will make for a beautiful day in your own neighborhood. Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to mitigate negative behaviors. She is the Director of Central Alabama for Lifeline Children’s Services and is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted and she is a foster parent.
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Summer Cooking Classes Offered
Classes at Pensacola Cooks will resume on Monday, June 1, unless otherwise directed by government authorities. We will be thrilled to be back in the Kitchen and Cooking Classroom for PCKids Jr. Chefs Summer Camps, Family Classes, all adult classes, and for private events you would like to schedule. E-mail info@pensacolacooks.com or call us at (850) 4560743 with any questions.
Summer Camp Re-Imagined
Outdoor adventures are exciting and unpredictable! At every turn you might see something new. Join us for a week-long session challenging yourself in the great outdoors. Find out what a mood board is, go on a scavenger hunt, make a sundial and build a first aid kit for your hike. This is an installment in Girl Scouts of Gateway Council’s Summer Camp Re-Imagined series that offers a traditional summer camp experience in a virtual setting. All girls are encouraged to participate, even non-Girl Scouts! Registration required at https://www.girlscouts-gateway.org/en/ camps/summer-camp.html. Call (877) 764-5237 with questions.
Chain Reaction Teens Make an Impact
As a Teen Leadership Institute, Chain Reaction (CR) takes the ongoing crisis caused by COVID-19 as a chance to teach teens about crisis management and trusting the process. We help them to support our community during these challenging times by focusing on one of CR’s core principles: to make an impact beyond ourselves through service. In the times of social distancing, teens can serve their community and work on their leadership and employability skills from their own homes. We opened VIRTUAL CR, an online counterpart to our Chain Reaction Center where teens meet every week to work on service projects via Zoom. They use materials they can find in their homes (old Legos or T-shirts, paper sheets) to create superhero packages for abused children, toys for shelter animals, science kits for elementary students and much more. CR interns created videos that provide new teens with stepby-step instructions on how to work on each project from home. Having the chance to meet with their peers outside of school throughout the stay-at-home order helps many teens to cope with these new challenges and provides them with stability, social interaction and comfort. In the past six weeks: our teens completed 300 service hours from their homes; 100 teens practiced leadership during a crisis with leadership trainings guided by the CR team; 40 teens and college students have worked on their resume learning plans via Zoom calls with the CR staff. They have focused on building soft skills, doing activities, doing their best in their school work and completing and applying for internships. Enrollment is available to teens in grades 9 through 12. Membership costs $100 for new members with scholarships available upon request. We do know that because of COVID-19 many of our community members will need scholarships. We are committed to ensuring that every teen that wants to serve will be able to. Register online at mychainreaction.org (“Join Us”). For more info or registration in person, contact us at (850) 495-4492 or nfo@ mychainreaction.org. Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
The Arc Gateway Installs New Board Of Directors and Foundation Trustees
The Arc Gateway installed a new board of directors and foundation trustees at its annual meeting April 15. Together, the two boards work to further the agency mission of providing the best possible life experiences for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The Arc Gateway board of directors 2020-2021 are: Thomas Greek, president; Kathy Anthony, vice president; Angela Carter, secretary; Joseph McNair, treasurer; and Angela Eddy, past president. Directors include: Tracy Carreola, Jennifer Carter, Beej Davis, Hal George, Scott Grissett, Chris Jaubert, Robin Jones, Jim Longsworth, Barrett McClean, Becca McKeithen, Karen Mansfield, Marsha Nelson, Stephen Rampersad, Kelley Rowland, Bill Seedes, Karen Shell, Jerry Watson, Todd Torgersen and Mike Wiggins, emeritus. The Arc Gateway Foundation trustees 2020-2021 are: Karen Mansfield, president; Madrina Ciano, vice president; Kristie Greenhut, secretary; Gary Tringas, treasurer; and Marianne McMahon, past president. Trustees include: Kathy Anthony, Malcolm Ballinger, Julie Cardwell, Elise Dabezies, Angela D’Alessandro, Sarah Davis, John Gormley, Thomas Greek, Lane Harper, Brooke Henderson, Mary Henriques, Mary Hoxeng, Cam Johnson, Carol Joyner, Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Joseph McNair, Caitlyn Miller, Marny Needle, Tim O’Brien, Carroll Scarborough, Brad Schild and Sue Straughn. 6
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State Museums Reopen with Phase 1
On May 16, the Pensacola Museum of Art and the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum reopened as part of Florida’s Phase 1. For the current time, we will only be open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. These staggered days will allow staff plenty of time to fully sanitize the museums between open days. We will operate at 25% capacity at both locations. In order to ensure the social distancing guidelines, we will only offer online $5 timed tickets and staff will be situated on each floor reminding visitors of the safety protocols. These $5 tickets are good for both museums and are good for only the day. Members also need to register for a timed ticket prior to visiting the museums to ensure entrance capacity is maintained. Member discount is automatic when you log into your account. If you need assistance logging into your account, e-mail Wendi at wdavis4@uwf.edu. Each visitor will be offered free disposable masks at the entrances of the museums if they do not have a mask. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout both locations. While these two museums will be open, the two museum stores will remain closed for the Phase 1 reopening. Online sales are still available. All educational programs and events are still cancelled until further notice. This includes Afterschool Art Club, Next Generation Homeschool, Art Academy for Autism, Open Studio, Family Sunday, Parent’s Night Out, Yoga in the Gallery, and Preschool Art Time. For more info, visit https://www.pensacolamuseum.org/.
Firecracker 5K Helps Ronald McDonald House
Join the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida in Downtown Pensacola in your most patriotic attire to run or walk our Firecracker 5K on July 4 beginning at 7 a.m. This family-friendly 5K includes a free Kids’ Fun Run presented by Peaden in beautiful Downtown Pensacola. Purchase your Red & White Ronald socks at packet pickup and on race day for $10. Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House and you get to Rock Our Socks! Regular registration through July 1 is $30. Race Day registration July 4 is $35. Kids’ Fun Run is free, but you still need to register online. Enjoy food and beverages and stick around after the event for awards inside Phineas Phoggs! The annual costume contest will offer three categories (children, adults and family). First place will be awarded in each category. For more info, call (850) 4772273 or visit https://rmhc-nwfl.org/firecracker-5k.php.
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Dining with a View at Blue Wahoo’s Stadium Seven Days a Week
Enjoy the best view in baseball and your favorite ballpark foods seven days a week! Blue Wahoos Stadium is open for safe outdoor dining for lunch, dinner and brunch with seating spaced throughout the ballpark, giving fans access to Blue Wahoos Stadium’s award-winning views of Pensacola Bay and exclusive areas of the ballpark! Lunch will be served at Blue Wahoos Stadium Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Fans can order in advance by calling (850) 934-8444 ext. 451 or order in-person at the Curbside Pick-Up location outside Blue Wahoos Stadium on the third base side. Once the customer receives food, he is welcome to enter the ballpark through the main gates and sit at tables spaced across the concourse, Hancock Whitney Club, or Dignity Memorial Party Deck. Dinner is available Wednesday-Saturday from 5-9 p.m. Customers enter through the stadium’s main gates and order food from the Hook, Line & Sinker Concession Storefront on the third base concourse. After ordering, customers will be invited to sit at tables spaced along the concourse, in the Hancock Whitney Club, or in the Dignity Memorial Party Deck and Blue Wahoos staff will deliver food directly to the customer’s table. Blue Wahoos Stadium will be open for Brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. featuring an exclusive menu of brunch favorites including biscuits & gravy, chicken & waffles, mimosas, and Bloody Marys! The safety of customers and Blue Wahoos staff is the team’s number one priority. During all in-stadium dining availability, a Blue Wahoos Compliance Manager will oversee the ballpark to ensure physical distancing and safety guidelines are strictly followed by all. In accordance with CDC COVID-19 safe dining guidelines, no refills will be offered on any product and all condiments will be delivered in single-serve packets. For more info, visit https://www.milb.com/pensacola/.
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Red, White and Blues Week Features Pensacola Beach Air Show
Pensacola Saenger Theatre Reopens
Little River Band is scheduled to perform Thursday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m. ALL SEATS RESERVED. Little River Band’s timeless classic hits include “Cool Change,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Reminiscing,” “Help is on its Way,” “Lonesome Loser,” “Lady,” and “Happy Anniversary.” White Tie Rock Ensemble, originally scheduled for May 2, has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 18, at 8 p.m. Come experience an evening of glamorous rock and roll as the White Tie Rock Ensemble presents a tribute to Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie and QUEEN! If you bought tickets for the May event, your tickets will be honored for the new date. For more info on these or future events, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com/ or call (850) 595-3880.
Locals and visitors from all over look forward to the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show held in the summer. The show highlights our hometown heroes — the Blue Angels — the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron stationed at Forrest Sherman Field aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, but also includes civilian and other military aircraft performing acrobatics over the Gulf of Mexico. The Pensacola Beach Air Show is presented by the Santa Rosa Island Authority and features the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, Veterans Flight, Gary Ward, Kevin Coleman, Skip Stewart and Redline. The Blues hold several practice sessions along the beach in the days leading up to the big event on show day. July 8: Breakfast with the Blues. Should be overhead at 8 a.m. July 9: Practice flight demonstration with the Blue Angels at 2 p.m. July 10: Dress Rehearsal with civilian acts and Blue Angels rehearsal begins at noon. Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. July 11: Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. Show begins at noon. Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. Location: Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach For more info, visit https://visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happening-blueangels/.
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Pensacola Children’s Chorus Awards Two Seniors Collegiate Scholarships
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus (PCC) is pleased to award two Spirit of Pensacola Collegiate Scholarships to graduating seniors Laura Looper and Ethan Middleton. Both were selected for their demonstrated traits of honor and courage as well as their impactful service to PCC and to the Greater Pensacola community. Looper attended Trinitas Christian Academy and was a member of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus for three years. She has also appeared on stage at the Brevard Music Center (North Carolina) and at Carnegie Hall (New York). In addition to her performing activities, Looper volunteers locally at numerous soup kitchens and food pantries as well as remaining active in her school and church communities. In her scholarship application essay, Looper said that her experience with PCC has made her feel “big yet small.” Looper explains, “big in that I value my voice and everyone else’s as equal contributions to make up a chorus—a family—and small as I recognize that being a member of PCC is not all about me, but a journey of humility and recognizing the talent, potential and remarkable worth of everyone around me.” Middleton attended West Florida High School and was a member of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus for eight years. He has also appeared on stage with Pensacola Opera, Pensacola State College, and Pensacola Little Theatre. In addition to his performing activities, Middleton serves as the co-chair of PCC’s student leadership council. “The Pensacola Children’s Chorus has helped mold me into a person who truly takes pride in my community,” Middleton said. “I have learned that giving back to the community is of utmost importance.” Both he and Looper are members of PCC’s Ambassador Choir, an ensemble which partners with local nonprofits on projects which combine music and service. “Ethan and Laura are very worthy recipients of our Spirit of Pensacola Scholarship,” said Alex Gartner, artistic and executive director. “Both are incredible leaders who never hesitate to motivate and build up those around them. They are model examples of what it means to put service over self.” The Spirit of Pensacola Scholarship was established in 2018 as a way to continue PCC’s mission of molding a new generation of leaders beyond high school. Interested applicants submitted an essay and résumé which were blindly reviewed by a subcommittee of PCC’s board of directors. Funding is generously provided by individual donations secured by PCC’s Board President, Jerry Unruh, VADM, USN (Ret.). To date, PCC has awarded $12,000 in collegiate scholarships over the past three years.
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Montclair Team Drives By Teachers’ Homes To Show Appreciation
Montclair Elementary School’s principal, vice principal and ELA intervention teacher Cathy Roche made visits to their teachers’ homes for Teacher Appreciation Week. They put a sign in their yard and gave them each a gift bag. Gulf Power donated the signs and they worked with Christ Church and the Legacy House to fill the gift bags for more than 40 teachers. Thank you, Kimberly Blair, senior communication specialist, marketing and communication at Gulf Power Company, for sharing the photos.
Redeemer Recognizes Shining Star
Redeemer Lutheran congratulates Ryder Lemon for being a Shining Star! Lemon is a hard-working and conscientious student. He is a kind, polite friend and is always willing to help his classmates. Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
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St. Paul Bottle Top Mural
Students at St. Paul Catholic School diligently collected plastic bottle tops for several months to use in a large mural. Students sorted the bottle tops by color, screwed holes, and even screwed them onto large panels. An estimated 10,000 bottle tops was needed to complete this project. The mural, with its ocean theme, highlights how quickly the oceans are filling up with plastics and will hopefully encourage us all to be more mindful of our use of single-use plastics.
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East Hill Christian School Cheerleaders
The East Hill Christian School cheerleaders put together a special message to “cheer” on their classmates during this time of quarantine and seclusion. The EHCS cheerleaders are not only great encouragers on the court and in person, but also “virtually” on social media.
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Autauga County Schools
East Hill Christian School Holds Teacher Appreciation
Learning remotely at home did not stop the East Hill Christian School students from showing appreciation to their teachers. During teacher appreciation week, teachers received thank-you e-mails, videos and Facebook posts and even got a special delivery of goodies right to their doors. EHCS loves all of its teachers and are especially proud of them and the extra steps they have taken to ensure that their students were learning and growing during these uncertain times.
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Myrtle Grove Congratulates 2020 Fifth-Graders
Myrtle Grove Elementary officially said goodbye to its fifth-grade students as the school year drew to a close.
Please email news and photos to schoolnews@greaterpensacolaparents.com!
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St. Paul Student Body Enjoys Fine Arts Expo
St. Paul Catholic School held its second annual Fine Arts Expo this spring. What an amazing night filled with the arts! The evening began with a concert in the church featuring SPCS faculty, orchestra, band and choir students before flowing into the school. The hallways were lined with incredible art from talented students— clay masks, ceramic rainbows, drawings, paintings, sculptures of several different types of media—and inside most rooms were hands-on activities or a chance to talk to a professional artist in person. The Glow Gallery was a major highlight! Filled with fluorescent artwork and the materials to make more, along with a photo opportunity in front of the Yayoi Kusama-inspired sculpture, the dark room was a fun place to hang out. All attending were invited to sign SPCS’s very own “Graffiti Bridge” mural which will be on permanent display in the school. Our bottle top mural was an interactive exhibit in progress—everyone was invited to help this project with a drill. Thank you to all who helped bring this event to life!
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Autauga County Schools
STEAM Learning Continues at Redeemer
Advances in technology and science are constantly being made, and it has made STEAM education more important than ever. Redeemer Lutheran is helping to instill these skills in its students with various projects including programmable robots.
N.B. Cook Fifth-Graders Get Sign Send-Off
It’s a sign... a sign that it is time to say goodbye and to wish the fifth-graders a bon voyage as they sail on up to middle school! Here is what the kids saw when they went by N.B. Cook Elementary School recently!
LFCS Students Spell with Popcorn
Please email schoolnews@ greaterpensacola parents.com by the 10th of each month!
Students at Little Flower Catholic School continue to use their creativity to learn! Here, a student uses popcorn to practice her spelling. It’s wonderful to see our students expand their horizons.
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Summer camp is a win-win situation for families. It gives parents the child-free time they need to work or care for younger children, while keeping their older children occupied with fun activities. If you are looking for a budget friendly way to achieve some of the benefits that a day camp provides, you might want to consider a progressive neighborhood camp. Other than camp supplies, the only cost for a neighborhood progressive camp is an hour of the parents’ time each day. The parent counselors take turns providing one hour of structured entertainment in the form of games, crafts and other activities. When the hour is up, the children move on to the next house, leaving that parent the rest of the time to do their work childfree.
How it works: Choose the number of participants based on the number of children and their ages. The number of families, not the number of children, will determine how long your camp is each day. For example, if you have five families, your camp is 5 hours long. If you have a large number of children, you can enlist the help of a babysitter who will move from house to house with the children and act as an assistant camp counselor.
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Planning: Choose the activities that you will include in your camp. Some suggestions include outdoor games, arts and crafts, music and dance, gardening, cooking and baking, science projects, storytime and, of course, lunchtime. Other options include teaching a new skill like how to sew on a button or inviting a guest speaker to come. If your group is small, www.greaterpensacolaparents.com
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lunch for a large group, consider 9:00 to 10:00 having Arts and Crafts at Smith House each child - Make marshmallow shooters bring 10:00 to 11:00 a sack Cooking and Baking at Yu House lunch. - Make homemade ice cream If 11:00 to 12:00 you plan Outdoor games at Johnson House to send - Playing horseshoes, water gun the kids shooting gallery, rope the horse, home with sack races a trinket 12:00 to 1:00 each day, Lunch and Storytime at Brown House consider - Serving wagon wheel pasta and pigs in a blanket, plus homemade ice cream something Reading: Cowboy Camp reusable by Tammi Sauer like relay 1:00 to 2:00 race water Music/Dance time at O’Malley House bottles - Learning to square dance from the dollar Keep the costs store. Other inexpensive ideas include a DVD down: You will find craft of the music video they made or an supplies at OrientalTrading.com, which is egg carton full of the seedlings they a goldmine for inexpensive kids’ crafts planted. and game prizes. Instead of serving you might also consider a short field trip. Parent camp counselors can chose which activity they host based on their skill level or tolerance for mess. Using a daily theme for your camp will help to tie the activities together. Theme ideas include pajama day, beach party, super hero, patriotic, decades day, sports jersey day and Wacky Wednesday. Work as a group to determine a budget after factoring the number of children and the supplies needed for each activity. An example itinerary for a Wild West theme can be found in the sidebar.
Example Progressive Camp Today’s Theme: Wild West
Putting it all together: All the kids will meet at the first house at the start of camp. The camp counselor should be prepared to start the activity as soon as the kids arrive. Each session should end five minutes before the next hour so the counselor (or babysitter) can walk the kids to the next house. At the end of the day, each parent will pick up their child at the last house. Capture the memories: Take a lot of pictures of the kids at camp. You can find inexpensive photo booth printouts online and at Etsy or snap candid shots of the kids in action. Make a slide show of the photos to share with the campers on the last day and give everyone a copy. The best thing about a progressive day camp is that you can host a weekly camp or just one day each week for the whole summer. Unlike other camps, these parents will be a part of their child’s camp experience, an advantage that is priceless. GPP Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three who believes it takes a village to raise children. She is forever grateful to the many moms and dads who have created so many memories for her family.
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TikTok Safety Tips
Make sure tweens use their real age to create an account.
Manage TikTok with These Easy Settings
If you’re going to allow your tweens to join TikTok, insist that they register with their actual birth date. The app offers a limited experience for users under 13 where they can watch videos and create their own clips for private viewing, free from the data tracking the company collects on users over 13. However, access to that area of the app only requires the user to enter a birth date -- and there’s nothing to prevent older users from joining as an under-13-year-old.
The wild-and-wacky short videos of TikTok continue to gain popularity among kids, adults, and even celebrities. But the app has had some problems, such as illegally collecting data on users under 13, notoriously inappropriate comments, and awkward settings that can leave you with unwanted followers. Still, its viral “challenges,” creative tools, and just-plain-fun features mean your kids are probably going to want it. Tik Tok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, Facebook, or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports), and hashtags to find videos. Or you can use your phone contacts or social media followers to find friends already on the app. Many kids on Tik Tok like to create videos, but plenty of people don’t post themselves -- they just use the app to find and follow content creators. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless, creative fun, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you have to use privacy settings to limit how much information you and your kids are sharing. Kids can post stuff without reviewing or editing it first. There have even been reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. And in 2019, TikTok paid millions to settle with federal regulators who charged it violated children’s privacy law. Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the app. Anyone under the age of 18 must have approval of a parent or guardian -- but there are plenty of young tween users. If your younger kid or tween wants to use the app, the account should belong to an adult who can monitor what younger users are browsing and sharing. There’s also the section of the app mentioned above that’s meant for kids under 13 that restricts access to mature content and comments, but since entering a false birthdate is easy, it’s still best for older teens. That being said, here are some tips to keep your younger kids safe if they are on TikTok: Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
Have fun using the app together with younger kids.
It’s a great way to spend quality media time together. Plus you can supervise them and advise them on responsible use so they have good habits when they get older. The following settings are located in the Privacy and Settings section. To get there, go to your kid’s profile page and click the three-dot icon (“...”) on the top right.
Make your kid’s account private. TikTok accounts are public by default, meaning anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and post comments. Help kids turn on privacy settings so only people they know can interact with their videos or message them on the app. Select Privacy and Safety. There, toggle the switch for “Private Account.” Limit comments. TikTok comments can be inappropriate. Restrict the audience that can post comments on kids’ videos to Friends only -- or turn them off entirely. Again, select Privacy and Safety. Review the settings, including: Who can send you direct messages; Who can comment on your videos; and Comment filters. Limit time and inappropriate content. TikTok offers features to help limit kids’ time on the app as well as videos that may be inappropriate. You can protect these settings with a passcode so kids can’t change them back. Alternatively, you can download the TikTok app and use the Family Pairing feature to manage your kid’s account from your phone. Select Digital Wellbeing next to the icon of an umbrella. There you’ll see settings for Screen Time Management, Restricted Mode, and Family Pairing. 20
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It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. -- Anne Sexton Fathers play a significant role in kid’s lives. They’re important role models, influence children’s self-esteem and school performance, and make great coaches and fun-loving playmates. Father’s Day is just around the corner, so don’t be caught scrambling for the perfect way to show you care. Try some of these ideas to show your dad just how important he is to you. Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
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Video Surprise – Make a “World’s Best Dad” video he’ll treasure for years to come. Put on your brainstorming cap for your own ideas, or try some of these ideas for your video. Share special memories of your dad, sing to him, read him a poem, or do skits. Get the whole family involved and conduct interviews with each other with Dad as the main topic. Don’t forget your props such as a banner or collection of his prized possessions, including sports trophies or equipment to add a personal touch. Most importantly, be sure to let him know just how much he means to you in your video.
helped you to become the person you are today, and what he means to you. Then print it on stationary, matte and frame it.
Musical Moment– Take your father to see his favorite band or performing artist, enjoy a jazz or blues festival, or pack up some lawn chairs, and enjoy a local concert-in-the-park.
Togetherness Takes Two – Has your dad been putting off the dreaded task of cleaning out his attic, basement, or garage? Give him a gift of shelving materials and brackets, wall racks and ceiling hooks, and storage crates. Then spend the day helping him to get it organized while catching up on old times.
King for the Day – It isn’t every day your dad gets waited on hand and foot. Offer to be his loyal servant for the day. Bring him coffee and toast in bed; fetch his newspaper; lay out his clothes, bath towel, and mat; be host or hostess and serve him beverages and snacks; clean up after him and anything else to give him the royal treatment.
World’s Greatest – Let dad know that he’s the greatest
365 days a year! Give him a “World’s Greatest Dad” coffee mug, t-shirt, book cover, bookmarker, wallet card, or another trinket that he’ll see or use regularly.
Memories of Dad – Purchase a scrapbook, and create a
record of memories about you and your dad. Include photos of special outings, events, and holidays you’ve had together. Also include other memorabilia such as concert or sporting event ticket stubs, postcards, and brochures. Next to each photo or item, describe your memories of those special times with your father.
Sports Buff’s Surprise – Take your dad for a sporting good time. Play a game of golf, tennis, or basketball, go fishing at the river’s edge, or enjoy a paddle around a lake. If being a spectator is more his thing, buy tickets to his favorite sporting event such as a baseball or soccer game, boxing match, or auto race.
A Man to Remember – Get your creative juices flowing, and write a poem for your dad. You don’t need to be a poet to come up with a few thoughtful words to say how much he means. Describe the impact he’s had on your life, how he’s
other on a camping trip for two. Either rough it in a tent or rent a mini cabin at a state park. Spend your weekend enjoying nature hikes, sightseeing, fishing, boating, playing cards, and taking it easy together.
Weekend Getaway – Get in touch with nature and each
Overnight Camp for Boys & Girls June 14 – 19 June 21–26 June 28 – July 3 July 5 –10 July 12–17 July 19– 24
Experience Pensacola’s premier summer camp. You’ll enjoy zip lines, swimming, archery, table tennis, shuffleboard, tetherball, canoeing, paddleboats, water slides, crafts, and other exciting activities!
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favors include sweeping out the garage, mowing the lawn, or any other task he normally handles.
Father’s Day Feast – As the old adage goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So treat dad to a mouth-watering meal on the barbecue. Fix him his favorite: steak, ribs, chicken, burgers, or chops for starters. Don’t forget the grilled potatoes or squash, garlic bread or rolls, fresh green beans or asparagus, sweet corn, potato salad, and last but not least, his favorite dessert.
Catch a Flick…..or two – Treat your dad to a movie fest. Rent a couple newly released videos or some of his longtime favorites. Or head to the cinemas for a double feature. Whether you take the movies in at home or the theater, don’t forget the hot, buttered popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.
Pamper Him – What better way to show your appreciation for all his hard work than to indulge him? Give your father a gift certificate for a professional massage, which will be sure to please.
Get in Touch with His Soft Side – Give your dad a book of poetry specially written for fathers. Try one of these: Fathers: A Collection of Poems by David Ray and Judy Ray
Just the Two of Us – Put together a photo collage of you and your father. There are many ways to do this. Find instructions at your nearby craft store and create a Decoupage photo collage. Keep it simple with a multi-photo frame, or purchase a unique 3D photo collage frame. These are available and art and craft supply stores and online.
Father’: Collected Poems by Ken Koprowski Thoughts to Share With a Wonderful Father: A Collection of Poems by Blue Mountain Arts Collections
A Gift of Giving – Does your dad have a favorite cause or charity such as the Humane Society, the Nature Conservancy, or American Cancer Society? If so, why not give him a membership or make a donation in his name? Remember small donations add up and are always appreciated. GPP
Take a Stroll – Enjoy a peaceful walk in the park or the country together. Better yet, gather your bikes or roller blades, hit a scenic bike path, and enjoy the fresh summer air. Certificates of Appreciation – Show Dad you appreciate his hard work by returning the favor. Make coupons that say: “In appreciation for all that you do, Dad. Redeem this certificate for a hassle-free car wash by me!” Other
Kimberly Blaker is a professional lifestyle and parenting freelance writer. She also does B2C and B2B copywriting. Find her at www.kimberlyblaker.com.
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Plus STEM camps by
For Kids Ages 8–14 June 1–July 31
PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE
PensacolaState.edu/ce
Pensacola State College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender/sex, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information in its educational programs, activities, or employment. For inquiries regarding Title IX and the College’s nondiscrimination policies, contact the Executive Director, Institutional Equity and Student Conduct at 850-484-1759, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, Florida 32504.
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Pay Taxes Now or Later? Q. My husband and I owe $3,500 in federal taxes, along with $3,000 in state taxes. We’re both still working during the pandemic scare. Would it better to wait until the new July 15 due date to pay taxes, and pay off other debt in the meantime, or go ahead and pay state and federal taxes now, and take care of our other debts with what we have leftover monthly? A. If you’re talking about back taxes, I’d say pay them now. You don’t want to play around with the IRS, because they can really mess you up if they decide they’re coming for you. But if you’re talking about taxes for 2019, I’d go ahead and include them in your debt snowball. If you need to move them up in your debt snowball in order to pay them on time, that’s fine. Whatever you do, don’t pay them late. Sit down
Greater Pensacola Parents I June 2020
together, and lay out a game plan that includes paying your taxes—and all your other debts—on time!
Use Savings to Pay Credit Card Debt? Q. I feel truly blessed. Even with everything that is going on these days, I still have a steady job and a good income. I’m thinking about taking some money out of my savings account in order to completely pay off my credit card debt. How do you feel about this idea? A. It’s not a bad plan if you’ve come to a point where you understand a few things. The credit card and the debt aren’t the real problems. They’re symptoms of buying things you probably don’t need with money you don’t have. You need to take
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a long look in the mirror, because the person who’s looking back at you is the real problem. If you can accept this, and are committed to changing yourself and your financial habits, I’d say go for it. Just don’t wipe out your savings in the process. Leave plenty of cash in there, especially right now when so many things are uncertain. Also, make sure you cut up that credit card, close the account, and make a promise to yourself that you’ll never use those things again. Once you do all this, and start living on a written, monthly budget, rebuild your savings as quickly as possible. Saving money is always a good thing. And everyone needs an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses for the unexpected stuff life throws at you!
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High Score for Arcade Games
Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids
First appearing in the early 1900’s as part of the midway attractions at amusement parks, games of chance and skill have claimed their permanent space as part of the arcade experience. While flashy video games took over much of the gaming space in later years, traditional mechanical games held their ground and remain fixtures in arcades today. These more tactile traditional games are also ones that kids cut their arcade teeth on, with their simplicity and easy access. The following games are new versions of old favorites that bring classic arcade superstars right into the home.
by Gerry Paige Smith
Skee-Ball Classic Arcade Game
Whac A Mole (Catch Star)
(Buffalo Games)
A familiar game to any kid who’s visited an arcade, the game of Skee-Ball is more storied and complex than most folks know. Entertaining players since 1908, Skee-ball even has its own lingo with terms like ‘rook skee’, ‘hundo’ and ‘bombshell’ that describe different plays. The Skee-Ball Classic Arcade Game from Buffalo Games is the officially licensed version of this vintage sport. Crafted with quality, durable materials, Skee-Ball Classic includes a wooden base, game rules, five balls and four scoring hoops. This game can be played by 1 to 4 players with multiple competitive variations that add new twists and challenges to the traditional scoring. Skee-Ball Classic is super portable and can be set up in an instant on any tabletop or flat surface. Just add players and this arcade favorite is ready to go!
Recreating the game that stormed arcades in the 1970’s, Whac a Mole from Catch Star brings this energetic favorite into the home with a miniature version. The game base (with suction cups for anchoring) features colorful ‘moles’ with cheery expressions that light up in random order. The hammer handle is plastic, but the head is crafted with durable squishy foam protecting little fingers and the moles from unintended damage. With the goal of ‘whacking’ moles as quickly as possible when they light up, kids learn to focus their attention on the board as they race to pound the lights out. With sound features in English, Spanish and Music modes, there’s also an option for muting the sound. Ideal for building handeye coordination as well as relieving stress, this fast-paced arcade game pops its head up for active arcade play, right at home!
Giantex 27” Tabletop Foosball
Pop-a-Shot Dual Shot Sport Basketball
Take the field old-school with a whole team at your fingertips. The twist and turns, the slam and jam of foosball are ready to clear the table - right at home. With a whole team at your fingertips, this versatile foosball setup is ideal for play on most sturdy flat surfaces. Each team’s side features a goalie rod (goalie, two defenders), midfield rod and attacking rod (three players each). The rod grips are ergonomically designed for concise handling and energetic control. Both sides have abacus scoring and ball return (balls sold separately). Because it’s designed to take advantage of existing surfaces, this foosball game is easy to store under a bed or in a closet when not in play. Ideal for rec rooms, as well as game nights and playdates, kids and adults will love taking the field with this smaller version of the arcade foosball favorite!
Made from sturdy steel tubes with a powder coating to eliminate rusting and chipping, the Dual Shot Sport Basketball can withstand years of frequent use. An easily accessible panel control on the front accesses 10 total games, from the classic 1-on-1 competition to individual skill challenges; audio with 3 different music selections, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and an announcer who calls the game for you. The Dual Shot Sport includes an AC adapter so you can power the game via plug-in with the option of battery-powered play. This full-sized arcade fixture requires some dedicated assembly time, but the final result guarantees an addictive game play experience.
(Giantex)
(Pop-A-Shot)
Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com
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