STRONGER TOGETHER #WeAreAllInThisTogether
Our community is experiencing some unusual times right now, but the mission of Bishop State Community College remains the same. We want to help you succeed! Whether you are a current student working to complete your degree, a transient student looking to earn some credits while home away from school, or a non-traditional student looking for a fresh start, Bishop State is here for you every step of the way!
Fall registration opens in July! Visit our website to learn more today.
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Volume 10 Number 3
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Columns 2 Publisher’s Note 4 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Progressive Day Camp A unique way to entertain neighborhood kids this summer.
Common Sense Media Easy tips to manage TikTok and keep your kids safe.
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7 Kids Health Watch sponsored by Children’s Medical Group
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24 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media
25 Dave Says Dave Ramsey
A Day for Dad
Ideas for making this Father’s Day one he’ll remember.
Suddenly Working From Home With Kids
Tips from a mom who’s been there.
On The Cover Jake Pilger (11), Blake Pilger (10) and Trey Pilger (2), sons of John and Ariel Pilger. Jake and Blake both play baseball for the Westside Trainwrecks, basketball for the Alabama Kings, and football at UMS-Wright. They also enjoy
Departments 5 Bits and Pieces 8 School Bits 29 A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith
32 Get This! Gerry Paige Smith
hunting and fishing. Trey loves trucks, playing with his brothers, and going on boat rides.
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FromthePublisher
Mobile Bay Mobile Bay’s Foremost Parenting Source
Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” I firmly believe that to be true. In fact, I have contemplated and quoted that several times over the last couple of months. When life throws us a curve ball, we are given the opportunity to change our vantage point, to look at things differently, affording us the ability to grow. While it definitely has rocked peoples’ worlds having the kids home from school, and parents now working from home, what a wonderful chance to reconnect as a family. The everyday hustle and bustle has been drastically reduced and families are spending more time together cooking, playing games, and learning together. I have really enjoyed watching how Brad connects with our teenage girls. Usually this means playing video games, teaching car maintenance and home repair or watching a scary movie (I hate scary movies). Fathers and other male role models play such an important part in our childrens’ lives. I know that is the case in my life. My dad, my husband and my father-in-law have always been some of my biggest supporters, encouraging me and standing by me through every phase of life... and they do the same with my girls. This month we have a chance to celebrate these wonderful men. If you are looking for suggestions of ways you can honor Dad this Father’s Day turn to page 26 where you will find ideas from Kimberly Blaker in A Day for Dad: Make This Father’s Day One to Remember. With so many parents working from home, families are faced with the challenge of juggling work and home life. If you are not used to working from home, this can be a huge challenge. Children interrupting, unfolded laundry calling your name (that one is pretty easy for me to tune out) and plenty of other distractions can be a real problem when you are trying to work. Fortunately Janeen Lewis has some tips in Suddenly You’re Working at Home with Kids: 10 Tips from a Mom Who’s Been There. While families manage work and home life, finding childcare and summer entertainment has also shown its share of difficulties. Many camps in the area have made the difficult decision to hold off camp this summer, and others that are open are filling up fast. Not to mention many families are still anxious about larger crowds, and we are encouraged to continue to keep our circles small. If you are faced with the challenge of finding childcare or looking for some entertainment for your children, you may want to flip over and check out Pam Molnar’s feature Progressive Day Camp – A Unique Way to Entertain the Kids this Summer. When I first read this article I was kicking myself for not thinking of this idea when my girls were younger. It is a great way to not only entertain and engage the children, but help fellow parents and keep our circles small. So as we officially kick off summer break, I would like to wish everyone a spectacular summer filled with wonderful opportunities for growth and memory-making moments. And to all the dads, Happy Father’s Day!
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. Kimberly Blaker Janeen Lewis Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Pam Molnar Dave Ramsey Gerry Paige Smith
Cover Photography Hannah Stinson Photography www.HannahStinsonPhotography.com
President Jason Watson Advertising Sales Lynn Knighton ads@mobilebayparents.com (251) 304-1200 Account Manager Eleanor Williams Ad Design Tim Welch
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Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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.
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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 2020 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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Our allergists are experts in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of allergies. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating asthma; allergic reactions to drugs, food, and insect stings; coughing; wheezing; sinusitis, and other complex immune disorders. The best way to choose a treatment plan is through testing in our office. Call us today to schedule your appointment and get relief today!
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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Mr. Rogers Had It Right It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...and it was a beautiful day sitting on my couch, snuggled up with my kids, watching what feels like movie number 2,074 during this quarantine. And that’s when I heard those wise words come straight from the mouth of Mr. Rogers – “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.” And there it was. Such a profound way to ground us in this time when we are all feeling all the feelings about our current reality. “When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary,” he said. Yes, Mr. Rogers. Yes. If he ever needed a career other than children’s reality show host and master of all puppets in the fictional kingdom of The Neighborhood of Make Believe, then he absolutely could have been in the world of psychology. You see, he gets it. Mr. Rogers understood that internalizing stress and worry and anxiety and uncertainty breeds stress and worry and anxiety and
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uncertainty. But mentioning them – which essentially means communicating them – breeds management – it breeds problem solving and eases concern. It brings about a sense of burden sharing with those around us. And as great as that feels as adults – this effect is even more magnified in our children. But in our own parental humanity, we often tend to negate the feelings of our children. Even in love we can be quick to just give a quick pat on the head and say, “Don’t worry, it will be fine,” without actually ever stopping and stooping and leaning in to hear what their little hearts are saying. Think of it this way – have you ever been upset about something and someone near you almost immediately says, “Calm down!” Does that, in any way, make you want to be calm in that moment? I’m guessing no. Instead, what helps you feel calm is when someone stops what they are doing, makes eye contact with you,
PASSAGE USA
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sits near you and really hears your heart. They listen. They lean in. They understand that you are struggling, and because they care for you, they take time to invest in you in that moment. It doesn’t actually matter whether they have the answer to your problem, they were present. This is the difference. This is the way we move away from a culture of pith and trite remarks, empty of any value to us, and toward authentic, deep, relational engagement. As Mr. Rogers would sing to all of us at the end of every show, he understood that, “…You’ll have things you want to talk about…I will too.” So grab your cardigan from the closet by the front door, change your shoes, and be intentional to hear what your little (and big) ones are saying around you. It will make for a beautiful day in your own neighborhood. Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to mitigate negative behaviors. She is the Director of Central Alabama for Lifeline Children’s Services and is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted and she is a foster parent.
A post-secondary educational experience for students with intellectual disabilities aged 1825 focused on attaining individualized goals in employment and independent living.
CONTACT: Alexandra Chanto-Wetter (251)460-7558 | chantowetter@southalabama.edu
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Mobile Girl Scout Earns Highest Award
Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) would like to recognize Mikayla Cain for receiving the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve, the Gold Award – putting her into an elite group of Girl Scouts. Last year, there were only five girls to earn this prestigious honor from southern Alabama. Less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts nationwide earn the Gold Award. It recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. For Mikayla’s project, Sew for Honduras, she sewed dresses by hand out of pillowcases to send to girls in impoverished Honduran villages. Every dress has been blessed and prayed over. Each dress represents so much more than just a dress. It provides a basic need for a family, allowing them to spend their money on other things like food and hygiene. “The main thing that I love about my project is that the dresses don’t just affect the girls that receive them,” said Mikayla. “Every person that encounters these dresses all have a special touch in this project, from the first cut to packing them in the boxes to delivering them.” “Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is truly a remarkable achievement, and this exemplifies leadership in all its forms,” said GSSA CEO Karlyn Edmonds. “Mikayla saw a need and took action. Her extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership are making the world a better place.”
Gulf Coast Take Steps Virtual Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis
We’re excited to host a national Take Steps virtual walk Hosted by Crohn's & Colitis Foundation on June 20, at 11 AM CST to give our whole community a safe way to come together and honor our patients and caregivers while we continue to raise funds for cures. While this is a necessary precaution, the idea of our national Take Steps community coming together during this difficult time is inspirational to us and we hope you agree. For the most up to date details, please like our Take Steps Facebook page. We’ll be sharing information in realtime as we announce decisions. To register or start fundraising, visit www.cctakesteps.org/GulfCoast.
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K 8th Annual No Show Gala – Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy
DON'T Save the Date, but DO open your heart! Ozanam cordially invites you NOT to attend another special event… it’s a NO SHOW Gala! From the safety of your own home or office, please donate to help us continue providing free prescription medications to our low income and uninsured neighbors of the Gulf Coast. The COVID-19 Pandemic has made the lives of our patients even harder. Many of them are the working poor, who work two or three jobs to support their families, yet they still can't afford health insurance. In our four-county service areas, there are an estimated 88,000 individuals that could qualify to receive free prescription medications from Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy. Last year, we were able to provide 1704 individual patients with more than 33,000 prescriptions, retail valued at $2.9 million. We need your support, at any level, to continue this important mission. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. PLEASE DONATE TODAY using this link: https://ozanam-charitable-pharmacy-inc. networkforgood.com/projects/76751-ozanam-charitablepharmacy-8th-annual-no-show-gala
The USS ALABAMA, USS DRUM and Aircraft Pavilion is now open for tours. To protect our visitors and our staff, new health safety procedures have been put into place. We have installed plexiglass shields at all counters in the Gift Shop and our staff will be wearing masks as a safety precaution. We are asking that all visitors please respect the 6-foot social distancing guildelines and hand washing procedured set forth by the CDC. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed in the Gift Shop for everyone to use and all bathrooms are equipped with soap or sanitizer and are ready to be used. The public will not be required to wear masks while touring the park. The park will operate daily, opening at 8:00 a.m. and closing at 5:00 p.m. with the last ticket of the day sold at 4:00 p.m. For additional park information please visit our website at ussalabama.com
Distinguished Young Women to Compete Virtually
Market in the Park
Market in the Park in Cathedral Square will be held on Saturdays from 7:30 AM-12:00 through July 25. Buy locallygrown, locally-produced and homemade items at Market in the Park! The Spring Market runs from the start of May through the end of July. We welcome anyone who is healthy to visit our Market in order to procure healthy, local food from area farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. Don’t forget to read and follow all of the new Market Attendee Guidelines listed on our event page at www.facebook.com/MarketsInMobile.
Battleship Memorial Park Now Open
The Distinguished Young Women National Final is going digital. One of the Mobile’s signature events won’t be another casualty of the coronavirus. The Distinguished Young Women will still honor the top high school representative from each state — as it has since 1958 — and award more than $100,000 in scholarships during its culminating events, June 25-27. Due to the new rules for public gatherings, the Distinguished Young Women has had to find a way to engage through screens and speakers. Traditionally, the participants arrive in Mobile two weeks before the climactic two-day preliminaries and Saturday finale, where they compete in categories that measure scholastics, self-expression, physical fitness, talent and interviewing skills, but this year the young women will submit videos for each National Finals category. The DYW will broadcast the threenight virtual showcase on its website free of charge. www.distinguishedyw.org.
Mobile Library Offers Curbside Pickup for Books, DVDs and More!
The Mobile Public Library is pleased to be able to once again offer access to our physical collections with Curbside Holds Pickup. We are now offering curbside pickup on holds for books, DVDs, CDs, and other items. Although all library locations are still closed to the public, patrons now have the opportunity to place items on hold and pick up those items when available at Curbside Holds Pickup locations. Go here for more information visit https://libraryaware.com/20M7KZ. Temporary library cards are being issued to area residents by applying online (forms.gle/uZEyHz1VftVfhQzy6) or over the phone (mobilepubliclibrary.org/locations). The community is also encouraged to visit the library website, mobilepubliclibrary.org and use its wide variety of online resources for audio books, videos, ebooks, music, educational resources and more. Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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KidsHealthWatch
Sponsored by Children’s Medical Group
Honey For Your Little Ones? “Bee” Careful Honey has gotten a lot of positive buzz in recent years, and rightfully so. It’s a wonderful food– and a delicious addition to just about everything. It actually has some excellent medicinal values, too! Many types of honey are rich in antioxidants, and some studies have shown honey can help improve cholesterol and lower blood pressure. The American Academy of Pediatrics even recommends giving honey to children older than a year to soothe a cough. For most of us, adding honey to our daily routine is a no-brainer. For one very important group, however, honey can cause a swarm of issues. For babies under twelve months, honey can be quite dangerous. In my experience, this comes as a surprise to most parents. In fact, a 2013 study published by the journal Pediatrics found that 80% of parents were unaware of the risks honey can pose to infants. The threat lies in tiny spores of a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum that can sometimes contaminate honey.
As adults, our digestive tract is fully developed, so we rarely experience side effects from exposure to Clostridium botulinum. For babies, on the other hand, exposure can cause a condition known as botulism. Because their intestines are still developing, infants cannot regulate normal bacteria as well as older children and adults. When infants ingest honey that contains Clostridium botulinum, the toxins produced by the bacteria aren’t moved out as quickly and efficiently, leading to botulism. So what are the signs of botulism? In infants, it starts off as constipation. Then muscles begin to weaken or become “floppy” as the toxins attack the nervous system. Facial muscles may become weak, meaning an infant cannot make expressions. As it starts to affect the muscle under the lungs called the diaphragm and muscles in the throat, an infant with botulism may experience trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, drooling, and a weak cry. The good news is that infant botulism can be treated. A hospital stay is required to ensure
the baby’s airway is protected– and that the baby still gets nutrition while he or she is having difficulty eating. And although the condition is rare, recovery can take weeks or months, so it’s worth knowing how to prevent it in the first place! When making food and medicine choices for your baby’s first year, remember to keep honey out of your hive. Avoid processed foods that contain honey– like honey graham crackers– and never give honey in a bottle or on a pacifier until after a child’s first birthday. You’ll find that many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines contain honey, so be sure to avoid those as well. Jennifer Adair, M.D., was born and raised in Mobile. 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 son, Finn, and their three dogs, Barkley, Fitz, and Roo.
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Autauga County Schools
Hankins Middle School Honored for Robotics Program
Hankins Middle School has been named the CLAS Banner School for southwest Alabama. Located in Theodore and led by principal David Diaz, Hankins was honored with the prestigious award during a virtual ceremony recently. Hankins was one of 30 schools across the state to be recognized as CLAS Schools of Distinction and one of just eight to be chosen from those 30 as a CLAS Banner School. The recognition is given to select schools annually by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. The CLAS Banner School program was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and service to students, and serve as educational models for other school in the state. Hankins was honored specifically for its robotics program, led by computer science teacher Bonnie Howard.
Mobile County Public Schools Has New Facebook Page
With schools closed to inclassroom education due to COVID-19 this spring Mobile County Public Schools teachers found new ways to keep their students engaged. In addition to blended academic lessons utilizing online, televised and ink-andpaper options, the system created a new Facebook page, entitled "I am MCPSS," where teachers could share bedtime stories, science experiments, physical education workouts, cooking lessons and more with their students -- sometimes just a note or video to say "We miss you." It's just another way our teachers upped their game to make sure their students are engaged while away from school.
Marley at Old Shell Road Magnet School made her very own AR chart to track her Accelerated Reading points! She made her goal! Way to go, Marley!
Zoom Classes at Covenant Christian School Take a look at Algebra 1 class via Zoom.
St. Luke’s Announces Salutatorian and Valedictorian
E.R. Dickson Elementary Learning Leading Recipient
St. Luke's held a virtual Honors Program for their high school students. The Honors
Congratulations to Madison Langley, E.R. Dickson’s Learning Leading recipient for 2020! The principal, teachers, and staff surprised her at home to celebrate her success! She is truly a leader in her school and community! Madison is seen here with her 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Strickland and counselor, Mrs. Summer Davis.
Program premiered on the school's social media. At the end of the program, Headmaster, Mike Notaro announced this year's Salutatorian, Becca Clark and Valedictorian, Shelby Windham. Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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UMS-Wright Students Complete Service Projects with Youth Leadership Mobile
This spring three UMS-Wright students participated in service projects with Youth Leadership Mobile. Senior Louis Hand and a friend held a T-shirt design competition to create an official uniform for the St. Mary’s Home. Hand worked with MH3 printing to create shirts for the children! Bryars Cooper and Jake Miller, both sophomores, made improvements to the garden at The Mulherin Home. The two cleaned walkways, pulled all the weeds, and redid the flower beds. We are so proud of these Youth Leadership Mobile graduates!
Mobile Christian Students Receive over $11 Million in Scholarships
Congratulations to our Class of 2020. They have 100% scholarships totaling over $11 million! We are proud of you!
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Autauga County Schools
Cottage Hill Christian Academy Delivers Special Gifts to Seniors
At the beginning of April, members of the Cottage Hill Christian Academy administration and faculty team took a special surprise to each of the seniors. Throughout this unprecedented and everchanging time, the CHCA Class of 2020 has retained an attitude of encouragement and positivity. CHCA is very proud of its seniors and wanted them to know how much they are valued!
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St. Dominic Students Conduct Project via Zoom
Following the St. Dominic Catholic School tradition of the “Dr. Hill Show”, now renamed "Interviews with Alabama Ghosts," 4th graders reflect on what they have learned throughout the year in Alabama History by assuming an assigned character. They review that character and what was going on during that time period. They answer questions as if they are that person. Even though we conducted this year’s project via zoom, the students were amazing! Way to go Eagles!
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Top Readers at Corpus Christi Catholic School
Each year, Mrs. Mansfield, the librarian at Corpus Christi Catholic School, acknowledges all of the students who have exceeded their AR (Accelerated Reader) goals for the year. In addition, she "crowns" the top reader who is the student from grades 3 through 8 would earned the most AR points. The top readers for this year are 1st place - 4th grader Thomas Aguirre. He read 3,722,520 words and took 49 quizzes this year! 2nd Place - Hayes Fox, 3rd Place - Audrey Woodard, and 4th place John Paul Ganucheau.
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SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! 6611 Wall Street • Mobile, AL 36695 | 251.607.0110 - local | www.pickettortho.com 2620 College Ave. Jackson, AL 36545 | 877.660.1103 - toll–free | info@pickettortho.com
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL Building the Body of Christ, One Student at a Time.
Enrollment for the 2020 - 2021 school year is happening NOW. Established in 1958, Corpus Christi Catholic School provides students in K2 through eighth grade an outstanding education. 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. 6300 McKenna Drive • Mobile, Alabama 36608 • school. corpuschristiparish.com
Tours of the school are available. Contact us to schedule one today.
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Autauga County Schools
St. Paul’s Student Named Semifinalist in Presidential Scholars Program
Alexandra Rosenthal, a graduating senior at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, has been named a semifinalist (the only semifinalist in Mobile and 1 of 10 students in the state of Alabama) in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. From nearly 3.6 million graduating high school seniors, over 5,600 students were identified as candidates in the program, and 621 semifinalists have been selected across the country! Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 56th year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. All Scholars are invited to Washington, D.C. in June for the National Recognition Program, featuring various events and enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House sponsored ceremony. A distinguished panel of educators have reviewed these submissions and selected 621 semifinalists. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in late May. Scholars tentatively will be invited to Washington, D.C., for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in events and activities.
M Faith Academy Teacher Named AISA Secondary Teacher of the Year
Mr. Ryan Smith of Faith Academy was named the Alabama Independent School Association Secondary Teacher of the Year! This is a huge honor for Mr. Smith and Faith Academy. Mr. Smith is a faith alumnus and has been a devoted teacher and administrator at Faith for 17 years. Congratulations Mr. Smith!
UMS-Wright 2020 Cum Laude Society Inductees
UMS-Wright Preparatory School congratulates the 2020 Cum Laude Society inductees! The Fall 2020 inductees: Abigail Lynn Baker, Johanna Ehrhardt, Esther Pan Feinstein, Ryann Estelle Jokerst, Jacquelyn Fae Stewart-Kuhn, Jessica Nicole Stirling, Olivia Starkey Swann, and Mary Frances Wood. The Spring 2020 inductees: Carlos Bruno Anez, Anna Kline Lee, Robert Jackson McAnnally, Katherine Elizabeth Monson, Jessica Anne Olzinski, Julia Grace Sumrall, Sarah Bronson Webster, and Mary Martin Yance. There are only three Cum Laude Chapters in the state of Alabama and only 318 nationally. The Society is a fellowship of scholars whose purpose is to recognize excellence in academic work. Class rank, high standardized scores, enrollment in honors and advancement placement classes, and good character are part of the guidelines for selection.
Learning at Home
Students at Old Shell Road Magnet School are learning from home!
St. Luke’s Virtual Wax Museum
St. Luke's 5th graders had their annual Wax Museum virtually. The students presented their speeches using Google Meet. We are thankful for technology & that our 5th Graders got to experience the Annual Wax Museum! Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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St. Luke Student Chosen for Mississippi American Legion Boys State
St. Luke's, Dylan Hale - Class of 2021, was selected for the Mississippi American Legion Boys State, a civic education program focusing on government, leadership, and service designed to enhance leadership experience through a "learn by doing" approach. Dylan is an active member of Key Club, runs his own landscaping business, and competes on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. The son of Mr. Shane and Dr. Michelle Hale, Dylan plans to attend college and hopes to be selected for the United States Coast Guard's College Student PreCommissioning Initiative.
MGM’s Class of 2020 Top 10
MGM is proud to announce the Class of 2020 Top 10. Congratulations, MGM Class of 2020 valedictorian – Camille Mask. Camille plans to attend Mississippi State University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Design Honors College in the fall to study architecture. Congratulations, MGM Class of 2020 salutatorian – McKenzie Blake. McKenzie plans to attend UAB in the fall to study genetics. Rounding out the top ten are Langley Davis, Madison Thigpen, Payton Stoneburner, Jade Wilson, William Nunn, Beatrice Lindqvist, Megan Bland, Allison Scott, and Jakayla Hill. Congratulations to MGM’s class of 2020. We are proud of all your accomplishments and look forward to seeing where your future takes you.
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St. Dominic Students Offer Crowns to Mary
In keeping with St. Dominic Catholic School tradition, the second grade students are honoring The Blessed Mother during the month of May. Each student is creating and offering their crown to Mary. Some are crowning Mary at home while others are crowning Mary at St. Dominic Parish.
Autauga County Schools St. Luke’s Seniors Present Biomedical Capstone
Presentations, Virtually
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St. Luke's Biomedical Health Science Seniors had to adjust their Biomedical Capstone Presentations this year. They weren't able to rehearse with professional speaking organization, Toastmaster's International, no parents, no family, no mentors, no teachers, no area medical professionals, no student bodies sitting in the 800-seat theatre. The students were still very well prepared and determined to pull off a professional, informative presentation in front of their teacher, videographer, and lighting/sound person. They approached the podium, stood tall, projected their voices and looked into the empty audience. The video was premiered on our YouTube channel and our students received a CEU credit for watching.
Faith Academy Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian
McGill-Toolen Valedictorian and Salutatorian Congratulations to McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Valedictorian, Michael Heim and Salutatorian Ann Wentworth! They were announced at our virtual awards ceremony May 15th and then President Fr. Shields, Principal Michelle Haas and members of our administration visited them at home to present them with their awards.
Congratulations to Faith Academy’s Class of 2020 Valedictorian, Miss Olivia Johnston and Salutatorian, Miss Gloria Crenshaw! Olivia Johnston is also a national merit scholar. She will be attending UAB in the fall, majoring in biochemistry focusing on medical research. She plans to continue on at UAB for her PhD in biochemistry, drug discovery with medical research and an emphasis on pharmacology. She was asked to be a part of the Chemistry Scholars and Honors Chemistry programs that include peer teaching and will allow her to begin her research as early as her freshman year. Gloria Crenshaw plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall and major in Business. Both Gloria and Olivia were named to the 2020 Alabama Independent School Association All-State Academic Team reserved for the top 25 students in the AISA.
Prichard Prep Awarded for Transparency
Prichard Preparatory School is committed to the highest level of transparency. PPS earned the GuideStar 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency, showcasing the progress and results they are making toward their mission. This is the highest level that can be obtained and less than 2% of the non-profits nationwide reach this level. Congratulations Prichard Preparatory School!
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St. Mary Catholic Book Fair
Old Shell Road Students Go on Neighborhood Bear Hunt
St. Mary Catholic enjoyed a week long Scholastics Book Fair in January, during Catholic Schools Week with the theme. "Elephants, Tigers, and Books Oh My!" Coordinated by St. Mary Librarian, Sue Lyon, the week offered a fun exploration of books for students in PreK3 through 8th grade available for purchase. Proceeds benefited the school library and students were invited to donate their change to Veterans Recovery Resources.
Can you spot the bear? Haidyn Inabnett from Old Shell Road found the most stuffed bears (placed in windows of homes of participants) during the Going on a Bear Hunt contest assigned by his teacher, Ms. Walter. This was a fun project during a study of animals and how they survive.
St. Dominic Alumni Receives Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship
Congratulations to St. Dominic alum, Michael Heim. He was surprised with a sign in his front yard as a recipient of a Chick-fil-A leadership scholarship. Michael is also the Valedictorian of the senior class at McGillToolen this year! We are very proud of all that he has accomplished.
Looking Forward to Sunnier Days at Covenant Christian School
Covenant Christian school, in the anticipation of students returning to campus sometime in the future, will have shade for our students on the playground.
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Autauga County Schools
Cottage Hill Christian Virtually Learning with Guest Speakers
Although the end of the school year is approaching quickly, the students at Cottage Hill Christian Academy are still able to enjoy lots of exciting educational opportunities. Several classes have had guest speakers who are geneticists, marine biologists, college professors, and more. Although they are learning remotely at home, the students at CHCA have had lots of opportunities to learn new things and ask fantastic questions.
UMS-Wright Rockstar Readers
UMS-Wright Congratulates 44 Lower School students for reading over 1,000,000 words this year! These students spent countless hours reading to achieve such a feat! Since we are unable to hold a ceremony this school year, the students will receive a special delivery at home. 2019-2020 Reading Millionaires in 2nd Grade: Charlie Horne. In 3rd Grade: Kenleigh Hess, Max McCrary, Richie Nguyen, Hayden Collins, William Marmande, Patton Meek, Emory Roe, Robert Ashbee, Ryleigh Collins, Richard Delaney, Will Gallaway, Colin Haskins, Lauren Greenwald, Gaillard Passmore, and Hollins Smith. In 4th Grade: Olivia Cole, Coleman Fountain, Talmadge Hines, Olivia Hooper, Riley Grace Pope, Amna Qasim, Loudon Scott, Sophia Tombrello, Chloe Barko, Joshua Dean, Samantha Li, Genevieve Romano, Marilyn Grace Cook, Sam Jeffery, Saanvi Jha, Lexi Lisenba, Greta McMurphy, Brooke Minh, Davis Napp, Yousef Shakora, Burns Willis, Carter Barko, Margot Edmondson, Salma Heath, Olivia Kelley, Victoria Rizk, June Vickers, and Matthew Warren. The Top 3 Readers of the Lower School were: 1st Place Joshua Dean- 6,606,972 words and 930 points, 2nd Place Sophia Tombrello- 5,428,537 words and 805 points, 3rd Place- Margot Edmondson- 3,288,308 words and 487 points! Congratulations Rockstar Readers!
Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 10th of the month.
Cottage Hill Christian Academy Holds Virtual High School Honors Chapel
The Cottage Hill Christian Academy Honors Chapel was not able to be held on its original date due to COVID-19. Because this is a time of recognition and celebration, CHCA still wanted to share the success of
St. Dominic Zoom Dress Up Meeting
St. Dominic Catholic School teachers, Mrs. Danielle and Mrs. Jenny, had so much fun with their zoom meeting recently. The theme was Superhero/ Princess Dress Up. The teachers dressed up like Ninja Turtles and the kids loved it!
our students. Although this Honors Chapel may not have been as we originally hoped it would, we are excited to celebrate our students. Each student recognized has worked hard to achieve the goals they set for themselves. It is with great pride and joy that we celebrate each of these CHCA students. Congratulations, Warriors! Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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Mobile Christian’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year
Congratulations to our 2019-2020 Elementary and Secondary teacher of the year Mrs. Anna McGillberry, and Dr. Marilyn McGowan!
School Spirit Lives on at Covenant Christian
Fridays are usually school spirit days at Covenant Christian, and the teachers, staff, and students are still carrying on that even during distance learning.
St. Mary Catholic presents Pure and Simple
St. Mary Catholic School eighth grade students and their parents welcomed Mrs. Christy Evans for their annual “Pure and Simple” evening presented by the Department of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Mobile earlier this year. This evening presents the Catholic view of what it means to be made male and female along with practical tips for dating, dressing and communicating. The primary goal of the event is to facilitate the communication between teens and their parents. The evening began with Mass and dinner and a large group presentation. The large group was then split up into three smaller group presentations for parents, young women and young men.
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Autauga County Schools
Blended System of Instruction Used to Reach Mobile Students
With in-class instruction interrupted due to COVID-19, Mobile County Public Schools quickly devised a blended system of instruction to ensure that students continued learning through the end of the school year. With many students in need of devices, internet access or better connectivity, the system distributed about 15,000 devices and hot spots so that students could take part in webbased lessons. Those still without internet access were given paper instructional packets and encouraged to watch televised lessons produced by mcpssTV, the system’s in-
Corpus Christi Catholic Student Receives Scholarship for Highest Score on McT Placement Test Congratulations to Corpus Christi Catholic School student, Maggie Heller! She was one of two students who made the highest score on the McGill-Toolen placement test. She received the Henry E. Reimer Scholarship for her academic achievement.
house television studio. These lessons, featuring master teachers from schools throughout the system, could be viewed on Comcast channel 15, AT&T U-verse On Demand channel 99 and Mediacom channel 81. For those who did have cable but had a digital antenna and/or access to local channels, the live lessons were also aired on Fox 10’s channel 10.6 and some were available on UTV44.
Covenant Christian Students Visit Alpaca Farm
In March, 6th Grade junior high art students from Covenant Christian School enjoyed learning about fiber arts at "The Humming Star Alpaca Farm" in Silverhill, Al. They even left behind a special outreach project!
Old Shell Road Art Class
Maggie Miller from Ms. Walter's class at Old Shell Road is displaying her stained glass window mosaic chalk art.
St. Mary Catholic Pringle Ringle
St. Mary Catholic Middle School students participated in the (pre-Covid19 quarantine) Pringle Ringle! This fun scientific project was under the leadership of St. Mary Catholic STEM teacher Mrs. Annette Grow!
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E.R. Dickson Students Qualify for Duke TIP Program
Congratulations E.R. Dickson Elementary students who qualified for the Duke TIP program. These students qualified by scoring at or above the 95th percentile on the state assessment. All Duke TIP programs are designed specifically for gifted students. Duke’s talent searches help students and their families evaluate and grow their academic abilities while Duke’s educational programs provide them with motivation, challenge, inspiration, advanced interactive learning opportunities, peer interaction, and more. 4th Graders: Demerius Barnes; Bryson Dunbar; Emmaly Greene; Thomas McMeans; Amiah Miles; Frederick Patterson; Christian Pearson; Daniel Rembert; Chloe Seals; James Washington. 5th Graders: Carrington Bridges; Taylor Brown; David Cunningham; Loren Johnson; Alexander Meola; Jayshawn O’Cain; Sidney Sawyer; Keith Turner.
Cottage Hill Christian Academy Holds Virtual Famous Art Recreation
In mid-April, Miss Anderson, CHCA’s elementary and middle school art teacher, began a famous art recreation challenge on her class Facebook page. This challenge took off with many excited and creative participants. Teachers, students, and even pets dressed up to recreate famous paintings. It was a joy to see such creativity and participation from all of the Warrior families!
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Autauga County Schools
ASMS Seniors Make History and Win First Place in National ExploraVision Competition
BIG NEWS at ASMS! Four seniors made school history and won 1st place in the National Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Competition (out of 4,000 submissions).
They conducted research and developed a graduate-level thesis applying their knowledge from medical journals and their science and humanities courses at ASMS. Their final project submission was for Self-Immunizing Joint Replacements. The students were selected as regional winners in March and were announced as overall national winners this week! They will be honored in June via a virtual ceremony. We are so proud of these students, their hard work, and their innovation for advancing medical technology. Congratulations! Team Members: Jon Dotson (Baldwin County); Baylee Keevan (Baldwin County); Michael McCaulley (Autauga County); Peter Price (Baldwin County). Team Coach: Dr. Elisa Rambo, ASMS Chemistry Faculty Member. Read the full story at: asms.net/news/asms-seniors-win-1st-place-innational-exploravision-competition/
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Drive-by End of Year Awards at McDavid-Jones
On May 12th and May 13th, Arkema hosted Drive by End of the Year Awards. Students were recognized for A - AB Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance. Each student received a Fan as our Pride Award. Fifth grade students were also recognized for Maintaining A - AB Honor Roll throughout Elementary School with a plaque. This year we celebrated our 30th Year as Partners in Education with Arkema. We would like to thank Arkema for their continued support for our school and community.
McGill-Toolen Faculty Loves it Seniors!
Seniors at McT got a special surprise when they came to pick up their caps and gowns. Faculty members braved four hours of rain to wave and congratulate them during the drive through pick-up.
Summer Dance
AGES 4 & UP
One day a week for four weeks.
Limited Class Size. Social distancing guidelines observed. Register online today at: GalesStudioofDance.com
Call today! 251-343-9544
STUDIO OF DANCE, INC.
Classes begin June 9th
6345 Airport Blvd., Mobile, AL 36608 Picadilly Square / Same Shopping Center as Buffalo Wild Wings Ballet / Tap / Jazz / Lyrical / Hip Hop / Cheer 21
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Summer camp is a win-win situation for families. It gives parents the child-free time they need to work or care for younger children, while keeping their older children occupied with fun activities. If you are looking for a budget friendly way to achieve some of the benefits that a day camp provides, you might want to consider a progressive neighborhood camp. Other than camp supplies, the only cost for a neighborhood progressive camp is an hour of the parents’ time each day. The parent counselors take turns providing one hour of structured entertainment in the form of games, crafts and other activities. When the hour is up, the children move on to the next house, leaving that parent the rest of the time to do their work childfree.
How it works: Choose the number of participants based on the number of children and their ages. The number of families, not the number of children, will determine how long your camp is each day. For example, if you have five families, your camp is 5 hours long. If you have a large number of children, you can enlist the help of a babysitter who will move from house to house with the children and act as an assistant camp counselor.
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Planning: Choose the activities that you will include in your camp. Some suggestions include outdoor games, arts and crafts, music and dance, gardening, cooking and baking, science projects, storytime and, of course, lunchtime. Other options include teaching a new skill like how to sew on a button or inviting a guest speaker to come. www.mobilebayparents.com If your group is small,
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com, which is a goldmine Example Progressive Camp for inexpenToday’s Theme: Wild West sive kids’ 9:00 to 10:00 crafts and Arts and Crafts at Smith House game prizes. - Make marshmallow shooters Instead of 10:00 to 11:00 serving lunch Cooking and Baking at Yu House for a large - Make homemade ice cream group, con11:00 to 12:00 sider having Outdoor games at Johnson House each child - Playing horseshoes, water gun bring a sack shooting gallery, rope the horse, lunch. sack races If you 12:00 to 1:00 plan to send Lunch and Storytime at Brown House the kids - Serving wagon wheel pasta and pigs home with a trinket each in a blanket, plus homemade ice cream day, consider Reading: Cowboy Camp something by Tammi Sauer reusable 1:00 to 2:00 like relay Music/Dance time at O’Malley House race water - Learning to square dance bottles from the dollar store. Other inexpensive ideas include a DVD of the Keep the costs down: You will music video they made or an egg carfind craft supplies at OrientalTrading. ton full of the seedlings they planted. you might also consider a short field trip. Parent camp counselors can chose which activity they host based on their skill level or tolerance for mess. Using a daily theme for your camp will help to tie the activities together. Theme ideas include pajama day, beach party, super hero, patriotic, decades day, sports jersey day and Wacky Wednesday. Work as a group to determine a budget after factoring the number of children and the supplies needed for each activity. An example itinerary for a Wild West theme can be found in the sidebar.
Putting it all together: All the kids will meet at the first house at the start of camp. The camp counselor should be prepared to start the activity as soon as the kids arrive. Each session should end five minutes before the next hour so the counselor (or babysitter) can walk the kids to the next house. At the end of the day, each parent will pick up their child at the last house.
Capture the memories: Take a lot of pictures of the kids at camp. You can find inexpensive photo booth printouts online and at Etsy or snap candid shots of the kids in action. Make a slide show of the photos to share with the campers on the last day and give everyone a copy. The best thing about a progressive day camp is that you can host a weekly camp or just one day each week for the whole summer. Unlike other camps, these parents will be a part of their child’s camp experience, an advantage that is priceless. MBP Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three who believes it takes a village to raise children. She is forever grateful to the many moms and dads who have created so many memories for her family.
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TikTok Safety Tips
Make sure tweens use their real age to create an account.
Manage TikTok with These Easy Settings
If you’re going to allow your tweens to join TikTok, insist that they register with their actual birth date. The app offers a limited experience for users under 13 where they can watch videos and create their own clips for private viewing, free from the data tracking the company collects on users over 13. However, access to that area of the app only requires the user to enter a birth date -- and there’s nothing to prevent older users from joining as an under-13-year-old.
The wild-and-wacky short videos of TikTok continue to gain popularity among kids, adults, and even celebrities. But the app has had some problems, such as illegally collecting data on users under 13, notoriously inappropriate comments, and awkward settings that can leave you with unwanted followers. Still, its viral “challenges,” creative tools, and just-plain-fun features mean your kids are probably going to want it. Tik Tok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, Facebook, or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports), and hashtags to find videos. Or you can use your phone contacts or social media followers to find friends already on the app. Many kids on Tik Tok like to create videos, but plenty of people don’t post themselves -- they just use the app to find and follow content creators. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless, creative fun, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you have to use privacy settings to limit how much information you and your kids are sharing. Kids can post stuff without reviewing or editing it first. There have even been reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. And in 2019, TikTok paid millions to settle with federal regulators who charged it violated children’s privacy law. Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the app. Anyone under the age of 18 must have approval of a parent or guardian -- but there are plenty of young tween users. If your younger kid or tween wants to use the app, the account should belong to an adult who can monitor what younger users are browsing and sharing. There’s also the section of the app mentioned above that’s meant for kids under 13 that restricts access to mature content and comments, but since entering a false birthdate is easy, it’s still best for older teens. That being said, here are some tips to keep your younger kids safe if they are on TikTok: Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
Have fun using the app together with younger kids.
It’s a great way to spend quality media time together. Plus you can supervise them and advise them on responsible use so they have good habits when they get older. The following settings are located in the Privacy and Settings section. To get there, go to your kid’s profile page and click the three-dot icon (“...”) on the top right.
Make your kid’s account private. TikTok accounts are public by default, meaning anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and post comments. Help kids turn on privacy settings so only people they know can interact with their videos or message them on the app. Select Privacy and Safety. There, toggle the switch for “Private Account.” Limit comments. TikTok comments can be inappropriate. Restrict the audience that can post comments on kids’ videos to Friends only -- or turn them off entirely. Again, select Privacy and Safety. Review the settings, including: Who can send you direct messages; Who can comment on your videos; and Comment filters. Limit time and inappropriate content. TikTok offers features to help limit kids’ time on the app as well as videos that may be inappropriate. You can protect these settings with a passcode so kids can’t change them back. Alternatively, you can download the TikTok app and use the Family Pairing feature to manage your kid’s account from your phone. Select Digital Wellbeing next to the icon of an umbrella. There you’ll see settings for Screen Time Management, Restricted Mode, and Family Pairing. 24
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Pay Taxes Now or Later? Q. My husband and I owe $3,500 in federal taxes, along with $3,000 in state taxes. We’re both still working during the pandemic scare. Would it better to wait until the new July 15 due date to pay taxes, and pay off other debt in the meantime, or go ahead and pay state and federal taxes now, and take care of our other debts with what we have leftover monthly? A. If you’re talking about back taxes, I’d say pay them now. You don’t want to play around with the IRS, because they can really mess you up if they decide they’re coming for you. But if you’re talking about taxes for 2019, I’d go ahead and include them in your debt snowball. If you need to move them up in your debt snowball in order to pay them on time, that’s fine. Whatever you do, don’t pay them late. Sit down
together, and lay out a game plan that includes paying your taxes—and all your other debts—on time!
Use Savings to Pay Credit Card Debt? Q. I feel truly blessed. Even with everything that is going on these days, I still have a steady job and a good income. I’m thinking about taking some money out of my savings account in order to completely pay off my credit card debt. How do you feel about this idea? A. It’s not a bad plan if you’ve come to a point where you understand a few things. The credit card and the debt aren’t the real problems. They’re symptoms of buying things you probably don’t need with money you don’t have. You need to take
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SAFER AT HOME
SUMMER CAMP
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We are working hard to develop unique take-home art projects with virtual instruction from local artists and educators for your child. Whether your child already has a love of art or is just getting started, everyone will enjoy art-camping.
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We look forward to sharing details soon, learn more at mmfa.org/camp.
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Support for Safer at Home: Summer Camp is by Susan and Bob Runkle.
One Museum Drive, Montgomery, AL Open Tuesday–Sunday; Free Admission
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a long look in the mirror, because the person who’s looking back at you is the real problem. If you can accept this, and are committed to changing yourself and your financial habits, I’d say go for it. Just don’t wipe out your savings in the process. Leave plenty of cash in there, especially right now when so many things are uncertain. Also, make sure you cut up that credit card, close the account, and make a promise to yourself that you’ll never use those things again. Once you do all this, and start living on a written, monthly budget, rebuild your savings as quickly as possible. Saving money is always a good thing. And everyone needs an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses for the unexpected stuff life throws at you!
mmfa.org | @MontgomeryMFA
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It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. -- Anne Sexton Fathers play a significant role in kid’s lives. They’re important role models, influence children’s self-esteem and school performance, and make great coaches and fun-loving playmates. Father’s Day is just around the corner, so don’t be caught scrambling for the perfect way to show you care. Try some of these ideas to show your dad just how important he is to you. Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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Video Surprise – Make a “World’s Best Dad” video he’ll treasure for years to come. Put on your brainstorming cap for your own ideas, or try some of these ideas for your video. Share special memories of your dad, sing to him, read him a poem, or do skits. Get the whole family involved and conduct interviews with each other with Dad as the main topic. Don’t forget your props such as a banner or collection of his prized possessions, including sports trophies or equipment to add a personal touch. Most importantly, be sure to let him know just how much he means to you in your video.
helped you to become the person you are today, and what he means to you. Then print it on stationary, matte and frame it.
Musical Moment– Take your father to see his favorite band or performing artist, enjoy a jazz or blues festival, or pack up some lawn chairs, and enjoy a local concert-in-the-park.
Togetherness Takes Two – Has your dad been putting off the dreaded task of cleaning out his attic, basement, or garage? Give him a gift of shelving materials and brackets, wall racks and ceiling hooks, and storage crates. Then spend the day helping him to get it organized while catching up on old times.
King for the Day – It isn’t every day your dad gets waited on hand and foot. Offer to be his loyal servant for the day. Bring him coffee and toast in bed; fetch his newspaper; lay out his clothes, bath towel, and mat; be host or hostess and serve him beverages and snacks; clean up after him and anything else to give him the royal treatment.
World’s Greatest – Let dad know that he’s the greatest 365 days a year! Give him a “World’s Greatest Dad” coffee mug, t-shirt, book cover, bookmarker, wallet card, or another trinket that he’ll see or use regularly.
Memories of Dad – Purchase a scrapbook, and create a record of memories about you and your dad. Include photos of special outings, events, and holidays you’ve had together. Also include other memorabilia such as concert or sporting event ticket stubs, postcards, and brochures. Next to each photo or item, describe your memories of those special times with your father.
Sports Buff’s Surprise – Take your dad for a sporting good time. Play a game of golf, tennis, or basketball, go fishing at the river’s edge, or enjoy a paddle around a lake. If being a spectator is more his thing, buy tickets to his favorite sporting event such as a baseball or soccer game, boxing match, or auto race.
A Man to Remember – Get your creative juices flow-
other on a camping trip for two. Either rough it in a tent or rent a mini cabin at a state park. Spend your weekend enjoying nature hikes, sightseeing, fishing, boating, playing cards, and taking it easy together.
Weekend Getaway – Get in touch with nature and each
ing, and write a poem for your dad. You don’t need to be a poet to come up with a few thoughtful words to say how much he means. Describe the impact he’s had on your life, how he’s
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favors include sweeping out the garage, mowing the lawn, or any other task he normally handles.
Father’s Day Feast – As the old adage goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So treat dad to a mouth-watering meal on the barbecue. Fix him his favorite: steak, ribs, chicken, burgers, or chops for starters. Don’t forget the grilled potatoes or squash, garlic bread or rolls, fresh green beans or asparagus, sweet corn, potato salad, and last but not least, his favorite dessert.
Catch a Flick…..or two – Treat your dad to a movie fest. Rent a couple newly released videos or some of his longtime favorites. Or head to the cinemas for a double feature. Whether you take the movies in at home or the theater, don’t forget the hot, buttered popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.
Pamper Him – What better way to show your appreciation for all his hard work than to indulge him? Give your father a gift certificate for a professional massage, which will be sure to please.
Get in Touch with His Soft Side – Give your dad a book of poetry specially written for fathers. Try one of these: Fathers: A Collection of Poems by David Ray and Judy Ray
Just the Two of Us – Put together a photo collage of you and your father. There are many ways to do this. Find instructions at your nearby craft store and create a Decoupage photo collage. Keep it simple with a multi-photo frame, or purchase a unique 3D photo collage frame. These are available and art and craft supply stores and online.
Father’: Collected Poems by Ken Koprowski Thoughts to Share With a Wonderful Father: A Collection of Poems by Blue Mountain Arts Collections
A Gift of Giving – Does your dad have a favorite cause or charity such as the Humane Society, the Nature Conservancy, or American Cancer Society? If so, why not give him a membership or make a donation in his name? Remember small donations add up and are always appreciated. MBP
Take a Stroll – Enjoy a peaceful walk in the park or the country together. Better yet, gather your bikes or roller blades, hit a scenic bike path, and enjoy the fresh summer air. Certificates of Appreciation – Show Dad you appreciate his hard work by returning the favor. Make coupons that say: “In appreciation for all that you do, Dad. Redeem this certificate for a hassle-free car wash by me!” Other
Kimberly Blaker is a professional lifestyle and parenting freelance writer. She also does B2C and B2B copywriting. Find her at www.kimberlyblaker.com.
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Books to Bust Up a Bad Mood Managing anger can be a problem at any age, but especially so for children who are still developing their ability to navigate difficult emotions. Just like kids learn how to handle a spoon or dress themselves, they can also learn how to manage behaviors when they are angry. Walking away from anger-inducing situations, breathing exercises, and visual imagery can help increase coping skills. Expressing anger through talking, writing or drawing is also helpful, giving kids calmer means to express their real and legitimate feelings. The following titles use gentle storytelling to both explore angry moments and to offer ideas that help kids cool things off when tempers flare.
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Fergal and the Bad Temper by Robert Starling (Imprint / Macmillan) Fergal is really a nice fellow. He just doesn’t like being told what to do. Being told what to eat, how to follow rules, or asked to wait makes him angry. Unfortunately, Fergal’s first instinct is to push back and his temper is a fiery one so everything close to his angry outbursts gets a little bit singed. When Fergal gets mad, the goalposts get grilled, the cupcakes are crisped, and his toys are toast. After everyone around him has had enough of his hot temper, Fergal’s mom offers a solution to cool things down. Exploring the power of a pause to extinguish the quick flash of anger, this title offers cool ideas to take the heat out of mad moments.
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Mad, Mad Bear by Kimberly Gee (Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster) When Bear starts his morning off mad, the rest of his day just goes from bad to worse. A trip to the park is cut short when he has to leave for a nap. He gets a boo-boo on the way home and he has to leave his favorite stick outside the door. By the time Bear gets to his room, he’s in full meltdown mode. But staying mad is exhausting. Taking one breath, and then another, Bear slowly lets that anger go. No longer mad, he’s able get his day back on track and enjoy a more productive journey toward bedtime. With very simple text and clean imagery, young readers follow the evolution of a tantrum through its peaceful resolution, with gentle tips on how to get a better start to the day.
Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Cotler, Illustrated by Harry Bliss (Philomel / Penguin Random House) Usually happy to spend the day with her farm friends, Cow’s morning is off to a rough start when she steps into deep sticky mud. Mad and dirty, Cow flicks mud right into Duck’s face. And, she’s not sorry. Frog invites Duck for a swim to get the mud off, and he gets an earful of insults from his dirty friend (who’s not sorry either). The bad moods and mean spirits escalate as they get passed from one farm friend to another. When the insults finally reach Dog, instead of letting his feelings be hurt, he explores what’s really got everyone so mad. As they trace the source of their anger, each friend discovers how a heartfelt “I’m sorry” can help fix mad mistakes. Exposing the contagious nature of bad moods, this title reveals the awesome power of a real and sincere apology to get friends back to a happier place.
Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.
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Suddenly You're Working at Home with Kids:
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from a Mom Who's Been There by Janeen Lewis When my children were small, I was a freelance writer and homeschooling mom. When they were older, I went back to teaching and they went to school. Now that we’re on an indefinite hiatus, it feels like slipping into a familiar pair of worn jeans.
Here’s some wisdom I gleaned from my stint as a work-from-home parent.
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1. Designate a quiet work zone.
Once you envision your work space, it will help you fill in the blanks. Create a work area with access to electronics and a door you can shut so you can concentrate for a specified, uninterrupted amount of time while your spouse is in charge or kids are napping. This space is for work that needs your most focused attention. Do not feel guilty about shutting the door. These are unprecedented times. A tip for parents of babies through fiveyear-olds: You’re an exception to the closed door. Your children may have to play next to your desk. Still, keep a designated quiet zone for those times when you can work alone.
2. Move around with a laptop desk.
Purchase a lap desk online and have it delivered. This has been crucial in allowing me to work in any room in the house. When my kids were little I answered emails, made work to-do lists, researched on the web and jotted notes while they played on the living room floor or watched “Sesame Street.” I wrote on my laptop at the kitchen table while they ate.
3. Plan realistic schedules.
Make a schedule that is different than it would’ve been two weeks ago. If you’ve limited screen time in the past, give more now.
Make time for reading, physical exercise, unstructured play and chores. Don’t introduce any activity that you can’t live with indefinitely or that is too rowdy while you work. Give the schedule time. Kids are suckers for routine.
4. Work at weird hours.
Get up as early as you can, but tiptoe because, no lie, kids hear every creak and cough and they will get up with you even if it’s 4:30 a.m..! Stay up late if you’re a night owl. If your spouse can care for kids in the afternoon, make those your new office hours. When I’ve done this, it allowed me to separate work time and kid time and they got to have all of me instead of me on a computer.
5. Create busy bags or boxes.
Every evening make sure your children have bags or boxes with items for them to keep them busy the next day. Include books, coloring books, crayons, markers, colored pencils, worksheets, educational games, arts and crafts. Include kids in choosing, so they have lots of items they’re interested in.
6. Pull out that old fridge box.
Grab empty Amazon boxes, or if you saved that refrigerator box, now’s the time to reveal it to your kids. When my son Andrew was six and my daughter Gracie was 3, they built an elaborate “cave” system from old
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moving boxes in our den. It kept them busy for hours, and I got lots of work done.
7. Reward them.
If your kids let you work for a specified amount of time during the week, reward them with a special activity like a game night or cooking or baking lesson.
8. Admit you need help.
There is no shame in saying “I can’t do this alone.” But how can you get help with social distancing? Why not let a relative or friend Face Time or Skype with your kids for chunks of time while you work?
9. Be kind to yourself.
At some point everything will derail while you’re on an important conference call. Keep doing the best you can. That’s all you can do.
10. Embrace the positive.
None of us were expecting to work and parent at home indefinitely, but there is a bright side. I’m getting to enjoy more time with my kids. My 13-year-old and I played a kiddie board game one day and laughed the entire time. Keep positive and use this unexpected time to make memories. MBP Janeen Lewis is a mom, writer and teacher. She has been published in several parenting magazines across the country.
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High Score for Arcade Games
Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids
First appearing in the early 1900’s as part of the midway attractions at amusement parks, games of chance and skill have claimed their permanent space as part of the arcade experience. While flashy video games took over much of the gaming space in later years, traditional mechanical games held their ground and remain fixtures in arcades today. These more tactile traditional games are also ones that kids cut their arcade teeth on, with their simplicity and easy access. The following games are new versions of old favorites that bring classic arcade superstars right into the home.
by Gerry Paige Smith
Skee-Ball Classic Arcade Game
Whac A Mole (Catch Star)
(Buffalo Games)
A familiar game to any kid who’s visited an arcade, the game of Skee-Ball is more storied and complex than most folks know. Entertaining players since 1908, Skee-ball even has its own lingo with terms like ‘rook skee’, ‘hundo’ and ‘bombshell’ that describe different plays. The Skee-Ball Classic Arcade Game from Buffalo Games is the officially licensed version of this vintage sport. Crafted with quality, durable materials, Skee-Ball Classic includes a wooden base, game rules, five balls and four scoring hoops. This game can be played by 1 to 4 players with multiple competitive variations that add new twists and challenges to the traditional scoring. Skee-Ball Classic is super portable and can be set up in an instant on any tabletop or flat surface. Just add players and this arcade favorite is ready to go!
Recreating the game that stormed arcades in the 1970’s, Whac a Mole from Catch Star brings this energetic favorite into the home with a miniature version. The game base (with suction cups for anchoring) features colorful ‘moles’ with cheery expressions that light up in random order. The hammer handle is plastic, but the head is crafted with durable squishy foam protecting little fingers and the moles from unintended damage. With the goal of ‘whacking’ moles as quickly as possible when they light up, kids learn to focus their attention on the board as they race to pound the lights out. With sound features in English, Spanish and Music modes, there’s also an option for muting the sound. Ideal for building handeye coordination as well as relieving stress, this fast-paced arcade game pops its head up for active arcade play, right at home!
Giantex 27” Tabletop Foosball
Pop-a-Shot Dual Shot Sport Basketball
Take the field old-school with a whole team at your fingertips. The twist and turns, the slam and jam of foosball are ready to clear the table - right at home. With a whole team at your fingertips, this versatile foosball setup is ideal for play on most sturdy flat surfaces. Each team’s side features a goalie rod (goalie, two defenders), midfield rod and attacking rod (three players each). The rod grips are ergonomically designed for concise handling and energetic control. Both sides have abacus scoring and ball return (balls sold separately). Because it’s designed to take advantage of existing surfaces, this foosball game is easy to store under a bed or in a closet when not in play. Ideal for rec rooms, as well as game nights and playdates, kids and adults will love taking the field with this smaller version of the arcade foosball favorite!
Made from sturdy steel tubes with a powder coating to eliminate rusting and chipping, the Dual Shot Sport Basketball can withstand years of frequent use. An easily accessible panel control on the front accesses 10 total games, from the classic 1-on-1 competition to individual skill challenges; audio with 3 different music selections, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and an announcer who calls the game for you. The Dual Shot Sport includes an AC adapter so you can power the game via plug-in with the option of battery-powered play. This full-sized arcade fixture requires some dedicated assembly time, but the final result guarantees an addictive game play experience.
(Giantex)
(Pop-A-Shot)
Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com
Mobile Bay Parents I June 2020
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I thought this was the place where we came to clean up? - Trystin, 6th grade
For more information visit AlabamaHealthyTeens.com