Mobile Bay Parents February 2016 by KeepSharing

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February2016

Volume 5 Number 9

Columns

Mom of the Month 4

Living With Children John Rosemond

Kids Health Watch

Why do babies spit up and how can you help to prevent it as often as possible?

How to Find a High Quality Preschool

Kids Health Watch

sponsored by Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Group

What to look for and questions to ask in this critical decision.

Get This!

Gerry Paige Smith

Dave Says Dave Ramsey

Growing Up Online

48 Child Care Guide

Find detailed information about area child care centers and preschools.

Carolyn Jabs

Mean Girls

Help your daughter dismantle this time bomb before she gets to her middle school years.

A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

Centsibly Southern Chic Laura Handey

On The Cover Addison (3) daughter of Julie and Brian Eiler, and little sister to Cole (10). Proud grandparents are Ron and Lynnell Morrow. Addison loves to dance, sing and play outdoors with her big brother. 1

Departments 6

Bits and Pieces 13

School Bits 52

Family Calendar 60

Movie Reviews www.facebook.com/mobilebayparentsmagazine

MomOfTheMonth My family recently moved and as I was cleaning out years and years of stuff, for lack of a better word, I pulled out stacks of homemade cards and pictures the girls made in school over the years. I was thrilled to look back through these treasures and even found the very first footprint card my daughter’s daycare made for me when she was only a few months old. As I sat there, tired and overwhelmed, I put my hand on top of that tiny little footprint and cried. I wasn’t crying because I was sad my baby is growing up, I was just emotional thinking about how much joy being a mother had brought to me. I was unsure in the beginning, wondering how in the world I was going to manage it all. Fortunately I had some amazing help from the wonderful ladies at our daycare. They grew to be our extended family and we developed some lifelong friendships with the other families, too. Finding the right childcare is so important. If you find the right fit, you will form a wonderful bond with your new extended “family”. The key is, to find the right fit for YOUR family. Childcare is not a “one size fits all” option. What works for your neighbor may not work for you. If you are looking at preschools, start with Barbie Norvell’s article, What to Look for When Choosing a Preschool. Dr. Norvell has her PhD in Early Childhood Education along with 26 years of experience as a classroom teacher and university professor. Her article has some wonderful points to consider when visiting childcare facilities. You will also find the 2016 Childcare Directory on page 38 very helpful. We have provided a complete list of daycare centers, preschools and mother’s-morning-out programs in the Mobile Bay area. Two last pieces of advice...trust your gut, and do not wait until six weeks before you need the childcare to start looking. Many centers have waiting lists and if you start the search the day you realize you will soon need childcare, the more options you will have. Many registrations are first come, first serve so get there early. Also, visit the centers before registration to make sure you have everything you need to secure your spot. Finding the right childcare may also mean finding lifelong friends. Developing strong friendships early can help when children have to navigate through those awkward years. We all know too well how common the mean girl (and boy) culture has become. The problem only perpetuates when the person on the other side does not know how to react and defensively says something mean back. We have countless discussions in our house about being kind, thinking of others’ feelings and turning the other cheek, because you never know what someone else is going through. Their meanness and anger may actually be hiding hurt or insecurity. I constantly tell my girls to think before they speak. We also ask them to think of the intention of the words. Sometimes people say things that aren’t meant to be hurtful, but are. If you are on the receiving end, afford that person the grace of letting it go. They are probably already regretting their words. If you make a mistake and speak harshly, own it and apologize. I encourage everyone to read Cristina Katz’s article Dismantle The Mean Girl Time Bomb Before Middle School. It is going to take everyone working on this problem if we are ever going to see a difference.

From my family to yours,

Lynn

lynn@mobilebayparents.com

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

Mobile Bay Mobile Bay’s Foremost Parenting Source

Mobile Bay Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Mobile Bay Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@mobilebayparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@mobilebayparents.com Associate Editor Kelly Watson Research Editor Lucy Green Contributing Writers Jennifer Adair, M.D. Christina Katz Laura Handey Carolyn Jabs Barbie Norvell, Ph.D. Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Gerry Paige Smith Cover Photography Hannah Stinson www.hannahstinsonphotography.com

President Jason Watson Advertising Sales Lynn Knighton Leslie Hall Danielle Nicholas ads@mobilebayparents.com (251) 304-1200 Ad Design Tim Welch

Visit us at www.mobilebayparents.com Mobile Bay Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: P.O. Box 81105, Mobile, Alabama, 36689. The phone number for voice and fax is (251) 304-1200. Mobile Bay Parents is copyrighted 2016 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Mobile Bay 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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LivingWithChildren

by John Rosemond

Micromanagement Stimulates Pushback Q: My 14-year-old son started public high school this year and immediately fell into his old bad habits. He’s intelligent and capable of making consistently excellent grades, but he often does less than he’s capable of. He also tends to wait until the last minute before he begins something like a book report. I’m on the school website every day, keeping up with his assignments and then making sure he does them. I’ve been doing this since he was in the third grade. He obviously doesn’t like it, but if I don’t, I’m afraid of what will happen. When I try to talk to him about the problem, he tells me he’s okay, everything is fine, and I need to back off. He’s a good kid who’s well-liked by teachers and peers and can do exemplary work when he wants to. How can I motivate him? A: Your son may have developed some bad habits, but so have you. Unfortunately, neither of you can see that your

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

respective bad habits are playing off each other’s and have created a vicious cycle. Your son does less than he’s capable of, you micromanage, he responds by doing less than he’s capable of and you respond with more micromanaging. And around and around you go. The two of you have been engaged in this dance for six, now going on seven, years, during which time nothing has changed. Is there any possibility that more micromanagement on your part is going to suddenly accomplish what six years of it has not accomplished? The answer: No. Micromanagement is self-fulfilling. Invariably, it stimulates push-back. The recipient retaliates against the violation of his autonomy by passively frustrating the manager’s attempts to improve his performance. This causes the manager to double-down, which results in more pushback, which brings on more micromanaging, and so on.

Your son has told you what you need to do: back off. He’s intelligent, capable, and like all too many of his peers, has figured out how to make adequate grades with minimal effort. You can take away privileges if his achievement falls below a certain level, but that’s not going to work unless you back off, and I mean completely. Stop checking the school website; stop checking behind him; stop nagging. Leave him to his own devices. You’re not describing a child who’s going to crash and burn, drop out of school, and wind up homeless or in prison. My experience leads me to predict that when you back off, his school achievement will slowly improve—slowly being the operative word. You’re probably going to have to accept that he’s going to continue underachieving (while still making decent grades) until he finds coursework that presents him with a rewarding challenge. In the meantime, your relationship with him will greatly improve. Can you accept a less-than-perfect outcome?

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Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions at www.johnrosemond.com and parentguru.com.

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THE ADVENTURES IN

Math & Science 2016 Summer Camp Sessions

Hosted by the Alabama School of Math and Science June 6-10, June 13-17, & June 20-24 Grades 6-10

Day & Overnight Camp! Kayak in Mobile Bay Build a Robot

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Register Online Early to Save! Register by April 6: $360 Overnight Camp (all inclusive), $260 Day Camp (includes lunch) Register after April 6: $385 Overnight Camp (all inclusive), $285 Day Camp (includes lunch) The cost to stay the weekend between Sessions 1 and 2 is an additional $185 (includes trip to water park) Applications, more information, and course descriptions are online at www.asms.net. COURSE SAMPLING ACT Prep, Algebra Review, Exploring Inner Space, Marine Biology, CSI: Mobile, Phun Physics, Using Java, Robotics, Field Biology, Psychology, Math Puzzles, Labs of Doom, Rocketry, Origami, Speak Up, Light Metals and Enameling, Apps for Smart Devices, and many more.

www.facebook.com/mobilebayparentsmagazine 1255 Dauphin St. • Mobile, AL 36604 • 251.441.2100 • www.asms.net • admissions@asms.net

Mobile Boat Show – February 19-21

There is no other place to see the selections of boats, motors, trailers, tackle and all other boat and fishing related items than at the Mobile Boat Show on February 19-21 at the Mobile Convention Center. In addition to a huge selection of boats and marine products, there are lots of special events for the whole family to enjoy! This year’s show will feature professional flyboarding demonstrations in the Mobile River. This exciting new sport is taking off around the Gulf Coast and is fun to watch! The Fetch-n-Fish dog show returns with dog jumping, training tips and lots of fun for the kids, Twiggy the Skiing Squirrel Shows, and the Skeeter Experience seminar series boasts a great line-up of local and regional fishing talent sharing their secrets and tips. Don’t forget to try your luck in the Trout Pond. You can also register for giveaways in Skeeter room all weekend. Show hours: Friday, February 19 from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 20 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 21 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please visit gulfcoastshows.com/mobile for more information.

Playhouse in the Park presents “Taming of the Shrew” in February

One of Shakespeare’s great comedies, “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed in February at Playhouse in the Park. Public performances are February 26th and the 27th at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $15 students are $12. Tickets for public performances are available via reservation by calling the Playhouse at 251-602-0630. If seats are available once all reservations are claimed, tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis at the Playhouse Box Office prior to each show. Please visit playhouseinthepark.org for more information.

Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation presents A Southern Soiree

Please join us on March 3, for A Southern Soiree at Byrne Hall Springhill College from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. We will have a wine tasting and silent auction. This event benefits Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation (CSVR). CSVR mission is to provide accessible, compassionate, modern multidisciplinary care to those with vision loss. We see people with any eye condition, of any age, and with or without insurance coverage. We are highly accessible and responsive. We believe that we can provide help and assistance to almost all with low vision, and make every possible effort to do so. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at CSVRLowVision.org or call (251) 476-4744.

Bright Beginnings Academy Chili Cook-off

Bright Beginnings Academy announces the 2nd annual Chili Cook-off. Whether you want to cook and compete or just want to eat, you’re bound to have a whole lot of fun! The event will be held Saturday, February 20 at Creekwood Church of Christ, 1901 Schillinger Road South from 12 noon – 2 p.m. Each team must provide 3-5 gallons of cooked chili, crockpot and utensils. The chili recipe must be original recipe of the applicant. Chili will need to be cooked prior to arrival and kept warm in its own crockpot. Prizes will be awarded for Judges' Choice and People's Choice for Best Chili and Best Cornbread. Prizes include gift certificates, sports prize pack, spa treatment and cash prizes too! Team registration is $25 for chili entry or $10 for cornbread entry. To learn more or sign up contact Summer, 251-366-4752 or Holly at 251-680-8590 or visit www.brigthdyslexics.com.

American Cancer Society 27th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Join us at the American Cancer Society 27th Annual Chili CookOff presented by TRAX Tire Pros for a spectacular, fun-filled day of food, fun and entertainment! This event takes place on March 5 at 11:00 a.m. at The Grounds (1035 Cody Road South). The 27th Annual Chili Cook-Off is Mobile's "hottest" charity event where teams compete for bragging rights on who has the best chili in town. Proceeds from Chili Cook-Off will be used for programs to teach the importance of early detection and prevention; patient services such as transportation, prosthetics, and lifesaving research. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Annual Mobile Chocolate Festival Set for February 27th

The Mobile Chocolate Festival, a celebration of all things chocolate, will be held at the Abba Shrine Center on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with all proceeds to benefit Penelope House. Verizon and Wind Creek Casino and Hotel are the Moon Pie Sponsors and the Hargrove Foundation is the Truffle Sponsor. The 8th Annual Mobile Chocolate Festival will feature vendors offering samples of their chocolaterelated products as well as selling their products. Vendors vary from having chocolate-themed wares to succulent confections to jewelry to bath and body products. Also featured: Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Area, Mobile Fixture Demonstration Stage, Chocolate Challenge featuring professionals, amateurs, and youth divisions, Project Yum Way where students and aspiring designers participate in a fashion display of chocolate inspired fashions made from chocolate candy wrappers, Cupcake Booth, Chocolate Martini tasting, Magic Memories Photo Booth, and much more. Admission is free for children 13 & under; Seniors 65 & above $2; General admission $3. Parking is free. Call for more details (251-342-2809), like Mobile Chocolate Festival on facebook, and/or visit www.mobilechocolatefestival.com.

Applications Being Accepted for Oakleigh Belle Leadership Program

The Oakleigh Belle Leadership Program is a very special organization sponsored by the Historic Mobile Preservation Society since 2008. Designed to instruct high school students in Mobile history and historic preservation, the Oakleigh Belles are a diverse group of young women who confidently and knowledgeably serve as guides at the Historic Oakleigh House Museum. The Belles also participate in special events at Oakleigh, including Christmas at Oakleigh, Mobileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Historic Homes Tour, and more. These young ladies make special appearances for many activities related to tourism, civic celebrations, and presentations throughout our city. In the course of carrying out their duties, they not only have an opportunity to absorb the history of their city from a unique perspective, but gain valuable experience in public speaking and interacting with visitors from all over the world. Interviews for the 2016-2017 Oakleigh Belle Leadership Program will be held on February 27th. Applications can be found on the Oakleigh website at www.historicoakleigh.com, or they can be picked up at the museum at 350 Oakleigh Place. All eligible 8th-11th grade ladies are encouraged to apply! Questions? Email Brooke Allen, Oakleigh Belle Coordinator at belles@historicoakleigh.org.

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Ransom Glow Run to Fund Ransom Ministry Projects

Wear your glow-in-the dark gear and join Ransom Ministries to kick off race season at the GLOW Run for Ransom 5K walk/run. The race is Feb. 20 at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Participants will receive a long-sleeved race T-shirt. The Ransom on the Road food truck will be onsite to serve post-race snacks. Pre-registration: $20 (includes long-sleeved race T-shirt); Dayof registration: $25 (includes long-sleeved race T-shirt); Stay in bed option: $15 for race T-shirt. Proceeds from the race will fund several of Ransom Ministries' projects, including Ransom Cafe, a donation-only restaurant with six locations in churches across Mobile and Baldwin counties; the Clean Machine, a portable laundry and shower trailer; a community garden in Hillsdale; summer youth service camps; and Ransom ReProgram, an 8-week job training program. For more information about Ransom Ministries, race sponsorships and registration, visit RansomMinistries. com. This race is not a certified 5K.

4th Annual Colors of Cancer Glow Run/Walk

Join us for an event that will bring awareness to all Cancers whether you have been affected yourself or participating for a friend, family or coworker. Show your support and have a great time with an After Glow Party including food and entertainment. Come early and join in the interactive one-of-a-kind Leave it at the Fence Display, visit vendors and more. This event is timed, but we have just as many walkers making it ideal for both experienced runners and first-time participants. We welcome walkers and runners of all ages and athletic abilities including strollers. The Glow Run will take place on Saturday, February 27 with the Fun Run at 6:30 p.m. and the 5K Run/Walk at 7:00 p.m. at Springhill College. Online Registration at www. eventbrite.com with race day registration and packet pick-up at Stewartfield on the Avenue of the Oaks from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., or you can Register by mail (entries should be postmarked by February 20), in person at McCoy Outdoor, Run-N-Tri, or Fleet Feet in Mobile or Running Wild in Fairhope until noon on February 25.

Bay Area Food Bank Announces Rebrand to Feeding the Gulf Coast

Bay Area Food Bank is proud to announce the unveiling of its new brand identity, Feeding the Gulf Coast. The new name will go into full effect in January 2016, but both names will appear on materials for the first year as the public adjusts to the new brand. When Bay Area Food Bank was founded in 1981, it served Mobile and Baldwin counties, hence the “Bay Area” name. Today, as a member food bank of Feeding America, the organization serves 24 counties spanning from the Mississippi/Louisiana border to as far east as Panama City, Florida, and as far north as Choctaw County in Alabama. Partner agencies, retail stores, donors, and government officials across the vast service area do not identify with the name Bay Area Food Bank, which prevents the food bank from serving each county effectively. Bay Area Food Bank’s new name will better reflect the entire scope of the work it does. While a majority of work still involves distributing food to partner church pantries, soup kitchens, and other nonprofits, the food bank does much more. This summer, the food bank provided daily meals to 11,000 children at nearly 200 locations along the Gulf Coast. During the school year, it provided over 330,000 snacks to nearly 6,000 children at over 100 sites, and provided bags of food to over 2,500 children at over 80 schools on weekends through the Backpack Program. The food bank tackles the dual challenge of poor nutrition and obesity by offering cooking and nutrition classes to children, adults, and seniors; and by building a Community Garden Network of over 20 gardens, connecting local gardens with volunteers and funding, as well as teaching gardening lessons to students so they can understand where their food comes from. Another program offered is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach, helping connect people in need to government food programs. Bay Area Food Bank’s new brand will align the organization more closely with its national partner, Feeding America. Feeding America is well recognized as the largest hunger relief organization in the United States. By aligning with the Feeding America brand, the food bank will be recognized as an integral part of the Feeding America Network and the largest hunger relief organization across the Central Gulf Coast. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Award Winning Speaker and Music Artist, Babbie Mason to be featured at Annual Women’s Conference

Christ United Methodist Church will hold its 22nd Annual Women’s Conference, Embraced on Saturday, February 27, featuring award winning Christian music artist, Babbie Mason. Join Babbie, a sought after speaker and author, as she presents a life-giving message that builds up the hearts of women. Through worship music and a message based on her books, “This I Know for Sure” and “Embraced by God”, women of all ages are invited to spend the day together laughing, pondering and basking in the deep end of God’s love. Babbie is a two-time Dove Award winner, a Grammy, Stellar and Emmy Award nominee. For more than three decades with twenty-five recorded projects, Babbie has been a featured guest in churches, conventions and women’s conference, including Billy Graham Crusades worldwide, TD Jake’s Potter’s House and many more. Babbie was inducted into the Christian Hall of Fame in 2010. Christ United Methodist Church Women’s Conference, Embraced, will be held at 6101 Grelot Road beginning at 8:30 a.m. with check-in and ending at12:30 p.m. The cost is $35. The cost includes a continental breakfast, snacks, and child care for ages birth to 11 years. For more information and to register, visit christumcmobile.com/wc2016 or call 251.342.0462.

26th Annual Joe Cain Classic Run 5K

The Joe Cain Classic Run has been the primary focus for the Bay Area Runners (BAR), who organizes and conducts the event. The BARs are a diverse group of men and women from all walks of life who’ve gotten together for the purposes of fun, fitness, fellowship and public service. Proceeds from the race consist of race entry fees and corporate sponsorships and are given to challenged athletes who deal with their handicaps through athletic endeavors. The race takes place on Joe Cain Day, February 7, at 8:00 a.m. in Mobile, on one of the uglier racecourses a runner is likely to encounter. The out and back route goes past the jail and a scenic scrap yard before returning the runner to the start/finish line at the intersection of Canal and Broad streets near the Mobile Civic Auditorium. However, most people don’t mind the ugly course because, if you run the race, you get to go to the awesome post race party for which the race is famous. There’s live music, dancing in the street, food, door prizes, awards and a visit from Joe Cain’s famous and lovely Merry Widows, who travel the streets downtown on Joe Cain Day lending their charm and grace to citywide festivities all day long. Just walk a few blocks down South Broad Street to Augusta Street for the party. So come join the Bay Area Runners on Joe Cain Day to celebrate the Mardi Gras tradition “Mobile Style”, help out a deserving group of challenged athletes and join in one great party. Applications available at Joe Cain Classic 5K, 1 Mile, and Moonpie Dash- Eventbrite and productionsbylittleredhen.com.

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Children’s Book Series Focuses on “Differently-abled” Children

In 2006, Richard A. O'Brien, whose son Connor has cerebral palsy, was inspired to write a series of books that revolve around five differently-abled kids who solve mysteries with the help of typically developing kids. The main character, CJ or Connor James, has cerebral palsy and the rest of the "Angel Kids" are portrayed with other special needs: Andy with Autism; Dee-Dee with Down Syndrome; Rosie with Stuttering ; and Stu with Dyslexia. This first book “CJ and the Angel Kids” was released in 2014. There are now six books in the series. Each book addresses a different subject such as awareness (book 1); bullying (book 2); childhood obesity (book 3); dyslexia (book 4); autism (book 5); and sensory processing issues (book 6). Mr. O’Brien is careful to portray the "Angel Kids" as positive role models for all differently-abled kids. Other book contributors include a speech therapist and occupational therapist providing credibility, real life experiences, and how these differently-abled or "Angel Kids" are seen in the real world. “With God as the driver for the books, we believe we have written a series of books that will inspire and educate not only children from Kindergarten through sixth grade but also adults” says O’Brien. “Our mission is to increase awareness that differently-abled children want to be accepted for their special abilities and to be included in all activities with typically developing children. They just want to be kids.” Each book also provides a Glossary of Terms and additional websites for increasing awareness. All profits from the sale of the books on Amazon.com will go to local charities, including United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, AL, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia and Autism. O’Brien states, “With the help of God and inspiration from Connor, as well as other differently-abled kids, we have a series of books that could be "game changers" for how kids with special needs are portrayed in life and show that they are just kids-- they want to have fun like everyone else.”

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Thursday, January 28 6:30 PM Order of Polka Dots Parade (Route A) Friday, January 29 6:30 PM Order of Inca Parade (Route A) Saturday, January 30 2:00 PM Mobile Mystics Parade, Mobile Mystical Revelers Parade (Route A) 6:30 PM Maids of Mirth Parade, Order of Butterfly Maidens Parade, Krewe of Marry Mates Parade (Route A) Sunday, January 31 6:30 PM Neptune's Daughters Parade, Order of Isis Parade (Route A)

2016 Mardi Gras Schedule

Mobile parade routes are posted on www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php Saturday, February 6 12:00 PM Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile Parade, Order of Angels Parade (Route A) 6:00 PM Mystics of Time Parade (Route A) Sunday, February 7 2:30 PM Joe Cain Parade (Rte A) 5:00 PM Le Krewe de Bienville Parade (Route A) Monday, February 8 12:00 PM King Felix, III, Floral Parade (Route A) 3:00 PM MLK Business and Civic Organization Parade, Monday

Monday, February 1 6:30 PM Order of Venus Parade, Order of Many Faces (Route A) Tuesday, February 2 6:30 PM Order of LaShe's Parade (Route A) Thursday, February 4 6:30 PM Mystic Stripers Society Parade (Route A) Friday, February 5 6:30 PM Crewe of Columbus Parade (Route A)

Mystics Parade, Northside Merchants (Route D) 7:00 PM Infant Mystics Parade, Order of Doves (Route F) Tuesday, February 9 - Mardi Gras Day 10:30 AM Order of Athena Parade (Route A) 12:30 PM Knights of Revelry Parade, King Felix Parade, Comic Cowboys Parade (Route A) 2:00 PM Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (Route B) 6:00 PM Order of Myths Parade (Route C)

Get Your Girl Scout Cookies Now

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Girl Scout Cookie Time! Girl Scouts are now out and about carrying on the long-time tradition of selling delicious cookies while learning a life-time of skills! In addition to Digital Cookie, which allows girls to sell through an app and email, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is excited to announce that troops will be setting up Cookie Booth DriveThrus! These will be popping up around your area soon. A cookie locator app can be downloaded for iPhone and Android devices. For those who miss out on the in-person sales, they can find their favorite cookies being sold at booth sales, including drive-thrus, beginning Friday, January 22, when troops will set up in front of local businesses and shopping centers across the area. Girl Scout Troops will also be participating in Operation Cookie Share, where customers make donations that are used to purchase Girl Scout Cookies for Military Troops and Veterans. The sale ends on Sunday, March 6. For more information or to locate Girl Scout troop, visit www.girlscoutssa.org or call toll free 1-800-239-6636.

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Children’s Medical Group

What Does It Mean When My Baby Spits Up? It is 2 am and you have just fed your little baby and quietly put him back to sleep. That’s when it happens: spit up on fresh sheets, and it’s time to change them one more time. Every parent has been there. Spit ups happen, and there are a multitude of reasons for infants to spit up - some reasons are more significant than others. Every baby will spit up because of something called physiologic reflux. These babies are what we call “happy spitters.” There is a flap at the end of the esophagus that covers the top of the stomach. This is to prevent food from coming back up after you swallow. This flap is not well formed until approximately one year of age. It also takes about 30 minutes for the stomach to empty after eating. So every time you lay your baby down to sleep or change a diaper too soon after eating, chances are some of that food is coming back up. These babies normally do not seem phased by the fact that they have just spit up all over their clothes. In fact, the parents are usually the ones crying out in frustration. Sometimes these incidents are unavoidable,

but there are a few things you can do to try to minimize the mess. 1. Keep your infant upright for 30 minutes after eating. 2. Burp frequently during feeds to prevent gas bubbles from taking up space in the stomach. 3. Avoid overfeeding. Every baby’s stomach is about the size of its fist. Babies in general will eat every 2-4 hours and when they drink breastmilk or formula, they usually can only take a few ounces at a time. A good rule of thumb is giving 0-1 oz. more than their age in months. For example, a 3 month old usually takes 3-4 oz each time. 4. Try to avoid too much movement immediately after eating. For 30 minutes after eating, even bouncing a baby, putting your little one in a swing, going on a car ride, or changing their diaper can be enough movement to provoke a spit up. There are some indicators that spitting up can be more than just normal physiologic reflux. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), milk protein allergy, or pyloric stenosis are some more serious problems that

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present with spitting up. These conditions will have other warning signs associated with them, like weight loss or less frequent urination. If your baby seems very fussy with eating or while he is spitting up, it could indicate a more serious problem. Also, be concerned if you see blood in your baby’s stool, or if you see your infant projectile vomiting (sometimes across the room) and still acting very hungry immediately after eating. I know the constant routine of changing outfits, feeding frequently, not getting much sleep, and cleaning up messes on the floor can be tiring. It can also be frustrating and you just want your baby to not throw up for one day. Hopefully it is just normal “happy spitter” that he or she will outgrow and these tips will help. As always, be mindful of other warning signs that you may need to discuss with your doctor if it seems more than just a little spit up. Jennifer Adair, M.D., was born and raised in Mobile. She graduated from Davidson High School in 2002 and received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at The University of Alabama in 2006. She completed her medical training at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and pediatric residency at the University of Nevada College of Medicine – Las Vegas and the University of South Alabama. She joined Children’s Medical Group in July 2013 and currently practices at their Airport office. Jennifer and her husband, Cory, reside in Mobile with their dogs, Fitz and Barkley.

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Autauga County Schools

Faith Academy - FCC Jr Varsity National Champions

Faith Academy’s Middle School and Jr. Varsity cheerleaders brought in the New Year with a bang. On December 29th they gathered at the school, said goodbye to friends and family and set out on an overnight journey to Orlando, FL, to compete in the 27th Annual FCC National Cheerleading Championships. In preparation, these two squads joined together in order to compete in the Jr. Division. They had the usual struggles that every team has during “competition season” but with every obstacle that was thrown their way, this team pulled together, stayed strong, and overcame. After the first round of competition on Friday, Jan. 1st, the girls were awarded Best Tumbling, Best Stunts, and Best Showmanship. On Saturday, the girls competed in the 2nd round of competition. As they prepared for warm up, the girls huddled together for a few minutes of encouragement and prayer. They reminded one another of why they were there and to remember to give God all of the Glory. They performed a flawless routine. The crowd erupted into yells and screams, and the fans jumped in celebration of what this squad had achieved, 2016 FCC Jr. Varsity National Champion... Faith Academy! The Girls leaped to their feet with tears streaming down their cheeks. This was the moment that made it all worthwhile. All of the hard work, long practices, and sacrifices had been forgotten. They were NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Cheer coaches are Tiffany Beason, Lisa Wheeler, Makenzie Cunningham, Malorie Miller, and Jaques Davis. Members of the Faith Academy JV Squad: (front) Kristen Phillips, Madison Parker (kneeling) Kierra Agee, Arianna Sokolowski, Jenna Phillips, Brianna Cutts, Kenna Harbin, Sarai Grace Hrinsin, Melody Tuohy, Taylor Martin, Makayla Goode, Alley Neil (standing) Gracie Billingsley, Savannah Zbinden, Alicesyn Lindsay, Hannah Garris, Trinity Smith (sitting on shoulders) Darby Hayford, Brittany Dixon, Brittany Barlow, Reagan Hurston, and McKenzie Wright.

St. Luke’s Kindergartners Visit Murray House Residents

The St. Luke's kindergarten students worked with their 8th grade big brothers and big sisters to create special Christmas posters for the residents at Murray House Assisted Living. The classes then visited with the residents and personally delivered the posters. They also sang several holiday songs they had prepared in advance with the school's music director. The students received a wonderful note from a resident thanking them for the visit, the artwork, the music and the hugs! This visit is a perfect holiday gift for the students and the Murray House residents!

St. Paul’s Football Players Recognized for Multiple Awards

Coastal Alabama Team: Offensive Player of the Year: Ostin McPherson. 1st Team: Offensive Line – Darius Whitfield, Defensive Line – Bryce Huff, Defensive Back – B. J. Edmonds. 2nd Team: Defensive Line – Ryan Johnson, Defensive Back – Jalyn Armour-Davis, Offensive Line – Colton Wadkins, Honorable Mention: Athlete – Miller Mosley. Call News: Offensive Player of the Year: Ostin McPherson. 1st Team: Offensive Line – Colton Wadkins, Defensive Line – Darius Whitfield, Line Backer – Noah Michael, Defensive Back – B. J. Edmonds, Defensive Back – Tee Smith, Athlete – Bryce Huff, Honorable Mention, Ryan Johnson, Miller Mosley, Wilson Beaverstock, Jake Evans, Daniel Beard, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Coach of the Year: Steve Mask. ASWA All – State: 1st Team: Running Back – Ostin McPherson, Offensive Line – Darius Whitfield, Defensive Back – B. J. Edmonds, Defensive Line – Bryce Huff. 2nd Team: Defensive Line – Ryan Johnson, Honorable Mention Quarter Back – Miller Mosley, Offensive Line – Colton Wadkins. WKRG: Coach of the Year: Steve Mask; Alabama Football Coaches Association Asst. Coach of the Year 5A: Shane Sullivan. 13

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Autauga County Schools Bright Beginnings Academy Carols

through Christmas Season

Bright Beginnings students along with teachers and a handful of parents spread a ton of Christmas cheer by caroling at Carrington Assisted Living and Mobile Rehabilitation Center. They warmed the hearts of many seniors with laughter and shared some of the most cherished songs of the season. Christmas memories were made and will not be forgotten!

St. Dominic Catholic School Students Create Jesse Tree

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St. Dominic Catholic School Grade 8 students traditionally create a Jesse Tree each year. The tree represents salvation history from Creation to Jesus’ birth. Here Spencer Baldwin, Joey Piccini, Conner Belcher, Liam Smith, and Zach Swann prepare to place the final box, symbolizing the birth of Christ, on the tree.

Mary G. Montgomery Bowling Team Places First in Region 1

Congratulations to both the MGM boys’ and girls’ bowling teams for placing first in Region 1. Both teams will participate in the AHSAA South Regional Tournament on January 20 and 21. The top 8 teams from this tournament will qualify for the first ever AHSAA State Bowling Tournament. Good luck to Coach Neal and his outstanding bowlers! Pictured: Row 1 – Tyler Fannin (7th), Carter Fannin (7th), Allie Smithson (11th), Darren Gwin (8th). Row 2 – Camille Mask (8th), Kailie Kruszewski (10th), Aniston Weeks (10th), Brandy Levens (10th). Row 3 – Christian McNeeley (12th), Samantha Rossignoll (11th), Zach Mask (10th), Tyler Metcalf (12th), Catlyn Hileman (10th). Not pictured: Emilie Williams (12th), Caleb White (12th), Anthony Osburn (11th), Garrett Southerland (10th).

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Veteran’s Day at Arnold School

This year, in honor of Veteran’s Day, the Arnold School held an intimate ceremony about what the holiday meant, and why we should celebrate it. Many of the students made posters about Veteran’s Day, and had them displayed during the event. We had one of our former students sing the national anthem, followed by many others expressing their gratitude towards the veterans attending.

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St. Mary Catholic School presents Rock and Roll Forever!

St. Mary Catholic School's Drama Club put on their fall performance, "Rock and Roll Forever!" with middle school students portraying historic Rock and Roll hall of famers throughout the decades. Special thanks to Drama Club Director, Lauree Riggin, Music Director, Carol Ogletree, and Drama Club Assistant, Laura Doyle for the many hours put into the production of this performance. Pictured, Sadie Kate Polk and Macy Mathers introduce the 2nd Annual St. Mary Catholic Drama Production: “Rock and Roll Forever”. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Everyone Helps out at Little Flower School

Service to others is seamlessly woven into the curriculum at Little Flower Catholic School. Helping to clean up after lunch only takes a few minutes, and can be fun when a student works with a partner. Once the trash is picked up and the tables are wiped down, the sweep team steps in to finish the job. Third grader Avigail Rodriguez holds the dust pan while her classmate Isaac Mark sweeps up the last few crumbs from lunch in the Little Flower cafeteria.

ExxonMobil Donates $15,000 to ASMS

ExxonMobil’s Chris Golden recently visited ASMS to present the school with a $15,000 donation. Golden serves as ExxonMobil’s Mobile Bay Asset Manager. “We are thrilled that ExxonMobil continues to support our educational programs,” ASMS President Dr. Monica Motley says. “Thank you ExxonMobil for recognizing the best high school in Alabama!” ASMS Ambassadors Messiah Williams and Ja’Nea James gave Golden a tour of campus during his time at ASMS. Donations enable ASMS to provide a safe community, a challenging academic program and opportunities in the classroom. They also ensure that the school has a talented, dedicated faculty and the best facilities and resources available. To make a donation, email Cyndy Baggett atcbaggett@asms.net or call 251441-2120.

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Autauga County Schools UMS-Wright Junior Named

Queen of Azalea Trail Court

Emilee Sprinkle, a junior at UMS-Wright Preparatory School, was named Queen of the 2016-2017 Azalea Trail Court during the coronation ceremony on Sunday, December 13. The Azalea Trail Maids serve as welcoming ambassadors for Mobile at various civic events, both locally and nationally, in an effort to promote tourism and local hospitality. In past years the court has appeared in the Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade, Disney Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easter Parade, the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, the Indianapolis 500, and other parades in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Dallas. Emilee is joined by 49 other Junior girls representing 15 local high schools, all of whom will be seniors during their terms. Congratulations, Emilee!

St. Ignatius Students Portray Nativity

St. Ignatius Kindergartners were perfect examples of the Nativity for the last school Mass before Christmas Break. They also made an apprentice at Christmas Program the same day and they were the highlight of Christmas Eve Mass. Pictured left-right: Murray Thames, Win Tapia, Henry Marshall, Jack Robinson, Clare LaCour, Hayden Harle, Michael Marshall and Michale Nettles.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Covenant Christian Basketball

Covenant Christian's 4th-6th grade basketball team posted a 7-1 record this past season. Team members included, top row, left to right, Alex Prieto, Grayson Myles, Hayden Richardson, Joseph Sharpe, Davis Phillips, Paul Matthew Hii. Front row, Jonathan Rush, Bishop Burkhalter, Nolan Phillips, Cade Horton, Brandon Wolfe, Elijah Knapp. Not pictured, Jackson Hartman.

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E.R. Dickson Students Enjoy Hour of Code

Squeals of delight emanated from students at E.R. Dickson Elementary during their Hour of Code. They were working in collaborative teams, challenging themselves to move characters through mazes, while also learning basic computer programming. They joined over 20 million others in the worldwide initiative, organized primarily by Code.org. Code.org is so committed to the importance of teaching children computer science that the organization offers incentives to teachers willing to give their students an “Hour of Code.” This year at E.R. Dickson, Mrs. LiCalsi’s Technology Team became the teachers of the school and lead the classes through an Hour of Code. The tech team worked for weeks to prepare for this event. Kindergarten and First grade students worked with the program Kodable to learn computer science. It was a huge learning experience for everyone, and PA Pet ad.qxp_Layout 1 7/20/15 6:05 PM Page 1 Mrs. LiCalsi could not have been any prouder of her team.

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Autauga County Schools

SPX Spelling Bee Champ Determined

The St. Pius X Spelling Bee was held on Friday, December 18. This year's winner was 7th grader My-Linh Nguyen. The runner-up in this year's competition was fourth grader Riannon Heinl. Pictured are the homeroom Spelling Bee Champs with moderator Mrs. Michelle Ward.

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Corpus Christi Catholic School Students Raise Money for St. Judeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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Pope Francis declared the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy would be held from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), 2015 to the Feast of Christ the King (November 20), 2016. To begin the Year of Mercy, 5th grade classes at Corpus Christi Catholic School had a paint party to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Students raised $475 and this amount was matched by the local Ann Taylor Loft store. In total, $950 was donated to St. Jude. "Our students enjoyed helping others while having fun at the same time," said Ms. Roh, 5th grader teacher.

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Mary G. Montgomery to Receive Grant from Ingalls

Congratulations to Dr. Karla McInnis for receiving a grant from Ingalls Shipbuilding in the amount of $3999.96 for her STEM proposal, “Vex Scores with Nothing but Net!” Dr. McInnis’s grant requested funding to purchase four Vex Competition classroom kits. This grant will provide MGM with enough parts to have three teams compete in the upcoming engineering competition. Dr. McInnis will attend an awards ceremony at Ingalls Shipbuilding in late January where she will also be given the opportunity to participate in a windshield tour of the shipyard. Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month.

Brennan Griffin is Mr. McGill-Toolen!

Senior Brennan Griffin was chosen by the students at McGill-Toolen Catholic as Mr. McGill-Toolen 2016! He was crowned by our Homecoming Queen Rekha Berry at the Coming Home Pep Rally. He is pictured with his mom, Dr. Lisa Griffin, a teacher at McT, and principal Michelle Haas. Brennan is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia. He is in remission but will continue treatment over the next 127 weeks. The pep rally was the first time students had seen Brennan since he was diagnosed and everyone was on their feet to welcome him back. 19

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Autauga County Schools Science Science Science Full STEAM Ahead!

Students in all grades at St. Luke's make discoveries and explore science in and out of our classrooms. Whether their curiosity is peaked by a kindergarten field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the sixth grade class trip to The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, the seventh grade class trip to the Florida Keys or an Upper School marine biology boating and research expedition...our students experience and appreciate science first hand. The Early Childhood and Lower School Science Discovery lab provides K2-5th grade students with a daily opportunity to explore and learn…and they LOVE it!

St. Paul’s Episcopal School Family Adopts a Total of 266 Christmas Angels

St. Paul’s parents, students, clubs, faculty, grandparents, and friends united to spread Christmas joy to 266 needy children this Christmas season. The St. Paul’s Family purchased clothing, toys, blankets, and other items to wrap and deliver to children from Augusta Evans School, Ella Grant Elementary School, the Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, and several elementary schools in the Semmes area. This overwhelming show of love, support and generosity makes it, yet again, a Great Day to be a Saint!

Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month.

Little Flower Girl Scout Troop Taking Orders for Cookies

Girl Scout Cookie time means lots of delicious choices. After explaining all the great ways the cookie sale can help their Girl Scout troop, these 3 Girl Scouts at Little Flower Catholic School began taking orders from their teacher, Ms. Rebecca Kudija. Ms. Kudija was not shy about ordering cookies, and one of the scouts declared, "She is our best customer." Shown left to right are seventh grader Rebecca Nichols, sixth grader GiGi Gardner, Ms. Kudija, and sixth grader Abby Grosvenor.

Learning the Art of Persuasion at St. Dominic Catholic School

St. Dominic Catholic School Grade 7 students recently studied the three methods of persuasion-ethos, pathos, and logos--as developed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Here Abby Fridley, Delia Peterson, and Mary-Kate Partridge, along with their classmates, look through various magazines and discovered how advertisers use these three concepts to make their products more appealing. The students then wrote a persuasive essay using the information they learned about the art of persuasion. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Covenant Christian School Students Make Ornaments for Governor’s Mansion

Fourth Grade Art Students from Covenant Christian School had fun making ornaments to send to the Governor’s mansion for this year’s Children’s Christmas Tree at the State Capitol! Pictured, left, 4A: (Back row): Addie Hall, Graham Rose, Ava Myles, Zoe Vellantis, Amy Ramer, Reagan Baggett, Jake Davis, Ryan Morgan, Cade Horton, Tommy Biehn, Paul Hii. (Front row): Jackson Rowland, Bishop Burkhalter, Haylie Gullitch, Chloe Dees and Kadence Mayo.

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Pictured right, 4B: (Back row): Elijah Knapp, Nathan Broome, Jaylen Johnson, Macy Johnson, Kylie Kina, Landon McLaughlin, Luke Dunnam, Dakota Freeman, Olivia Cranton. (Front row): Brodie Courson, Cole Venatta, Nolan Phillips, Maggie Blasingame and Lilly Taylor.

Revelation Christian School Students Visit Murray House Residents

The students at Revelation Christian School complete mission projects each quarter. They are learning that it is important to serve and help others. On Wednesday, December 16, the students completed their Second Quarter mission project at The Murray House for Christmas. The students sang Christmas Carols and decorated Christmas ornaments with each resident. The students, as well as the residents, enjoyed this occasion and they are looking forward to another visit.

Early Childhood and Lower School 3975 Japonica Lane

www.stlukesmobile.com 251-666-2991

Middle and Upper School 1400 S. University Blvd.

St. Luke’s Episcopal School presents a college preparatory community developing young men and women of honor, faith and responsibility with character and intellect to thrive in college and life. St. Luke’s accepts qualified applicants without regard to gender, race, religion, national or ethnic origin. 21

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Autauga County Schools Eichold-Mertz Earns Money for Collecting Box Tops

Eichold-Mertz Magnet School has collected BoxTops for Education for the months of August – November. We reward the top class and the top boy and girl each month. On December 21st we received a check for $1783.00 from General Mills. This is our largest check to date. Each BoxTop is worth $.10 so that equates to our school collecting 17,830 BoxTops. Pictured is Mrs. Burden’s 3rdgrade class, who has won the competition for 2 months, along with the Top Girl and Boy Winners from each month. Pictured from left to right:Top Row (Standing): Allyson Duke, Makayla Ratcliff, Samanda Cruz, Lorenzo Azure, Royce Woods, James Williams, Killian Bailey, Samantha Guillotte, Caitlyn Beverly, Kymorah Jones, Avonlea House, Avery Aplin. Middle Row (Kneeling): Marcus Jordan, Eddy Serrano, Caitlyn Andrews, Terrilyn Prim, Jamya Henderson, Ty’Tiana Spinks, McKenzie Williams, Trenton Washington, Sarah Loden, Czarina Gomes, Tylor Smith. Bottom Row (Sitting): Angel Edwards, Isaiah Johnson, Thomas Savell, Rachel Guillotte, Alex Eddy, Zion Broadnax.

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Faith Foreign Language Classes “Jingle All the Way” Down the Hall

The week before semester exams is always stressful for students and teachers, but Faith’s high school students always look forward to the special cheer and candy canes brought in by Mrs. Jester’s Spanish I, Spanish II, Latin I, and Introductory Spanish classes each year. Not only did the foreign language classes spread their cheer in the various classrooms, they executed a Spanish Christmas Carol Flash Mob in the cafeteria. Pictured: Members of Mrs. Jester’s Spanish I class spread their Christmas cheer with Coach Skoda’s Senior Bible Class.

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CHCA Reach Out & Read Book Drive

Cottage Hill Christian Academy’s 8th Grade Service Leadership Class sponsored a schoolwide book drive to provide books for patients at the USA Children’s Medical Center (the pediatric teaching clinic for USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital). Students collected over 450 new and gently used books for the Reach Out and Read book drive and delivered them to Dr. Sheets, Director of the Reach Out and Read program, on December 10th. The students were able to tour the clinic and learn about the services provided. Each pediatric patient at the clinic will receive a new book at their appointments this season, providing them with a symbol of comfort during their sometimes trying medical opportunities.

Lighthouse Baptist Academy Sells Chocolate at Area Stores

Each year students at Lighthouse Baptist Academy are able to sell World's Finest Chocolate to help raise money for the school and earn great prize trips for later in the school year! The students do a wonderful job and enjoy promoting and supporting their school at area stores!

Open enrollment for the 2016-17 school year has started. See how educating the whole child makes St. Ignatius School a school you can believe in!

3650 Springhill Avenue 251.342.5442 www.stignatius.org 23

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Autauga County Schools

Covenant Christian School Students Display Tree at Starbucks

Junior High Art Students from Covenant Christian School set up their annual community tree at the Starbucks Coffee Company on the corner of Grelot and Hillcrest Road. Their tree, entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love Came Down at Christmasâ&#x20AC;?, has recycled & repurposed materials ornaments made by 181 Covenant art students! Left to right, back row: Angela Russ, Emily Boone, Mason Kendall, Rebecca Hii. Front row: MacKensey Edmond, Nathan Kim and Alaina Pearce.

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Arnold School Provides Food Baskets for Needy at Thanksgiving

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For Thanksgiving, the Arnold School contributed to the community by providing holiday food baskets for those in need. Each basket contained many of the essential Thanksgiving foods such as yams, cranberry sauce, and cornbread stuffing mix. Together, the Arnold School was able to feed 20 less-fortunate families and made their holiday a little bit brighter.

St. Mary Catholic School Model Christian Students

St. Mary Catholic School presented the second quarter Model Christian Student Awards this December to one girl and one boy in each class from kindergarten through eighth grade. This award is presented to students who display exemplary Christian behavior toward their fellow students and teachers.

Please email School News and Photos to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month.

Pioneer Day at Cottage Hill

The fourth grade participated in the first CHCA Pioneer Day. Students were involved in a variety of activities throughout the day including sewing quilts, learning how a log cabin was built, making wooden toys, churning butter, and square dancing. The fun-filled pioneer day was made possible with the help of CHCA parents, community, Middle School Service Club members, High School AP History students, and CHBC staff. Thanks to all who helped make it possible. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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St. Dominic First Graders Present Annual Nativity Play

St. Dominic Catholic School grade 1 students presented the annual Nativity play, depicting the birth of Jesus. Preparing to sing at the conclusion of the play are (left to right) Joe Smith, Luke Adams, Evan Towarnyckyj, Camille Fromdahl, Caleb Wilson, and Anna-Claire Phillips.

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Recess is Fun at Little Flower School!

Kick Ball, basketball, football, soccer, dodge ball. Recess is time to run off a little energy and have fun with friends, especially when a game and a ball are involved. These fifth grade boys at Little Flower Catholic School enjoy the chance to share friendly competition at recess. Although winning is nice, being on the winning team and running up the score is not the goal. Just being outside and having a great time with classmates is what matters with this group.

Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month.

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Autauga County Schools

E.R. Dicksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to E.R. Dicksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Partsch. Mrs. Partsch was born and raised in Mobile. She attended Murphy High School and The University of South Alabama. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2002 and a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education in 2010. E.R. Dickson is very excited to have Mrs. Partsch represent our school.

St. Ignatius Students Love Science Lab Treats

The Science Lab is always a favorite place to be at St. Ignatius, especially when our favorite Science Volunteer is on hand to with a yummy, fun project. Barbara Patterson, St. Ignatius grandmother, always brings the most exciting projects for the Science Lab. As a retired Science teacher she has lots of experience. Barbara is pictured here with Thomas Palmer, Cooper Russ and Cameron Stadther. The entire 6th grade made Rice Krispy Treat earth layers. The best part was getting to eat it when they were done.

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St. Luke's "Makes Spirits Bright" for Child Advocacy Center

This Christmas, St. Luke's students collected toys, gifts, and donations for the Child Advocacy Center as a part of WPMI's "Making Spirits Bright" campaign. This is the fourth year for SLES students to adopt the Child Advocacy Center and work to ensure that the children the Center services will receive something special for the holidays. Student Ambassadors collected and personally delivered a car full of stuffed animals, games, sporting goods, clothing, accessories, and gift cards. They were welcomed and thanked by CAC Director Pat Guyton, and all of the CAC staff. Darwin Singleton from WPMI interviewed each of the students and thanked them for their participation in the program.

Covenant Christian Eagle Pride Representative Nominees

During Homecoming week at Covenant Christian School, students and teachers selected several students from 6th-8th grade as Eagle Pride Representative Nominees. Nominees are chosen based on school spirit, participation, and demonstration of respect towards God and others. One overall Eagle Pride Representative is then selected from each middle school grade. Nominees included, top row, from left to right, 8th graders Dreanna Freeland and Brittney Sharpe, 7th graders Meg Hannan and Lauren Field (not pictured); 6th graders Rebecca Hii and Sophie Lynch. Bottom row, Katherine Rush (8th grade winner); Zachary Haataja (7th grade winner), and Joseph Sharpe (6th grade winner).

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Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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St. Mary Catholic School Third Grade Learns about Junior Achievement

St. Mary Catholic School parent, David Martorana, presented to his daughter Annie's third grade class, the 1st session of Junior Achievement, Our City. The students learned about the different businesses and government buildings that exist in a city. After learning what buildings belong in each zone, they were given a pop-up building to decorate. Then each student placed their building in the correct zone on the zones floor map.

UMS-Wright’s Drama Class Presents "The Goblins and the Gravedigger"

Before school was out for the holiday break, the 7th grade drama class performed "The Goblins and the Gravedigger" by Charles Dickens for friends and family. The production was executed solely by the students. Once they decided whether to perform a comedy or drama, their teacher, Mrs. Diane Maisel, gave them a choice of two scripts from which they made their choice. The students then made their own costume selections, decided on the set, chose lighting options, and brought in their own props. Our students did a terrific job, and we are so proud of the actors/directors they have become!

UMS-Wright Students Pay It Forward Over the Holidays

Before the holiday break, our students were busy giving back to the community. The Key Club unloaded Christmas trees at the Mobile Optimist Club tree lot and helped Santa deliver presents to children at the Rotary Club of Mobile's Christmas party. Our SGA students gave an assortment of items to Volunteers of America's Caring Gifts Campaign. K5 students bought pajamas for local charities, and K4, 1st and 5th grades donated toys to Wilmer Hall, Ransom Café, and Penelope House. 2nd grade collected toys and toiletries for Children’s and Women’s Hospital, while the 3rd grade donated supplies to the residents at Crowne Health, and the 4th grade made blessing bags for the Government Street Presbyterian Church Homeless Christmas Party. In addition, Mrs. Schoenvogel led a Lower School service project through her Wright Way Class for Children’s and Women’s Hospital and collected over 120 coloring books,112 packs of Crayons, and 44 DVDs.

St. Mary Catholic/McT State Champ Jacket Send Off

St. Mary Catholic School students were bursting at the seams with excitement as they anxiously awaited their send off on December 1 to the mighty McGillToolen Yellow Jackets to load the buses for Tuscaloosa. These young men are an inspiration to our students and St. Mary was thrilled to be a part of history as they took home the state championship the next day at The University of Alabama. Pictured are St. Mary Alumni, Gavin Lott and Ellis Blackmon, McGill-Toolen Juniors as they load the bus, swarmed by St. Mary Catholic students. 27

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AutaugaSPX County Schools Award Winning Christmas Tree

St. Pius X School placed 2nd in the Mobile Regional Airport Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Pictured is the award winning tree with the seventh grade students who were responsible for the decorations on the tree. They are: Standing: Alexander Andry and Skyler Alvarez. Sitting: Hattie Meyers, Tyana Sias, Rochelle Gomez, and My-Linh Nguyen. The tree was put together under the guidance of teacher Mrs. Katie Mattingly.

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St. Luke's BioMed I Class Practices Suturing Technique!

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The BioMedical Health Science Program at St. Luke's Episcopal School is the only college-preparatory program of its kind in the area. The 3-year elective program provides students an opportunity to explore a variety of medical fields and occupations both in and out of the classroom and provides hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in any medical field. Students in the first year class recently received instruction on suturing and practiced their technique on bananas. Who knew that bananas would make the perfect patient?

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McGill-Toolen Catholic Celebrates Coming Home Week! As part of our Coming Home celebration to honor our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs, students dressed in themes for the pep rally. Our "senior" citizens took over senior hall and were dressed to impress! The theme of the Dance was Coming Home from work.

Robert E. Lee Elementary School Receives Grant From Alabama Power’s Brighter Minds Education Initiative

Robert E. Lee Elementary School is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 grant from the Students to Stewards Program, part of Alabama Power’s Brighter Minds Education Initiative. The purpose of the program is to provide support for dynamic stewardship initiatives, conservation education and outdoor classrooms to teach students about the importance of preserving Alabama's natural resources. Mrs. Amber Widemire completed the grant application on behalf of Robert E. Lee Elementary School. The grant will support the construction of an Outdoor Classroom, which will allow students to experience things such as gardening, experiments that cannot be completed indoors, and data analysis with plant growth and water collection, and small animal observations. Mrs. Widemire stated that, “Our school received sponsors to support a STEM Science Lab and our students have been enjoying many in-depth Science experiments. This grant would allow us to carry those experiments outdoors where the magic of Science is happening naturally on a daily basis.” Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Hoequist Named Alabama World Language Association Teacher of the Year

ASMS French and German instructor Muriel Hoequist will receive the Alabama World Language Association (AWLA) Teacher of the Year Award at the annual AWLA conference during a luncheon in January. She will also be the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) Outstanding K-12 Teacher nominee for the state of Alabama. “My peers in Alabama recently elected me as the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) Teacher of the Year,” Hoequist says. “As the newly elected German Teacher of the Year for the AATG, I agreed to apply for the AWLA Teacher of the Year. Every language association in Alabama submits their top candidate, and the Alabama professionals from all languages elect one outstanding teacher.” Hoequist also won the AATG Teacher of the Year award in 2011. She is well known around the state and has attended the Alabama annual conferences, regional conferences, and national conferences throughout her 12 years at ASMS. “Other instructors also see how I teach through the national exam results within the states, where my students place 1st or 2nd in Alabama every year and where we have several students above the 90th percentile,” Hoequist says. “Also, having taught at ASMS for 12 years, many alumni go on to the colleges where German is taught and the professors around the state have been very pleased.” For the AWLA Teacher of the Year Award, Hoequist submitted five samples of student work. She also sent documentation about how her teaching and the student work demonstrate national standards for language teaching. “I chose to illustrate the National Standards of the ‘five C’s’: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, Communities, all of which I strive to include as much as possible in all that I do,” Hoequist says. “One of the samples of student work that I submitted was the video my current German IV class worked on,” Hoequist says. “The literature we were reading is called ‘Das Nibelungenlied.’ This is a little like the old English epic poem ‘Beowulf’ only for German literature. My students read this piece of literature in an abbreviated modern version and also listened to it on tape. Students picked a key scene in the story and enacted it themselves. They chose the location of the filming according to the text and came up with creative props. They wrote the dialog for their scenes as well as the text for the narrations that accompanies the acting, and they cut the scenes together into a little video.” “I am happy to say that it was well done and very witty. There is never any harm in having fun while doing work, and I am sure these students will remember ‘Die Nibelungen’ for a long time.”

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Give your child the advantages of Faith. n SACS Accredited / AISA Blue Ribbon School

n College Preparatory and Advanced Placement Classes n Dual Enrollment Classes through the University of Alabama n Accelerated Reader Program n High School and Elementary Computer Labs n Award Winning Band, Choral and Drama Programs n Competitive Sports for Boys and Girls Grades 3–12 n 65% of 2015 Graduates received college scholarships

Educating Students in Grades K3 - 12th Something incredible happens when students experience Faith. They begin to grow and blossom into caring, responsible individuals. They begin to see a future filled with promise; they believe in themselves, in others and in their future.

At Faith Academy, we do this by providing a Christian education that meets the needs of the whole student—spiritual, artistic, athletic, social, and personal—in a safe, clean, and orderly environment that encourages excellence.

We accept Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Funds.

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Autauga County Schools

Corpus Christi Catholic School NJHS Helps Keep Campus Clean

The members of the Corpus Christi Catholic School National Junior Honor Society spent an afternoon picking up litter around our school and church. “A requirement of NHJS is that students participate in service projects. Picking up litter around our school and church not only fulfilled the service component but it helped to keep our campus clean.” said Mrs. Masline, NJHS coordinator.

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St. Paul’s and Augusta Evans Host Christmas Extravaganza to Benefit 15 Place

St. Paul’s Service Leadership classes hosted their annual Christmas Extravaganza with the Boy and Girl Scout troops at Augusta Evans. The Scouts rotated through a variety of activity stations including decorating a stocking as well as making a tinsel wreath, a sparkling snowflake, a smiling snowman, and a Christmas bead bracelet. The highlight of the day was packing a Ziploc bag of toiletries and other necessities to be distributed to the homeless at 15 Place. As part of WKRG’s Making Spirits Bright campaign for the holidays, St. Paul’s school supplied the fee and items to participate in this program, thereby enabling the Scouts at Augusta Evans to help those less fortunate. Scoutmaster Henry Callaway brought special guests--Santa and two of his elves—to take pictures with all the Scouts.

ASMS Senior Works with USA Launch Society at Mechanical Engineering Internship

ASMS senior Kayla Bell participated in an internship under the direction of Dr. David Nelson, professor and chair of the University of South Alabama (USA) Department of Mechanical Engineering. “I work with the mechanical engineering department, but more specifically with USA Launch Society,” says Bell, who serves at the ASMS Robotics Team captain. “It is a design project for seniors at USA. We compete in the University Student Launch Initiative, a competition sponsored by NASA. The team’s goal is to design a rocket that will travel exactly one mile into the air.” NASA selected 54 student teams from across the nation to participate in the 2015-2016 NASA Student Launch challenge, to be held April 13-17 near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. “Student Launch is a research-based, experiential exploration activity, requiring an eight-month commitment to design, construct, test, launch and successfully recover a reusable rocket and its scientific or engineering payload,” NASA says. “Teams were chosen based on a comprehensive review of their proposal, which outlines their vehicle, its recovery system, payload, safety and educational engagement plans.” Bell has assisted the USA team in the Preliminary Design Review Reports for the competition. She also works with the team to build small-scale rockets biweekly. “I go to my internship usually two days a week and stay for at least two hours,” says Bell, who grew up in small-town Emelle, Ala. “Currently, I am researching rocket motors. If I am able to gain enough background information and the department head allow me to, I will build my own Class-H rocket motor.” Bell says she wanted to do an internship to broaden her knowledge and gain hands-on experience in her prospective field. “I feel that the internship will help me to decide what I really want to do in college. Also, it has allowed me to make great connections with other engineers.” Bell plans to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama (UA). She recently received a $6,000 scholarship from the UA Engineering Department and $3,500 a year toward tuition. “My biggest goal would be to design an efficient car that is powered off of a renewable energy source, hopefully water,” Bell says. “The internship really shows me that this is the field that I would like to go into. Although my internship is not focused around cars, it has showed me how much I really love problem solving and figuring out how things work.” When Bell starts her first year at UA, she will be considered a sophomore because of her college credit earned through ASMS classes and UA’s Early College program. During the summer, Bell took three classes through the UA Early College including Intro to Criminal Justice, Intro to Women’s Studies, and Engineering for the Future. “I had to learn 16 weeks worth of information in four weeks,” Bell says. “Although it was advised that I only take two courses, I wanted to challenge myself a little more by taking three. I received a 99 and two 100s as final grades for my classes. It was a bit difficult to balance the workload with the social aspect, but being at ASMS helped me to prepare for such challenges.” Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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St. Ignatius Geography Bee Winners

St. Ignatius 5th-8th grade students recently participated in the National Geographic Bee. All the students competed by homeroom. Each homeroom sent the winning participant to the schoolwide bee. Ten students participated in the final round of the bee. Pictured here are the final three, Ben Wilber (2nd place), Josh Wilber (1st place) and Joe Milazzo (3rd place). The 1st place winner will go on to qualify for the state National Geography Bee.

St. Dominic Students View the World from Another Perspective

St. Dominic Catholic School Grade 6 students recently studied the concepts of perspective and first-person point of view. To illustrate that, students were asked to create a figurine from pipe cleaners. They then spent a day carrying around their miniature person, taking notes about how he/ she might experience the world. Students then wrote a narrative demonstrating how writers must change their perspective of the subject to alter their point of view. Here Sadie Reber and Simms Stokes work to complete their pipe cleaner figurine. 31

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Getting the Wheels Rolling

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

Most adults can still remember the heady feeling of independence that accompanied acquiring their license to drive. It’s a feeling that isn’t limited to teens. The mastery of forward motion on wheels drives a satisfying sense of freedom at every age. When kids get their first set of wheels, it puts them on the road to independence as well as enhancing gross motor skills, cultivating balance and developing coordination. The following rides are great starts toward getting little ones rolling on the road to independence.

by Gerry Paige Smith

Fly Bike

Radio Flyer Ziggle

Ideal for riders on the go, the Fly Bike is ready to roll at a moment’s notice. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the Fly Bike offers a threewheeled base for beginning gliders. Pedal-free, the bike is propelled by feet and sized for the littlest riders who feel too big to be pushed (and are young yet for balance bikes). The added appeal of the Fly Bike is its portability. It folds down into a small bundle that kids can easily carry and it stores in the back seat of a car. The Fly Bike goes everywhere so little riders can roll anywhere they go.

Powered by kid energy alone, the Radio Flyer Ziggle is all action for young riders. Kids generate forward motion on the Ziggle by twisting the handlebars while wiggling the back. The caster-style wheels also create the opportunity for 360 degree travel and turns. As riders develop their “Ziggle wiggle”, they can explore the spin-out capabilities of the widebased, low-sling Ziggle. The Ziggle doesn’t have brakes, so it’s ideal for riding and spinning on flat surfaces. For the kid with energy to burn, or the child who needs more physical activity, exercise is definitely a benefit that comes with the Ziggle!

(Chrome Inc)

(Radio Flyer)

Batman Baby Walker

PlasmaBike (PlaSmart)

With a cool design that mimics the fast track racers, the PlasmaBike has all the visual cues of a speed bike. But it’s actually a much simpler ride. The PlasmaBike is crafted with lightweight, safe materials and has no gears, chains or pedals. It’s extra wide wheels and limited turn range help little riders keep this balance bike upright in its stationary position. Bolstering their confidence as they develop their coordination, the PlasmaBike combines bike fun with balance training as kids cultivate their skills on wheels.

(Kids Embrace)

Babies know that they’ve leveled up once they age into the walker that allows them to move about, to have some autonomy. It’s a small but important step when toddlers learn that they can control the motion of their conveyance. And, if we’re honest, there really is no cooler conveyance than a baby Batmobile. The Baby Batman walker features all the awesome hallmarks of the DC detective’s ride, as well as an activity tray with a key that starts a rumbling engine sound, a gear shift, lights and more. Adjustable heights and a high backrest ensure comfort for the babe behind the wheel. It’s true that there are other rolling walkers available, but if there’s a Batman wheeled walker...always be Batman.

Paige Smith is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist living in Alabama. More on GET THIS! at www.PageBookMedia.com.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Q. With all the economic problems in the country today, what can college students do to avoid money problems in the future? A. There are always three or four things smart things you can do to protect yourself financially. One is to live on a budget. When you give every dollar you make a name, and write in down on paper, it helps you know what your money is doing instead of wondering where it went. Two more good ideas are staying out of debt, and saving as much money as possible. Your money is your biggest wealth-building tool, and when you’re saddled with debt, your money goes to creditors instead of into your pocket. Saving money is what prepares you for the good and bad things life throws at you — whether it’s putting money aside to buy

a car, a house or handling unexpected things that always happen. Another thing is investing. I know you’re young, but a little bit invested now could make you a millionaire when you’re ready to retire. These are all simple things, but they’ll make a huge difference in your financial situation now and in the years to come!

Q. I’m having issues with my youngest brother, and I need some advice. He’s 25, divorced and has two kids. He only wants to play dad when it’s convenient for him, and he’s very irresponsible with money as well. Our parents passed away a few years ago, so this leaves me to be the big brother and dad at the same time. I worry about him, but I’m not sure how to help him grow up. Any advice? A. One of the bad things about these

situations is watching people you love do stupid things to themselves and the people around them. And I don’t know

that there’s really a lot you can do without becoming the enemy to some degree. You can always try to hold him to a higher standard and refuse to tolerate immature, irresponsible behavior when you’re around him. You might even look for opportunities to use yourself as an example. Point out areas in your life where you made mistakes in the past and how you fixed the problems. But to go out and directly intervene in his life, trying to force him to be a man, would be a tough thing to pull off. When I help people on my show, I have the benefit of them calling in and actually looking to me for help. These people actually care about what I think. I don’t just walk up to folks and say, “You know, what you’re doing there is really stupid. Let me fix you.” I think that’s kind of the situation you’re in right now. I would also begin to pray for him, and ask God to bring people into his life who will have a positive impact. You never know what might happen, and asking God for help is never a bad idea. Who knows? He might even start dating some strong, mature young woman who’ll jerk a knot in his tail and straighten him up!

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Parents often find themselves making countless decisions when it comes to the education of their young children: What type of environment is best for my child? What type of preschool is going to prepare my child for kindergarten? Where is my child going to thrive when I am not around? Is my child really better off going to preschool or staying home with me? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to know what options you have regarding the care you expect for your child. Are you looking for an environment that offers an educational curriculum in addition to a day care environment? Are you considering placement for full or half day care? What kind of student-teacher ratio should you expect when considering a preschool? Understanding the options available is an important step in the process of making this decision. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

Understanding the Environment Preschools of our current society range from the state sponsored Pre-Kindergarten programs, to Private Preschools, to University Laboratory schools. State sponsored pre-K programs are generally provided for children who are socio-economically challenged or have some form of limitation that needs attention prior to entering a formal education environment. State sponsored pre-K programs offer a Head Start curriculum, which began in 1965 as a program to 34

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provide economically disadvantaged children a “head start” to their education. Since that time, Head Start programs are serving over 900,000 children nationwide. Additionally, many states are offering universal pre-K programs, which offer free preschool education to all children over the age of four prior to entering Kindergarten. Currently Georgia, West Virginia, and Oklahoma offer universal pre-K, while other states such as Florida and North Carolina are in the process of offering these services. Universal pre-K does not admit children solely on the basis of socio-economic status or ability; rather it is a service available to all four-year-old children in that state. Private preschools operate often as forprofit, independent non-profit, and programs sponsored by religious organizations. Often times, private schools will have a lower school campus or preschool attached as a transitional experience for the K-12 environment. The educational quality and curriculum varies from preschool to preschool and there are no specific state or federal guidelines for teacher qualification or certification. However, most private preschools do make the effort to hire certified teachers to work with their preschool children and hire those with some teacher training to serve as “aides” in their pre-Kindergarten classrooms. The university laboratory school is a concept that began in the late 1800s at The University of Chicago by John Dewey. Since that time, many universities have established a laboratory setting on their campus as a way to offer educational experience to their education and human studies majors. Laboratory schools can range in enrollment from birth-12th grade. Most university lab schools offer a preschool, or preschool-Kindergarten environment. University laboratory schools offer a curriculum that is deeply grounded in developmental theory and are staffed by teachers with Masters, Specialists, and Doctoral degrees. The university laboratory school offers a different sort of environment in that it serves as a teacher preparation environment for pre-service and often advanced certification teachers. Instruction is prepared by pre-service teachers and approved by a professor with advanced training in the area of specialization. Lessons are conducted by the pre-service teachers and evaluated consistently

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by the professor for immediate modifications and areas of elevation suggested.

Making The Choice When choosing what environment is best for your child and your family you must ask yourself what you hope to accomplish through enrolling your child into a specific environment. Are you looking to make sure your child has the proper social skills to easily assimilate into a Kindergarten environment or is your goal more to expose him to academics? Each of these various environments can do both of those things. What you need to review are a few specifics: • Is this preschool one that has a positive reputation in the area? • Is this preschool accredited by NAEYC [National Association for the Education of Young Children]? DHR? • What is the student: teacher ratio (for the state of Alabama, the recommendation is no more than 6:1.) • What are the credentials of the teachers that will be teaching your child? • Is information about the preschool readily available? Do they have a website where parents can find general information? • Do they offer tours? Are they open to meet with you and address your concerns? • Are the hours of operation conducive to your home/work schedule? Your child’s education is one of the most important decisions you will make for him. Giving him the right start is the best way to ensure success in later academic endeavors. Knowing the facts about any and all schools you may be considering is half the battle. Talk with neighbors and community members. Research the school online. Take a tour. Get to know the people you will be leaving your child with. Choose an environment that will allow your child to be as happy and well adjusted away from home as he is at home. Then you will know that you’ve made the best decision for your child, and ultimately, your family. MBP

Barbie Norvell has a PhD, an EdS, MS and a BS in Early Childhood Education and 26 years of experience as a classroom teacher and university professor.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Contracts for Connected Families In general, families run better with good rules, so it’s not surprising that parents want to make rules about how kids use technology. Lots of organizations have offered well-intended versions of online do’s and don’ts. And plenty of parents have written about their efforts to create guidelines governing what kids can and can’t do with computers, video games and cellphones. Although rules have their place, they don’t last long online. A rule that seemed perfectly reasonable yesterday may be outdated (and easy to ignore) tomorrow. In such a rapidly evolving environment, many parents are turning to something more flexible—contracts that they write—and rewrite—with their children. One particularly engaging example of this kind of contract was written by Dr. Lynn Schofield Clark, author of The Parenting App: Understanding Families in the Digital Age. Clark says her goal was to “put learning first,” by encouraging her kids to think for themselves about what kinds of online experiences were good for their family. She was also open to the possibility that her kids would want to make rules about her use of technology. Although her approach might not work in every family, it does lay the groundwork for open conversations, making it more likely that children will turn to parents if they encounter online situations that are confusing or risky. The kind of Technology Contract likely to work in your household will, of course,

depend upon the ages and inclinations of your kids. Regardless of age, here are some questions that need to be considered: What interactive devices are being used in our family? You’ll want different rules for cellphones, tablets, computers and gaming systems. If family members share equipment, you may need to establish priorities—for example, homework takes precedence over games and social media. Your contract can also specify how you will share interactive experiences. Will you play games together? Share videos? Create a shared album of favorite digital photos? What kind of supervision makes sense? The right kind of supervision makes kids feel safer and reinforces a sense of conscience. Will you check phone bills for calls to numbers you don’t recognize? Will you use monitoring software that alerts you if your child strays onto an adult website or sends too much personal information? Be open about what you plan to do and why. How much time should we spend online? Think about when it’s okay or even necessary to be connected. When is it important to be offline? As individuals? As a family? Some parents set up a docking station for cellphones in the kitchen or family room. At agreed upon times, all devices go to sleep. What information are we willing to share online? What one person posts on a social media site often has implications for other family members, so it’s important to discuss what can be shared online. Is it ever appropriate to post an address or phone number? How much are you willing to divulge about where you live, what you are doing and family activities including vacations? When is it okay for parents to post pictures of kids and vice versa? How will we keep our family Internet system secure? You have rules about lock37

ing the door when you leave the house. Establish similar policies about online security. Is it ever okay to share passwords with anyone except parents? What are house rules about downloads including games, music and videos? Kids need to know that these often carry malware which can compromise family security. Who is allowed to purchase things online? Think about physical items—clothing, posters—as well as virtual goods— games, music, books. Younger children should get permission for any purchase. For teens, an online allowance may be appropriate. Like any allowance, agree in advance on terms—is the money contingent on behavior, chores, grades? What kinds of online activity should kids report to parents? Being online involves trust because parents can’t supervise the way they can in other settings. Establish the expectation that your child will come to you immediately if he or she encounters bullying, sexting or any kind of invitation from online strangers. What are the penalities for breaking the contract? Losing access to a device is an obvious consequence (for adults as well as kids). Your contract might also include the possibility of additional monitoring for family members who don’t follow the rules. When will we renegotiate the contract? As kids demonstrate online responsibility, they should be able to earn new technology privileges. To be honest, in many families, your kids (or your spouse) will roll their eyes if you suggest drawing up an actual contract. Remember that the point of this exercise isn’t necessarily to get something in writing. Instead, you want to have ongoing conversations that help you understand how your children are using technology. Only then can you make rules that will help your kids become as safe and responsible online as they are in the real world. Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has been writing Growing Up Online for ten years and is working on a book about constructive responses to conflict. Visit www.growing-up-online.com to read other columns. @ Copyright, 2016, Carolyn Jabs. All rights reserved.

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The 2016 Local Guide to Full and Part-Time Daycare, Before and After School Care, and More! Christ United Methodist Church

Faith Academy Preschool

(ad on pages 19 and 29)

8650 Tanner Williams Rd., Mobile (251) 633-7267; www.faithacademy.us Celebrating 43 Years of Excellence in Christian Education! Preschool programs for K3 and K4. Before and after school care available. Faith Academy School has PK3-12 grade.

(ad on page 41)

6160 Grelot Road, Mobile (251) 342-7215; www.cumcchildren.com Mom’s Day Out, Preschool and Extended Day The Children’s Ministries of Christ United Methodist Church is committed to nurturing children to know the unconditional love of Jesus Christ in a welcoming, family-centered environment that will equip each child for a continuing journey of exploring, living and sharing God’s Promises. We encourage the children to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ. Our curriculum for 3-year-olds emphasizes language, listening skills, gross and fine motor skill development. The 4-year-olds will also develop their language, gross and fine motor skills as well as listening and problem solving skills. The mom’s day out children will participate in art and music. The preschool children will participate in chapel, phonics, sports, music, and field trips. Summer Camp for elementary children. Students will participate in developmentally appropriate curriculum for Phonics, Reading and Math along with much more.

Corpus Christi Catholic School and Child Development Center (ad on page 43)

6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile 251-342-2424; www.corpuschristiparish.com/school Corpus Christi Catholic Child Development Center provides a warm, nurturing environment with age appropriate activities. An experienced, well trained staff is dedicated to providing the highest quality child care. The center is open 12 months, Monday thru Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Care for infants six weeks old through 2 years is available. In addition, Corpus Christi Catholic School has a K3 – K4 program. This program provides children the opportunity to learn, play, and grow in a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment. Our mission is to provide the building blocks for a life-long love of learning and academic success. We are a Christ-centered Catholic environment where children develop socially, physically and spiritually. K3 - K4 full day hours are 7:55am-3:00 pm and half day hours for K3 are 7:55am-11:55am. Extended day care is available. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

Government Street Baptist Child Development Center (ad on page 9)

Cottage Hill Christian Academy Early Education Center and Preschool (ad on page 36)

4255 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile (251) 660-2427; www.chcacademy.com Cottage Hill Christian Academy (CHCA) offers two programs for children in the early stages of development. The CHCA Early Education Center specializes in caring for children that are 6 weeks to 24 months old. CHCA offers quality child care from 6:00am until 6:00pm throughout the calendar year for families in surrounding communities. The EEC program offers an environment of music/movement, reading, and play! In addition to the early education program, CHCA also offers a dynamic preschool program that includes students in K2, K3, K4 and K5 classes. It is our belief that children learn best by experiencing, thus the preschool program is hands-on and encompasses many experiences on a daily basis to enhance student discovery and learning. Cottage Hill highly values a challenging learning environment, where the wonder and curiosity of learning provide a foundation for lifelong achievement. It is our hope that the preschool experience is an enjoyable journey where the child can grow spiritually, intellectually, socially and emotionally. This growth helps foster a strong sense of self-worth and confidence as they progress in their life and educational journeys. Please visit our web site at chcacademy.com and take the EEC/preschool virtual tour to discover the difference at CHCA. It’s great to be a Cottage Hill Warrior!

3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile (251) 660-7444; governmenstreetcdc.org Full-time Daycare (6:00am – 6:00pm) for ages 6 weeks to 3K. Government Street Christian School for 4K-8. The school serves as an extension of the home, seeking to educate the whole child – spiritually, cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically. We offer small classes while using A Beka and High Reach Learning curriculum. Teachers use a hands-on approach when planning the curriculum and learning centers are an integral part of each day. Classroom instructions in all subject areas are based on God’s Word. We also offer a Summer Day Camp program for children K4 - 5th grades.

Joyland Daycare at Knollwood Church (ad on page 4)

1501 Knollwood Dr., Mobile (251) 666-4996; www.joylanddaycare.com Joyland Daycare is one of many extension ministries of Knollwood Church. We know that the number one concern of working parents today is the care that their child will receive while they are at work. Joyland Daycare will provide your child with a loving and nurturing environment where they will receive the Word of God every day. We will also provide a wholesome learning environment with many activities that your child will enjoy. Activities: Daily Lessons: Bible, Phonics, Numbers, Colors, Shapes, and Special Units (special units change monthly) Weekly: Chapel, Spanish and Computer. Activities for and additional fee: Gymnastics, Ballet and Tap, Whiz Kids. Morning and Afternoon Snack as well as a hot lunch are included in the weekly tuition.

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St. Ignatius Catholic School (ad on page 23)

3704 Spring Hill Ave, Mobile (251) 342-5442; www.stignatiusmobile.org www.stignatius.org Mom’s Day Out, Preschool Program Mom’s Day Out at St. Ignatius Parish provides quality care for children 4 months to 3 years of age. Our trained, experienced and dedicated staff work hard to ensure that your child has a happy, healthy and safe environment in which to grow, learn and play. Programs are available from 3 to 5 days per weekMonday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-Noon for half day or 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Full Day. We also offer early care starting at 7:15 a.m. and extended care from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Tiny McPhillips (251) 445-6720 or mcphillipst@ stignatius.org. The K3 and K4 program is a Kindergarten readiness program designed to develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills, reading readiness, letter and sound recognition, math readiness, and critical thinking skills. Our goal is to develop the whole child, spiritually, emotionally, morally and physically. Half- Day (7:30am11:45am), Whole-Day (7:30am-2:45pm). Contact Lindsay Hutchisson, Development Director at 445-6719 for more information.

St. Luke’s Episcopal School (ad on page 21)

3975 Japonica Lane, Mobile 251-666-2991, www.stlukesmobile.com St. Luke’s Episcopal School is a college preparatory K2-12th grade school. Our Early Childhood Division is proud to offer 2-year old and 3-year-old kindergarten (3, and 5 half and full day options), 4-year-old kindergarten (full and half day options), and 5-year-old kindergarten (full and half day options). We believe that a positive early childhood experience is vital to future academic success. We provide this experience through a supportive environment in which each child can take on new challenges and experience success. Our academic skills are introduced and reinforced through creative age-appropriate games, and unit activities involving reading, numbers, social studies, and science. The Early Childhood curriculum is based upon the premise that young children learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful experiences. Students attend a weekly Early Childhood chapel service and enrichment classes that include music, art, computer, foreign language, Science lab, library, and

P.E. Our extra-curricular Kiddie Cats sports program (intramurals) provides spirited competition designed to develop self-discipline and self-confidence, promote physical fitness and learn good sportsmanship while teaching the basics of each sport. St. Luke’s has a full-time nurse on staff and provides early morning care beginning at 7:00, after school Stay and Play, summer camp, and child care on many of the school holidays.

St. Mark Early Learning Center (ad on page 7)

439 Azalea Road, Mobile (251) 232-2106; www.stmarkmobile.com/elc “Get your TLC at the ELC.” This program serves 2 months-4 years. We offer part time (8:15-2:15) or full time (7:00-5:45) 2, 3, or 5 days a week. We have spacious rooms with computers, library and a gym. Our 3 & 4 year olds have educational resources such as reading, math and science resources, chapel, Spanish, cooking, computer, music, mission, ministry, and much more. St. Mark ELC is definitely the place to be to receive TLC. Qualified, loving, Christian teachers nurture your child with lots of hands-on teaching. We are very busy each day learning and exploring. Rates are on the website at www.stmarkmobile.com.

Watermelon Patch Preschool (ad on page 3)

6417 Hillcrest Road, Mobile (251) 633-3288; www.WatermelonPatchKids.com Offering Preschool for ages 16 months – 4 years. Hours are 8:30am-12:30pm, and stay and play options are available. Conveniently located in West Mobile, off Hillcrest Rd. 2, 3, and 5 day preschool programs available. Our highly experienced Preschool teachers encourage hands on learning that include Literacy, Math, Science, Sensory, Art, Reading, Writing, Spanish, Dramatic Play and more. Custom built playhouses for each learning center in each classroom. Classrooms. If you are looking for a neutering Preschool for your child

to play, learn and grow, give us a call. Summer Camp also available. Find us on Facebook!

Weinacker’s Montessori School (ad on page 15)

Hillcrest: 227 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, (251) 344-8755 University: 513 Georgian Dr., Mobile (251) 342-5399 (888) 967- 2445; www.weinackersmontessori.com Our mission we believe every child is born with unique potential. And in order for your child to reach their potential, it must first be revealed. That’s where our highly skilled teachers and unique approach come in. First and foremost, we at Weinacker’s Montessori School encourage the children to learn while playing and play while learning. Studies show that using a sensory approach to learning is the most effective way to learn and retain. So, at Weinacker’s Montessori School students get to move around and explore, allowing them to learn while using their five senses in a safe and engaging environment. This not only gives them the freedom to explore their natural abilities, it allows your child to have a unique, individualized learning experience. This helps instill self-confidence and a lifelong curiosity for knowledge. After all, we’re not just preparing your child for their education; we’re preparing them for life! Infant, Toddler, and Early Childhood programs (infant-3rd Grade). Certified Teachers, State Licensed, Montessori curriculum.

Westminster Presbyterian Kids – Preschool and Mom’s Day Out (ad on page 25)

2921 Airport Blvd, Mobile (251) 471-9995; www.wpcmobile.org/preschool Westminster Presbyterian Church is home to one of Mobile’s oldest and most respected Early Childhood programs. Westminster offers Preschool classes for three and four year olds as well as Mom’s Day out programs from age 6 months through 3 years old for

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1 to 5 days a week. Our Preschool program is from 9:00-1:00 pm, for both three and four-year olds. Early drop-off option at 8 am. Included in our program is music, Spanish, a chapel service, and computer. Our goal is to provide happy, healthy play, and learning experiences. Activities are planned daily and are designed to be appropriate for each age group. We stress social skills, listening skills, peer play, and following directions, as well as language development and perception. Westminster Presbyterian Mother’s Day Out is designed to provide your child with a safe, enriching environment in which to play (ages 6 months – 3 years old). We believe that a child’s work is their play. Our main objective is for your child to be safe, happy and learning while at Mother’s Day Out. Westminster also offers a unique “Little Learners” classes for 2 1/2 year olds. We also have a summer program. Extracurricular activities such as gymnastics, drama, dance and art are also available. ABC Kindergarten 3618 Oak Tree Dr., Semmes (251) 649-4844; www.abc-kindergarten.com ABC Kindergarten is a private kindergarten that offers classes for three, four, and five year olds. We focus on phonics and mathematics. We are a Christian based school, and our motto is “Choosing God’s Way”. We are a half day program, but we also offer after school care for those that need it. Monday – Friday from 8:30am12:30pm. After School Care- 12:30-4:00pm; We are a school with a program of quality and excellence that has all the elements you equate with success- taught in a secure, warm, and loving environment. Ashland Place Preschool and Mother’s Day Out 15 Wisteria Ave., Mobile, (251) 478-6360, www.apumc.com Serving children ages 3 months – 4 years. The Mother’s Day Out program is for children 3 months through 3 years. The Pre-school program is for children ages 3 and 4 years. Contact Chee Chee Street for more information at (251) 478-6360. Azalea City Christian School & Child Development 3550 Schillinger Rd N., Mobile (251) 649-5437; www.azaleacity.org At Azalea City Christian School, infants and toddlers are special. Toddlers enjoy cheerful surroundings while learning to develop the motor coordination skills that are vital to their growth. Azalea City Christian School also offers a kindergarten program for three and four year olds. Children may attend on a part-time or fulltime basis. Day care is provided after the kindergarten program for parents who need this service. The kindergarten curriculum is designed to help children develop basic concepts in math, phonics, language arts, science, social studies, Bible, music and art. The Saxon programs are used in the classrooms. Part-time or fulltime Daycare, Pre-school and 3-4K. Designed with the needs of working families in mind. Azalea City Montessori School 57 South Hallett St. Mobile (251) 802-8762; azaleacitymontessori.org Our mission is to promote and provide Montessori education and childcare in the City of Mobile. Our Montessori classroom operates Monday-Friday from 8:00am – 3:00pm. Children requiring early morning or afternoon care are invited to enroll in an extended care program with our partner, Child Day Care Association located in Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

the same building. Extended care hours are 6:30am – 8:00am and 3:00pm – 6:00pm Monday-Friday. Becks Day Care Center 1248 Anchor Dr., Mobile, (251) 661-4254 Ages 6 weeks – 11 years. Preschool and Summer Camp for school age children. Nurturing, caring staff serving the families of Mobile for over 45 years. State licensed. Calvary Christian School 6800 Three Notch Road, Mobile (251) 661-8130; www.calvarymobile.org/ccs Calvary Christian School exists to provide our students with a quality education in a loving Christian environment and help them reach their greatest potential academically, morally, personally, socially, and spiritually. A Beka Curriculum. K-3 through Grade 5. Carmen’s Childcare and Learning Center 1361 Spring Hill Ave, Mobile, (251) 432-9050 Ages 6 weeks – 12 years. Afterschool care and summer programs. Child Day Care Association, Inc. Nina Nicks Joseph Child Development Center 209 South Washington Avenue, Mobile (251) 433-1310, www.childdaycare.org At the Nina Nicks Joseph Child Development Center, we encourage children’s learning through educational play using research based curriculum for every age group! Every day, children are engaged in a variety of handson educational activities in an environment that fosters a child’s positive self-esteem and a love of learning! Come by and visit. We are proud of our modern, inviting facility in the East Church Street Historic District in Downtown Mobile. A tradition for children since 1945, Nina Nicks Joseph Child Development Center is a community based non-profit center and United Way of Southwest Alabama Partner Agency. Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, School-age, Transportation available for after-school care. Ages 6 weeks-12 years. MondayFriday, 6:30am to 6:00pm. Community Nursery and Preschool Academy 4105 Moffett Road, Mobile (251) 340-8042 3055 Springhill Ave, Mobile (251) 450-2300 Hours: 6:00am-6:00pm Ages 6 wks-12 years. Cottage Hill Presbyterian Preschool 4201 Cottage Hill Rd., Mobile, (251) 666-0983 www.chpcmobile.org/PRESCHOOL.html At Cottage Hill Presbyterian Preschool we provide a safe, warm and nurturing environment. Our desire is to get to know each child individually and help them to reach their fullest potential socially, academically and spiritually. Mom’s Day Out-Ages 6 months - 2 years curriculum includes: Sign Language, Shape, Color, Letter recognition, Art and Music. Preschool- 3K and 4K Curriculum includes: A Beka Reading and Numbers Program, Art, Music, Christian Values and Bible Stories. Mom’s Day Out and Preschool are available Monday - Friday, 8:30-12:30. Morning Care is now available Monday - Friday from 7:30-8:30 and Extended Care/ Stay-N-Play is available Monday-Friday from 12:302:30. Dance and Tumbling available to 3K and 4K students. Please call (251) 666-0983 or email us at chpreschool@bellsouth.net for information.

Creative Learning Center 5880 Three Notch Road, Mobile, (251) 661-2992 We are a childcare center eager to meet your needs. Our business hours are 6:00am-6:00pm. Monday thru Friday. We accept children from 6 weeks old to 12 years old. We provide breakfast until 8:30am, lunch, and snack. Our van picks up from Nan Gray Davis Elementary and Griggs Elementary. You are more than welcome to come and visit. Dauphin Way Baptist Church Daycare 3661 Dauphin St., Mobile (251) 344-0909; www.dauphinwaycdc.com Dauphin Way Child Development Center “Quality Education in a Christian Environment” is located at Dauphin Way Baptist Church. We accept children from 5 weeks through 4K. Our mission is to provide a loving, nurturing and creative environment for each child. Our classrooms are arranged to offer challenging play and learning choices at a range of development levels. Several curriculums are used to have a well-rounded program with the main one being “Everyday Learning” from Kaplan Preschool Curriculum. For our older classes we offer Spanish, Sports, music, art, and culinary. The center is open 6:45am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday. The CDC provides a balanced hot lunch and two snacks a day. We also provide baby food for the children who are not on table food. During the summer months we offer Summer Day Camp for children who have completed 5K thru 12 years of age. The days are filled with field trips, swimming, skating, sports combine, art, and games. For more information call (251) 344-0909. Dauphin Way United Methodist Church Child Development Center 1507 Dauphin Street, Mobile (251) 473-1861; www.dauphinwayumc.org The mission statement of the Center is to develop good moral character within each child, while offering the highest possible age appropriate educational program. Our infant, toddler and preschool educators implement Pinnacle Curriculum, a faith-based curriculum used to guide children toward their potential. 7:00am- 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Full time child care for children ages six weeks through four years. Early Learning Center - Saraland United Methodist Church 415 McKeough Avenue, Saraland (251) 675-2728; saralandumc.org/early-learning-center The Early Learning Center, located on the campus of Saraland United Methodist Church, loves to grow beautiful little minds and hearts by offering the highest quality Christian education, for children ages walking through K4. New full time K3 and K4 program with A Beka Curriculum. We work to incorporate Biblical principles throughout our learning opportunities while providing a Christian perspective of the world. We believe that the love of Christ can be experienced early in a child’s development. Our team of early childhood educators strives to use developmentally appropriate practices, focusing on the child’s social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical growth. You can find out more about our schedule and tuition and download registration forms online. Please call us today for a tour, or to talk to our new director, Mrs. Heather Duke! You may contact her at (251) 675-2728 or heather@ saralandumc.org. Early Head Start Community Partnership Child Care Centers (251) 473-1060; www.grecs.org A primary goal of Early Head Start Mobile is to ensure that infants and toddlers receive the type of safe, healthy, emotionally secure and intellectually enriched early start in life that will serve as a solid foundation for future success in school and in life. Our educational

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practices are firmly based on established child development principles and widely recognized, research-based best practices for infants and toddlers. Early Head Start Mobile Centers: Dearborn YMCA-321 N. Warren St. Mobile; (251) 432-4768 Nina Nicks Joseph Child Care-209 S. Washington Ave. Mobile; (251) 441-0845 Lighthouse Academy-9930 Cody Driskell Grand Bay; (251) 957-0641 Goodwill Easter Seals-2448 Gordon Smith Dr. Mobile; (251) 471-1581 Soaring Eagles Child Development Center- 1655 Eagle Dr., Mobile; (251) 470-8603 First Baptist Mobile Child Development Center 806 Government Street, Mobile (251) 432-6513; www.fbcmobile.com/child-development-center.html FBC-CDC offers full day care for children from eight weeks to 4 years. Our hours of operation are 7:30am until 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. Our location is ideal for parents working in downtown or midtown. We use the WEE Learn curriculum and emphasize activities that are both age and developmentally appropriate for young children. Please contact or church office for additional information. First Baptist Church Satsuma 5600 Old Highway 43, Satsuma www.fbcsatsuma.org; satsumachristianschool.com Mother’s Day Out Program/Daycare/Preschool. Mother’s Day Out – (251) 380-7357 - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30am-2:00pm. A Christian environment for preschool children allowing mother’s a period of time for themselves. Children will be grouped according to age groups. Each class (except for bed babies) will have free play, a Bible story and an activity time.

Daycare – (251) 679-9000. We offer a daycare program for ages 6 weeks-2 years. Times: 6:30am6:00pm. Satsuma Christian School – (251) 675-1295, Satsuma Christian School is a ministry of First Baptist Church Satsuma offering classes for K3 –2nd. We offer Accelerated Reading, Art, Computer, Library, Music and Spanish. Fountain of Life Daycare at Evangel Christian 1277 Jubilee Dr., Saraland (251) 679-0975; www.fountainoflifechurch.net Full-day daycare for ages 6 weeks thru 3 years. Monday – Friday, 6:30am-6:00pm. A Beka Program for children 2 years and up. Evangel Christian School is for PK3-5th grade, for more information visit www.fountainoflifechurch.net/church/evangel-christian-school. Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast 2 locations: Springhill Child Development Center 10 Westminster Way, Mobile, hours 7:30am-5:30pm (251) 342-3122 Gordon Smith Child Development Center 2448 Gordon Smith Drive Mobile, hours: 6:30am – 6:00pm, (251) 471-1581 Preschool Program, Day Care Services, Summer Camp and After School Programs, Social Service Programs Springhill Child Development Center Preschool Specialized educational services, and Pre-Kindergarten

Standard goals, are provided year round in an inclusive preschool setting for children ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old. The High Reach Curriculum in conjunction with the Creative Curriculum are utilized. We offer a small group setting in order to serve the individual needs of our children. We also offer morning and afternoon care for those children enrolled in our preschool program. Our staff communicates closely with families through daily reports, monthly consultations, and parent enrichment activities. Gordon Smith Child Development Center Preschool Program and Daycare: Our center serves children 6 weeks to school age in a full daily program. All classes except infants use the High Reach curriculum in the morning and theme-based instruction in the afternoons. We feature inclusive classrooms that allow children with disabilities to work side by side with their non-disabled peers in a way that provides maximum benefit for all children. School Age Programs: Summer camp and afterschool programs are available for elementary school children. We offer van pickup from several local schools and provide homework tutoring and enrichment activities during the school year. During the summer, theme based weekly plans provide fun and variety for older children. Early Intervention Program: The early intervention program is a community based program that offers services to children with special needs from birth to 3

Christ United Methodist Church presents

2016 WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Babbie Ma

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Includes free child care.

COST: $35 I will be in them and you will be in me so that they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as much as you loved me. —John 17:23 (NCV)

son

T-shirts are available for purchase: Short sleeve: $12 | Long sleeve: $17 Register at Christ UMC or online:

Christ United Methodist Church 6101 Grelot Road | Mobile, AL 36609 | 251.342.0462

christumcmobile.com/wc2016 41

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puzzles. Preschoolers are also offered the opportunity to participate in a special program that teaches basic computer skills. School Age Program- Our school age program is designed for children 5 years to 12 years and is offered during after school hours, during holidays and during the summer months. A nutritious breakfast and lunch will be served daily at each facility. Programs vary by center. Please contact a specific location for more information. Second location in Spanish Fort, AL. years of age. These services are provided in the home and the natural environment. The service coordinator works with the family and a team of qualified therapists to carry out services specified in the child’s individual service plan. Mobile County: (251) 375-9114. Grace Temple Christian Academy 159 Hemley Avenue, Mobile (251) 478-9200; gracetemplechristianacademy.com Grace Temple Christian Academy is for ages 6 weeks – 5th Grade. Our hours are 6:00am-5:30pm. K5 -5th grade-students school day ends at 3:00pm. (unless registered for aftercare) A Beka curriculum for PK. Happy Days Child Care Center 2663 Dawes Road, Mobile (251) 633-7920 As West Mobile’s premier child care provider, Happy Days has been serving the community and helping raise its children for over 40 years. HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) 109 S. Cedar St., Mobile (251) 441-0004; www.hippyalabama.com Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a parent involvement, school readiness program that helps parents prepare their three, four, and five year old children for success in school and

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

beyond. The parent is provided with a set of carefully developed curriculum, books and materials designed to strengthen their children’s cognitive skills, early literacy skills, social/emotional and physical development. HIPPY has been at work in Alabama since 1993 serving parents of children ages three, four, and five. No charge for the program. Jubilee Child Care Center & Preschool 6631 Wall Street, Mobile, (251) 776-7022 (Pre-School), (251) 633-0018 (Infant); www.jubileechildcare.com We offer Day Care, Mom’s Day Out, Infant and Toddler Program, Preschool Program & School Age Program for after school, holidays and during summer months. Moms Day Out Program- Jubilee offers a two day, a three day and a five day Mom’s day out program. The program begins at 8:30am each morning and ends at 12pm for children ages 2 months to 5 years Toddler Program and Infant Program- Jubilee’s toddler and infant program are designed for children 9 weeks to 3 years old. Full day care and part time positions are available. Preschool Program - Our preschool program is for 3 year olds and 4 year olds. Full and part time positions are available. Our program incorporates a wide range of activities and is designed to prepare a child for kindergarten. Children enjoy activities such as writing, cutting, painting, working with letters and numbers. In addition, the children in our program are exposed frequently to science, art, group games, and

Kids Stuff Preschool 320 Hillcrest Rd., Mobile (251) 343-6611; www.kidsstuffpreschool.com Children ages six weeks to twelve years benefit from over 35 years of experience at our Alabama licensed DHR-inspected facility. Highly-qualified day care teacher’s work in close contact with children and their families to ensure each child receives nurturing day care services and a quality education. We provide the child care services you require, including infant/toddler care, an enlightening preschool curriculum, before and after-school child care including on-site school pick-ups and educational summer services. All year long, Kids Stuff Preschool plans special activities for your children. From swimming, horseback riding, baseball games, wilderness outings and many more...we make sure your child has a wonderful experience. Open from 6:00am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. Kids Stuff Preschool follows an A Beka Christian learning program. Kids Zone of Tillman’s Corner 4612 Bush Lane, Mobile, (251) 661-3280 Open Monday- Friday from 6:00am-6:00pm. Providing care for children from 6 weeks- 5th grade. A Beka curriculum is taught in all Pre-K classes. Hot breakfast and lunch are provided along with an afternoon snack. Before and after school care offered with van service to and from Griggs Elementary. Our Summer Camp for

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school age children is amazing! Kids Zone is a family owned and operated childcare facility, licensed by the state of Alabama. Kimz Kidz Child Care Center 1650 Schillinger Rd. N., Semmes (251) 645-6451; www.kimzkidzchildcarecenter.com Kimz Kidz Child Care Center of Semmes, AL offers quality and reliable child care services for infants, pre-kindergarten, preschool and elementary students. Our individualized programs include summer camps, before and after school activities, games, and more. At Kimz Kidz Child Care Center, your child’s mental and emotional development is our top priority. Before and after school programs. Day / summer camps. Kingswood’s Creative Learning Center 5200 Perin Road, Mobile (251) 661-0420; www.kingswoodchurch.com/ creativelearningcenter.htm Mom’s Day Out and Preschool for ages 2 through K-4 Tuesdays - Thursdays, 9:00am-1:00pm. If you are interested in learning more about KCLC, please call the church office (661-0420) and ask for Angie McLaney, KCLC Director. La Petite Academy 955 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile (251) 639-9201; www.lapetite.com Ages 6 weeks – PK4 & 5. Before and after-school care for school-age children ages 5-12. Offers exciting learning activities specifically designed to meet a child’s developmental needs and help he/she advance to the next level. Learning Tree –The Little Tree Preschool 1176 Azalea Road, Mobile (251) 649-4420 ext. 1225/1226; www.learning-tree.org The Little Tree Preschool offers high quality preschool education for ALL children. Our small classes are taught by certified teachers with low student-teacher ratios. Our children are encouraged to grow as learners by building on individual strengths to establish a strong foundation for school success. The curriculum is comprehensive and encourages children to explore and discover answers, and we provide a social setting to promote healthy self-esteem and sensitivity to the needs of others. Legacy Child Life Learning & Dev. Center 1060 Government St., Mobile (251) 441-1901; www.lwccim.com Enrollment for ages 6 weeks – 5 years and before & after school care. Hours are 6:30 am-6:00pm MondayFriday. A Ministry of Living Word Christian Center. Legacy Child Life Learning & Development Center is committed to providing an excellent, loving, and secure Christian environment where our children can develop spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. Curriculums include ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) and A Beka. Call for information. Kingdom Academy, also a Ministry of Living Word Christian Center is a school that goes from 5K-8th. Lighthouse Baptist Academy 6335 Swedetown Road North, Theodore (251) 653-6542; www.lbatheodore.com Distinctively Christian. Academically excellent. Complete Kindergarten – Separate K2, K3, K4, K5 classes. Experienced Teachers & Helpers, Foundational Reading & Math, Christian Character Training. Child Care Services: Before and After Care & Summer Day Camp. Lighthouse Baptist Academy educates K2-12th grade. Life Church Child Development Center 8701 Zeigler Blvd, Mobile (251) 633-2679, www.lifechurchcdc.com Life Church CDC exists to build Godly character in children through quality Early Childhood Christian Edu-

Corpus Christi Catholic School Building the Body of Christ One Student at a Time.

Registering NOW for the 2016—2017 year. The mission of Corpus Christi Catholic School is to nurture every child by providing opportunities to grow in faith, achieve academic success, and serve others as disciples of Jesus. Established in 1958 by Corpus Christi Parish, Corpus Christi Catholic School provides students in K3 through eighth grade an outstanding education. In addition, the school provides a warm, nurturing environment with developmentally appropriate activities for children aged 6 weeks to 2-years old. Join us at our Open House on February 21, 1 p.m.—3 p.m., or to arrange a tour of our school, please contact us at: 251.342.5474 or sgillis@corpuschristiparish.com www.corpuschristiparish.com/school 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608

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cation in a safe and caring environment, incorporating proven methods and materials to promote success in school and in life, with eternal values. Hours: 6:00am6:00pm and start at 6 weeks old. Before and after care available. Summer Camp also available. Lighthouse Academy of Excellence & Achievement 9930 Cody Driskell Rd., Grand Bay (251) 957-0641; academylighthouse.com/about.html The Lighthouse Academy of Excellence & Achievement has been making a difference in the lives of children since 1993. Our mission is to improve the educational achievement of our children from the beginning of the early stages of child development by providing a nurturing environment, a rich curriculum, outstanding teachers, and setting a standard of high expectations. Programs: Infant & Toddler Childcare, Early Head Start Preschool 2’s & 3’s, Alabama First Class Pre-Kindergarten, After School Program, Summer Camp and Parent Involvement Workshops. Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-12:00 midnight. Ages 6 weeks-4K. Before, after care, and night care programs available for ages up to 12. Little Flower Catholic School  2103 Government St., Mobile (251) 479-5761; www.littleflower.cc Little Flower Catholic School has been providing quality education to this community for over seventy-five years. Our dedicated faculty and staff continuously strive to meet the needs of the whole child. In addition, the small size of our school fosters a family atmosphere. Preschool – 3K-4K, also K5-8th grade. Melton’s Tots Tendercare Academy 2946 W. Turner Rd., Mobile, (251) 457-6304 Ages 5-weeks – 12 years. A Beka Curriculum. State Licensed, pick up provided, Mother’s Day Out, hot meals, Child Care Resources, after school care. Mobile Christian School 5900 Cottage Hill Rd., Mobile (251) 661-1613; www.mobilechristian.org Mobile Christian School’s PreK3 Program provides a loving Christian atmosphere where children may grow in their knowledge of God, themselves and the world. The preschool curriculum is designed to provide children with a variety of enrichment and readiness experiences. Our ultimate goal is to prepare children for a successful PK4 experience. The PreK4 Program at Mobile Christian is designed to provide an atmosphere that encourages, stimulates and challenges our students through a well-structured curriculum. Following a daily routine the child’s needs are met socially, emotionally, physically, academically, and spiritually. The program is designed to give the student a good feeling about school in order to prepare him/her for an enjoyable experience in K5. Mobile Christian School goes through 12th grade. Call for more information. Mobile Preschool for the Sensory Impaired 1050 Government St., Mobile, (251) 433-1234 The Preschool prides itself in being family-friendly and offering a wide range of educational choices. The classes are small and the teachers are certified professionals dedicated to the growth and development of the children. A wide range of services are available inMobile Bay Parents I February 2016

cluding early intervention, audiology, speech/language therapy, and parent education. These are incorporated into the preschool curriculum to provide each child with an individualized program that promotes development and growth. Most of our services are free to residents of Alabama who have a diagnosed vision or hearing loss of at least 25%, and for children with a diagnosed developmental delay. Ages: 3-5 years old. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-2:30pm. Call for more information. Moffet Road Baptist Child Development Center 5555 Moffett Road, Mobile (251) 343-1568; www.mrbcdc.org Since 1984, Moffett Road Baptist Child Development Center has graduated thousands of precious children. Located in West Mobile on the campus of Moffett Road Baptist Church, the CDC offers the highest quality care for your little one in a safe, clean, secure, and stimulating environment. We offer Full Daycare for infants 6 weeks through 5 years old, Kindergarten classes for 3-5 year olds, and before and after school care, as well as summer camp, for children in K5 through fifth grade. Students in our K3 through K5 Kindergarten classes use the highly regarded A Beka curriculum. Activities including music, P.E., computer and worship Arts classes. Montessori World Preschool & Kindergarten 2061 Leroy Stevens Rd., Mobile (251) 634-8211; info@montessori-world.org www.montessori-world.org At Montessori World, we educate each student to acquire self-confidence, a positive attitude toward learning, and an abiding sense of curiosity. Half-day (8:30-11:30), full-day (8:30-2:30) and extended-day (7:00-6:00) programs are available on a 5-day a week schedule for children aged 2.5 years to 6 years during the academic year. Primary class is taught by Montessori certified teachers. Classes have mixed-age groupings, allowing younger children to learn from the activities of older ones, and providing the older children the opportunity to teach and nurture the younger ones. Kindergarten program available for children 5 to 6 years old. These programs allow the children more time to reinforce and refine their skills. Advanced studies and projects are planned for each week. Spanish and German classes taught each week for all levels. The children move through the major curricular themes from concrete presentations towards greater depth, detail, and abstract understanding. Self-directed learning and fostering of a positive self-esteem are elements

of MW’s programs which impact the child’s future learning and adaptation to other educational environments. Secure, loving, and nurturing learning environment. Degreed instructors with Montessori training. ADA compliant (can meet various special needs). Licensed by Alabama DHR. Mount Hebron Christian Child Dev. Center 2531 Berkley Avenue, Mobile (251) 456-8700, www.mthebroncm.org/mhccdc Comprehensive Childcare services for children 6 weeks – 12 years of age on a part-time or full-time basis. Full Time: Full days Monday-through Friday (maximum 9 hours per day) Part Time: The after school program and sporadic care (drop-ins). The Mount Hebron Christian Child Development Center uses the A Beka curriculum as well as other useful academic and culturally age appropriate activities. We also have a summer program. It is the vision of Mount Hebron Christian Child Development Center to provide the care, education, and development necessary for each child enrolled to meet his/her greatest potential: spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. Most Pure Heart of Mary School 310 Sengstak Street, Mobile (251) 432–5270; www.heartofmaryschoolmobile.org Early Childhood Classes: 3K-4K Full Day Program. (School- K3 to Eighth grade). Before and after care. Nazarene Day Care & Learning Center 669 Azalea Rd., Mobile (251) 6660044; www. mobilefirstnazarene.org Our purpose at Nazarene Daycare and Learning Center is to provide excellent, loving child care, preschool, and school age experiences in a safe, nurturing, and Christ-centered environment. Early childhood care and education are critical components of a child’s life. Christian daycare, preschool for ages 6 weeks – 4K. A Beka Curriculum. Oak Park Child Care Center 3321 Sollie Rd., Mobile (251) 633-9386; www.oakparkministries.com The Oak Park Child Care Center is dedicated to providing a warm, loving, Christ-centered environment for each child to develop socially, spiritually and academically. Our goal is to strive daily toward “Excellence for God!” through direction based in Christian principles. Quality child care and Christian principles with A Beka curriculum. OPCCC is a ministry of Oak Park Church of God. We offer care for 6 week old infants through 4 year olds. Hours: Monday—Friday 6:30am to 6:00pm. Our Savior Preschool & Mother’s Day Out 1801 Cody Rd. S, Mobile (251) 633-3017; www.oursaviorparish.org Our Savior’s Preschool/MDO program encourages the spiritual, social and emotional growth of our young children. Our goal is to help children 6 months to 4 years old develop skills needed to better prepare them for their formal education and community interaction. Additionally the MDO program provides an opportunity for a young child to be cared for in a worry free environment while Mom needs a morning to do other things.

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Preschool for 3 and 4 year olds is scheduled between 8:30am-12:30pm for the options of either 3 or 5 days a week. Mother’s Day Out is available for children 6 months through 4 years old between 8:30am-12:30pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Parents may choose any day or combination of days. Saraland UMC Early Learning Center 415 McKeough Ave., Saraland (251) 675-2728; www.saralandumc.org The Early Learning Center is a ministry of Saraland United Methodist Church. It is our desire to teach God’s love and exemplify Jesus in our daily interactions with children. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment coupled with quality, age-appropriate education for children walking-4K. Days – 2, 3, or 4 day options available. Also open on Fridays for fun day. Regular hours: 8:30am-2:00pm with early and late care available. Semmes First Baptist Child Development Center 4070 Wulff Rd E. Semmes (251) 649-2712; www.semmesfirstbaptistcdc.com SFBCDC serves children 6weeks – K4 and we have a before and after school service for Allentown and Semmes Elementary along with a Summer Camp program for children up to 5th grade. We have Full time, Part time, and Half Day options. Breakfast and Lunch are served daily and included in the cost of tuition. Our Center has formatted a curriculum that is based on Thematic Units for K2 and Letter of the Week Units for K3/K4. With these units our staff will establish a developmentally appropriate lesson plan that will guide your child in the following areas of learning; Bible, Language, Literacy, Communication, Creative Arts, Music, Science, Technology, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Social/Emotional Development. Each week your child will develop further with many activities including; songs, books, manipulatives, crafts, games, discussions, and much more. We will incorporate from various sources such as High Scope and Handwriting without tears. We are open Monday-Friday from 6:00am – 6:00pm with full, part time and half day options. Shiloh Christian Day Care 717 Cleveland Rd., Saraland (251) 675-2099; www.shilohbc.com With Daycare options through K4, Shiloh Daycare offers a variety of programs to meet each family’s needs. We have 3 day a week program as well as the traditional 5 days a week. You can choose the short day (7:00am -3:00pm) or the standard day (6:00am – 6:00pm). We utilize educational curriculum for our kids ages 3, 4, and 5. Our daycare staff works hard to make sure your child is loved and receives the best care. Come see why parents all over north Mobile County use Shiloh Daycare for their little ones. Snow Road FBC - Child Development Center 2370 Snow Rd N., Semmes (251) 649-6096; www.srfbc.com/srfbc-ministries/childdevelopment-center Full daycare program - 6:00am-6:00pm 6 weeks- K4. A Beka Curriculum. Experienced Teachers, Spanish Classes, sign Language, Gymnastics, Summer Day Camp, and Hot Lunches. Before and after-school care provided for children entering K-5 through 5th grade.

Transportation to and from Allentown, Semmes and Collier Elementary is included. Springhill Baptist Child Development Center 2 S McGregor Ave, Mobile, (251) 342-6044 www.shbc.cc/ministries/child-development-center Day Care, Mother’s Day Out A safe, fun and educational environment for your children. The goal of the Weekday Early Education Program at Spring Hill Baptist Church is to provide for each child according to his/her ability in each area of physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual growth while meeting their individual needs. Our Weekday Early Education Program includes day care classes and Mom’s Day Out (8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) classes. Spring Hill Mother’s Day Out and Week Day School 10 Westminster Way, Mobile (251) 344-2070 Mother’s Day Out and Preschool Program Mother’s Day Out Monday – Friday, 6 months – 3 years 9:00am – 1:00pm. Weekday Preschool program 3K and 4K program- Monday-Friday 9:00am – 1:00pm. Early Morning Drop-off available at 8:00am. Summer program also available. St. Dominic Catholic School 4160 Burma Drive, Mobile (251) 661-5226; www.stdominicmobile.org Our preschool program for ages 2-4 strives to provide a developmentally appropriate educational experience within a Catholic environment. We use a child centered curriculum based on the belief that children learn through play. Age appropriate lessons in reading readiness, writing, social studies, math, science, religion, music, movement and art are part of our daily schedule. A summer program is also available. Students in the preschool program continue to St. Dominic Catholic School, Kindergarten – Grade 8. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Mom’s Day Out 1050 Azalea Rd., Mobile (251) 662-2055; stlukesepiscopalchurch.org It is the philosophy of St. Luke’s MDO that early childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, exploration and discovery. Preschool children are creative and receptive, and our program strives to nurture and encourage these qualities for the children. Children who are from 9 months- 3 ½ years of age are eligible to enroll in St. Luke’s MDO. Regular session, including Fall, Winter, and Spring, begins mid-August and ends mid-May. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00am-3:00pm. Summer program – Monday – Friday 8:00am-12:00pm. St. Mary Catholic School 107 N. Lafayette Street, Mobile (251) 433-9904; www.stmarymobile.org Moms Day Out Program and Preschool. St. Mary’s Mom’s Day Out is a ministry of St. Mary Church. We are dedicated to provide a nurturing environment that meets the needs of our children. We provide care for children ages 6 weeks – 36 months. We have 2 programs – Monday –Friday 8:00am-12:00pm or 8:00am-4:00pm. Early Care and Extended Care options are also available. St. Mary Catholic Preschool serves 3 - 4 year olds in a full day program. Our preschool curriculum provides a loving, safe, stimulating, and

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Christian environment that values and respects the individuality of each child. We believe in a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children three and four years of age. The focus of our preschool curriculum is to prepare children socially, emotionally and academically for the many challenges that elementary school brings. St. Mary Catholic is the oldest existing elementary school in the state of Alabama, offering education from preschool thru grade 8. Please contact Laurel Dolan for Moms Day Out information at ldolan@ stmarymobile.org or (251)432- 8678, and Principal Debbie Ollis for Preschool/School information at dollis@stmarymobile.org or (251) 433-9904. St. Paul’s Episcopal Early Education Center 4051 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 342-8521; www.stpaulsearlyedcenter.com The Early Education Center of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church serves families with 2 and 3 year old children in coordination with the academic calendar of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. The goal of The Early Education Center is to instill a love of God, of people and of learning in each child. Our cutting edge approach to early childhood includes an Outdoor Classroom, Promethean Board technology, a research based, hands on curriculum and passionate, certified teachers. The program includes half day and full day options. Please contact

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

Erin Schwant, Director of The Early Education Center, via email at erin@stpmobile.com for further information. St. Paul’s Episcopal School has a 4K program-12th grade. St. Pius X 217 South Sage Avenue, Mobile (251) 473-5004; www.stpiustenth.com St. Pius X Parish has a K3 and K4 program located on the main campus and operating in conjunction with Saint Pius X Catholic School. Acknowledging that we are a Christian, Catholic based program, and that God is the central focus of our lives, we strive to reinforce the basic and all-important values of our faith. Much love, attention, and affection is used as we strive to meet each child’s individual needs in the area of growth and development. We are committed to the higher standard of care for our children. St. Pius X offers a variety of day care programs: Early Morning Care, After School Care, Extended Care and Summer Camp. These programs orient children to play and learn and to interact with other children. St. Pius X Catholic School is a K through 8th grade school. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic 6651 Three Notch Road (Daycare); 6571 Larkspur Drive (School), Mobile, (251) 666-4066 (Daycare), (251) 666-8022 (School)

St. Vincent Daycare is available to any parent with a child 6 weeks old to 3 years old and is open weekdays from 6:00am-6:00pm. St. Vincent de Paul Preschool is housed at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. There are classes for 3K-4K. The St. Vincent de Paul Preschool strives to enhance the social, emotional, spiritual, physical and creative skills of each child. We are dedicated to making these preschool years enjoyable and exciting so that each youngster will be prepared and eager to begin kindergarten. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School also serves K5 through 8th grade. Sunni Land Child Care Center 2901 Schillinger Rd, Semmes, (251) 645-3664 Preparing your child to shine. Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years of age, before and after school care. Hours: 6:00am-12:00am. Sunshine Sue’s Playgarden 1108 Dauphin Street Mobile (251)421-2434, www.sunshinesuesplaygarden.com Creative Play Place, Drop off Service, Classes, Birthday Parties and More! Our Services: Open Play (M-F, 9:00am-6:00pm): $6/hr. for one child, $4/hr. for additional children in the immediate family. Sue’s Drop Off Club (M-F, 9:00am-6:00pm): $10/hr. for age’s 6mos23mos and $8/hr. for ages 2-12. 4 hours Maximum per child per day. Reservations required for a guaranteed spot; walk-ins welcome if there is availability. Training Wheels Childcare-Preschool 6159 Moffett Road, Mobile (251) 645-7507; www.trainingwheelscc.com TWCC is a fun place for children to learn and play. From ages 6 weeks to K-4, we offer a healthy balance of learning and developing socially, physically, and spiritually. Our teachers are part of the “Child Care Support Network” and receive credit for training time. We work hard to provide a clean, safe, and loving envi-

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ronment for your child. We offer computer training for K-3- K-5, the well-respected A Beka curriculum dance/ tumbling and music lessons! We also offer before & after school pick-up & care. Trinity Kids Learning Center 309 Pinehill Dr, Mobile, (251) 476-1844 We believe in “Providing Quality Without Question!” Ages 4 weeks – 12 years, 6:30am.-6:00pm. Full day care with afterschool programs available for school aged children. Certified staff; High Reach curriculum. Trinity Lutheran Child Care Center 2668 Berkley Avenue, Mobile (251) 456-7960; trinitylutheranmobile.org Trinity Lutheran Child Care Center is for ages 6 weeks-3 years old. We are committed to providing high-quality, affordable Christian education to our diverse student body. Trinity Lutheran School is K4-5TH Grade. West Mobile Baptist Child Development Center 7501 Airport Blvd, Mobile (251) 639-6868; www.westmobilebaptist.org West Mobile Baptist Child Development Center offers a Christian daycare/preschool program for children 6 weeks of age through 5K. A Beka curriculum. In addition to learning programs our K3 – K5 students participate in many extracurricular activities, library classes, and music classes as a part of our regular program for K3 children and older. We also offer before & after school care and a summer camp program for children 6-11 years old. Woodbridge Baptist Learning Center 2700 Schillinger Rd S., Mobile (251) 633-6094; www.woodridgebc.com Full Day care for children ages 6 week-5 years. Monday – Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm. Before and after school care and summer camp available. Part time program is also available with a minimum of 2 days a week. We also use the A Beka curriculum in our classes beginning with toddlers. 4K children take spelling and math tests each week and are required to complete a poster project each quarter. These projects are turned in and presented to the class by the students. We also provide quarterly field trips for our 4K class. All these classrooms also have a Bible lesson / study every Wednesday. Family oriented, Christian environment. World of Friends Daycare 2900 Dawes Rd, Mobile (251) 633-0033; www.livingwordmobile.com World of Friends Daycare offers full-time service for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. We provide a structured program that is conducive for early childhood development. WOF Daycare is registered with the Department of Human Resources in the State of Alabama, and our friendly staff is CPR certified. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 6:30am to 5:30pm. After-School care is available for children ages 4 to 12. Children are also provided with a snack and a drink during After-School Care. The Summer Program is limited to children ages 4 to 12. Daily activities are planned for the children as well as weekly field trips. For a daycare packet including information and tuition fees, please call the office at (251) 633-0033 or visit the website. YMCA – Dearborn Child Development Program 321 N. Warren Street (251) 432-4768; www.dearbornymca.org Our Child Development Program is open from 6:30am6:00pm. Ages 6 weeks-5 years. Full and part time options. All children are provided with: Age-appropriate activities for cognitive, social, physical, language, and emotional development, nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks, special guests and activities, a safe and nurturing environment, and indoor & outdoor recreational activities. MBP

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The best way to make a positive impact on the girl vs. girl trend sweeping the nation is to address and redirect mean girl behavior in our daughters. Like many mothers of daughters I polled, I started noticing mean girl behavior early in my daughter’s school experience. Ironically, the behavior wasn’t coming from acquaintances, but from girls my daughter considered friends. This brings up an uncomfortable reality: there is not much we can do about mean girl behavior in other people’s kids. We can report it to their parents or to school or organization authorities, but there is little more we can do to ameliorate mean girl situations once they are happening. So what’s a pro-active mom to do? Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Take heart. There is much you can

do to prevent mean girl behavior in your own daughter. One more girl setting an example of how to be kind and emotionally intelligent, despite peer pressure moving in the opposite direction, can help turn the tide. If mothers can encourage their daughters to stay open, vulnerable, and in touch with feelings no matter what, we might be able to dismantle the mean girl time bomb that ticks silently away inside every girl, just waiting to go off when that girl is pushed too far. Only when girls understand that bullying is never acceptable can a better example spread. If your daughter can embody healthier choices, she can help create harmony within her middle school girl tribe. Here are six crucial ways moms can prepare daughters to navigate the social pressures of middle school.

Define meanness. Rudeness, meanness, and bullying exist on a behavior spectrum. Meanness is intentionally hurtful, as opposed to rudeness, which is unintentionally hurtful, as opposed to bullying which is consistently hurtful. One of the problems with mean girl behavior is that it can be subtle, insidious, and elusive. Teach your daughter the difference between the three types of behaviors and how to tell the difference between someone who is consistently,

purposefully mean and some- No matter how secure and emotionally one who simply makes a mistake. Make sure your child intelligent your child, hormones will be understands that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay to ebbing and flowing in middle school. make mistakes, and that you Rather than letting this become an expect her to be kind regardexcuse for poor behavior, teach your less of circumstances. Keep talking about what these three daughter to step back from situations behaviors mean on an ongowhen erratic emotions are involved. ing basis, until your daughter can tell the difference. Once she knows she always has a let the popularity chips fall where they may. choice about how to respond in any situation, After all, popularity does not necessarily you are making good progress. equal happiness.

Encourage Self-acceptance Over Popularity. Left to their own devices,

kids will always decide that being popular is better than not being popular. In middle school, popularity is perceived as power and kids are instinctively hungry for it. Make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t secretly hope your child will be one of the popular kids. If you put this trip on your child, you are encouraging her to put perceptions over feelings, which can lead to imposter syndrome. If you want your child to be authentic and emotionally intelligent, this means accepting and liking her as she is so she can accept and like herself. If you want your daughter to have genuine self-esteem, conversations on self-acceptance need to start young, long before middle school. Then

Teach How To Detach From Drama. No matter how secure and emo-

tionally intelligent your child, hormones will be ebbing and flowing in middle school. Rather than letting this become an excuse for poor behavior, teach your daughter to step back from situations when erratic emotions are involved. Girl vendettas are common in middle school and can ignite for the slightest reasons. Your daughter may empathize with one or both girls and get inadvertently sucked into a feud if she does not know how to avoid one. Teach your daughter to listen to the facts and form her own opinion without getting involved in any drama. Encourage her to not take sides when one girl turns against another, but to be the voice of reason when-

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When confronted with a challenging situation, your daughter will intuitively imitate the way you behave. If you project negativity onto others, she is going to learn to do the same. If you are insecure, she will be insecure. If you are competitive with others, she will follow suit.

Got Dust? It's virtually impossible to avoid—and it can trigger an asthma attack. Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli. Certain triggers—ranging from viral infections to allergies to irritating gases and particles in the air—can make asthma worse. Each child reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma.

others, she is going to learn to do the same. If you are insecure, she will be insecure. If you are superior and competitive with others, she will follow suit. If you judge and condemn…I am sure you get the picture. You can’t hold your daughter accountable for her attitudes and actions, if you are not accountable for yours. Be sure you set a good example or you just might see your least appealing qualities reflected back to you in your daughter’s behavior.

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Reinforce & Challenge Your Daughter’s Strengths. If you want

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ever possible. Affirm that girls need to stick together and prop each other up when they are having a bad day without getting overly involved in solving each other’s problems. Once your daughter understands that drama is a distraction from personal priorities, she can more easily steer clear.

Model Healthy Communication.

Girls often start to lose their authentic voices when they become teenagers. So your job as your daughter’s confidante is to keep the doors of communication open and let her be honest and real with you as she is trying to figure everything out. If your formerly sunshiny girl suddenly turns partly cloudy, Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

don’t fret. She may push you away and not want to talk as much as she used to, but don’t give in to the common misperception that teenagers need to be left alone. Your middleschooler can’t navigate this brave new social world solo. If you expect her to, she is going to feel stressed and look for friends who can help her take the edge off. You have to be there, Mom, every day, listening and responsive, whenever either of you wants to talk.

Keep Your Negativity In Check.

When confronted with a challenging situation, your daughter will intuitively imitate the way you behave. If you project negativity onto 50

your daughter to be a leader, not a follower, she needs to know and use her strengths. If you and the rest of your family don’t reflect her strengths back to her, it’s going to take your daughter longer to activate her personal power. If you only reflect back her weaknesses, she is going to believe she is a walking, talking pile of not good enough, which makes her an easy target for mean girls. Girls with high self-esteem don’t usually become targets, and self-motivated girls don’t focus on the behavior of others. If they have a negative encounter with another girl, they shrug it off and bounce back quickly. So make sure your daughter is armed with something besides superiority and a sharp tongue. Be certain she knows what she is good at and encourage her to put her strengths to good use in your community for the benefit of all. If your daughter is busy exercising her skills, challenging herself to reach new goals, and striving to make a positive impact in the world, she will gain the healthy self-esteem and confidence that result from positive personal experiences. Happy, engaged kids are less likely to bully others. Once your daughter understands the dynamics of mean girl behavior, she can steer clear of drama when it crops up and will keep you in the loop as to how she handled it. These are the kinds of conversations every mom hopes to have with her daughter in middle school. If you are not having them, then maybe your daughter needs the mean girl primer only you can give her. Christina Katz enjoys a close relationship with her daughter despite the fact that her daughter is a teenager.

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Alternative Alphabets Alphabet books are common fixtures in the literary landscape of children. The ‘A is for apple, B is for ball’ formats are popular and usually feature recognizable objects from kids’ environments to introduce the alphabet sounds. But the building blocks of our language offer much broader opportunities for artistic treatments that go beyond the customary ‘ABC’ fare. The following titles explore and celebrate the alphabet through captivating alternative avenues!

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by Isabelle Arsenault (Candlewick Press) Based on the NATO phonetic alphabet, this title features the words that military branches, first responders and relief organizations use to clarify letters as they are spoken. For example, the word ‘five’ would be spelled ‘Foxtrot - India – Victor – Echo’ for clarification. Each letter in this book is part of a two-page spread that features an image with connections to its NATO code. Sometimes the letter/word connection to the artwork is obvious and other times it’s obscure. But always the pictures inspire thoughtful exploration and conversation between readers. Part ABC primer, part art book, ALPHA is a Tango – Oscar – Papa choice for the alphabet book shelf.

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The Numberlys

by William Joyce & Christina Ellis (Atheneum / Simon & Schuster) In a monochromatic world of no nonsense numbers, everything adds up and numerals are the name of the game. But in a place without words, there can be no books, or colors, or even pizza. So five friends in this numberly city join forces to create something...more. They begin to manipulate the numbers around them to build new shapes that will enrich their bland and orderly world. With Art Deco sensibilities, the rich sepia-tone edge-to-edge illustrations demand study as color is slowly introduced and the evolution of the alphabet breathes life into the world formerly dictated by numbers. With endless secrets to discover in the art, The Numberlys can be counted on for repeat reading.

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8: An Animal Alphabet

by Elisha Cooper (Orchard / Scholastic Press) While alphabet books that feature animals are not new to the ABC theme, this title from Elisha Cooper offers a refreshing challenge to readers. Introducing an unparalleled menagerie of creatures, each page dedicated to a letter of the alphabet features a menagerie of creatures whose name begins with the letter – including eight representations of one animal in particular. In addition to learning about more uncommon animals, readers are also encouraged to explore counting on each page to find the ‘eight’ among the many. With a fine glossary at the end of the book, this animal alphabet is a choice title to both reinforce alphabet sounds as well as introduce cool trivia about more obscure creatures around the world.

Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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Family Calendar Ongoing

Civil War Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island. For more info call (251) 861-6992. www.dauphinisland.org. Concerts in the Park Sponsored by Mobile Pops Band. For more info call (251) 679-4876. www.mobilepopsband.com. Fort Conde Welcome Center Sponsored by Mobile Convention & Visitors Corp. Mobile. For more info call (251) 208-7658. www.mobile.org. Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center Government St. Mon. - Fri. 9 - 5; Sat. 10 - 5; Sun. noon - 5. Adults (19 - 59)/ $14; youth (13 - 18) & senior citizens (60+)/ $12.50; children/ $12; Combo tickets include a viewing of an IMAX film: $18; $17; $15.50. HandsOn South Alabama (Formerly Volunteer Mobile, Inc.) For information on Local Volunteer Opportunities, contact 251-433-4456, www.handsonsal.org. Joe Jefferson Players Mobile. For information call (251) 471-1534. www.jjp.com. LODA Artwalk Second Fridays in Downtown – LoDa Arts District. Exhibitions (with receptions) and entertainment in a variety of downtown galleries and other venues. City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services. 6 - 9 p.m. Check NCS website for complete list of activities/map after noon the day of the event. For more information, please contact: 251-208-7443 or visit www.ncsmobile.org. Medicare Mondays Come by the Viva Medicare Cafe’ any Monday at 9 am if you or a friend have any questions about what Medicare is and how it can work for you. We always have a licensed agent on duty. This event is free and open to people ages 65 and older. The Viva Medicare Cafe’ is located at 3071 Dauphin Street, Mobile. For more information visit www.vivamedicarecafes.com/ Mobile or call 380-2222. Mobile Ballet For information about performances call (251) 3422241 or visit www.mobileballet.com. Mobile International Speedway Irvington. For information call (251) 957-2026. www.mobilespeedway.com. Mobile Opera Mobile. For information call (251) 476-7372. www.mobileopera.org. Mobile Symphony Mobile. For information call (251) 432-2010. www.mobilesymphony.org. Oakleigh Museum House Mobile. For information call (251) 432-1281. www.historicmobile.org. Richards-Dar House Museum Mobile. For information call (251) 208-7320. USS Alabama Battleship 2703 Battles Parkway, Mobile. (251) 433-2703. www. ussalabama.com. VSA Arts & Easter Festival Mobile. For information call (251) 343-0958.

Classes/Meetings

APAC - Mobile County Adoptive Family Group Meets the 4th Friday of each month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Regency Church of Christ, 501 S. University Blvd., Mobile. Parent, Youth/Teen Group and Childcare Is Provided. Topic Discussions & ceu’s for foster families are offered. For more information please call 251-460-2727 * 1-800-489-1886 * or estokes@childrensaid.org. Autism Support Group in North Mobile We have a social play room for higher functioning children (4 and up) to engage and relate. The idea is to have a safe place for parents of Autistic children in our community to link up and network with other families. 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Saraland United Methodist Church, 415 McKeough Ave., Saraland.

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For more info or to RSVP contact Chris Gibson. Email Chrisgibson4149@gmail.com, or 251-281-7312. Azalea City Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines Meets/rehearses each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Mobile Christian School, The Leopard’s Den. For more info call 251-380-0579 or visit www.azaleacityharmony.com. La Leche League Mobile Bay Area Breastfeeding support meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. and the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are free and open to all women with an interest in breastfeeding. Babies and children are welcome. For information or support contact a leader. 251-689-2085, amandaLLLmobile@yahoo. com, meghanLLL@yahoo.com, or michelleLLLmobile@ yahoo.com. Facebook: La Leche League Mobile Bay Area. Mobile Bay Area La Leche League Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. The number to call for the location is 251689-2085. We can also be found on Facebook at mobile bay area la leche league. Parent-Child Worship Service Each Wednesday in January and February, Dauphin Way United Methodist Church will offer a new Parent-Child Worship Service from 9:15-10:00 a.m. (room E207) for parents and their children ages birth to four-years-old. Relaxed and filled with music, prayer, a Bible story and coloring, this new program is a wonderful opportunity to worship with your precious little ones. The program will be short, and then kids can play while parents enjoy social time. Contact Dauphin Way UMC at 251-471-1511 for more information. Dauphin Way UMC is located at 1507 Dauphin Street, Mobile. The Family Center The Family Center’s classes in Mobile and Daphne are free and offer free childcare WITH minimum 24HOUR RESERVATION. Night class includes supper and giftcards. All classes provide a certificate of completion. The Family Center of Mobile *Nurturing Parenting course teaches parenting skills such as teaching cooperation and peaceful bedtimes. Wednesdays, 9:3011:30 a.m., 12-week rotating series. Call 251-479-5700 to register. *The Responsible Fatherhood Program (RFP) classes are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., but REQUIRE ADVANCE INTAKE APPOINTMENT. See daily listings for class topics. *Mondays: Together We Can, a cooperative parenting course, 8 weeks. *Tuesdays: Quenching the Father Thirst, (Four things every dad needs to know), 12 weeks. *Thursdays: Chill Skills Stress/Anger Management training, 4 weeks. 251-479-5700 for information on all Family Center classes. All held at 601 Bel Air Blvd, Suite 100, Mobile. www.familycentermobile.org or www.Facebook.com/ FatherhoodMobile Mobile Infirmary Hospital For complete information about class dates, times, and locations, or to schedule a tour of our maternity center, please call the childbirth education office at (251) 435-2000. • Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings for families and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Meets every second Thursday of every month. E.A. Roberts Alzheimer’s Center, 169 Mobile Infirmary Blvd. Preregistration Not required. Free. Call 251-435-6950 for more information. 10-11 a.m. • Birthing Basics Class This course is for parents who either have already experienced childbirth or who prefer to attend just one class because of time constraints. The four-hour weekend session (with breaks) includes a tour and all birthing information. The fee is $30 for patients delivering at Mobile Infirmary. Pre-registration is required; call 435-2000. Every last Sunday of the month. 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. • Cancer Support Group Meets every 4th Tuesday of the month from 10-11 a.m. • Gastric Band Support Meets every 3rd Thursday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

• Gastric Bypass Support Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month from 6-7 p.m. • Preparation for Childbirth Series This series of classes includes all aspects of labor including natural coping skills and epidural anesthesia. Class participants will practice comfort measures and learn about post-delivery and newborn care. A maternity tour is included. Providence Hospital: www.providencehospital.org Providence Hospital is pleased to offer a variety of classes on childbirth issues. All classes are located in Conference Room I (located just inside the main lobby doors of the hospital beside the Gift Shop) unless otherwise specified. To register for classes or for more information, you may call 639-2938 to speak with our Childbirth Educator, Kathy Wade RN, or email kwade@providencehospital.org. For Daytime Breastfeeding classes only, you may call Marcia Ranew RN, our Lactation Consultant at 633-1749 or email mranew@providencehospital.org. Support Groups • Providence Hospital Breast “Friends” Meets the second Friday of every month at noon in the Moore Conference Room. The Moore Conference Room is located in the cafeteria. Call Robi Jones for more information, 251-639-2852. • Diabetes Support Group Classes meet in the Diabetes Center, Suite D-436 in the Providence Medical Office Plaza. Call 251-633-1987 for more information. Spring Hill Medical Center: www.springhillmedicalcenter.com • Better Breathers Support Group Meeting For people with pulmonary disorders. Meets on the fourth Monday of each month. 2-3 p.m. Gerald Wallace Auditorium. For more information, call 461-2438. • Breastfeeding Class One Wednesday per month. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Family Center. Benefits of breastfeeding, getting started, going back to work and FAQs are covered. Call 340-7770 early to pre-register. • Childbirth Preparation Classes Four consecutive Mondays (6:30-9 p.m.) at The Family Center. Register early. The class covers onset of labor, inductions, Cesarean sections, relaxation, anesthesia and postpartum. Includes a tour of the maternity units. Cost: $25 if delivering at Springhill Hospital.  Call 340-7769 early to pre-register. • Childbirth Preparation: Accelerated Course  One Saturday per month. 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at The Family Center. Ideal for those who live out of town or will be delivering soon.  $25. Call 340-7769 early to pre-register. • Me, Too! A Tour for Siblings Noon on the First Sunday of the month. Join us for an individualized tour and instruction for siblings ages 9 and younger. The event includes a tour of the maternity areas and tips on helping parents with the new baby. Parents must remain with their children.  By Appointment ONLY. Call 340-7769 to schedule an appointment. • Infant CPR  Learn this potentially life-saving technique while you are pregnant or soon after your baby’s birth. Covers infant CPR and choking. $5 if delivering at SMC. 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. The Family Center (Bldg. 2, Fourth Floor). Call 340-7769 early to pre-register. • NAMI Mobile Support Group A support group for family members of those who suffer from mental illness. Meetings are held the third Monday of every month. For more information: Diane Kent at 591-8021. 6-7 p.m., Spring Hill Baptist Church Activity Center. • Resolve Through Sharing For parents who have lost a child before or immediately after birth. Meets the fourth Monday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Gerald Wallace Auditorium. Call 460-5323.

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Family Calendar USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital www.usahealthsystem.com/usacwh Classes: Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 415-1069. No children at classes, please. Class size is limited. Advanced payment required to secure your reservation. If you are expecting multiples or having a c-section, please call for additional class information. • Preparing for Childbirth All-day Saturday class for the expectant mother and her support person (coach). Topics include: pregnancy changes, labor, role of the support coach, relaxation and breathing techniques, vaginal and cesarean births, postpartum care, and a tour of the maternity areas. Fee per couple: $30. You should plan on beginning the 3-week series when you are approximately 28 weeks pregnant. Class will meet in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital. Every other month, 9-2. • Childbirth in a Nutshell This class includes a brief overview of labor and a tour of the maternity areas. Class meets first Tuesday every other month from 6:30-9 p.m. in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital. Fee per couple: $15. • Breastfeeding This one-night class is for expectant and newly delivered mothers and their support persons who want to learn about breastfeeding. Topics include advantages, myths and facts, getting started, correct positioning, latching on, engorgement, returning to work and problem-solving. Class meets second Thursday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital Fee: $5. Registration Information: Credit card payments are accepted by calling 415-1685. Mail payments for classes to: University of South Alabama, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Education Department, 1700 Center St., Mobile, AL 36604.

Wednesday, January 20

Mobile Jewish Film Festival The Mobile Jewish Film Festival will be held from January 10-24. The festival will show films at many different venues during its evening festival. Lineup: Wednesday, January 20th – 7 p.m. Ben May Library – Bernheim Hall – “Hester Street”, Thursday, January 21st – 7 p.m. Ahavas Chesed Synagogue – “Once In A Lifetime”, Sunday, January 24th – 2 p.m. Ahavas Chesed Synagogue – “Deli Man”. Please visit www.mobilejewishfederation.org for more information. Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens Bellingrath Gardens and Home hosts specialized workshops when the weather gets chilly in winter months. Each workshop covers a special feature of the Gardens or Home, tips for making your garden more spectacular or guest lectures and workshops from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Reservations are requested for each program and can be made by calling (251) 973-2217. Each program begins at 10:30 a.m. and is $12.50 for non-members (includes entrance into the Gardens) and free for members. Please visit www. bellingrath.org for more information. Sunny Side Theatre – “Lion King” Auditions “The Lion King” will be presented for the first time ever in Mobile and we want you to be part of it. Auditions are ONLY open to grades 3 & up unless you have taken or are currently enrolled in a Sunny Side drama class. Auditions January 19 - 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Azalea City for the Arts (63 Midtown Park East). Come prepared with a song! Everyone will read from script and dance too! Show dates are April 21 – 24. Please call (251) 510-1808 for more information.

Thursday, January 21

Live at the Museum – Mobile Museum of Art In honor of the American composer Steve Reich, the University of South Alabama’s percussion ensemble is putting together a special preview of the full season retrospective being mounted this year by USA’S music department. Come get a taste of the sounds that changed music in America. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., show starts

January/February2016

promptly at 7 p.m., $10 at the door, beer and wine by donation. Location: 4850 Museum Drive. Please visit www. mobilemuseumofart.com for more information. Mobile Jewish Film Festival See January 20 for more information. Sunny Side Theatre – “Lion King” Auditions See January 20 for more information.

Friday, January 22

Conde Cavaliers Parade Come to the parade in downtown Mobile. The Conde Cavaliers starts at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras. php. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” The Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” January 15-31. “Tartuffe” was first performed in 1664, and is one of the most famous theatrical comedies by Molière. Performances are held Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. The Box Office accepts MasterCard, Visa, checks and cash, and can be reached at (251) 471-1534. For more information, please visit joejeffersonplayers.com.

Saturday, January 23

Something Special for Saturday – Moorer/Spring Hill Branch Design and Create your own Mardi Gras hats at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 and up at the Moorer Spring Hill Branch Library (4 S. McGregor). Registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, please call 470-7770 or email ftigner@mplonline.org. Turtle Shuffle 5K and Fun Run Join us at SGA Pavilion, USA Campus at 8:00 a.m. for the Turtle Shuffle Race benefiting the Women`s Business Alliance. Please visit www.eventbrite.com for more information. Mobile Parades BayPort Parading Society runs at 2:30 p.m. on Route A and Pharaohs, Order of Hebe, Conde Explorers run at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” See January 22 for more information.

Sunday, January 24

5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free family, friendly film. The films play throughout the day. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. Mobile Jewish Film Festival See January 20 for more information. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” See January 22 for more information.

Wednesday, January 27

Chick-fil-a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally Chick-fil-a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally is held at the Mobile Convention Center. This event is open to Public (Ticket required), please visit www.southalabamafca.org for more information. Mystics of Ashland Place Parade The Mystics of Ashland Place is parading at 12:30 p.m. on Lanier Avenue in the Ashland Place Subdivision, and will feature children from the 3 and 4 year old classes from Ashland Place United Methodist church’s preschool. Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens See January 20 for more information.

Thursday, January 28

Order of Polka Dots Parade Order of Polka Dots Parade runs at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/ mardigras.php.

Grace Potter – Saenger Theatre HUKA Entertainment & 92 ZEW present Grace Potter at the Saenger Theatre (6 Joachim Street) at 7:00 p.m. Grace Potter’s epic musical journey reaches a new milestone with the arrival of her solo debut, “Midnight”, an inspired work that is surprising, revelatory and wildly original. Please visit www.mobilesaenger.com for more information. The Anatomy of a Museum: Transient Public Art and Engagement California muralist John Cerney’s SELFIE humorously pairs the national craze for “selfies” with the wide popularity of dinosaurs (demonstrated by “Jurassic Park” film box office numbers). This exhibition and its ultimate journey to be re-sited in a public park promise to engage the public on a whole new level. But first, it had to engage the help of our talented exhibition technicians. Listen as they describe the details of their own SELFIE experience, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how this exhibition took shape. The Anatomy of a Museum series is part of Free Thursday Night programs at MMofA. Location: 4850 Museum Drive from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Please visit www. mobilemuseumofart.com for more information. Mobile Project Homeless Connect Mobile Project Homeless Connect is designed to provide medical services, legal assistance, dental and vision screenings, along with access to housing assistance and main stream resources to the homeless. This community event will bring Government Agencies, Academia, Health Care Facilities, Faith Based Organizations, Transportation, Law Enforcement/Court, United Way, and Businesses, Work Force Development and other nonprofit agencies together to provide needed services at no cost to the homeless in our community. The event this year will be at the Fairgrounds (corner of Ziegler and Cody) from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Volunteers needed, please register to help at volunteer.uwswa.org.

Friday, January 29

Senior Bowl Meet the Players Event The Coca-Cola Meet the Players which will be held from 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Mobile Convention Center and is free to the public. In addition to meeting the players, fans can enjoy interactive displays from the New Orleans Saints, Under Armour, the Marine Corps, Coca-Cola and AT&T plus games for the kids. These events are Familyfriendly with interactive activities for children and adults. Please visit www.seniorbowl.com for more information. Order of Inca Parade Order of Inca Parade runs at 6:30 p.m. in Mobile on Route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/ mardigras.php. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” See January 22 for more information.

Saturday, January 30

Senior Bowl Tailgate and Events Baumhower Tailgate Challenge competition is to determine the Senior Bowl Tailgater of the Year. The Challenge is Free and open to anyone tailgating in the parking lot on game day. Also held on game day in the East parking lot is The Food for Less Tailgate Party which is a pre-game event held in the Ladd-Peebles Stadium parking lot on Senior Bowl Saturday. Passes for the event are free with the purchase of a Senior Bowl ticket and are limited to the first 3,500 fans. In addition to free food and drink, tailgate party goers will enjoy inflatable activities, face painters, clowns, interactives provided by the United States Marine Corps and the Coca-Cola Family Festival game trailer. For more information, visit seniorbowl.com. Senior Bowl Game The 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl is scheduled for in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 1:30 p.m. To purchase tickets to the Senior Bowl please call 888-736-2695 or 251-432-4109 or purchase online at www.seniorbowl.com. Charity Chase 2016 The Charity chase mission is to raise funds, increase awareness, and build excitement for multiple nonprofit organizations. We partner with charities to help them achieve their fundraising goals through our 5K race series,

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Family Calendar The Charity Chase. A portion of every participants donation will be donated to his/her selected charity, and the charities with the most participants and fastest competitors will win major donations courtesy of The Charity Chase and generous sponsors. Don’t just run for a cause; race for it. Join us at 8:00 a.m. at the University of South Alabama SGA Pavilion. Please visit www.thecharitychase.com for more information. 5 Rivers Presentation – “Alabama Snakes” Alabama is home to over 40 species of snakes. Many people are not comfortable being around snakes, but they are a vital part of our wildlife and play key roles in the environment. They are also important in medical research, and may hold the chemical key needed to cure and treat many common human ailments. Come learn how a snake can save your life one day, and meet some of our legless, scaly neighbors. Time: 2:00 p.m. at 30945 5 Rivers Blvd, Spanish Fort. A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier The Independent Rifles are hosting “A Day in the Life of a Confederate Soldier” at historic Fort Gaines at 51 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The event showcases the day-to-day life as a confederate soldier while on duty at Fort Gaines. Come and experience a living history day for the whole family. Blacksmith Demonstration will be on hand all day in the Fort’s Blacksmith Shop. There will be demonstrations of military drills and training as well as the firing of the cannons and other daily duties. The Fort’s museum and gift shop are always open as well. Please call 251-861-6992 or visit dauphinisland.org/fort-gaines for more information. Parades Mobile Mystics, Mobile Mystical Revelers Parades will start at 2:00 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. the Maids of Mirth, Butterfly Maidens; Krewe of Marry Mates will run on Route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/ mardigras.php. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” See January 22 for more information.

Sunday, January 31

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Wednesday, February 3

Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens Bellingrath Gardens and Home hosts specialized workshops when the weather gets chilly in winter months. Each workshop covers a special feature of the Gardens or Home, tips for making your garden more spectacular or guest lectures and workshops from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Topic for February 3 - John S. Sledge’s “The Mobile River” Lecture and Book Signing. Local historian and author John S. Sledge will discuss his new book, “The Mobile River.” His book is the first-ever narrative history of this important American watercourse and is also a historical saga of the river and the colorful characters that inhabit its shores and basin. After his presentation, Sledge will sign copies of his book, which will be available to purchase in the Gift Shop. Reservations are requested for each program and can be made by calling (251) 973-2217. Each program begins at 10:30 a.m. and is $12.50 for non-members (includes entrance into the Gardens) and free for members. Please visit www.bellingrath.org for more information.

Thursday, February 4

Order of Impala’s – St. Ignatius Pre-School Parade The Order of Impala’s takes place at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius School. For more information, please visit themobilemask.com. Mystic Stripers Society Parade Mystic Stripers Society Parade takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php.

Mystics of Children The Mystics of Children parade will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Rosswood Drive. Please visit themobilemask.com for more information. Parades Neptune’s Daughters, OOI Parades will start at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php. 5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free family, friendly film. The films play throughout the day. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. Joe Jefferson Players present “Tartuffe” See January 22 for more information.

Friday, February 5

Monday, February 1

26th Annual Joe Cain Classic Run 5K The Joe Cain Classic Run has been the primary focus for the Bay Area Runners (BAR), who organizes and conducts the event. Proceeds from the race consist of race entry fees and corporate sponsorships and are given to challenged athletes who deal with their handicaps through athletic endeavors. The race takes place on Joe Cain Day at 8:00 a.m. in Mobile on one of the uglier racecourses a runner is likely to encounter. The out and back route goes past the jail and a scenic scrap yard before returning the runner to the start/finish line at the intersection of Canal and Broad streets near the Mobile Civic Auditorium. However, most people don’t mind the ugly course because, if you run the race, you get to go to the awesome post race party for which the race is famous. There’s live music, dancing in the street, food, door prizes, awards and a visit from Joe Cain’s famous and lovely Merry Widows, who travel the streets downtown on Joe Cain Day lending their charm and grace to citywide festivities all day long. Just walk a few blocks down South Broad Street to Augusta Street for the party. So come join the Bay Area Runners on Joe Cain Day to celebrate the Mardi Gras tradition “Mobile

Mobile Parades Order of Venus, Order of Many Faces will parade at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php.

Tuesday, February 2

Order of LaShe’s Parade Order of LaShe’s Parade will start at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/ mardigras.php. 5 Rivers StoryTime: “Egad Alligator!” by Harriet Ziefert The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month is StoryTime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature based story followed by arts and crafts. Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

Crewe of Columbus Parade Crewe of Columbus Parade takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php.

Saturday, February 6

Mobile Parades Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels (Mobile, Route A) Noon, Mystics of Time (Mobile, Route A) 6:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php.

Sunday, February 7

Style”, help out a deserving group of challenged athletes and join in one great party. Applications available at Joe Cain Classic 5K, 1 Mile, and Moonpie Dash- Eventbrite and productionsbylittleredhen.com Joe Cain Parade Joe Cain Parade will take place at 2:30 p.m. on route A. For more information, please visit www.cityofmobile.org/ mardigras.php. Le Krewe de Bienville Parade Le Krewe de Bienville Parade will take place at 5:00 p.m. on Route A. For more information, please visit www. cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php. 5 Rivers Sunday Matinee – “Frogs: The Thin Green Line” Come out and join us every Sunday for a free family, friendly film. The films play throughout the day. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. 5 Rivers Animal Ambassadors Meet and Greet Alabama has one of the highest plant and animal diversities in the United States. Join a member of our human educational staff and meet one of the local critter inhabitants from the MobileTensaw Delta and beyond. Time: 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Free. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www. Alabama5Rivers.com for more information.

Monday, February 8

Mardi Gras Monday Parades King Felix III, Floral parade (Mobile, Route A) at 12:00 p.m, 1 p.m. - Prichard Mardi Gras Association Parade (Prichard) 1:00 p.m., MLK Business and Civic Organization, MLK Monday Mystics, Northside Merchants (Mobile, Route D) – 3:00 p.m., Infant Mystics, Order of Doves (Mobile, Route F) – 7:00 p.m. Please visit www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php for more information.

Tuesday, February 9

Mardi Gras Day Parades Order of Athena (Mobile, Route A) at 10:30 a.m., Knights of Revelry, King Felix III, Comic Cowboys (Mobile, Route A) at 12:30 p.m., MAMGA Mammoth Parade (Mobile, Route B) at 2:00 p.m. and Order of Myths (Mobile, Route C) at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 10

Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens Bellingrath Gardens and Home hosts specialized workshops when the weather gets chilly in winter months. Each workshop covers a special feature of the Gardens or Home, tips for making your garden more spectacular or guest lectures and workshops from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Topic for February 10 Raising Roses. Linda Guy, longtime Rosarian of Bellingrath’s award-winning Rose Garden, will show guests how to care for roses year-round and will give a demonstration of rose pruning techniques. Questions are encouraged! Books and supplies will be available in the Gift Shop. Reservations are requested for each program and can be made by calling (251) 973-2217. Each program begins at 10:30 a.m. and is $12.50 for non-members (includes entrance into the Gardens) and free for members. Please visit www. bellingrath.org for more information.

Friday, February 12

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” February 12-14 and 19-21. George and Charlotte used

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Family Calendar to be stars, and they have one last chance —if only their matinee goes well. If only they can remember whether it’s “Private Lives” or “Cyrano de Bergerac”. If only Charlotte’s mother weren’t out to snarl George’s performance. Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 13

Mobile Opera – Winter Gala Concert Mobile Opera Winter Gala Concert will take place at 8:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church (1900 Dauphin Street). Featuring the Mobile Opera Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Laura Moore, with soloists, Mollie Adams, Andre Chiang, Kathryn Hedlund & Thomas Rowell. Performing the exquisite music of Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna and Dvorak’s Mass in D Major. Accompanied by Kevin Davis on the brilliant new pipe organ at Trinity Episcopal Church. Single tickets are $25, student tickets are $10, and may be purchased by calling (251) 432-6772. Battle of Mobile Bay 5K A scenic 5K certified course that starts at Fort Gaines at 9:00 a.m. and winds through scenic Dauphin Island neighborhoods. This race benefits: Historic Fort Gaines and Port City Pacers at www.bomb5k.com. Commedia del Arte presents: The Ghosts of Hamlet 7:30 p.m. The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 7125 Hitt Rd. Mobile, AL 36693 - Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door, children under 5 admitted Free. Tickets available through www.commediadelarte.org. Benefits ARF. Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” See February 12 for more information.

Sunday, February 14

5 Rivers Sunday Matinee –“Nature: Animal Homes” Come out and join us every Sunday for a free family,

January/February2016

friendly film. The films play throughout the day. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” See February 12 for more information.

Tuesday, February 16

5 Rivers StoryTime: “Those Darn Squirrels!” The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month is StoryTime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature based story followed by arts and crafts. Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information.

Wednesday, February 17

Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens Bellingrath Gardens and Home hosts specialized workshops when the weather gets chilly in winter months. Each workshop covers a special feature of the Gardens or Home, tips for making your garden more spectacular or guest lectures and workshops from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Topic for February 17 – Getting ready for Spring at Bellingrath Gardens. Executive Director Dr. Bill Barrick and Nursery Manager Chuck Owens will share their secrets of creating one of the prettiest seasons at Bellingrath. Find out how we grow our Easter lilies to be ready just on time for Easter every year! Guests will also get a preview of Bellingrath’s 2016 Festival of Flowers display. An exclusive tour to the Bellingrath greenhouses is included in the program. Reservations are requested for each program and can be made by calling (251) 973-2217. Each program begins at 10:30 a.m. and is $12.50 for non-members (includes entrance into

the Gardens) and free for members. Please visit www. bellingrath.org for more information.

Thursday, February 18

Live at the Museum Join us at Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Dr) for Live at the Museum featuring Grayson Capps at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., show starts promptly at 7, $10 at the door, beer and wine by donation. Please visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com for more information.

Friday, February 19

Mobile Boat Show There is no other place to see the selections of boats, motors, trailers, tackle and all other boat and fishing related items than at the Mobile Boat Show on February 19-21 at the Mobile Convention Center. In addition to a huge selection of boats and marine products, there are lots of special events for the whole family to enjoy! This year’s show will feature professional flyboarding demonstrations in the Mobile River. This exciting new sport is taking off around the Gulf Coast and is fun to watch! The Fetch-nFish dog show returns with dog jumping, training tips and lots of fun for the kids, Twiggy the Skiing Squirrel Shows, and the Skeeter Experience seminar series boasts a great line-up of local and regional fishing talent sharing their secrets and tips. Don’t forget to try your luck in the Trout Pond. You can also register for giveaways in Skeeter room all weekend. Show hours: Friday from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please visit gulfcoastshows.com/ mobile for more information. Monster Truck Show Mobile will be motorsport entertainment’s epicenter with the nation’s most competitive monster trucks, as they

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Family Calendar invade the Mobile Civic Center Arena on February 19th and 20th at 7:30 p.m. See these incredible 10,000 pound, car crushing giants compete in racing, wheelie contests, and then rock the house with amazing freestyle action during the Monster X Tour! Please visit www.mobilecivicctr.com for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” MTG is celebrating African American History Month with Tony Award Winner George C. Wolfe’s groundbreaking comedy. Through 11 hilarious “exhibits” of AfricanAmerican culture — from the depths of the Celebrity Slaveship to the spinning heights of Harlem – audiences will explore prominent themes and identities of African American culture through comedy and satire in a show that skewers stereotypes and redefines what it means to be black in contemporary America. February 19-March 6 on weekends. Times: Friday and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Mobile Theatre Guild (14 North Lafayette Street). Please visit mobiletheatreguild.org for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” By Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall, and George Keating, Directed by Stacey Driskell. “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” follows Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher who is anxious about his first day of teaching. He tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music! Dates: Feb. 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 2016 at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. For more information, or to make a reservation for this show, please contact the Theatre USA office at (251) 460-6305. Mobile Area Orchid Society’s 39th Orchid Show and Sale The Mobile Area Orchid Society members will display their best orchids and will be available to answer questions and provide tips on growing and caring for these exotic plants

January/February2016

on February 19-21 at the Magnolia Café at Bellingrath Gardens. Vendors will also be selling orchids, supplies and accessories. There is no charge for admission to the show. Guests are encouraged to tour the Gardens and Home and enjoy lunch in the café (11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) during their visit! For details, visit www.bellingrath.org. Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” See February 12 for more information.

Saturday, February 20

Bright Beginnings Academy – 2nd annual Chili Cook-off Bright Beginnings Academy announces the 2nd annual Chili Cook-off. Whether you want to cook and compete or just want to eat, you’re bound to have a whole lot of fun! The event will be held at Creekwood Church of Christ, 1901 Schillinger Road South from 12 noon - 2 p.m. Each team must provide 3-5 gallons of cooked chili, crockpot and utensils. The chili recipe must be original recipe of the applicant. Prizes will be awarded for Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice for Best Chili and Best Cornbread. Prizes include gift certificates; sports prize pack, spa treatment and cash prizes too! Team registration is $25 for chili entry or $10 for cornbread entry. To learn more or sign up contact Summer, 251-366-4752 or Holly at 251-680-8590 or visit www.brightdyslexics.com. GLOW Run for Ransom 5K walk/run Wear your glow-in-the dark gear and join Ransom Ministries to kick off race season at the GLOW Run for Ransom 5K walk/run. The race is at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Participants will receive a longsleeved race T-shirt. The Ransom on the Road food truck will be onsite to serve post-race snacks. Proceeds from the race will fund several of Ransom Ministries’ projects, including Ransom Cafe, a donation-only restaurant with six locations in churches across Mobile and Baldwin counties;

the Clean Machine, a portable laundry and shower trailer; a community garden in Hillsdale; summer youth service camps; and Ransom ReProgram, an 8-week job training program. For more information about Ransom Ministries, race sponsorships and registration, visit RansomMinistries.com. Mobile Symphony Orchestra presents “From Heaven to Earth” Returning guest conductor David Amado takes the MSO from heaven to earth, where we encounter: Ravels Mother Goose Suite, an enchanting musical depiction of popular fairy tales; Bach’s fifth Brandenburg concerto, featuring an impressive solo harpsichord, performed by Hedi Salanki-Rubard; and the sunny and joyous Symphony No. 2 of Johannes Brahms. Location: Saenger Theatre on February 20 at 8:00 p.m. and February 21 at 2:30 p.m. Please visit mobilesymphony.org for more information. Monster Truck Show See February 19 for more information. Mobile Boat Show See February 19 for more information. Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” See February 12 for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Area Orchid Society’s 39th Orchid Show and Sale See February 19 for more information.

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tips for making your garden more spectacular or guest lectures and workshops from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Topic for February 24 – Trailer McQuilkin’s “Wildflowers” Lecture and Book Signing. Discover the world of Ocean Springs artist Trailer McQuilkin’s “Wildflowers.” The artist uses copper, metal, oil paints and other natural materials to create exquisite sculptures that are a unique blend of artistry and technical skills. McQuilkin will share his recent works and new book, which guests may purchase in the Gift Shop. Reservations are requested for each program and can be made by calling (251) 973-2217. Each program begins at 10:30 a.m. and is $12.50 for non-members (includes entrance into the Gardens) and free for members. Please visit www. bellingrath.org for more information.

Thursday, February 25

USA Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble USA Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Concerts are in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall (5751 University Ave). Concert admission is $8 general admission and $5 for USA students/faculty/staff /senior citizens/youths under 18. For more information, please visit www. southalabama.edu/music.

Mobile Museum of Art Thursday Night Tours Once a month the museum offers an opportunity to tour any gallery with a real-live tour guide. Get the best gossip on modern painters or find out just how a site-specific project came to fruition. Tours run every 30 minutes between 5 and 8 p.m., and are first come, first serve. Sign up on site. Check the website for monthly themes, special guest tour-guides or behind-the-scenes gallery tours. Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Drive). Please visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” See February 19 for more information.

Wednesday, February 24

Friday, February 26

Tuesday, February 23

The Mersey Beatles Concert Like the original Fab Four, The Mersey Beatles were all born in Liverpool. Since 1999 they have been recreating the sights and sound of the Beatles with a very authentic &

distinctly Liverpool flavoured tribute. Concert at the Mobile Civic Center Theatre (402 Civic Center Drive) at 7:30 p.m. Please visit ticketmaster.com for tickets. Playhouse in the Park presents “Taming of the Shrew” in February One of Shakespeare’s great comedies, “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed in February at Playhouse in the Park. Public performances are the 26th and the 27th at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $15 students are $12. Tickets for public performances are available via reservation by calling the Playhouse at 251-602-0630. If seats are available once all reservations are claimed, tickets will be available on a first come; first served basis at the Playhouse Box Office prior to each show. Tickets for School Day Performances can be reserved by teachers by calling 251-422-0079. Please visit playhouseinthepark.org for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” See February 19 for more information.

Saturday, February 27

Mobile Chocolate Festival Come join us on February 27 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Abba Shrine Center (7701 Hitt Road) for the Mobile Chocolate Festival. All proceeds from the event benefit Penelope House! Please visit www.mobilechocolatefestival. com for more information. Christ United Methodist Church Women’s Conference Christ United Methodist Church will hold its 22nd Annual Women’s Conference, Embraced featuring award winning Christian music artist, Babbie Mason. Join Babbie, a sought after speaker and author, as she presents this life-giving message that builds up the hearts of women. 6101 Grelot Road beginning at 8:30 a.m. with check-in

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Riverview Reﬁnement, Program, Campﬁres night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...

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friendly film. The films play throughout the day. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. Mobile Symphony Orchestra presents “From Heaven to Earth” See February 20 for more information. Mobile Boat Show See February 19 for more information. Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “Moon over Buffalo” See February 12 for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Area Orchid Society’s 39th Orchid Show and Sale See February 19 for more information.

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Family Calendar

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and ending at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $35. The cost includes a continental breakfast, snacks, and child care for ages birth to 11 years.For more information and to register, visit christumcmobile.com/wc2016 or call 251.342.0462. 4th Annual Colors of Cancer Glow Run/Walk Join us for an event that will bring awareness to all Cancers whether you have been affected yourself or participating for a friend, family or coworker. Show your support and have a great time with an After Glow Party including food and entertainment. The Glow Run will take place with the Fun Run at 6:30 p.m. and the 5K Run/Walk at 7:00 p.m. at Springhill College. Online Registration at www.eventbrite.com. Race day registration and packet pick-up at Stewartfield on the Avenue of the Oaks from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Register by mail (entries should be postmarked by February 20), in person at McCoy Outdoor, Run-N-Tri, or Fleet Feet in Mobile or Running Wild in Fairhope until noon on February 25. 4th Annual Lucky Ducky 5K The Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy PharmaFIT Committee would like to invite you to our 4th Annual PharmaFIT Lucky Ducky 5K will be held on Saturday, February 27th, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. at the SGA Pavilion by the University of South Alabama Intramural Fields! Please visit www.eventbrite.com to sign up. All proceeds will go toward benefiting Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy! Playhouse in the Park presents “Taming of the Shrew” in February See February 26 for more information. Theatre USA presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” See February 19 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” See February 19 for more information.

Sunday, February 28

5 Rivers Animal Ambassadors Meet and Greet Alabama has one of the highest plant and animal diversities in the United States. Join a member of our human educational staff and meet one of the local critter inhabitants from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and beyond. Time: 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Free. Location: 5 Rivers (30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort). Please visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Colored Museum” See February 19 for more information.

Monday, February 29

USA Faculty Piano Recital USA Faculty Piano Recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall (5751 University Ave). Concert admission, except where indicated, is $8 general admission and $5 for USA students/faculty/staff /senior citizens/youths under 18. Please visit www.southalabama.edu/music for more information. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

Please send your calendar events to lynn@ mobilebayparents.com. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Making Your Insecurities Your Securities

I enjoy working with my clients probably just as much as they enjoy calling me. This allows me to guide them towards what I think, as women, most of us lack...confidence in ourselves. We all have our insecurities, and in order to gain that confidence needed, it takes making the most of our insecurities.

1- Remember, nobody or “body” is perfect. Make your inseWhen it comes to styling clients, I am the proudest when they first call me. They have finally realized they want to make a small change which can make a big difference in their self-esteem. We all have small changes to deal with in our lives. I remember when I was younger, I would never step out of the house without wearing makeup. I was so worried I might see the cute boy or the pretty friends and I wouldn’t dare want them to see me without makeup. When you are young your insecurities seem to sky rocket. If I had known then that being confident in myself was going to get me a lot further than the makeup I was wearing, I think I could have floated through those dreaded teenage years a lot easier. Fast forward to now, it’s so funny how life can change your perspective on yourself and others. Getting older, wiser, having a family, and some pretty awesome friends can really take any insecurity you have away. Especially those family members and friends who love you no matter what you do, what you look like or even where you come from.

curities a positive part of your styling experience. If you don’t like your legs, find pants, skirts, shoes, etc., that will allow you to love them and make them your best asset.

4- Understand that it doesn’t matter your shape, size, hair color or skin color, it’s all about being confident in yourself. The more confident you are with your own personal style the more confident you will appear in your clothing. That’s because you’ll intuitively choose pieces that complete you. I always tell my clients that their choice of clothes is more likely to be a reflection of who they are. Now days, I certainly don’t mind walking past a mirror in the mornings and allowing myself to say, I have changed and I enjoy my change. I embrace it! Being a mom and being in my 30’s has brought a new perspective in my life, one that I wish I would’ve had as a teenager. God had a plan throughout those dreaded teen years when I lacked so much confidence. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my ups and downs as a woman and that’s okay. I embrace each flaw and insecurity as gift; this allows me to relate to each of you on the same level. Remember, simply by allowing yourself to take that first step in whatever your insecurities may be, and embracing them, can be the most effective way of boosting that confidence you deserve.

2- Embrace your body from head to toe with your own style. Understanding your body shape, embracing all those areas that you may think are your worst assets, and knowing how to flatter them, will help you embrace your curves, or lack thereof, in some cases.

3- Define your personal style, and when you do, accept it! Feel

Laura Handey is an independent clothing consultant in Pike Road, Alabama. You may reach her by email at laura@ centsiblysouthern.com or visit her website and read her blogs at www. centsiblysouthern.com.

confident that you always look absolutely marvelous. 59

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Ride Along 2

Norm of the North

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: CViolence: CSexual Content: C+ Language: C Alcohol / Drug Use: BThe MPAA has rated Ride Along 2 PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content, language and some drug material. Once again Ice Cube warms up his acting chops to play James Payton, a tough Atlanta cop. Behaving as his textbook foil is Kevin Hart, whose character Ben Barber has finished police academy and has his first, albeit probationary, job on the force. It was tough believing Ben was a cop-in-training during the first film, but accepting him as a real law enforcement officer here is even more of a stretch. In this sequel, Ben is still engaged to James’s sister Angela (Tika Sumpter), although the wedding is now just a week away. Despite the closeness of the big event, Ben begs to “ride along” with James on an assignment to hunt down a suspicious computer hacker in Miami. Promising to return in time for the nuptials, Angela is relieved to get Ben out of her hair while she finishes last minute preparations. I would be too. Soon after their arrival in the Florida city the pair locate their man, A.J. (Ken Jeong), and tear through the streets of Little Cuba trying to arrest him. The damage they leave behind doesn’t impress the local police force and, conveniently, the Miami chief (Carlos Gómez) assigns the lovely Maya (Olivia Munn) to keep an eye on them. The homicide detective is depicted as tough and intelligent, so it again requires the audience to “suspend disbelief” when she accepts Officer Barber as a professional -- even after he shoots one of her colleagues in the shoulder. Bumbling through a series of mishaps, they discover A.J. is into much deeper issues than they initially thought. Currently working for Antonio Pope (Benjamin Bratt), a man who is regarded as a pillar in the community, our trio of stooges learn the tycoon is actually a king pin in the drug and arms business. Observing A.J. cooperating with the police, Antonio sends his thugs to take care of the computer geek, forcing men and woman in blue to protect their informant. With a plot that could be told in under a half-hour, the other hour of this ninetyish-minute movie is dedicated to allowing Hart to be a comedian. And, sadly, women seem to hold a singular purpose in this film that is ornamented with countless lingerie-model bodies dressed in tiny bikinis.

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: C+ Violence: BSexual Content: B+ Language: AAlcohol / Drug Use: B+ The MPAA has rated Norm of the North PG for mild rude humor and action. Believe it or not, Norm of the North has a few things in common with The Emperor’s New Groove. Both animations feature big, softhearted protagonists and scrawny, conniving antagonists, as well as plots that involve destroying traditional homelands. The two also include a scene where an evil villainess answers an unwelcomed wake-up call with the line, “This had better be good.” But whereas the Emperor’s script was so good it surpassed expectations, the bad writing in Norm can be described as disappointing at best. In this Arctic tale, Norm (voice of Rob Schneider) is a polar bear with the unusual talent of being able to speak human. While he and the other bears, caribou, seals, whales and lemmings, are used to putting on big dance numbers (yup, really) to entertain casual tourists that visit their winter wonderland, Norm becomes alarmed when he realizes some of the two-legged visitors are planning to turn his arctic wilderness into a vacation home destination. Determined to use his voice to prevent the arrival of mobile, luxury condos, the white hero and a trio of cute critters, stow away on a freighter headed to New York City. Once in the Big Apple, Norm learns that Greene Homes, the company behind the urbanization push, is looking for a spokesperson to promote their product. So the bear pretends to be a human pretending to be a bear and auditions for the part. As anticipated, Norm and his “costume” are so convincing that Mr. Greene (voice of Ken Jeong) and his marketing manager Vera (Heather Graham) give him the part – and, he hopes, a chance to tell the public why they should leave the Arctic alone. Of course things don’t work out quite as planned. And nor do the intentions of this screenplay. Its biggest fault is that this children’s film is all about adult problems. Although some youngsters might grasp the idea that protecting the world’s natural spaces is a good thing to do, how many of them are going to understand -- let alone be entertained by -- greedy land developer schemes, global environmental issues, corruption in the government, life/work balances and the unhealthy state of public school? And then there is the utter cartoon stupidity of how these themes are presented, along with depictions of scary villains, the use of tranquillizer guns, and scenes where animals bound by ropes are dropped into the ocean to drown. Perhaps some kids will chuckle at the potty humor – but I certainly didn’t. So if you are looking for a heart-warming flick to share with your family, may I suggest you scrounge up a copy of The Emperor’s New Groove, because watching Norm of the North will likely leave you cold.

What Parents need to know about Ride Along 2...

Violence: Serious crimes, such as drug dealing and murder, are portrayed within a comical context. Much of the violence is non-graphic, but some blood is shown. Humor is derived from the actions of an inept police officer that blows an undercover operation, accidentally shoots someone, causes other physical injuries and property damage. Shoot outs and a hired hit man are also portrayed – some characters are shot on screen. A man is chased and bitten by a crocodile, but only loses a shoe. A character is taken hostage. Characters utter death threats – sometimes jokingly and other times with real intent. Sexual Content: Women are used as eye candy in this movie that is full of scantily clad and bikini-wearing females, many with large breasts and buttocks. Men often ogle them and make sexual comments. A character visits on-line sex sites and engages in sexual banter with women: one is shown removing her clothes to expose her underwear. A woman dresses provocatively for her fiancé and makes references to bondage sex. The script is full of sexual references, innuendo, crude slang and sexual slurs. A couple dances and touches sensually. A man’s head is squished between women’s breasts during an embrace. A male character mentions wearing s thong. Some embracing and kissing are shown. Language: Scatological slang is heard frequently, along with many uses of moderate and mild profanities, terms of deity, crude slang terms and slurs. Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink in social settings and in a club. References to illegal drug dealing and smuggling are made.

What Parents need to know about Norm of the North...

Violence: Slapstick fighting and antics pervade this animation. A polar bear hunts a seal for food, but is too soft to eat it – although he does swallow some live fish. Characters are crushed and chew on electrical cords with electrocution effects -- no lasting injuries occur. Other characters are in peril from natural disasters and drowning. A villain with murderous intentions locks up animals. Death threats are made. Characters are shot with darts from a tranquilizer gun, and become unconscious. A mob pushes a character down a manhole. Sexual Content: A character dances by shaking his body and “twerking” is mentioned. Characters are comically depicted urinating, passing gas, burping and vomiting. A character jokes about “coming out”. Language: Terms of deity are used as expletives. Potty language and namecalling are also heard. Alcohol/Drug Use: Tranquillizer guns are used to make characters fall asleep. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2016

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Provides caring, quality services that affect all communities and every person in the state â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just those who walk through health department doors.

Increases access to health care for eligible, uninsured children ages birth through 18 with the ALL Kids Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Insurance Program. In 2013, ALL Kids served nearly 85,000 Alabama children.

Provides nutrition assessment, education, and nutritious foods at no cost to a monthly average of 139,000 limitedincome pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 at nutritional risk through WIC.

Investigates disease outbreaks, maintains surveillance of notifiable diseases, and answers queries about disease control and other health-related events including communicable disease outbreaks and rabies case investigations.

Protects patients/ residents of health care facilities from abuse and neglect. Works to ensure facilities provide a level of care that complies with state and federal standards. Requires corrective action when surveys find facilities are noncompliant.

Protects the public from foodborne illnesses and the spread of disease by ensuring standards in environmental health, regulates onsite sewage disposal systems, and oversees treatment and disposal of septage and other permitted wastes.

Offers home care services that include skilled nursing, physical therapy, medical social work, and personal care services through Medicare-certified home health agencies.

Provides health education to modify behavior to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, heart disease, and overweight/obesity.

Offers a tobacco Quitline.Thirty-nine percent of tobacco users who complete the telephone or online program stop using tobacco.

Issues certified copies of all Alabama birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in every county health department on a while-you-wait basis regardless of where in the state the event occurred.

Provides a wide range of confidential and professional family planning services, regardless of income, to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortion through education and contraceptive services.

Administers the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to provide screening to uninsured and underinsured women age 40-64, and ensures treatment is provided.

Screens newborns for genetic or metabolic conditions, thereby reducing morbidity, premature death, intellectual and other developmental disabilities through early detection and follow-up.

Provides clinical nursing services such as immunizations, and STD and TB screening and treatment. Administers the Alabama Drug Assistance Program for HIV medication assistance.

Assists rural and medically underserved areas by working with health care providers and organizations to prepare grants and provide workforce development.

Assures that emergency medical services meet or exceed established standards.

www.adph.org 1-800-252-1818

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