Montgomery Parents December 2013 by KeepSharing

Open House

Pre K-4 and Kindergarten Open House

Sunday, January 26, 2014 1:30pm

Exploring the world right from your classroom. Visit our state-of-the-art campus and experience first-hand the impact of engaged learning.

Saint James School for pre k3-12th grade admissions

6010 Vaughn Rd., Montgomery

334.273.3000

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English as a second language (ESL) tutoring provided. Saint James School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

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Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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There are more suicides than murders in Alabama every year.

It’s a confidential call...no one will know you called but YOU! Open 24 hours a day if a friend has had suicidal thoughts In 2011, 82 people ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in Alabama.

Talking about suicidal thoughts help reduce the pain.

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STROKE Get To The Area’s Only Nationally Certified Stroke Center

Every second is critical after stroke symptoms first appear. Receiving the right treatment quickly could save your life and minimize brain damage. That’s why you should immediately get to Baptist Medical Center South. As the area’s only Nationally Certified Stroke Center, Baptist South has a

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specialized Stroke Team on site 24/7, with the expertise to provide the fastest, most effective treatment. So in case of symptoms such as facial drooping, weakness in one arm, slurred speech, blurry vision, or sudden severe headache, think fast…call 911 and get to Baptist MedicalCenter South.

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Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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December2013

Volume 18 Number 12

66 Columns

6 Editor’s Note DeAnne Watson

8 Living With Children John Rosemond

12 Kids Health Watch

Toddler Meltdowns in Public The do’s and don’ts of handling those embarrassing tantrums.

Holiday Savings Tips

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Debunking Vaccine Drama If someone told you there was something you could do to protect your child from getting the latest illness circulating through daycare or school, you would do everything possible to keep your child and family healthy, right? So, why are so many parents choosing not to vaccinate their children from potentially fatal illnesses? There are more and more stories in the news today about disease outbreaks of vaccine preventable illnesses. There are headlines about pertussis outbreaks killing babies, measles outbreaks affecting communities, and stories about parents having chicken pox parties to infect their children like we used to hear about in the old days. So, what on earth is going on? It has become “trendy” among young parents to choose an alternative vaccine schedule or to forgo some or even all vaccines. Every time one person chooses to do this, they leave not only their child at risk for a severe or life threatening illness, but they leave the rest of our community vulnerable as well. Babies that are too little to receive the vaccines and children with immune deficiencies or cancers are particularly susceptible to these illnesses. They count on “herd” immunity, which means that 95% of the population is immune to a disease through

vaccination. At rates less than this, outbreaks of disease can occur. Vaccines are developed in the highest standards of safety to be used by as many people as possible. Each vaccine goes through years of testing before being licensed and distributed. Once in use, the vaccine is continually monitored for safety and efficacy. Because of these rigorous standards, the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history! The internet is full of misinformation regarding vaccine safety. There are many voices that oppose vaccination. They use individual stories to try to prove their points by playing on the new parent’s emotions. There are rumors about vaccines containing thimerosol, a mercury component that was designed to keep the vaccines from becoming contaminated by bacteria or fungi. Many who oppose vaccines claim that thimerosol is dangerous and linked to an increase in autism spectrum disorders. Despite the fact it has been proven safe, it was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2001 (meanwhile, ASD diagnoses continue to increase). The only vaccine that still contains trace amounts of thimerosol is the traditional flu vaccine. It is not in the nasal flu vaccine. Another common misconception is that a child’s immune system may be overwhelmed by the amount of vaccines currently recommended

or that the vaccines would be safer if given separately instead of in combinations. Vaccines are given at a young age because this is when the babies are most vulnerable to certain diseases. Newborns are immune to some diseases because they get antibodies from their mothers, but this only lasts a few months. If a child is not vaccinated and is exposed to a disease, his or her body may not be strong enough to fight off the infection. Newborns are exposed to thousands of germs and other antigens from the environment, to which their immune systems readily respond. They are more than ready to respond to the very small number of weakened and killed antigens in vaccines! There are many more myths circulating the internet regarding vaccines. Remember, that many, many years of research have gone into every single vaccine that is recommended for your child, and they are designed to keep your child from contracting illnesses that could potentially be deadly. As parents, we do everything we know to protect our children from danger and illnesses. Getting routine vaccines on schedule is one of the most important ways you can protect your child from an illness that could take his or her life! Dr. Karen Doles is a board certified pediatrician practicing at Professional Pediatrics in Montgomery. She completed her medical degree at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, and her residency at State University of New York in Buffalo. She lives in Montgomery with her husband, 4-yearold son and is expecting a new boy and girl in December.

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Raise Your Hand for Student Success This is one of my favorite times of the year! Not only is it a time to celebrate family and friends, it is a time when we celebrate teachers and children during American Education Week. Montgomery Public School System’s original purpose of producing literate productive citizens is more important today than ever. Each generation of those who led the district added specific vision/mission statements, but the bottom line has always been that we live in a community that can only be sustained by citizens prepared with specific and usable knowledge, skills and abilities. Times have changed dramatically since our system’s founding. Our work

is very different today than when MPS began; so much so that it requires educators to teach in different ways, look higher, dig deeper, stand taller, and care more completely about the business of educating our children. We are asked to keep doing these things even when the challenges we face might make some educators question their choice of profession. Contextual barriers, complex processes, comprehensive curriculums and standards don’t mix easily today with teachers focused on teaching all students (in every school and every school zone) to attain their personal best. It is a different world and our students come to us with family, social and economic challenges that educators who came before us could never imagine. Our work is not easy, but the knowledge that we change lives and help students succeed outweighs the challenges! Those of us who choose to stay in the race must assume the role of a collaborative problem solver. We have to know that we can make positive changes

and make a real difference in the lives or our children and the future of our community. Whether a principal, teacher, bus driver, custodian or superintendent, it takes all of us working together to solve the problems confronting our system, our students and their families. The American Education Week theme this year was “Raise your hand for student success”. It will take every educator, support professional, parent, and community member to join in this effort to overcome the challenges of today and tomorrow. Please join the educators in Montgomery as we work toward student success and keep the theme and focus of American Education Week going all year long. The Montgomery County Board of Education named veteran educator Margaret Allen to serve as the interim superintendent for the system after the departure of Barbara W. Thompson. Allen began working for Montgomery Public Schools as a special education teacher in 1976. She served as a teacher at Bear Elementary, assistant principal at Forest Avenue Elementary, principal at Garrett Elementary, and as an executive director of elementary schools. Most recently Allen has served as the professional development director for the system.

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Macon East Academy

15396 Vaughn Road | maconeast.net | 334.277.6566 Located 11 miles east of Taylor Road, just minutes from Montgomery Macon East Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies and other school-administered programs.

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Montgomery County Schools

Holy Cross Students Visit Camp Chandler

Floyd Students Awarded For DAR Poster Contest

Floyd Middle Magnet School students and their teacher were honored at an awards ceremony and reception sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for their outstanding performance in the DAR Constitution Week Poster Contest. Mrs. Woody Parramore from the Anne Philips Chapter presented the awards and, with the help of other DAR members, treated the students to a lovely reception at AUM. MPS 2013 winners from Floyd were: second place, Brant Hill; fourth place, Kade Etheridge; second and fourth place teacher, Ms. Robinson; and honorable mentions, Jaeda Gardner, Christian Hawkins, Logan Horne, Trevor Horstead, Rinbam Kromitt, Kaitlyn Luce, Brett Tolerson and Grant Tyson. Shown are Brant Hill, Ms. Robinson and Kade Etheridge.

Every year, fifth-grade students at Holy Cross Episcopal School have the opportunity to spend the night at YMCA’s Camp Chandler. Students came to school with sleeping bags, pillows and flashlights, ready for their after-dark hike and bonfire. When asked what their favorite part about Camp Chandler was, many students claimed that their guide, Daniel Blazer, was their favorite. Students learned during their team-building activities that it takes trust and cooperation to get things accomplished as a group. They enjoyed activities such as archery, riflery, and climbing a gigantic wall. Other highlights of the trip were the amazing food and playing with Frank the pig. The Camp Chandler field trip is one that teachers Amber Griffith and Connie MacDonald say they enjoy every year. Shown, Camp Chandler guide Daniel Blazer shows the fifth-graders how to hold a bow.

Academy Students Chosen for State Music Festival

Twenty chorus members from the fourth and fifth grades of The Montgomery Academy had the honor of performing at the Alabama Music Educators Association 2013 Elementary Music Festival. The festival was held October 4 at Samford University’s Wright Center. Lower School Chorus Director Cliff Huckabee was the festival director this year, coordinating the entire event. Sponsored by the Elementary Division of the Alabama Music Educators Association, the festival invited 38 schools from throughout the state to collaborate under the leadership of guest conductor Dr. Maribeth Yoder-White of North Carolina to perform an exceptional program that highlighted the talents of all the participants. Students learned songs including “A La Puerta del Cielo,” “Bee! I’m Expecting You!” and “Why We Sing” at their schools and joined together on Friday for rehearsal with Dr. Yoder-White and the concert. Students were selected after an audition process. Fourth-grade students participating under the direction of Huckabee included Lily Anzalone, Will Ashworth, Annalia Berry, Wyatt Bowen, Tristan Dumas, Lucy Hall, Cooper Long, Sadie Sease, Lukas Yi, and Zoe Zink. Fifth-grade students included Virginia Anderson, Hannah Hollingsworth, Isabella Hosein, Laine Martin, Mychaela Mathews, Anna Perry, Brabee Pirnie, Alisha Singh, Elisabeth Spencer and Caroline Strickland, directed by Middle School Chorus Director Susan Cooper.

Eastwood Performs Patriotic Program

Eastwood elementary students recently performed a program for family and friends with songs, chants and poems centered around the theme “Heritage of Faith.” This picture shows some of the second-graders. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Pintlala Elects New School Ambassadors

The newly elected 2013-14 Pintlala Elementary School Ambassadors are, from left, Bryant Gipson, Kaitlyn Bethea, Ellisa Bozeman, Will Bethea, Ayanna Bonner, Jada Wynn, Chandler McLeod, Hayleigh Scott, Precious Smith and Principal Shannon Schmidt. Ambassadors are selected based on gradepoint average, citizenship and leadership ability.

Evangel Names 2013 Homecoming Court

Evangel Christian Academy recently named its 2013 homecoming court. The ninth-grade attendant was MaKenzie Whatley; the tenth-grade attendant was Kylei Strahan and the eleventh-grade attendant was Breonna Walker. Isabella Coleman was the twelfth-grade attendant and Angelica White was named the 2013 homecoming queen. She was crowned during the halftime festivities.

Davis Recognizes Teachers for Attendance

Davis Elementary School recently held its Positive Behavior Support kick-off event where teachers sported their favorite college or university shirts. In addition to presenting awards to students for outstanding behavior or service to the school, 12 teachers were rewarded for modeling perfect attendance. The teachers are Selena Burnett, Diamond Rudolph, Latoya Wright, Kristen Harris, April Scott, Nyenya Webster, Quaneece Frank, Tamarry Anderson, Monique Gordon, Georgia Bascomb, Kiyomi Moore and Veronica Smith (not pictured)

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Montgomery County Schools

Lee Students Participate in College Bound Club

Carr Band Students Chosen for UA Festival

Johnnie Carr Middle School band students Keyanna Dixon (clarinet), Justin Mahoney (baritone saxophone) and Kaya Porter (oboe) were accepted to perform during the University of Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Middle School Honor Band Festival. The three will perform with other exceptional middle school musicians December 12-13 on the UA campus.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

For 10 students at Lee High School, a Saturday offers opportunities for community service and ACT test prep. Led by Lee teachers Rachel DeRose and Elizabeth Dunagan, students dedicated their morning to picking up trash around their school followed by more than an hour of studying and preparation for the ACT. These students are a part of the College Bound Club at Lee High School, a club dedicated to preparing students for college through workshops, guest speakers, ACT prep, community service and walking students through general college application procedures. Students are given a mentor teacher from the school that works one-on-one with the students to make sure they are successful in their journey to college. CBC members are: Lorin Bass, Aremoni Pettiway, Kristal Chamblee, Josh Smiley, Ms. Dunagan, Sakeena Sears, Tia Williams, Myles Evans and Travoris Cameron. Not pictured: Ms. Derose and Jerri Moore)

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BTW Photography Students Exhibit at Northport’s Kentuck Festival

On October 19-20, the Booker T. Washington Photography Magnet exhibited at the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport for the 12th consecutive year. The Festival is one of the Southeast’s most prestigious arts festivals with more than 200 exhibiting artists. BTW is the only high school to exhibit and sell its artwork alongside adult artists. “The goal of this trip is for students to experience life as a working artist. They learn the process of matting and selling their artwork, interacting with the public, and calculating sales and taxes,” says Emily Thomas, BTW photography instructor. While at the festival, students also interviewed other exhibiting artists and volunteered for the Kentuck Festival organizers. Students shown include Faith Barringer, Amy Dennis, Cayla Hamilton, Camille Goulet, Sara Elizabeth Shirley, Megan Stewart, Jocelyn Davis, Kamron Jones, Sullivan Tankersley, Kalie Chambless, Kory Kiernan, Abby Seesengood,Emily Shanks, Kaitlyn Tarver and Breanna Tyre. (photo taken by BTW Photography Magnet)

SUA Teacher Serious About Reading Time!

Creating a “Reading Corner” in Mrs. Gibson’s English classroom has inspired her students to read. Success Unlimited Academy made a commitment at the beginning of the year to improve reading scores and Gibson is taking it to a higher level. Her 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students are not only reading their assigned novels, but other books from home, class or the school library. Often students can be found sitting in comfy chairs or lounging on a zebra rug with a book. To insure that students are reading, Gibson has incorporated the policy of “Stop, Drop and Read.” During this time, students drop everything and read! “They are serious about their reading time,” says Gibson. “It has definitely improved their reading skills.”

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Montgomery County Schools

Bear Participates in Mayor’s Mile Challenge

Macon East Performs At Jordan-Hare

The Macon East varsity and JV cheerleaders had the opportunity to participate in the 7th Annual Cheerleaders of America Auburn University Half Time Extravaganza. The half-time performance took place October 26 before a crowd of more than 80,000 Auburn fans when Auburn hosted Florida Atlantic. More than 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers from around the Southeast participated in the half-time show. The girls performed a dance, cheer, stunts, and even a Tigers & War Eagle spell-out.

Congratulations go to Bear Exploration Center students for participating in the Mayor’s Mile Challenge and Half Marathon sponsored by Publix. Bear had more than 150 students participate and came in first place for the highest number of participants by average in Montgomery County. Bear students, who were prepared for the run by P.E. teacher Suanne Reynolds, completed 12.5 miles. In addition, the Bearfeet Jump Rope Team performed during the marathon. To become a part of the team, members must show good citizenship in every area. They must work well with others and maintain all A’s in conduct and a 3.0 average in academics. Bearfeet is the only jump rope team in Montgomery County!

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Two Catholic Football Teams Secure Wins Over Lee Scott

The Montgomery Catholic Termites beat the previously undefeated Lee Scott Warriors 20-16 October 1. Chase Ford scored three touchdowns in the win. Ethan Binns converted on a two-point conversion. Shawn Sponsler sealed the win with a tackle on 4th and 3 with less than 30 seconds to go in the game. The Pee Wee game had the Knights winning 20-6. In the win, Nathan Downes and Christian “Cat” Ivey scored touchdowns. Easton Wilcoxson scored on a two-point conversion. Also in the game, 12 different Knight players ran the ball, many for their first time in their career. With the win, the Montgomery Catholic Termite team improved 5-1 on the season. The Pee Wee team broke above .500 with a 4-3 record. Easton Wilcoxson is shown scoring on a two-point conversion.

Bellingrath Participates In Egyptian Enrichment Bellingrath Middle School students recently participated in “Digging for Facts,” a project where students had an opportunity to learn facts and win prizes for scoring 90% or above on Accelerated Reader quizzes on books about mummies and Egyptian culture. Here, these students pose near a display in the media center where they dug for hidden facts about Egyptian culture. The activity was a part of Teen Read Week.

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Montgomery County Schools

STJ Marching Band Class A Champions!

Lee IT Academy Advances in STEM Competitions

The Lee High Information Technology Academy has advanced to semifinalist status in two nationally recognized STEM competitions! The Lee IT Academy students placed second during the VEX Robotics competition held November 16 at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School. The competition, which serves as a qualifier competition, featured more than 30 public and private middle and high school teams from across the Southeast. Teams competed in a variety of robotic challenges that tested such skills as project management, engineering, computer science, communication and critical thinking. Team captain Blake Austin played an outstanding role by strategically changing the robot each round to keep their competitors off balance. Lee will now advance to the next round of competition on February 2014. The IT Academy also had two teams selected to advance to Round 2 in the U.S. Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot Competition—a premier national high school cyber defense competition that inspires high school students toward careers in cybersecurity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics which are critical to our nation’s defense. The IT Academy competed against 600 teams representing public, private and home schools from across the nation. For six hours, team members discovered network vulnerabilities on a Windows 7 and Windows Server 2003 system and corrected them to prevent future hacking. The competition took place at Auburn University Montgomery. The second round of competition will take place on December 7. The Lee IT team is shown at CyberPatriot. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

The Saint James Marching Trojans Band won the title of Bands of America Super Regional Class A Champions in Atlanta on October 25, during the multi-state competition in the Georgia Dome. The very last band to compete, the STJ Band performed to a crowd of nearly 10,000, lighting up the audience on all three levels of the stadium. As the smallest band in competition, the Trojans came alive when it was their turn to perform. Saint James won Outstanding Music, Outstanding General Effect and tied with Archbishop Alter School from Ohio for Outstanding Visual. The Trojans were crowned class champions with their highest score ever in a Bands of America competition. State and National Champion Bands from around the country (including Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Wando, S.C.) went to great lengths to pay a personal visit to STJ Band members after the performance to tell them how wonderfully they had performed. In a true compliment to the band, the Wando, S.C. drum major told Saint James students his school had used Saint James as a motivator in rehearsal, relating his band director’s remarks that “if a band of 50 can work hard to perform like THAT - you can work just as hard!” The next stop for the winning Saint James Marching Band was Indianapolis, Ind., for the Bands of America Grand National Championships. Shown, the Saint James Marching Trojans in a celebratory mood just after they were named the region’s top Class A band, during competitions in Atlanta.

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C Faulkner Professor Teaches ACA Students Science Concepts

Alabama Christian Academy elementary science classes were visited by Dr. Tammy Brown, Faulkner University’s dean of education. During these visits, Dr. Brown did many hands-on activities with the students to help them grasp scientific concepts using common household objects. ACA students were able to apply knowledge and learn about electrical currents and circuits, polymers and liquid properties, chemical reactions, sound waves, and reflection and refraction, thanks to Dr. Brown. 22

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Hooper Visits Auburn with Dance and Cheer Teams

Hooper Academy’s dance and cheer teams participated in Auburn University’s halftime show on October 26, with more than 1,100 other cheer and dance teams.

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Catholic Honors Senior Volleyball Players

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored four senior student-athletes prior to the last home Volleyball match against LAMP October 15. The four seniors are Ashley Barranco, Sydney O’Connor, Abby Rohde and Kirstin Wood. Each athlete was escorted onto the court by her parents and was presented flowers by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President Anne Ceasar and Middle and High School Principal Chad Barwick. Photo by The Studio at Eastchase. From left are Ashley Barranco, Sydney O’Connor, Abby Rohde and Kirstin Wood.

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Montgomery Parents I December 2013

October was busy at Churchill Academy, with trips to Dreamfield farms and the annual fall festival being just two of the month’s highlights. At Dreamfield, students jumped in the bounce houses, fed the animals, bounced along on the hayride, and most importantly, explored the pumpkin patch. The fall festival featured several new games this year, including a scavenger hunt that sent children scrambling all over the school for clues. There were ring tosses, ball buckets, and even a tiny race car game. Each class decorated a pumpkin, and awards such as “The Frankenwitch” and “Most Despicable” were handed out at the end of the day. After-school activities have been ongoing this term. The track team has been training in distance runs and short sprints with Coach Smith. This year, the school has also premiered a new group. Ms. Cassidy leads a group of students each Tuesday as they explore the intersections of math and art. So far, the club has completed activities centered around measurement, skip counting, multiplication, addition, division, and even fractions. Finally, Churchill Academy extends its hearty congratulations to two former students. Alabama Christian Academy’s Mitch Moody has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The school also congratulates Jacob Zienert, who was Churchill’s valedictorian his senior year of high school. This year, he is graduating in December with his MBA from UAB. www.montgomeryparents.com

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Trinity Students Attend Engineering Dinner

Eleven AP Chemistry students from Trinity Presbyterian School attended an engineering scholarship dinner and tour at International Paper Mill on November 6. Students heard from Dr. Jacobsen, a lecturer in the engineering department at Auburn University, about the various careers and scholarships available in the fields of engineering. Students were also able to hear about co-op experiences from several Auburn students who are currently working at the paper mill. Neal McDevitt, a Trinity graduate and chemical engineer at International Paper, organizes this event every year for all area high school students who want to attend. Trinity graduate Madison Davis Richardson recently started working at the paper mill as a chemical engineer. Front row from left are Hannah Green, Janie Hampton, Hannah Haynes, Emily Windham and Claire Wilder; and back row: Chase Reid, Will Cook, Aaron Tasseff, Reid Holt, Daniel Phillips, Den Trumbull and Jack Albritton.

MA Speech & Debate Named Top 100

The National Forensic League, the honor society for middle and high school speech and debate, has named its Top 100 schools in the nation for the 2012-2013 academic year. The Montgomery Academy ranked 99 out of more than 3,000 schools nationwide. Members earn points and degrees through the honor society, based on competitive and service-related activities–ranging from the Degree of Merit with 25 or more points to the Degree of Premier Distinction with 1,500 or more points. “These students and coaches have demonstrated outstanding participation and achievement in speech and debate activities,” stated Executive Director Scott Wunn. “We are pleased to honor them for their hard work and dedication, and wish them continued success in the coming season.”

Eastwood Announces DAR Poster Winners

Eastwood Christian School announces the following school winners of the 2013 DAR Constitution Week Poster Contest for Montgomery Area Private Schools. First place went to Millie Hodge, 6th grade; and First Place Teacher went to Linda Joki. Marilee Babington and Kyle Fuller, also sixth-graders, received Honorable Mentions. This contest is an annual event and is sponsored by the Peter Forney Chapter of the DAR, which has dedicated itself to promoting our American heritage through education. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a charitable organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. From left are Kyle Fuller, Mrs. Joki, Marilee Babington and Millie Hodge.

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Montgomery County Schools

MA Volleyball Team Wins State Championship

SUA Class Makes Study Time Fun!

Success Unlimited Academy’s 10th-grade English class loves to review for weekly quizzes and tests, so teacher Debbie Gibson enjoys creating games that target review drills for her students. One such review game is called “The Ball Game.” Basically, the students toss a ball at a prepared grid. When the ball lands on a square, the participant answers a random question. The best part is not only reviewing in a fun way, but the correct answer comes with a delicious treat!

The Montgomery Academy Volleyball team defeated two-time defending state champion Providence Christian in four games to win the Class 2A state volleyball title at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Thursday. MA outside hitter Jillian Tinglin was named tournament MVP and setter Rachel Lee was named to the All-tournament team. Coach Julie Sinclair, a AHSAA hall of fame coach, has now led Montgomery Academy to four volleyball state titles, winning titles in 1986, 2005 and 2006. Team members with the state trophy are (bottom row from left): Ellie Knight, Rachel Lee, Anne Wesley Young, Frances Freeman, Logan Doctson, Sara Brown and Katter Longshore; and (top row from left): Coach Julie Sinclair, Abigail Roth, Sarah Paige Massey, Jillian Tinglin, Lillian Roth, Elizabeth Kelly, Madeline Roth, Christiana Kirkham, Cady Upchurch, Coach Ginger Lowe and Coach Cedric Orozco.

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Holy Cross Holds Most Exciting Pep Rally Yet

Students at Holy Cross Episcopal School were in for a treat at their last pep rally. The school has held a number of pep rallies this year to support its soccer teams. Complete with spirit competitions and cheerleaders, students have learned what it means to have true school spirit. The last pep rally proved to be the most exciting as students and faculty were introduced to their new lion mascot and participated in a gummy-worm eating contest. The highlight of the pep rally was the amazing show put on by the Faulkner University drum line. Students danced and clapped along to the spirit-filled music. Sixth-grader Amber-Grace Maddox won the gummy worm eating contest, winning a no-uniform day for the sixth-graders. Between cheers, music and the mascot flipping, children had a great time and were able to show their true LION SPIRIT! From left, Grace Scott, Cole Armagost and Sara Grace Daniels show their school spirit at the Holy Cross pep rally.

Bear Students ‘Sock It’ to Drugs

The students in Shay Grant’s class at Bear Exploration Center “sock it to drugs” during the River Region’s Drug-Free Campaign. 27

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McKee Students Win iPad Mini Grant

McKee Middle students will soon improve their science and technology skills using iPad minis thanks to a generous grant from the Montgomery Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Education Foundation. AFCEA presented Principal Patrick Nelson, center, with a check for $2,174 for being named the winner of the chapter’s Science Teaching Tools Award. McKee Middle plans to use the award to improve science and technology instruction by purchasing iPad minis, VGA connectors, iPad covers and associated applications. Over the past 15 years, AFCEA has been a major donor to MPS’s technology program. The AFCEA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit international organization that invests approximately $2 million in scholarships and awards to military veterans, ROTC students, and teachers and students for science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction.

ACA Student Performs In Nutcracker

Alabama Christian Academy elementary student Alyssa Drews has been selected to perform in the Montgomery Ballet’s holiday production of The Nutcracker. Drews is a kindergartner at ACA and will play two roles in this classic holiday ballet. She will perform in three of the ballet performances at the Davis Theater between Dec. 12 and 15. She is the daughter of Jakima and Daryl Drews. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Pike Road Fire/Rescue Visits Macon East

Pike Road Fire/Rescue is dedicated to ensuring students in the Pike Road area are educated in fire safety. Kindergarten through third-grade students at Macon East Academy received hands-on safety lessons from the Pike Road Fire Department as part of fire prevention week in early October. During the visit firefighters Barry Glassford, BJ Green and Andrew Parker used a variety of educational tools to help teach students about fire safety. The firefighters took the Children’s Fire Safety House along with a fire truck to Macon East. The fire safety house is a small replica of a house with a kitchen, living room and bedroom. Firefighters guided students through the house, showing them how to avoid fire hazards. Light non-toxic smoke is released to simulate fire. Students are taught to get low and crawl to safety on their hands and knees. Firefighters are there to greet them at the door and help them down the steps. Mrs. York’s first-grade class is shown with Pike Road firefighter Barry Glassford.

Curtis-Oliver Lane, seventh-grade student at Floyd Middle Magnet, is cast as an actor at Alabama Shakespeare Festival for a second season of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.This curriculum-linked performance is an enhanced learning experience that brings lessons to life on stage. In addition to regular shows, Lane will perform for students at SchoolFest matinees and participate in “talk back” to provide production information. Lane’s other theater roles and credits include Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth, Cloverdale Playhouse’s Androcles and the Lion, Faulkner’s Oliver!, and television commercials. He thanks his school administrators, teachers and friends for their encouragement and support.

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Montgomery Catholic Celebrates Homecoming

Two STJ Seniors Chosen For All-American Band

Saint James seniors Madison Smith and Alexander Chung have been named to the U.S. All-American Marching Band that will perform during January’s Army AllAmerican Bowl, the nation’s premier high school football game. Both are the only Alabama students selected for the prestigious 125-member band from more than 1,300 nominees representing 47 states. Representatives of the U.S. Army’s Chief of Staff announced Smith and Chung’s selection on October 25, during a school pep rally in STJ’s high school gym. The U.S. Army representatives visit the high school of each All-American player and band member that has been selected -- to recognize the students and announce their selection. During the event Chung and Smith were formally presented with official bowl jackets. As members of the honor band Smith and Chung (who respectively perform in the Color Guard and play the mellophone) will fly to San Antonio in January for a week – all expenses paid -- to rehearse and play with other All-American Band members. The highlight of the trip is participation in the halftime show of the Army All-American Bowl game, televised live from the San Antonio Alamodome on Jan. 4 by NBC. The anticipated television audience for the bowl is 2.5 million viewers. Students selected for this honor band exhibit exceptional musicianship, marching achievement, character, and leadership, and are competitively chosen after nomination by their school’s band director and an audition video the students, themselves, produce. The National Association for Music Education, the All American Games and Drum Corps International select the band members. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School crowned its 2013 Homecoming Queen and King during the half-time ceremonies of the varsity football game as the Knights hosted Pike County High School October 11. Anna McCracken was crowned Montgomery Catholic’s 2013 Homecoming Queen by the 2012 Homecoming Queen, Michaela Armstrong. Kyle Berher was named Homecoming King and presented a scepter by 2012 Homecoming King Michael Tyner. The Montgomery Catholic Homecoming Court also included senior attendants Saraelizabeth Parker and Kirstin Wood. Parker was escorted by Ryan Norris and Wood was escorted by Alex Castanza. The junior attendant was Ashley Karst, escorted by Tucker Wilkinson. The sophomore attendant was Agnes Armstrong, escorted by Wilson Miles. The freshman attendant was Tori Barranco, escorted by Brian Anderson. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School welcomed all Alumni home with an Alumni party at the Homecoming game from kick-off to half-time. Alumni were able to enjoy re-connecting with former classmates and tailgating with Jim-N-Nick’s barbecue, including the class of 2003 celebrating its 10th reunion, the class of 1988 celebrating its 25th reunion and the class of 1983 celebrating itsr 30th reunion. Montgomery Catholic students celebrated Homecoming Week at all campuses with a host of daily activities including bringing back an old campus tradition, the Homecoming Bonfire held on Thursday evening. Friday the Middle and High School ended school with a pep rally and little red wagon parade. The week ended with the High School campus Homecoming Dance October 12 held at the St. Bede Family Life Center. (Photo by The Studio at EastChase:Michaela Armstrong; 2013 Homecoming Queen and King Anna McCracken and Kyle Berher; Michael Tyner)

ACA Takes Top Honors in Band Competetion

Alabama Christian Academy’s award-winning Marching Eagle Band took home top honors again at the White Sands Marching Band Competition recently. The Marching Eagle Band led by Director Travis Kaye and Assistant Director Trey Holladay once again performed pieces from La Nouba, a Cirque du Soleil show, and brought home many top honors. The band received First Place Overall in Class 2A, Best in Class Band in Class 2A, Best in Class Brass in Class 2A, and Best in Class Woodwinds for Class 2A. The ACA Varsity Color Guard, led by Stephanie Staten, also won Best in Class Color Guard for Class 2A. The ACA band and color guard seniors are shown. 30

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Trinity Senior Wins State Championship

Trinity Presbyterian senior Wesley Curles, shown crossing the finish line, won the cross country state title in record time by winning the AHSAA Class 3A state meet at Oakville November 9. Curles clocked in at 16:08 to win the individual championship, and set a new state record by beating the previous record of 16:16 held by Montgomery Academy’s Wallace Campbell in 2003. Senior Caroline Stewart achieved a personal record as she represented Trinity’s girls’ team, while the boys’ team finished a solid fifth place overall.

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SUA Students Create Underwater Creatures

Success Unlimited Academy’s Elementary Campus looks forward to monthly art classes with Maria Freedman, senior high art instructor. Recently as part of the curriculum, not only did the students create wonderful “underwater creatures,” they also used recycled materials. Allowing the students to paint on their own, Freedman provided plastic water bottles and other supplies to complete their project. Sixth-grade student JaMayla Broaden lends a helping hand to make sure the art is displayed in the hallway. “I am so proud of JaMayla’s willingness to go the extra mile to help,” exclaimed Mrs. Morgan, classroom teacher and assistant principal at the Harrison Road Campus. “This has created a beautiful underwater environment for our students to enjoy!” 31

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STJ Students Chosen For All-State Show Choir

Macon East First-Graders Enjoy ‘Reading to the Paw’

“Read to the Paw” is a reading program sponsored by the Montgomery Humane Shelter. MHS employee Mary Hughes visits Macon East Academy every Wednesday morning for the first-grade students to read to her dog, Harvey. The boys and girls love spending time with Harvey and practicing their reading skills. This is the second year Macon East has participated in this program.

Saint James High School Show Choir members Catherine Bradwell, Emma Colson, Blake Sanders and Madison Smith have been selected for the 2014 Alabama All-State Show Choir. It is the second time Colson, Sanders and Smith have received the honor. “Out of hundreds of auditions by students across the state, four of our students were selected to participate in this 60-member ensemble,” said Lis Donaldson, Saint James Choral Director. “That’s quite a high percentage, and a great honor for our students.” The All-State Show Choir (ASSC) is the showcase performance group for the annual Alabama Music Educators Conference, held in Montgomery January 23-25, 2014. The 60 students chosen for ASSC are selected from a rigorous vocal and dance audition. Auditioning students must individually learn their vocal music and perfect dance skills to perform with other singers and dancers from across the state. When the students come together in January they will rehearse with nationally recognized show choir vocal and choreography coaches. Together they will rehearse for two days during the AMEA conference and perform their show in an AMEA Saturday performance at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Saint James Performing Arts students spend weeks in the summer at Show Choirs of America Camps, as well as rehearsing throughout the year in show choir rehearsals. From left are Blake Sanders, Madison Smith and Catherine Bradwell. Emma Colson is not shown.

Academy Students Participate In Youth Build for Habitat

The Montgomery Academy continued its year-long partnership with Habitat for Humanity on October 17. One group of Upper School students spent Community Day helping to refurbish a house expected to be ready for occupancy in December. Directed by Mike Senn of Habitat, 12 juniors scrubbed bathrooms, cleaned up debris, caulked and painted. Their work supplemented that of professionals who had already replaced the roof and revamped the heating and electrical systems. Dawson Buettner, Pete Taylor, Hannah Snider, Tyler Duncan, Suzanna Slawson, Dan Updegraff, Jillian Tinglin, Sallie Johnson, Bates Herrick, Gretchen Lee, Will Sahlie and Cody Jones formed the first youth build group for the house, whose owner donated it and another in the neighborhood to Habitat for renovation and eventual sale to a family. Our students were able to meet Felicia, who will live in the house along with her two children. Like other Habitat participants, Felicia works alongside professionals and volunteers to prepare her new home. Some of the funds from her mortgage payments will be used by the organization to buy and build more houses. Currently the Montgomery chapter of Habitat has two houses being built and four in inventory for renovation. Renovation projects typically take about six weeks, depending upon the availability of volunteers. Several of the students who worked on this project on Community Day expressed interest in returning in the coming weeks in order to help make the house ready for occupancy by Christmas; they hope to be able to attend the ceremony at which Felicia and her family will officially receive the keys to their home. Another MA group worked at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store on Community Day. Taimoor Arshad, Michael Butler, Bo Torbert, Jade Brooks, Ford Cleveland, Kate Dockery, Sam Hudson, Alice McGowin, George Norrell, Lindsey Sharman, Camp Spain, Mary Neill Starke and Talya White performed a variety of tasks. They cleaned and cleared debris indoors and out, straightened up the library, assisted shoppers and remade beds. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Holy Cross Third Grade Honors Veterans Mrs. Stuart’s third-grade class from Holy Cross Episcopal School performed its annual Veteran’s Day program for parents and guests. The children sang a variety of patriotic songs and honored military family members with a Veteran’s Day PowerPoint that is sure to bring tears to guests every year! The slideshow recognized the different branches of service as well as where they had served. After the program, choir director Beth Harris, teacher Monette Stuart and the students entertained veterans at the VA hospital with their program, “A Salute to Veterans.” Some of the veterans even invited the students into their rooms to tell them stories. The kids loved spending time with them and it gave them a true appreciation for what the veterans have done for them.

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Cornerstone Recognizes Veteran’s Day

Recognizing the contributions of our nation’s veterans has become a time-honored tradition at Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy. On November 11, the students, faculty and parents gathered for a chapel service that consisted of patriotic recitations and songs. The guest speaker for the morning was U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bobby Woods, whose children, Kiera, Garrett and Leigha, attend Cornerstone. Following the chapel service the students enjoyed making patriotic crafts and playing field day games. In addition, Cornerstone partnered with Iberia Bank to provide personalized holiday greeting cards to our troops stationed overseas. The students also completed cards that were delivered to the Montgomery VA Hospital and made several craft projects to be given to a veteran of their choice. Shown, some of Cornerstone’s youngest students display their patriotic pride following their recitation of an original poem, “Celebrate the USA.”

ACA Students Re-Enact And Film Shakespeare

Traditional studies of Shakespeare were given a modern twist in the Alabama Christian Academy 10th grade Honors English classes. Sophomores in Rhea Wynn’s classes incorporated interactive learning while studying Shakespeare through the use of their iPads to record an act of Julius Caesar. Students then created an iMovie using the footage they recorded to show their re-enactments of the play to other students in the class. Caroline Rives is shown being filmed by her peers.

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STJ Robotics Team Designs Most Photogenic Robot

Eastwood Class Memorizes And Sings Psalm 23

The office staff at Eastwood Christian School received a blessing when Mrs. Owen’s third-grade class came to sing the 23rd Psalm. The students recently learned this passage and were eager to share it with others. Shown are Kaylee Gill, Chael Kerr, Noah Davies, Grant English, Cody Burns, Chase Lunsford, Chapel Evans and Jack Whatley. Lily Boyd and Abbie Roach were also with the class.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

The Saint James Robotics team proved that robots can be “pretty as a picture” too, when the school’s team-designed robot won “Most Photogenic” at Auburn University’s B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition in Auburn November 18. In addition to Most Photogenic, the team won the third-place trophy for its robot’s performance, after 13 rounds of competition. STJ now advances to the next level, the South’s B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition, on December 7-8, when the team will face 57 other teams from across the Southeast in robotic competition. The first-place award for the CAD design notebook, and the second-place award for best T-shirt were also awarded to the Saint James School team. STJ Robotics team members are Duncan Blackwell, Shaun Lewis, Matthew Garnett, John Kim, Justin Lee, Justin Peifer, Allison Rutherford, Anna Siddiq, Jongwon Lee, Kathleen Cunningham, McLean Stewart, Peter Wang, Daniel Lim, Emma Frakes, Urmee Podder, Mary Villageois and Ivan Villageois.

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Holy Spirit Class Receives $80 PetSmart Grant

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Holy Spirit Campus experienced some exciting news recently. Mrs. Cool and her third-grade class received an $80 grant from PetSmart. The grant is part of the Pets in the Classroom Program and enables teachers to cover the setup fees for various types of small pets. Cool’s class chose to purchase a 10-gallon freshwater tank complete with accessories and seven guppies. The purpose of the program is to help teach students to be responsible pet owners. Cool took it a step further and tied the fish tank to her lesson plans to help teach her students about freshwater ecosystems. Shown, Cool’s class with its new classroom fish tank from PETSMART. Back row from left are Owen Beesley, Chase Ford, Will Besterling, Jake Dean, Gabe Russo, Harrison Howell and Maggie Stewart; middle row: Madison Green, Mason Sylvester, Mark Osten, Angelina Conceicao, Will Anderson, Peter Ha, Hyungsung Rho, Cas Wilson and Max Barranco; and bottom row: Esa Gancayco, Lyndon Gotelaere, Kara Sugiyama, Laura Thomas Zhvania and Shannon Kille.

ECA’s Kindergarten Celebrates Career Day

The kindergarten class at Evangel Christian Academy recently celebrated Career Day. The class had been learning about community helpers and how each one is vital to a community. To culminate the unit of study, the teacher asked each child to come to school dressed in a costume to represent the job he or she wants when he or she grows up. Each student had an opportunity to tell about his/her future career and then participated in a parade down the elementary hallway. There were doctors, nurses, teachers, a scientist, a policeman, a fireman, and even an astronaut present in kindergarten that day.

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Montgomery Academy Recognizes AP Scholars

Trinity’s Annual 5K Was Runaway Success

The weather on the morning of November 2 proved to be the perfect day for Trinity’s annual “Run the Race” 5K. Families of runners enjoyed inflatables, face painting, shopping at vendor stations, live music and delicious food, compliments of Sweet P’s Eats and Treats. Nancy’s Italian Ice also provided “cool” treats for runners and their families. Younger Wildcats and friends enjoyed the newly added “Cat Dash,” a 100-yard dash on the practice field. Girls and boys from each grade had their own race and awards given to first, second and third places. The overall winners of the 5K were Heather Riley and Trinity eighthgrader Dawson Oliver.

Catholic Schools Celebrate Anti-Drug Week

Montgomery Catholic celebrated Red Ribbon Week in style with themed days at each campus to promote healthy choices and drug-free lifestyles October 28-November 1. On Wednesday, Montgomery Catholic’s Holy Spirit Campus held “Shade Out Drugs” day where the students were encouraged to wear sunglasses to school. Pictured “Shading Out Drugs” are Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar with second-grader Mason Hooks and sixth-grader Kinley Tadlock.

Thirty students at The Montgomery Academy have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 22 percent of the 2.2 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. At The Montgomery Academy: Nine students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students were current seniors William Haynes and John Ahn, at top left, and Class of 2013 graduates Addison Anthony, Caroline Elliott, Elizabeth Franklin, Won Jin, Mary Elizabeth Massey, Corrie Tankersley and Parker Turner. Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These were current seniors Rachel Warwick, Anne Louise Pass and Lillian Roth, and Class of 2013 seniors Hendrick Adams, Lee Ellen Bryan, Emily Hou and Andrea Grey Jones. Warwick and Pass are at middle left. Fourteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are current seniors Lilla Bea Granger, Caroline Lester, Garrett Barnes, Justin Freeman, Elizabeth Kelly, William West and Ann Hester, shown at bottom left, and Class of 2013 seniors Savannah Bullard, Emily Garcia, Marshall Lee, Neill McCorvey, Drake McGowin, Anna Strickland and Aidan White.

ACA Chorus Chosen for Davis Theater Production Alabama Christian Academy’s chorus, led by Director Trey Holladay, has been asked to be the sole choir in the nationally acclaimed “The Forgotten Carols” production that will be at the Davis Theater on December 6. As a precursor to this event, the producer and writer, Michael Young, traveled from Los Angeles to visit with ACA’s chorus to discuss the event and meet the students. It’s an honor for ACA’s choir to be selected to perform in this play and to also work with Young.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Eastwood School Names 2013 Duke TIP Scholars

Congratulations to the following fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students from Eastwood who are eligible for Duke University’s Talent Identification Program: Yeonnah Beasley, Asa Button, George Coley, Jack Coley, Elizabeth Cowden, Abby Duggar, Luke Duggar, Parker Ensminger, Gianna Foti, Elle Foxx, Jack Fuhrman, Colton Fuller, Kyle Fuller, Zach Golden, Aubrey Grace, Emily Gwin, Joy Harmon, Trey Hawkins, Ginny Herndon, Helen Ann Herndon, Gantt Higginbotham, David Hixon, Millie Hodge, James Hodges, Trent Holcomb, Baillie Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Katelyn Kreitz, Merritt Lee, Ruth Lucas, Hudson MacDonald, Elliott Mangrum, Mary Elisabeth Mauney, Claude Newsome, Annsley Oelrich, Ashlyn Oelrich, Amy Parker, Micah Peavy, Josie Powe, Hayden Pritchett, Will Reed, Thomas Treadwell, Austin Vick, Ashton White and Rachel White. This program is an opportunity for gifted students, who score in the 95th or above percentile on a nationally normed or state criterion-referenced test, to receive special motivation and support. Students who participate have the opportunity to compete for national recognition of their achievements.

Cornerstone Students Visit Ancient Israel

The third-grade class from Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy recently had the privilege of visiting the Explorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange, Ga. The center is a recreation of sites typical of ancient Israel during the times of the Old and New Testaments. The third-graders concluded a study on ancient Egypt by attending the center’s archaeological dig. “My students study archeology in science at the same time that we are learning about ancient Egypt,” said teacher Amy Buxbaum. “When our tour guide learned that we had been studying ancient Egypt she provided my students an opportunity to explore a recreation of an actual archeological site in the Negev. My students uncovered some artifacts that reminded them of topics we had studied. It was a wonderful experience for them.” In addition to participation in the archeological dig, the students toured the Biblical garden that features a genuine goat’s hair tent and a replica of an Old Testament altar. Learning more of the customs and culture of the Old Testament made the study of the time period of Ancient Egypt applicable to the students. The Dr. Dave Welch Foundation sponsored this trip.

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Academy Theater Students Qualify for State Tournament

Fifteen Montgomery Academy Upper School students traveled to Opelika to compete in the district- qualifying meet for the State Theater Conference. Competing in 17 different events that included musical solos and duets, monologues and scenes from classical to modern theater, and technical events like costume design, the MA actors spent the day having their work judged by theater professionals. At day’s end, 13 MA students qualified for the state meet this December, with eight qualifying in more than one event, and junior Evan Price receiving the top score in the men’s dramatic monologue event. From left are: Ashley Anthony, John Forrest, Evan Price, Ivey Henderson, Josh Kim, Lindsey Warwick, Claudia Ann Rutland, Nora Newcomb, Anne Louise Pass, Krista Grant and Abigail Hagood. Not pictured are Spencer Andreades, Hannah Lay, Ana Wagstaff and Olivia Wilson.

Holy Cross Show Choir Sings at Holiday Market

The Holy Cross Episcopal School Show Choir helped shoppers get into the Christmas spirit by singing at Holiday Market this year. The Show Choir, made up of fifth- and sixth-graders and led by Beth Harris, entertained the crowds with a selection of festive Christmas music and choreography. Between dazzling solos and hip dance moves, the students received rave reviews from shoppers.

Saint James Celebrates 2013 Homecoming

Senior Laura Catherine Clark, daughter of Fred and Blake Clark, was crowned Saint James School’s 2013 Homecoming Queen in halftime ceremonies during STJ’s November 1 match-up against the Catholic Knights. Queen Clark’s court was composed of: Freshman Attendant Chanley Ritter, Junior Attendant Mary Villageios, Senior Attendant Abigail Greenberg, Queen’s Attendants Kaitlyn Theriot and Joanna Edmondson, and Sophomore Attendant Madeline McKinney. The crownbearer, Saint James kindergartener Jessica Johnson, is the daughter of Brad and Susan (Pirtle) Johnson, an STJ alum. The Trojans won the night against the Knights, 48-10, with senior running back Frank Moody breaking STJ’s single–game and season rushing records during the game.

Montgomery Students Offered Art Scholarships

Montgomery Technical Education Center’s Advertising Design Technology students were recently visited by the Art Instruction Schools. Art Instruction Schools have been successfully training designers and artists throughout the U.S. and Canada since 1914. One of their most renowned students was the sequential artist, Charles Schulz, creator of “Peanuts.” Inspired by the school’s presentation, Advertising Design students Jalon Lee and Klydrick Chess both entered the institution’s National Scholarship Search. They both received letters from the school’s president, Patrick Stuart, congratulating them and awarding each of them with a $500 scholarship. Chess and Lee’s work was selected from several hundred entries. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Trinity Named Apple Distinguished School

Trinity Presbyterian School has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2013 to 2015 for its implementation of 21st century learning methodologies in the classroom and throughout the school. The Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for “programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership and educational excellence, and demonstrate a clear vision of exemplary learning environments.” “Trinity has now been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the second time,” stated Kerry Palmer. “This is no small feat, and our teachers and staff members have worked countless hours to make this happen. I am grateful to each of them, as well as our Board, for helping us become a technology leader in the River Region.” Trinity’s 1:1 program provides 6th-12th graders with 24/7 access to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, while other classes benefit from rolling MacBook labs, iPad centers and iPod centers. Trinity leads the way statewide with the flipped classroom concept, placing “lectures” on the computer and iPad and saving “homework” for the classroom where individual help from the teacher will be readily available.

Eastwood Warrior Week Allows Creativity to Shine Warrior Week at Eastwood’s upper school was a week to remember as each day followed a dress-up theme. ‘merica Monday found students dressed as members of Duck Dynasty, with cut-off shorts and headbands, overalls and baseball caps, just to name a few. Other days included twin day, tacky day and way back day. The culmination of the week was the varsity football game which resulted in a win for Eastwood. Shown are Millie Herndon, Nolin Geiger and McLean Albritton.

F o r E v E r y G E n E r at i o n . Prattville First United Methodist Church • 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 T RADI T I O NAL W O RS H I P 8: 30 AM & 11: 00 AM S UNDAY S CH O O L 9: 45 AM T H E W E L L 11: 00 AM

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Success Unlimited Volleyball Season Ends

Success Unlimited Academy’s second year volleyball season just came to a close. Conditioning since the beginning of the summer, the team showed improvement in strength as well as in the fundamentals. “Watching the transformation from the beginning of the season until now has been so encouraging,” said Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Becky Bowden. “Not only have they made dramatic improvements in their playing ability, but more importantly they have learned to work together as a team. They have learned to love and respect each other despite their different personalities, talents and roles on the team. To me, that’s more important.”

Catholic’s Robo Knights Compete in Auburn

Montgomery Catholic High School students Monica Poole, Derek Kelly and Leo Petters, with Dr. Joe Profio, presented their robot to the students at the MCPS Holy Spirit Elementary Campus. Montgomery Catholic’s Robo Knights Robotics Team competed at Auburn University October 19 at the War Eagle BEST Competition.

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Macon East Coach Inducted into the AISA Hall of Fame

STJ’s Madison Smith Receives Choral Honor

Saint James senior choral student Madison Smith was named Outstanding Female Choral Student in District VI for the Alabama Vocal Association. Smith, recently selected as a member of the prestigious Army All-American Marching Band, is drum major of the Saint James Marching Trojan Band and a member of the Color Guard. She plays clarinet in the school’s concert band and has also appeared onstage in various STJ productions, including most recently Honk! as well as Anything Goes and the lead role in Annie. The competition requires each student to perform a classical piece, write an essay, submit a resume with three letters of recommendation, and participate in a 15-minute interview with the judges. Smith will now advance to compete for the Alabama Vocal Association’s state title, to be given at the All-State Choir Festival in Birmingham in April.

Macon East Headmaster and Coach Glynn Lott was inducted into the AISA Hall of Fame at the annual banquet and ceremony, October 28, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Coach Lott has been a part of the Alabama Independent School Association his entire life. Lott attended Lowndes Academy and has spent his entire career as a coach in the AISA. Most Hall of Fame inductees are at the end of their career, but at age 48, Lott’s work in the AISA has garnered him much recognition. It is not his early career at Macon Academy’s Tuskegee campus or his time at Meadowview Christian in Selma that earned him this honor, but the work he has done building Macon East and its athletic program from the very beginning. Coach Lott currently serves as the President of the AISA Coaches Association and has been named AISA All Metro Coach of the Year 14 times. He has also received the title of All State Coach of the Year six times from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. As a coach at Macon East, Coach Lott has led his teams to five state softball championships, five state football championships, and many other athletic accomplishments. Coach Lott became a part of the Macon East family before the buildings were even erected on the current campus. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame this year was Macon East’s current Academic Dean, Don Oswald. Oswald has served in many positions and spent 15 years of his career as an administrator in the AISA. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their schools and the Association. This year a class of 13 new inductees joins the 81 current members of the AISA Hall of Fame. From left are Don Oswald and Glynn Lott.

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Montgomery County Schools

SUA Achievers Attend Alabama National Fair

Eastwood Kindergartners Perform Piggy Opera Eastwood kindergarten students performed their 3 Piggy Opera to the delight of classmates, family and friends. Each student dressed as a pig, a wolf or a barnyard animal and brought the house down with their performance. Mrs. Ruth Givens’ class is shown. From left are Mrs. Givens, Jacob Worley, Andrew Ryals, Maddie Garcia, Isaiah Jacobsen, Leah Johnson, Lily Givens, Caroline MacLeod, Rebekah Lucas, Joel Alexander and Ella Field as the Big, Bad Wolf.

The Alabama National Fair hosted its annual “FRIENDS DAY” October 9 and Success Unlimited Academy Achievers Class was ready for the adventure. The yummy smells of corn dogs, popcorn and funnel cakes greeted the students as soon as they arrived at the fairgrounds. The group, chaperoned by teachers Kaye Smith and her assistant Laura Brown, encouraged the students to visit the exhibits inside the coliseum first before venturing toward the midway. After the walk around the educational exhibits, the first stop was the Flying Hound Dog Show which entertained everyone as the dogs performed tricks with “Flying Frisbees.” Another interesting exhibit was the farm and dairy exhibit. Parent chaperone Mr. Crum enjoyed sharing personal stories of his experience working on a farm. Next, the students headed to the midway, where the sounds of the fair rides and games filled the air. Many students tried their hand at the basketball throw. The students ended their day with a feast of “fair food.” Worn out and all smiles, the students’ day at the fair was huge success!

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Macon East Volleyball State Champions

The Macon East Academy Knights volleyball team came into the AISA Class AA State tournament as the two-time defending state champions. Earlier in the week, the Lady Knights defeated Evangel, Eastwood, and Lee-Scott to win Regionals and advance to State. The girls swept Kingwood in 25-14, 25-11, and 25-14 in the semi-finals at Faulkner University to set the stage for a match-up with Lee-Scott in the title game. The Knights had defeated Lee-Scott in the final game at regionals, but their only loss for the year was also to Lee-Scott early in the season. In the championship game, the Knights swept Lee-Scott 25-14, 25-20, 25-22. A kill from freshman Sami Nesbitt was the game-winning point in the final match. All-tournament team members for Macon East were Anna Marie Pugh, Sami Nesbitt and Lexi Brantley (MVP). Tournament MVP Brantley had seven aces, eight digs, and five kills for Macon East. Team leaders Deven Kennedy and Jesi Garrett had 10 kills each, while Pugh and Nesbitt combined for 11 kills. The Knightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; third consecutive championship was extra special for Coach Amanda Smallwood, who is in her third year at Macon East. The Knights ended the 2013 season with a record of 28-1. Front row from left are Sarah Margaret Poundstone, Sami Nesbitt, Anna Marie Pugh, Haley Grant, Deven Kennedy and Lexi Brantley (tournament MVP); and back row, Coach Amanda Smallwood, Mary Kaylin Veach, Assistant Coach Brynn Nix, Karli Hawkins, Morgan Pounds, Meagan Manley, Jesi Garrett and Madison Lane.

T.S. Morris Participates In Cancer Awareness

T.S. Morris Elementary students and staff recently participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on November 2 at Riverwalk Stadium. Members of the G.E.M.S, which stands for Girls Empowered Motivated and Successful, held a fundraiser throughout October to raise money for the walk. They sold items such as ribbons, pencils and bracelets to promote breast cancer awareness at the school. The girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mentoring group is led by third-grade teacher Tameka Sanders and a host of other teachers at the school. The group is supported by its advisors, Lakendra Mathews, Chanale Taylor, Charlotte Watkins, Tamisha Stewart and parent Shenika Davenport.

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Montgomery County Schools

Holy Cross Student Wins Apple Laptop for Poem When Holy Cross Episcopal School fifthgrade teacher Amber Griffith asked her students to write a poem last year, she got the usual groans. When she went on to say that she would be entering all of the poems into a poetry contest, she still had a few skeptical students. “Ten thousand kids will probably submit a poem,” one child spoke up. Nevertheless, students got out their writer’s notebooks and wrote, what Griffith called, beautiful poetry. “My students had written poetry before, and I knew I had some really good writers, but they did an incredible job for this poetry contest,” she said. During the summer, she received word that many of the students had been selected to be published in the poetry contest book. It was not until recently that she found out her now sixth-grade student, Makayla Culpepper, had even won a laptop for her poem. “You should have seen Makayla’s face when she told me what she received in the mail that weekend,” Griffith said. “Makayla wrote her poem knowing that her chances were small. She knew that hundreds of other children would be submitting poems, but she still put her heart and soul into her poem.”

Hooper Celebrates Homecoming

Mrs. Moncrief’s first-grade class honored the senior football players, cheerleaders and dance team members at Hooper Academy’s Homecoming pep rally October 24. The kids were dressed in matching uniforms with masks of actual student athletes.

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Montgomery Academy 2013 Homecoming Court

From left are members of the 2013 Montgomery Academy Homecoming Court: Sarah Paige Massey (12th grade), Isabel Barganier (9th grade), Anne Morgan Cousins (10th grade), McEachern Foy (11th grade), Sarah Ross Adams (2012 Homecoming Queen), Garrett Barnes (12th grade, 2013 Homecoming Queen), Laken Dennis (12th grade), Ann Hester (12th grade), Megan Thompson (11th grade), Olivia Rush (10th grade) and Dora Eskridge (9th grade). Lower School Attendants were: Elle Ingram, Myra Jane Brown and Lucy Calhoun. Photo Special to Robertson’s Photography

Macon East Celebrates Johnny Appleseed

The third-graders at Macon East Academy spent the week of September 23 honoring Johnny Appleseed. They began by reading Johnny Appleseed, a folk tale by Steven Kellogg. Then, they made apple glyphs for their classroom bulletin board and apple art for the hall display. One day the third-graders held an apple tasting, brainstorming words to describe the look, taste and texture of each apple. Afterwards, they tallied and graphed their results. One day teacher Sandra Thomas read a story about a small boy’s search for a “little red house, with no windows, and no doors, with a star inside.” The students discovered the answer when they cut a Red Delicious apple and found the star inside that holds the seeds. To finish the study, each student made a Johnny Appleseed booklet to show what he had learned during the apple-licious week! From left are Hannah Kate Hodges, Austin Gorman, Lucy Taylor and Grayson Cook. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Brew Tech Robotics Team Wins Championship

The Brew Tech Magnet High School Robotics Team joined students from 26 other schools across the region for the 2013 War Eagle BEST Robotics Competition held at Auburn University October 19. A rigorous day of competing resulted in the Brew Tech Magnet High School Robotics Team achieving First Place BEST Award. According to BEST, this is “awarded to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering Science and Technology. Winning the BEST Award is considered the highest achievement any team in the competition can accomplish.” In addition to the top award, the Brew Tech Magnet High School Robotics Team won six other awards placing second in the following categories: Engineering Notebook; Exhibit Booth Design, Exhibit Construction, Business Presentation, Spirit and Sportsmanship, and placing third for their Website Design. BEST is a national non-profit, 501(c) organization committed to inspiring students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology, and mathematics through robotics design. BEST kicked off the annual competition on September 5 and disclosed the regulations and specifications for entering the competition. Since that time, the Brew Tech Magnet High School Robotics Team has worked tirelessly to design its robot, construct an exhibit booth, document the engineering process, prepare a marketing presentation, design graphics and raise the money necessary to purchase materials and fund travel expenses. Brew Tech will advance to the South’s BEST Competition hosted by Auburn University on December 7 and 8 where it will compete with the Top 56 teams from 18 BEST hubs in 6 states.

Success Unlimited Holds Cheer Try-outs

Success Unlimited Academy is fired up and ready for 2013-2014 basketball season! Girls, grades 8-12, interested in cheering the Mustangs to victory, recently attended a two-day cheer clinic led by Julie Beard, faculty member at SUA and former cheer coach at Lee High School. After learning cheers, chants and perfecting fundamentals, former Auburn University cheerleaders Judy Hooper and Jenny Lynn Henig judged the tryouts. Seven girls were selected to be a part of the 2013-2014 SUA Cheerleading Squad. Sharion Vandervort, SUA faculty member and former college cheerleader, will coach the new squad. At SUA, the squad will not only cheer, but will also serve as ambassadors for the school and as ambassadors for Christ.

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C Montgomery County Schools

ACA Fishing Team Participates In Lake Martin Tournament

Talking Tree Visits MacMillan International

The Montgomery Clean City Commission’s Talking Tree visited Mrs. Marshall’s second-grade class at MacMillan International Academy at McKee and talked about the importance of recycling. Students are currently studying the International Baccalaureate unit “Sharing Our Planet” which contains the central idea that people use resources for the betterment of their community and the communities connected to them.

Alabama Christian Academy has a multitude of athletic choices, but the school is the only one that offers its students a chance to be part of the Alabama Student Bass Anglers Association (ASBAA). The team consists of 16 members who have already enjoyed three qualifying tournaments in the quest to earn enough points to represent ACA at the regional ASBAA tournaments. On November 4, the team competed in a tournament on Lake Martin. The students caught 23.06 lbs. of bass. First place went to Lane Barrett, who caught the daily limit of five fish. Second place went to Justin Glass, also with a daily limit. Third place and Big Fish of the day went to Elliot Torode. The team ends each tournament with Christian fellowship and a fun family picnic. Led by Coach Anthony Staten, members of the ACA bass fishing team are: Lane Barrett, Justin Glass, Elliot Torode, Wes Gallops, Tyler Webber, Jack Martin, Heath Crews, Cambell Mock, Colby Rives, Daniel Coyle, William Hancock, Dalton Kimbro, Anna Grace Murphy, Cole Borland, J.J. Williams and Matt Carter.

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“Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Proverbs 22:6

C hallenging a CademiC a tmosphere in a C hristian e nvironment Accredited AISA Blue Ribbon School Evangel Christian Academy is a ministry of Evangel Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

334-272-3882 ecalions.org Evangel Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, gender and national or ethnic origin.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Catholic Band Members Chosen For Honor Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Marching Band members Eric Crenshaw, William Russell and Logan Stevens were selected to participate in the Huntingdon Scarlet & Grey Marching Honor Band on October 26. These students went through an application process and were selected from numerous applicants from around the state to be a part of this event. Along with the other selected high school musicians, they had the rare opportunity to perform in a college venue on game day with the Huntingdon College Marching Scarlet & Grey. Sophomores Logan Stevens and Eric Crenshaw are shown at Huntingdon College.

ECA and EFCA Students Meet at Flagpole to Pray

Recently the students from Evangel Christian Academy and Evangel Family Christian Academy joined together at the school’s flagpole to pray for their school and country. The annual “See You at the Pole” event is celebrated each year by students all across the United States. All of the classes from the school and several homeschool families were represented. During the student-directed event, several students prayed and led praise and worship. Camellia Grace Matthes welcomed the guests and led the opening prayer. James Paterson read scripture and delivered a sermonette. Harmon McDonald prayed for the nation and the government officials. Mary Mac Loughridge interceded on behalf of the teachers and administrators. Alicia and Alaina Hornberger prayed for families and friends. The closing prayer was delivered by Josh Fondren. 47

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Montgomery County Schools

ECA Students Pledge To Be Drug-Free

Catholic Math Team Competes in League

The Montgomery Catholic Math Team recently played the school’s first-ever match against a team in Hawaii. Twelve students, led by juniors Leo Petters and Ann Faulkner, competed to complete math challenge problems against a team from Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. The match is part of the new AMC Math Madness League sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. The Math Madness League uses educational gaming software developed by in-ter-stel-lar.com to schedule weekly oneon-one competitions among 600 schools throughout the United States. Montgomery Catholic is one of only three schools in Alabama to be selected for the league’s inaugural season. The team has pitted its math skills against schools in Kansas, Pennsylvania, and now Hawaii. In coming weeks, the team will play schools from Oklahoma and California. Each team has 30 minutes to correctly solve ten brainstomping problems. Despite some tough losses (3.00 to 2.33 to Mililani, for example) the Montgomery Catholic team is excited about being part of the league. Leo Petters explains, “It’s great to compete with other schools across the nation without having to worry about the bus breaking down.” Teammate Guillermo Ravelo agrees, “I love the opportunity to show schools far away what Alabama schools can do.” A list of participating schools and current rankings for the AMC Math Madness League may be found at in-ter-stel-lar. com/math_madness/about. Above, MCPS juniors Derek Kelly, Ann Faulkner and Leo Petters all participated in the Math Madness League competition. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Recently, the students at Evangel Christian Academy participated in “Red Ribbon Week.” The theme for this year’s school event was “Honor God with Your Body,” based on the Bible verse found in I Corinthians 6:19. Each student was given a red ribbon to wear and a larger ribbon was hung on each classroom door. The children in each class signed a poster pledging to stay drug-free. The students also attended special chapels throughout the week. One included a visit from the Sheriff’s Department and a specially trained drug dog.

Brewbaker Mentors Set the School Standard

Brewbaker Intermediate School’s B.R.E.W. Gents Mentoring Program recently participated in its first “Working Wednesdays Mentoring Day.” Montgomery County Commissioner Jiles Williams Jr. spoke to the students about remaining positive throughout life, the importance of making correct choices and working hard in school. He advised the young men to treat each other with respect and to set achievable goals. The group is advised by Brewbaker Intermediate technology coordinator Tracy Ford.

MPS Students Participate in City’s Half Marathon

Montgomery Public Schools Interim Superintendent Margaret Allen joined a group of student runners from Peter Crump Elementary during the Montgomery Half Marathon’s Children’s Run, held on October 12. More than 200 MPS students participated in the event which drew more than 1,600 runners across the River Region.

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We are flying through the school year. It’s hard to believe we just celebrated Veteran’s Day, which is very special to me since I served in Desert Shield/Storm and Iraqi Freedom. I want to thank all the men and women who have served our great country so we can live our lives free to pursue any goal or occupation we desire. As I am rapidly getting closer to age 50 than 40, I appreciate each day of my granddad and dad’s military service and the values by which they lived their lives. Veterans are a big part of our community, and I thank each of you for your service. I feel academic achievement and success are synonymous in Autauga County. This is proven each year with our scholarship monies and the high number of students excelling on the ACT. My goal is to continue to increase our academic gains and improve our technology. I want to expose our students to as much technology as I

can, and provide the most enriched academic experience possible. We have implemented the following technology: • Increased bandwidth from 100 MB to 200 MB • Launched Office 365 (web-based email accounts) • Incorporated virtual field trips into classroom academics • Providing technology workshops each week on “Tech Tuesday” We are piloting: • Prattville Intermediate School – iPads and Apple TVs • Marbury Middle School – On-line Classroom/”Go Green” Dropbox • Prattville High School – Wireless Management Systems We are working toward: • Flipped Classrooms • Bring Your Own Device (“BYOD”) • District Facebook The board approved the purchase of additional textbooks at the board meeting on November 7th. This gives us an English/

Reading book for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. We had an additional expense occur so we did not hit our anticipated 3 million in our general fund ending fiscal year 2013; however, we did close with approximately 2.6 million, which allowed us to purchase the textbooks. The volleyball teams at Billingsley School, Marbury High School, and Prattville High School all participated in state playoffs. I enjoyed seeing all the teams in action this year. Congratulations on a great season! The Autauga County School System had three high schools to participate in the football playoffs. Coach Brothers and the Autaugaville Eagles played A. L. Johnson. Coach McClure and the Billingsley Bears took on St. Luke in Mobile, and Coach Anderson and the Prattville High School Lions played the Foley Lions. I want to thank each of our coaches for serving as coach, mentor, and leader for our students. Spence Agee is the Superintendent of Education for Autauga County Schools. He is a third generation educator with an ED.S. in Educational Leadership. He has 16 years of experience in the education field as well as 25 years of military experience. Agee is an active member at First Baptist Church in Prattville. He and his wife, Cesily, who is also an educator, have two daughters, Abby and Addison.

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PCA Hosts Successful Red Ribbon Week

Prattville Christian Academy hosted a very successful 2013 October Red Ribbon Week again! The theme this year was “A Healthy Me is Drug Free.” During the Red Ribbon Week of October 28-November 1, PCA staff and students raised money through various participation themes in an effort to give back to the community while remembering to stay away from drugs. Each charity was the theme of the day during the week, and the students enjoyed wearing special hats, sports shirts, and contributing toiletries and canned goods to raise money for the respective organizations. PCA students raised $669.71 for Teen Challenge USA, and $631.70 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Many students and families also donated items for the Adullam House and the Red Cross Disaster Relief. An additional $852 was raised from the T-shirt sale and will be divided between all four charities, making the total $2,153.41. PCA students are encouraged to serve others, and this was a great week that exemplified giving and serving others. During the check ceremony, the students were thrilled to see how their efforts paid off and how others can benefit through giving. Shown, PCA seventh-graders Mary Grace Story, Cooper Meadows, Payson Marsh and Katherine Medlin are dressed up for “Way Back Wednesday” during the PCA Red Ribbon Week.

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Prattville Christian Earns Forensic Membership

Prattville Christian Academy has been granted charter membership in the National Forensic League. Charter membership is the highest school membership honor in the League, and reflects sustained commitment to speech and debate education over several years. Achieving this honor is not easy and earns the program a place among the best programs in the nation. The National Forensic League is the honor society for middle and high school speech and debate. The nonprofit organization recognizes participation and progress in public speaking and debating activities as a means to meet the Common Core State Standards in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The League empowers students to become effective communicators, ethical individuals, critical thinkers, and leaders in our democratic society. For more information, visit http://www.nationalforensicleague.org.

Prattbotics Robotics Team Competes at Auburn The combined Prattville and Stanhope Elmore High School robotics team competed on October 19 in the War Eagle Gatekeeper Robotics Competition at Auburn University. This year, Stanhope did not have a robotics team so the Prattville team welcomed two of the Metal Mustangs to compete with its team. Jacob Janes and Justin Bradberry brought with them eleven years of experience to share with the three-yearold Prattbotics Team. Also competing were many other teams including the veteran robotics programs of Wetumpka High, Montgomery Catholic and Brewbaker Technology School. The team was charged with designing a robot that could be moved on a conveyor belt and be able to reach various components— wooden dowels, plastic hangers and Styrofoam pieces—which represented the parts of a computer’s central processing unit. Teams needed to earn credits at the three stations in order Montgomery Parents I December 2013

to progress to the next stage. After qualifying for the tie-breaker round, the Prattbotics team’s robot placed thirteenth overall. The relatively new team participated in the BEST Award competition. One component of this competition is the CAD, or Computer Assisted Design, category in which Xavier Brown and Shinia Curry placed second. The team’s robot also placed second for the most Photogenic Robot and for the second time in three years, the team was nominated for the Founder’s Award for

the most innovative robot winning second place. BEST Robotics is a nationally recognized program for middle and high school students where they engage in the study of engineering, science and technology while they create a remote-controlled robot for competition. This competition begins in September and runs for six weeks. Teams must use only approved materials to create their robot and the structure of the robot is designed and built by the students. Front row from left are Chris Conner and Baile Ellender; second row: Austin Lowman, Philip Mims, Chase Cook, Kameron Seward, Jacob Janes, Shinia Curry, Xavier Brown, Will Hasbrook and Camden Bowers; and back row: Jordan Hayes, Anthony Boise, Justin Bradberry and Jason Cook. Team Sponsors are Cindy Mitchell, Alyson Hahn, Bob Perkins, and Kristen and Spencer Bryant. www.montgomeryparents.com

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Prattville Intermediate Awarded Honorable Mention

Prattville Intermediate was awarded an Honorable Mention for the PALS (People Against a Littered State) Clean Campus competition for the second year in a row. Kim Roeten accepted the award on behalf of the school. As an organization founded on the purpose of creating a litter-free state, PALS offers several programs year round which promote the litter-free ethic.

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PES Teacher Given PALS Governor’s Award

Karen Bonds from Prattville Elementay School was given the Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State) Governor’s Award for Educator of the Year. Bonds attended the Annual Governor’s Award Luncheon to accept this award.

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In the spirit of the holiday season and with the 2014 legislative session beginning early in January, I am going to forgo a letter to Santa Claus this year and instead send three wishes on behalf of our students to our state legislators. 1. Legislators, I wish that you would seek to restore OCE to the FY08 level. NOTE: OCE, an abbreviation for “other current expenses,” might be better described as “operating costs and expenses.” Since 2008, Education Trust Fund dollars for OCE have decreased even though expenses that should be covered by OCE have risen. OCE was created to provide state financial support for non-certified personnel (school secretaries, bookkeepers, custodians, and teacher aides), as well as funds to pay for utilities, operations, maintenance, and substitutes for all personnel, but OCE has never been funded at a level that covers these costs.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

2. I wish that you would establish the FY08 divisors as the standard for funding. Lowering the divisors is going to provide more assistance for all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high) within our district. Because middle schools and high schools are especially difficult to staff under the current divisors and now that many of the requirements for graduation and other State mandates begin in the middle grades, lowering the divisors at these levels will decrease class size, expand course offerings, and provide the greatly needed support for career and technical education. The term “divisor” is connected to a formula used to determine how many teaching units a school “earns” for a fiscal year. For example, the current divisor for kindergarten is 14.25. If an elementary school has 143 kindergarteners during the fall of 2013 of a school fiscal year 2013-2014, that school would earn 10 teaching units for the FY15 school year because school districts within our State are funded based on the previous year. However, those earned units may not all be used for kindergarten teachers. Some may have to be used to fund instructional support teachers like physical education, music, art, or special education. Unfortunately, the divisor system is often misunderstood because the actual class size and the divisor number do not

match. Likewise, raising the divisor by “one” does not simply add “one” student to each classroom. Raising divisors reduces the number of teachers earned and increases class size. 3. I wish that you would fund the transportation program at 100% of actual costs. In FY14, Transportation Operations expenditures are funded at 80.66%, or $64,295,105 less than what school districts need. The FY14 Fleet Renewal allocation is underfunded by $11,804,624. Under the 1995 State Foundation Program, most school expenses were designed to be shared among state and local resources. Transportation, however, was designed to be a state-funded program. The district’s transportation program is an essential service provided to our students. However, each year this service becomes more difficult to maintain due to rising fuel and operation costs coupled with lower funding. Most importantly, I wish our legislators and all the members of our Elmore County School System family a happy and joyous holiday season! Dr. Jeff Langham is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. Now in his eighth year as the system’s leader, he has a total of 27 years of experience in the field of education. Langham is an active member at Landmark Church in Montgomery. He and his wife, Ginny, a nurse educator, have one daughter, Weldon.

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Eclectic Holds AR Reward Party

On November 1, Eclectic Elementary rewarded students who earned their first quarter Accelerated Reader points goal with an average of 90% or higher. Students enjoyed a Bingo party and a special snack. About 115 students in grades 1-4 attended the parties!

Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.

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Wetumpka Middle Wins Basketball Tournaments

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Both the Wetumpka Middle School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams won first place in the middle school basketball tournament, which was held Nov. 2.

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Elmore County Schools

Redland 1st Grade Teachers Hold Iron Bowl Pep Rally

First-grade teachers from Redland Elementary School treated their students with a recent Iron Bowl pep rally, featuring visits from Alabama and Auburn mascots Big Al and Aubie. Shown are students from Holly Lubinsky’s class with Aubie.

Coosada Installs New Student Council Officers

Coosada Elementary School (CES) Student Council installed new officers and representatives November 8 in the CES gym. The CES student council consists of representatives from every second-grade classroom. Students are elected by fellow classmates as individuals who demonstrate character, leadership and citizenship. Student Council representatives are: Lorin McElrath, Payton Jackson, Joanie Patton, Dylan Dent, Rienne Trovinger, MaryGrace Burkett, Erica Perry, Jayden Ocmand - Vice President, Alyssa Ward - Secretary, Jacaria Pierce, Alorah Celis-Dingler, Taniya Boyd, Isabella Brown, Karley Earl - President, Josie Burdick, Emily White - Reporter, Meagan Moore and Cash Reese. Teacher representatives are: Mrs. Taylor - Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Y. Brown, Mrs. Weekley, Mrs. Goodin - Principal, Mrs. Gilder, Mrs. B. Brown and Ms. Turkessia McGaskill - Chair. In addition to the installation ceremony, an acknowledgement of veterans in the school and community was held.

WMS Coaches Select Athletes of the Month

The following seventh- and eighth-grade students were selected as Athletes of the Month for October at Wetumpka Middle School: Chantal, Keasia, Samantha, Kasie, Carter, Hunter, Jay and Angel. These students were selected by Coach Davis and Coach Munroe because they exhibited good sportsmanship, a great attitude, and participation each day during physical education class. The coaches select eight students each month for Athlete of the Month.

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ARIS Holds Harvest Festival

Someone ordered perfect fall weather for the Airport Road Harvest Festival. There was just a hint of chill in the air as students and parents made the rounds of games of skill and luck, hot food, silent auction of teacher-made baskets of themed goodies, cotton candy machine, book fair, hay ride, car smash, haunted house, and many vendor booths. For entertainment, super heroes, witches, princesses, furry creatures, Santa Claus, and other assorted characters walked around before the costume contests winners were announced. In first place was Chloe Wegner as a snowball; second was Mallory Dobbs as Frankenstein, third was parent Lisa Martin as a pink jellyfish holding her baby girl as a baby mermaid; and honorable mention was Aerianna Clapper as a cute blue monster. The Harvest Festival King and Queen are Ryan Pruitt and Jamiel Reeves. Pumpkin-decorating contest winners were Haley Sutherland and her Cinderella’s coach with horses; Natascha Silva and a green Monster Mike from Monsters, Inc., and Shelby West and the bluejean-clad yellow minion from Despicable Me. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Holtville Elementary Declares War on Drugs

Holtville Elementary Assistant Principal Chris Holley and first-grader Braden Childers proudly wear their camo as HES declares a “War on Drugs!” www.montgomeryparents.com

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Elmore County Schools

Victory Baptist Wins Football Championship

Tomahawk Talk Kicks Off at WMS

Students were recently introduced to Tomahawk Talk at WMS. Tomahawk Talk is an advisory program designed for seventhand eighth-grade students that meets twice a month. Each seventh- and eighth-grade student is a part of a small advisory group that is facilitated by a teacher, administrator or counselor. The goal is for the faculty to develop closer relationships with its students to give them the academic and emotional support they need to succeed at Wetumpka Middle School. Goal setting, academic achievement, character education, and conflict resolution are discussed.

Victory Baptist capped a perfect season with a 45-13 win over Faith Christian Academy in the state championship game. Senior running back Jerrell Frazier took the opening kickoff back 95 yards and the Eagles never looked back. Frazier found the end zone three more times en route to the lopsided win. Sophomore quarterback Mason Byrd accounted for the other three touchdowns for Victory, passing for two and returning an interception for the other. It was Byrd’s only interception of the season; he didn’t throw any this season. Both teams scored over 50 in their regular season matchup just three weeks earlier, with Victory winning 92-64. Frazier, Byrd, junior receiver Benton Dunklin, and junior linebacker Auston Deneve were named to the all-state team at their respective positions post-game. Frazier was also named the conference MVP. VBS belongs to the Alabama Christian Education Athletic Association (ACEAA) that sponsors Christian school athletic programs and 800 athletes annually.

HOMESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Come explore our selection of educational Homeschool enrichment programs and find out which one is just right for your child. Meet instructors, tour our facilities, ask questions, receive detailed information about our homeschool programs, and register on-site! Winter classes start in February. Past classes include: • Mosaics • Robotics • Chemistry Lab • Adventures in Programming • Spanish

Open House Jan. 16

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

For more information, call 334-244-3804 or visit www.ce.aum.edu. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AUMConEdYP.

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Millbrook Middle School Undergoes Major Changes

Over the summer, Millbrook Middle School, formerly Millbrook Middle Junior High School, underwent many important changes in order to promote its mission to provide a positive, safe and appealing learning environment for its students. A few of the many changes included: new administration, new elective classes, more freedom to the students and a renewal of school pride (“Mustang Pride”), as well as a restructured Positive Behavior Support Program (a school-wide positive behavior management plan). Nicholas Townsend was hired as the new seventh- and eighth-grade assistant principal, and Jan Sexton moved to the fifth- and sixth-grade assistant principal position. Sexton was previously the assistant principal for fifth and seventh grades. Ayena Jackson is the new principal. A graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School, she is a part of the community and has worked as an assistant principal for the past eight years. New elective classes were added to the schedule for seventhand eighth-grade students that were only clubs last year. A few of these classes are newspaper, creative writing, beginning band, music appreciation, athletics, robotics, current events, pre-ap business tech, forensics, and broadcasting. “I have noticed that the junior high kids are enjoying the freedom and responsibility that has come with the changes to the schedule,” said Angelique Fucci, an MMS parent. “I believe they will be better prepared for high school. The elective choice, I believe, makes the students feel like they have more control over the schedule.” Not only were students given more elective choices, they were given more individual freedom this year as well. Over the summer, a building swap happened, and teachers moved their classrooms across campus to allow students more room, freedom and independence. The former fifth- and sixth-grade halls are now seventh- and eighth-grade hallways, and seventh- and eighth-graders change classes by a new seven-period bell schedule. Likewise, student freedoms reach into the lunch and snack waves. The students may sit anywhere at their class’s assigned tables for lunch and can socialize within their building’s designated area for break time instead of having their break inside the classroom. MMS is motivating its students, promoting a positive image, and distributing “Mustang Pride,” around the school in many different ways. A snack shack was built near the main office to allow students to purchase snack each day, and there are new murals scattered around the school. A recycling program was introduced, and recycling bins can be found in almost every area of the building. At break time, the students can put their cans, plastic bottles, and juice pouches into a designated recycling bin. Programs such as PBS, “Positive Behavior Support Program,” Mentoring Mustangs for Success, and Project Wisdom were implemented to motivate students to perform their best in academics and in life. Mentoring Mustangs for Success, a new advisory class, takes place twice a month for every seventh- and eighth-grade student. Its goal is to focus on academics and character building. Through Project Wisdom, students discuss character themes, journal about the topics, and make life connections.

Auburn Montgomery Continuing Education

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Elmore County Schools

ARIS Students Raise the Bar

There is a “can-do” spirit in Mrs. Lynne Evans’s fourth-grade classroom. For the first time in school memory, an entire class reached 100% of its Accelerated Reader (AR) goals. Not only that, but the students also achieved an average of 90% success on the AR quizzes. There is healthy competition as they encourage each other to achieve personal bests.

Legislator Visits Airport Road

Shown are Paul Beckman with Airport Road Intermediate School Principal Marcia Stephens, Temeyra McElrath and Andre Harrison from the Central Office, and ARIS Assistant Principal Sharon Earl. Paul Beckman, Alabama House representative of District 88 for Autauga and parts of Elmore County, made a walk-through of ARIS as part of “Learning and Legislators,” an effort by the Alabama State Department of Education to familiarize legislators with the public schools that they represent.

W Fo Holtville Learns Science Through Food!

Mrs. Elizabeth Wicks’ second-grade class at Holtville Elementary School learned in a fun and informative way the properties of matter through making ice cream!

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ARIS Doors Proclaim Anti-Drug Message

At Airport Road Intermediate, teachers and students competitively decorated their doors to say “NO” to drugs as part of Red Ribbon Week, a national school event to de-glamorize illegal drugs. First place went to Rebecca Clark’s class whose door was blocked by a huge purple spider and its web. The word bubble nearby proclaimed, “Drugs are a web of lies.” Second place was Amanda Parker’s class whose students contributed psychedelic drawings all over a body outline. Its word bubble declared, “Drugs? No way! I’m too smart. My body is a work of art!” Shirley Wood’s class placed third. Their door covered with the familiar brown and orange color of a wrapper of Reese’s pieces candy said, “Drugs will tear your life into pieces.” Other creative slogans among the thirty-plus doors were, “Don’t get wrapped up in drugs” (Tucker); “We are toadily against drugs” (Gillis); “Drugs stink!” (Garcia); “Drugs don’t match in our pumpkin patch” (Winchester), and “Our monsters aren’t scary. Drugs are!” (Johnson).

Holtville Elementary Students Have ‘Bright’ Future!

Holtville Elementary School third-graders wore their cool sunglasses because “Their Future is so Bright—No Drugs in Sight!”

Holtville Cafeteria Transforms to Smurf Village

The lunchroom ladies got in on the fun by turning the Holtville Elementary School lunchroom into a Smurf village during Red Ribbon Week. They are shown here with Mrs. Baldomero’s kindergarten class. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Principal Jina Sanders is shown with the Wetumpka Elementary Clown Troupe.

Wetumpka Raises Funds For Charity with Pumpkins

Wetumpka Elementary School Student Council sponsored a pumpkin decorating contest during the week of Halloween to raise money for the Elmore County Food Bank. These are the winners of the contest as pictured: Cooper Wheat-3rd Place, Karly Simpson-1st Place, and Harley Richardson-2nd Place.

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Author Visits Eclectic Elementary

On October 22, author David Sargent, Jr. from Arkansas visited Eclectic Elementary School. Students enjoyed listening to him talk about his books and his dogs. Each of his four dogs had a trick to perform. The students were able to pet Spike at the end of each presentation. He autographed all purchases too!

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Illuminating Play

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

Even when the lights go down, there’s still plenty of play left in kids. Offering them opportunities to continue learning, exercising and thinking through light-up toys is a great way to avoid the sundown blues. Since fire first captivated the attention of early man, our eyes and minds still want to track on that light in the dark. As such, the following illuminated toys will delight children as they light up the night, creating a new chapter of brilliant experiences to be discovered in the dark!

by Gerry Paige Smith

Laser Pegs

Light Up Football

This set of 81 clear connecting components can be snapped together to assemble many different models which can then…light up! Your child’s model (or individual creation) can be a static build or it can connect with the power base to illuminate it in soft, glowing colors. Included with the set are 57 illustrated plans for models, but the versatility of the ‘pegs’ offer great room for creative and original constructs as well. The brightly colored LEDs have a vast life of over 100,000 hours which can illuminate countless evenings of entertaining building. There’s no limit to the brilliant creations that can emerge from the Laser Pegs Building Construction Set to light up the night!

It’s hard to “go long” in a front yard football game when the porch light only shines so far. Enter the Tealco Light Up Football. This full-size football weighs, plays, punts, kicks and throws just like a regulation ball. But when night falls or lighting is limited, the TealCo ball lights-up with bright internal LEDs that carry the game play way past dusk. More rugged and durable than some other similar products, this football is game for the same rough handling that a standard football endures. The difference is that the football game doesn’t have to end at sunset – and this bright ball won’t get lost in the bushes after dark!

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Going far beyond the normal night light for kids, the Twilight Lady Bug is equally loveable and illuminating. The soft plush body is huggable all day long, but when the lights go down, the smooth plastic shell reveals its secrets in the dark. Pressing on the ladybug’s wings turns on a light that shines through strategic perforations in the shell, projecting a glowing star field on the ceiling. The star field includes seven major constellations that can be identified using the included Star Guide. The ladybug, available in red, green and blue, also comes with a sweet story about being lost and finding your way home using the stars as a guide. Whether you’re navigating the wonders of the night sky or just relaxing under a heavenly stellar landscape, the gentle glow of the Twilight Ladybug is a shining addition to any child’s lights-out company.

As more children discover the road on two wheels, the drive to bike doesn’t always have to end with the sunset. Making sure that they can see (and be seen) is a priority for parents of kids who roll on past dusk. Bike Brightz are a revolutionary new light accessory that utilizes six powerful wide beam LEDS to project a light field about a bicycle. This vivid halo of illumination not only adds really cool style to the ride, but enhances the bike’s visibility to others sharing the roadway. Bike Brightz are easy to install and feature settings that allow for constant light projection as well as slow, medium and fast flash. Bicycle enthusiasts – young and old - can take back the night with this wildly illuminating addition that adds visibility for a safer drive.

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

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Christmas for when you don’t feel like Christmas.

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5 p.m. Traditional Sanctuary

a service of prayer and worship for those experiencing loss, loneliness, or grief during the holidays. 6 pm Dec. 21 • Frazer United Methodist Church

7p.m. Contemporary Wesley Hall

Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 • 61

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We’ve all faced those moments.. demands, pleading, whining, raised voices, crying, screaming, and other manners of lashing out. These are examples of how toddlers misbehave, sometimes in public.

dence and mastery over their world. Developmentally this is what toddlers should be doing. However, it is during this stage that parents should be helping their young ones understand that they are still in control. Parents should also be teaching their children about what they expect in public by expecting it at home, which is the ideal training ground. What options does a parent have in handling private matters in public? What tools does a parent have at her disposal to deal with situations that can be akin to dry kindling being lit by a match and fanned by the wind? What’s a parent to do? And what should a parent avoid doing?

These moments often seem to occur when a parent is depleted or harried, and not in her best mindset. And even if a parent is, a toddler melting down in public can quickly take her to a place she’d rather not be--discomfort and embarrassment. Children in the toddler ages are in the “I want it” stage, seeking indepen-

take stock before you go. Is your child tired, hungry or uncomfortable? If the answer is “yes,” rethink. You are setting your child and you up for a less than stellar public experience. If you feel you need to go out and take your child with you, try to make sure he

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

has had a nap or is rested, and make sure he’s had something to eat and drink.

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have the “magic” bag with you, or a large purse. Those diaper bags come in handy long after your kids are out of diapers. Diaper bags hold a myriad of wonderful items, from sippy cups and snacks to wipes and an array of toys that distract. Take advantage of the magic bag, and occasionally replenish it.

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go over expectations and practice when opportunities present themselves at home. Review what behavior you want to see in your child before going out. Ask your child to repeat what you told them, i.e. “We are getting cat food for Sassy only.” This way you both know your toddler heard and understood you.

be clear and follow through. Expectations are most effective when www.montgomeryparents.com

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you are consistent with your message and with its delivery. You must be clear with your follow through as well. For example, if you tell your toddler, “If you throw a fit, we will not go to the park,” and your child does have a meltdown, you do not go to the park.

remember to take DEEP breaths. Are you tired, hungry or short on patience? If you must go out be aware of how you are feeling. Remember that your emotions only serve to fuel your toddler. He can smell it, and he reacts to it. If you trigger, your toddler will also react. A child learns his self-regulation through parental regulation.

respond quickly if your child begins to meltdown. The quicker you respond the better. Toddlers have short fuses. Sometimes a child can regain his composure if you address his behavior immediately. This works well with a toddler who regularly behaves. Other times, a child may be determined to win the challenge, for whatever reason. If your child becomes more manipulative or implodes, vacate, calmly. Shopping? Leave the cart.

DON’T

ignore your toddler. Engage him and be attuned to how he is feeling in public. Your engagement with your child can go a long way to stopping a tantrum before it even begins because he has your attention. Is your toddler calm or does he appear to be overwhelmed by his surroundings (think loud, bright big box store or a shopping mall)?

DON’T

reward your child for undesirable behavior or bribe him if he will stop. Negotiating and bribing allows your little one to savor the first sweet tastes of successful manipulation. A reward of this nature only encourages a child to misbehave again, possibly escalate.

DON’T

worry about other people surrounding you. Many of them are parents and have had similar experiences. Focus on your child and his behavior. mp

Judy M. Miller works with pre- and adoptive parents, equipping them with new techniques and information and encouraging and empowering adoptive families through difficult times. She is the author of the international selling What To Expect From Your Adopted Tween.

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Hosting a Clothing Swap Okay, we all know that Southern ladies love a good get together with our favorite gal pals. Add some food, clothes, and of course, your favorite iced tea, and you have a clothing swap party! Even those of us with the most fullystocked closets and dressers have mornings where we look through our outfits and just sigh, “I have nothing to wear.” Yet, life often keeps you too busy to shop... whether juggling kids, husband, and work or you just hate shopping in those big department stores. However, you love your friend’s styles and you need a girl’s night out, so why not combine the two? Right after Christmas is a perfect time to add fresh new pieces to your wardrobe and get rid of some old items you don’t want in your closet. A clothing swap party will accomplish both! Here’s what you need to know to make your party a success:

1-Friends Include all friends, shapes and sizes... even pregnant friends who might be looking for slightly bigger sizes for their growing bellies. I would also add accessories to the mix (like gently worn shoes, handbags, jewelry, scarves and unopened Montgomery Parents I December 2013

beauty products). This will ensure that everyone, regardless of size, can find something that fits.

2-Play hostess You’re putting together a party, so make it feel like one. Give people plenty of notice and send out actual invitations (even if they’re electronic) instead of doing wordof-mouth. Make sure you have food and drinks available. There is nothing like a bunch of girlfriends having fun with food and clothes!

3-Get organized A huge pile of clothes on the bed, stacks of shoes in the corner, and a jumble of necklaces on the dresser aren’t doing anyone any favors. Set up different shopping areas. Use a bar or rack for hanging dresses, a table for folded t-shirts and sweaters, a peg board to hang jewelry, and a long space (like a hallway) to keep those shoes in line, with plenty of mirrors throughout. Whether you want to organize by occasion, work wear, formal, casual, color, size, or designer, just pick a format that makes sense to your friends and go with it.

4-Set some ground rules Items should be clean, dry cleaned if necessary, and in good condition, without holes, rips or stains. Items can be name brand or non-name brand, new with tags, or six months old with no tags. Make sure everyone is aware that there is no price 64

range, so it’s up to them if they want to bring items they might have paid a little more money for. The point of the party is to save money and be creative with your style. Just be ready to part with your items with no complaints.

6-Consider inviting a stylist If you can, find someone who knows how to style and piece articles of clothing together and invite them to the swap (like Yours Truly). They can help in styling certain items you might be struggling with. This can make the actual swap flow more easily. And you might want to have your friends bring specific articles of clothing they love but struggle with styling or understanding how to wear. The person in charge of the styling can help incorporate articles of clothing or accessories brought to the party with a friend’s particular style.

7-Leftovers After you have had a successful night with your gal pals, if you end up having a few clothes left over, donate them or visit your local consignment store to see if they would be interested in any of them. Take your friends with you and enjoy being creative in shopping for those pre-loved clothes. This saves you money, as well as time shopping in big department stores.

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

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by Sara Kendall

The holidays are always greatly anticipated and often the source of some of our happiest memories. However, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not careful, holiday spending can wreak havoc on your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget. It can empty your wallet and leave you with a pile of credit card debt ringing in the New Year with you. But, with a little planning, you can have a wonderful holiday season without missing any of the fun. Put these 12 holiday saving tips into action to save your family some money during this year. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Decide on a Budget

First, you need to put a figure on how much you can spend. Write down every possible expense you could incur from gifts to entertaining to travel expenses. Review this list and trim costs wherever possible.

Check the Closet

Look through your holiday leftovers from last year. You could be surprised by what you will find. Quite likely, you already have plenty of wrapping paper, bows, gift bags or décor. You might be able to cross some items off your list, resulting in saving some cash.

Go Minimalist

Work with what you already have. If you find you only have three strands of working lights, then purchase a smaller Christmas tree that will work with less lighting. Only have a few rolls of wrapping paper? Buy smaller gifts. Think about skipping or cutting back on the outdoor lights and you could see a savings on your electricity bill. Decorate with the holiday décor you have and live with what you’ve got. Sometimes, less is more.

Send E-cards

Completely eliminate paper cards and postage by sending e-cards. Not only is postage not required, but there is no charge for the cards either. There are a variety of websites for making an e-card, with many allowing you to add photos, music, or games. You can save some serious money with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Make a Shopping List

Think about all the people for which you have to buy a gift. List everyone including family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and

teachers. Allot amounts for each person. Never leave home without the list. When shopping, focus on the amount you can spend. Avoid impulse buys by sticking firmly to your list.

Trim Your Gift List You don’t have to buy something for everyone. Have a conversation with family and friends. Brainstorm ways to reduce gift giving. Draw names for a gift swap or eliminate giving gifts to extended family. Perhaps, keep it to the immediate family only.

put all your receipts, so you can regularly and easily add up the totals to see how you are doing.

Homemade Gifts Another good way to reduce spending is by making homemade gifts. There are many creative ideas online, just search homemade gifts and you will find a plethora of ideas to choose from. Gifts made from the heart are special and usually cost much less than purchased ones.

Give the Gift of You

Pay Cash Withdraw your allotted amount from an ATM. Once it’s gone, stop spending. Using cash to make your purchases will eliminate paying back hefty monthly interest charges on credit cards.

Credit Cards Not everyone can afford to cover their holiday expenses with cash only. Start by making as many purchases as you can with cash. Then, think about credit cards as short term loans. Use the card with the lowest interest rate first. Figure out a doable monthly payoff over a given number of months. Pay it back each month and don’t skip a payment.

Track Spending Sometimes, in spite of your best intentions, you can get caught up in the flurry of holiday shopping. Rushing around from store to store, getting enticed by the deals, you can completely forget about keeping up with your spending. It is critical for you to stay on track to avoid overspending. Designate a place to

By giving the gift of your time, you can save a ton of money. Give your friend a free night of babysitting, take care of your brother’s dogs while they are away on vacation, or keep your sister’s children overnight, so she and her husband can go on an overnight getaway. Design redeemable certificates on the computer or by hand for your loved ones to unwrap.

Meaning Over Glitz

It can be easy to get wrapped up in the holiday frenzy, but it’s important to remember the meaning of the season. No matter what religion you follow or holiday you celebrate, spending time with loved ones is free. There is no greater gift in the world than being with the ones you love. Start today and put your plan into action. By using these tips, you will spend less and save more. You will be ringing in the New Year with more money in your pocket and less credit card debt lingering with you in 2014. mp

Sara Kendall is a freelance writer and mom of two daughters.

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2013 River Region

Holiday Happenings

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Montgomery 8th Annual Interfaith Christmas Nativity Exhibit

Experience the beauty of hundreds of nativities, traditional and extraordinary, and listen as community groups perform songs of the season. This wonderful celebration is a gift to the community and provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and find spiritual peace during the busy holidays. November 28th – 30th and December 4-6th and Sunday the 8th from 1-8 p.m. and Saturday, December 7th from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.; 3460 Carter Hill Road, Montgomery. Open to all. FREE Admission. Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. www.MontgomeryNativity.com

15th Annual Lights of Love

Dec. 5th, 6 p.m. For a contribution of $15 or more to the Jackson Hospital Foundation, a light will be placed on the Lights of Love tree inside of Jackson Hospital in front lobby in honor, or in memory, of someone special to you. For contributions of $100 or more Moravian stars will be placed on the tree. For contributions of $500 or more a decorative angel will be placed on the tree. Christian music will be presented. An invitation to the ceremony will be sent to those honored or to the family of those memorialized. Contributions will benefit the Women and Children’s Department at Jackson Hospital. For more information, call 293.8106.

2013 Capital City Christmas Parade

The City of Montgomery would like to invite you to the 2013 Christmas Parade. The lineup will begin this year at the Capital steps to City Hall. The event will be held Friday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m. A limited number of parade entries will be accepted. Schedule of Events: 5:15 p.m. - Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol 6:00 p.m. - Capitol City Christmas Parade 7:30 p.m. – Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony All questions about a parade entry and parade festivities should be directed to Denise Welch at (334) 625.2118 or cgunter@montgomeryal.gov. Visit www.montgomeryal.gov for entry forms.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

“A Christmas Carol” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Starting November 29-through December 24. The snowy London streets ring with carols that set the stage for Dickens magical tale of hope and redemption. Join us as the ghosts of the pasts, present and future reawaken Scrooge’s conscience. A great family outing to brighten your holiday. Recommended for children ages 6+ and up. Prices starting at $24. Please visit us at www.asf.net

Aldersgate UMC Christmas Events

6610 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Monday, December 2, 4:30, Family Advent Adventure and 6 p.m., Chrismon Service. Crafts and fun activities offered for the family. Sunday, December 8, 11:00 a.m. Christmas Musical Drama. Sunday, December 15, 6:00 p.m., Praise Singers Concert and Sing-a-long carols. Call for reservations. Tuesday, December 24, 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Communion, Carols and Candlelight. For more information call the Aldersgate music ministry office at 272.6152.

Annual Holiday Light Festival The Montgomery Zoo

December 5-8, 12-15, 19-31; 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Thousands of Christmas Lights illuminate The Montgomery Zoo in shapes of animals and Christmas themes. See the beautiful displays by train or by foot. Enjoy live entertainment, food, gifts and pictures with Santa.Free for members, Cost $12 for children ages 3 and up, which includes a train ride. Age 2 and under are free. For more information please call 240.4900.

Candlelight Harpischord Chamber Concert Wednesday, December 11; 6 p.m. Christchurch, 8800 Vaughn Rd. You are invited to Christchurch’s free concert of sacred and secular music. The 45 minute performance will feature instrumental and vocal pieces performed by the church’s chancel choir and soloists from the church as well as outside professionals. The free concert in the church’s sanctuary will begin at 6 p.m. It will be followed by a champagne and dessert reception in the parish hall. Reception tickets, which are $25 each, will be available by calling (334)387.0566, ext. 203, beginning Wednesday, November 13th. Proceeds from the

reception will benefit the Christchurch Pipe Organ Fund. Please visit www.christchurchxp.net for more details.

Cruising With Santa on the Harriott II December 7, 12-14, 20-21 Family Friendly; Boards at 6:30 p.m., Cruises 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., $20-$45 per adult & $15-$25 per child. This cruise will include dinner, entertainment and Santa!! Cash Bar. Please visit us at http://www.montgomeryal.gov.

Cottage Hill Candlelight Tour Celebrate the Year of Small Towns and Downtown during Cottage Hill Historic Foundation Tour of Victorian. December 8, 3-7 p.m.; Starting location: Intersection at Martha and Whitman, Montgomery. Admission charged- call for ticket information, (334) 538.3892.

Eastern Hills Baptist Church presents 9th Annual “Hanging of the Green” Sunday, December 8 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Come help us ring in the Christmas season celebrating the hope found in the Christ Child! Also featuring: Youth Choirs, Drama, Celebration Ringers (hand bells), Ensemble, Narration, Interpretive Movement and more. Come early for a good seat – No admission charge. Eastern Hills Baptist Church, 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery, AL (in the Forest Hills neighborhood) Call (334) 272.0604 ext. 214 or visit online, www.ehbconline.com.

Eastdale Mall Christmas Events

Tuesday, December 3 & Tuesday, December 10 Pet Photos with Santa 5 – 9 PM at Centre Court Eastdale Mall invites you and your furry four-legged friends for photos with Santa during two purr-fect evenings reserved just for them! Saturday, December 7 Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 a.m. Santa always starts his day off with a good breakfast, and this year Eastdale Mall invites you to join him! Breakfast is $5 per child and all proceeds will go to

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Child Protect. After breakfast, each guest will get to decorate cookies from the Great American Cookie Co. and make ornaments with the Eastdale Mall Teen Team and Child Protect Junior Executive Board! Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets in advance at the Eastdale Mall Customer Service Center! For more information, contact Suzanna Wasserman at suzanna. wasserman@aronov.com.

Frazer Memorial UMC presents “A Royal Christmas”

Wesley Hall, December 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. Frazer presents this community wide production, Christmas Theatre. Fun for the entire family! Please call (334) 272.8622 or visit www.frazerumc.org. Frazer Candlelight Worship December 24 at 5 p.m. in Sanctuary and 7 p.m. in Wesley Hall. Frazer Memorial The Longest Night Service December 21 at 6 p.m. in the East Sanctuary. A special servicer for those who are experiencing a loss, grieving or lonely.

Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House Tours 1142 South Perry Street, Montgomery, 834.3022 The 1907 Governor’s Mansion will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. December 2, 9, and 16 from 5:00 until 7:00. 1142 South Perry Street, Montgomery.

Holiday Memories December 5th-15th. By Truman Capote and adapted by Russell Vandenbroucke. An American treasure based on two short stories from Truman Capote, “The Thanksgiving Visitor” and “A Christmas Memory” at the Cloverdale Playhouse, Montgomery’s Community theater.

Holiday Open House @ Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

December 7th, 1 to 4 p.m.; Free The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts invites you to an afternoon of holiday cheer at the annual Holiday Open House. The day’s activities will include performances by local choral groups and festive studio activities. In addition to these holiday treats, the Museum invites guests to explore the multiple exhibitions on view. Also, be sure to see the Kwanzaa and Hanukkah displays as well as the Museum’s Christmas tree, adorned with hand-made ornaments created specifically for the Museum by Alabama artists. There is no charge for Holiday Open House, but guests are encouraged to bring canned goods for donation to the Montgomery Area Food Bank or a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

Holiday Pops Concert

December 16th, 7:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Join the MSO for an evening of everyone’s seasonal favorites. Maestro Thomas Hinds and the MSO will perform a wide variety of “holiday classics” with music from both the popular and classical repertories. To order tickets please call the Symphony office at (334) 240.4004.

Huntingdon College Annual Christmas Celebration Share some holiday cheer at Huntingdon College’s annual Community Christmas Celebration on Thursday, December 5th, on the Huntingdon Campus. The celebration includes: 6:30 p.m., the Arrival of Saint Nicholas, in front of Flowers Hall 6:45 p.m., Tree-lighting Ceremony and caroling, in front of Flowers Hall; and 7:00 p.m., A Service of Lessons and Carols, combining Biblical readings by members of the Huntingdon community interspersed with music from the College’s Concert Choir; Ligon Chapel, Flower’s Hall. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Huntingdon College Office of Community Relations at (334) 833.4515.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis December 7th 5k Run or Walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Also 1 mile fun run (chasing an Elf) for under 8’s and 1 mile walk. Admission is $30 to $35 until week prior to event. Please visit us at http://JBRMontgomery.kintera.org/.

Old Alabama Town Open House December 5th, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Enjoy the holidays, early-Alabama style! Live holiday music, traditional pioneer crafts for children, storytelling & costumed guests, cookies and hot cider. Followed by Karren Pell’s Holiday Revue in the Old Church at 7 p.m. Please call (334)240.4500 or www.oldalabamatown.com for more information.

Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Annual Christmas Production 1550 East Washington St. Please join us December 14 at 4 p.m. as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Hosted by the Youth Department. Please call 462.3048.

Santa’s Helpers

Church of the Holy Comforter, 2911 Woodley Road, Call 281.1337. Saturday, December 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free child care! Drop off your kids at Holy Comforter while you shop. We will have activities fro them, feed them lunch, and help your children make ornaments. When you get back, we’ll help you wrap gift for free! Bring your camera for a stress-free picture with Santa. Every child will go home with a dozen fresh-baked cookies. Ages 2-12. Reservations required.

The Forgotten Carols A Magical Family Musical…About the Hope and Promise of Christmas December 6th at 7 p.m. at the Davis Theatre Adults tickets for $15 and Students $10 Tickets will be available at www.theostheatricals.com.

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The Joy Singers Christmas Program at First Baptist Church Sunday, December 1 at 6:15 p.m. Main Sanctuary in First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street. Come join us in a narration and familiar carols presented by the JOY Singers Senior Adult Choir. Please call 834.6310 or visit us at www.montgomeryfbc.org.

The Living Christmas Tree First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street December 13-15; Performers will delight you atop the 40 ft. set resembling a Christmas tree on stage. Please call 834.6310 or visit us at www.montgomeryfbc.org.

“The Nutcracker” presented by Montgomery Ballet

Montgomery’s Favorite Holiday Tradition for over 37 years presented by The Montgomery Ballet. The world’s most famous Christmas ballet. A Montgomery tradition since 1976, this year’s production promises to delight all ages with brilliant dancing, beautiful scenery, and colorful costumes. Come celebrate the holiday season with the Montgomery Ballet as they present this Christmas classic with evening performances at 7:30 pm, December 12th, 13th and 14th, and matinees at 2 p.m., December 14th and 15th and a 6 p.m. performance on Dec. 15. All reserved seats. Tickets are $15 to $35 for adults. We offer military, senior and student discounts. Prices are dependent on convenience and/or handling fees. Come early to each performance and shop the “Montgomery Ballet Boutique,” where you can find a variety of holiday collectibles and special Nutcracker souvenirs. For reservations, call (334) 409.0522 or visit www.montgomeryballet.org.

The Shoppes at EastChase

After Thanksgiving Card Giveaway Santa has a new home this year at the Shoppes at EastChase! Starting Saturday, November 16, photos with Santa will be Santa’s Workshop on Main Street. Kids can enjoy the excitement of being in Santa’s workshop while getting their picture taken with Santa.

Saturday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sundays from noon – 6 p.m. Friday, November 29 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday, December 13 from 5-8 p.m. * Pet Night Friday, December 20 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 14, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids can enjoy breakfast with Santa at The Bonefish Grill at The Shoppes at Eastchase. $10 will include visits with Santa and breakfast. Participants must register by Thursday, December 12. Baking Cookies with Santa December 7 & 21, 8:00 until 10:30 a.m. Kids can bake with Santa at Williams-Sonoma at The Shoppes at Eastchase on Saturday, December 7, and at Panera Bread on Saturday, December 21! The baking fun will be $5 and participants must register by Thursday, December 5 and Thursday, December 19, for Panera Bread. Carriage Rides (next to Earth Fare) Shoppers can enjoy holiday carriage rides through The Shoppes at Eastchase Saturday, December 7, 14, and 21, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Carriage rides will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Take a ride around EastChase and enjoy the beautiful holiday sights and sounds. Holiday Theatre Performances Enjoy holiday performances from “A Christmas Carol” by Alabama Shakespeare performers! Performances will take place on Main Street during various times throughout the week and weekends at Santa’s Workshop on Main Street. Check The Shoppes at EastChase website for performance dates and times. Visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com.

The Sounds of Christmas Presented in Free Concert

Everyone is invited to celebrate the sounds of Christmas with the Capital Sounds Concert Band and the Montgomery Recreators, Thursday, December 5, at 7 p.m. in the main sanctuary of Vaughn Forest, 8660 Vaughn Road. Enjoy the season with Christmas musical selections from “The Nutcracker Suite” including Miniature Overture, Six Characteristic Dances, and Waltz of the Flowers. The band will also perform a beautiful arrangement of the Carol of the Drum, and the Leroy Anderson favorite Sleigh Ride.

Join in singing with a Holiday Sing-A-Long of your favorite Christmas Carols. The concert is free for everyone. For more information please contact Vaughn Forest Church at 279.5433.

“Tis the Season!” W.A. Gayle Planetarium

Beginning December - Traces the development of many of the world’s endearing holiday customs, and how they involve lighting up the winter season, from the burning Yule log and sparkling Christmas tree lights, to the lighting of the Menorah and luminaries. It also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice. not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Pagan, Nordic, Roman, Egyptian and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords a-leaping, and ladies dancing. And the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles. St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus all drop by as well. For tickets, call (334)241.4799. Or visit http://montgomery.troy.edu/ planetarium for details.

Just for Kids YMCA Camp Chandler Holiday Camps

1240 Jordan Dam Road, Wetumpka, Alabama Christmas Camp Dec. 21st - Dec 23rd arriving on Dec. 21st at 4-5 p.m. and departing Dec. 23rd at 4-5 p.m. This adventure is for old and new campers (ages 5-15), old and new staff, friends and relatives. Fee: $100 (members) and $115 (non-members), which includes t-shirt and camp store. Call Jeff Reynolds at 229.0031.

YMCA Goodtimes Holiday Childcare Call 279.8878 to register. Program will run everyday except Thanksgiving Day or the day after. 7:00 a.m. thru 6 p.m. Cost per day; members $23 and non-members $28.

Christmas Eve Services: HOLY COMMUNION at noon FAMILY SERVICE at 3:30 p.m. CANDLELIGHT SERVICES at 5 & 7 p.m.

2416 W. CLOVERDALE PARK MONTGOMERY, AL 334.834.8990 FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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New Years Eve Bash @ Camp Chandler

Dec. 31st - Jan 1st, arriving Dec. 31st at 3 - 4 p.m. and departing Jan 1st at 10-11 a.m. Celebrate New Year’s Eve Camp Chandler style with “ball drop,” dance, and fireworks. Ages 5 - 15. Parents, let us take care of your children’s fun, so you can celebrate the New Year together. Fee: $40 for members and $50 for non-members.. Call Jeff Reynolds at 229.0031 or log on to www. campchandler.org for more information on all camps.

Eclectic Christmas Begins With Christ: An Eclectic Christmas December 3-8, Come join us in December to experience the true story of the first Christmas. The walking tours begin December 5-9 at 6:00 p.m. This event will take place at 1455 Claud Road Eclectic AL, 36024, just south of Eclectic on AL Highway 63. Please call 578.4846 or visit our website at www.aneclecticministry.org. If registering through the website, your reservation will be confirmed as soon as possible. Admission is free, and donations are accepted and appreciated to help with expenses.

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Millbrook Village Green Stage, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., Performances by school, church and group choirs and Christmas caroling for everyone. The Spirit of Christmas Parade Dec 7th, Parade is at 2 p.m. Millbrook’s Annual Christmas Parade will begin at the Sports Complex behind Smokehouse Bar-B-Que and will end at the intersection at City Hall. The theme for this year’s parade is “A Green “Recycled” Christmas”.

Activities will be from 1:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Vendors will be set up at Village Green Park; there will be arts, crafts, and food. This is one of the great things about living in a small community - family fun, not too crowded and loads of excitement for everyone. No admission fee. Call (334) 285.7232.

Prattville Annual Christmas Concert by Prattville Community Chorus and Prattville Pops

Friday, December 13, 7 p.m. at the Glynnwood Baptist Church on McQueen Smith Road. This event is free and open to the public.

City of Prattville Annual Christmas Parade

Friday, December 6 at 7 p.m. Parade will begin that the Autauga County Courthouse. Theme: “A Hometown Christmas”; Lots of floats, dancers, horses, candy and trinkets for everyone. This is a free, family friendly event. Applications available online at www.prattvilleal.gov. Deadline to register is November 25. Please call 595.0854 for more information.

City of Prattville Christmas Tree Lighting

Thursday, December 5th. The program starts at 5 p.m. in front of City Hall with music by the Prattville Pops and the Prattville Community Chorus, along with performances by a host of local talents. This is a free, family friendly event. For more information, visit www.prattville.com.

East Memorial presents “A Christ in Christmas Celebration” Consisting of two events: Drive thru “Living Nativity” December 7th, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. (December 8th will be a back up rain day) Christmas Musical December 15th, from 6 p.m.

East Memorial Baptist Church, 1320 Old Ridge Road, invites the Public to experience the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at a drive-through Living Nativity. Come be counted for the census in Bethlehem, pass through the Town and see the Inn where Joseph and Mary find no room. See the Shepherds in the field where the Angel appears and watch the Wise Men make their way to the trough where Jesus lay. See Him on the Cross and then the glorious Empty Tomb. In addition the church will be presenting a musical. Admission is free. For more information contact the church office at 365.7500 or visit our website at www.eastmemorial.org.

Hunter Hills Church presents “God With Us” King’s Praise Ballet will be presenting Emmanuel - God With Us, on December 19th and 20th at 7PM. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at Hunter Hills Church in Prattville, AL.

P’zazz Art Studio

P’zazz Art Studio will host two “Cupcakes and Canvases” events! Children ages 5 and up can come paint a canvas with the elves, plus enjoy holiday cupcakes from “Girl Meets Cakes”. Cost is just $15. Check the website for more details. P’zazz also offers gift cards great for that artsy kid in your life or an adult who just needs a night out every once in a while! Visit www. pzazzart.com

Special Holiday Exhibit at The Gallery at the Prattville Creative Arts Center

Thru December 31. Featuring works by members of the Prattauga Art Guild including holiday and gift items. This is a free, family friendly event. Admission to The Gallery is Free and it is open to the public. For more information or to set up group or individual tours call 358.0297.

The Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum

The holiday season is upon us when the cast list of the Prattville Ballet’s Nutcracker goes up! Visions of dancing

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the lead role of the Sugar Plum fairy have been a dream of Braidyn Lazenby’s for the past eight years. “The fist time I saw the Nutcracker I knew I wanted to dance that magical role” said Braidyn, “It is an honor to be chosen and it makes people happy at Christmas.” She is an 11th grade honor student at Prattville High School and has been studying dance for the past 10 years. This year’s biennial production will be a collaboration by studios from three counties: Autauga, Chilton and Montgomery. This production is performed by students from C.j.’s Dance Factory, Janey’s Academy of Dance and Tammy’s Academy of Dance. It celebrates the power of human imagination, which children have in abundance. The tri-county Nutcracker Ballet will be at the new Performing Arts Center at Jeff State Community college, December 14th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information please call (334) 467.8603.

Tallassee Holiday Parade The parade will be Dec. 7th at 10 a.m. Begins at Tallassee Church of Christ and goes thru Central Blvd, Gilmer Ave. down to Barnette Blvd. and end at O’ Brien Football stadium. For more information please call (334) 283.5151.

Wetumpka ARRAC Christmas Faire

Thru December 22nd, Thursday thru Friday and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Arts Center (300 Tallassee St., Wetumpka, AL). The Arts Center Lobby and Hall will be filled with trees and tables to display quality local hand made gifts and decorations. Cost for space is free for members or $20 for non-members. For more information call Theresa Wayne at 334-300-9394, leave a message at the center by calling (334) 578.9485 or email Theresa at artistdirector@arrac.org.

City of Wetumpka

Wetumpka Tree Lighting December 5th, in Gold Star Park. Photos with Santa and hot cocoa. Please visit www.cityofwetumpka.com for more information. Wetumpka Nativity and Luminary Open House December 6th, Downtown Wetumpka from 6:30 until 8 p.m. Please visit www.cityofwetumpka.com. Wetumpka Christmas Decoration Contest December 3rd; 6:00 p.m. Businesses and residential. There will be judging to those who have submitted applications. Prizes will be awarded.

Christmas on the Coosa December 14: Christmas extravaganza with arts and crafts, parade, food, quilt show, classic car show, entertainment and activities on the Coosa River culminating with a spectacular fireworks exhibition at dusk. Gold Star Park & the Courthouse Veranda, Wetumpka. Booths will begin selling at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fireworks immediately following Boat Parade at 5 p.m. Please call (334)567.1313 or (334)567.4811. www.wetumpkachamber.com

New Year’s Eve Ball

December 31st from 7 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Tickets required. Tickets at the City Administrative Building. Please call 567.1384.

“A Very Second Samuel Christmas” At the Wetumpka Depot The Christmas sequel to the beloved play “Second Samuel”. The familiar residence of Second Samuel, GA lights the way for a Christmas miracle. December 15-16 at 7:30 and December 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets will sell for $16 by calling box office. Tickets can be purchased by calling 334-868-1440 or online at wetumpkadepot.com. The Depot Theatre is located at 300 S Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Wetumpka.

We invite you and your family to attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 24, at our new site in Cloverdale. This service will be kid-friendly, last approximately 45 minutes, and will be held at Cloverdale Baptist Church located at 608 East Fairview Avenue, in Montgomery. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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North Pole Express Train Rides Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

“All Aboard” says the conductor, and your journey begins. Through the dark night, the magical train speeds to the top of the world! Upon arrival at the brilliantly decorated North Pole, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves board the train to visit with everyone, so be sure to bring your camera! You’ll enjoy chocolate milk and cookies and sing Christmas carols along with the live musician, Mr. Jim. Listen to a special Christmas story and receive a Christmas gift.

Santa Claus Special Train Ride Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

Santa rides the train with you! Tell him what you would like for Christmas as he poses for photos. Each child will receive a Christmas gift! November 30th, December 7th, 14th, & 21st. For tickets and info call 1 (800) 943.4490 or order online at www.hodrrm.org.

Birmingham and North Alabama Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

With its tenth annual performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, Alabama Ballet remains one of only seven companies in the world currently licensed to present this holiday classic. All performed to Balanchine’s brilliant specifications; dazzling choreography, opulent costumes, and extravagant sets make this production unlike any other. The addition of a community cast of children from the area make this performance truly magical. Join us December 13-15 and 20-22 at the Samford Wright Center for this joyous spectacle. In addition to the Birmingham performances, Alabama Ballet will also tour to Anniston, AL. Balanchine’s Nutcracker™ is more than a performance; it is a holiday tradition you and your family do not want to miss. (205)322.4300. www.alabamaballet. org. Admission charged. Samford University Wright Center.

Learn more about Centerpoint Fellowship Church at www.centeringlives.com

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Breakfast in Santa’s Workshop at the McWane Science Center

Two dates to choose from: December 14 or 21; 8:30am until 10:00 a.m.. Bring your little elves to have breakfast in Santa’s Workshop. Decorate gingerbread houses, have breakfast together, explore the Winter Wonderland exhibit and visit with Santa! Be sure to bring your camera! Ticket includes admission to the museum, breakfast, activities and visit with Santa! Reservations are required. Call (205)714.8414. Cost: $20 Adults, $15 Kids for non-members and $15 adults and $10 kids for members. www.mcwane.org

Christmas Light Show DeSoto Caverns

Thru December 31. This special light show celebrates the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is shown on every caverns tour. www.desotocavernspark. com.

McWane Science Center ‘Magic of Model Trains Exhibit’

The holidays are picking up steam at McWane Science Center with the return of the Magic of Model Trains exhibit, Thru January 26. Discover trains of every shape and size inside this popular exhibit which features over a dozen different train displays. Sets include several tiny trains that are built to scale with surrounding cities and scenes including the LG&W that depicts central Alabama in the 1950’s. Every set in the exhibit is designed to scale with the size of the trains. The meticulous detail of the scenery including covered bridges, downtown storefronts and of course, several train stations will keep your family entertained for hours! www.mcwane.org

Winter Wonderland! at McWane Science Center

Brrrr! When the weather outside is frightful, McWane is so delightful! November 29-January 5; Come inside the museum this holiday season and let your imagination be your guide through the new Winter Wonderland exhibits where snowflakes glisten above your head and toy trains zip around the tracks. Inside this holiday exhibit, wonder is in the air as children explore the snow

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from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m., around 30 Bands, Classic Cars, Floats and various other entertainment, parade their way down Peachtree Street to International Blvd., then winds through downtown to Centennial Olympic Park, ending at the Georgia World Congress Center. The Parade makes it’s way through the downtown area to honor and celebrate the Two College Teams that will be playing for the Chick-fil-A Bowl title. Please visit us at www.chik-fil-abowl.com.

Annual Fantasy In Lights

Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain

room where everyday they can touch the “almost” snow! Kids’ laughter can be heard as they try to catch fish through the ice. Brave winter wonder seekers can even sled down a giant snow hill between the third and second floors in the museum. Then, skate around the ice pond in your slippery socks. www.mcwane.org

The most spectacular holiday light and sound show in the south begins November 16- December 30! Nestled amidst wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens, Fantasy In Lights is the Southeast’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show with more than eight million twinkling lights celebrating the holiday season. This spectacular show has attracted almost two million visitors since it opened in 1992. With more than a dozen larger-than-life lighted scenes, Fantasy In Lights remains unique in that its scenes are custom-designed especially for Callaway Gardens–to celebrate not only the joy of the season but the wonder of nature in this idyllic setting. Drive your car or ride the Jolly Trolley to experience scenes like March of the Toy Soldiers and Snowflake Valley. At Robin Lake Beach, enjoy ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ and ‘The Nativity’, light and sound shows enticing passers-by to stop, reflect and enjoy. For tickets please visit www.callawaygardens. com.

Atlanta New Year’s Eve Festival

December 31; Peachtree Street, Downtown Atlanta Georgia. This Block Party for Thousands offers live Musical Performances by local artists and musicians, as well as a midnight Fireworks Spectacular. Tickets are available at a variety of local sources. Stay downtown and enjoy the festivities at Underground Atlanta ... enjoy the ‘official’ Peach Drop at midnight - followed by a really awesome New Year’s fireworks display, with live performances.

Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade

Every year on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2013

Snow Mountain is Atlanta’s first snow park! The 2013/2014 season opens November 25, 2013 – February 17, 2014. Atlanta’s Stone Mountain Park transforms into a winter wonderland with Snow Mountain. Bundle your family up and get ready for snow tubing, snowballs, snowmen and snow angels. Based at Stone Mountain Park’s famous Laser Lawn, Snow Mountain keeps your entire family busy for hours. A 400’ foot tubing hill and a snow play area filled with a blizzard of snow activities make Snow Mountain Atlanta’s not-tobe-missed winter attraction. There’s even a play zone reserved for your littlest snow bunnies. Snow Mountain’s state-of-the-art snow-making magic guarantees you tons of fresh snow daily. And with two Mountain SnoLifts to get you up the tubing hill, you’ll want to go again and again! www.stonemountainpark.com

Stone Mountain Christmas

Thru January 1. There is nothing like the Christmas season that magically transforms Stone Mountain Park into a land of enchantment. Within the glow of more than two million twinkling lights, you can watch live entertainment, engage in fun attractions and reconnect with friends and family during this special time of year. Make a Stone Mountain Christmas a part of your holiday tradition. Events include Wonderland Walkway, Snow Angel Castle, Holly Jolly Cabaret, The Polar Express 4D Experience, Snow Angel Fireworks and Snowfall Celebration, Sleigh Ride, Simply Christmas, Christmas Parade, Visit with Santa Claus, storytelling and live shows, great food and holiday shopping! For details and tickets, www. stonemountainpark.com. mp

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A Page in a Book by Gerry Paige Smith

Discovering Friendship As very young and open-to-anything social creatures, children are typically quick to discover friends. But it’s less common for them to think about the dimensions of a special friendship, to look at their friendship through a different lens. While this concept is easier for adults who have the experience behind them to plumb the depths and dimensions of various friendships, children are just beginning to navigate the landscape of having a special friends and understanding how their buddy connections work. The following titles are sweet introductions that gently explore the layers of friendship that give them depth, meaning and hopefully longevity.

Ten Things I Love About You

by Daniel Kirk (Nancy Paulsen Books / Penguin) Rabbit is so happy that Pig is his best friend that he decides to make a list of ten things he loves about Pig. He makes a special trip to Pig’s house to announce his plan, and show off his first entry on the list (“I love Pig because he is very pink.”). Rabbit also asks for help with his list, but Pig is very busy. As Pig leads him to the door, Rabbit gets more good ideas to add to his list. As Rabbit returns for more help, Pig gently tries to send him elsewhere to work. But each nudge away just generates more ‘Things’ for Rabbit’s list. Just when it seems that Pig is about to lose patience, Rabbit discovers why Pig was so busy – he finds a list of “Ten Things I Love about Rabbit”. Their lists are very different, yet perfectly paired for two special friends. When children read the lists side-by-side, the yin and yang, the balance found in good friendships is clear to even the youngest hearts.

Ollie and Claire

by Tiffany Strelite Haber and Matthew Cordell (Philomel / Penguin) Ollie and Claire are almost inseparable friends. They do everything together; from yoga and running to picnics and swimming. Their daily routines are perfectly synchronized for bosom buddies, until Claire spots an advertisement for a “travel friend” to seek adventure and explore new places. She knows Ollie would never be bold enough to go, so she plans to arrive alone at the appointed time to meet a new friend and go on bold adventures without her best friend. But sometimes there are surprising layers to be discovered in a best friend. This comically illustrated picture book highlights the missed connections even good friends can have while it shares the joy of discovering new dimensions in an old friendship.

When Edgar Met Cecil

by Kevin Luthardt (Peachtree Publishers) Edgar had the best friend in Quincy. They loved to watch scary movies and to build things together. But when Edgar’s family has to move far away, he’s sad to leave Quincy behind and he worries about making new friends. Edgar’s fears seem to be coming true when he finds his new school populated by kids who are very different from him. All the kids seem strange…and the biggest, weirdest kid in his class won’t stop staring at him. Edgar’s anxiety grows as this big, scary kid stalks him around the school. But when they inadvertently startle each other on the playground, the big kid introduces himself as Cecil – and they quickly find common ground for a new friendship. Celebrating the ease of making a new friend even when the landscape changes, “When Edgar Met Cecil” is a great read for kids on the move. Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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4. The Balloon Game:

Write down funny actions, tasks or riddles on slips of paper. Roll up and insert into balloons. You will need two balloons for each person as you need to tie one to each person’s ankles. On go, everyone tries to stomp and pop a balloon. If your balloon is popped, you have to read the riddle, do the task or perform the funny action. This game is guaranteed to keep everyone hopping!

5. The Silent Snowman:

This is a game that goes on all night. Make a snowman out of paper or felt. Attach two sided tape or removable adhesive putty on the back of the snowman. One person starts out with the snowman on his back. As the night goes on, someone tries to steal the snowman and put it on their own back. The person left wearing the snowman at midnight gets a prize.

Are you including the kids in your New Year’s celebration this year? For most of us, that means we bring the kids to the party, but send them off to play with their friends while we mingle with ours. It’s like having two separate parties under the same roof. This year, bring the two parties together with laughter and entertainment for all ages. These eight family-friendly games will help you get it started.

6. Auld Lang Syne Scrabble:

1. Tablet:

Write the words to this popular New Year’s Eve song on separate index cards. (You will need two sets). Break your guests into two teams. On go, ask the teams to put the words in the correct order. The first one to get it correct wins. For a real challenge, do both verses. For a variation, use the words to a current top 40 song that the kids know.

Like Telephone, but for today’s world. Write down an object and an action (like a monkey climbing a tree) on an index card. Using a dry erase board, the first person picks a card and draws a picture based on what he reads. He then shows the picture to the person next to him without letting anyone else see the picture. That person will erase the board and write what he thinks was drawn. He will then pass it to the third person who will draw what he reads. This continues around the circle until it gets back to the first person.

7. Line up Blind:

Break your group into teams. Blindfold one of the teams and have them stand in the middle of the room. Now, ask the team to line themselves up in order – alphabetically, by height, by age, etc. The unblindfolded team can tell them if they are correct or not, but cannot say why. When they are in the correct order, the teams switch places.

2. The Human Knot:

Everyone stands in a circle and puts both their hands out, grabbing a random hand from someone else. While not letting go of anyone’s hand, try to untangle the group. For less of a challenge, try using just one hand.

8. Cherry Pie:

Place a maraschino cherry in a pie plate. Tell the guests the object is to pick up the cherry without using their hands and eat it. Alas, things are never as easy as they seem. Before the challenge begins, fill the plate with whipped cream. This is a great photo opportunity!

3. Doubles:

Ask every guest to bring two small, wrapped gifts. This can either be white elephant or dollar store items. Pile all the gifts in the center of the table. Everyone sits around the table and rolls a pair of dice, trying to get doubles. If they get doubles, they choose a gift from the center. If not, they pass the dice to the next person. If you are playing with younger children, you might want to limit the amount of gifts each person will get. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three. Parties at their house include good food, lots of laughs, and of course, games.

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Meet the 2013

Families of the Year For 25 years, the Family Guidance Center of Alabama has sponsored Families of the Year Awards, recognizing outstanding families nominated for exceptional family teamwork, individual growth and family involvement. This year, five families from Alabama’s River Region were honored at a special ceremony at the RSA Activity Center on November 17. In addition to the Family Guidance Center and Montgomery Parents magazine, sponsors of the program include: WSFA, Aronov, Sterling Bank, Cumulus Broadcasting, the J.K. Lowder Family Foundation, O’Donahue Design and Minuteman Press. For more information about the awards selection or the Family Guidance Center, please call 270-4100 or visit www. familyguidancecenter.org.

Brian & Wendy Coleman Family

Prattville residents Brian and Wendy Coleman were nominated by Pastor Algie Morgan of Father, Son & Holy Ghost Church, who has watched this family support each other over the last seven years. While Wendy was a full-time college student and stay-at-home mother to Jakayla, now 10; Brian, Jr., 9; and Wynton, 14 months, Brian worked to support the family as well as care for the children so Wendy could achieve her educational goals. Wendy now works as an observational lab instructor at Alabama State University and as an elementary teacher, while Brian works as a correctional sergeant at Julia Tutwiler Prison. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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At church, Wendy works as a Vacation Bible School teacher and co-chairs (with Brian) an outreach project and literacy program in Kenya, Africa. She is a Girl Scout Council member of Southern Alabama and a troop leader within Autauga County. Both she and Brian volunteer in various positions in their children’s schools and the community, such as head coach and team mom of various soccer, football, dance, baseball and cheer teams. “Brian and Wendy have exemplified qualities of what I believe the modern Christian family should be,” says Morgan. “I believe they have a shared vision of what is important and yet necessary in nurturing a family. They exemplify the love of Christ and work well together as a team.”

Other family involvement is through their church, Landmark Church of Christ in Montgomery. The Dappriches have taught Bible classes for years, often with their children as assistants in the children’s ministry. This past summer, the family traveled

Darrell & Julie Dapprich Family

to Malawi, Africa, to work in the Mtendere Village, an orphanage and school for children in need. For more than 10 years, the Dappriches have financially supported a child named Ronald, and were finally able to meet him in person on the mission trip. They are currently working to bring him to America so that he can attend college here. Ronald even refers to himself as “Ronald Dapprich” because he considers himself a member of the family! The family has a heart for orphan care, and they believe it is their calling to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. The Dappriches volunteer as a family each Christmas as bell-ringers for the Salvation Army, working tirelessly to provide gifts for children who would otherwise have none.

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Harold & Carolyn Neal Family

Nominated by Dorothy Hawthorne, this Wetumpka family is comprised of Darrell, Julie, 16-year-olds Christian and Ashley, and 13-year-old Emily Grace. Hawthorne was extremely touched by the family’s thoughtfulness shown to her when she broke her hip and was confined to rehab. Julie brought 50 “get well” cards to her from children made in their Sunday School classes at Landmark Church of Christ. The Dappriches are a homeschooling family, which requires tremendous family teamwork. Not only do Darrell and Julie teach their own children, but they help others by teaching in local co-operative groups in which homeschooling students meet in a regular classroom environment on a weekly basis for instruction outside the home. They also serve as coaches in the athletic department of Evangel Family Christian Academy, which is their family’s homeschool cover school. Darrell is the varsity volleyball coach and varsity baseball coach, also assisting in the basketball program. Julie is a coach for the cheerleading team. Both Dappriches have also coached for many years in the city recreational youth leagues and in church league sports that their children have been involved in. 78

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Montgomery residents Harold and Carolyn Neal are instrumental to the Partners in Education program in Montgomery Public Schools, dedicating their time and efforts to T.S. Morris Elementary School. They created a community-wide tutoring program at the school in 1999 that still exists today. They are also involved with the T.S. Morris Partners Alliance, which functions to help meet the needs of the students and the school through such www.montgomeryparents.com

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projects as constructing two park benches for the courtyard, purchasing items at yard sales for the school clothes closet, leading an annual work day for landscape and grounds maintenance, and fundraising projects. Many of the Neals’ community contributions are through their church, First United Methodist of Montgomery, so they were understandably nominated by Rev. John Blount, the church’s minister of mission and outreach. The Neals have participated in several foreign and domestic mission trips working with people from the French Alps to the mountains of Kentucky. They have worked with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, FUMC’s Mission in Montgomery, and FUMC’s Pancake Run for Missions. Harold has used his fix-it skills to design and construct poster display boards, a stand for the altar cross, a ladder chair for the church library, park benches, shelves for the choir room, and numerous items for the United Methodist Women church bazaar. When FUMC bought a 29-passenger bus, the Neals both obtained commercial driver’s licenses and

KNOW S C

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e A concussion is an injury caused by a blow to the head in which the brain moves rapidly and may collide with the inside of the skull.

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are still the primary church bus drivers and trainers. They have driven various church groups all over the Southeast, including residents of the United Methodist Children’s Home on a recent trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY/ACTIVITY

Should be urgently assessed medically

Should not be left alone

Should not drive a motor vehicle

Patrick & Connie Parks Family

In addition to Patrick and Connie, the Parks family of Prattville includes Patrick, Jr., 18, and Ashley, 17. Patrick, Sr. helps minister to youth in their church, while both he and Connie work with young engaged couples on striving toward successful marriages and giving pointers to keep their relationships strong. The Parks family are faithful givers of the church whether it is through their time or talents, instilling this mantra in their children as well.

ThinkFirst _____________________________________________

Alabama

CONCUSSION CLINIC 205.934.1041 www.Childrens AL.org/concussion IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR LOCAL ER

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The family also supports each other through their individual endeavors. Patrick has been promoted to store manager at the Auto Zone in Millbrook, while Connie is focusing on coursework in the early education field. Patrick, Jr. is away at college playing football at Jacksonville State, after playing at Prattville High School last year. Ashley attends a private Christian school with plans to attend college and study pediatrics. She and her brother continue active involvement at their church in various youth ministries. Shannon Pickett, who nominated the family, adds that Connie also sets an example within the community by heading a reading readiness program at Spring Hill A.M.E. Zion Church in Prattville. She looks forward to tutoring children with reading and other subjects as part of the after-school program. Connie is also credited for gearing up a Summer Feeding Program at Spring Hill this past summer that helped feed the nearby Boys and Girls Club, as well as other children in the surrounding area, averaging about 75 children.

Tammy Prickett Family As a single mom, Tammy Prickett of Montgomery has had more than just the usual challenges of parenthood to overcome. When 13-year-old son Logan suffered severe medical crises in 2008 that left him with physical and mental limitations, Tammy, her daughter Cheyenne, now 19, and Logan, now 18, have had to learn to work together as a team. Watching them over the years has truly inspired Baptist Health Chaplain Larry Layne, who nominated the family. Five years ago, the Pricketts were like many other families, traveling to Birmingham for a medical appointment followed by a routine MRI to help determine why Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Logan wasn’t growing as fast as his classmates. When the contrast dye was injected into his veins, he experienced an anaphylactic allergic reaction, which cased respiratory arrest, followed by cardiac arrest. He was without heartbeat or oxygen for 45 minutes while emergency teams tried to revive him. Miraculously, Logan’s life was saved that day, but he suffered an anoxic brain injury and remained in a coma for 12 days. Even after his release from the hospital nearly three months later, he would require round-theclock care. After a 10-month leave of absence from work, made possible by donated annual leave from fellow Alabama Air and Army National Guardsmen, as well as other civil servants, Tammy was able to return to her job with the peace of mind that Logan’s physical, occupational and speech therapy would continue. Even today, she has the full support of Chey-

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enne, who often prepares meals, and assists with housework and transportation in addition to Logan’s care. As part of his ongoing extensive rehabilitation, one of Logan’s favorite activities is involvement in the MANE (Montgomery Area Non-traditional Equestrians) program, which allows him to maintain a two-point position while trotting on a horse. He is also a National Honor Society student at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, where he plays the auto harp in the classical guitar program. He is currently on track to finish in the top 10 percent of his BTW graduating class of 2014. mp

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Edited by Alison K. Rouse.

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12U Dirtbags Named USSSA State Champions

The 12U Dirtbags went 12-3 in the fall of 2013 and were named the USSSA 12U Major State Champions. The Dirtbags played in four tournaments in the fall, winning two and coming in second in two. The team won its first two tournaments by going 6-0. Players defeated the Circle City Canes (Dothan), FPA Elite (Millbrook), Young Guns Baseball (Columbus, Ga.) and Southeast Thundersticks (Montgomery). In their third tournament the Dirtbags played 13U competition. The Dirtbags went 3-1 and placed second. In pool play, the players defeated the Copperheads Blue (Columbus, GA), a 13U Major team, 3-1. In their last tournament, the Dirtbags defeated Bay County Heat and Niceville Traveling Eagles before losing to Line Drive in the finals. The team finished second. The Dirtbags are currently looking to add a player for the 2014 spring season. They are based out of Montgomery and play a highly competitive schedule. Anyone interested in scheduling an evaluation, please contact David Hilyer at davidhilyer@gmail.com Back row from left are Maddux Herring, Coleman Wright, Jackson Blair, Cole McWhorter and Campbell Cleveland; and front row from left are Copeland Hilyer, Payne Griffin, Will Aaron and Zak Haynes.

Local Scouts Pay Tribute to Veterans

Wetumpka Cub and Boy Scouts participated in the Veteran’s Day service at Pineview Cemetery November 11. Cub Scout packs 50 and 429 joined Boy Scout troops 13 and 50 to attend the ceremony conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The scouts placed flags on the graves of the veterans buried in the cemetery and attended the service in their honor later that morning.

Girl Scouts Start Robotics Team

There’s more to Girl Scouts these days than cookies, crafts and camping. Thanks to a FIRST robotics team grant from Girl Scouts of the USA and Motorola, and additional funding from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama has started a robotics team, the Cookie Crushers, to further its science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program. This eight-person, all-girl robotics team built the robot, “Steve,” and spent six weeks gearing up for their first FTC (First Tech Challenge) competition in McDonough, Ga., that was held on November 16. The competition required the girls to design, build, and program their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. In this format, teams are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given to the robotic teams for the competition, in addition to community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments. The Cookie Crushers finished seventh out of 17 teams that competed, which was exceptional since it was their first competition. The newly established GSSA robotics team hopes to continue its new and exciting robot journey and compete in more competitions. Girl Scout Research Institute data shows that 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM subjects and this general field of study. Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is hoping that a robotics team will be another way of getting girls interested in STEM activities and encourage girls to participate in a career field of science, technology, engineering or math.

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AUM Offers Small Group Tutoring For Grades One Through Five in Reading and Math

READING will meet on Tuesdays: 4:45-5:45 p.m. January 7-February 4; MATH will meet on Thursdays: 4:45-5:45 p.m. January 9-February 6. No more than eight students will be in each grade/ section. Cost is $89 per term per subject. AUM instructors are certified classroom teachers with 10-plus years of experience. They will use gradelevel curriculum that focuses on the common core in reading and math so that their instruction correlates with what is currently being taught in the classroom. Instructors will determine where your student needs help and work with him to improve those skills. Call (334) 244-3804; visit www.ce.aum.edu; or come by 75 TechnaCenter Drive. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

• www.montgomeryparents.com

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bullying in schools using the ROCK materials, steering committee members began to recognize that the respect message was desperately needed in the community, too. ROCK’s goals are to raise awareness about bullying in all its forms; educate the community and empower young people on ways they can help prevent bullying; promote programs that advocate respect for others; and foster partnerships with community groups to advance the ROCK message. Plans are underway to develop a public awareness campaign that could include public service announcements, presentations for schools and community groups, and signage and billboards. Programs will also be developed. For more information on future events, visit http://facebook.com/RiverRegionRock.

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Every seven minutes a child somewhere in the U.S. is bullied, reports the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Because bullying isn’t confined to schools, Laura Hicks, with Stamp Idea Group, said ROCK’s community approach helps spread the message across to diverse groups. “Churches, public and private schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, city and county leaders and law enforcement are all involved because the need for kinder, more respectful communities is universal. Every one of these groups can bring something unique to the table to prevent bullying. We’re committed to preventing bullying over the long haul.” ROCK began as a branding campaign for the Family Sunshine Center and Montgomery Public Schools that was created by Stamp during its annual CreateAthon in 2011. Brightly colored ROCK posters that included a kid-friendly, anti-bullying message and instructions on how to report bullying incidents soon began appearing in MPS’ 33 elementary schools. Then, ROCK stickers, T-Shirts, arm bracelets and pencils were incorporated as behavior incentives to complement the bullying prevention curriculum offered by the Family Sunshine Center and MPS. As more elementary students became empowered to report

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River Region ROCK —Respect Others, Create Kindness—is a new taskforce that aims to prevent bullying in schools and communities and promote a culture of kindness and respect across the River Region. At a kick-off event held at St. James United Methodist Church, River Region ROCK steering committee members, community leaders and more than 50 representatives from area churches, law enforcement, public and private schools, area businesses and community agencies discussed plans to work together to address bullying. “In recent years, bullying has escalated from mild verbal attacks and pushing, to real violence and attacks through cyberspace that too often have tragic consequences,” said Melanie Beasley, Public Affairs Director, Family Sunshine Center. ”ROCK will work to change attitudes about bullying and raise our level of respect for others through positive reinforcement and education. Raising the level of awareness among young people and adults is important.”

FLAG TWIRLING • CHEERLEADING • RIFLERY • ARCHERY • TRIP DAY • GOLF

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ROCK Taskforce Promotes Respect Across the Region

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Calendar/Support Groups Ongoing

Ala. Dept. of Archives & History Exhibit galleries include a children’s gallery and a reference room for genealogical and historical research. Hands-On Gallery includes Grandma’s Attic where you can try on clothes, uniforms, shoes, try an old typewriter, sit at an old school desk or experience making a quilt square. However, the Hands-On Gallery and Grandma’s Attic will temporarily close for 2nd floor hallway renovations this summer. The Museum will remain closed until Monday, August 19. You can visit our History at Home web page to print off fun activities you can do at home. Stay tuned in for upcoming events from the Archives, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook. Call 242-4435 or www.archives.alabama.gov. Alabama River Region Arts Center in Wetumpka has weekly after-school Arts Clubs which meet on Thursdays from 4-5 & 5-6 p.m. There are three clubs: Guitar (acoustic), Clay (polymer, ie “sculpy”) and Painting/ Drawing. Each Club is $20 a month. Students for Guitar Club must be 10 years old, but 7-year-olds are welcome for the other two. Clubs are limited to the first 10 students, for one month. While children are in Arts Clubs, parents are welcome to stay and browse our Gallery or Resource Library, or just wait in the kitchen with a soda! Studio space is also available on a lease basis. The Pottery Studio is available to ARRAC members trained on the wheel. First Saturday of every month is a free Sit & Sew, from 9 a.m.-noon. Bring your hand-sewing project or sewing machine for a morning of sewing with the ladies. (Bluegrass Jam is going on at the same time in another room.) 300 W. Tallassee St. (former Wetumpka Jr. High building), Wetumpka, AL 36092. Visit www.arrac.org or see us on Facebook: Alabama River Region Arts Center, or call 578-9485 for more information. Artists In Action: 1st Wednesday and 3rd Saturday of EVERY month at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts from noon-2 p.m.. Local and regional artists at work. For more info, call 240-4333. “Artworks,” a hands-on children’s exhibit. FREE. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Blount Cultural Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Open until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Closed Mondays. For more info, call 240-4333. Celtic Dance Classes Fridays at Montgomery Ballet from 4-5 p.m. We welcome boys and girls ages 6 to adult. Call Amanda at (706) 4579254 or e-mail Celtic.traditions@gmail.com for more info. The Central Alabama Tennis Association (CATA) is a volunteer-based tennis organization formed to provide programs which promote and develop the growth of tennis throughout central Alabama. The CATA has four essential charitable and educational purposes: (1) to promote and develop the growth of tennis in central Alabama area by providing a variety of educational and charitable tennis programs and services; (2) to educate the community concerning the importance or tennis and the benefits that can be derived from tennis; (3) to expand the opportunities in the community for learning tennis and to offer opportunities for learning tennis to individuals who do not have access to tennis; and (4) to provide programs and services in the community that teach participants scholarship and fair play and that permit access to volunteers and instructors who can serve as positive role models and mentors. For event info, call Ernie Rains, CATA Community Coordinator, at 324-1406 or e-mail www.centralalabama.usta.com. Civil Rights Memorial A monument to those who died and/or risked death in the struggle for civil rights. 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery. For information, call 264-0286. Cloverdale Playhouse “Third Tuesdays” Montgomery’s singers and songwriters perform in our intimate theater space each month on the third Tuesday. Join us for a musical evening in Old Cloverdale. For details, call 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org. Also contact us about volunteer opportunities, auditions, and the Playhouse School! Cupcakes by Tish Offers Cupcake Decorating Workshops and Parties for Kids and Teens Every fourth Saturday, classes will be offered for children

ages 4-6, 7-10 and 12-15 between noon and 6 p.m. at The Shoppes at EastChase location. The hour-long workshop is $25 per child and gives each child the opportunity to learn the art of cupcake decorating. Each child will receive a Cupcakes by Tish apron and four decorated cupcakes with a variety of candies, sprinkles, and goodies that adds personalization. Older kids and teens will be shown the basics of fondant decorating. To register, contact Special Events Coordinator Ebony Ware at (334) 356-5292 or parties@cupcakesbytish.com. First White House of the Confederacy Open on Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This year begins the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. The First White House of the Confederacy played a significant role during the war and served as Jefferson Davis’ family residence from February-May 1861. Located at 644 Washington Avenue in downtown Montgomery, neighboring the Alabama Department of Archives and History. For more info or to tour the museum, call 2421861 or visit www.firstwhitehouse.org. Garden Tours Local gardens include Southern Homes and Gardens, Blount

December 2013 bridge, lunches, movies, etc. General meetings are second Tuesdays September-May at 10 a.m. at the YMCA on McQueen Smith Road. For more information, contact Nancy Schrull at (334) 356-5026 or nschrull@theschrullgroup.com River Region Contra Dancing Everyone, school-age through adult, is invited for a little exercise and a lot of fun. Singles, couples and families are welcome. All levels of experience – including no experience. Dancing is on 1st & 3rd Fridays at 7 p.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 5260 Vaughn Road. For more info, visit www.riverregioncontradance.com or call Katherine Thomas at 334-361-6572. Rosa Parks Museum 252 Montgomery Street, 241-8615. Hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Sundays and holidays, closed. Admission 12 years and under-$5.50/Over 12-$7.50. Alabama college students with a valid student ID: $6.50; discount price for both Museum & Children’s Wing: adults: $14, children $10 Tales for Tots Join us for this FREE introduction to art in storybooks and in the Museum galleries for young children and their families.

Find a listing of Public Library Storytimes and Events at MontgomeryParents.com!

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Cultural Park’s Shakespearean Garden at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Grace Episcopal Church, Prattville’s historic gardens in Old Pratt Village and the Wilderness Park, and Wetumpka’s arboretum at Ft. Toulouse. For more info in Montgomery, call 1-800-240-9452 or visit www.VisitingMontgomery.com. In Prattville, call 361-0961 or visit www.prattville.com/visitor/history. In Wetumpka, call 567-3002 or visit www.wetumpka.al.us/features. Other numbers are: Blount Cultural Park (274-0062 or www. blountculturalpark.org); Grace Episcopal Church (215-1422); Old Alabama Town (240-4005 or www.oldalabamatown. com); and Alabama Garden Trail (1-800-ALABAMA or www. touralabama.org). W. A. Gayle Planetarium Public Shows offered Mon.-Thurs. and Sun. Admission $3.50/person, children under 5 free, seniors $2.50/person. Mon-Thurs. at 3 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m. 1010 Forest Ave. in Oak Park. Call 241-4799. Montgomery’s Freedom Rides Museum Road to Equality: The 1961 Freedom Rides yearlong exhibit features works of art from top Alabama artists and offers unique interpretations of one of the most pivotal desegregation events in the nation’s history. Located in the capital city’s recently restored 1951 Greyhound Bus Station, the exhibit will remain open every Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment throughout the year. For more info, visit www.freedomridesmuseum.org or www.montgomerybusstation.org MOOseum, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Children’s educational center featuring past, present and future in agriculture and the cattle industry. Free. Group tours should be pre-scheduled. Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. -noon and 1-4 p.m. Last scheduled tour of the day starts at 3:30 p.m. 201 Bainbridge St., Montgomery. For info, call 265-1867 or visit www.bamabeef.org. Old Alabama Town 19th and early 20th century outdoor history museum. Tours Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults, $4 for students ages 6-18. Under 6 free. 301 Columbus St., Montgomery. For information, call 240-4500. Prattville-Millbrook Newcomers Club A non-affiliated social club geared to new people moving into the area AND to those looking to form new friendships or just learn more about the area. We will also have interest groups that meet during the month at various times and locations. They could be groups such as canasta,

Each time a different work of art and special story will be presented. Next class is December 11. Call 240-4365 or visit www.mmfa.org for more info.

Classes

Breastfeeding Class Designed to prepare the expectant mother for breastfeeding her newborn. Also includes trouble-shooting common problems to establish a successful breast-feeding experience. Usually the first Saturday of the month, from 9-11 a.m. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. FREE. Class schedule is subject to change, so please call 293-8497 to register or for more info. Childbirth Basics Class Provides childbirth information for those who choose to have pain relief during labor and delivery. Sessions are taught throughout the year but are often held on the first Saturday of the month, from noon-2 p.m. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. Cost is $25. Call 293-8497 by your 4th month of pregnancy to register. Childbirth Preparation Class Comprehensive four-week series covers all aspects of the labor and delivery experience, admission process, medication and anesthesia options including epidurals, cesarean sections, coping and comfort measures including breathing and relaxation techniques. Postpartum care and baby care basics are also included. A maternity area tour is also included as a part of this class. All of our classes are taught by registered nurses certified in childbirth education. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule your class. Childbirth Preparation Boot Camp An abbreviated version of Childbirth Preparation Class offered in a one-day format. A maternity area tour is also included as a part of this class. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@ baptistfirst.org to schedule your class. Chinese Language Classes Auburn Montgomery’s Office of Far Eastern Initiatives offers Saturday classes for children and adults. The one-hour weekly courses are provided free-of-charge as a service to the community. For more information or to register, contact April Ma at 244-3018 or ama@aum.edu.

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CPR & First Aid The American Red Cross offers classes in adult and infant/ child CPR as well as first aid and babysitting classes monthly. Call 260-3980. Diabetes Education --Prattville Baptist Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education services available Wednesdays by appointment at Prattville Medical Park. Call 213-6360 for more information. Diabetes Education --Baptist Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education services available weekdays by appointment. Call 213-6360 for more info. Grandparent Class This program presents new concepts in newborn care to grandparents who need a refresher course. Usually one Tuesday per month. FREE. Call for schedule. Jackson Hospital. Call 293-8497. Infant Safety/CPR Class Teaches parents and grandparents American Heart Association’s Family and Friends CPR for infants and children, including care of the choking infant, infant rescue and breathing with hands-on practice using ACTAR CPR dolls for class participants. Class will also help parents with creating a safe environment for their child. Classes are taught by certified CPR instructors. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Maternity Area Tour Maternity area tour for expectant mothers and families not attending Childbirth Preparation Class/Boot Camp. Baptist Medical Center East. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Math & Science for Preschoolers Classes for “3-2-1 Blast T.I.M.E.S. (Technology, Innovation, Math, Engineering, & Science)” are held every Monday, excluding federal holidays. Children ages 3-5 will learn math and science concepts through everyday play. Classes are 30 min. long and $8/week. Join us at 1585 E Main St, Prattville (next to Pri-Med), to have fun and get a boost in math & science. Please visit 321 Blast TIMES on Facebook for times. To register or for more info, contact Susan Trombley at 321blasttimes@outlook.com or (334) 380-1879. Pre- and Post-natal Fitness Classes Includes water aerobics, step-floor aerobics and strength training. SportsFirst. Call 277-7130. Prenatal Breastfeeding Class Provides expectant mothers information about breastfeeding including various factors influencing lactation, advantages of breastfeeding, basic anatomy and physiology of milk production, specific techniques to promote a successful breastfeeding experience and breastfeeding equipment and supplies. Classes are taught by IBCLC instructors. Partners are encouraged to participate in this class. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule your class. Sibling Preparation Class Fun one-hour class is designed for expectant “big brothers and sisters” ages 3 to 8. They will learn about the arrival of their new baby through an introduction to the hospital experience and the early days at home. Parents should plan to attend with their child. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Your Amazing Newborn One-night class taught by a pediatrician and nursing staff usually one Tuesday a month. This class presents new concepts in newborn care and helps alleviate parenting jitters often experienced by soon-to-be parents. Grandparents also welcome. Jackson Hospital. FREE. For more info, call 293-8497.

Services

American Cancer Society seeks Volunteers for Road to Recovery This program is designed to ensure that cancer patients have transportation to and from medical facilities for treatment. Road to Recovery volunteers can be individual drivers with time to help others or even local companies who allow employees to provide transportation on company time in company cars. Anyone who has a driver’s license, a safe driving record, personal automobile insurance, owns a car or has access to one, and can spare as little as one morning or afternoon a month is encouraged to volunteer. For more information, or to volunteer, please call Luella Giles at 612-8162 or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Hospital Volunteers Volunteers are needed at Baptist Medical Center East, Baptist Medical Center South and Prattville Baptist Hospital. Duties vary by facility but include delivering mail and flowers, transporting patients, staffing waiting rooms and information desks, and furnishing coffee for visitors. Volunteers work one four-hour shift per week. For more info, call 286-2977. Hospice Volunteers Through volunteering at Baptist Hospice, the opportunities to help are endless. Our volunteers are an important part of the patient’s care and are the heart of the hospice family. There are many other ways to help, such as special projects and events or providing administrative support for the staff, that are essential. Volunteers often have special talents and innovative ideas that add so much to our program. Please call Gloria @395-5018. Volunteer Services Jackson Hospital is looking for volunteers for the information desk. These volunteers are needed for the evening shift, 5-8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Volunteers must be friendly and eager to offer information to those visiting the hospital. With this position, a free meal will be given as well as a parking spot next to the lobby. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are asked to work 4 hours a week. They must complete an application and pass a background check and health screening. If you are interested in volunteering, call 293-8967 or visit www.jackson.org/ patients_volunteers.html and fill out the application. Baptist Sleep Disorders Centers Baptist Medical Center South and Prattville. Both centers have the ability to diagnose up to 84 different sleep disorders. There are four board-certified physicians and a clinical psychologist on staff between the two centers. For more information, call 286-3252 for Baptist Medical Center South and 361-4335 for Prattville Baptist Hospital. Jackson Sleep Disorders Center Jackson Hospital houses a sleep disorders center on the third floor of the Goode Medical Building to monitor those who are suffering from sleep disorders. For more information, contact your physician or the Sleep Center at 293-8168. Jackson Hospital Offers Animal Therapy Program to Pediatric Unit Jackson Hospital’s Animal Therapy Program is a vital part of its patient care. Animals in the program are limited to dogs, and no other animals are allowed to participate. Currently, there are 10 dogs in the program. Their handlers have undergone extensive training and orientation, and visit the hospital weekly. For more information, please call 293-8894.

Support Groups Adoption Support

Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC) This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer Memorial UMC. For more information, call Hannah Taylor at 409-9477 or the church office at 272-8622. Autauga/Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For more info, call 409-9477 or e-mail htaylor@childrensaid.org Panda Pals is a support group for families who have adopted or in the process of adopting children from China. We have playdates, family nights and get-togethers to talk about raising our children from China. If you would like to join our group, just e-mail PandaPals2005@yahoogroups. com or call Tracie Singleton at 395-8215.

Cancer Support

American Cancer Society, including Montgomery, Elmore, Autauga, & Macon Counties: **To access or sign up for these programs, call the American Cancer Society’s Montgomery office at 612-8162 or call 1-800-ACS-2345 and you will be connected to the Montgomery office.** Look Good…Feel Better is an American Cancer Society program in which trained volunteer cosmetologists help female cancer patients deal with the side effects of treatment. Patients are taught beauty techniques to enhance their appearance and self image during or after treatments, including ways to disguise hair loss and skin changes. Call Luella Giles at 612-8162 for more info.

Man to Man is an American Cancer Society support group for men who are battling or have survived prostate cancer. It offers them education, discussion and support. Please call for next meeting dates at the American Cancer Society Office in Montgomery. OTHER PROGRAMS/SERVICES OFFERED BY THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: Reach to Recovery matches newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with survivors on a one on one basis. College scholarships to cancer survivors Free wigs and other supplies for cancer patients Free rides to treatment through our Road To Recovery program (where volunteer drivers use their cars and time to take in need cancer patients to treatment) Free lodging through the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge in Birmingham (if patients are sent to Birmingham for treatment) On-line cancer information classes and support group through www.cancer.org. Information anytime and trained specialists at 1-800ACS-2345 General Cancer Support Group held at Christ Church, 8800 Vaughn Road, Tuesday afternoons at 1 p.m. This is an open group. For more information, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie Diemayer at 467-4578. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, 2nd Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in Room 8114. Provides education, awareness and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family or friends. For more info, call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@charter.net.

Divorce Support

Divorce Care, Grief Share, Divorce Care for Children, All three groups meet Sundays at 5 p.m. at Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Rd. Call 279-9976. Divorce Care and Divorce Care 4 Kids First Baptist Church Montgomery, Wednesdays starting August 22 at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $15 (scholarships available). Contact Kathy Cooper at kcooper@montgomeryfbc.org or 241-5125. Divorce Recovery Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622 for more info.

Gambling Support

Gamblers Anonymous meetings in the River Region Area: Saturdays @ 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 5375 U.S. Hwy. 231 (Directly across from the Winn-Dixie shopping center), Wetumpka. Call (334) 567-7534. Sundays @ 5 p.m., Mental Health Association, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Mondays @ 6 p.m., St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline: 334-541-5420

Grief Support

Bereaved Spouses Support Group A new ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church, USA (Unavoidably Single Again) Ministries is designed to offer ongoing support, social events and fellowship to those who have lost their spouses to death. The group is open to ALL widowed individuals, regardless of age, religious beliefs, or length of marriage or widowhood. Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the church’s building, 301 Dalraida Road. E-mail Lynda Coats at farauthor@aol.com for info. “Big Leap!” Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This group is designed to meet the needs of children who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. This group provides a hands-on, safe space for age-appropriate expression of grief. These sessions aim to increase feeling identification, decrease self-blame or guilt, and build coping skills. Through music, art, and play we meet your child or grandchild on their level. We encourage your children to hold tight to their memories as they make a “big leap” into their new future. This group is open to children ages 7-11. Space is limited to 6 participants so call 279-6677. Start date will be determined once reservations are confirmed. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW “Comfort and Conversation,” Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This

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Calendar/Support Groups group is intended to address those affected by a recent loss (0-12 months after death). Through meeting with others who are walking a similar journey, you will be encouraged to work through the complications of your loss, understand your pain, and adjust to your new reality. Space is limited, so please call 279-6677. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW Compassionate Friends, Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Hwy, first Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child. We have an annual special event on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We will hold a Candlelight Ceremony in memory of our children at 7 p.m. at Eastmont Baptist Church. Registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (334) 284-2721. We will also collect Toys for Tots for anyone interested in participating. “Connect,” Fridays at 11 a.m., biweekly, Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This group is for those who have already walked through the initial grieving process but still desire to connect with others who share similar experiences. This group will allow you to meet new people, stay active in the community, and look ahead to a bright future. We will share lunch, visit museums, volunteer, attend movies, and participate in area events. We even have a fishing trip on the agenda! This group is ongoing and does not have a participation limit. It’s time to have fun again, come join us! For more info, call 279-6677. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW Grief Recovery Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622 for more info. Grief Recovery After Suicide, Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy., first Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room 3102. This group is open to family members and friends who have lost a loved one as the result of suicide. Group offers a confidential environment in which to receive support, hope and information. Contact Rev. Susan Beeson, 272-8622. Grieving With Hope, St. Mark UMC, meeting weekly on Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. The group offers a place to share, care and heal from the losses of life. Facilitated by Dr. Lennie Howard and Marie Parma. Contact the church at 272-0009. Honoring Angels Like Owen, Inc. (HALO) offers family-oriented, Christian-based grief support groups that meet monthly. These groups are for families who have lost a child from 20 weeks gestation up to the age of 2 years old. Our parents’ group is for mothers and fathers. Our siblings’ group is for children ages 6-15. Both groups meet at the same time and place. These groups offer faith-based healing through sharing and emotional support. Meetings offer an outlet for sharing your child’s memory and your day to day struggles, while receiving support of others who have been in similar situations. Please feel free to bring photos of your child to share. HALO also offers free professional photography for families facing the loss of a child up to the age of 2 years old and needs-based financial assistance for burial. Visit www.honoringangelslikeowen. org or call (334) 328-1202.

Homeschool Support

ECHO (Elmore County Homeschool Organization), Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. 2nd and 4th Fridays year-round from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a support group for homeschooling families in the tri-county area. Membership is free. For more info, please visit http://www.onlineecho.com PEAK of Montgomery Homeschool Group Parent Educators and Kids (PEAK) of Montgomery is an inclusive, member-led group of homeschooling families who meet regularly for field trips, park days and other social and educational activities. We welcome all local home educators who enjoy sharing and learning within a diverse community. To join us, visit us at www.peaknetwork.org/montgomery

Illness Support

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Day Care, Frazer Memorial UMC, Thursdays, in Room 3101, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is no charge, but registration is

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

required. For more information, call the Congregational Care office at 272-8622. Each participant needs to bring a sack lunch. On the first Thursday of each month, the Caregivers’ Support Group meets in Room 3103 beginning at 10:30 a.m. For the support group, call the church at 272-8622. Cardiolife, a FREE educational series for congestive heart failure patients and their caregivers, meets 4th Thursdays of each month, 10-11 a.m. Diabetes Center classroom, Jackson Hospital. For more info, call 279-6677. Topics include: Lifestyle Changes, A Heart Healthy Diet, Proper Fluid Intake, Importance of Daily Weights and Exercise Tolerance. Support for this program provided by River Region Supportive Care – a Division of Hospice of Montgomery. Facilitated by Arla Chandler, RN, BSN, MBA. Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance, Room 3101 at Frazer UMC, 1st Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. This group is for those with depression and bipolar illness and their families. For more info, call 2728622 or visit dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com Meetings also available 3rd Saturday afternoons from noon-2 p.m. at Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway. For more info, call 652-1431. Depression & Bipolar Support, Montgomery Public Library Main Branch, 245 High Street downtown, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 3rd Saturdays, Noon-2 p.m.; OR 1609 West Street, north off Carter Hill and Narrow Lane, 2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call 201-9638 or 652-1431 for more info. Fibromyalgia Support, Room 8114 at Frazer UMC, 3rd Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. This group is for those that have fibromyalgia and for their family members and friends. For more info, please call 272-8622. Gluten Intolerance Group (www.gluten.net) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide support to those with any form of gluten intolerance. GIG-Montgomery assists with awareness of diverse potential symptoms, which can range from fatigue and headaches to nausea and intestinal problems. Guidelines are provided on how to eat safely both at home and eating out. Another objective is to facilitate more effective communication between the local gluten-free community and stores, restaurants and the medical community. Meets 2nd Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., at Taylor Road Baptist Church, Fellowship Suite (faces entrance of EastChase-NE. Turn on Berryhill Rd. by EastChase). Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings (www. glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot.com) For more info, you may also e-mail dr.hetrick@charter.net or visit the group’s Facebook page. Montgomery Area Mended Hearts, First floor of Montgomery Cardiovascular Institute on the campus of Baptist Medical Center South. For anyone who has experienced cardiac illness. Third Mondays, alternates between 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Call 286-3410 for more info. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Montgomery offers General Membership meetings on 4th Mondays (beginning January 28, 2013) at the Dalraida UMC annex building at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are open to anyone who is interested in issues concerning mental health. The NAMI Montgomery Family Member Support Group continues to meet on 2nd Mondays, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) for directions/details. Beginning in February, NAMI Montgomery will offer the 12-week “Family To Family” education program (free) on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Bell Road Lowder Regional Library. Call 271-2280 to register. Overeaters Anonymous, Unity of Montgomery, 1922 Walnut St., Saturdays from 3-4 p.m. Contact Misty at 3249568 or Carol at 467-5742. Parkinson’s Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, WILL NOT MEET IN DECEMBER. Meetings resume in January on 4th Thursdays at 6 p.m. in Room 8114. Group is for Parkinson’s patients and their family members. For more info, call 272-8622. Sjogren’s Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, WILL NOT MEET DECEMBER through MARCH. Meetings resume in April on 3rd Tuesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. in room 3104. This group is for those with Sjogren’s disease and the family members of those affected by this disease. For more info, call 272-8622.

December 2013 Traumatic Brain Injury Support, cafeteria at HealthSouth on Narrow Lane in Montgomery. 2nd Thursdays at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Alabama Head Injury Foundation for anyone with a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or related disability. For more information, contact Holli at (334) 290-0646 or e-mail: ahif_montgomery_auburn@ yahoo.com. Visit www.ahif.org Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets 3rd Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 3108 at Frazer Memorial UMC. This group provides support and understanding to those caring for OEF/ OIF Veterans. For more information, contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS, (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.

Parent Support

D.A.D.S. (Dad and Daughter Saturdays) Second Saturdays at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Library in downtown Montgomery at 11 a.m. D.A.D.S. is the vision of local resident and Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce staff member Ron Simmons and his five-year-old daughter Erin. It gives fathers and daughters an opportunity to read together to create fun, educational memories. All fathers in the River Region are invited to bring their daughters to the library to read, laugh and have fun. This free event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Montgomery City-County Public Library and Dreamland Barbeque. For more information on this event, call Ron Simmons at 334-777-8596. iConnect, Frazer Memorial UMC, 3rd Thursdays from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Parlor. Share life, encourage and be encouraged by other women. We meet for breakfast, fellowship and a speaker. Advance reservations are necessary for breakfast and preschool nursery. Cost is $5 per meeting. For more info or to make reservations, call Frazer’s Women’s Ministry at 495-6391 or e-mail Sandy Boswell at sandy@frazerumc.org La Leche League of Montgomery, East Imaging Center on Winton Blount Blvd., Montgomery, 3rd Fridays, 10 a.m. Leaders are experienced breastfeeding mothers who have completed an accreditation program and are familiar with breastfeeding management techniques as well as current research. Meetings are free and open to all women. Expecting moms, children and grandmothers also welcome. If you need information before the next scheduled meeting, please contact Bridgit (569-1500), Amy (356-3547), or Heather (LLL_heather@yahoo.com). Moms’ LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) First Baptist Church, Prattville. Meets twice monthly from 8:30-11:45 a.m. in the chapel at First Baptist Church in Prattville August through May. For moms of all stages and ages of life. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guests, special guest speakers and a lot of fun! Cost is $5 per meeting. Childcare provided by reservation. For more info and to reserve your spot, call Kelley Manning at 361-7919. The Montgomery Multiples Club is a non-profit organization offering support to the mothers and families of twins, triplets, and more in the Central Alabama region. They have a mom’s night out with dinner once a month. They also have a yard sale twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall. For more info, visit http://montgomerymultiplesclub. org. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St., Montgomery. Moms, are you looking for a good excuse to get out of the house? MOPS is a great opportunity to hone your mothering skills, meet new friends, and learn new things while deepening your relationship with God. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Oct. 3 & 17) Call Kristi Gay at (334) 233-8989 or visit www.montgomeryfbc. org. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Are you in need of a time-out? Then have we got the place for you! MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. Childcare is provided. For more info, e-mail VFCMOPS@ gmail.com.

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Pregnancy Loss/Infertility

Hannah’s Prayer, Prattville First United Methodist Church, 2nd Thursdays and 3rd Sundays. Support group for women dealing with pregnancy loss/infertility issues. Call (334) 365-5977. Sav-A-Life conducts a HOPE GROUP for women who have experienced the emotional aftermath of an abortion. Groups meet eight consecutive Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. and are facilitated by women who have experienced abortion. The “Forgiven and Set Free” Bible study is used. Confidientiality is assured. Please call Kathy at 260-8010 for information.

Single Parents Support

Singles’ Small Groups, Frazer Memorial UMC, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622 for more info. TNT (Tuesday Night Together) for Singles, Frazer Memorial UMC, Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, Bldg. 7000. A meal ($5) and program are provided. For reservations, call 272-8622.

Special Needs Support

Apraxia Parents’ Support Group Meets 2nd Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. at Starbucks on 6501 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery. For more info, e-mail montgomeryparentsofapraxia@gmail.com. Central Alabama Autism Support Team (C.A.A.S.T.), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Hwy. 31 in Prattville from 6-8 p.m. 3rd Thursdays quarterly (Feb., May, Aug., Nov.). Visit www.easysite.com/caast or e-mail casst50@yahoo. com for more info. Down Syndrome Support, Vaughn Park Church of Christ, 1st Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Childcare provided. Call 356-9048 or visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com for information. Montgomery Area Hearing Loss Support Group meets monthly at the Wesley Building of the First Methodist Church in Montgomery on 2nd Thursdays at 4 p.m. It is affiliated with the nationally recognized non-profit advocacy group, Hearing Loss Association of America. The purpose is to bring together all adults and parents of children who would like to know more about hearing losses, its causes and its possible corrections. Licensed audiologists make brief presentations explaining their local programs, their offices and the availability of hearing tests, of possible medical corrections, and/of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Refreshments at each meeting. For more info, contact HearingInfo@earthlink.net River Region Autism Support Group, Cafe Louisa (in Old Cloverdale), 1036 E. Fairview Ave. We meet on 1st Saturdays from 4-6 p.m. This group is comprised of parents whose children are on the autism spectrum. We also welcome others involved with autistic children, such as grandparents, friends, teachers, therapists, etc. For more info about how to join the group, or if you plan to attend a meeting, e-mail Lyra Stephens at LyraStephens@yahoo.com

Teens/Families Support

Life is Fun Together (LIFT): A FREE Relationship and Marriage Enrichment Program providing different educational and fun-filled seminars to individuals and families. The LIFT Program is provided through Family Guidance Center of Alabama in partnership with the Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative. Call Tonya Rogers at 270-4100 for class start dates or more info! “Relationship Smarts Plus” teaches teens in grades 7-12 about healthy relationships in a fun, interactive way. Six-week sessions are available throughout the year on Mondays from 4–6 p.m. “Smart Steps for Stepfamilies” is a six-week session that helps stepfamilies learn strategies to strengthen and stabilize their families. Parents and children ages 8 and up meet in their own groups, then meet up at the end of each session for a fun family activity! “Together We Can” gives non-married parents the skills they need to maintain healthy relationships between themselves and their children. “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette)” teaches single adults how to get the most out of dating. “Mastering the Magic of Love” is a communication class

for all couples. Bring your spouse, fiancé, or that special someone in your life with you to learn new communication techniques and enhance your skills as a team of two. All adults are welcome, including graduates looking for a refresher! Also…. LIFT has a brand-new program just for parents of teens!!! “Bridging the Great Divide: Parents and Teens Communicating About Healthy Relationships” is perfect for parents or guardians who want open lines of communication with their teen. Topics include “Principles of Dating & Healthy Relationships,” “Sensitive Topics,” “Rules & Boundaries,” and more!!! Building D of Family Guidance Center, 2358 Fairlane Drive. This workshop lasts only three weeks, so call TODAY to reserve your spot! You can look at a calendar of LIFT classes & events online by visiting our LIFT web page: http://www.familyguidancecenter.org/ Remember, LIFT has FREE programs for singles, couples, stepfamilies, parents, teens, and now parents of teens! Call 270-4100 or e-mail trogers@ familyguidancecenter.org if you didn’t see your class listed so we can contact you when the next one starts. Support Group for Teens with difficulties communicating with parents and friends. Contact Felicia Pressley at Pressley Counseling by leaving a message at (334) 625-0159.

This Month Thursday, December 5

Roots and Boots Concert at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre 8 p.m. Roots and Boots is a triple threat of country stars Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw. This trio of musicians boasts a combined total of 16 Gold and Platinum albums, 42 Top 10 singles and 14 #1 hits. Tippin is best known for his patriotic anthems like “You’ve Got To Stand For Something” and his great sense of humor, while Diffie has been delivering fun, danceable tunes like “If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets.” Meanwhile, Sammy Kershaw’s trademark drawl has garnered him many big hits, including “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful and “Queen Of My DoubleWide Trailer.” For ticket information, call 481-5100 or visit www.mpaconline.org Capitol Sounds & The Montgomery Recreators 7 p.m. Vaughn Forest Church hosts the Capitol Sounds Band and Montgomery Recreators for an upbeat and fun night of Christmas music featuring all of the classics performed with both swing and big band style. This will be a concert that you will not want to miss. Free to the public. For more info, call (334) 279-5433 or visit vaughnforest.com/news-and-events. Lights of Love at Jackson Hospital 6 p.m. Remember a loved one during the holiday season. For each contribution of $15, a symbolic light will be placed on the towering Christmas tree in the main lobby. Call (334) 293-6940 or donate online at www.jackson.org/foundation. Red Door Theatre Presents Papa’s Angels Through December 8 Union Springs. Thursday-Saturday dinner (reservations required) at 6 p.m.; play at 7:30 p.m. Sunday play only (no dinner) at 2:30 p.m. Call (334) 738-8687 or visit www. reddoortheatre.org Cloverdale Playhouse Presents Holiday Memories Also December 6-8 and 12-15 An American treasure, based on two short stories from Truman Capote, “The Thanksgiving Visitor” and “A Christmas Memory,” Holiday Memories is a charming, heartwarming remembrance of a young man and his family. Set in Depression-era rural Alabama, this play of evocative memories follows Buddy (young Truman Capote) and his elderly cousin (Miss Sook) as they deal with the school bully, make fruitcake for Eleanor Roosevelt, cut down the perfect Christmas tree, and share a very special relationship. For tickets or more info, call 262-1530 or visit www. cloverdaleplayhouse.org Faulkner Dinner Theatre Presents The Game is Afoot! Through December 21 Theatre doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner is served from 6:15 until 7. The show begins promptly at 7:30. Tickets are $25 and include dinner and the show. Members of the military can purchase tickets for just $20. Reservations must be paid in advance. Make reservations or for more information, call 386-7190 or e-mail boxoffice@ faulkner.edu.

Friday, December 6

2013 Capital City Christmas Parade 5:15 p.m. - Governor’s Tree Lighting - Capitol Steps; 6 p.m. - Capital City Christmas Parade - From the Capitol Steps to City Hall; 7:30 p.m. - Mayor’s Tree Lighting at Lister Hill Plaza (across from City Hall). 2013 Float Contest: Entry Categories include: Business Floats, Floats by Adults and Floats by Children/Youth. Float staging will be held at Cramton Bowl. For more information, contact Denise Welch at (334) 625-2100 or e-mail dwelch@montgomeryal.gov. Progressive Nativity and Luminary Night Downtown Wetumpka. 6:30-8 p.m. For more information contact Tiffany at (334) 567-1384. Cruising with Santa on the Harriott II Weekends Through December 21 Board - 6:30 p.m. Cruises - 7-9 p.m. Ticket Prices are as follows: Adult Dinner - $45/person; Child Dinner - $25/ person; Adult Patio - $20/person; Child Patio - $15/person; Entertainment, Cash Bar and Concessions Available. Santa will be on board! Visit www.funinmontgomery.com Capri Classics Presents It’s a Wonderful Life 7:30 p.m. James Stewart’s George Bailey is about to throw himself off a bridge when an angel trying to earn his wings decides to show George what would have happened to George’s hometown if he had never existed. For more info, visit www.capritheatre.org Late Night with YMCA Goodtimes -- Also December 13, 20 & 27 A weekly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of five-to 12-year-olds offered at the YMCA Goodtimes Center on Bell Road. Time is 6:30-11:30 p.m. and supper is included. Cost is $15 per child and no reservations are required. Child to staff ratio is 15:1. Call 279-8878 for more info.

Saturday, December 7

AUM Offers Free Mandarin Classes Auburn Montgomery’s Confucius Institute continues to offer free Mandarin classes to the community on Saturdays this spring. To register, send the student’s name, age and contact information to ama@aum.edu. Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run 8:30 a.m. Huntingdon College. Visit www.arthritis.org/ Jingle-Bell-Run/ Santuck Flea Market An outdoor flea market with more than 450 booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports, food, and more. The Santuck Flea Market is open the first Saturday of each month from daylight until 2 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE. Free admission, free parking available. Call 567-7400. Home Depot Kids’ Workshop Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. This month’s project is “make a fun Tic Tac Toe Board!” In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin. 9 a.m.-noon. Ages 5-12. Free. Children’s “Make It and Take It” Holiday Art Events 10 a.m.-Noon & 1-3 p.m. Prattville Creative Arts Center (Chestnut Street, behind the Police Department). Come to one of these classes and create special holiday artwork to keep or to give as a gift to someone special. Classes are free, but space is limited and registration is required. To register or for more information, call (334) 595-0854. Montgomery Ballet’s Christmas Spectacular Alley Bar. There will be three performances at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. that will include festive style dance numbers and local vocalists singing holiday tunes. Regular tickets are $5 and VIP tickets are $15. Visit www.montgomeryballet.org Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information or tickets, call (205) 458-8400 or visit www.bjcc.org. The Capri Presents Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation -- Through December 8 Elf shows at 3 p.m. both days; Christmas Vacation at 7:30 p.m. For more info, visit www.capritheatre.org Prepared Childbirth Class Provides childbirth information for those who choose to have pain relief during labor and delivery. Topics include stages of labor, breathing and relaxation techniques, the

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Calendar/Support Groups role of the coach, and proper care of mother and baby after delivery. Sessions are taught throughout the year, from 9 a.m.-noon. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. Cost is $25. Call 293-8497 or e-mail liz.owen@jackson.org. Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena Presents Enchanted Moments - Stories Told On Ice Also December 8 7 p.m. on Dec. 7; 3 p.m. on Dec. 8. This unique show will feature some of your favorite storybook characters as they are brought to life by a talented group of skaters. Adults and children alike will love this rendition of both modern and fairytale classics. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are free. The complex is located just off exit 246 at 500 Amphitheater Rd., next door to the Oak Mountain Amphitheater. Cruising with Santa on the Harriott II Also December 12-14; and 20-21 Board - 6:30 p.m. Cruises - 7-9 p.m. Ticket Prices are as follows: Adult Dinner - $45/person; Child Dinner - $25/person; Adult Patio - $20/person; Child Patio - $15/person. Entertainment, Cash Bar and Concessions Available. Santa will be on board! Visit www.funinmontgomery.com or call (334) 625-2300.

Monday, December 9

Five Days of Christmas at Alabama Nature Center Through December 13 What do you want for Christmas? Let Santa know during “The Five Days of Christmas” at the Alabama Nature Center. This event is designed for children ages 3-7 and will be offered daily for church groups, daycares, preschools and elementary schools to attend. Two half-day sessions will be offered for groups to choose from: 9-11 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. Activities will include a chance to sit in Santa’s lap, candy making, arts and crafts, a hike and a hayride. Bring your lunch and have a picnic under the ANC pavilion! Program cost is $6 per participant. Sign up your group today. Hurry! Space is limited. Contact Holly Beverly at (334) 285-4550 or hollyb@alabamawildlife.org.

Tuesday, December 10

Annual Messiah Sing-along 7 p.m. River City Church hosts Montgomery’s 8th Annual Messiah Sing-Along: A Community Celebration led by Rebecca Barrineau Taylor and featuring members of the Montgomery Chorale and the Montgomery Symphony. Members of the community are invited to join in a moving performance of this baroque masterpiece. Seating is by voice part. Non-singers may sit with friends or family, or in areas not reserved for specific voice part. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be offered in the Fellowship Hall following the concert. Visit montgomerychorale.org/Montgomery_Chorale/ Welcome.html

Wednesday, December 11

Master Gardener ‘Lunch & Learn’ Program Noon-1 p.m. Bring your own lunch to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services (ACES) at 340 Queen Ann Road, just off Highway 14 on the west side of Wetumpka. The program is free and beverages will be provided at no cost. The topic for December is “Decorating with All-Natural Materials,” presented by Central Alabama Master Gardeners’ Assn (CAMGA) members Phil Easter and Rosemary Mobley. For more information, call 567-6301 or visit the Extension Office on Queen Ann Road in Wetumpka.

Thursday, December 12

Prattville’s Way Off Broadway Theatre Presents “Uh-Oh! Here Comes Christmas” -- Through December 15 7 p.m. performances except for 2 p.m. Dec. 15. Based on the books written by Robert Fulghum (author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) and directed by William Harper. For tickets or more info, call (334) 595-0854 or visit wobt.prattvilleal.gov/

December 2013 Friday, December 13

Parents’ Night Out at the Wetumpka Family YMCA A monthly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of kids 12 years and under offered the 2nd Friday of each month from 6-10 p.m. Games, arts and crafts, a movie and hot dogs are offered. Cost is $10 per child for members and $15 per child for non-members. You must register by the Thursday prior. Call 567-8282 for more info. Parents’ Night Out at Christ Community Church 5-9 p.m. 8285 Ryan Road in Montgomery. Enjoy a festive night out while supporting Youth Missions! The student ministry and leaders will provide evening childcare in the church theater for children ages 3-12 (younger children must be potty-trained). Cost is $15 per child if pre-registered by December 12 ($20 per child without pre-registration), and dinner will be provided. To register your child, please call Lauren Beach at (334) 273-8110 or e-mail lb@christccm.net (include name, ages of children, and contact phone number). Elmore County Homeschool Organization Meets -- Also December 27 Elmore County Homeschool Organization is a non-profit support group for homeschooling families. We provide a positive socialization environment for homeschooled children & support and encourage their parents in the homeschooling process. We meet the second and fourth Friday of every month year-round from 10 a.m. to noon at Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. Membership is free and is open to all homeschoolers in the tri-county area. ECHO has field trips, park days, holiday parties, enrichment activities, and a yearly awards ceremony. For details, visit http://www.onlineecho.com

Saturday, December 14

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic 10 a.m. Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. This month’s project is a train engine. Ages 5-12. Free. Online registration opens a few

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weeks before each clinic’s date. For more info, visit www. lowesbuildandgrow.com or call your local Lowe’s.

Monday, December 16

Montgomery Symphony “Holiday Pops Concert” at Montgomery Performing Arts Centre 7:30 p.m. Join the Montgomery Symphony and special guest Montgomery Chorale for an evening of holiday “classics” with everything from Silent Night to Sleigh Ride. Ask about the “Buy One – Get One Free” offer. For ticket information, call 481-5100 or visit www.mpaconline.org

Wednesday, December 18

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Newcomers Club Monthly Luncheon The Newcomers Club of the Greater Montgomery Area invites women who are new residents in the area to attend our monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Country Club. This month’s speaker will be Jim Williams from Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Cost is $15 and reservations must be made by noon Monday, December 16, to lyrad0908@yahoo.com or call 354-9797. Visit www. newcomersmontgomery.com

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ArchiTreats: Food For Thought The Alabama Dept. of Archives & History, 624 Washington Ave. Noon-1 p.m. Bring lunch and a drink and join us every third Thursday for these FREE lectures sponsored by Friends of the Alabama Archives. Today’s topic is “Alabama’s Got the Boll Weevil Blues” presented by James C. Giesen. Call 353-4726 or visit www.archives.alabama.gov. Autauga County PALS Electronic Recycling Event Autauga County PALS and C E & E Solutions of Prattville host a Monthly Electronic Recycling Drop-off third Thursdays at Pratt Plaza, from 3-6 pm. Recycle your old, broken, or obsolete TVs ($10), cell phones, radios, stereos, computers, laptops, cameras, toaster ovens, microwaves, vcrs, remotes, printers, scanners, pagers, tape recorders, vacuums, irons, hair driers, keyboards, monitors, projectors, video games, speakers, server hubs, turntables, CD/DVD players, etc. Divert old electronics from the landfill, free up storage space, & create jobs by recycling. ($10 fee for TVs). CE&E (568-9621) is registered with ADEM as an electronic recycler. For details, call John-Paul (358-6749).

Saturday, December 21

Cupcakes by Tish Offers Cupcake Decorating Workshops for Kids and Teens Every fourth Saturday, Cupcakes by Tish will now host Cupcake Decorating Workshops. Classes will be offered for children ages 4-6, 7-10 and 12-15 between noon and 6 p.m. at The Shoppes at EastChase location. The hour-long workshop is $25 per child and gives each child the opportunity to learn the art of cupcake decorating. Each child will receive a Cupcakes by Tish apron and four decorated cupcakes with a variety of candies, sprinkles, and goodies that adds personalization. Older kids and teens will be shown the basics of fondant decorating. To register, contact Special Events Coordinator Ebony Ware at (334) 356-5292 or parties@cupcakesbytish.com. GO Enjoy Christmas at the Alabama Nature Center -- Also December 22 What do you want for Christmas? Let Santa know at the second annual “Christmas at the Alabama Nature Center.” Make your own Christmas candy over the fireplace in the Lanark Pavilion, or create your own hand-made Christmas decorations from native Alabama plants! While it might not be cold enough for a sleigh in Alabama, kids and adults can enjoy a holiday hayride with Santa and his elves. Contact Holly Beverly at (334) 285-4550 or hollyb@alabamawildlife.org.

Tuesday, December 31

Jamey Johnson Concert at Montgomery Performing Arts Centre 9 p.m. Come celebrate New Year’s Eve with this CMA and ACM Award winner and 5 time Grammy Award nominee. Special VIP Packages available. For ticket information, call 481-5100 or visit www.mpaconline.org New Year’s Eve Ball At Wetumpka Civic Center Cocktail attire. 8 p.m.- Powerhouse. Midnight -

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Calendar asteroid drop and fireworks. Tickets: $25 person. For more info, contact 567-1384 or trobinson@ cityofwetumpka.com New Year’s Eve Street Celebration Commerce Street Entertainment District, Montgomery. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Live entertainment from Black Jacket and Rhythm Nation. Fireworks display and confetti cannons at midnight! Admission is FREE!

Friday, January 3

The Montgomery Chorale and Friends Present Twelfth Night Celebration -- Also January 4 7 p.m. Church of the Ascension, 315 Clanton Avenue. Celebrate the close of the joyful holiday season with song, dance, and festivities with The Montgomery Chorale and friends from The Montgomery Youth Chorale, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama Dance Theatre, Montgomery Ballet, Montgomery Symphony, Clefworks, Cloverdale Playhouse, and the St. Andrew’s Society! Refreshments following. Tickets are $25/ general admission, $15 student/seniors and are available at montgomerychorale.org or from any Chorale member. Call (334) 265-3737 if you have questions. Seating is limited and this will be a popular event, so please order early!

Saturday, January 4

Breastfeeding Class Breastfeeding and lactation education designed for expectant mothers, fathers, and/or support persons. Class includes benefits, basic breastfeeding techniques, and prevention of common problems. 10 a.m.-noon. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. $15 covers mother and support person. Pre-registration required. Call 293-8497 or visit www.jackson.org/events to register or for more info.

Tuesday, January 7

AUM’s Small Group Tutoring for Grades One Through Five in Reading and Math Our instructors are certified classroom teachers with 10-plus years of experience. They will use grade-level curriculum that focuses on the common core in reading and math so that their instruction correlates with what is currently being taught in the classroom. Our instructors will determine where your student needs help and work with them to improve those skills. READING will meet on Tuesdays: 4:45-5:45 p.m. through February 4; MATH will meet on Thursdays: 4:45-5:45 p.m. January 9-February 6. No more than eight students will be in each grade/section. Cost is $89 per term per subject. Call (334) 244-3804; visit www.ce.aum.edu; or come by 75 TechnaCenter Drive.

Friday, January 10

Black Jacket Symphony Presents “Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy” at MPAC 8 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience by recreating classic albums in a live performance setting with a first-class lighting and video production. With no sonic detail being overlooked, the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. Following the album and a brief intermission, the Black Jacket Symphony returns to the stage to perform a collection of greatest hits by the evening’s artist. For tickets, call 481-5100 or visit www.mpaconline.org.

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Calendar information due by the 15th of each month. Send to editor@montgomeryparents.com. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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Bradford Health Services ROAD MAP TO ADOLESCENT RECOVERY

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Family Karate Center News

Pelham Civic Complex Brings Fairy Tales to Life

This Christmas season, the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena in Pelham, Ala. will proudly showcase skaters of all ages with the popular Enchanted Moments - Stories Told On Ice. This unique show will feature some of your favorite storybook characters as they are brought to life by a talented group of skaters. This year will feature new characters as well as a return of memorable favorites from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show. Adults and children alike will love this rendition of both modern and fairy tale classics. The event will be held on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 -4 and children 3 and under are free. The complex is located just off exit 246 at 500 Amphitheater Rd., next door to the Oak Mountain Amphitheater. For more info, visit http://pelhamciviccomplex.com or call (205) 620-6448.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

Students at The Family Karate Center gathered together November 20 for a bittersweet night. This was the Black Belt Promotion for many that had completed their 3/4 year training for Black Belt, and also the last night for the Chandler family that has been with Master Carole Smith at the school for eight years. This Air Force family has six members, and all were promoted to first-, second- and third-degree black belt this year. Dad Mark has been deployed four times since the family joined Family Karate Center, but stuck to his training overseas, and was promoted to seconddegree black belt at the celebration. The promotion ceremony was also secretly a Farewell Party for the Chandlers, who have been transferred to Columbia, South Carolina. Students from many years back were invited to join in the night of happiness and tears. From left are Chief Instructor Master Carole Smith, Stephen Chandler, Caleb Chandler, Matt Chandler, Josh Chandler, Mark Chandler, Angela Chandler, Jennifer Walston, Brad Walston and Jacob Walston.

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Business Card Directory

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Call Call for for more more information information 3541 3541 McGehee McGehee Rd Rd Montgomery, Montgomery, AL AL 36111 36111 334-281-1032 334-281-1032 facebook.com/LooneysSuperSkate facebook.com/LooneysSuperSkate

Number ONE Reason To Advertise...WOMEN! 93

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Home Based Business Directory TUTORING

Certified Teacher in grades K-12 with 28 years teaching experience, plus a lot of experience with Special Education Students and Basic Math, Pre-Algebra and Algebra. Call Mrs. Gwin at (334) 215-0032 or (334) 301-7451. Or email dalice.gwin@gmail.com.

Work From Your Kitchen Counter in Health/Wellness Requirements for team members: Focus, willing to work hard, ready to do it now, enthusiastic, grateful, confident, self-responsible, teachable, team builder/player and best of all POSITIVE! 805-621-2466

Tutoring in Montgomery Area

Williams Carpentry

Angelina’s Photography

Porches, remodeling, sheet rock, painting, hardwood floors. Call Robert Williams at (home) 361-7307 or (cell) 699-3864.

Available for family, child, baby, and pet portraits. A great idea for fall and Christmas portraits! Visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ angelinasphotographyal to view my work. Contact me, Angelina Smith, by phone at (205) 499-2029 or send me a message on Facebook.

Usborne Books and More

Piano Teacher

We chart the path, you enjoy the voyage! Amanda Gunn, Owner/Agent 120 Hickory Place • Wetumpka, AL 36093 Phone/Fax: 334.514.0999 Email: amanda@pathwayvoyages.com Visit www.pathwayvoyages.com.

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Ala Nationally certified-Children and adults welcome. 1829 Hillhedge Drive. Please call Miss Bickerstaff at 262-3341.

I am recruiting book sellers in the Montgomery, Prattville, and surrounding area to sell high quality, affordably priced children’s books. If you would like more information please call or email Christine at: (334)221-4371 or email Ceemetalk@aol.com.

Tutoring

Learning at its best! One hour or ½ hour sessions available. Elementary-age students, ALL subjects, specializing in Language Arts/Reading. Certified K-6. Professional Teacher and Tutor, 10+ years experience.

Saxon Lawn Service

You grow it, we mow it Affordable pricing

Tutoring for Students in Grades K-6th

Contact Stacy Morris at (205) 276-7814 or stace79@msn.com

Please call 274-0324.

Mrs. Taylor (Current Teacher) 334-590-2098 hdtaylor101@charter.net

Homemade Cheese Straws

Bow Wow Meow Pet Sitting and Training

Cheese Straws are a perfect appetizer for parties, showers, weddings, and tailgating. They also make a wonderful gift! Please call Shanna at 334-850-2439 or email at ilovemytwo@yahoo.com.

Pathway Voyages

We Sit And Stay While Your Away....

Whether you need us to watch your four-legged kids for the day, week, or month, we are available 24/7. Access To Both Maxwell And Gunter AFB; 10% Military Discount. Call Lori @ 407-403-0713 For Pricing.

Clothing Repair Need your favorite clothes repaired at reasonable rates? Call Letricia Long at 334-549-6414.

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The Piano Man Piano tunings, repair, and restoration. Active member of the Piano Technicians Guild. Contact us today to arrange a time to give your piano much needed attention. Call 569-9662 or visit www.pianoman.net/al

I have been pet training and pet sitting for over 9 years. Certified Pet Trainer, Free Consultation, Reasonable Prices Call Courtney (334) 354-4183

Certified K-6 Teacher Reading and Math Tutoring Contact 334-456-3728 or email brittanygraves13@ hotmail.com

Chemistry Tutor

(current LAMP teacher) Clarence Hann IV 334-315-7070 channiv@yahoo.com

Advanced Placement Chemistry Honors Chemistry General Chemistry

Southern Quality Lawns, LLC

Mommy, Milk, & Me, Inc.

Provides breastfeeding education and consulting, antepartum and postpartum doula services. For more information please contact Tangela Boyd at 334-531-0145.

“Quality Service from the Ground Up” Serving the tri county area. Call or email us for a free estimate. Bobby, 334-657-7750. robertsqlawns@gmail.com

Email: Tangela@mommymilkandmeinc.com Website: www.mommymilkandmeinc.com

“Home is Where the Heart Is” Cleaning Services”

Your home is one of the most important things in your life and the lives of your loved ones! Please allow me to take care of it for you. I will clean your home the same way I would my own! Please call Terri @ 334-365-2727 or 334-568-9160.

The FREE AD GUY knows that every business needs a few lucky breaks before it can become successful. That’s why he is offering more FREE ads to Home Based Businesses. In return, the FREE AD GUY would appreciate it if you would tell a friend about Montgomery Parents Magazine. If you’ll just help him spread the word about Montgomery Parents Magazine he’ll keep working for you and your business. If you have already run a FREE ad you can send a request to repeat the ad or make changes. Please understand but we will not accept any phone requests. For new Home Based Business advertisers, just send your information to: FREE AD GUY, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123, or freeadguy@montgomeryparents.com. The FREE AD GUY reserves the right to refuse any ad in case it’s not appropriate for our readers.

Montgomery Parents I December 2013

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AdvertiserDirectory We know that readers consider our advertisers as valuable a resource as the editorial content in Montgomery Parents. We hope this directory saves you time as you refer to the magazine throughout the month. Page numbers follow the advertiser’s name.

Evangel Christian Academy, 46

Montgomery Uniforms Plus, 34

Family Karate Center, 13

Montgomery Zoo, 72

First UMC, Montgomery, 70

Mrs. Sandy’s House, 93

First UMC, Prattville, 39

My Kids Attic, The Shoppes at, 19, 39

Fleming’s Martial Arts, 88

New Park, 2

Frazer Memorial UMC, 61

OB/GYN Associates, Dr. Desautels, 28

Glitterbug the Clown, 90

Once and Again, 59

Greengate School, 75

Party Ponies by Renfroe & Daughters, 93

Heritage Baptist Church, 41

Patricia White Photography, 18

Holy Cross Episcopal School, 35

Pediatric Cardiology, 71

Hooper Academy, 28

Professional Pediatrics, 12

Huntington Learning Center, 25

Pump It Up Party, 31

KLynn Ice Skating School, 26

P’zazz Art Studio, 25

Kindercare, 81

River Region Straw, 80

Kingry Orthodontics, 21

Riverview Camp, 83

Kreative Moments, 93

Saint James School, Inside Front Cover

Kumon, 55

Saint James UMC, Inside Back Cover

Laura’s School of Dance, 40

Seven Oaks Equestrian, 31

Learning Tree Child Care, 42

Smiles Galore Parties, 92

Legacy Early Learning Center, 40

Spacewalk of Montgomery, 93

Looney’s Super Skate, 94

Spacewalker, The, 49

Lori Mercer Photography, 51

Spotless Cleaning Services, 11

Macon East Academy, 15

Stitchworks, 93

Mathnasium, 53

Success Unlimited Academy, 33

Memorial Presbyterian Childcare, 17

Sylvan Learning Center, 21

Montessori @ Hampstead, 47

Taylor Road Baptist Church, 23

Dentistry for Children, 23

Montessori @ Mulberry, 27

Team 11 Soccer, 27

Dr. Bradley Willis-Dentist, 49

Montessori Academy, 53

The Big Green Bus, 89

Dr. Kendall Dunn-Orthodontist, 45

Montgomery Ballet, 34

The Montgomery Academy, Back Cover

Dynamite Magic & Balloons, 18

Montgomery Catholic School, 37

Tonya Speed Dance Connection, 93

Eastdale Mall, 65

Montgomery Children’s Specialty Center, 45

Trinity Presbyterian School, 7

Easter Seals, 14

Montgomery Humane Society, 67

United Gymstars & Cheer, LLC, 43

Eastwood Christian School, 29

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 80

Vaughn Park Mom’s Day Out, 52

Edward Jones-Lane Easterling, 88

Montgomery Pediatric Dentistry/Orthodontics, 53

Vaughn Road Preschool, 20

Embellish, 80

Montgomery Taekwondo, 93

YMCA Camp Chandler, 43

4D Baby Bumps, 1 A Great Start Learning Academy, 14 Adventure Sports II, 90 Alabama Army National Guard, 89 Alabama Christian Academy, 9 Alabama Dept. of Public Health, 3, 77 Alabama River Region Ballet, 8

Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 59 Arts in Motion, 57 ASKIN/Synergy House, 94 AUM Baseball, 57 AUM Continuing Education, 56 Baptist Health, 4 Bradford Health Services, 91 Capitol Filmworks, 17 Centerpoint Fellowship Church, 73 Centre for Performing Arts, 71 Chapman Orthodontics, 24 Children’s of Alabama, 79 Church of the Holy Comforter, 51 Churchill Academy, 24 CJ’s Dance Factory and Prattville Ballet, 47 CSS Advisors, United Health One, 69 Dancewear, Etc., 93

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Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Frozen MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B Violence: C+ Sexual Content: ALanguage: AAlcohol / Drug Use: B+ The MPAA has rated Frozen PG for some action and mild rude humor. Anyone who lives where snow really falls knows Hollywood has a romantic notion of winter in the movie Frozen. It’s ridiculous to watch a young girl traipse up a mountainside in conditions that would have left her frostbitten, or worse, long before she reached her destination. That’s not the only misleading thing in this animated flick. A little snowman named Olaf (voice by Josh Gad) may have gotten most of the attention in the movie’s trailers but he is only a secondary character in this story. The title roles go to Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), two sisters that will appear on store shelves in toy form just in time for the Christmas shopping season. Frozen loosely retells the story of The Snow Queen, the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. As a child Elsa discovers she can create snow and ice with a flick of her wrist. Her younger sister Anna often begs Elsa to whip up a winter wonderland inside the family’s castle. However as Elsa grows older, she struggles to control her power. After a mishap injures Anna, the girls’ parents shut Elsa away while she tries to master her unusual abilities. Yet when the Mom and Dad are killed (creating the classic Disney orphan storyline), Elsa is forced to come out of her room for her coronation as the new Queen of Arendelle. Following the ceremony, Elsa must mingle among the people while trying hard to keep her icy hands under wraps. Unfortunately she is egged on by one of the visiting dignitaries and looses control of her emotions. Escaping into the mountains, she leaves a trail of frost and snow behind her. And before long the entire kingdom falls under the curse of winter. But Anna wants to bring her newly crowned sister back, so she sets off to find her with the help of an ice seller named Kristoff (voice by Jonathan Groff) and his reindeer. While there’s both a prince (voice by Santino Fontana) and a handsome woodsman in this story, don’t count on these guys to save the day. Frozen, like Tangled, Brave and The Princess and the Frog, is aimed at a generation who is more interested in girl power than in stories featuring charming gentlemen. Still this story has a positive sibling twist at the end. The script, like most princess movies, is relatively free of content concerns. Still, there are moments of peril. A pack of hungry wolves attack some travelers. A couple of thugs with crossbows also try to kill Elsa in hopes of breaking the wintery curse. And there are some terrifying moments with an abominable snow monster that resembles something more like a Transformer than the lovable Frosty the Snowman. Although Frozen might warm the hearts of older girls, parents of little princess wannabes may choose to chill out a while before introducing this new Disney royal.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: BViolence: D+ Sexual Content: BLanguage: C Alcohol / Drug Use: C The MPAA has rated The Hunger Games: Catching Fire PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language. For those new to the series, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) won the 74th Hunger Games. It’s a yearly event where two tributes -- a girl and a boy -- are chosen from each of the 12 Districts that make up the country of Panem. The 24 teens from the impoverished outposts are shipped off to the opulent capitol where they are fed, preened and prepped for game day. The object of the contest, once it begins, is to be the last one standing. That means killing off all the other competitors. Unlike earlier games where only one winner remained, Katniss and Peeta both survive after pretending to be in love. Rather than watch them fight to the death, the television audience clamors for them both to live. Following the traumatic match, Katniss and Peeta return to their home in the coalmining town before beginning their Victor’s Tour of the districts. But the country’s President Snow (Donald Sutherland) detects a change in the atmosphere surrounding the games. He broods over the young pair’s popularity and the unrest it is causing in the outlying areas. Determined to put an end to the rising rebellions, he announces the tributes in the 75th Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games will be chosen from past winners of the game. On one hand that makes the violence seem a little less disturbing than watching children kill each other. However, The Hunger Games used quick camera shots to avoid most of the actual impact of the weapons. In this film audiences see arrows, knives and axes buried into opponents. Characters are shot, poisoned and electrocuted. And as a warning to other possible rebels, a young man is repeatedly flogged in a public square. Most teens will likely be more interested in Katniss’ love triangle involving Hollywood hunks Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Still, this movie comes with some intriguing insights into the distraction of media, the inequity of wealth and the origins of rebellion. For parents who take the time to watch this sequel with their teens, the film, with a little bit of prompting, might ignite some deep conversations about sacrifice, love and even the role of media.

What Parents need to know about The Hunger Games: Catching Fire...

Violence: Soldiers storm a crowd, knocking people aside and pulling an old man to the stage where he is shot in the head (not seen on screen). They later carry his dead body away. A resistor is tied to a post and flogged. His bloody back is shown. Other characters are hit with the whip or threatened with a gun. A man is attacked and beaten in order to cause psychological distress to a competitor. Arrows, axes, knives and other weapons are used in the Games. Some characters are electrocuted or killed with poison gas. Wild animals, floodwaters and other natural disasters injure or kill contestants. Bloody injuries are shown on several occasions. A character is badly burned. Characters are covered in blood from a “blood” rainstorm. A woman is attacked and stabbed. Characters experience other forms of psychological torment. Sexual Content: Young characters kiss on several occasions. A girl asks a boy to stay in her room with her after she wakes up from a nightmare. A female character undresses in front of others; some back nudity is seen. Language: The script contains at least two “bleeped” sexual expletives, some scatological slang, a few moderate and mild profanities, as well as terms of Deity. Alcohol / Drug Use: Liquor bottles litter a man’s house and he is shown drunk at the table. A couple of characters are given medical injections to relieve pain or cause sleep. A main character takes a drink of liquor to deal with a stressful revelation. Montgomery Parents I December 2013

What Parents need to know about Frozen...

Violence: The short film preceding this movie features frequent cartoon violence such as mean-spirited bullying, pitchforks and other common objects used as weapons. Brief moments of peril are included in the movie. Parents die at sea. Wolves chase and attack two travelers. Characters are impaled, attacked by a huge snow monster, and fall from a cliff. Characters shoot at a person with a crossbow. Sexual Content: A woman wears an off-the-shoulder dress with a high slit. A character takes off clothes in non-sexual context. Language: Some crude comments and name-calling are heard. Alcohol / Drug Use: Drinks are served at a social event.

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