Mobile Bay Parents VBS Guide Issue

FromthePublisher

It is almost summertime! You can feel it in the air. I am not sure who gets more excited about the end of the school year, my kids or me. By this time each year, I am ready for the easy breezy summer schedule. However, we all know “easy breezy” can turn into “lazy” and then to the dreaded “I’m bored” if we are not careful. If you are like me and trying to balance the strict school year schedule and the chaos of no plan, you can find some great ideas in Pam Molnar’s feature, A Routine of Summer Fun. She allows plenty of time for a slower pace but provides fun themes and ideas to keep kids engaged.

We have included our annual VBS Directory to give you even more options for summer fun. Vacation Bible School was always one of my very favorite summer activities, and my girls shared in the VBS excitement too. We still sing some of the songs! Plus, attending Vacation Bible School is typically free or very low cost, so check them out!

Can’t wait until summer for a little extra family fun? Does the fantastic spring weather have you itching (no pun intended) to get outside? Then check out the Family Calendar. You will find plenty to keep you busy this month!

The school year’s end also brings graduation ceremonies and celebrations. Whether your child is graduating kindergarten or high school, watching your children grow up is definitely bittersweet. We are so proud of our kids as they develop, learn, and grow, but knowing that the end goal is to get them ready to go out on their own can be tough, especially if you are looking at high school graduation and sending them out into the world. There isn’t a way to completely prepare them, but we can do our best. From day one we try to teach them character traits they will need, like being kind, shar ing, and being respectful, but as they grow, more tangible skills are required. Ideally, we start teaching these skills gradually over the pre-teen and teen years, but as families get closer to the “launch” date, there can be a bit of panic, wondering if they have the practical skills needed. To help with our checklist, Tanni has, Ph.D. has a strong list in her feature Grade Ready! Getting Your Kids Ready For College.

Speaking of graduates, I would like to take a moment to congratulate the class of 2023! I know many of you, and I am over the moon proud of you all. The ones I know are insightful, kind, intelligent, talented, and strong. It is a pleasure to know you. Congratulations, and may God bless every one of you on your next adventure. As you make your way through the next stage of life, just remember to make good decisions and don’t forget to call home... often.

And, of course, no May would be complete without celebrating the amazing moms out there. Being a mom is not always easy, and it is not always fun, but it is totally worth it! Happy Mother’s Day to all the fellow moms, grandmothers, aunts, and other women in our children’s lives!

Wishing everyone a joy-filled May!

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

Research Editor Lucy Green

lynn@mobilebayparents.com

Contributing Writers Savannah Browning, MD 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 2023 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 he view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

by Works of Wonder Therapy www.worksofwondertherapy.com

Continue Teaching Despite Their Failures

I recently attended a conference where speaker Tara Leigh Cobble told a beautiful story about how God is never disappointed in us (especially as our father). After all, disappointment can only occur when expectations are unmet. God has a huge advantage; He knows every thing, so his expectations are never unrealistic.

Instead, God is a loving father who knows exactly how many times you will fail when learning a lesson. Therefore, God is not disappointed by what we do not know. Instead, He lovingly teaches us exactly what we need to know over and over despite our numerous failures.

Unlike us, God is the perfect parent. We fail, fall short, worry too much, make horrible mistakes, yell when we should comfort, control when we should let natural consequences be the teacher, and forget to appreciate the small blessings of daily life with children.

However, we can attempt to model our parenting after the perfect parent by teach-

ing our children over and over despite their numerous failures.

Teach your child how to behave outside of the home when you are at home. For example, the family dinner table is an excellent place to learn important lessons: listening, engaging in reciprocal conversation, being bored, sitting still, table manners, etc. If your child cannot sit successfully through a meal at home, do not take her to a restaurant where she is expected to sit quietly for two hours. Putting her in a setting with unrealistic expectations is a recipe for disaster for her, you, and everyone near you. When you take the time to teach your child at home, you know exactly what she can and cannot do. This allows you to set realistic expectations.

Remember that everything is a skill that must be taught, and you are the primary teacher. Interrupting appropriately,

emotional regulation, taking turns, doing what you are told to do, eating a balanced diet, raising your hand, sharing, talking quietly, being respectful, telling the truth, etc., are all skills that must be taught. They are taught through practice, not by lecture. No parent has ever told me, “My child has a serious problem. I talked to him about reading, and he still cannot do it.” We all fully understand that reading is a set of skills learned through exposure, practice, and repetition. In the same way, everything we expect from children is a skill learned through exposure, practice, and repetition. Your job, as the primary teacher, is to set up ways to practice, ensure that practice takes place, and encourage every attempt your child makes to learn that skill.

Never lose hope. Just like you, your children are constantly growing and changing. As they go through the peaks and valleys of life, help them focus on becoming a better person today than they were yesterday. Consistently point out character qualities that you see developing in them: humility, optimism, compassion, honesty, gratitude, adaptability, creativity, etc. This will keep your entire family focused on what truly matters instead of becoming distracted by the “bad behavior” and “bad choices” of the moment.

Dr. Beth Long received her education in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Beth has worked in six unique clinical environments across the country and currently owns Works of Wonder Therapy in Montgomery. Beth utilizes the knowledge from a variety of different disciplines to give her patients the best care possible. To learn more visit www.worksofwondertherapy.com.

2,000 sq. ft. Space with Private Bathrooms

Boyington Oak Festival

The Boyington Oak Festival is an annual event hosted by the Boyington Oak Society and the Historic Mobile Preservation Society. This year the event will be held May 20th & 21st at the Historic Oakleigh House located in Midtown Mobile. Featured in the event is the play “The Truth is in the Tree,” which tells the true story of Charles Boyington. Journeyman printer, poet, and musician, Charles Boyington, was hanged for the murder of his critically ill best friend. As he predicted would happen to prove his innocence, an oak tree grew from his gravesite in Mobile, Alabama. It still stands almost 200 years later. Tickets to the event are $50 and include the play, a tour of Historic Oakleigh, a trolly tour titled “Footsteps of Boyington,” and a signed copy of Boyington Oak: A Grave Injustice by Mary S. Palmer. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.historicmobile.org/boyingtonoakfestival.

Red Shoe Brew

Join the Red Shoe Society for the ‘Red Shoe Brew’ on Thursday, May 11th at Ronald McDonald House at 5:30 pm. Featuring local brews, heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, entertainment from the Street Folks, prizes, house tours and more! This open house event is an evening for local area young professionals, 21 years of age and older, who are interested in learning more and becoming involved with the Red Shoe Society of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile. The Red Shoe Society is a group of area young professionals dedicated to supporting the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile. Admission is free but donations to the Share-A-Night Fund will be accepted. Attendees can provide a night’s stay for a family in a guest room at Ronald McDonald House with a $12 donation to the Share-ANight Fund. Although it requires an operating cost of over $50 a night for each of the 38 guest rooms at Mobile’s Ronald McDonald House, families are asked to contribute $12 a night for their stay but no one is ever turned away for an inability to contribute thanks to fundraisers, the generosity of individual, corporate and foundation donations, and support from the Gulf Coast community. For more information, please visit www. redshoesocietymobile.org or call 251-694-6873.

Bathrooms

Tunnel Vision 5K - Lions Club of Mobile

Join us Saturday, May 6 at 8:00 am for the Tunnel Vision 5K to benefit the sight programs of the Lions Club of Mobile. Certified 5K course starts near Canal Street between Washington Avenue and Broad Street. The race will finish at Oyster City Brewing Co. on Government Street. Participants have the opportunity to run through the Bankhead Tunnel, not once, but twice – a unique Mobile experience. Post-Race Party: Food, beverages, awards presentation, and music at Oyster City Brewing Co. Registration: Pre-register by mail (entries should be postmarked by April 27, 2023), walk-in at McCoy Outdoor, Run-N-Tri, or Fleet Feet in Mobile until noon on May 4, or register online at: https:// lionsclubtunnelvision5k2023.eventbrite.com.

Market in the Park Spring 2023

Join us Saturdays, May 6 - July 8 in Cathedral Square from 7:30am – Noon for Market in the Park. Shop locally grown, locally produced, and handmade items all while listening to live entertainment. Please visit https://www.cityofmobile.org/parksrec/events/market-in-the-park-spring-2023 for more information.

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama’s Youth of the Year Luncheon

On Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama is hosting its annual Youth of the Year Luncheon to recognize and celebrate outstanding Club members from multiple BGCSA Branches. This year, our event will be held at Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel in downtown Mobile. For information on sponsorships, please email rwolfe@ bgcsouthal.org or visit bgcsouthal.org/yoy.

Hooked Up To Help In-Shore Fishing Tournament

United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile is excited for the fifteenth year of its Hooked Up To Help In-Shore Fishing Tournament, set for Saturday, May 6 and presented by BankPlus. The tournament offers adult and kids (ages 14 and under) divisions where anglers can enter any of the following fish: Speckled Trout, Redfish, White Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead, and Croaker. The weigh-in for the tournament will be located at Ralph & Kacoo’s on the Mobile Bay Causeway from 1-4 p.m. and will conclude with an awards and prize presentation. All proceeds from the tournament benefit UCP of Mobile’s programs for south Alabama’s children and adults with disabilities. Registration is available now at https://www.ucpmobile.org/hookedup or, for more information, call Jennifer Cooley at (251) 479-4900.

The Children’s Cup Regatta

The Children’s Cup Regatta, a fundraiser to benefit patients from the Alabama Gulf Coast treated at Children’s of Alabama, will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Sailing enthusiasts and friends in Mobile and Baldwin counties are invited to enjoy a day of sailboat racing at the Fairhope Yacht Club, 101 Volanta Avenue.

A family-friendly event, guests are invited to watch the races free-of-charge beginning at 12:30 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, guests can bid on silent auction items, enjoy the kids’ activity area, a cash bar and live music from Doc Rodgers and the Rock Dodgers band with dinner to follow. For information or to register online, visit http://give.childrensal. org/regatta2023 or call Kerrie Benson at (251) 610-4969.

Mobile Singing Children Spring Concerts

Join us for our Spring Concerts: Dauphin Way UMC on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m. and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Friday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m. Come enjoy a variety of music from Mobile Singing Children’s beginning and advanced choirs including songs by Caldwell & Ivory, Jim Paupoulis, Z. Randall Stroope and a medley from the musical “Les Miserables. Mobile’s Singing Children is the premier youth choir on the Gulf Coast. We provide opportunities for children to receive classical voice training of the very highest quality, as well as perform music of the highest caliber in age-appropriate ensembles. Please visit https:// mobilesingingchildren.org/ for more information.

26th Annual Rufus B. Lee Gumbo Cook-off

The Propeller Club, Port of Mobile, will host the 26th Annual Rufus B. Lee Gumbo Cook-off at GulfQuest’s Promenade area on May 19, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Gumbo Cook-off recognizes National Maritime Day, a day annually set aside to recognize America’s maritime industry, and especially those who serve at sea. The Gumbo Cook-off celebrates Mobile’s waterfront, on the waterfront, which serves as the featured attraction for the event from the scenic promenade at GulfQuest. The Cook-off also highlights GulfQuest, the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, and all net proceeds from the event will go to support GulfQuest.

The Gumbo Cook-off will feature maritime displays, activities for kids, music, and GUMBO! Tickets can be purchased in advance online at https://www. propellerclubofmobile.com/event/26-annual-rufus-blee-gumbo-cook-off/ and picked up at the entrance, or purchased at the event. Tickets to attend are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event. Active duty military and their families with an active duty identification card will get in for free.

Blue Star Salute at USS Battleship

Come celebrate Armed Forces Day during the Blue Star Salute on May 20, 2023, at USS Alabama Battleship Parkway. The day begins with the Fallen Hero Run at 7:30 am and continues with displays, fly-ins, a patriotic concert, a keynote address, and more. Gold Star Memorial included. Please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/ to register for the race.

74th Annual Blessing of the Fleet

Bayou La Batre hosts its most wellknown community event, the 74th Annual Blessing of the Fleet on Saturday, May 6 and 7, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the St. Margaret Parish dock. This annual ceremony is in remembrance of those from the community who were lost at sea and to honor the boats and vessels that are docked along the way to the mouth of the bayou. Enjoy entertainment, food, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, boat tours, and more. For more information, please visit www. stmargaretbayoulabatre.org.

KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Children’s Medical Group

Sleep Problems and Your Child

Sleep, or the lack thereof, has been on my mind lately. Of course, having a two-monthold will do that. So, when it comes to kids and sleep, what’s normal? And what’s abnormal?

Children have a wide variety of sleep patterns throughout their childhood. For example, newborns are different from teenagers, and so on. A newborn’s sleep pattern, for example, is not tied to daytime hours. Instead, their sleep is characterized as very frequent naps throughout a 24-hour period. As they get older, babies eventually move to a more consistent nighttime sleeping pattern with a few naps during the day. As children age, their sleep requirements decrease but increase again through puberty and into the teenage years. A more adult-like pattern then develops by the early 20s.

Most problems or questions we encounter with sleep are typically normal variants. However, as you can now see, there is a huge variety of sleeping patterns, and most issues can be explained this way. For children with sleep problems, we primarily focus on sleep hygiene. Children typically thrive on routine – and bedtime is no exception. This helps the body to ‘learn’ good sleep patterns. Children are also heavily affected by distractions during the bedtime routine. Thus, they should avoid caffeine, highintensity physical activity, and screen time. Teenagers especially need to be encouraged to avoid screen time before bedtime. Keeping a screen in a child’s room is never a good idea – this can significantly disrupt sleep. Activities such as reading, word games, and puzzles promote sleep. However, children who cannot function throughout the day, have poor school per-

formance, or sleep a lot throughout the day may have a diagnosable sleeping disorder. Sleep disorders generally can be categorized into two parts: issues with falling asleep and problems staying asleep. Pinpointing the specific sleep-related issue with your child will require answering quite a few questions. Further evaluation may require testing, such as a sleep study or a referral to a specialist for further evaluation.

Solutions for diagnosed sleep disorders can vary widely, from medication to surgery, but a conversation with your child’s pediatrician is a great place to start.

Dr. Savannah Browning grew up in Fayette, AL. She moved to Mobile to attend Medical School at the University of South Alabama in 2009, and has been a proud Mobilian ever since. She joined Children’s Medical Group in 2016, and her office is at the Airport Boulevard location. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Andrew, and their three children: Jude, Luke, and Annie.

Autauga County Schools

Cypress Grove Academy

Fourth Graders Study Astronomy

Cypress Grove Academy fourth graders created their own constellation location, and mythological tales of each of the most well-known constellations.”

Alabama Science and Engineering Fair’s Junior Division

Students from Clark-Shaw School of Math, Science & Technology and Phillips Preparatory School were among the best in the state in the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair’s Junior Division at Auburn University. At left, from left, are ClarkShaw students Landyn Randell, Mei-Ling Rollman, Max Norris, Mahtahseen Fatima and Andres Gonzalez-Espana. At right is Phillips student Abhinav Parupalli, who won the U.S. Air Force’s STEM Achievement Award. Landyn Randell won first place in Physics and the Future Rocket Scientist Award. MeiLing Rollman won first place in Botany/Zoology, the Biological Sciences Award for Outstanding Poster in Animal and Plant Sciences, the Health and Wellness of Animals Award, third place in the 100 Women Strong Achievement Award, and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Inventors Challenge. Max Norris won second place in Environmental Sciences and the Outstanding Engineering Award and the Creative Design Award. Mahtahseen Fatima won the Chemistry and Biochemistry Award and the Chemical Engineering Award. Andres Gonzalez-Espana won the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Young Innovator Award.

Reading stories about The Cat in the Hat and other Dr. Seuss favorites took center stage at Little Flower Catholic School. Students came to school with shirts and hats representing these fun themes. A special thank you to the Harbin family for bringing “little Pig” to campus for this momentous occasion.

UMS-Wright Third Graders present “Once Upon a Folktale”

At UMS-Wright we are so fortunate to have an all-encompassing Arts Department that spans across all disciplines. Students in EVERY grade level, K3-12, have the opportunity to shine on stage! In April, our 3rd grade students performed “Once Upon a Folktale” featuring 8 well known children’s stories including Chicken Little; Three Billy Goats Gruff; How the Camel Got His Hump; The Boy Who Cried Wolf; The Fox Who Lost His Dinner; The Gingerbread Boy and The Old Woman and Her Pig!

St. Dominic Catholic Recognizes Special Guests at Field Day

St. Dominic Catholic School recognized our parents, grandparents and friends who are alumni with a special ribbon at our annual field day. Eighth grade students were also given future alumni ribbons to wear. At graduation they will be given their official alumni ribbons! We love seeing the many generations of families gathered together at our school! Go Eagles!

Lighthouse Baptist Academy Places 1st in Arts Show

Congratulations to Lighthouse Baptist Academy’s 5th grade student, Adalyn Allen, on being awarded first place in the AISA State Visual Arts Show.

St. Ignatius middle school students gather outside of the Women’s Resource Center each Friday during Lent at 6:30 in the morning to pray the rosary. Each week there is a different speaker to help educate our youth on what being Pro-Life really means. This club is optional for St. Ignatius middle school students yet over 90% show up each Friday for prayer and fellowship. Giving up sleep for a young person is a hard thing to do. We are blessed by the strong Catholic leaders in our school and parish who have helped inspire such a dedicated group of Lifesavers.

Autauga County Schools

Top Readers at Little Flower Catholic

Students who reach a reading goal at Little Flower Catholic School are rewarded with a number of prizes. Coming out of uniform, having a Glow Party, and earning a pizza lunch are all fan favorites. Coupons to special places for ice cream treats and kid’s meals are also high on the list of best rewards. We are proud of our top readers.

St. Dominic Catholic School was blessed with perfect weather for our annual field day! Students spent the day outdoors competing in the three-legged and relay races, the long jump, and tug of war to name a few. Thank you Booster, Club, teachers and parents for making this day special! Pictured is Fr. Driscoll, Pastor, with some of our participants.

Perfect ACT Score at McGill-Toolen

Congratulations to McGill-Toolen Catholic Junior Colson Tidikis who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. This was Colson’s second time taking the ACT - he scored a 35 the first time.

Colson joins fellow Junior Russell Ginn and Senior Julia Grinstead who achieved a perfect score last year.

Cypress Grove Academy Second Graders Celebrated Read Across America

Cypress Grove Academy second graders celebrated Read Across America week with their own “Camp Read-A lot” filled with s’mores, good stories, and books read by flashlight! We know that the affection for good literature begins at a young age and that exposure to timeless tales of triumph and tragedy help shape the human soul.

Phillips Preparatory Student Selected as IB Standout

Congratulations to Phillips Preparatory 7th grader, Virginia Davis for being selected as an IB standout for the learner profile, Communicator. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and a member of the yearbook staff. As a Communicator, she understands and expresses ideas and information confidently and creatively in a variety of modes of communication. She works effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Autauga County Schools

MCPSS Teachers Named State Finalist for Presidential Awards for Excellence

Congratulations to Mary Clair Wright, a computer science teacher at Davidson High School, and David Dai, a mathematics teacher at Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, who have been named state finalists for the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching (PAEMST). These awards, established by Congress in 1983, are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics teaching.

Council Traditional School Comets Running Club Shines

The Council Traditional School Comets running club had a busy and fun day at the Murphy Pride 5K Run and Walk. The event was headquartered on Murphy’s amazing historical campus, and the run/walk spiraled through Murphy’s wonderful midtown neighborhood. The CTS Running Club and parents showed up in a big way to run, walk, and enjoyed the festivities. Oluwafemi Osiyoku, a fourth grader at Council Traditional School, won first place in the male 10-14 division. Kaleb Lofton, a 3rd grade student, won 1st place in the Fun Run and Aidan Bradley, also in 3rd grade, won 2nd place. Way to go Council Running Club!

Denton Magnet Students Chosen as Ambassadors for City

Congratulations to Jordan Barron and Gerren Rease! Jordan and Gerren applied to the Mobile Ichihara Sister City Association (MISCA) and were chosen to serve as Student Ambassadors for the city of Mobile. Jordan will be traveling to Ichihara with nine other students selected from the area for this cultural exchange which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Gerren is planning to be part of the team representing the city of Mobile in Japan in 2025. These two young people will also help host the ten Japanese student ambassadors from the city of Ichihara in the summer of 2024 here in Mobile. Denton Magnet is so proud of these much deserving students and know that they will represent the City of Mobile in the best way possible! Mrs. Quinones celebrated their upcoming adventures with a sushi lunch in the media center today! Congratulations again, Jordan and Gerren!

Technology in the Classroom at CHCA

Mrs. Peoples’ World History class at Cottage Hill Christian Academy found themselves on the

II. Our students have had a blast as they engage with fully immersive lessons!

Autauga County Schools

Allentown Elementary March 2023 GATOR Kids

Pre-K – 2nd Grade: Front Row – Tucker Collins, Rhett Fairchild, Oliver Helou, Kimora Mason, Zara Robinson, Ana Lucia PulidoOcampo, and Sameera Rushdan. Middle Row – Haven Dean, Mayla Dees, Ryan Holley, Abril Rodriguez, Jaxon Shows, and Arena Tanner. Back Row – Graham Dault, Addelyn Liles, Sophia Martin, Harrison Palmer, and London Pruett. Not Pictured –Owen Duiett. 3rd – 5th Grade: Front Row – Nora Adair, Zoey Howell, Drew Lofton, Ameilia McNair, Torrian McQueen, and Avery Miller. Middle Row –Reagan Blakenship, Aubrey Gaines-Melton, Chloe Howell, Alauna Mitchell, Adalynn Qualls, and Ryder Stover. Back Row –Kylar Bosarge, Thomas Carter, Logan Foster, Aleah Nadeau, Taelor Simpson, and Brylee Weaver. Not Pictured –Cecilia Wheeler.

Mobile Christian Elementary Preps for SATs with a Pep Rally

Mobile

Christian elementary students had an exciting day on Friday March 24.

Our students kicked off SATs with a pep rally.

Coach Richie Riley, head basketball coach at The University of South Alabama, spoke to the students about how to stay focused during the test, and our students had an amazing time playing games with the USA basketball players. Our students then celebrated their third quarter honors with Southpaw and Miss Pawla.

Dunbar Artists Represented at Visual Arts Achievement Program Reception

District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art Reception and Awards Ceremony. The reception was held at MAC’s Gallery in downtown Mobile. The Visual Arts Achievement Program provides opportunities for students in grades 6 through 12 to be recognized for their contributions to the visual arts at the local and state levels. Seven of our Dunbar student’s art were chosen to represent our school: Cheyanne Crum, Maria Little, Chrisalynn Turner, Corynne Swan, Fey Bettner, Mckenzie Wilkerson, and Amelia Broach. Amelia Broach won 1st place in the Drawing category and will go on to compete in the State level! Congratulations Amelia!

St. Ignatius 8th Graders Complete Service Project

St. Ignatius eighth graders lead several service projects throughout the school year including Backpack Ministry, Sacrifice Your Latte’, Foodpacking Drive and most recently helping Underground Mobile and Vagabond Ministries gather food and snacks for at-risk youth. Vagabond Ministries focuses on ministering to inner city youth in Mobile. St. Ignatius was happy to help support this amazing cause. The St. Ignatius middle school experience is built on leadership.

We love providing opportunities for our students to lead and serve. We have found that providing so many leadership roles in our school community helps them have great character outside of school as well.

Great job eighth grade!

Hutchens Elementary Raises Money for Heart Association

Hutchens’ students raised over $25,000 for the American Heart Association and celebrated with a glow party!

St.

Luke’s

Gives Back

St. Luke’s middle school Service Leadership Class gives back! Recently, students organized and implemented trips to do good in the community. One stop was at the Mobile SPCA Humane Society to wash, help care for, and cuddle puppies!

Hutchens Elementary Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Maegan Gayle of Hutchens Elementary, who was selected as one of 16 finalists statewide for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year! Finalists were chosen for their innovative classroom instruction and ability to inspire students through mentorship. This pool of finalists will be narrowed to four, and a winner will be announced in May.

Gayle is a National Board Certified Teacher who teaches science to preschoolers, first- and second-graders at Hutchens. An educator for 10 years, she facilitates handson science lessons to 30 classes at Hutchens and implemented the school’s Science Sleuth program. She has also been a facilitator of the school’s Family Leadership Training, the Student Lighthouse Leadership Team, and the Shared Leadership Teacher Action Team and Empowered Instruction Teacher Action Team. She enjoys sharing her love of science with her young students and helping them to understand the world around them. She is LETRS and Nearpod certified. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Auburn University. She was one of three teachers selected as Teachers of the Year in Mobile County Public Schools. The district’s Middle School Teacher of the Year is Amanda Delaney of Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, and its High School Teacher of the Year is Ava Long of Alma Bryant High School.

Autauga County Schools

Mobile County Public Schools’ Learning Leading Award Winners

Mobile County Public Schools’ district-level Learning Leading Award winners for the 2022-2023 school year are: Parker Davis of E.R. Dickson Elementary School, Emily Cuart-Acurero of Dodge Elementary School, Tyler Macon of Phillips Preparatory School, and Timi Ogunade of Murphy High School. These students were selected from honorees chosen from each of MCPSS’ 90 schools. They all have a few things in common: They are kind, they go out of their way to help others, they are unique and talented, and they have the utmost character and integrity to represent their schools with honor.

Parker Davis, a second grader at E.R. Dickson Elementary School, was selected because of his leadership skills in teaching his peers about empathy and inclusion. When other children noticed that his mouth is formed differently due to a cleft palate, Parker took the opportunity to teach his peers about cleft palates, so they could support him and others with this condition, rather than exclude or ostracize them. His presentation was so successful that he decided to present it to all grades at Dickson.

Emily Cuart-Acurero, a fifth grader at Dodge Elementary School, moved here with her family from Venezuela just over a year ago, and is already fluent in English.. While MCPSS has a dedicated English Language department that is available to provide translation services in many languages, Emily has taken upon herself to be another resource to translate and help classmates who are still learning the language.

Tyler Macon, an eighth grader in the International Baccalaureate program at Phillips Preparatory School, is captain of the Scholars Bowl Team and won two top awards in the Alabama History Day state competition. He has received academic honors for excellence in math, civics and world geography, and was selected as a Top 10 IB Learner Student of the Year. He and two of his classmates and fellow Boy Scouts created a web page to highlight issues of redlining and other unfair housing practices in our community.

Timi Ogunade is a senior at Murphy High School who has been accepted to Auburn University, where he will study to become a pilot. He is originally from Nigeria, arriving in the U.S. under an asylum visa, and has persevered through the sudden and tragic loss of his mother to cancer. Timi is a member of the National Honor Society and Murphy’s Hi-Q, soccer and swim teams. He has won state science and math awards, carries a 4.97 in Murphy’s International Baccalaureate program and scored a 33 on the ACT.

Cottage Hill Christian Academy Teacher Earns Award

Mrs. Lindsey Lear teaches 7th and 8th grade English at CHCA. In May, she will be graduating with a Master’s degree from the University of South Alabama. She was awarded the Outstanding Secondary Student Teacher by the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies for her passion, creativity, and excellence in the classroom. We’re so lucky to have amazing faculty members like her at CHCA who truly care about our students.

Baker High School’s Hi-Q Team Wins the Alabama State Hi-Q Championship

Congratulations to Baker High School’s Hi-Q team, which won the Alabama state Hi-Q championship for the fourth year in a row and finished third in the national Hi-Q championship. Hi-Q is a scholarly competition that tests students’ study skills as well as their overall knowledge of academic subjects. Baker’s team has a long history of success in this event, winning first place in the nation in 2021.

Autauga County Schools

Cottage Hill Students Attend I-Lead Leadership Summit

A group of our high school students from Cottage Hill Christian Academy had the opportunity to participate in the I-Lead Youth Summit put on by the Mobile County Commission. The goal is to help students find their voice and be engaged in making Mobile a

Members Help with Friends of the Library Book Sale

Thirty newly-inducted members of St. Paul’s National Junior Honor Society spent three hours on Wednesday, March 22 with Mr. Drum and Mrs. Cadden volunteering for the Friends of the Library. In preparation for their annual book sale, the students helped organize hundreds of books!

Corpus Christi Catholic Leadership Committee

The Student Leadership Committee at Corpus Christi Catholic School is a group of dedicated and ambitious 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, voted on by their peers, to help lead the school. They lead pep rallies, read morning announcements, guide tours at open houses, lead the school stations of the cross, plan projects to help better the school and so much more. We are so thankful for them and all they do for our amazing school!

Pictured (back row) Emma Burkett, Amelia Hanna. Cole Potteiger, Brady Sparks, Audrey Woodard and Lilly

St. Ignatius 3rd Graders Shine in The Lions, the Switch & the Warm Robes

Each year St. Ignatius third grade students put on a play. They get to weigh in on what they want to produce and this year they picked a religious based play following the “Chronicles of Daniel and the God Who Saves”. These Impalas dazzled the audience with group songs, several solos and amazing scenes. We have some talented Impalas in third grade! At St. Ignatius, every student 2K-8th has at least one performance a year. We believe these performances help building public speaking skills, leadership skills and confidence. We especially love ingraining the fine arts into our curriculum as well.

Great job, third grade!

Causey Middle School Teams Win County Championships

Causey Middle School teams have had some very successful seasons this year! Congratulations to Causey Middle School Baseball Team, Softball Team, Boys and Girls Track Teams, and the Boys Soccer Team for all winning the Mobile County Championships. Congratulations to the Causey Cheerleaders who traveled to Orlandofor their first appearance at Nationals and we are proud to announce that the 2022-2023 Causey Cheerleaders are National Champions! The Causey Dance Team also competed in Nationals and brought home 4th in Hip Hop, 6th in Pom, and 7th in Jazz.

Corpus Christi Catholic National Junior Honor Society

Corpus Christi Catholic School inducted new members into our NJHS. Students selected for membership into the NJHS serve as role models for other students in our school. In addition to the strong academic records which established the eligibility for membership, our members are leaders in many student organizations and serve our school and community through activities. We are proud of this record of accomplishment and welcome these new members. Congratulations!

Pictured (back row) Addison Nabors, Ava McMarron, Katie DeVilbiss, Evan Daigle, Ryan Johnson, Daniel Grantham, Emma Burkett and Thomas Aguirre (front row) Cole Potteiger, Ansley Wellington, Tucker Reid, Hannah Porr, Evelyn Campbell, Bela Boverizer and Eric Givens

Denton Magnet’s ACES Students Sweep Top Categories at Programming Challenge

Denton Magnet’s ACES (Advancing Computing, Engineering, And Sciences) students swept the top categories in the Alabama Consortium for Technology in Education’s Spring Team Programming Challenge, which brings together student computer programming teams from across Alabama. Once the competition begins, teams view all problems, read descriptions and other problem information, and submit their code. Submissions are processed live and are automatic, so teams can view their score as it is being tallied. Denton took first, second, third and fifth place! Team awards were: First Place, Donnie Barrett and Logan Philips (pictured); Second Place, Kaylyn Fetherland, Bradley Smith and Zion Norwood; Third Place, Noah Hix, Aiden Joiner and Jack Hill

To find a location near you visit uampa.com or call 251-433-1895 to make an appointment.

A large family is a wonderful thing.

But, if you’re thinking about a vasectomy, we’d love to talk.

Autauga County Schools

St. Dominic Catholic Presented the Living Stations of the Cross

St. Dominic Catholic School eighth grade class presented

Dunbar School Wins Medals at Music Festival

Dunbar School of Creative & Performing Arts had a big weekend at the Heritage Music Festival at Universal Studios in Orlando last month! The school’s choir and orchestra won gold medals and its band won silver, and together they won the festival’s Sweepstakes Award. The choir also won the Adjudicator Award and was invited to Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2024, while the orchestra earned the Outstanding Award.

St. Mary Honors Alumnus, with NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award

St. Mary Catholic presented the 20233 NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award posthumously to St. Mary Alumnus and WWII Hero, Lieutenant Harry “June” Partridge. The award was accepted by Lt. Partridge’s sister, Eleanor Partridge Cummings, and his nephew, Ben Cummings. Lt. Partridge was honored by his alma mater 8o years later for his heroic act of putting others above himself in steering his plane shot down by enemy fire in 1944 to save a village in Boffalora, Italy. Witnesses told the story that Lt. Partridge steered his plane away from the village to nearby woods to spare the village when he could have saved his own life by parachuting out of the plane. Lt. Partridge was buried in the village’s Catholic cemetery, ironically, named St. Mary Catholic Church. The village saw him as a hero for his actions and created a memorial trail from the church to the crash site just this year where some of his Mobile family members were able to attend the dedication this past December. St. Mary still has his school records, now more than 100 years old. Although Lt. Partridge’s body was brought back to the United States in the late 1940s, his heroic story was unknown for over 70 years until a genealogical

Church only a decade ago.

Council Comets Hit the Target

Council Archery Team competed in the West Mobile Classic at Baker High School where Liam Pruitt placed 3rd in the elementary division with a score of 262! Kennedy Westbrook hit the target with her personal best score and all the Comets did a great job!

UMS-Wright Students Earn Coveted Spirit Awards

“Give to us a noble SPIRIT, that we, with our teachers, may go forward to achieve the highest goals in life.” Every year, UMS-Wright awards six deserving students in each Middle and Upper School grade a distinguished “Spirit Award.”

The spirit awards are given annually to those students, who in the eyes of the teachers and coaches at UMSWright meet the criteria the Alumni Board has established. The criteria state that the recipients display an all-around positive attitude and effort in their everyday lives. They also display the spirit of leadership, cooperation, good sportsmanship, friendliness, and they work to the best of their academic ability. This award can only be received once in Middle School, and once in Upper School, but all students are eligible their senior year. In addition to the recognition, the award winners receive a coveted Spirit lapel pin to be worn on their blazers! Congratulations to the Upper School recipients [the Middle School recipients were announced in the April issue] 9th Grade: Khandro Butler, Mary Christopher Dodd, Anne Freeman, Allen Moore, Hunter Smallwood, Trey Strom | 10th Grade: Jewel McCrary, Ann Claire McMillan, Campbell Myers, Mac McGinley, Matthew Monson, Jackson Smith | 11th: Virginia Ashbee, Olivia Gleason, Ava Harvill, Sims Druhan, Shep Fountain, Jake Jaye | 12th Grade: Tate Campbell, Caroline Moore, Grace Wildberger, Josh Holston, Ethan Monson, William Neumann

Causey Middle Learning Leading Award Winner

Congratulations to Causey Middle School eighth grader, Tate Graham, for being selected as the 2022-2023 Learning Leading Award winner!

Pictured: Mr. Smith (principal), Lori Beth Graham, Tate Graham, Matt Graham

Please email School News and Photos to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com.

Autauga County Schools

St. Paul’s Organizes Mardi Gras Bead Project for Augusta Evans

St. Dominic Catholic School PTO hosted a Daddy/ Daughter Dance was wonderful seeing everyone dressed up and having a great time!

Sponsor

Danner Nguyen organized a group of 8th Grade Rutledge Fellows to decorate collection boxes for Mardi Gras beads. After this year’s carnival season, the awesome St. Paul’s family donated about 20 boxes of beads which were presorted by Upper School volunteers. Mr. Nguyen, Mrs. Lerner, and Mrs. McGee took Ella Ferguson, Ceille Persons, Ryleigh Adams, Betts Fleming, Elle Hundley, Merritt Williams, Delilah Williams, Ashby Thorneycroft, Bella and Molly Chavers, Bo Ladner, Sam Lamar, Emily Dorriety, and Addison Thomas to Augusta Evans on March 30th to unload the beads. The students then spent an hour sorting beads with the students of Augusta Evans.

The students competed in three areas of the Choral Division: Chamber Choir, Women’s Choir and Men’s Choir. All groups were awarded GOLD – by the judges. They had the highest average scores in the festival and earned the Sweepstakes Award for the Choral Division!

Clark-Shaw

Magnet Students Shine at Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF)

Students from Clark-Shaw Magnet School were among the best in the state at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) held at Auburn University. We are proud of all who earned the right to compete through their success at Regionals, and we congratulate the following students on their outstanding accomplishments!

Mei-Ling Rollman: 1st place in the Botany/Zoology category [$100], Biological Sciences Award for Outstanding Poster in Animal and Plant Sciences [$100], Health and Wellness of Animals Award [$100], 3rd Place-100 Women Strong Achievement Award [$50], and Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Inventors Challenge (JIC) [awarded to the top 10% of projects in the nation to continue their journey to the national competition].

: 1st place in the Physics category and Future Rocket Scientist

: 2nd place in the Environmental Sciences category, Outstanding Engineering Award and Creative Design Award

Mahtahseen Fatima: Chemistry and Biochemistry Award [$100] and Chemical Engineering Award Andres Gonzalez-Espana: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Young Innovator Award

St. Mary Middle School Artists

Under the direction of middle school teacher, Jamie Barbour, St. Mary 7th and 8th grade students create beautiful art daily. Enjoying a little spring weather, this month students dreamed of “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” creating artwork inspired by Mobile’s own Jimmy Buffet who attended McGill-Toolen Catholic!

When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries taking place today will help shape the future of treatments and lead to cures – benefitting not only our patients and families, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.

Read Write Academy Field Trip Day!

Our Read Write Academy students enjoyed an adventurous day at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The students and teachers received a hands-on learning experience with a variety of ocean animals. They enjoyed a day of multi-sensory learning and

Keep Mobile Beautiful at CHCA

The Cottage Hill Christian Academy National Junior Honor Society received a grant that was awarded to them from Keep Mobile Beautiful. On April 5th, they had a work day where they cleaned up the Cottage Hill Christian Academy Church Campus and Stotts Park. They also built bird houses and placed more feeders around campus.

Acton Academy Hosts Exhibition Day

The learners at Acton Academy Mobile hosted their parents for Exhibition Day! Students guided their families through the Human Body Quest: measuring intestines, completing a sniff test, tackling the “build your muscles” challenge, and even playing the childhood favorite game, Operation.

Davidson High Learning Leading Student Award Winner

Congratulations to Davidson High School’s 2023 Learning Leading Student Award Winner, Isidora Andrea Jimenez! Isidora is from Chile and is bilingual in Spanish; she works hard studying in her second language and continues to make Honor Roll each quarter. She also plays volleyball for Davidson’s JV team. In addition to her student achievement, Isidora serves as a Warrior Ambassador for new ESL students needing support transitioning to a new school, language, and life. Her heart and passion to help others without being asked reflects our Davidson Difference, and we are so proud of this Warrior!

St. Luke’s Celebrated Read Across America

St. Luke’s lower campus students celebrated Read Across America Day, which is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association. This motivational and awareness day calls all children and youth in every community across the United States to celebrate reading. It encourages them to read where ever they are. Our students were encouraged to dress as their favorite book characters to celebrate our LOVE of reading!

There are few events bigger in a kid’s life than starting college. For most kids, it’s the first time they get to experience real independence from their parents. How do you prepare your kids for all the academic and social challenges of college?

Here’s what the experts say:

Visit A College

The first thing you should do as you’re getting your highschoolers ready for college, Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the authors of more than a dozen books on college planning, say is simply to visit one: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a future prospective college or just the one nearest to your home. Walking on a campus, absorbing the environment and maybe even sampling the dining hall food will give your child the reference points needed to make the critical decisions regarding where to apply when he or she is a senior.” So, visiting a college with your high-schooler will show them what to expect and, hopefully, also make them excited about it.

Develop Their Independence

It’s great if your kids are excited about going to college. However, to succeed in college - academically as well as socially - they also need to be independent. Amy Baldwin, a college-readiness expert and co-author of The College Experience, suggests that parents let their high-schoolers take care of such important tasks as making their own doctor’s appointments: “help them develop more confidence by talking through what they need to say and questions they need to ask.”

More generally, Sarah Eustis of Inside Track, a student success coaching company, says that you can make your kids more independent by helping them arrive at their own solutions to problems: “ask your child open-ended questions to help her figure out how to move forward and approach decisions as an independent adult. When an issue comes up, support your child in creating - and following through on - her own plans rather than solving the problem yourself.”

Amy Morin, senior expert for Understood, a nonprofit that supports people with thinking and learning differences, agrees that it’s important for budding college students to solve problems on their own: “College students who don’t know what to do when they encounter problems, like struggling with a tough class or not getting along with their roommate, will either avoid the problem altogether or make a snap decision that could be harmful.”

Identify Support Services

College can be tough for even the most independent of kids. Encourage them to familiarize themselves with all the different support services available, including academic advisors, financial aid officers, health and student services, and tutoring and writing services. By doing that, Ms. Eustis says, they become the CEOs of their own college experience: “Successful students proactively address what they need to do to support their college life.” The goal, she says, should be “anticipating potential challenges and putting contingency plans in place.” If they do this before they arrive on campus, they can focus on academics, getting to know the campus, and making new friends.

Manage The Stress

Even with lots of support, college can be stressful because of the high academic expectations, the challenges of being away from home for the first time, and the pressure to make new friends. You can prepare your kids for these and other

challenges, Dr. Baldwin says, by talking to them about what stresses them out and how to deal with it; she suggests exercise and meditation. Ms. Morin agrees, recommending stress management techniques like calling a friend, writing in a journal, or engaging in a hobby. “The more your student understands now about causes for their stress and how they can best manage their responses,” Dr. Baldwin says, “the bet ter prepared they’ll be for college.”

Budget Their Expenses

Finally, kids need to know how to budget their expenses. Even with a meal plan, money for books and supplies, and extra spending money, they’ll come run ning to you for more if they don’t know how to properly budget their money. Dr. Gail Gross, a child psychologist, suggests that parents talk to their kids about budgeting, including sharing their own budgeting tips and stories about mistakes they’ve made. There are also some really good, free budget apps. One of the very best is Mint: Personal Finance & Money. Available on both the Apple Appstore and on Google Play, this popular budget app lets them track their expenses, see the balances on their checking and savings accounts, and create realistic budgets. They can also use the app to pay and track bills and to receive reminders.

Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communi cation Arts, Sciences & Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

Sometimes Helping Means More Than Just Giving

Q How do you handle a situation where someone needs financial help, but has misspent money you’ve given them in the past? My wife and I have been trying to help a young man we recently met. He told us he was trying to get his life together after a divorce and job loss, and he just needed a little money for groceries and household items. He has asked us a couple of times since for more money, but we discovered he was buying alcohol with most of the cash we gave him. We learned from friends what he said about losing his job and being divorced was true, but we are unsure what to do next.

A. This young man’s problem sounds as much like a mismanagement of money as it is a lack of money. He seems to have an issue with lying, and possibly an addiction problem, too.

I’ve never been against helping people who have good hearts and just need a break. But if someone is bold enough to ask for your money, you have every right to attach requirements to the help you give—especially when it’s for their own good. If he really needs food or household things, you can just buy them for him. At least that way, you’d know you were providing necessities.

But in many cases, truly helping someone is a lot more work than just giving them money. Sometimes, you have to get down in their mess, get real with them and walk with them. If

you haven’t been put off by what has already happened, and you still really want to help, I’d suggest getting to know this young man and his situation a little better. Be straight with him, and let him know you’ve learned he hasn’t been honest with you in the past.

Hopefully, as a result he’ll apologize and start making better choices. If he does, you might even offer to arrange for him to talk to a good pastor or counselor.

This whole

situation is much bigger than helping someone with a little cash. This guy needs someone who cares enough to h elp him get his life back together.

Grading Family Movies: Streaming, Digital Rentals, and Theatrical Releases

The Super Mario Bros Movie

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

While brothers Mario and Luigi are working in the Brooklyn sewer system, they get sucked into a pipe that leads to magical worlds. Luigi winds up in a barren land of lava and skeleton zombies and Mario falls into a world of mushrooms led by Princess Peach. Both brothers team up to save the kingdoms from the villainous Bowser. This video game adaptation is underwritten and peopled by flat characters but it has stellar voice talent and plenty of funny jokes. Kids will love it and adult Mario fans will be fine. Photo ©Universal Pictures

Edgin is desperate to regain his daughter Kira from the care of Forge, Lord of Neverwinter, and a dubious sorceress named Sofina. Joining forces with Holga the barbarian, Edgin lays a plan that involves two more intrepid friends (a sorcerer and a druid) and a goal to regain Kira and a pile of treasure. Buoyed up by Chris Pratt’s rakish charm, this film manages to deliver madcap action and lighthearted humor along with vivid fantasy violence. It’s a decently inventive movie that offers lots of fun for genre fans. Photo ©Paramount Pictures

The Magician’s

During an impulsive visit to a fortune teller, orphaned Peter learns that his sister is still alive and can be found by following an elephant. When a visiting magician unexpectedly conjures an elephant shortly thereafter, Peter makes a deal that he can have the elephant if he performs three impossible tasks. This Netflix production is a fantastic film with a simple story, beautiful visuals, great voice acting and inspiring themes around belief and hope Photo ©Netflix

Sent to Mexico to reconnect with his family’s culture, Alex is staying with his grandfather and cousins. While adjusting to the language and traditions, Alex meets a legendary creature – a young chupacabra. Alex and his cousins vow to protect it from the scientist who wants to use its blood for medical research. This film doesn’t add much to the kid-meets-magical-creature trope but it provides a sweet story and treats the challenges of balancing cultures with sensitivity. Photo ©Netflix

Mandy is tutoring Graham, the school jock, in hopes that his senator father will write her a glowing reference letter that will get her into Harvard, where she is waitlisted. As they study together, Mandy learns that there’s more to Graham than she expected – and she’s also neglecting her friend, Ben, who needs her too. There are no surprises here – aside from teen drinking in a Disney flick. Other than that, the movie delivers the expected messages about self awareness, loyalty, and making good choices Photo ©Disney+

Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com

Students (and often their parents) can’t wait to hear the last bell ring before summer break. They say goodbye to early mornings and their rigid routine. But as a mother who is preparing for her 15th summer break, I can tell you that several weeks routine free can be tough.

The solution is not to fill your days from sun up to sun down; it is called summer break for a reason. However, a summer routine mixed with equal parts of fun makes for a memorable summer.

Here are 25 days of summer fun planned out for you!

Mad Science Mondays

1. Bring out your inner-astronomer and head to the planetarium. Check out large city venues or small college programs for a variety of shows and displays.

2. A budget friendly science day might include DIY science experiments. Check out Lifehack.org or Pinterest for some great tests that you can try with items you have at home.

3. Head to the zoo to learn about the animals and their habitats, conservation and our environment. Many zoos offer family programs and classes allowing a close up look.

4. Check out your local recycling center for a tour. Google “free recycling tours near me” for more information in your area.

5. Create your own sensory table out of an old coffee table. Repaint, cut a hole for a large bin and add water, sand or rice.

Tu(esday) Adventure and Beyond

1. Try a new food. Gather foods that your kids have never tried before (including some of your favorites) for a fun taste test.

2. Look online for a new bike or walking trail near your house or a short car ride away and explore your surroundings.

3. Is there a new restaurant in town? Head out to support a local business and try their special of the day.

4. Tired of playing the same sport? Time to try your athletic skills in another way. Check out your park district to sign up for a class to learn how to golf or play ultimate Frisbee.

5. Get out of your comfort zone. Have you always wanted to try ziplining, rock climbing or indoor skydiving? Well, what are you waiting for?

Wacky Water Wednesday

1. Rent a rowboat or canoe at a local forest preserve or state park. Most charge a reasonable amount by the hour and include life vests.

Registration open now! Registration open now! Early Bird Cost per Child: $15 until May 31

Early Bird Cost per Child: $15 until May 31

Cost per Child: $20 after May 31

Register at christunited.com/vbs by June 2 to guarantee T-shirt

Cost per Child: $20 after May 31 Register at christunited.com/vbs by June 2 to guarantee T-shir t

Age Range: 3 years old (by September 1, 2022) through completed 5th Grade (2022-2023 school year)

Age Range: 3 years old (by September 1, 2022) through completed 5th Grade (2022-2023 school year)

2. Create your own neighborhood regatta using boats made with sponges. Cut a hole, insert a balloon through the sponge, blow up and release in a pond or pool.

3. Have a pool party. Create a summer heat reprieve with a backyard pool party or rent an inflatable waterslide for hours of summer time fun.

4. Learn to scuba dive. Try out scuba for beginners at a local swim school. Hour long classes are usually available in indoor pools.

5. Watch Pirates of the Caribbean or Little Mermaid for an indoor water day. Make a day of it by making homemade fish sticks or popcorn shrimp and dive into some fish themed crafts.

Creative Thoughts Thursday

1. Build with Legos. When the kids are done with the Lego kits, head over to YouTube to find great how-to videos to create more designs.

2. Head to the local or nearby children’s museum for hours of discovery fun. Kids will build, climb, play act and explore as kids should.

3. Make art. Support local businesses who offer ceramics, painting on canvas or boards, glass blowing and so much more.

4. Bake and decorate a cake. Learn how to pipe frosting and work with fondant at a JoAnn class or with online guidance from YouTube.

5. Check out carpentry and woodworking classes for kids at Home Depot. Hobby stores and Amazon offer DIY woodcrafts like birdhouses or treasure chests with everything you need included.

Fun and Fitness Fridays

1. Invite the neighbors over for a pickup game. Think basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball and any other summertime sport.

2. Set up a fitness circuit course. Include bike riding, rollerblading, hula hoops, milk jug weights and jump ropes.

3. Host an outdoor yoga class. Provide mats or blankets and let the kids practice guided yoga from a podcast instructor.

4. Play some old-fashioned backyard games like Tag, Dodgeball, Kick the Can, Sharks and Minnows and any other game that keeps you running.

5. Throw a dance party. This a great way to end the week. Turn on the tunes, clear off a dance floor and teach the kids some fun group dances like the Harlem Shake, the Macarena and the Twist.

Pam Molnar is a summer lover and mother of three. She has learned that the free birds of summer do better with a little routine.

Spring Hill Baptist

2 McGregor Avenue South Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 4-7, 2023 Times: 5:30pm-8:00pm

Ages: Completed 4K-6th grade

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus Light (251) 342-5320 eholloway@shbc.cc www.shbc.cc

Cottage Hill Baptist Church

4255 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, 36609

Dates: June 5 -8, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: Upcoming K – 4th Grader, and preteens. Preteens will have their own separate Summer Jam experience.

Theme: Ready, Set, Move - Summer Jam 2023

We are so excited about our annual SUMMER JAM event! We take VBS to the next level this week every Summer and you don’t want your kids to miss out on this time! Games, Crafts, Worship, Bible Teaching, and FUN! Online Registration is open from April 2nd – May 31st. After May 31st, we will take in-person registrations at our Cottage Hill Church campus. (251) 660-2439 carriew@cottagehill.org www.cottagehill.org/summer-jam

Ashland Place United Methodist Church

15 Wisteria Avenue Mobile, 36607

Dates: June 5-8, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: PK - 6th Grade Theme: Babylon

Registration: https://www.apumc.com/vbs/

(251) 478-6356 www.apumc.com

Redemption Church-West Campus

879 Snow Road N Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 5-8, 2023 Times: 5:30pm-8:00pm

Ages: Completed K5-5th Grade

Theme: Twists & Turns

Spin the spinner, beat the clock, skip ahead, level up, and play to win! You’ll need to bring your Agame for this VBS. Twists & Turns is a fantastical celebration of games of all kinds. From classic tabletop games to video games and more, kids will play their way through VBS while learning

that Jesus guides them through all the twists and turns of their lives. They’ll find that even when they mess up it’s never “game over.” Register at GoRedemption.com/events

(251) 679-3266 www.goredemptionkids.com

Dauphin Way Baptist VBS

3661 Dauphin Street Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 5-9, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm; SMAC 12pm-3pm Ages: Completed K4-6th Grade

Theme: Twists and Turns

Twists and Turns VBS Is a Fantastical Celebration of How Following Jesus Changes the Game. Uncover the Truth about Jesus.

(251) 342-3456 liesl@dwbc.org www.dwbc.org

Grace Community Church

7120 Airport Blvd Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 5-9, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: 4 years - 6th grade

Theme: Summer Seaquest

Come set sail with us for Summer Seaquest, a high seas VBS venture! Dive deep into the adventure-filled book of Jonah and meet the Sovereign God who saves!

(251) 345-3303 www.gracemobile.org

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

1020 Azalea Road Mobile, 36693

Dates: June 5-9, 2023 Times: 8:30am-12:00pm

Ages: K4-5th Grade

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

Come enjoy arts and crafts, science labs, music, Bible Story time, snacks, recreation time, dancing, and fun, with us as we learn to shine Jesus’ light.

(251) 666-2990 church@stlukesmobile.org www.stlukesepiscopalchurch.org

Redemption Church-North Campus

1251 Industrial Parkway Saraland, 36571

Dates: June 5–8, 2023 Times: 5:30pm–8:00pm

Ages: Completed K5-5th Grade

Theme: Twists & Turns

Spin the spinner, beat the clock, skip ahead, level up, and play to win! You’ll need to bring your Agame for this VBS. Twists & Turns is a fantastical celebration of games of all kinds. From classic tabletop games to video games and more, kids will play their way through VBS while learning that Jesus guides them through all the twists and turns of their lives. They’ll find that even when they mess up it’s never “game over.” Register at GoRedemption.com/events.

(251) 679-3266 amandas@goredemption.com

www.goredemptionkids.com

Government Street Baptist Church

3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile, 36693

Dates: June 5–9, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: Completed K5 - 5th Grade

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus Light

At Stellar VBS, kids explore how Jesus shined hope, love, forgiveness, and joy to the world – and how we can do the same with His power! You can expect a full week of faith discoveries, memorable music, and epic adventures that help kids grow in friendship with Jesus!

(251) 660-7444 governmentstreetbaptist@gmail.com www.governmentstreet.org

Lighthouse Baptist Church ad on page 45

6905 Nan Gray Davis Road Theodore, 36582

Dates: June 11-14, 2023 Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Ages: K3-6th Grade Theme: Zoomerang VBS

Join us for an exciting week of VBS as we venture through the outback and discover the value of life!

(251) 653-6542 www.lbctheodore.com

Orchard Assembly of God

10244 Howells Ferry Rd Semmes, 36575

Dates: June 11-14, 2023 Times: 6:00pm - 8:00

pm Ages: PK-6th grade Theme: Rocky Railway Pre register at orchardassembly.com/events.

(251) 649-7710 www.orchardassembly.com

Covenant Presbyterian Church

2651 Spring Hill Avenue Mobile, 36607

Dates: June 12-15, 2023

Times: 9:00am-12:00pm Ages: Ages 3 (must be potty trained) - rising 4th grade

Theme: Faith Expedition – God’s Treasure Revealed (251) 298-7055 marty@covenantpresmobile.org www.covenantpresmobile.org

Woodridge Baptist Church

2700 Schillinger Road Mobile, 36695

Dates: June 12-15, 2023 Times: 8:30am12:00pm Ages: Completed K5- 5th Grade

Theme: Twists & Turns (251) 633-6000 www.wbcmobile.com

Church of the Island

901 Chaumont Avenue Dauphin Island, 36528

Dates: June 19-22, 2023

Times: 8:15am-12:00pm

Ages: Completed K – 5th grade

Theme: Ready, Set, Move - Summer Jam 2023 (251) 660-2422 esisson@cottagehill.org www.churchoftheisland.com

Dauphin Way United Methodist Church

1507 Dauphin Street Mobile, 36604

Dates: June 19-22, 2023 Times: 8:00am-12:00pm

Ages: PK-6th Grade Theme: I Wonder From the mountains to the planets, everything God makes is wonderful.We are God’s creation and He has created each of us with our own unique gifts to glorify Him. Bring your kids by this summer to walk through the wonders of this world and explore how they are wonder -

fully made.We will learn how to use these gifts through Jesus and friends’ teachings. See you this summer at Dauphin Way United Methodist for VBS!

(251) 471-1511 dwumcvbs@gmail.com www.dauphinwayumc.org

Spring Hill Presbyterian Church

10 Westminster Way Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 19-22, 2023 Times: 9:00am-11:30am

Ages: 4 years - 10 years Theme: Passport to Peace

Join us as we learn about how to be peacemakers through music, Bible stories, art, and movement. Sign-up on our website by June 1. (251) 342-1550 anna@shpc.us www.shpc.us

Bayou Sara Baptist Church

12 Bayou Sara Avenue Saraland, 36571

Dates: June 19-23, 2023

Times: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Theme: Twists and Turns (251) 675-1770 bsbcsecretary@comcast.net www.bayousarabaptist.org

Corpus Christi Catholic Church

6300 McKenna Drive Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 19-23, 2023

Times: 8:30am - 12:00pm Ages: K4 - 5th Grade (Campers) Middle School (Crew Leaders)

Theme: Stellar

Kids will go on a cosmic quest where they’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world. Stellar rockets kids on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun. Cost is $50 per camper / cap at $100 for family (251) 342-1852 pstoyka@ccscatholic.com www.corpuschristiparish.com

Government Street Presbyterian

300 Government Street Mobile, 36602

Dates: June 19-23, 2023 Times: 9:30am-12:30pm

Ages: 3 years old - 5th grade

(251) 432-1749 www.gspcmobile.org

St. Dominic Catholic Parish and School

4156 Burma Road Mobile, 36693

Dates: June 19-23, 2023 Times: 8:45am-12:00pm

Ages: 3 years (fully potty trained) - 10 years

Theme: Stellar Shine Jesus’ Light

Through the use of music, drama, games and snacks, participants and volunteers will learn what it means to shine Jesus’ light in their everyday life.

(251) 661-5130 bchristian@stdomincmobile.org

www.stdominicmobile.org

First Baptist Church of Dawes

3941 Dawes Road Mobile, 36695

Dates: June 25-29, 2023 Times: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Ages: Completed 5K-5th grade

Theme: Twists & Turns

(251) 633-7331 fbcd.amyk@outlook.com

www.firstbaptistdawes.com/

West Mobile Baptist

7501 Airport Boulevard Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 25-29, 2023

Times: 6:00pm-8:30pm Ages: 4 years by June 25th – Just finished 6th grade Theme: Stellar Come join us for a STELLAR week as we learn to SHINE JESUS’ LIGHT! Registration: https:// vbspro.events/p/6a19e0

(251) 639-9952 www.wemochurch.org

Christ United Methodist Church

ad on page 41

6101 Grelot Road Mobile, 36609

Dates: June 26-29, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: Age 3 by September 1, 2022 - Completed

5th Grade (2022 - 2023 school year)

Theme: Stellar Shine Jesus’ Light (Cosmic Quest) Join us as we shine a light on Jesus’ love. Launch kids on a cosmic quest where they’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light on the world. Stellar rockets kids on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith building fun. Register by June 16 to guarantee a t-shirt. Early Bird Cost per Child: $15 until Monday, May 31, Cost per Child: $20 after Monday, May 31 (251) 342-0462 susan.guillotte@christunited.com www.christunited.com/vbs

3 Circle Church

150 S Sage Ave Mobile, 36606

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Ages: 4 years - 5th grade Theme: Lift Off: A Journey Into the Greatness of God (251) 990-3112 www.3CircleChurch.com/camp

First Baptist Tillmans Corner

5660 Three Notch Road Mobile, 36619

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: Completed K-6th grade

Theme: Twists and Turns

VBS Family Night & Fireworks-July 2 (251) 661-0114 www.fbtc.org/vbs/

Mt. Hebron Church Ministries

2501 East Service Road North Mobile, 36617

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Ages: 2 years old-Adult

Theme: Adventure Through Music, Bible Stories, Crafts, and Recreation. (251) 457-9900 info@mthebroncm.org www.mthebroncm.org

Shiloh Baptist Church

717 Cleveland Rd Saraland, 36571

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Ages: Completed K5-5th grade

Theme: Answers in Genesis , Keepers of the Kingdom (Armor of God) (251) 675-3587 shilohbapt.kids@gmail.com www.shilohsaraland.com/

Snow Road First Baptist

2370 Snow Road North Semmes, 36575

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Ages: 4 years old - 6th grade

Theme: Twists and Turns

Spin the spinner, beat the clock, skip ahead, level up, and play to win! You’ll need to bring your Agame for this VBS. Twists & Turns is a fantastical celebration of games of all kinds. From classic tabletop games to video games and more, kids will play their way through VBS while learning that Jesus guides them through all the twists and turns of their lives. They’ll find that even when they mess up it’s never game over. Light Dinner served every night!

(251) 649-7722 carolina@srfbc.com

www.srfbc.com

St. Ignatius Catholic Church

3704 Springhill Avenue Mobile, 36608

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: PK4-rising 4th Grade

Theme: God’s Dream For You

Drift off into the DREAMS of the prophets of old, which unveil. God’s Love and FAITHFULNESS foretold! So be BOLD and dream BIG for soon you will see—Just how big GOD’S DREAM FOR YOU can be. Drop off to the St. Ignatius Gym.

(251) 605-1384 defalcob@stignatius.org

www.stignatiusmobile.org

Little Flower Catholic Church

2053 Government Street Mobile, 36606

Dates: June 26-30, 2023 Times: 8:00am-12:00pm

Ages: K-5th Grade Theme: Stellar (251) 478-3381 www.littleflower.cc

Praise Family Church

2605 Dawes Road Mobile, 36695

Dates: July 7, 14, 21, 28, 2023 Times: 9:00am12:00pm Ages: 6 years–5th grade

Theme: Ready, Set, Move! Follow Jesus here, there, and everywhere!

This year, we will be doing a blend between a day camp and a traditional VBS. Embrace your inner explorer as we venture out to different locations (for example: the skating rink, the park, etc). We will also give your child an opportunity to have a meaningful experience with Jesus during our time together through games, worship, and lessons. (251) 639-1959 lturner@praisefamily.org

www.praisefamily.church

City Hope Church

4693 Airport Boulevard Mobile, 36608

Dates: July 17–20, 2023 Times: 9:00am-12:00pm

Ages: 3 years - rising 3rd Grade Theme: CityHope Church’s Camp Jr (251) 626-0123 www.cityhope.cc/camp

FamilyCalendar

Tuesday, May 2

Hope for Healing

6:30 PM Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center, Mobile, AL, 36602 The evening includes dinner and inspirational testimonies from the founding to presentday partnerships who are furthering the impact in the lives of our patients. https://victoryhealth.org/hope-for-healing

Wednesday, May 3

Springhill Medical Center’s - For Boys Only

(Free) 6:00 PM Gerald L. Wallace Conference Center, 3715 Dauphin St. Building 2, 4th Floor Mobile, AL, 36608 Boys ages 10 and older can hear Mike Little, D.O., F.A.A.P., of Children’s Medical Group, P.A., discuss the physical changes to be expected as boys mature. Light meal provided. Parent must remain with their child during the class. FREE to attend, but you must register online at www.springhillmedicalcenter.com. www.springhillmedicalcenter.com/classes-events/boysonly-class

Thursday, May 4

Star Wars May the Fourth Movie Bash

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Grand Bay Library, 10329 Freeland Ave Grand Bay, AL, 36541 For Star Wars lovers of all ages! Wear your best Star Wars gear and join us at the Grand Bay Library. We will watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Snacks and drinks will be provided. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM, OWA , 101 S OWA Blvd Foley, AL, 36535

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is approaching its 19th year of flying! We are excited you are interested in coming to this year’s event that will feature more than 50 balloons from across the country, enjoy food vendors, arts and craft vendors, and retail vendors. Join us at OWA for this fun-filled weekend.

https://gulfcoastballoonfestival.com/

Cocktails with Critters

6:00 PM Bluegill Restaurant, 3775 Battleship Pkwy Mobile, AL, 36527 Cocktails with Critters, the major fundraiser for the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, will be Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bluegill Restaurant on the Causeway. As always, this will be an exciting evening overlooking Mobile Bay with live music, delicious hors d’oeuvres along with tasty wine and beer.

https://sealabfoundation.org/events/cocktails_with_ the_critters

Dusti Bongé Gallery Talk

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Dr. Mobile, AL, 36608 Gallery Talk featuring Spotlight: Dusti Bongé, an exhibition presented by the American South Consortium with paintings and works on paper by Mississippi’s first Modernist artist. 251-208-5205 www.mobilemuseumofart.com/

Mobile Singing Children Spring Concert

(Free - Donations accepted)

7:00 PM Dauphin Street United Methodist Church, 1507 Dauphin Street Mobile, AL, 36604 Come enjoy a variety of music from Mobile Singing Children’s beginning and advanced choirs including songs by Caldwell & Ivory, Jim Paupoulis, Z. Randall Stroope and a medley from the musical “Les Miserables. www.mobilesingingchildren.org

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Friday, May 5

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, OWA , 101 S OWA Blvd Foley, AL, 36535 The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is approaching its 19th year of flying! We are excited you are interested in coming to this year’s event that will feature more than 50 balloons from across the country, enjoy food vendors, arts and craft vendors, and retail vendors. Join us at OWA for this fun-filled weekend.

https://gulfcoastballoonfestival.com/

Local History Lunchtime Lecture at Main Library

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us each month for a different guest lecturer. Today Paula Webb will share her insight into the historic women of Mobile, Alabama, who are known for being elegant yet strong. This talk will focus on Madame Octavia Walton LeVert, but will also look into other impressive women from the city’s past. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Friday Night Live

7:00 PM Mardi Gras Park, Mobile, AL, 36602 Friday Night Live and Cinco de Mayo combine to create the ultimate fiesta! Join us for live music performances that are sure to get you moving!

https://www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Sunnyside Theatre and Drama Camp Productions presents The Addams Family Davidson High School, 3900 Pleasant Valley Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Our big spring musical is fun for everyone. https://www.sunnysidedrama.com/

Saturday, May 6

Mobile County Operation Clean Sweep

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM, 4304 Bay Road Theodore, AL, 36582

On Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mobile County residents can dispose of non-hazardous household junk, rubbish and electronics at Mobile County Operation Clean Sweep for south Mobile County. www.mobilecountyal.gov/government/departments/ environmental-enforcement/operation-clean-sweep/

The Sisters For Life Health and Wellness Expo

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Mobile Convention Center, 1 S. Water St. Mobile, AL, 36602 https://www.nspireu.org/sisters-for-life

Mother’s Day Plant Sale

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd Theodore, AL, 36582

Join us for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale May 6-7! On

Saturday May 6, from 9am-5pm and Sunday, May 7 from 11am-5pm. There will be Houseplants, Tropicals, Roses, Annuals and Perennials. https://bellingrath.org/

Tanner Williams May Day Festival 2023

10:00 AM - 2:00om, Tanner Williams Community Park, 13001 Tanner Williams Rd Mobile, AL, 36608

The Tanner Williams Civic & Historical Society hosts the Annual Tanner Williams May Day Festival the first Saturday of May at Tanner Williams Community Park. Enjoy local vendors, live music, BBQ plates, vintage cars, bake sale, and kids activities! We will also have the May Pole dance and crown the May Queen along with her court! Admission is FREE!

74th Annual Blessing of the Fleet

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, St. Margaret Parish, 13790 South Wintzell Avenue Bayou La Batre, AL, 36509

74th Annual Blessing of the Fleet www.stmargaretbayoulabatre.org

Double Tunnel

Vision 5k Race

11:00 AM 600 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 5K to benefit the sight programs of the Lions Club of Mobile.

https://lionsclubtunnelvision5k2023.eventbrite.com

Semmes Heritage Day

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Semmes Heritage Park, 3871 Wulff Road Semmes, AL, 36575 Heritage Day celebrates the history of the Semmes Community, its culture, and way of life from days past. This event is FREE and open to the public. There will be music, dancing, and tours of the one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, and Malone Chapel. Come out and shop with vendors, an arts and crafts show, carriage rides, and appearances by the Semmes Camellia Maids. www.semmeschamber.org

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, OWA , 101 S OWA Blvd Foley, AL, 36535 The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is approaching its 19th year of flying! We are excited you are interested in coming to this year’s event that will feature more than 50 balloons from across the country, enjoy food vendors, arts and craft vendors, and retail vendors. Join us at OWA for this fun-filled weekend.

https://gulfcoastballoonfestival.com/

Derby at the Pillars

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, The Pillars, 1757 Government St Mobile, AL, 36604 It’s big hats and even bigger hearts as we help raise money for Veteran mental health at the 2023 “Derby at the Pillars” fundraiser.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/derby-at-the-pillarstickets-577487971067?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Krewe of Kindness

6:00 PM Renaissance Battle House Hotel, Mobile, AL, 36602 Join Krewe of Kindness as they celebrate their Fourth year of Mardi Gras! Their party is so special that they hold it outside of the Mardi Gras season so that their special Mardi Gras guests and friends can join in on the fun! Monday, May 6, 2023, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Renaissance Battle House Hotel. www.kreweofkindness.com

Mobile Symphony Orchestra Lord of the Rings

7:30 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street

Mobile, AL, 36602 The Mobile Symphony Orchestra will contrast Howard Shore’s brilliant score to Lord

FamilyCalendar

of the Rings with orchestral highlights from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Works include “The Ride of the Valkyrie” and Siegfried’s “Rhine Journey,” as well as music from “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” the “Two Towers” and “Fellowship of the Ring.” mobilesymphony.org/event/lords-of-the-ring

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Sunnyside Theatre and Drama Camp Productions presents The Addams Family Davidson High School, 3900 Pleasant Valley Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Our big spring musical is fun for everyone.

https://www.sunnysidedrama.com/

Hooked Up To Help Inshore Fishing Tournament

Ralph and Kacoo’s, 1595 Battleship Pkwy Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 The tournament has both adult and kids (14 and under) divisions. The tournament concludes with a weigh-in at Ralph & Kacoo’s on the Mobile Bay Causeway, along with an awards and prize presentation. Benefits United Cerebral Palsy. https://www.ucpmobile.org/hookedup

Sunday, May 7

74th Annual Blessing of the Fleet 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, St. Margaret Parish, 13790 South Wintzell Avenue Bayou La Batre, AL, 36509www.stmargaretbayoulabatre.org

Mother’s Day Plant Sale

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd Theodore, AL, 36582 Join us for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale May 6-7! On Saturday May 6, from 9am-5pm and Sunday, May 7 from 11am-5pm. There will be Houseplants, Tropicals, Roses, Annuals and Perennials. https://bellingrath.org/

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

2:00 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Mobile Symphony Orchestra Lord of the Rings

2:30 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 The Mobile Symphony Orchestra will contrast Howard Shore’s brilliant score to Lord of the Rings with orchestral highlights from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Works include “The Ride of the Valkyrie” and Siegfried’s “Rhine Journey,” as well as music from “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” the “Two Towers” and “Fellowship of the Ring.” https//mobilesymphony.org/event/lords-of-the-ring

Sunnyside Theatre and Drama Camp

Productions presents The Addams Family Davidson High School, 3900 Pleasant Valley Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Our big spring musical is fun for everyone.

https://www.sunnysidedrama.com/

Monday, May 8

Create! Play! Learn!

10:00 AM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us in the Meeting Room for fun and learning! This program is designed with toddlers and preschoolers in mind and uses engaging activities to develop skills they will need when they start school 251-340-8571 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Tuesday, May 9

Game On! Game Night

5:00 PM Grand Bay Library, 10329 Freeland Ave Grand Bay, AL, 36541 Quality family time that is fun for all ages! Join us at the Grand Bay Library to play some of your favorite games www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Springhill Medical Center’s For Girls Only Class

6:00 PM Gerald L. Wallace Conference Center, 3715 Dauphin St. (Building 2) Mobile, AL, 36608 https://www.springhillmedicalcenter.com/classesevents/girls-only-class

Wednesday, May 10

Bernheim Movie Adventure

10:00 AM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us in Bernheim Hall for popcorn and a movie adventure! We will be enjoying Lightyear www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Thursday, May 11

Toddler Time ($5 members/$10 non-members per child per session) 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Dr. Mobile, AL, 36608 Join us for single sessions of sensory-based art projects designed especially for toddlers and preschool children. 251-208-5205 www.mobilemuseumofart.com/

Red Shoe Brew

5:30 PM Ronald McDonald House, 1626 SpringHill Ave Mobile, AL, 36604 Featuring local brews, heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, entertainment from the Street Folks, prizes, house tours and more! This open house event is an evening for local area young professionals, 21 years of age and older, who are interested in learning more and becoming involved with the Red Shoe Society of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile. www.redshoesocietymobile.org

May GulfChat with Terry Gilbreath: Mobile’s Habormaster (Free)

6:00 PM GulfQuest, 155 S Water St Mobile, AL, 36603 GulfQuest Gulf Chats are informal talks featuring knowledgeable presenters discussing topics important to the maritime industry. May’s talk will feature Captain Terry Gilbreath. http://www.eventbrite.com/

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Friday, May 12

2023 Festival of Quilts

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Abba Shrine Temple, 7701 Hitt Rd Mobile, AL, 36695 There will be displayed over 300 quilts, Quilts of Valor, Art Guild quilts, Child Advocacy quilts. There will be food available for purchase, demonstrations, items for sale, and vendors from the

quilting community. This is a wonderful relaxing fun, eye-candy, family friendly event.

6-9pm! We’ll have lights, a live DJ, and even more Roll Mobile merch for sale.

www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events/rollmobile-2023

Mobile Singing Children Spring Concert

(Suggested donation $10)

7:00 PM St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 4051 Old Shell Road Mobile, AL, 36608 Come enjoy a variety of music from Mobile Singing Children’s beginning and advanced choirs including songs by Caldwell & Ivory, Jim Paupoulis, Z. Randall Stroope and a medley from the musical “Les Miserables.

www.mobilesingingchildren.org

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611

https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Saturday, May 13

Do It In The Bush 5K Trail Run

7:30 AM Medal of Honor Park, 1711 Hillcrest Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Race to benefit Port City Pacers Scholarship Fund. www.pcpacers.org

May ID camp ($100.00 )

9:00 AM Library Field on the campus of Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL, 36608 The Spring Hill Women’s Soccer Program is now offering a May ID camp! This is an ideal camp for all girls rising grades 8+ that are interested in playing soccer at the college level. https://camps.jumpforward.com/shcwsoccercamps/ CampDetail/Index/17186

Artist, Authors & Entrepreneurs Expo

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 1260 Dauphin St Mobile, AL, 36604 Welcome to AAE a hub for artists, authors, and entrepreneurs looking for unique opportunities to showcase their work and connect with the local communities. We are thrilled to announce our upcoming event on May 13, 2023, where we invite artists and authors to sign up for an unforgettable experience.

https://www.eventbrite.com/

2023 Festival of Quilts

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Abba Shrine Temple, 7701 Hitt Rd Mobile, AL, 36695 There will be displayed over 300 quilts, Quilts of Valor, Art Guild quilts, Child Advocacy quilts. There will be food available for purchase, demonstrations, items for sale, and vendors from the quilting community. This is a wonderful relaxing fun, eye-candy, family friendly event.

FamilyCalendar

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

7:30 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Sunday, May 14

The Pact Theatre presents Finding Nemo, Jr.

2:00 PM The PACT Theatre, 5025 Cottage Hill Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 251-307-5056 https://thepactmobile.com/

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

2:00 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

My Morning Jacket

7:00 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Red Mountain Entertainment and 92ZEW present My Morning Jacket https://www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Tuesday, May 16

Mobile Retired Educators Association

10:00 AM Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center, 1717 Dauphin Street Mobile, AL, 36604 10:00 – 10:30 Meet & Greet ~ 10:30 – 12:00 Meeting ~ 12:00

Lunch Program with Alan Sealls, Chief Meteorologist.

Friday, May 19

26th Annual Rufus B. Lee Gumbo Cook-Off

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, GulfQuest’s Promenade, 155 S Water St Mobile, AL, 36602 The Gumbo Cook-off recognizes National Maritime Day, a day annually set aside to recognize America’s maritime industry, and especially those who serve at sea. The Gumbo Cookoff celebrates Mobile’s waterfront, on the waterfront, which serves as the featured attraction for the event from the scenic promenade at GulfQuest. The Gumbo Cook-off will feature maritime displays, activities for kids, music, and, of course GUMBO!

www.propellerclubofmobile.com/event/26-annualrufus-b-lee-gumbo-cook-off/

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Saturday, May 20

Grandman Triathlon

7:00 AM Fairhope Municipal Park, Fairhope, AL, 36532 Grandman Triathlon to benefit Mobile Bay Keeper. https://www.thegrandman.com/

Memorial 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run For Alabama’s Fallen Heroes

7:30 AM USS Alabama Battleship Park, 2703 Battleship Parkway Mobile, AL, 36602 Each runner will run with the name of one of Alabama’s Fallen Heroes on their Race Bib and afterwards during activities, they can visit the wall of Alabama’s Faces of the Price of Freedom to see the faces of their fallen service member.

www.unation.com/event/memorial-5k-run-walk1-mile-fun-run-for-alabamas-fallen-heroes-13943683/

Animal Ambassadors Cruise

10:00 AM 30841 Five Rivers Blvd Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 Center staff will guide us in discovering this incredible habitat as part of Five Rivers’ “Animal Ambassadors” program, a special presentation featuring live educational animals. https://www.blakeleypark.com/

2023 Boyington Oak Festival

1:00 PM Oakleigh House Museum, 300 Oakleigh Place Mobile, AL, 36604 You can choose either the EARLY session (1-4PM) or the LATE session (3-6pm). Each session includes both tours and the play. Play-The Truth is in the Tree, Written by: Mary S. Palmer Directed by: Dr. Stewart Hawley, Oakleigh House Museum Tour, Footsteps of Boyington - Gulf Coast Trolley Tour, Signed copy, Boyington Oak: A Grave Injustice, Drinks, Boarding House Crackers & SO jam delicious. https://www.historicmobile.org/boyingtonoakfestival

“Dance Dans le Jardin” by Classical Ballet of Mobile

2:00 PM 100 S. Carlen St. Mobile, AL, 36606 Classical Ballet of Mobile presents a mixed repertory bill featuring a short ballet originating from the opera, “Faust” and excerpts from two grand ballets highlighting lyric, romantic, and imperial styles of classical ballet: “Walpurgis Night”, “Don Quixote”, and “Le Corsaire”. www.classicalballetmobile.org/show

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Sunday, May 21

2023 Boyington Oak Festival

1:00 PM Oakleigh House Museum, 300 Oakleigh Place Mobile, AL, 36604 You can choose either the EARLY session (1-4PM) or the LATE session (3-6pm). Each session includes both tours and the play. Play-The Truth is in the Tree, Written by: Mary S. Palmer

Directed by: Dr. Stewart Hawley, Oakleigh House Museum Tour, Footsteps of Boyington - Gulf Coast Trolley Tour, Signed copy, Boyington Oak: A Grave Injustice, Drinks, Boarding House Crackers & SO jam delicious.

https://www.historicmobile.org/boyingtonoakfestival

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

2:00 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Pretty Princess Parties

Mobile Convention Center, Mobile, AL, 36602 Royal Entrance, Princess Vocal Performance, Princess Dance

Performance, Meet & Greet, Crafts, Games, Portraits, Princess Parade, Pixie Wishes, Sing-A-Long, Autographs, and Coronation. Times: 10am, 12pm, 2pm https://www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Monday,

May 22

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

8:00 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Ryan Adams & The Cardinals concert.

https://www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Thursday, May 25

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama’s Youth of the Year Luncheon

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 S Water St Mobile, AL, 36602 Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama is hosting its annual Youth of the Year Luncheon to recognize and celebrate outstanding Club members from multiple BGCSA Branches. This year, our event will be held at Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel in downtown Mobile. bgcsouthal.org/yoy

Family Art ($5 members/$10 non-members per child per session) 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Dr. Mobile, AL, 36608 This class is for families to create together. Each month will feature a different art medium with a project tied to the MMofA collection. Parents are encouraged to stay and create with their families. Suitable for homeschool families. 251-208-5205 www.mobilemuseumofart.com/

Friday, May 26

Kick Off Summer - Water Day

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Hallmark Party Rentals, 18955 S 3rd St Citronelle, AL, 36522 We are happy to announce that will be hosting our first water day of the season!! Come out and enjoy the day with us! There will be waterslides, a station for water balloons, slip n slide kickball, and more! We will have hotdogs, popcorn, snocones, and a juice(soda-for adults) with a ticket purchase. Tickets will be available to purchase the day of, so no need to worry about buying in advance! An adult MUST be present to accompany the child/children at all times.

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611 Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Saturday, May 27

SASB Mobile Alabama Exotic Pet Expo

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tillmans Corner Community Center, 5055 Carol Plantation Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 South Alabama Sand Boas presents Exotic Pet Expo, each show is different and you never know what you may find. Bring the kids out and enjoy yourself.

Vegetable Gardening in Coastal Alabama

2:00 PM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Please join us for a Saturday afternoon with Master Gardener Bill Fink. Whether you are a beginner gardener or a pro this program is sure to offer some helpful tips.

www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Dracula and Me: An Interactive Murder Mystery

3:00 PM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Dracula and Me is a live theatrical production written by Shari Prestwood. A small souvenir prize will be given to those who guess correctly. Registration is recommended, but not required.

FamilyCalendar

To register or for more information, please email the Reference Desk at mainref@mplonline.org or call (251) 340-1458. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

7:30 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611

https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Sunday, May 28

SASB Mobile Alabama Exotic Pet Expo

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tillmans Corner Community Center, 5055 Carol Plantation Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 South Alabama Sand Boas presents Exotic Pet Expo, each show is different and you never know what you may find. Bring the kids out and enjoy yourself.

Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents George M

2:00 PM Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois St. Chickasaw, AL, 36611

https://cctshows.com/season/george-m/

Tuesday, May 30

Madagascar The Musical 7:30 PM Mobile Civic Center, 401 Civic Center Drive Mobile, AL, 36602 Madagascar

The Musical is coming to the Mobile Civic Center Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30m. Based on the smash hit DreamWorks’ animated motion picture, Madagascar The Musical follows all your favorite cracka-lackin’ friends (Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and a colony of hilarious, clever penguins) as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. https://bit.ly/moveit23

Friday, June 2

Local History Lunchtime Lecture at Main Library

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Come delve into local people, places and events that shaped Mobile into what it is today. Join us each month for a different guest lecturer. Join Cart Blackwell this Friday for his presentation, “From Boom to Boom: Mobile’s Cultural Renascences of 1900s-1960s.” www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Wednesday, June 7

Prince Tribute Celebration ($50-$125)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Cooper Riverside Park, Mobile, AL, 36602 Come out and help paint Mobile purple on June 7, 2023, as we welcome “America’s #1 Prince experience band” to Cooper Riverside Park for the City of Mobile’s largest concert event of the summer. https://www.eventbrite.com/

Friday, June 9

Roll Mobile 2023

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Bienville Square, Mobile, AL, 36602 Once again, we’re closing off the streets and turning Bienville Square into a giant roller rink from 6-9pm! We’ll have lights, a live DJ, and even more Roll Mobile merch for sale.

https://www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events/rollmobile-2023

Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company

7:30 PM Joe Jefferson Playhouse, 11 South Carlen Street Mobile, AL, 36606 Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company www.joejeffersonplayers.com

Saturday, June 10

Bunny Hop Meet + Greet

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, B&B Pet Stop, 5035 Cottage Hill Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Bring your pet to the “Bunny Hop” – a fun and educational PARTY for bunnies.

Masquerade Ball

6:00 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98 Daphne, AL, 36526 Our event invites you to “mask out” cancer for one night by celebrating local cancer survivors and those still fighting. This year’s summer event will boast great music, food, drink, and a silent auction and always-entertaining live auction.

https://anchorcrossfoundation.org/masquerade-ball/

Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company

7:30 PM Joe Jefferson Playhouse, 11 South Carlen Street Mobile, AL, 36606 Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company www.joejeffersonplayers.com

Sunday, June 11

Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company

2:00 PM Joe Jefferson Playhouse, 11 South Carlen Street Mobile, AL, 36606 Joe Jefferson Players presents: Company www.joejeffersonplayers.com

Every Monday

Chess Club

4:00 PM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us every Monday to learn the game or improve your skill at the game of chess! Playing chess improves concentration and problemsolving skills. This program is designed or for children and teens ages 12-18, but children of all ages are welcome.

(251) 340-1588 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Tuesday

Read and Play Storytime

10:00 AM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us in Bernheim Hall for a socially distant storytime event. Masks are required. Children enjoy 20 minutes of books, songs, manipulatives, and rhymes, with an emphasis on repetition for their developing minds. Story and book time is followed by a time of free play with a sensory activity. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Science Sprouts

10:30 AM Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center & IMAX Theater, 65 Government Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Science

Sprouts: A Health and Nutrition class for our growing scientist! Every Tuesday from 10:30-11:00 a.m. in the iHealthy lab with Ms. Savannah. Included in General Admission. Free for Exploreum members. www.exploreum.com

Steam Club

4:00 PM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us each Tuesday afternoon in the youth programming room to explore Science, Technology, Art, and Math! Expect activities, experiments, crafts, and lots of STEAM-related books! www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM, Theodore Oaks, 5808 US-90 West E Theodore, AL Join us for stories and songs and lots of fun! www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Good Listener Storytime at Semmes

10:30 AM Semmes Regional Library, 9150 Moffett Road Semmes, AL, 36575 Join us for stories, songs, and dances!

www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Read and Sign (ASL) Storytime at West Regional Library

11:00 AM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us in the Meeting Room for books, songs, sign language and for ages 3 - 5! 251-340-8571 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Teen Anime Hangout at Ben May Main Library

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us upstairs at the Ben May Main Library Teen Hangout to enjoy anime, video games, and snacks.

www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Wonderful Wednesdays at West

4:00 PM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us in the Children’s Room every Wednesday. Each week will feature an engaging activity to make your Wednesday wonderful.

251-340-8571 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Second Wednesday

Learning Lunch (Free)

12:00 PM History Museum of Mobile, 111 S Royal Street Mobile, AL, 36602 This series allows guests to enjoy free presentations on a wide range of historical and cultural topics. Admission to Learning Lunch is free. Bring your lunch and enjoy complimentary beverages.

251-208-7569 www.historymuseumofmobile.com

Wednesday and Thursday

Shake, Rattle, & Read Storytime at West Regional Library

10:00 AM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us in the Meeting Room every Wednesday and Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. for this storytime program designed for infants and children up to age three. Help stimulate their early literacy skills and enjoy meeting other parents!

251-340-8571 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Thursday

Throwdown Thursday - Video and Board Games for Teens at West

3:30 PM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 This is a laid-back meetup to unwind playing games with other teens. We will have various board games, nintendo switch, playstation and xbox games for multiplayer matchups that include various genres - puzzle, racing, fighting, shooting, and open-world-type games. Sometimes there will also be additional activities like 3d pens and fuse beads for expressing your creative side!

251-340-8571 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

FamilyCalendar

Chess Club

4:00 PM Semmes Regional Library, 9150 Moffett Road Mobile, AL, 36608 Semmes Regional Library Chess Club is designed for children and teens ages 6 - 18. Playing chess improves concentration and problemsolving skills. No experience is necessary www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every other Thursday

Create it, Build it, Play it! at Grand Bay

4:00 PM Grand Bay Library, 10329 Freeland Ave Grand Bay, AL, 36541 Join us in the Meeting Room every other Thursday in for some fun with crafts and activities! Get creative and have fun with other people that love arts and crafts! www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Friday

Little Explorers

10:30 AM Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center & IMAX Theater, 65 Government Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Exploring the world one tiny step at a time. Every Friday from 10:30-11:00 am in the Nature Pavilion and the Moorer Courtyard with Ms. Charise. Included in General Admission. Free for Exploreum members. www.exploreum.com

Every Second Friday

LoDA Artwalk

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL, 36602 Celebrating the arts in downtown Mobile! Explore this free monthly showcase of visual and performing arts. www.mobilearts.org/art-walk/

Every Saturday - July 8

Market in the Park: Spring 2023

7:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Cathedral Square, Mobile, AL, 36602 Shop locally grown, locally produced and handmade items all while listening to live entertainment. www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events

Every Saturday

Family Story & Craft Time at Ben May Library

10:00 AM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Enjoy stories, crafts, and making new friends! This program is best suited for children 3 - 5 years old and their caregivers. Simple stories and music introduce the sounds and rhythms of language and play to your little learner. Crafts introduce social skills, motor skills, and problem solving skills. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Saturday Science

10:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center & IMAX Theater, 65 Government Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us for Saturday Science! Demonstrations will be shown in our various Lab and Headquarters throughout the day. www.exploreum.com

Saturday Crafternoon

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Theodore Oaks, 5808 US-90 West E Theodore, AL, 36582 Come celebrate the upcoming 159th Battle of Mobile Bay sponsored by the 6th Alabama Calvary & the Alabama Division of Reenactors. This two-day event is at historic Fort Gaines. Saturday will be the Battle of Mobile Bay reenactment & surrender ceremony, and Sunday will feature a Tactical www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Every Second Saturday

Saturdays at the Coop

7:00 PM Cooper Riverside Park, Mobile, AL, 36602 Fill your weekend with good times and great music at Cooper Riverside Park every Saturday after ArtWalk! Our free concerts run from 7-10 PM and feature bands from a variety of genres including, but not limited to jazz, metal, country, rock, and pop. Come enjoy music under the stars and don’t forget to bring a folding chair or blanket and snacks!

https://www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events

First Sunday of the month

Free First Sunday - History Museum of Mobile (Free) 1:00 PM History Museum of Mobile, 111 S Royal Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Free admission for all visitors sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality every first Sunday of the month!

251-208-7569 www.historymuseumofmobile.com

First and third Sundays

Animal Ambassadors

2:00 PM Five Rivers Delta Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 Join us at 2 PM as we present one or more of our live educational animals. Free, family friendly, no registration required. www.outdooralabama.com/activities/5-rivers-alabama-delta-resource-center

Please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

Chat GPT: What Do Parents Need to Know?

Chat GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is an artificial intelligence model trained to generate human-like responses to text-based conversations. It is a language model that can understand human language and create coherent, relevant, and contextually appropriate responses.

As with any AI technology, there are certain things we need to be aware of when using Chat GPT. These include:

1. Bias: Chat GPT is trained on large amounts of data, which can include biases and prejudices present in our society. As a result, the model may generate responses that perpetuate these biases. It is important to be mindful of this and to evaluate the responses generated by the model.

2. Privacy: Chat GPT requires access to large amounts of data in order to be trained effectively, including personal data, such as chat logs and user profiles. It is essential to be aware of the privacy implications of using Chat GPT and to ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect user data.

3. Accuracy: Chat GPT is highly effective at generating human-like responses, but it is imperfect. The model may generate

responses that are inaccurate, irrelevant, or inappropriate. It is important to evaluate the model’s responses and correct any errors or inaccuracies.

4. Ethical considerations: Chat GPT has the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading disinformation or engaging in cyberbullying. It is

1. Explain what it is if they haven’t seen it.

2. Ask the chatbot a simple question, then discuss the answer. Is it different from a traditional search engine? Most importantly, does it make logical non-tech sense?

3. Play with it. Let your child’s curiosity drive the conversation.

4. Ask your children their thoughts on the answers they get.

5. Chat about how it makes them feel. Chatbots feel eerily like human responses and make it easy to feel like we are engaging with someone. By presenting them as thinking beings, we become vulnerable to being persuaded.

6. Remind kids about plagiarism and fact-checking.

Number 5 is incredibly important. These bots FEEL real. Part of the description actually encourages you to chat with it as you would a person.

This makes it incredibly hard for children, teens, and everyone to remember that it is only a computer-generated system. And while it does seem to be weeding out inappropriate information, time will tell if that continues to be the case. So please have open conversations with your kids about this technology.

important to use Chat GPT ethically and responsibly and be aware of its potential consequences.

So, if you made it this far, would you be shocked to know that every word you just read was created by CHAT GPT? I have the app and simply typed in “tell me about CHAT GPT and some things to be aware of.”

As a writer, educator, and academic, I am, frankly, concerned. As a parent, this has also made my, and our, job of keeping kids safe even harder. So while all the above is true, allow me to give you some tips, WITHOUT the help of Chat GPT, on how to protect your kids.

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.

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