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As the leader in independent school education, Saint James School is committed to providing the most complete education to students in Central Alabama. Blending superior academics and state-of-the-art technology with absorbing enrichments, exploratory classes, and innovative electives, the college preparatory curriculum nurtures and develops the individual potential of students for a life of responsibility, service, and achievement. Call today to learn more about merit scholarships and affording a Saint James education for your child.
Saint James School FOR PRE-K3 THROUGH 12TH GRADE ADMISSIONS
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Leading the Way Since 1955 STJweb.org Ask us about our Financial Assistance Program. Academic support for English Language Learners available. Saint James School admits students of any religion, race, gender, creed, color, 1 national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. www.facebook.com/montgomeryparents
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THE ADVENTURES IN
Math & Science 2019 Summer Camp Sessions
HOSTED BY THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE MOBILE, AL
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6 June 3-7, June 10-14, and June 17-21 | Grades 6-10 Register by April 1: $360 Overnight Camp (all inclusive), $260 Day Camp (includes lunch) Register after April 1: $385 Overnight Camp (all inclusive), $285 Day Camp (includes lunch) Cost to stay weekend between a session is an additional $185 (includes trip to water park)
Course Sampling
ACT Prep, Algebra Review, Exploring Inner Space, Marine Biology, CSI: Mobile, Phun Physics, Using Java, Robotics, Field Biology, Psychology, Math Puzzles, Labs of Doom, Rocketry, Origami, Speak Up, Light Metals and Enameling, Apps for Smart Devices, and many more. Applications, more information, and course descriptions are online at www.asms.net.
Deadline to register is May 1, 2019!
Montgomery Parents I ST. February 2019 1255 DAUPHIN • MOBILE,
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February2019
Volume 24 Number 2
62 Columns
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8 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LMSW
12 Kids Health Watch sponsored by Professional Pediatrics
Common Sense Media Technology abounds in our society...learn new healthy media habits for young kids.
Support Your Child’s Health 7 ways to help your child journey towards good health.
16 Montgomery Education Matters by Dr. Ann Roy Moore, Interim Superintendent
44 Pike Road Education Matters by Superintendent Charles Ledbetter, Ed.D.
49 Autauga Education Matters
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by Superintendent Spence Agee
52 Elmore Education Matters by Superintendent Richard Dennis
57 The College Years by Lee Gonet
58 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between
Be a Fitness Role Model for Your Kids
Why exercise is so beneficial and how to get them active.
Healthy Kids Guide
Our brand new guide details resources to keep kids fit and healthy...mind and body.
Common Sense Media
60 A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith
66 Parenting Today’s Teens Mark Gregston
On The Cover
Jameson (4), Olivia (6) and Brady (8) Tormey are the children of Tim and Kim Tormey. Nate Higginbotham (11, top left) is the son of Keith and Tiffany Higginbotham. The Tormey children are homeschooled by their mom and Nate attends Eastwood Christian School. The kids are pictured at a Brain Pump class offered by NeuroKinetic Solutions, LLC and held inside Metro Fitness, 7150 Halcyon Park Drive, Montgomery. Learn more about NeuroKinetic Solutions, plus many other local resources promoting kids wellness, in this month’s Healthy Kids Guide.
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81 Get This! Gerry Paige Smith
Departments 14 Teacher of the Month 18 School Bits 82 Calendar/Support Groups 96 Mom to Mom www.facebook.com/montgomeryparents
Editor’sNote I can’t remember when I’ve been more excited about an issue of Montgomery Parents! For those of you who have been faithful readers over the years, you know we dedicate many months of our magazine to a particular theme. For example, last month was our Private School Issue and next month is our highly anticipated Summer Camp Issue. Well, February kicks off a brand new theme with our first annual Healthy Kids Issue! Although Jason and I have always tried to live somewhat healthfully in our home, we kicked it into high gear about six years ago. We had both recently turned 40 when we adopted our youngest daughter, Grace. We realized soon after that if we wanted to be as active in her life, physically and every other way, as we had been when our older kids were young, we needed to pay even closer attention to our health. We increased our exercise, changed our diets in small ways and the journey has continued ever since. We continue to become more educated about how certain foods impact us either positively or negatively. How lack of exercise can lead to increased chances of anxiety and depression. How important Vitamin D is and how deficient most of us are in today’s society. The list could go on and on. Maybe you are on a similar journey and have found, like us, that getting your kids excited about their health is a real challenge. Our passion for it just doesn’t seem to be rubbing off on them quite like we’d hoped. I don’t know if Grace will ever stop asking for cereal in the morning, even though she knows she’s getting eggs or a fruit and veggie smoothie. A girl can try though, right? I do believe, though, that over time this good foundation will pay off in some way, however big or small. In this month’s Healthy Kids Issue, you’ll find helpful articles on topics like how to be a fitness role model for your kids, avoiding food battles, practical ways to support your child’s health and even new healthy media habits for young children. We are also bringing you our Healthy Kids Guide which details local resources aimed at promoting a healthier life for your child, mind and body. Our focus on health doesn’t end in February either! Come join us at Frazer UMC on March 2, from 10 am to 1 pm, for our inaugural Healthy Kids Expo! This educational and action-packed event is FREE for you and your entire family. Visit with our vendors and discover local products, services, activities, health and education options, while having a whole lot of FUN through hands on activities, special performances and a fun zone with face painting, balloon twisting, inflatables and more! We look forward to meeting you there as we join together in leading our children towards better health and, in turn, a better life. Have a fabulous (and fit) February! See you on March 2nd!
Montgomery Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Montgomery Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.
Founder Marty Watson (1950-2006) Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@montgomeryparents.com
Associate Editor Alison Rouse Research Editor Wendy McCollum Contributing Writers Spence Agee Kimberly Blaker Robert Coggin, MD Richard Dennis Mark Gregston Christa Melnyk Hines Robert Kennedy Dr. Charles Ledbetter Sonia Martin, LMSW Dr. Ann Roy Moore Gerry Paige Smith
Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com
Publisher Jason Watson jason@montgomeryparents.com
Associate Publisher Gena Hill Digital Manager Scott Davis Advertising Opportunities (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 ads@montgomeryparents.com
Ad Design Tim Welch Distribution Manager Chris Mitchell
DeAnne
Member
deanne@montgomeryparents.com
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
The River Region’s Foremost Parenting Source
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Montgomery Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing LLC, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, Alabama, 36123. Montgomery Parents is copyrighted 2018 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. opinions expressed in Montgomery Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
www.montgomeryparents.com
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Accredited K3 through 12th grade Independent College-Preparatory School
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Simply...Extraordinary! INSPIRING & NURTURING A GENUINE LOVE OF LEARNING IN EVERY STUDENT. Trinity School is Montgomery’s foremost educational institution providing students the highest quality college-preparatory education, training them in the biblical world and life view, enabling them to serve God in spirit, mind, and body. Trinity offers a rigorous academic program, award-winning fine arts program, committed educators, outstanding athletics, and a nurturing family environment. The Trinity Experience is extraordinary in every way—an education that is as unique as your child.
DISCOVER AN EDUCATION AS UNIQUE AS YOUR CHILD
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Director of Admission Jenny McClinton at 334.213.2213 or jmcclinton@trinitywildcats.com.
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Tuition assistance is available. Discount offered to our military families.
PLAYGROUPS February 4-7, 2019 (K4, K5) February 19-21, 2019 (K3)
February 8, 2019 (5th-12th grade) February 12, 2019 (1st grade) February 13, 2019 (2nd-4th grade) Questions? Please call 213.2213
EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION EXTRAORDINARY ENVIRONMENT
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EXTRAORDINARY EXPECTATIONS
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TherapeuticParenting
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by Sonia Martin, LMSW
Say Goodbye to Food Battles Food battles...the enemy of parents everywhere. I’m hungry. I’m not hungry. I’m not going to eat that. You can’t make me eat that. And seven hours later your 9-year-old is still sitting at the table because she refuses to touch the pint size piece of squash you have insisted she try. This is the part of parenting that makes us question our very will to live. Though it may seem obvious, may I point out that food is foundational. Food is essential. Go to the mat and battle day after day over how much food, what food and when they get food, and you will find you have a child who is biologically a bit upside down... and it’s only 8 a.m. So, my encouragement to you, fellow food warrior, is this: do what you already know to do. Involve them in meal planning, have them be active participants in the shopping for the food, pull up a stool and let them help you prepare the food with no pressure to try it. Let them experience the textures, the smell and the process of dinner in a way that sets them up to be a bit more agreeable to eventually tasting said food. They may be 37 before they ever try a Brussels sprout, but it’s okay, we are patient people. Beyond those typical suggestions, I would also encourage the introduction of what is called a “Yes Bowl”. This is a bowl of all healthy foods that permanently resides on your dining
room table. The bowl is stocked with things like bananas, almonds, apples and individual peanut butter servings, cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges, grapes – you get the idea – all healthy food. Dinner is 30 minutes away and you have a whiny, hungry child on your hands and you don’t want them filling up with junk? Yes Bowl. Only ate three bites of dinner and now they are hungry an hour later? Yes Bowl. This is a game changer because it takes away so much of the stress, wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth that can so easily occur during food battles, plus it provides your child with healthy food that in no way requires any extra steps from you. Secondarily, I would encourage you to take a step back and really look at what patterns you are noticing in the eating habits of your children. Quite a few years ago I made a significant change in my family’s dinner schedule. I was fighting the battle many of us face – my seven teenage sons would walk in the door from school positively famished. They would snack and snack and snack, and then 6 p.m. would roll around, dinner would be ready, and what do you know - no one was hungry. This, not surprisingly, made me absolutely nutty...and not the good kind of nutty people find adorable, but more like the kind of nutty where no one makes eye contact with mom. Once I realized the pattern, I completely inverted dinner time. The kids walked in the door from school and I had a full dinner ready and waiting for them.
We would sit down, eat, talk, clean-up and get homework done and then head to whatever practices, games or performances were on tap for that evening. Once we returned home, they would then have a snack, or if I had made a dessert that day, they could have that. This completely changed their eating patterns and habits. Instead of filling up on snacks, they were satisfied with a meal and then a snack later. Game. Changer. This may take some pre-planning (or even pre-cooking on the weekends), but it might just be worth it. So, overall, play the long game. Your job right now is to expose your kids to different foods. Some kids just simply struggle with eating – there is a lot at play with different textures, smells and tastes. It’s a learning process, so give grace. And while you are at it, give yourself another helping of that delicious squash, since they say they won’t eat it anyway…yet. *Therapeutic parenting is parenting in a highly structured, highly nurturing way. This form of intensive parenting is often a key to progress in dealing with children who have trauma and attachment challenges, but has also proven beneficial with any child.
Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior, and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to help mitigate negative behaviors. She travels the state speaking at various conferences on behavior and parenting and is a therapist for Kids To Love Foundation. Sonia is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of whom were internationally adopted, and is also a foster parent.
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WHEN THAT STOMACH FLU FINDS YOU YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.
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Jackson Clinic— the area’s largest multi-specialty clinic
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Capri Theatre Presents The Princess Bride
February 14 * 7:30 p.m. A kissing story for Valentine’s Day! But if Buttercup and Westley want to make their relationship work, they’ve got to overcome pirates, princes, assassins, Rodents Of Unusual Size, torture and death. For more info, visit www. capritheatre.org or call (334) 262-4858.
Send a Little Love This Valentine’s Day!
Prattville Mardi Gras Parade & Celebration February 16 * 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The good times will begin to roll with food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, inflatables, and other activities at 11 a.m. and a car show starting at 8 a.m. at the Public Safety Building. The parade will start at 2 p.m. at the Autauga County Courthouse. It will follow Main Street through downtown, turn right on Northington then left on Doster Road, ending at Stanley Jensen Stadium. For more info, call (334) 595-0854. 6th Annual Mardi Gras Block Party & Cajun Cook-off in Montgomery February 23 * Noon-6 p.m. Commerce Street in Montgomery. Grab your beads and come out for DBA Montgomery’s Mardi Gras event! Admission is free and tasting tickets will be on sale soon for the Cajun Cook-off! Contact dbamontgomery@gmail.com or find us on Facebook for more info. Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade February 23 * 9 a.m. Festival grounds officially open at 9; parade begins at noon after the staging at Mill Creek Park located behind The Smokehouse Bar-B-Q restaurant on Main Street. Visit www.millbrookrevelers.org/ or call (334) 467-6726 for more info.
Our Valentines for Vets card drive returns this February! Beginning on February 1, there will be a box available at Pike Road Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Rd.) to accept cards, letters, or notes from anyone who would like to help make Valentine’s Day special for local veterans. Handmade or store-bought cards can be dropped off during regular business hours (Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) until noon on February 12. The cards will be distributed to the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System on Valentine’s Day!
Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Winnie- the-Pooh
March 3-May 5 Join Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and friends in this charming musical adaptation of A.A. Milne’s classic stories. Recommended ages 3+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353.
Wetumpka Mardi Gras Festival March 2 * 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Historic downtown Wetumpka. Vendors at Gold Star Park; parade at 1 p.m. Find us on Facebook. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Alabama Nature Center Hosts Critter Crawl 5K and Yeti Dash
The Critter Crawl is a trail run February 23 that takes runners through a portion of the ANC’s 5-mile trail system. The Yeti Dash is a 1-mile trail system run. Nature/critter costumes are mandatory for any guests who wish to participate in the Yeti Dash. One medal will be awarded to the firstplace finisher in each age group category. Proceeds benefit the ANC education programs. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (800) 822-9453. Sign up on runsignup.com!
ADT Presents Beauty & the Beast
The Alabama Dance Theatre will perform Beauty & the Beast March 1-3 at Troy University’s Davis Theatre. Inspired by the original French fairy tale, La Belle et la Bête, our story begins in the halls of a palace deep within the French countryside. A prince, cold and aloof by nature, pays no mind to the suffering of others. One night an enchantress visits him disguised as an old beggar woman. When he turns her away, she reveals herself to the prince —and in his horror he throws himself upon her mercy. She transforms him into a hideous beast and binds the spell with an enchanted rose. Each petal that falls brings him closer to death, and only true love can break the spell, yet who could ever love a Beast? Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Performance tickets are $15-$30. Following the Saturday matinee, children can meet Beauty and her friends onstage for an additional $10 charge. For tickets, call (334) 625-2590 or visit www.alabamadancetheatre.com. www.montgomeryparents.com
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February 16 * 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Montgomery native Kirk Jay is joined by Makenzie Thomas and Patrigue Fortson. Tickets begin at $19. For more info, visit www.mpaconline.org/ or call (334) 481-5100.
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March 16-17; doors open at 10 a.m. Cramton Bowl Multiplex Two-day general pass - $25; military, first responder and student general pass - $20; children’s general pass - $15. Visit RiverRegionComicCon.Com.
February 16 * 6-9 p.m., St. James United Methodist Church, 9045 Vaughn Road. Tickets are $20 per person and are sold through PayPal. Local photographer Jennifer Barker will capture that special date night and music will be provided by the family-friendly Music Guy. For more info or to register, visit http://pikeroadfatherdaughterdance.com/.
7:30-11 a.m. Paterson Field, 1215 Madison Ave., Montgomery. We welcome runners and walkers! Registered racers may pick up race day packets at Brantwood Children’s Home on Feb. 15, from 2-6 p.m. or day of event at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $25. Register at www.brantwoodchildrenshome.org/. For more info, call (334) 265-0784.
March 9 & 10 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Festive environment with live entertainment, games, rides, bouncy houses, big slides, inflatables, pony and camel rides, petting zoo, karate demos, Montgomery Police K-9 presentation, live animal presentations, concessions and animals from around the world. Enjoy the many activities, fantastic food and have fun together at an affordable price. It is also an excellent opportunity to take advantage of discounted memberships. Visit montgomeryzoo.com.
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KidsHealthWatch
Sponsored by Professional Pediatrics
Concussion Update In 2011 the governor signed into law a bill to reduce the effects of concussions on young athletes. This legislation was the result of recognizing that millions of youths in the U.S. suffered from potentially severe consequences of blows to the head every year. Concussions occur when blows to the head cause the brain to move rapidly inside the skull causing a bruise-like injury to the brain itself. This bruising causes the brain to swell. The common initial symptoms of this swelling are headache, confusion, dizziness loss of memory, forgetfulness, and nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms may include fatigue, tiredness, and difficulty sleeping. Loss of consciousness does not necessarily occur with a concussion. After a concussion is suspected, an evaluation by a physician is required. This evaluation will include a clinical history that identifies current symptoms and risk factors, a physical exam, and neurological exam. Concussion questionnaires such as ACE or SCAT3 are also frequently administered. These are tools to objectively measure concussion symptoms, risk factors, and develop
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
a treatment plan. An MRI or CT scan is not required unless specific signs indicate that one would be helpful. The basic treatment for concussions is physical and mental rest. In the past, it was recommended that the athlete be kept in a quiet, dark room with no outside stimulation for two to three days to allow the swelling of the brain to subside and recover from the symptoms of the head injury. This was obviously very difficult for active children and teenagers. In addition, it was found that this extreme treatment was not effective. Research now shows that light cognitive work such as reading or watching television for short periods actually speed recovery from concussions. Most individuals recover fairly quickly from concussions with a period of rest for two to three days. Everyone recovers from these injuries at different rates. Some individuals may take several weeks to recover from a concussion especially if they have previous concussions. The more concussions a person has the more likely the symptoms will be worse and more prolonged. They may also have a concussion with less severe injury. Once the symptoms have resolved, the athlete may gradually resume normal daily
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activities but should be carefully monitored for the return of any symptoms. The most common symptom to recur with activity is headache. Dizziness, trouble with memory, a sense of feeling “foggy” and trouble with balance are also persistent symptoms of a concussion. If symptoms do recur, mental and physical rest for a few more days may be required. Return to school and light physical activity may be resumed usually after two to five days. Vigorous physical activity should be avoided during these first days of recovery. Activities that require intense mental concentration such as video games, extended screen time and standardized testing should be avoided. The athlete should be reevaluated by a physician about one week later to assess readiness to return to full activity. More information is available from the CDC, National Institutes of Health, and the Concussion Clinic at Children’s of Alabama. Dr. Coggin received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and did his pediatric residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He began private practice in Mississippi and has been in Montgomery since 1983. He has two married daughters, one in Montgomery and one in Orlando, Florida. He enjoys college sports with his wife Cathy who is an attorney.
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Julie Howorth Montgomery Christian School
Lori Forin, a grandparent of one of Julie’s past students says, “Miss Howorth is a kind and loving person and is very motivating and fun. My grandson often talked highly of her and how caring she was.” Julie says the most rewarding things about being a teacher are, “the endless small victories that I see my students achieve throughout the day. Seeing the shy student in my class open up for the first time, seeing the child who thought he would never ace that test do just that, hearing the endless “I love yous”, laughing with them, watching them grow and learn from mistakes, seeing their face light up when I make learning fun, but most importantly, I think my favorite part is learning from them.” Confidence is a big factor of success in the classroom. Julie helps her students understand that they matter! She says, “If my students didn’t master subjects and predicates, or didn’t fully understand EVERY concept I taught them, but they knew how much they were loved...I did my job.”
Although she has only been teaching for three years, Julie Howorth is making an impact in the lives of her students! She teaches all 4th grade subjects as well as a 5th grade writing/grammar course at Montgomery Christian School, which offers an academically challenging education in a Christian environment to families with limited school choice. Julie also tutors 2nd and 3rd grade students at Han Academy twice a week after school. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama with degrees in elementary education and early childhood education. She has wanted to be a teacher since 1st grade and feels that it’s a calling from God. She says, “I think my purpose is to help children learn and grow; spiritually, mentally, and academically. I’ve always been able to relate to young children, and make learning fun! Bringing each child’s strengths to the forefront, and helping each child shine, is definitely something I hope to give to each student God has carefully placed on my roll sheet.” Principal, Kathi Atkins, says that Julie cares about her students inside and outside of the classroom. Her students knows she cares about them and that makes a big difference in their willingness to learn. Ms. Atkins says that Julie is an encourager and always willing to help.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
Miss Holworth is active in her church, Saint James UMC, and volunteers regularly in the daycare there. She loves the beach, her chihuahua, Prissy Rose, and she’s passionate about Alabama Crimson Tide football.
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Any Child Can Grow Up to Be... February is a special month for Americans. During the shortest month of the year we celebrate love, heart health, and our leaders. The third Monday in February is President’s Day. It reminds us that anyone can grow up to be commander in chief. Our presidents often came from humble beginnings and many overcame physical disabilities to rise to the office. Before they became leaders of the free world, they were teachers, lawyers, journalists, farmers, even actors. Most had no ambition as children to become president. They were, for the most part, ordinary people. Some had physical disabilities and others weird habits or superstitions. Share this
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
information with your children when they begin to think they can’t do something. Teddy Roosevelt was blind in his left eye. Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Andrew Jackson had a bullet in his chest from a duel that was never removed. Abraham Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches tall and 180 pounds, and James Madison was only 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 100 pounds. Thomas Jefferson hated speaking in public. Barack Obama worked at a BaskinRobbins Ice Cream as a teenager. Martin Van Buren was born in America, but his first language was actually Dutch; English was his second language. Andrew Johnson and his brother were forced as children by their mother to become indentured servants to a tailor. Many of our presidents had strange quirks. John Quincy Adams went swimming in the Potomac River every morning. Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general, couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Benja-
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min Harrison was afraid of electricity and refused to touch a light switch. William McKinley thought carnations were good luck charms, and Lincoln carried documents inside his stovetop hat. You don’t have to be perfect to achieve. You don’t have to be the smartest kid in class or the best looking. You don’t have to be from a wealthy family or go to the most prestigious college. You have to be focused and willing to work for what you want in life. Helping children understand that you don’t have to have life handed to you on a silver platter or score a 30 on the ACT to be a success, could provide them with the confidence they need to reach the top in life, business or even politics. Dr. Ann Roy Moore is a teacher. For more than four decades, Dr. Moore has educated the children of Alabama. From her first post as a pre-school teacher, to her administrative work as a principal, central office curriculum specialist, superintendent, and her mentoring the next generation of teachers as an adjunct professor at colleges and universities, teaching is her passion.
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Montgomery County Schools
Sylvan Participates in Tech Challenge
For the first time, the School at Sylvan was able to compete in a technological challenge. Students in many Montgomery schools attempted to build a working project using a small microcontroller and computer called the “Raspberry Pi.” Hannah Rhoden, Ria Patel and Zach Wiseman, some of Sylvan’s top science and math students, created an Alzheimer’s alert system using two Raspberry Pis. One acted as a caretaker’s device, sending alert messages at designated times. The other acted as the patient’s device, conveying these messages both visually and audibly. In this way, the patient would both see and hear words such as, “Grandma, take your medicine” or “Grandma, it is time to eat.” The contest involved the students giving a “pitch” for the device they created. Our team told the judges that their prototype might just be the beginning of something greater. The patient’s Raspberry Pi might be replaced with a smart watch, so that it would be with the patient at all times. The caretaker’s Raspberry Pi might be replaced with a phone app, which would allow the caretaker to monitor the patient from anywhere. Also, additional features could be added. An emergency button for the patient could allow him or her to contact the caretaker or 911. A GPS locator could allow the caretaker to know if the patient had wandered from his home. Continued development of the prototype into a complete system could result in a product that would be attractive to Alzheimer’s families and the medical community at large. Though the Sylvan technological team did not win a medal, it was able to achieve other goals which were, perhaps, more significant. The Raspberry Pi project allowed students to see and understand some of the common computing processes that occur under the hood. Even better, they went from never having programmed a single line of Python code to writing full programs, going from “zero to hero” in two weeks’ time. Our students became creators.
ACA 8th-Graders Take Washington, D.C. Trip
The annual Alabama Christian Academy 8th-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. did not disappoint. The trip was led by ACA coach and teacher Rick Solar. Students were able to experience all of the national monuments as well as many museums that our country’s capital has to offer. Visiting The White House and watching the changing of the guard in Arlington Cemetery were real treats. This was a trip these students will not soon forget.
Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.
Eastwood Names 2018 Duke TIP Nominees
Eastwood Christian School recognizes the following 2018 Duke TIP nominees: 4th grade - Lena Boak, Charlie Coon, Will Franklin Mauney, Ansley Quallio, Kate Sonnichsen, Harper Thomas and Stephen Spooner; 5th grade - Mae Champion, Knox DeHuff, Lily Givens, Nate Higginbotham, Matt Hodges, Porter Johnson, John Bennett Lester, Caroline MacLeod, Evelyn Williams and Jacob Worley; and 6th grade - Buzz Champion, Andrew Ewald, Talley Hamilton, Emma Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Sophia Kessler, Kurt Miller and Ella Moore. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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MEA Names Duke TIP Students
Macon East Academy seventh-grade students Jacob Simpson, Anna Watson, and Tanner Surles were recognized as outstanding scholars as part of the annual Duke University Talent Identification Program. Selection as a Duke TIP honoree is based on scores in the 95% or above on national standardized achievement testing. Students selected by Duke TIP are eligible to take the ACT or SAT college entrance exam as a measure of their academic achievement and potential.
Cornerstone Hosts Annual Showcase
Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy’s annual showcase (previously known as spring fling) will be held on Thursday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. The annual showcase is Cornerstone’s fine arts event presented by grammar school students. This event displays highlights from the students’ school year and their artwork. All families are welcome to come and see firsthand the Cornerstone difference.
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Trinity Head of School Receives PhD
Trinity Presbyterian Head of School Dr. Kerry Palmer successfully defended his dissertation at Auburn University, bringing to a close his PhD journey. This was a huge accomplishment while being the Head of Trinity School at the same time. “Working toward the PhD at Auburn was both challenging and rewarding,” said Palmer. “Re-entering the classroom was valuable as it helped me to see the world from the perspective of a student again. I could identify with our young people as they worked on papers and prepared for exams. As an added bonus, I had the opportunity to see Trinity students thrive on the Auburn campus. They are leaders there, and the impact of a Trinity education is evident when you see them in those roles. I am grateful to my family and the Trinity community for allowing me the time needed for this venture. It has been most rewarding!”
Churchill Hosts MultiCultural Night
Churchill Academy hosted the school’s first Multi-Cultural Night on January 17 at the school campus. As the student body of Churchill is made up of students from various life experiences and back-grounds, the evening focused on celebrating the same. The celebration of diversity and culture allowed each family to share food, facts and fun from their respective cultures. 21
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Holy Cross Students Chsen for Duke TIP
Holy Cross Episcopal School announces several 4th-, 5th- and 6th-grade students who were selected to participate in the Duke TIP Talent Search. These students were recognized for scoring in the 95th percentile or above on one or more subtests on a nationally normed achievement test. Holy Cross students selected were Landon Williams, Su-An Kim, Stott Blancas, Gabe Krause, Steadman Meadows, Andrew Peavy and Ava Stuart.
ACA Senior Makes AllMetro Volleyball Team
Alabama Christian Academy senior Gracie Shaddix, shown, made the 2018 All-Metro First Team! Junior Emily Thornton made the All-Metro Second Team and Mary Vander Sewell was named Honorable Mention.
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Archives Offers Seniors Stonewall Jackson Repayable Scholarship
The Stonewall Jackson Memorial Fund was established in 1955 by an act of the Alabama Legislature. The fund is used to award several repayable scholarships each year. The scholarship functions as a repayable no-interest loan which must be repaid after graduation from college. One year after graduation, recipients will be contacted to repay the scholarship amount under a scheduled repayment system set up by the individual. In order to qualify, applicants must submit an essay of 1,500-2,500 words on a topic or issue that relates to the life of Thomas J. “Stonewall� Jackson. A cover page and an annotated bibliography of sources must accompany the essay, but will not be included in determining the length of the essay. Applicants must also submit an application form with necessary personal information. 1st-place winner will receive $3,000; 2nd-place winner $2,000; and 3rd-place winner $1,000. To apply, students must be a graduating high school senior and must submit the required information no later than Monday, April 1. Questions? Contact Wesley Garmon, Ala. Dept. of Archives & History education coordinator, at wesley.garmon@ archives.alabama.gov or (334) 353-3288.
Cornerstone Classical Christian Adds K4
Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy recently announced that it will add a K4 class beginning with the 2019-20 school year. Those who are interested can contact the school office at (334) 356-7788. 23
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TEA Christian Celebrates Christmas Giving
TEA Christian Academy celebrated its annual 12 Days of Christmas giving event. Donations were collected from staff, students and community sponsors. Toys, gift cards, canned goods, etc., were given to five families selected from within the surrounding area. The event began with students serenading the audience with angelic Christmas carols. Later, staff and students enjoyed a Christmas meal with their families and friends. T.E.A. Christian Academy thanks the following sponsors for their generous donations: Applebee’s, Chappy’s, Chicken Salad Chick, Creative Edible Designs, Honey Baked Ham, Pepsi, Red Lobster and Texas Roadhouse.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
MEA Math Team Places in Competition
The Macon East Academy middle school math team placed 2nd in the AISA District Math Competition at Lee-Scott Academy on January 15. Team members from the 7th and 8th grades are: front row: Ryan Russell, Anna Glynn Lott, Kaiden Byrom and Alison Magda; and back row: Ethan Jones, Jameson Byrom, Jack Jones, Barrett Spaeth and Matthew Kitchens. The middle school math team is led by Karen Harris.
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Montgomery Academy Geography Bee Champion
Montgomery Academy sixth-grader Arden Horne has won the school’s 2019 Geography Bee Competition! First Runner-up is Marlin Hardwich and Second Runner-up Wills DeLongchamp Grade-level winners include: 4th-grade winner Kate Champion and Runner-up James Barker; 5th-grade winner Marlin Hardwich and Runner-up Viplove Sharma; 6th-grade winner John Carson Bullard and Runner-up Arden Horne; 7th-grade winner Isabella Johnson and Runner-up Isabelle Rutland; and 8th-grade winner Brett Westhauser and Runner-up Wills DeLongchamp.
Holy Cross Episcopal School fifth and sixth grades are studying botany, also known as plant science and practicing what it is like to be a phytologists, or scientists who specialize in the field of studying plants. Mrs. Connie MacDonald brought to the classes kits donated to Holy Cross Episcopal School by Home Depot. Each student got one to study tomatoes, mushrooms and herbs. They will observe and document the reproduc-tion of each plant to determine if they produce seeds, as tomatoes and herbs do, or spores as mushrooms do. Each student will water, observe, record and document the findings as they begin to grow. At the con-clusion of the experiment when the plants have fully developed, the students will take them home to plant.
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Please send Your School News to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.
Mending kids’ hearts It’s what we do best. Our team of more than 250 pediatric professionals is recognized for its excellence in providing world-class cardiac care in an environment best suited to the needs of our patients. From tiny babies to teens, we care for Ben Golden Peterson and every child like our own. l
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cardiac surgeries performed in 2018
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private CVICU rooms, 16 private CCU rooms, 2 CV operating rooms and 2 cath labs
Learn how you can help. Visit www.ChildrensAL.org/heart. For Children’s Financial Assistance information, call 1.844.750.8950 or visit www.childrensal.org/financial-assistance
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Younger Students Benefit From Trinity’s OneCampus Environment One of the many benefits of having K3-12 students on one campus is having opportunities for Upper School students to share their experiences and knowledge with Lower School students. Recently, Trinity Presbyterian senior and SGA Vice President Catherine Parma spoke to fifth-graders during their quarterly “Listen and Lead” program, sharing with them the importance of good study habits and encouraging them to strive to work diligently as they move into Middle School next year. These same 5th-graders also have the opportunity to pour into the lives of their “kindergarten buddies” during the year through the “Fifth Grade Buddy Program.”
BTW Students Sweep Poetry Contest
U.S. Government students from Booker T. Washington Magnet High took first, second and third place in a recent poetry contest. The Emancipation Association of Montgomery held the contest, which included cash prizes for the winners. Jahmai’ Williams won first place and $250, Kobe Williams won second place and $150, and Trinity Ross won third place and $100. As first-place winner, Williams recited her poem at the awards program.
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Holy Cross Show Choir Performs Christmas Musical
“Jingle Bell Jukebox” was the title of Holy Cross Episcopal School Show Choir’s holiday performance that was presented to parents, grandparents, family and friends in the Chapel of the Annunciation on the school’s campus. Music teacher Beverly Fain’s production blended a festive variety of holiday music to spotlight the 5th- and 6th-grade Show Choir’s singing talents. A medley of festive music opened the show featuring “Winter Fantasy,” “Carol Medley” and the beloved selection entitled “Believe” from The Polar Express, which featured soloists Sanai Burton, Ava Stuart, Steadman Meadows and Gabe Krause. As the show opens, we join Ruby the hostess in a neighborhood soda shop trying to help a group of teens who need motivation and cheer to begin their holiday season. Ruby begins suggesting songs to play from the juke box for a quarter, and tries her best to guide them to find the perfect holiday music to meet the need of each ones’ gloomy mood. The first song, “Frosty Hand Jive,” featured soloists Su An Kim and Hayden Whetstone and was able to get the reluctant group up and moving to a ‘50s style dance. Next, Ruby suggested “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to two other teens who were seeking motivation to find Christmas joy and featured solos from Sanai Burton and Steadman Meadows. The next group of teenagers selected “Jingle Bells Rock,” which was a mix of the traditional song “Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock” combined because each wanted to hear both songs. Another group of teens Ruby tried to help was not in the mood for anything to do with Christmas, so on the juke box they selected “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch!” which actually brought out of the shadows Mr. Grinch himself, played by Stott Blancas, and featuring solos from Emilee Alexander and Ethan Scott. The last group of teens to request a song were Ava Stuart, Cullen Stuart, Broderick Williams, Andrew Peavy and Kennedy Johnson, who once again chose to liven the soda shop with a reprise of lively dancing and joy with “Jingle Bell Jukebox.” In addition to Fain, 5th-grade teacher Connie MacDonald and 6th-grade teacher Patricia Bye helped organize the production. At the conclusion of the performance, the choir “took their show on the road” to stops that included Wesley Gardens, Elmcroft and Oak Grove.
Eastwood’s Roxie Lancaster Children’s Holiday Writing Competition Winners
Eastwood Christian School had six of its thirdthrough fifth-grade students win awards in the 2018 Roxie Lancaster Children’s Holiday Writing Competition. The first-place winner in third grade was Albert Christensen, and Amelia Ingram received Honorable Mention. Fourthgrade Honorable Mention awards were given to Bianka Miller and Collier Miller. The first-place winner in fifth grade was Knox DeHuff, and Reese Caver received Honorable Mention. The competition is open to students from public and private schools in Montgomery. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Saint James Wrestling Takes the Win! The 20th Annual Julian McPhillips Invitational Wrestling Tournament was held on January 4 & 5 with more than 20 1A-7A teams competing. Saint James School won the tournament for just the second time in the tournament’s 20-year history! Saint James proudly carries a dual record of 20-1 this season and just won Region Duals which qualified the team for Quarterfinals mid January. Their performance at Quarterfinals on the 18th and 19th of January will determine whether the Trojans compete at the State Semifinals where they can advance to State finals the end of January. “I am so proud of these guys,” said Saint James School Head Wrestling Coach, Jeff Corley. “This team has truly put their heart and soul into their sport, doing the hard work in order to succeed, and staying focused on the goal ahead. They are competing against some of the best teams in the state and they are winning! They believe in themselves and it shows.” The season has been phenomenal for the Trojans. They have won three tournaments this season; placed third at one; and fourth at another. At the Julian McPhillips Tournament, medal winners
for Saint James included Trey Gaines and Jackson Howard, each placing 1st in their weight classes; Granger Hicks, Mac Johnson and Gabe Robbins, each placing 2nd in their respective weight classes; Jake Rice taking 3rd place in his class; and Wes Christie taking 4th place in his weight class. In
addition, Gaines’ championship match was voted the Best Match of the Tournament when he wrestled Mason Blackwell of Wetumpka. Saint James School Wrestling earned the title of State 1A-4A Champion in 2013 and State Runner Up for 1A-4A in 2014.
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Saint James Student Photography Chosen for Tuscaloosa Exhibit
Saint James School had seven pieces chosen for display in the Double Exposure Juried Photography Competition in January. From the seven pieces selected, two were awarded honors in the competition. Saint James senior Amanda Grate was awarded a cash prize for her piece, “Beans,” and Saint James junior Gracie Sullivan was awarded Honorable Mention for her piece, “Scattered Light.” Photography by three Saint James students has been selected for exhibition in the gallery. In addition to “Beans,” Grate has two other pieces in the exhibit—“Fiery Cactus” and “Shine Bright.” Junior Margaret Anne McNeill has two pieces on display, “Mushroom” and “Paint Face.” And Sullivan has one other piece hanging, titled “Last Exoskeleton.” The Double Exposure competition in Tuscaloosa is open to photographers throughout Alabama. Entries are submitted via e-mail and select pieces are chosen for exhibition in the Bama Theatre Junior League Gallery. From the pieces hanging in the gallery, awards are selected for the competition and announced at an opening reception at the Bama Theatre. The exhibit is open to the public through February 10, at the Bama Theatre Junior League Gallery. Shown is Saint James senior Amanda Grate’s work, “Beans.”
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MA Students Compete In Math Contest
Montgomery Academy Upper School math students Elizabeth Waldo, Catherine Updegraff, Jin Jang, Kelly Yoon and Ellie Kim recently participated in the Alabama Independent School Association District V Math Competition, consisting of a written test and ciphering contest. The team came in second place in the competition and Jang had the highest individual score. He will participate in the AISA State Math Competition held in February at Auburn University in Montgomery.
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Sylvan Teaches Life Lesson of Giving
Giving by example is just one of the life lessons that students learn at the School at Sylvan Learning Center. Each year a local charity organization which helps children in Montgomery and the tri-county area is chosen by the Sylvan administration for a charity drive. This year Sylvan chose Child Protect Children’s Advocacy Center. The Montgomery Child Protect Advocacy Center helps children who have been physically and sexually abused. Through generous donations, children may come to this facility which provides counseling and healing in a loving and safe environment. The students and staff at the School at Sylvan Learning Center donated items such as snacks and supplies for the children who come to Child Protect. Our goal of 750 items was met. As a reward, students were given a pizza party.
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ACA Mascot Performs at Citrus Bowl
Alabama Christian Academy’s ACE the Eagle performed with 48 mascots and 700 + cheerleaders from across the nation in the pregame show for the Citrus Bowl. It was an incredible opportunity for ACA sdudent Mikey Peavy and his family.
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ACA Football Players Receive Honors
Alabama Christian Acaemy senior Reece Solar, shown above, and senior Jeff Flowers made the 2018 All-Metro First Team! The All-Metro Team is chosen by the Montgomery Advertiser from 15 area schools, private and public, ranging from 1A - 4A. Joining them as Honorable Mentions are seniors Jackson Duke and Dawson Locklier, and sophomore Jalen Clark. Solar was also named First Team All State Punter! This is a tremendous honor as there are 58 schools in Class 4A. Seniors Blake Bryant and Dawson Locklier, shown below, were invited to play in the NAAPPS (National Athletic Association of Private Schools) All American Bowl Game played recently in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Locklier had six tackles and a pass breakup, and Bryant also had six tackles and a fumble recovery.
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Catholic Represented at March for Life in D.C. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School was represented by more than 100 pilgrims at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. January 18. Students, faculty and parents traveled to the nation’s capital to march with half a million other people to celebrate the right to life for all people. Starting with Mass at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the Montgomery Catholic students then proceeded with the hundreds of thousands of other marchers, many of whom traveled from across the globe, through the National Mall. Many of the students who attended said they felt that they were part of something bigger than themselves. “It was so cool to be there with so many other people who are also pro-life,” said freshman Catherine Aaron. Sophomore Cecilia Hoffpauir agreed. “It was really moving to see how many other people are also passionate about the pro-life movement,” said Hoffpauir. “I didn’t realize how emotionally moving the march would be, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Freshman Angeles GonzalezAnsaldi was energized by the solidarity of the marchers. “I realized that if we stick together as a community, we can accomplish so much. It was amazing to be
among so many inspirational people of all ages.” While the march had a deeply emotional effect on the students, the adults who accompanied them were also moved in a powerful way. “I have been part of the March for Life pilgrimage for five years, and every year is filled with new blessings,” said MCPS high school teacher Sinead Turner. “Students rarely have an opportunity to attend Mass with 20,000 other young people or to have
their voices heard, and the March for Life is a beautiful and happy celebration of life from conception to natural death.” The March for Life started as a small demonstration in Washington, D.C. to protest Roe v. Wade and aims to overturn legalized abortion and raise awareness of pro-life issues. It is now the largest prolife event in the world and has attracted people of all ages from all around the world. The 2019 theme was “Unique from Day One: Pro-Life is Pro-Science.”
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Montgomery Catholic’s Person, Tyynismaa Commit in Early Signing Day Early Signing Day at Montgomery Catholic was an emotional affair decorated with plenty of crimson. Seniors C.J. Person and Amaris Tyynismaa signed their commitments to become scholar athletes in front of family, friends, faculty and the media. Person is a three-star defensive tackle who was instrumental in taking the Knights to the second round of the playoffs this season. He has committed to play football at Indiana University and credited his coaches and his family for his success as both a student and a stand-out athlete. The future Hoosier expressed his gratitude for the love and support from his grandmother and thanked Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar for being “like a second mom” during his time at MCPS. Tyynismaa has earned five consecutive individual state titles for cross country running, holds more than 20 state titles in cross country and track & field events, and led the Lady Knights to their first-ever state championship in cross country. She has committed to run at the University of Alabama. Sharing her deeply personal struggle with Tourette’s syndrome and overcoming negative comments from others, she emphasized the importance of persistence, hard work, and never giving up in the face of adversity. Both athletes warmly congratulated each other on their accomplishments and expressed gratitude for being classmates at Montgomery Catholic. “It was a great day for C.J. and Amaris as we celebrated their college choices,” said MCPS Athletic Director Daniel Veres. “I’ve had many heart-to-heart conversations with both of them about their college options, and Indiana and Alabama are getting two great people to join their programs.”
Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.
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ACA Names All-Metro Runners
Alabama Christian Academy junior Judd Hardin and senior Jay Hughes are All-Metro Team Cross Country! Hardin ran a 16:36.29 at the 4A championships to finish fifth. His No. 2 time was a 17:02.79 at the Jesse Owens Classic. Hardin was a three-time silver medalist, including at the 4A, Section 1 meet at AUM, and had one third-place finish. He is a two-time All Metro. Hughes ran a 16:59.49, his best time this year by 41 seconds, to finish ninth at the 4A state meet. He posted a 17:44.44 at the Jesse Owens Classic. His best finish was a seventh place at the 4A, Section 1 meet at AUM.
ECA Holds Annual Musical Program
Evangel Christian Academy held its annual Christmas program under the direction of music teacher Christina Brown. The elementary and middle school students joined together to present a holiday program for guests of all ages. Each class performed both traditional and contemporary Christmas music, and several students sang solos. For the final three songs, all of the classes joined together. The audience was filled with awe as the students performed an a cappella version of “Carol of the Bells.” The choir ended the concert by singing a “Christmas Medley” which included such favorites as “Joy to the World,” “The First Noel,” “Away in a Manger” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Trinity Announces 2019 Hall of Fame
Trinity Presbyterian School announces the 2019 Class of the Trinity Hall of Fame. “Many wonderful people have been associated with Trinity School since its founding in 1970,” stated Interim Head of School Merle Henkel. “The Hall of Fame gives us an opportunity to pay homage to some of our best board members, school heads, teachers, alumni and friends of Trinity. Through this endeavor we honor our past and inspire a new generation.” The 2019 Class of the Trinity Hall of Fame include: former teachers Ahna Baggett, Emily Baker, Mary McDavid, Betty Ward and Judy Moody (posthumously); former staff member Allison Goocher and friends of Trinity Billy and Camilla Irvin. This year’s inductees will be recognized on February 5, during an assembly at Trinity School as well as the Hall of Fame banquet at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Trinity Hall at 6 p.m.
Holy Cross Attends The Sound of Music At Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Holy Cross Episcopal School fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classes attended the highly acclaimed musical The Sound of Music at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Students were able to experience the live performance as they prepared to perform a holiday musical in their own music classes, and later in the year perform a Shakespeare play, both a part of their fine arts curriculum. Students also studied the history of the Von Trapp family in their social studies classes and contrasted the authentic history behind the most popular film of all time.
Please send Your School News to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.
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Trinity Middle School Basketball Teams are CCC Champs
Trinity Presbyterian’s Middle School girls’ basketball team has been named CCC champs for the third consecutive year! The Middle School boys’ basketball team also won the CCC Tournament! They defeated ACA in the championship game.
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Holy Cross First-Grade Class Performs Christmas Musical
Holy Cross Episcopal School first-graders performed “Sing a Song of Christmas” to tell the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The first-grade class proceeded into the Chapel of the Annunciation with family and friends gathered to enjoy the production with candlelight and fresh cedar garland in each window to replicate the night that Mary, Joseph and their loyal donkey must have experienced on their travels. The program opened with the singing of “Silent Night” and narration by the heavenly messenger angels Bethany Hamilton and Sophie Robbins describing what unfolded on one of the most recounted journeys in history. “Sing a Song of Christmas” followed the opening with narration describing the sights, sounds and fragrances of Christmas by Evan Patterson, Copeland Ming, James Hester, Ethan Best and C.J. Howze. A traditional medley of carols featuring “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World” featuring Traye Portis as soloist, and speakers Wynter-Grace Campbell, Alex Chilel Diaz and Traye Portis continued the plot as they progressed into the beloved Christmas carol “The Friendly Beasts,” which featured Donkey - Copeland Ming, Cow - Alex Chilel Diaz, Sheep - Evan Patterson, Dove - Wynter-Grace Campbell with speaker C.J. Howze describing Mary and Joseph’s journey. “Little Gray Donkey” introduced perhaps the most important part of the journey to find a place for Jesus to be born, featuring instrumentalist Carter Sampson. “Cradle Song” featured a soft representation of the birth of Jesus which featured soloists ZaRiyah Thomas and Eli Meeks, who portrayed Mary and Joseph with speakers Traye Portis, Bethany Hamilton and Sophie Robbins. “Angels We Have Heard on High” featured soloists/angels Bethany Hamilton and Sophie Robbins, with speakers James Hester, Wynter-Grace Campbell, Carter Sampson and Alex Chilel Diaz describing how significant the presence of the angels were to the manger announcing the miracle. “We Three Kings” featuring soloists James Hester, Ethan Best and C. J. Howze described the arrival of the magi and the gifts they brought for the Christ child that night with the help of speakers Evan Patterson and Copeland Ming. “Love Letters of Christmas,” with speakers Ethan Best and Carter Sampson, and the return of the reprise,
“Sing a Song of Christmas,” brought the most beautiful of stories down through the ages to a close. Music teacher Beverly Fain and first-grade teacher Leisa Harrison produced and directed the beautiful production.
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Catholic’s Wright Earns Coaching Honors
Montgomery Catholic Cross Country Coach Ed Wright was selected as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Boys’ High School Coach of the Year for the state of Alabama for the 2018 cross country season. Coach Wright serves as the head coach for the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams at Montgomery Catholic, both of which won the state championship in the 2018 season. “I’m thankful for the honor of the award,” Wright said, “but any and all the honor goes to the young men who worked so hard to make it possible.” The cross country runners look up to Wright, who encourages them continually to do their best. “Coach Wright is a huge inspiration to us,” said sophomore cross country runner Joseph Schmidt, who ran with the state championship team. “He’s a great motivator who is always challenging us to keep getting stronger and faster.” Montgomery Catholic’s Athletic Director Daniel Veres said of Wright, “This honor is well deserved. Coach Ed Wright will continue to encourage his team to be stronger and faster, and Montgomery Catholic athletes can look forward to continuing success under his leadership.” Coach Wright is busy coaching both girls’ and boys’ indoor track teams and is preparing for the upcoming spring outdoor track season. Wright had previously won Coach of the Year for the state of Alabama for girls’ outdoor track & field by the USTFCCCA in 2017, a non-profit organization that advocates for cross country and track & field coaches and represents more than 9,000 coaching members on the high school and college level. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Trinity K5 Students Share Harvest from KinderGARDEN
Trinity Presbyterian School’s K5 classes were recently visited by Marilyn Bopp, director of development for the Mercy House, a day house in Montgomery’s Washington Park area. After she shared with the kindergartners about the needs in the local community, the students shared with her the abundant harvest from their kinderGARDEN! These fresh, organic vegetables will be used to help fill emergency boxes sent to meet the needs of 50-60 families.
Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@ montgomeryparents.com.
MEA Fifth-Graders Complete DARE
Macon East Academy fifth-grade students recently completed the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program led by Kofee Anderson and Jordan Ivey with the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department. Each year, Melissa Gilmore’s 5th-grade class participates in the semester-long educational program that equips them to take a stand against involvement in drugs, gangs and violence. Founded in 1983, the officer-led program teaches students how to resist peer pressure. At the end of the program, each student writes an essay and award winners are selected by the officers acknowledging their accomplishments. This year’s essay winners were Elise Logan and Peyton Baggett, and Mollie Ross was awarded for best exemplifying the DARE philosophy. Mason Humphries was also honored as most improved in participation throughout the program. We appreciate the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department and their involvement in bringing this program to Macon East. 37
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TEA Academy Honors Local Businesswoman
On December 15, TEA Christian Academy held its annual Community Hero luncheon honoring Sheron Johnson, the sole proprietor of Creative Edible Designs in Montgomery. She officially opened for business in June 2016 but has been baking for years. Johnson has always had a love for baking delicious treats for her family and friends. Three years ago, she posted a picture of her cupcake boutique, which sparked interest from many friends and family. From there, her hobby became a business. Since the beginning, Johnson has always felt the importance of giving back to the community. She donates her time and baked goods to organizations and schools to help assist with fundraisers that enable schools to enhance their academic excellence. TEA Christian Academy chose to honor Johnson because of her unselfish giving.
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MEA Volleyball Team Receives Championship Rings
The Macon East Academy varsity volleyball team members recently received rings for their state championship win in the AISA AA tournament. The Knights finished this season with an overall record of 37-7 and brought the state title back to Macon East for the seventh time in eight years. Along the way, the Knights racked up a pile of accomplishments this season setting the tone for their back-to-back state title. The Knights fell short in the region tournament to Edgewood Academy but fought back in the state championship game, sweeping Edgewood in just three sets. This year’s team has totaled more than 450 aces; 1,500 kills; 60 blocks; 1,200 assists and 400 digs. Junior Emily Brooks reached more than 500 career kills and 1,500 career assists. She was selected as State All-Tournament Team and is a NAAPS All-American. Senior Anne Turner Cobb reached more than 900 career kills in her two years as a Knight. Ariel Brown, also a senior, reached more than 500 career kills in her two years at Macon East. She was selected to the State Tournament All Tournament team and named a NAAPS All-American. Senior Madisyn Kennedy has reached more than 1,000 career kills. She was selected as the State Tournament MVP and named a NAAPS All-American. She is a two-time AISA Player of the Year. Under the leadership of Coach Codi Moon, the team fought to defeat Edgewood in the title game after falling to the Wildcats three times in the regular season. The Knights lose seven seniors off this year’s squad, but look forward to the 2019 season with another state title up for grabs.
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Trinity Second-Graders Visit Fresh Market and Marco’s Pizza!
In conjunction with their “goods and services” unit, the second-graders from Trinity Presbyterian School enjoyed their annual field trip to the Fresh Market and Marco’s Pizza, both located on Perry Hill Road. During their tour, the students were allowed to sample products, including cookies, cheese and fresh peanut butter. After their tour, they had the privilege of creating their very own pizzas at Marco’s for lunch. They had a delicious time! Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Montgomery Catholic Students Play in Alabama Winds Concert
Five Montgomery Catholic sixth-grade band students had a unique performance opportunity recently. The Alabama Winds band, consisting of adult members from throughout the state of Alabama, hosted a concert at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., and invited students from around the state to play with them in their Sounds of the Season concert. Joanna Marlow (bass clarinet), Amelia Bair (trumpet), Cooper Beesley (baritone), Keveen Ramirez (trombone), and Ivory Williams (flute) guest-starred in the popular holiday tune “Sleigh Ride” and got to play alongside Montgomery Catholic band teachers Alex Johnson (trombone) and Kristine Johnson (flute). Montgomery Catholic’s award-winning band program begins in fifth grade and continues through high school and includes students of all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced.
Holy Cross Outreach Project Benefits Montgomery Area Council on Aging
Students at Holy Cross Episcopal School participate in several outreach projects throughout the year as they practice the principles they learn in daily chapel service. For their Christmas outreach project, Holy Cross partnered with Montgomery Area Council on Aging (MACOA) providing jars of peanut butter and warm socks to help Meals on Wheels recipients stay warm and nourished. The Reverend Candice Frazer, rector of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, blessed the items prior to MACOA representative Traci Herndon visiting the school to pick up the donated items that would be delivered with Meals on Wheels to Montgomery area recipients. Holy Cross students were proud to present Herndon with 140 jars of peanut butter, 325 pairs of warm socks for the seniors and 36 bags of dry cat and dog food for their pets.
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MEA Softball Player Signs with Huntingdon
Macon East Academy softball player Dawn Johnson has signed to join the Huntingdon Hawks for the 2020 season. Johnson has attending Macon East since pre-K3 (14 years) and has played varsity softball since 8th grade. As a catcher for the Lady Knights, she has been part of three state championship teams and has a .973 catching percentage behind the plate. In 2018, as a junior, Johnson was named to the AISA State all-tournament team, the all-metro team and received the Knights Award for leadership in athletics. Johnson was also named to the AISA State all-tournament team as a sophomore in 2017.
Holy Cross Studies Water Properties in STEM Lab
Holy Cross Episcopal School fifth-graders learned about the properties of water in STEM Lab recently and conducted several experiments that illustrated the adhesion of its two components. STEM Lab instructor Krista Hamilton demonstrated the bonds of hydrogen and oxygen in water can join together so strongly that they can defy gravity to pull water up a tree to the branches and leaves from the ground. Students conducted an experiment that demonstrates the strong attraction of hydrogen and oxygen that bond together so strongly that drops of water stay on the surface of a coin and form a dome shape without spilling off the sides. They also learned that water tension formed by these same bonds of hydrogen and oxygen are what make the impact of diving into water feel less painful.
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Montgomery Catholic Cross Country Teams Honored by Mayor Strange
Both the Montgomery Catholic boys’ and girls’ cross country running teams won the state championship this fall, and it was the first time the school had both teams win at the same time. The cross country runners and their coaches, Ed Wright and Hollis Johnson, were invited to City Hall to be publicly recognized by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange before the city council meeting. One by one, the champions were called to the floor, congratulated and given a certificate of recognition from the mayor. The cross country team had put in long hours of intense training leading up to the state championship meet, and the results reflected their efforts. While previous Montgomery Catholic boys’ teams had won the state championship, it was the first time that the girls’ team had ever brought home the state trophy. For senior Isabelle Cochran, who came in fourth place, it was a perfect ending for an already great career. “With it being my last year on the team, it was great to end on such a good note. We’ve been runner-up several times, so to finally win the state championship makes me very proud of the whole team.” The boys were equally excited about their results, but it came as the result of hard work and persistence. “Even though we had won sectionals, we knew we would have tough competition ahead of us at state,” said senior Grant Walker, who came in fourth place for the boys. “We ran hard, and I ended up beating my personal best time.” The Catholic girls were led by senior Amaris Tyynismaa. Crossing the finish line first at 17:44.21, Tyynismaa finished nearly a minute and a half ahead of the second-place finisher, Catholic freshman Lily Bachl, who crossed the finish line at 19:04:41. Senior Isabelle Cochran finished strong at 19:44.87, securing fourth place overall. Teammates Grace Leslie, Ann Cobb, Katie Galvin, Chloe Smith, Virginia Speirs, Samantha Day and Kathleen Madden all finished the race and took Montgomery Catholic girls to the top, crowning them as the state champions. Tyymismaa also took home her fifth consecutive individual champion title. For the Catholic boys, senior Grant Walker took fourth overall with a time of 16:34:48, and sophomore Hollis Johnson and senior Zachary Kroeger finished at 6th and 7th place, respectively. Strong finishes from teammates Sam Leslie, Manny Caceres, Chris Valencia, Cole Pierce, Joseph Schmidt, Austin Cleghorn and Harrison Skala secured the boys’ place at the top and earned them the state championship.
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Montgomery Academy Students Earn Honors at Model UN
Fourteen Upper School students participated in LAMP’s Model UN Conference. Maggie Kinney (Sweden) won Most Outstanding Delegate in the Social and Humanitarian Committee. Roma Pirnie (Cameroon) won Most Outstanding Delegate in UNICEF. Brystol Habermacher (Saudi Arabia) won Honorable Mention in the World Health Organization. Sofie Behr (China) received a Commendation in the UN Women’s committee, and Alisha Singh (Sweden) received Commendation in the Legal Committee. Also participating were Abby Baird, Jack Cleary, Caroline Deale, Eric Doh, Cooper Horn, Mary Virginia Huffaker, Ellie Kim, Jiwon Lee and Laurie Wakefield. This is MA’s fourth year to have a Model UN club and its third year to participate in LIMUN. They are sponsored by Stephanie Hill.
Trinity Fourth-Graders Experience the Pioneer Era
Trinity Presbyterian School fourth-graders have been studying a bygone time. From the ringing of the triangle at the beginning of the day, 4th-grade students began learning about the pioneer era. Mr. Ken and Mr. Richard, our facilities management team, joined in the fun as well! This type of learning is called socio-dramatic learning and it allows children to explore and become a part of their unit of study. Using this teaching practice can be a powerful tool for learning language, as children take on roles/characters, act out various scenarios and stories, and solve problems using language and movement. Hands-on activities like ones used during Pioneer Days really make concepts and lessons concrete for students. Role-playing immerses them in history and literature. Students begin to feel an emotional tie to the pioneers as perspective and empathy are cultivated.
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Montgomery Academy Provides Christmas Gifts for Brantwood Residents
The Montgomery Academy Community Service Club H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Eagles Are Right There) Christmas project was a huge success thanks to the generosity of the students in grades 6-12, faculty and staff members. This is the ninth year Montgomery Academy has served as “Santa” for Brantwood Children’s Home. This year, MA provided gifts for 30 residents to open on Christmas morning.
Rock School Student Chosen for Science Academy
The Rock School junior Zack Williams was selected to attend the annual Huntingdon College Health and Science Academy. Upon completion, he garnered two awards from the faculty: the Physics Award and the Outstanding Leadership and Spirit Award — a testament to Williams’s insatiable curiosity and love for science. Dr. Murphy, chair, Huntingdon Department of Chemistry, said that “It was an honor to do science with him.”
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Montgomery Academy JV Basketball Teams Win CCC Championship
The Montgomery Academy Girls and Boys JV Basketball teams won the CCC (Capital City Conference) Championship! Members of the JV Boys team are Will Beringer, Clisby Berry, Web Brittain, Jamal Cooper, Ben Harris, Jackson Kelly, Alex Kohn, Henry Lawson, Judson Lindsey, Ridge Lindsey, Bryant McClendon, Garrison Miller, James Snead, Nigel Walker and Hudson Whitt and JV Girls team members are Lily Anzalone,
Emily Rose Benefield, Beverly Bradshaw, Isabel Drumwright, Gianna Foti, Pierson Hartley, Macon Jones, Virginia Meacham, Kaitlin Phenix, Riley Renfroe and Chelsea Trimble.
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What a year it has been for Pike Road Schools! We are excited for everyone to see our growth especially on the Alabama State Department of Education report card. The report card score is based on the 2017-2018 school year data. Pike Road Middle School (last year communities 7-10) scored 88 on the report card, and Pike Road Elementary School (last year communities K-6) scored 84. These very significant gains are from last year’s report card score of 78 (we only had one school in the 2016-2017 school year). The State of Alabama improved from a 79 last year to an 80 this year. The system score for Pike Road Schools is the anomaly. Our system score was an 83, although our two schools were an 84 and an 88. If we figure our scores using the formula all other systems use and plug in our juniors
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
(currently our highest class, Class of 2020) projected graduation rate and college and career readiness rate our system score would be a 91, in the top 15 school systems in the state, tied with Auburn City Schools, Brewton City Schools, Cullman City Schools, and Homewood City Schools. In addition to academic achievement growth, PRS has also experienced significant student enrollment growth. Pike Road Schools opened the doors in 2015. Our student enrollment has grown from 1,124 to over 1,850. This growth led to the addition of a second campus in 2017 and a third campus in 2018. As we move into 2019, we are excited about the renovation process on our newly acquired high school campus and adding new classrooms to our existing campuses. We are extremely grateful to The Town of Pike Road for making the capital improvements possible. They value high quality education and are primary investors in the educational experiences and opportunities provided to the students of Pike Road Schools. To meet the academic needs of our growing student body, we have added a broad array of AP courses, dual enrollment options, and an early college option. PRS
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currently has five Career Tech programs with plans to expand to seven including Southern Regional Education courses. To meet the interests of our students PRS offers 13 varsity and seven Jr. Varsity athletic opportunities. PRS has a growing arts program that includes performing and visual arts that include, band, show choir, graphic arts, and theater. We are very proud of the incredible learners, educators, parents, and community we have in Pike Road! While we will never be content with where we stand and will always be working to improve even more, it is important that everyone understands the quality of the work that is being done by the Pike Road Education family. Our growth in both numbers and quality will continue as we build this new school system. Keep an eye on Pike Road Schools as we continue to lead Alabama in educational improvement! Chuck Ledbetter has been an educator for 28 years. He has earned a B.A. in history from Auburn University; a Masters of Education in history from AUM; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Auburn University. Chuck Ledbetter was a history teacher for 11 years, an assistant principal, a middle school principal, a high school principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and for finance, and is in his ninth year as a superintendent. He is married to Kim and has three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.
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Alumnus holding MIT Degree \ Science Olympiad \ Character Building Programs \ Music and Art
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Spark curiosity.
You want your child to be given the opportunity to explore the world around them. You want them to have an excellent guide. One who can inspire them to follow their natural curiosities. And spark the difference that will set them on their journey of academic success. This is Catholic. Montgomer y C atholic Preparator y S cho ol
Grades K4 - 12
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PRHS Student Athlete Chosen by AHSAA
Multicultural Night at Pike Road Middle School
Pike Road Middle School (PRMS) hosted its first annual Multicultural Night on January 22. The school is rich in diversity and enjoyed learning about the families that make up PRMS. The culture sharing included clothing, food samples, music, dance and interesting facts. The PTSA provided bottled water, paper plates and utensils. Canada, Ireland, Korea, Russia, Guatemala and several more countries were represented. We look forward to growing this event in the years to come.
Pike Road High School Athletic Director Terina Gantt announced the selection of junior Cate Lovrich to the AHSAA Student Leadership Team. Along with 32 other student-athletes from across the state, Lovrich will attend the student leadership conference in Montgomery in March during her junior and senior years. “Cate is a natural leader. She will be an excellent voice for Pike Road Schools,” said Gantt.
PRES Updates After-School Program
As we enter 2019, we decided to implement some updates/modifications to our after-school care program that we have been working on to make the experience better for those it serves. Here are the new things participants can expect: Rebranding as “EPIC” (Extending Patriot Intellectual Curiosity) Words matter! That’s why we’re officially renaming the after-school care program as “EPIC” to more intentionally describe its purpose. EPIC Program Mission NEW! “The mission of the EPIC program is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that supports and furthers the mission of Pike Road Elementary School.” This is the mission that will drive every aspect of how we design and execute the EPIC program. EPIC Program Manual NEW! Check out the newly written EPIC Program Manual. In it you will find information about enrollment, scheduling, and formally developed behavioral/safety expectations for staff and participants. New Learning Experiences The EPIC staff has been designing new fun and exciting learning opportunities for 2019 that will include basic cooking and science experiments, among other things. PRES is partnering with local organizations to offer additional after-school opportunities that are provided by third-party vendors. Although this opportunity isn’t directly affiliated with the EPIC program, it’s another part of how PRES is building its after-school opportunities. More information is available in the EPIC program manual. Current partnerships are with Abrakadoodle Art, Docarmo’s Taekwando, French lessons, Good News Club, Montgomery School of Music Ukulele and Guitar Lessons, and Tonya Speed Dance. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Pike Road Administrators Attend Open Door Fridays in Chilton County
Pike Road Middle School Principal Vicki Davis, Pike High School Principal David Sikes and Pike Road High School Assistant Principal Turkessia McGaskill attended Open Door Fridays at Chilton High School (CCHS.). CCHS hosts Open Door Fridays to give the community the opportunity to see how hard CCHS students are working. CCHS Principal Ron Pinson said the program helps build relationships with the community and gives parents a better reference point for filling out the annual survey. The PRS team was able to see first-hand what the students of CCHS are learning. Each class they visited had a student representative that greeted the team and briefly explained what the class was working on. The visit was a great learning experience for the PRS team.
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PRHS Competition Cheer Team Awarded Grand Champions
Pike Road High School’s competition cheer team took home first place in their division and were named Grand Champions in overall school cheer in the Elite Cheer Competition held in Huntsville on January 19. This placing also provided the team with a bid to the national competition to be held in Orlando later in the season. This is a major accomplishment for a first-year competition team. The PRHS competition cheer team is comprised of sevenththrough eleventh-graders and is coached by Keshia Burrow, owner of Bama Blaze Elite Cheer.
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Pike Road Wrestling Team Places in the Indians Invitational
The Pike Road wrestling team placed fifth at the Indians Invitational Tournament for 7th-9th grades. Individual winners were: 1st Place: Hinds Duncan, Chase Walker and Bishop Singleton; 2nd Place: Maddox Milton, Jake Arnett and Jack Fuhrman; 3rd Place: Sawyer Marlowe and Logan Melton; 4th Place: Matthew Rice and Tom Walker; 5th Place: George Coley; and 6th Place: Carson Brady.
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Pike Road Schools Launches New School Websites Pike Road Schools (PRS) opened the doors to students in 2015. Since that time, student enrollment has grown from 1,124 to more than 1,850. To accommodate this growth, a second campus was added in 2017 and a third campus was added in 2018. The Pike Road School System now has three schools: Pike Road Elementary, Pike Road Middle and Pike Road High School. To further accommodate our growth, Pike Road Schools recently launched brand-new school websites. Now each PRS school now has an individualized website. Our new school websites are one effort we are making toward streamlining communication with students, parents and the community. Some of the website features include: *Current calendar of events happening in each school * Frequent and up-to-date news articles about school events and accomplishments * General information about each school * Individual teacher pages * Video peeks into PRS * Information about our teaching and learning philosophy The website addresses are as follows: prs.school District site pres.school Pike Road Elementary School site prms.school Pike Road Middle School site prhs.school Pike Road High School site We are elated to offer this new platform to keep the community more informed about the great and exciting things happening in the Pike Road School District. Please explore our sites to learn more about our fast-growing school district!
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It is important to set goals in life. Some goals can certainly seem daunting, but through hard work and dedication, most can be attained. The Autauga County School System is always setting new goals for our faculty and students. Striving to reach new heights and better ourselves is simply a part of who we are, so it is with great pride that I share our latest news. Autauga County Schools’ state report card grade increased from 82% to 86% this year. I am very proud of our schools, our students, our teachers and our principals. The scores from our schools are listed below. All schools demonstrated solid academic growth. This is the first year Prattville Primary School and Prattville Kindergarten received a grade. With our community, schools, and parents working together, every student can be successful!
School 2016-2017 2017-2018 Daniel Pratt Elementary, 82/B 95/A Prattville Junior High, 87/B 91/A Prattville Primary, N/A 88/B Prattville Elementary, 85/B 88/B Prattville Kindergarten, N/A 87/B Pine Level Elementary, 84/B 87/B Prattville Intermediate, 81/B 86/B Prattville High, 79/C 84/B Marbury Middle, 77/C 83/B Marbury High, 79/C 82/B Billingsley, 76/C 81/B Autaugaville, 69/D 74/C With the start of the second semester, we begin to plan for another fantastic school year. The 2019-2020 school calendar committee worked hard to create a calendar for the upcoming school year. I would like to thank the following members of our calendar committee: Tisha Scott-Addison from the Central Office, Board Member Eleanor Ballow, Jimmy Lansdell from Marbury High, Tammy Jackson from Prattville Elementary, Angie Lane from Prattville Junior High, Katie Mullins from Prattville Primary, Marylynn Williams from Autaugaville, Arleshia
Turner from Second Chance, Kim Smith from Pine Level Elementary, Dana O’Brian from Prattville Intermediate, Kendra Broadway from Daniel Pratt Elementary, Taleigh Crawford from Prattville Kindergarten, Neal Murphree from Prattville High, Jennifer Reid from Billingsley, Stacey Roberts (a parent representative), Jennifer Jacobs from Marbury Middle, and Teresa Calhoun from the Autauga County Technology Center. The board approved the 2019-2020 school calendar on December 6, 2018. The calendar can be found on the home page of our website, acboe.net, under news and announcements. I take great pleasure in sharing with the citizens of Autauga County the accomplishments that our schools, staff members, and students achieve.
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 20 years of experience in the education field as well as 29 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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Prattville High School Students Represent Well at UofA Hall of Fame Tournament
Program Exposes PJHS Students to Engineering Prattville Junior High thanks Senator Clyde Chambliss for his support of our preengineering program. This class serves as an elective for our students and introduces students to real-life scenarios that involve engineering skills. Students learn Sketchup Pro and are able to meet with local engineers. They can continue their path through the Autauga County Technology Center.
Mascots Aid PJHS School Spirit
This year, the Prattville Junior High School mascots have risen to a new level. Three students serve as mascots and have various “personalities” through their costumes. The leader of the group is Max, affectionately referred to as our Maxcot, and puts routines together for showmanship at pep rallies and other school events. Our mascots are a wonderful addition to our student body and a fun way to demonstrate school spirit! Montgomery Parents I February 2019
The Prattville High School Speech and Debate team competed at the University of Alabama Hall of Fame Tournament January 11-12 against twenty other teams from five states. The Prattville team placed third overall in Team Individual Events. Isaac Sherman was the second place overall best speaker in Public Forum debate while Grace McKlevey was the tournament champion in After Dinner Speaking. Sandhu Aladuwaka was the tournament champion in Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking as well as finishing second in After Dinner Speaking. Additionally, Aladuwaka was named the Overall Individual Event Tournament Champion and was offered a full tuition scholarship to compete for the award-winning University of Alabama Speech team. He is the fifth student from Prattville High School in the last twelve years to win the coveted Hall of Fame Tournament Champion award. Two former Prattville teammates, Hannah Edwards and Gentry Slay, currently compete for Alabama.
Prattville Christian Academy Hires UAB Athlete, Autauga County Native as Head Football Coach
Jeremy Carter has accepted the position of head football coach at Prattville Christian Academy, effective January 1. Coach Carter, a current PCA faculty member, has coached for nearly 15 years in various roles and schools, but his love for athletics began many years ago. As an Autauga County native, he played for Billingsley High School and then at the collegiate level for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He comes from a coaching family with decades of experience and passion. Having experienced the thrill of state championships as a player and coach, Carter is ready for the challenge of the Panther football program. As a head coach, Carter’s record is 34-11 with three regional titles and multiple post-season appearances. “I have enjoyed coaching since day one and look forward to taking over the program. Coaching is a job that I enjoy and everything that comes with it,” he said. “The connection with the athletes, parents and other coaches is like a family. The development of players on and off the field is something I’m excited about getting back into at PCA.” Coaching highlights include: Defensive Line Coach, Bessemer Academy, 2016-2018; Offensive/Defensive Coordinator, Morgan Academy, 2012-2016; Defensive Line Coach, Jemison High School, 2011; Head Football Coach, Billingsley High School, 2008-2010; and Head Football Coach, Autauga Academy, 2005-2008. In addition to his football coaching career, Carter has successfully coached many other sports, including baseball and girls’ and boys’ basketball. He is married to Susan Carter and they have two children, Kenley (10) and Nash (6). “We are very excited to have Coach Carter take over the Panther football program,” said Tara Osborne, PCA’s athletic director. “Coach Carter is truly a ‘player’s coach’ and a great Christian leader who’ll energize the program.” 50
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Reed Wins PJHS Maker Space Challenge
Prattville Junior High science teacher Dr. Gonzales-Jackson and 7th-grade Assistant Principal Janett Skinner awarded Austin Reed winner of the most recent Maker Space Challenge. Over the past two years, PJHS has worked to involve more students in science-related challenges. Students worked on their projects over a period of a month, even on weekends. The challenge was to create a functioning automatronic scarecrow. Reed won a circuitry kit to continue learning real-life skills.
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PJHS Names Jones Teacher of the Year
Dr. Janie Jones, 8th-grade English teacher at Prattville Junior High School, was recently named Teacher of the Year for PJHS. At a reception to honor all county candidates, she was also named as the Autauga County Secondary Teacher of the Year and will represent the ACBOE in the state competition. We are extremely proud of her efforts as a teacher, BETA club sponsor, and grant writer for the school. She also produces a pretty great serve at our annual student/faculty volleyball game. We wish her all the best as she represents the Cats and our great district!
PJHS Deep Thinkers
Students often tackle deep topics in their classes. One way they demonstrate learning at Prattville Junior High is through Socratic seminars. Recently, the 8th-grade class finished reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Students had to tackle one of three topics and fully support their thoughts and rationales. Students were required to ask a myriad of Level 2 & 3 questions and debate those topics. This group specifically had a lively discussion of good vs. evil. It was amazing to hear how our students are able to think and articulate their thoughts. 51
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I am always excited to share good news about Elmore County Schools. This month is no different! February is Career Technical Education Month and I want to highlight the great things happening at the Elmore County Technical Center. We have experienced phenomenal growth over the past four years under the leadership of ECTC Director Dr. Jimmy Hull. Enrollment has doubled, from 350 to approximately 700 students. Two new programs were added this school year to meet workforce demands in high-need areas in our region: Aviation Technology and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). In addition to these new programs, the ten existing programs include Automotive Service Technology, Computer Technology, Construction Technology, Electrical Technology, Hospitality & Tourism, Medical Sciences, Plumbing & Pipefitting, Pre-Engineering &
Design, Public Safety & Law, and Welding Technology. Each of our four high schools also offer some or all of the following CTE programs: Agriconstruction; Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC); Food, Wellness, & Dietetics; Business Management and Administration; Marketing, Sales & Service; Restaurant and Food and beverage Services; Finance; Advertising Design; General Agriscience; and Sports Medicine. Last month, I announced our Teachers of the Year. These teachers were selected during the fall of the 2017-2018 school year and are serving as their school’s Teacher of the Year during this school year as are the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. This past fall, the 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year were selected at their schools, and Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year were selected from the school winners. The honorees include Teri Hicks, Eclectic Elementary; Kaitlin Sides, Holtville Elementary; Courtney Presley, Coosada Elementary; Lori Crumpton, Airport Road Intermediate; Rebekah Jones, Redland Elementary; Brandy Ryals, Wetumpka Elementary; Athina Ryals and Lana Hebert, Eclectic
Middle; Diane Darnell and Stacy Chancellor, Holtville Middle; Lolita Fields and Leah Sellers, Millbrook Middle; Lalomi Atwa and Amanda Killough, Wetumpka Middle; Julie Elrod, Elmore County High; Kelli Watkins, Holtville High; Jennifer Pose, Stanhope Elmore High; Amanda Tally, Wetumpka High; and Donnie Adams, Elmore County Technical Center. The Elementary Teacher of the Year for Elmore County is Terri Hicks, and the Secondary Teacher of the Year is Lana Hebert. Congratulations to all these teachers! The 2019-2020 school calendar has been approved and is posted on our website at www.elmoreco.com under Publications to allow everyone to start planning for next year. Elmore County is blessed to have great students and great teachers working together so that every student is empowered and every student succeeds!
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Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
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Redland Elementary Spelling Bee Winners
Redland Elementary recently held its spelling bee for fifth and sixth grades. From left are RES teacher Meredith Mitchell, counselor Christy Wright, 5th-grade runner-up Kamryn Beary, 5th-grade winner Avery Jones and RES counselor Brittany Brown. Jones will go on to compete in the County Spelling Bee on February 5.
Send Your school news to: editor@ montgomeryparents.com.
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Two Elmore County Teachers Receive Grant Funds
Central Alabama Electric Co-op Bright Ideas Grant winners Kim Deem, a 4thgrade teacher from Wetumpka Elementary School, and Misty Trussell, a 3rd-grade teacher from RES, are shown with Co-op Board of Trustees Elmore County leaders. Both teachers were awarded grant money to fund classroom projects to be used by their students. 53
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Elmore County Schools
Holtville Student Chosen for U.S. Senate Youth Program
The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announces that Holtville High School senior Catherine Lynn Daniel will join Senator Richard Shelby and Senator Doug Jones in representing Alabama in the nation’s capital during the 57th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 2-9. Daniel was selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation who will also each receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings the most outstanding high school students— two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity—to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. While in Washington, the student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, members of the House of Representatives, Congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and senior members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. Daniel serves as Alabama DECA state president and Holtville High School’s DECA president. She is also a member of the Holtville High School BETA Club, Mu Alpha Theta, a school ambassador, band captain and section leader. After graduation, she plans to obtain a doctorate in occupational therapy. For info, visit www.ussenateyouth.org.
WMS After-School Program Meets Superintendent
Wetumpka Middle School’s 21st Century students had a great afternoon visiting with Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis. We learned about the qualifications of the position, the election process, and the campaigning that goes along with becoming an elected school superintendent. Dennis also shared his professional work history and challenged the students to seek a career that they love so they’ll want to get up and go to work each day like he does! #CareerExploration #21stCCLCCommunity
Elmore County High School Students Tour Fitzgerald Museum, Attend Opera at MMFA
Elmore County High School juniors were recently able to tour the Fitzgerald Museum and attend The Ghosts of Gatsby, an opera performed by Samford University at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The museum is located at 919 Felder Ave in Montgomery. It is part of The Southern Literary Trail and the American Writers Museum and is the only museum dedicated to F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Montgomery native Zelda Sayre.
Airport Road Inducts New Student Council Members
On November 16, the newest members of the Airport Road Intermediate School Student Council were inducted. These students were chosen by their peers to represent each 3rd- and 4th-grade classroom. The students pledged to serve and provide leadership for Airport Road and the community. The Student Council will participate in many community service projects throughout the school year.
Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@montgomeryparents.com. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Local Newswoman Visits Airport Road Clubs
Airport Road Intermediate School was pleased to welcome Sarah Stephens, from the River Region Elmore Autauga News, to speak with the ARIS newspaper and photography clubs. She shared her expertise from many years of being a news reporter and allowed students to ask questions.
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Send Your school news to: editor@montgomeryparents.com.
ARIS Holds Honor Roll Breakfast
Airport Road Intermediate School recently honored its 2nd nine weeks honor roll students with a doughnut breakfast. All honor roll students were also entered into a drawing for extra prizes including candy and board games.
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The second- and third-grade classes have enjoyed making snowmen in Mrs. Thornton’s art class at Edgewood Academy.
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Eclectic Elementary December Students of the Month
Kindergarten: Maci Bailey, Leah Hawkins, Bo Sanford, Peyton Harrison, Dallas Oliver, Story Stone; 1st Grade: McKenzie Newman, Braxton Childers, Mackenzie Worden, Karsen Haskins, Nevaeh Gippert; 2nd Grade: Tiyha Floyd, Ava Bruce Thompson, Kelsey Allen, Natalie Callins; 3rd Grade: Cole Parsons, Jayla Wagner, Sam King, Mason Byram, Savannah Harris, Emma Nummy; 4th Grade: Lacy Martin, Laura Smith, Kason Moe, Chris Carter
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TheCollegeYears Preparing Teens for Life Outside the Nest
by Lee Gonet
Earn College Credit in High School (Part 3): Many other credit-earning opportunities exist for high school students besides Dual Enrollment, AP Classes, and CLEP Tests, which were all covered in Parts 1 and 2 of this series. Students can also participate in college summer camps, attend college full-time while still in high school, or even enroll early, skipping their junior and/or senior years!
Summer College
Gaining academic knowledge through dual enrollment familiarizes students with what is expected in classes and by college teachers; however, balancing high school and college courses simultaneously can be challenging. Besides, if students really want to prepare themselves for the full-on college experience, they should consider summer programs. Most colleges offer immersive experiences, and the advantages are many. Although classes are structured, students supervise themselves while living on campus, which means they must learn to wake up on time, manage class loads, balance social activities with studies, make good dining choices, and even clean bathrooms and wash laundry. Unfortunately, these opportunities can be quite expensive, but worthwhile if the student already knows his or her field of study. All areas of interest are available from the creative arts to computer gaming. Search these websites for “summer programs for high school students”: collegetransitions. com, fastweb.com, summerprogramfinder. com, and the Upward Bound Program for low-income families at www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html.
Early Enrollment
For those students who are academically and emotionally ready to begin their post-secondary education, early enrollment is an option. In fact, many colleges will invite their best summer participants to forgo their
senior year of high school and apply for fulltime admission. As expected, these overtures are usually offered by more expensive private colleges, and of course, this situation is best suited to students who already know their area of study and which school they want to attend. This is a good option, however, for bored, well-prepared teens who are willing to bypass their senior year and graduation ceremony. An example of a school which is actually designed for early enrollment at age 16 is Bard College at Simon’s Rock (simons-rock. edu). It has an impressive record, painstakingly guarding the success of its 450 students, who represent 37 states and 15 countries. The student to faculty ratio is 8:1, the average class size is only 11, 78% continue their education at graduate schools, and an impressive 85% receive financial aid.
Early College High Schools
Many Early College High School buildings are located directly on college campuses where students attend both high school and college classes, often completing associate’s degrees prior to high school graduation. These schools are committed to serving students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education such as minority races, low-income families, or families whose members have never attended college. According to a 2013 study on ECHS by the American Institutes for Research, the impact has been considerable with 20% of participants earning college degrees within two years of high school graduation compared to less than 2% of their peers. The Alliance for Excellent Education reported an increase to 30% in their 2017 study. Successful outcomes are even higher in Alabama. Selma ECHS, the first of its kind on an Alabama college campus, reported in 2008 that 47% of students received associate’s degrees upon high school graduation and 100% enrolled in higher education. 57
Growing in popularity, similar opportunities have developed at several other Alabama colleges.
Technical Credits
Tech-Prep was a government program funded from 1990-2010 by the US Department of Education. It was designed as a school-to-work transition, providing students with occupational training throughout high school, who then received an associate’s degree or technical certificate upon completion. If students finished their training by the time they graduated high school, they were established in a two-year apprenticeship program, leading to employment. Disciplines included engineering technology; applied and computer science; mechanical, industrial, or practical art; trade; agriculture; health; and business. Although government funding is no longer available, many tech schools have continued offering such opportunities. Similar to dual enrollment, classes are provided to teens who desire to learn a specific trade and begin a career upon high-school graduation. Depending on a student’s interests and circumstances, early enrollment in technical classes may be more valuable than pursuing a traditional college degree.
Attainment
None of these options are for the student who fears hard work, wants a traditional high school experience, or needs lots of direction. Early college high school students are expected to manage their time well, earn good grades, and display leadership qualities. Of course, the first step for success is narrowing down students’ interests and the schools they want to attend. For an excellent college-search program go to: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search.
Lee Gonet is an avid learner, speaker, educator, and world traveler. She loves challenging teenagers to excel beyond what society considers possible by teaching young people to think deeply, learn intensely, and act purposefully outside the classroom box. For example, her daughter worked abroad by 16 and her son earned his Engineering Master’s by 20. Dreams do come true.
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New Healthy Media Habits for Young Kids
match for your child’s age and developmental stage. Read product reviews from independent sources (like Common Sense Media). Say no if you’re not comfortable with it. And when you approve something, help your kids enjoy it along with their other activities. Don’t use screens right before bed, and keep them out of the bedroom overnight. Kids really need their sleep. Screens in the bedroom -- especially in the hour before bedtime -- interfere with the entire process of winding down, preparing for rest, and waking up refreshed and ready to tackle the day. If you’re unable to make the bedroom a screen-free zone (which is optimal but not always possible), keep TVs off for at least an hour before bedtime and set tablets or phones to night mode, turn off any notifications, and/or consider using Guided Access or another device setting to keep phones/tablets locked on a music or an alarm clock app. Turn off the TV if no one is watching it. A lot of parents of young kids keep the TV on for company. But so-called background TV has been shown to get in the way of parents talking and interacting with their kids -- which are key to helping kids learn language and communication. Background TV can also expose kids to age-inappropriate content. Seek out other forms of entertainment that you can listen to with your kid, such as music, kids’ podcasts, and audiobooks. Make time for enjoying media with your kids, especially reading. Reading to your kid is one of the best things you can do -- period. It’s great for bonding, but it also sets the stage for learning. While it’s nice to have a little library of books at home, you can read whatever’s available and it’ll be good for them. Product labels, signs, packaging copy -- anything with words is fine. If you’re raising your kid in a place where you don’t completely know the language, feel free to read books or articles to them in your native tongue. Or just make up stories -- it’s the rhythm, sounds, and communication that are important for kids to hear. Practice what you preach. Remember, your kids are watching you. When your kids are little, create a family media plan to help you balance media and tech (theirs and yours) with all of the other things that are important to you. This isn’t just for them; it’s for you, too. Schedule in downtime, chores, homework, outdoor fun, reading, meals, etc. And then figure out how much extra is available for TV shows, games, apps and other media activities. Don’t worry about counting up daily screen time minutes -- just aim for a balance throughout the week. Try to carve out times and locations that are “screen-free zones.” Hold yourself to them. Kids learn more from what we do than what we say, so make sure you’re role-modeling the right habits.
Despite pediatricians’ ongoing recommendations to curb kids’ screen use, the Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight 2017 found that families with young kids are buying up mobile devices, using screens before bed, and streaming tons of video. But plenty of parents think their own kids’ media use is perfectly fine, and most believe that on the whole, it’s good for kids. So what does it mean when the reality doesn’t match the recommendations? It’s time for new rules. Not no rules, just different ones -- you may be OK for now, but studies show that media use steadily increases as kids get older, and there are risks to overexposure. Changing your approach to screen management before the tween and teen years will increase the chances that the stuff they’re interacting with is (mostly) good for them. It also allows you to think more deeply about how, when, and why you want your family to be using technology, so it enhances and enriches your lives. Interestingly, the census found that even with all the new things kids are doing, their total daily amount of screen time hasn’t changed that much in six years. That’s good news because as long as you have basic limits, you can focus on choosing quality media and tech to make screen time really count. And with many parents reporting that media use benefits their kids’ learning and creativity, the new rules call for co-viewing and co-playing to boost those positive benefits (rather than screaming at your kids to turn off the computer). Some parents ask: Why restrict media at all? Because honestly, nothing takes the place of the things that are proven to be best for little kids’ bodies and minds, like talking, playing, growing bored, and learning how to do stuff -- especially in the crucial early years of a kid’s life. At the end of the day, it’s not your doctor you have to answer to -- it’s your kids. Media and tech are and will continue to be huge in their lives. Start now to create a balanced approach that keeps everyone healthy.
5 Tips for Parents of Young Kids Choose the good stuff (and not too much!). When your kids ask to see, play, or download something, don’t just take their word for it -- check up on it. A lot of the age recommendations on media products are the creators’ best guess and aren’t necessarily a Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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A Page in a Book Time for Everything One of the hardest things to explain to children is the intangible movement of time. For a toddler asking when they can have a snack, our response of ‘in a few minutes’ means very little to them. You can show them a timepiece or a calendar, but a child’s true understanding of time evolves mostly through their experience. Following routines that are dictated by the time (bed, bath, school) helps them cultivate an understanding of minutes and hours. Life events like vacations, birthdays, and holidays inform their knowledge of days, months and years. The following titles also highlight the passage of time in ways that nurture young readers’ understanding of the variety of ways we measure our moments.
Forever or a Day
by Sarah Jacoby (Chronicle Books) Traveling from the city to visit family in the countryside, the journey of a boy and his parents is the perfect vehicle to mark the personal nature of the passage of time. Poetic language calls out the fickleness of time as it both creeps and flies, alternately observed or invisible. Jacoby’s watercolor, pastel and mixed media illustrations perfectly capture the varied sensibility of time through the experience of family and background characters, each group with their own perception of its pace. All along this family’s picture book journey, Forever or a Day beautifully highlights the tangible rewards that punctuate our individual navigations of time.
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The Very Impatient Caterpillar
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by Ross Burach (Scholastic) When a caterpillar notices his peers scrambling up a tree, he peppers them with questions, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘What are you doing?’ The caterpillar doesn’t understand their explanation of metamorphosis (or the patience it demands), but he does know he wants to be a butterfly, too! Approaching this change with a limited understanding of the process, the caterpillar gets his butterfly journey underway. But the waiting is a challenge as his perception of time is very different from reality. He had no idea that two weeks could move so slow. What follows inside the chrysalis is impatient caterpillar comedy gold as he tries to find innovative ways to pass the time. With dialogue definitely dominated by the wildly uninformed caterpillar, read-aloud partners will enjoy laugh-out-loud moments time and again throughout this celebration of patience.
Ecclesiastes: To Everything There is a Season
by Cynthia Rylant (Beach Lane / Simon & Schuster) Inspired by the well-known verses from Ecclesiastes, Cynthia Rylant selects couplets that are best understood by picture book readers and pairs them with her signature gentle illustration. Building on the call and response rhythm of the original verses, each two page spread is devoted to a time. The painting of a child’s first seed garden accompanies the phrase ‘ a time to plant’ while the following page shows the harvested bloom coupled with ‘a time to pluck up that which has been planted’. And so it goes, each turn of the page showcasing the balance of time through a peaceful ebb and flow of events that mark its passage. Quietly informing a child’s experience of time, Ecclesiastes is a lovely celebration of the seasonal nature of our moments.
Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.
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February at Frazer is all about relationships. Marriage, parenting, family, friendships—relationships are what make life sweet, but they are also what makes us crazy. Throughout the month of February we’ll be exploring the “crazy normal” new way of approaching relationships taught by Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us for worship, and check out our Small Groups for adults and great Children’s and Student Ministries for your kids as well. Sunday Worship Schedule: 8, 9:30 and 11am | Traditional and Contemporary Styles | Childcare Available All Hours
Confident Parenting Conference
Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway
Don’t just parent your kids by circumstance and chance: gain the confidence to be the parent your child needs. Jim Burns of HomeWord ministry offers a comprehensive approach to developing a healthy God-honoring parenting philosophy. Co-sponsored by Frazer and other area churches. Registration link at frazer.church.
Whether your relationship has never been better or you are struggling to connect, you’ll leave Weekend to Remember with practical tools and resources that will set your marriage on the path towards improved communication and deeper intimacy. Presented by FamilyLife Ministries. Registration link at frazer.church.
Friday Feb. 8 7-9pm at Evangel Church on Vaughn Rd Saturday Feb. 9 9-12am at Christ Community Church on Ryan Rd
Feb. 15-17 Renaissance Hotel & Spa in Downtown Montgomery
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A child’s health encompasses
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physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is important to maintain good overall health in children so
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they grow and develop appropriately. My grandfather used to say, “If you have your health you have everything.” If you and your child are healthy, you will have more energy, lower medical costs, improved moods, and live longer. Here are some ways to promote
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Create a Bedtime Routine and Regular Bedtime: Sleep helps your brain function properly which improves learning. Studies show sleep deficiency increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Receiving the proper amount of sleep promotes appropriate growth and development, improves social interactions and increases immunity against diseases. NIH recommends school-age children and teens should sleep for 9-10 hours per night. Bad sleep habits will affect both your physical and emotional health. One way to ensure your child is receiving enough sleep is to create a scheduled bedtime based on when they need to wake up in the morning. If you maintain the same bedtime every night it will be easier to fall asleep and create a healthy habit. Another way to help your child receive the proper amount of sleep is to have a bedtime routine a half-hour before the expected sleep time. This routine will help your child relax which would then lead to falling asleep easier. Some suggested bedtime routines are reading, a warm bath, drawing, listening to soothing music or other calming activities.
Read Food Labels: According to the CDC childhood obesity has more than tripled since 1970. Childhood obesity has both short and long term effects on a child’s physical, social and emotional health. For this reason, it is important for a child to maintain a healthy weight. Reading and understanding food labels is a way for a child to figure out if a food is healthy to eat. The food label will demonstrate the number of calories, sugar, fat content and also break down the percent of the recommended daily intake to help create a balanced diet. It also helps to become more aware of what you are eating since you might think a food is healthy only to learn it isn’t after reading the food label. You can find free printable worksheets to help your child understand a balanced diet at www.nourishinteractive.com.
Exercise with Your Kids: The CDC recommends children and teens should be physically active for 60 minutes per day. The physical activity 63
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Encourage Social Interactions: It is important to encourage your child to develop healthy relationships with peers and adults. Problem-solving, managing friendships, and understanding emotions are necessary for a child’s positive mental health. These skills will also enable a child to learn more effectively in the classroom.
Discuss Physical and Emotional Safety: According to the CDC one of the leading causes of death in children is car accidents. One study found over 600,000 children did not use the proper car seat or seat belt which could prevent death during a car accident. Other accidental deaths include drowning, fire/burns, guns, poisoning, and suffocation. To prevent injuries and death it is important to discuss safety issues regarding all of these potentially dangerous situations. Children and teenager may be in situations when they are offered drugs or subjected to physical or sexual abuse. It is important to discuss with your child healthy and appropriate relationships.
Be a Healthy Role Model: should include aerobic, strengthening and bone strengthening activities. If you exercise with your child and select something you both view as fun, you will be more likely to do it. Some suggested family activities are walking, running, hiking, dancing, biking, and a workout class or video. Create a weekly scheduled routine to incorporate it into your life which would create a healthy habit.
Limit Screen Time: Screen time consists of watching television, playing video games or using electronic devices. When a child is in Montgomery Parents I February 2019
front of a screen they are typically sedentary and not interacting with others. A research study at UCLA found when kids have too much screen time they have difficulty understanding other people’s emotions. Dr. Leonard Epstein studied the effects of limiting screen time in obese children. The findings demonstrate when screen time is limited the children consumed 300-1500 fewer calories. Both of these research studies demonstrate the importance of limiting screen time to help your child socially interact with others, eat fewer calories and be more physically active. 64
Children and teens model their parent’s positive and negative behaviors. Research conducted at Duke University found kids were more likely to eat well and exercise if their parent modeled those behaviors. If you model a healthy lifestyle, your child will most likely lead one as well. mp Cheryl Maguire holds Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in Parents Magazine, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings and Your Teen Magazine. You can find her at Twitter @ CherylMaguire05.
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Alabama Dance Theatre Celebrates the Holidays
To celebrate the holiday season, company dancers, staff and special guests of the Alabama Dance Theatre gathered at the home of Artistic Director Kitty Seale. The house was beautifully decorated, providing a perfect atmosphere for the festivities. The highlight of the night was a mischievous game of “Dirty Santa,” which provided superb entertainment, with all participants striving to obtain a desirable gift. A delicious array of dips, fruit platter, chicken fingers, taquitos, lime sherbet punch and a varied assortment of desserts were provided by Janie Alford, Turner Seale, Barbara Pegues, Sarah McQueen, Suzanne Sheppard and Pamela Swan. Alabama Dance Theatre company members and staff enjoying the party included Aloria Adams, Janie Alford, Jane Abbie Alford, John Alford, Abigail Barr, Catherine Cobb, Hayes Chapman, Chloe Crum, Emily Efferson, Savannah Golden, Ahsha Gray, Francie Hill, Karen Licari, Morgan Marshall, Ashley Martin, Mattie Mercer, Maya Pegues, Virginia Perry, Clover Hardin, Shannon McGaughey, Ryan Tucker, Ja’Niya Kennedy, Kaiya King, Molly Selman, Camille Snead, Micah Sims, Alexandra Thomas, Casey Bailey and Reese, Jackie Berry, Emily Caruso, Kate and Robby Smith and Bennett and Chapman Robertson, Sara Sanford, Sarah McQueen, Suzanne Sheppard, Joy and Corey Ohme with Camilla and Caroline, and Kitty and Turner Seale. The party provided a delightful finale to ADT’s 32nd Holiday Season. For more information on upcoming performances or classes held at the Alabama Dance Theatre, call (334)625-2590 or visit alabamadancetheatre.com. Dancers shown include Lilla Kate Parkman, Jane Abbie Alford, Morgan Marshall, Ahsha Gray, Amelia Felder, Virginia Perry, Abigail Perkinson and Camilla Ohme.
Kicking For Christ Performs at the Harlem Globetrotters Game
Kicking for Christ is a karate demonstration team of children ages 6 to 18 from Johnson’s Martial Arts Academy in Montgomery. The group performed a musical martial arts demonstration during the halftime show of the Harlem Globetrotters game on December 6 at the Garrett Coliseum. Members of Kicking for Christ include Aiyanna Rockwell, Elysia Lewis, Angel Calloway, Joelle Hannam, Christiana Hannam, Byron Dixon, Fred Crittenden, Johnny McCall, Alvin Peoples Jr, Michael Brown Jr, Coach Briana Jackson and Instructor David Johnson.
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ParentingToday’sTeens by Mark Gregston
Parents on a Different Page, Same Chapter Raising teens is hard enough when parents agree on how a child should be parented. But confusion flourishes and relationships flounder when moms and dads can’t seem to get on the same parenting page. During adolescence, kids need a cohesive and focused team approach from Mom and Dad, whether the entire family is living in the same house or not. This doesn’t mean you have to change your parenting personality. I parent different than my wife. My wife’s personality is different than mine. And it works! The two styles combined provide a varied approach to our kids, who have their own personalities. There are times in our kids’ lives that my type of parenting works best, and there are times when hers does. But make no mistake—above and beyond our parenting styles, my wife and I work together for the same purpose, and that’s to raise healthy and mature kids. So how do you ensure you and your spouse are working as a team?
Watch The Criticism
Since none of us are perfect, there will always be something your spouse did, or didn’t do, that could be cause for complaints. But before you criticize your mate, ask yourself if it will help or hurt your partnership. Too often, moms and dads start seeing each other as adversaries instead of teammates. If your spouse has dropped the ball or fumbled a pass while raising your teen, you don’t have to point it out or assign blame. I can guarantee that you’ll drop the ball a few times as well! Instead, learn how to honestly express the strains and struggles you are feeling towards your spouse without pointing the finger. And if your spouse slips up and directs some blame your way, don’t counterattack. We all get carried away with our words sometimes. Instead, tackle your marital struggles and disagreements Montgomery Parents I February 2019
with a bedrock commitment to respect and unity. You will not only improve your relationship with your spouse, you will also give your teen a powerful example to follow. My friend DeeDee Mayer says that one of the great benefits of marriage is: “To know and be known as a human being and be loved anyway.”
Agree Even If You Don’t
Moms and dads will never see eyeto-eye on every parenting issue. But you can agree to work together and speak with one voice and one message to your teens. Agree to talk through disagreements over what is important for your child. When you differ on what the parenting focus should be in your home, some sacrifice from both parents may be necessary in order to reach an agreement. But having a unified front can bring about some big results in your teens. So agree to be united in your parenting. Agree about which “hills to die on”, what’s major, what’s minor, what’s important, what’s not. And if you can’t come to an agreement, then seek counsel from someone you both look up to, and continue to respect each other, especially in front of your kids.
Focus On Your Marriage
My wife and I have been weathertested when it comes to raising teenagers. But even now, with adult kids, we still tussle over the advice we give to our kids and we still struggle to give each other the grace to make mistakes sometimes. When my twenty-five year old announced his divorce, for instance, Jan and I didn’t see eye-to-eye on what to do, or how to talk with our son. We were confused and hurting, and it took its toll on our marriage. We started drifting apart, setting up emotional foxholes and hunkering down alone. It took the grace of God to snap us out of the funk and get us back together and fo66
cused. We realized we needed each other to survive, and working through the pain by ourselves was not an option. I know this may surprise you, but your relationship with your spouse is more important than your relationship with your child. So this next piece of advice is mandatory: take time every day to give attention to your spouse. Take a break from the rest of your family to go on a date. Write him a love note. Surprise her with flowers. Go away for the weekend. Cultivate a healthy marriage. Nurture each other for a little while and you will soon see how refreshed and re-energized you feel. You’ll work better as a team, and your kids will see a powerful model of a husband and wife who are devoted to each other and are on the same page.
Be Patient
If you’ve been married for a while, you’ve likely realized by now that you can’t change your spouse. The only person you can change is you. Raising teens as a united team takes time. It’s a daily process. We need to display patience and grace with each other in order to make it work. That may require us to give up some of our opinions for the sake of unity. But let me tell you—it’s so worth it! Parents, if you are approaching the teen years with your kids, start preparing ahead of time. Begin having those conversations to ensure that you are on the same page, and that the foundations of your marriage are strong. The steps you take today will guard your marriage from the problems that can come during adolescence. And if you have teens in your home now, perhaps the best thing you can do for your teen right now is to turn your attention toward your marriage, and strengthen the parenting team. Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, radio host, and the founder of a residential counseling center for struggling teens located in Longview, Texas. Mark’s passion for helping teens can be seen in his 40 years of involvement with families as a youth pastor, Young Life area director, and now, as the Executive Director of Heartlight, where he has lived with and helped over 2,700 teens. To find out more about Mark and his ministry to parents and teens, you can visit www.HeartlightMinistries.org or www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.
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As we all know, being a parent is the most important job in the world. Our children look up to us for guidance on everything in life, even if we don’t realize it. One way that you can be a positive role model to your kids is in the area of fitness. Staying fit is critical to our health and well-being—including our mental health and happiness. We can help shape our children’s views on exercise by modeling healthy behavior and making fitness a fun part of our family’s daily routine. Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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Exercise Is Important For Managing Stress and Anxiety
Experts have found a clear link between exercise and stress reduction. Harvard scientists concluded that “Regular aerobic exercise has a unique capacity to exhilarate and relax, to provide stimulation and calm, to counter depression and dissipate stress.� According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, some studies show that consistent exercise can be just as effective as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety. Other research shows that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety than those who do not exercise. In one study, researchers found that those who got regular vigorous exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years. Here are several ways in which exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety: Produces Endorphins. When we exercise, our body releases feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins. These chemicals in our brain act as natural painkillers, making us feel better and less stressed. Endorphins are responsible for the natural high we get from a hard workout. Reduces Stress Hormones. Exercise reduces the level of stress hormones in our body like adrenaline and cortisol, helping us feel calmer. Minimizes Fatigue. Exercise improves blood flow and our body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently. These changes in our brain then reduce fatigue and improve alertness, concentration, and cognitive function. This helps us when we are stressed out because we are depleted and need to return to a more balanced level of energy. When we are stressed, many nerves in our brain and throughout out body are impacted. Scientists conclude, therefore, that if our body feels better, then our mind will also feel better. Improves Self-Esteem. Behavioral factors also contribute to the emotional benefits of exercise. When we gain strength and begin to see a difference in our body, we feel better about ourselves and become happier and more confident. Feeling better about ourselves shifts our focus to positive thoughts and away from fear and anxiety. Provides A Fun Distraction. One of the best parts about exercise is that it gives us a time to take a fun break from the stresses in our daily lives. Whether you are 69
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jogging to your favorite upbeat music or socializing with friends on the tennis court, your mind is distracted and you can just have a good time. Makes Sleeping Easier. According to Mayo Clinic, exercise can also improve how we sleep. This is great news for those suffering from insomnia due to stress and anxiety. Encourages Mindfulness. A great bonus of exercise is that it provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a mindful moment. While we work out, we can fully engage in the present moment instead of letting our mind run wild with worries. To get the best result, experts suggest doing rhythmic activities that engage the whole body like running, walking, swimming, dancing, rowing, or climbing. Helpguide.org suggests that “as you move, instead of continuing to focus on your thoughts, focus on the sensations in your limbs and how your breathing complements your movement. If your mind wanders to other thoughts, gently return to focusing on your breathing and movement. If walking or running, for example, focus on each step—the sensation of your feet touching the ground, the rhythm of your breath while moving, and the feeling of the wind against your face.”
How To Be A Good Fitness Role Model
It’s so important that we play actively with our kids from a young age and that we consistently exercise in front of them (and sometimes with them) to show them how importance physical fitness is. From going on family bike rides to coaching one of their sports teams, there are so many helpful ways for you to be a fitness role model to your children throughout their lives. Here are some more ideas to get you moving: Go for a hike outdoors. Not only are walks and hikes wonderful, safe exercise that the entire family can enjoy, they are also an opportunity to connect to the beauty of nature to bring you a sense of calm. Try adding some fun to your family hikes by turning them into a race or scavenger hunt, and by venturing to new parks and trails in your area and while on vacation. Take a mommy and me yoga class together. Yoga offers so many incredible benefits to both you and our children including balance, strength training, time for inner focus, and an opportunity to connect with our bodies in ways we aren’t used to. Sign up for a yoga class that you can take together or pop in a video or load an App
so you can do some yoga together in your living room, or better yet in your backyard. Make exercise a priority even in bad weather. Show your kids that you still go on your morning run even if it’s not sunny outside. On days when it’s cold or rainy, set up your fitness routine indoors and get your kids involved. Put on a workout video and have them join in. There are also lots of fun ways to use your indoor space to get everyone moving. Some of the easiest exercises to perform indoors include jumping rope and calisthenics like pushups, sit ups, and jumping jacks. Or put on some peppy music and play freeze dance or have a hula hoop contest. Before you know it, you will all be working up a sweat! Give sports-related gifts. Another way to make fitness a priority in your home is to choose gifts like workout clothes, sports equipment, and how to books about sports during birthday and holiday time. You can also choose some tickets for a sporting event and make it a fun family outing to cheer on your team together. mp Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com and www.sandischwartz.com.
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Active Entertainment
Brain Support
Prattville YMCA
Newtopia
ASKIN Synergy House
Various Locations, Prattville, AL 36067 Youth Fitness programs, Youth Sports and Swimming. Please call or visit our website more details.
ad on page 17
3731 Malcolm Drive, Montgomery, AL 36116 Indoor playground designed to keep your children happy for hours. (334) 530.3466 newtopiafunpark.com
Pump It Up ad on page 63
1029 Lagoon Business Lp, Montgomery, AL 36117 Open Jump, Monday-Fridays from 9:30-11 and 4-5:30 p.m. (334) 277.5678 pumpitupparty.com/montgomery-al
2211 The Ultimate Play Zone
3541 McGehee Road, Montgomery, AL 36111 Roller skating Rink. (334) 593.7180
2211ultimateplayzone.com
Eastdale Ice Palace
1000 Eastdale Circle, Montgomery, AL 36117 Ice skating on Tuesdays-Sundays (334) 277.2088
eastdale-mall.com
Launch
891 Boardroom Drive, Prattville , AL 36066 Multiple trampoline court with different activities. (334) 568.2041 info@launchprattville.com launchtrampolinepark.com
Rockin Jump
5544 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36117 Where exercising is FUN! Multiple jump arenas. (334) 239.2587
rockinjump.com
Skatezone Wetumpka
88 Red Eagle Pkwy., Wetumpka, AL 36092 Rollerskating Rink (334) 567.4434 Facebook - Skatezone Wetumpka
ad on page 85
3501 Whiting Ave., Montgomery, AL 36105 Brain Enhancement Techniques and Therapeutic tutoring.
ad on page 49
(334) 361.0268
prattvilleymca.org
(334) 549.8955
Integrated Wellness ad on page 52
Montgomery, AL Multi Modality approach to child and family wellness. ADHD/EFD coaching, Biofeedback, Nutritional consulting and education, Social skills coaching. (334) 313.3773 Integrated-wellness.net
NeuroKinetic Solutions ad on page 11
7150 Halcyon Park Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117 A coordinated body is an organized brain. Brain Pump classes and Educational Consulting offered. (334) 625.0068 nksolutions007@gmail.com neurokineticsolutions.com
Fitness Gym/ Recreation Center Montgomery YMCA ad on page 34
Various Locations, Montgomery, AL Youth sports, Teen programs, Swimming and Fitness classes. Each location will offer unique classes to them. Please call individual locations for more information. (334) 271.4343
ymcamontgomery.org
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Nate Higginbotham (11), top left, with Jameson (4), Olivia (6) and Brady (8) Tormey enjoy Brain Pump classes at Neurokinetic Solutions.
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Club Pilates 8143 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 CP Teen - good class for athletic or inactive teenagers. (334) 603.8055
clubpilates.com
Club Pilates Zelda 2940 Zelda Road, Montgomery, AL 36106 CP Teen - good class for athletic or inactive teenagers. (334) 328.2465 clubpilates.com
WP Crossfit
1555 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117 Speed and Agility & Strength and Conditioning for ages (7-18) and Performance Training, 7-11 & 12-18. (228) 257.9117 wpcrossfit.com
Health Food Stores/ Meal Prep
Blue Apron
Delicious, chef designed recipes. Responsibly sourced ingredients. (646) 891.4349
blueapron.com
(334) 361.7550 fountaincity1@knology.net fountaincityhealthfoods.com
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Rebar Performance 8200 Emma Court, Pike Road, AL 36064 CrossFit Kids is a method for teaching Greg Glassman’s CrossFit to children ages 7-14.
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200 Red Eagle Drive, Wetumpka, AL 36092 Aquatics and Youth Sports. Please call for more programs available.
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101 South Memorial Drive, Prattville, AL 36067 Grocery and herbal remedy store. We offer vitamins, supplements, essential oils and more.
410 Eastern Blvd. Frontage Road, Unit D, Montgomery, AL 36117 Kids, Youth and Pre-teen Circus Arts Classes (Ariel Yoga)
(334) 567.8282
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Fountain City Health Foods
Fly Aerial Studio
(334) 593.8886
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Fresh Market
Gluten-Free, Vegan, and more.
1635 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery, AL 36106 Organic foods and healthy snacks. (334) 272.8952
thefreshmarket.com
GNC
7966 Vaughn Road, Montgomery , AL 36117 Health- & sports-related vitamins, supplements & herbs, plus drinks & snacks. (334) 213.2462
gnc.org
Healthwise
5147 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36109 Functional foods, Organic Groceries, Children’s Health and Adolescent Health. (334) 277.9925
Chef crafted recipes, ready in under 30 minutes. (646) 846.FOOD hellofresh.com
Herb Shop Wellness Center
8151 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 Helping kids be healthier and smarter through specific testing. Vitamins & Supplements, Food Allergy Testing, Nutritional Genetical Testing to maximize your health & Natural Skin Care for Eczema and Psoriasis. herbshopal.com
Natural Healing by Vitamins Plus
407 Coliseum Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36109 Natural Healing Clinic specializing in restoring balance and helping the body heal itself. (334) 356.8195 naturalhealingbyvitaminsplus.com
Sun Basket
Vitamin Shoppe
7345 Eastchase Pkwy., Montgomery, AL 36117 Vitamins & Supplements, Herbs & Natural Remedies and Natural Beauty & Skin. (334) 279.4061
Whole Foods
1450 Taylor Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 Organic whole foods, Supplements, Vitamins & Supplements. Join us to Eat, Read & Make at Whole Foods Kids club, wholekidsfoundation.org. (334) 523.2940
Cook healthy and delicious meals with organic produce + clean ingredients. Paleo, Lean & Clean,
The Parent Assist Line (PALS)
Montgomery, AL A collaborative service of the University of Alabama Child Development Resources and the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund. Call and a parenting resource specialist will answer, listen to you, then offer helpful and supportive information. 1-800-962-3030 apal.ua.edu
vitaminshoppe.com
wholefoodsmarket.com
healthwisefoods.com
Hello Fresh
(334) 271.2882
(855) 204-7597 sunbasket.com
Parent Support and Assistance Alabama Department of Public Health ad on Inside Front Cover
201 Monroe Street, Montgomery, AL 36116 All Kids Children Health Insurance Program: A low-cost, comprehensive healthcare coverage program for children under age 19. Benefits include regular checkups and immunizations, sick child doctor visits, prescriptions, vision and dental care, hospitalization, mental health and substance abuse services and more. Women, Infants and Children (WIC): supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, women who had a baby within the last 6 months, infants and children under the age of five. 888-737-5437 adph.org
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Parks/Trails/Nature Areas Thompson Park
1655 Ray Thorington Rd, Pike Road, AL 36064 Playgrounds and batting cages
Audubon
3174 Cloverdale Rd, Montgomery, AL 36106 Located in the Cloverdale neighborhood, Audubon Park is a 1 acre open, grassy area perfect for frisbee, picnics, or walking the dog.
AUM/Ron Nunn Montgomery
250 Brown Springs Rd., Montgomery, AL 36117 Batting cages and a playground
Blount Cultural Park
3 Festival Dr, Montgomery, AL 36117 Open play area and miles of walking trails.
Buddy Watson
1801 Taylor Rd, Montgomery, AL 36117 Batting cages, walking trail and playground
Cloverdale Park
2415 W Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106 Playground and open green space.
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Cloverdale Road Park 3124 Cloverdale Rd, Montgomery, AL 36106 Open green space and walking trail.
Dannelly 3415 Carter Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL 36111 Batting cages, open play space and playground.
Ida Belle Young Park 5400 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, AL 36116 Playground, tennis courts and walking trail.
Kiwanis Park 400 N Hull St, Montgomery, AL 36104 Large playground and open green space.
Lagoon Park 2855 Lagoon Park Dr, Montgomery, AL 36109 5 miles of biking and walking trails, playgrounds, batting cages and tennis courts.
Memorial Center Park 3168 Park Circle, Millbrook, AL 36054 Walking trails, creek and Kids Kingdom playground.
Oak Park 1010 Forest Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106 Multiple walking trails and horseshoes.
Pratt Park 460 Doster Road, Prattville , AL 36067 Walking trails, “A Child’s Place” Playground, Splash pad and community pool.
Riverfront Park 335 Coosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104 Splash Pad.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
Vaughn Road Park
Robert H. Owen and Dr. R. Davis Denney
3620 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, AL 36106 Boundless playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails, large open play space and walking trails.
(334) 277.6690
Pediatric Dentists & Orthodontics
ad on page 33
Chapman Orthodontics ad on page 53
1550 East Trinity Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36106 Dr. Lewis Chapman and Dr. Will Chapman (334) 272.9447
chapmaortho.com
Dentistry for Children ad on page 29
7047 Halcyon Summit Dr, Montgomery, AL 36117 68 Village Loop, Wetumpka, AL 36093 Dr. Julia Schreiber (334) 277.6830
chew-chewtrain.com
Kingry Orthodontics ad on page 37
8101 Seaton Place and 31 Bridge Street, The Waters, Montgomery, AL 36116 Dr. Mark Kingry. Second location in Pike Road. (334)272.4900
kingryorthodontics.com
Montgomery Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics ad on page 33
2600 Bell Road , Montgomery, AL 36117 Dr. John H. Payne, IV; Dr. J. David Stanley; Dr.
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Prattville Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 460 McQueen Smith Road, Prattville, AL 36066 Dr. John H. Payne, IV; Dr. J. David Stanley; Dr. Robert H. Owen and Dr. R. Davis Denney (334) 358.6411
smilesfromus.com
Bush Pediatric Dentistry
4740 Woodmere Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36106 Dr. Samuel Bush (334) 676.2144
bushpediatricdentistry.com
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www.carlilepediatrics.com
Dentists 4 Children 7015 Halcyon Park Dr., Montgomery , AL 36117 Dr. Richard K. Vann, Dr. Heather Thornton and Dr. James M. Jenkins (334) 284.1100
dentist4children.com
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Just for Grins Orthodontics
29 Dr.
7051 Halcyon Summit, Montgomery, AL 36117 Dr. Dunn & Dr. Schreiber. We have locations in Millbrook and Wetumpka.
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(334) 270.1044
justforgrinsortho.com
Montgomery Orthodontic Specialist 5833 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 Dr. Nick Turner and Dr. Brett Wood (334) 260.8166
twortho.com
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Prattville Pediatric Associates
645 McQueen Smith Rd. N, Prattville, AL 36066 Melisa Simpson, CRNP, Abby Nixon, CRNP, Carrie Tubbs, CRNP, and Dr. Allen Newton (334) 361.7811
www.montg-pvillepediatric.com
Smart Smiles
315 Ray Thorington Rd, Montgomery, AL 36117 Dr. Foch Smart (334) 271.2345
smartsmiles.com
Wetumpka Pediatric Clinic
815 Jackson Trace Rd., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567.2882 ivycreekhealth.com/primary-care/ wetumpka-pediatrics
Pediatrics Professional Pediatrics ad on page 12
4154 Carmichael Rd., Montgomery, AL 36106 Dr. C Allen White, Dr. Robert L. Coggins, Dr. David W. Drennen (334) 271.5959
www.professionalpediatrics.com
All About Kids
2921 Zelda Rd., Montgomery, AL Dr. Michael Doyle, M.D.; Dr. Nicole Sheffield, M.D (334) 277.5431 www.zeldapeds.com
East Montgomery Pediatrics
337 St. Lukes Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 356.1411
8160 Seaton Place, Montgomery, AL 36117 136 E. Main Street, Prattville, AL 36116 Catherine Woods, M.D., Susan Brannon, M.D., Cheryl Outland, M.D., Lamenda Blakeney, M.D., Elizabeth Diebel, M.D., Rama Mukkamala, M.D., Melissa S. McNally, M.D. and Dr. Danielle Speight, M.D. (334) 272.1799 Link on website www.mykidsdr.com
Montgomery Pediatric Associates PA
420 Cotton Gin Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 John Sumners, M.D., James Rabon, M.D. (334) 260.9129
Partners in Pediatrics
www.montg-pvillepediatric.com
Pediatric Healthcare
4700 Woodmere Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36106 David Morrison, M.D., Den Trumbell, M.D.,
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Jeffrey Simon, M.D.; Joseph Sadler, Jr., MD (334) 273.9700
www.pedhealthcare.com
Physicians to Children
470 Taylor Road, Suite 210, Montgomery, AL 36117 M.D., Cheryl Fekete, M.D., Dr. Karen Doles, M.D., Alicia Hughes, M.D., Dina Winston, M.D., Dr. Kendra Gillis Colvin, M.D., Dr. Olivia Garcia, M.D., and Dr. Malissa Hoy, D.O. (334) 293.5033
www.childrensal.org
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PARENT
A Dog’s Way Home
Replicas
MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B Violence: B Sexual Content: A Profanity: A Alcohol / Drug Use: A Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard) is a young puppy, growing up with her mother and a pack of cats in the ruins of an old home. When Animal Control tries to clean out the space, Bella’s mother is taken, and Bella falls into the care of one of the cats. That is, until Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King) and Olivia (Alexandra Shipp) come by to feed the cats, and Bella decides that it’s time to find a new home with Lucas. Bella grows up to be a large dog and she and Lucas are very happy - until Animal Control returns to tell them that since Bella is a pit bull, she won’t be allowed in the city and will be euthanized if she is found off Lucas’s property. To save Bella from this dire fate, Lucas sends her to stay with friends in New Mexico temporarily until he can move to a safer location, but Bella can’t wait for Lucas to come back. She sets off on a grand adventure to find her way home and meets all kinds of strange animals and people on the way: some friendly, some dangerous, and some in between. Frankly, there isn’t too much I can say about this movie that you can’t intuit from a plot synopsis or the trailer. It is one of those films that is exactly what you’d expect it to be, and nothing more. It’s a safe, sentimental, paint-bynumbers family picture with strong appeal for children and animal lovers. There’s not much for parents to be concerned about here. There is almost no objectionable content of any kind. A Dog’s Way Home isn’t a bad movie... and isn’t a good movie either. It is a harmless movie that will be enjoyed by its target audience and tolerated by everyone else.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: BViolence: C+ Sexual Content: AProfanity: C+ Alcohol / Drug Use: AWilliam Foster (Keanu Reeves), a talented researcher in a biotechnology company called Bionyne, is trying to implant a human consciousness into a robot. With the help of colleague Ed Whittle (Thomas Middleditch), he comes close, but the consciousness always seems to reject the synthetic body. After one failure too many, Ed loans William his boat for a family weekend getaway. However, on the way to the marina the family gets caught in a terrible storm and William crashes the car. When he comes to, he finds that his wife, Mona (Alice Eve) and their children Matt, Sophie, and Zoe (Emjay Anthony, Emily Alyn Lind, and Aira Leabu) have all been killed in the wreck. In his grief, he turns to Ed, and coaxes him into helping him implant the consciousnesses of his family members into the cloned bodies. But, as Ed points out, human cloning is illegal, and even if it wasn’t, no one has have successfully done it. Will William be able to bring his family back to life? And if so, at what cost? Replicas is certainly making a bold move by addressing such a controversial issue, and to its credit, the film devotes a fair bit of dialogue to discussing the objections to human cloning and transhumanism. But, like in every other Frankenstein story, the characters then ignore both ethics and sense and race full steam ahead into scientifically and philosophically muddy waters. Unfortunately, Replicas doesn’t seem to have the screenwriting or directing chops to make any of this plausible. On the effects end of things, the computer-generated assets are downright goofy. With a hard-to-swallow plot and many technical flaws, Replicas isn’t a good movie by any definition.
On the Basis of Sex
The Upside
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: AViolence: B+ Sexual Content: C+ Profanity: C Alcohol / Drug Use: C At the beginning of her first year at Harvard Law School in 1956, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) is at the receiving end of a shocking question from Dean Erwin Griswold (Sam Waterston). At a formal dinner, the dean asks the handful of female students to explain “why you’re occupying a place that could have gone to a man.” The fact that such a question is so outrageously offensive today is partially due to the legal work of Ms. Ginsburg, a leader in court challenges against discriminatory legislation and, since 1993, a justice of the United States Supreme Court. But Justice Ginsburg’s success didn’t come quickly and her struggle is the heart of this triumphant film. Even with her extraordinary intelligence and work ethic, Ruth has to take a circuitous path to legal success – more direct routes closed due to her gender. On the Basis of Sex is a compelling story about the long journey towards gender equality. It also shows a united, loving marriage where both parties are totally committed to the growth and happiness of each other. It should be pointed out, however, that the affection in this marriage is demonstrated in the movie’s only sensual scene: this involves Marty sliding off Ruth’s dress, kissing her on the chest, and carrying her off to bed. Aside from this episode, the only other content issues are occasional profanities (including one sexual expletive) and occasional drinking and smoking. Minor flaws aside, this is a rousing, thought-provoking film parents (or teachers) can use as a springboard for discussions with teens.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B Violence: B+ Sexual Content: BProfanity: BAlcohol / Drug Use: D Dell Scott (Kevin Hart) has a problem. He has just been released from yet another prison term and his parole officer is demanding that he provide proof of a serious job search. Phillip Lacasse (Bryan Cranston) has a problem. Paralyzed from the neck down after a paragliding accident and grieving his wife’s death from cancer, he has no interest in living. His devoted assistant, Yvonne (Nicole Kidman), is trying to find a suitable personal care attendant but Phillip refuses to engage with any of the applicants. And then Dell walks in... Against Yvonne’s strenuous objections, Phillip hires Dell and the two forge an unlikely, but in the circumstances of the film, quite predictable friendship. Cranston and Hart have a believable on-screen chemistry that draws the audience into the story. The Upside is not trying to be a motivational film. It is simply trying to tell its story, which is based on a real friendship, in as authentic a way as possible. Parents might be concerned with frequent anatomical discussions – a catheter is changed in a few scenes and while all camera work is above the waist, there is some discussion about male genitalia. There is also a lot of humor relating to the catheter scenes which viewers will either find offensive or hysterically funny. What is likely to cause the greatest concern in this film is its very positive portrayal of drug use in the form of marijuana. The negative content in The Upside is frustrating because this film comes with strong positive messages, which are the real upside and make this movie worth watching.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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1. Guard Against Media Overload. Monitor family media exposure, especially during times of scary news broadcasts or upsetting continual updates. Turn off televisions and radios when children are around. Get kids off the Internet and away from hand-held devices. Silence your cell phone notifications. Tumultuous times are a good time to revert to old-fashioned fun like reading a book, playing a board game, or going for a family walk. If a crisis is not affecting your family directly, don’t let the news cycle hijack your day and cause your family unnecessary stress.
What the world needs now is peace, sweet peace. As families, it’s time to activate our potential as peacekeepers on the home front, and then actively take our home-grown peace out into the world. If every family strives for harmony at home, the world must become a calmer, more soothing place. Creating peace at home is a good guiding principle if you want to set a healthy example for your kids of how to let go of the things you cannot change while taking charge of the things you can impact. For a moment, forget about what others are doing or not doing to keep the peace out there in the big wide world, and focus on what you can do in your own backyard instead. Here are eight ideas to get you started: Montgomery Parents I February 2019
2. Cultivate Family Peace Practices. When my daughter
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is upset or agitated her go-to calming activity is a nice warm shower or bath. For mild upsets or just general distracted behavior, her signing practice comforts and centers her. Drawing is an old friend she can return to time after time to wind down before bed. Find practices that work for each family
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member. One child may prefer to read a book while another may wish to do something physical to get grounded. Adopt whatever works for each family member.
3. Process Disappointments As They Happen. Your child may experience a loss and you may not be aware of it. My daughter seemed to be displaying uncharacteristic behavior until I was able to trace the source of it back to a recent disappointment she’d experienced at school. We often cajole our kids to “be a good sport” without giving them a chance to fully express their feelings. In this case, I was able to seek out some feedback and closure from the teacher involved in the incident. My daughter had a little cry, admitted that she was more disappointed than she had let on, and was back to her old cheerful self within a few hours.
Build A Peace Garden A peace garden is a place for sowing seeds with intention. Gather seeds in the colder months. Dedicate a plot of ground to your peace garden and refocus on peace each time you plant new seeds. Affirm the growth of peace in the world as you plant flowers and shrubs. Add a place to sit and reflect on your peace garden. Look for ways to incorporate the word ‘peace’ in your garden. When things rock your world, go to the garden and sit, or send your kids to the garden to tend it. Make a little peace bouquet, take a photo and share the image on social media. A peace garden may mean different things to different family members, so let everyone contribute and interact with it as they see fit. If every family had a peace garden, the world might be a different place.
4. Bless People In Crisis. Peacefulness is contagious. Don’t over-think this. Beam peace at agitated people you encounter. If folks you love from far away are suffering, light a safety candle for them. Send positive thoughts, a prayer or a wish for all good things across the miles. Write down positive words and people’s names you’d like to bless on little pieces of paper and place them in a ‘peace box’ of your own creation. Positivity makes a difference, especially for the givers.
to help those in need in your community. Share leftover pantry items with your local food bank and old clothes and belongings with non-profit thrift shops on an ongoing basis. Feel good about steadily being part of the solution however your family feels called.
6. Spread Joy. Refuse to give in to cynicism. Put a positive bumper sticker on your car. Put out a colorful flag in your yard. Decorate your yard with the word ‘peace’ and other objects that symbolize joyfulness. Add a birdbath or a fountain to your yard or home. Plant a Peace Garden (see sidebar). Believe in a more peaceful world and do your part to make it happen. Inspirational
5. Make A Small Difference. Keep a coin jar out and fill it with loose change. When a crisis occurs, make a donation to support intervention. On an ongoing basis, give what you can
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When Tragedy Strikes Too Close To Home 1. Stay calm, cool and collected. 2. Steer clear of overly dramatic types. 3. Protect your children from too much media exposure. 4. Discuss what happened with your family in simple terms. 5. Let family members express how the crisis makes them feel. 6. Take time to bless, pray, or send positivity to those affected. 7. Show love to your family and hug them close. 8. Take a constructive action, like making an online donation, if you can. 9. Attend group events like memorial services or vigils if this feels helpful. Consider dividing the family into two groups and letting one group attend and one group stay home, as needed. 9. Commemorate those who have been affected by a crisis with a safety candle or by displaying a flower. 10. If kids seem shaken or stuck, encourage them to share feelings by writing a letter to those affected by the crisis. 11. Seek professional support if anyone in your family has been deeply affected by a traumatic event. 11. Keep life simple. Go about routines slowly and mindfully. Avoid rushing. 12. Share gratitude you feel. Appreciate little things. Be kind to yourself and others.
quotes glimpsed on the way out the door can inspire your family members to new heights of understanding each and every day.
7. Memorialize Losses. Unexpressed grief is like a ticking time bomb driving people to act out in ways they might not otherwise. Take a look back at major losses in your family (and even your childhood) and ask yourself if you have adequately acknowledged your suffering. If not, it’s not too late. Ask your spouse the same questions. Then ask your kids. Make sure you are not trying to protect your kids from feelings of loss that are a natural part of being human. Never brush off grief, yours or anyone else’s. Come up with creative ways to commemorate major losses in your family and you will help your loved ones move through feelings of sadness and loss so everyone can move on. 8. Live In Today. Anxiety is triggered by focusing on the past or the future at the expense of the moment. We can’t control what happened yesterday and we are not at fault for things beyond our control out in the world. However home base can always be an oasis of calm, cool collectedness. We can make the world a more peaceful place if we are peacebuilders before we go out the door. So cultivate tranquility at home, and bring that attitude with you out into the world. If you do, your children will follow in your footsteps. mp Author, journalist and writing coach Christina Katz has a peace garden next to the road in front of her home. She and her family often discuss how to detach with love from local and global dramas.
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Invitation to Dance
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Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids
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Whether it’s a social experience, a creative performance or an individual expression of joy, dance offers healthy benefits for people of every age. While they are young and uninhibited, children are especially open to the physical self-expression of dance. Encouraging dance and interactive movement in children offers developmental benefits that go beyond physical coordination and health. Combining movement with the sensory inputs of sound and light can also teach children rhythm, counting, and listening skills. The following resources feature prompts that invite dance with playtime, adding movement and music into the mix.
by Gerry Paige Smith
BeatBo Learning Lights Dance Mat
Dance and Groove Rockit
Rewarding kids with danceable beats and light-up activities, the BeatBo Learning Lights Dance Mat is easily activated with just a bump or press from little hands and feet. The BeatBo figure gets the action started, directing little ones to try out specialized sections of the mat. Divided by color, each section features learning prompts for the alphabet, numbers, shapes and dance moves. Gross motor skills get a healthy workout as children crawl, walk and dance on the mat. Fostering thinking and problemsolving skills, music, lights, and phrases also help stimulate important the senses. Colorful and charismatic, BeatBo combines physical development with learning fun through this responsive play space.
Interactive and intuitive, Dance & Groove Rockit features a host of engaging activities that keep growing kids engaged and learning through play. Boasting a light-up face and motorized ears, Rockit has a belly-full of hands-on play with a numbers roller, ABC toggle switch, and a sliding door that teaches different shapes in English and Spanish. And the Glow ball offers its own features when activated, singing songs about colors, friendship, and best of all - movement! Rockit’s ability to repeat what kids say in three super silly voices adds a hilarious personal touch to the interactive play experience. Touching, listening, learning and movement all come together for developmental benefit when kids make friends with the Dance and Groove Rockit.
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Learn and Groove Musical Mat
Let’s Dance Elmo (Sesame Street)
Getting kids to move is a snap when Sesame Street’s Elmo is calling the dance. Mimicking his signature moves, Let’s Dance Elmo swings his arms, tilts his head, and shakes his hips while prompting kids to join in. With three buttons on Elmo’s headphones, kids can activate different musical modes featuring colors, animals, and songs. Encouraging children to follow his lead, Elmo’s heart lights up to match the color songs and to keep the beat as he moves. Elmo’s headphones also act as a handle so kids can take the Sesame Street dance party wherever they want to go. Faithful to his cheery persona, Let’s Dance Elmo’s familiar voice is ideal for encouraging all the right moves!
(LeapFrog)
With four feet of surface to explore, the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Mat is the perfect jumping off point for physical learning play. Kids can discover the sounds of different musical instruments, create their own music, or explore beats and tempo with over 50 songs and phrases. Animal friends join the journey as children learn numbers or interactive clapping. There are also audio instructions that guide players through movements and sequences that build their coordination and thinking. Part dance, part discovery and all kinds of awesome, this super-size play mat is a giant leap forward for the littlest learners.
Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com
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FamilyCalendar Friday, February 1
2019 Home Building and Remodeling Expo Through February 3 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Cramton Bowl Multiplex, 220 Hall Street. This year’s featured guest will be Chip Wade from HGTV and he will highlight the latest and greatest in home building and remodeling trends and technology. Whether you have a product to showcase, or are looking to start your own, the 2018 Home Expo is the place for you. $6 per person. For more info, call (334) 277-7766 or visit gmhba.org/ Pike Road Valentines for Vets Card Drive Through February 12 A box will be available at Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Rd., to accept cards, letters, or notes from anyone who would like to help make Valentine’s Day special for local veterans. Handmade or store-bought cards can be dropped off during regular business hours (Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) until noon on February 12. The cards will be distributed to the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System on Valentine’s Day!
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Capri Theatre Presents Hale County This Morning, This Evening 3 p.m. Shot in Hale County, Alabama, this documentary is composed of intimate and unencumbered moments of people in a community. This film is constructed in a form that allows the viewer an emotive impression of the Historic South - trumpeting the beauty of life and consequences of the social construction of race, while simultaneously a testament to dreaming. For more info, visit www.capritheatre.org or call (334) 262-4858.
Tuesday, February 5
Home Depot Kids’ Workshop 9 a.m.-noon. All locations. Ages 5-12. Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety. This month, you and your child can build a heartshaped box for Valentine’s Day perfect as a gift for
Wednesday, February 6
Permanent Collection in these FREE docent-led tours the FIRST Sunday of each month. For more info, call (334) 240-4333 or visit mmfa.org/.
Open House for Prospective Alabama Christian Academy Students 6 p.m. for students entering kindergarten through 12th grades. For more info, contact Admissions Director Tracy Stiff at tstiff@alabamachristian.org or call (334) 277-1985.
Capital City Master Gardener Association Lunch and Learn Series Open to the Public
Find a listing of Public Library Storytimes and Events at
Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Nina Simone: Four Women -- through February 17 Written by Christina Ham with music by Nina Simone; directed by Lydia Fort. Through storytelling and song, this production celebrates how Nina Simone helped define the sound of the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring powerful anthems such as “Mississippi Goddam,” “Old Jim Crow,” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Recommended ages 13+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353. Freedom Rides Museum Safe Travels: Navigating Jim Crow America with The Green Book Through February 28 Freedom Rides Museum, 210 S Court St, Montgomery. In the 1950s and ‘60s, America’s highways boomed and the family vacation was all the rage. For black Americans, though, it was never as simple as hopping in a car and hitting the open road. Learn about the guides and networks created by black travelers to ensure that they could travel safely. Join us for an opening reception February 8, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. View the exhibit, hear from the curators, and enjoy after-work refreshments.
Saturday, February 2
Old Cahawba’s Road to Freedom Wagon Tour 10-11 a.m. Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, 9518 Cahaba Rd, Orrville, Ala. One hundred years BEFORE the 1965 Voting Rights March focused on the Dallas county courthouse in nearby Selma, a brave community of recently emancipated African-Americans gathered around an older courthouse in Cahawba. This wagon tour tells the story of Cahawba’s AfricanAmerican majority and traces their path from slavery to freedom with a special emphasis on how they reshaped Cahawba as they pursued their dreams of equality. Call (334) 872-8058 for more info or visit www.ahc.alabama.gov or www.facebook.com/oldcahawba. Admission is $8/person.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
someone you love or to stash all your Valentine’s Day goodies and keepsakes. Once your project is built, you and your child can decorate it with paint and stickers. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron and an achievement pin. For more info, visit http://homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops. Michael’s Kids Club -- Also Feb. 9, 16 & 23 10 a.m.-noon. $2 per project. Supplies included. Ages 3-8. Each session is 30 minutes. Parent or guardian must remain on premises. Feb. 2 is Foxy Valentines; Feb. 9 is Lovely Frames; Feb. 16 is Flower Power; and Feb. 23 is Fingerprint Bugs. For more info, visit www.michaels.com/. Guided Nature Hike at Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook -- Also February 16 and March 2 Hike some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails with an aturday experienced ANC naturalist by your side. S programs are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Take a look around the hands-on Discovery Hall, enjoy the movie specials in the theater, and explore the trails. General admission applies: $5/person with a $20 maximum per family. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife. org/ or call (800) 822-9453. Wetumpka Depot Spring Youth Academy Sessions run through May 7 Do you have a budding singer, dancer or actor in your family? Sign up your young artist for the Wetumpka Depot Youth Academy. Classes are offered after school on Mondays and Thursdays for ages 8 and up, or during the day for homeschoolers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For details, visit www. wetumpkadepot.com/youth-actors-academy.html or call (334) 868-1440.
Sunday, February 3
First Sundays at One -- Also March 3 1-2 p.m. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Learn more about the traveling exhibitions as well as the Museum’s
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Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 -- Through February 13 Written by Christina Ham; directed by Tangela Large. Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Addie Mae Collins— four little girls who are multitalented and filled with promise share their hopes and dreams against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. Produced in collaboration with Montgomery Public Schools. Recommended ages 11+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353.
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The first Wednesday of each month, noon to 1 p.m. Sessions are held at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, next to the Curb Market. Related handouts from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service are provided each session at no cost. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches to each event. Iced tea and water will be provided. Artful Yoga at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts -- Also February 20 & March 6 Noon-1 p.m. Does your yoga practice need a little artistic inspiration? Join us for this new program to stretch, reflect and relax. Each Artful Yoga session will draw inspiration from collections and exhibitions of the Museum. Led by instructor Nancy Beale. The class is free and suitable for all levels; beginners are welcome. Bring your yoga mats and wear comfortable clothing. For more info, visit https://mmfa.org/discover/artful-yoga/ or call (334) 240-4333. The Muses at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts -- Also February 13 & 27; March 6 4-5 p.m. The Muses is a teen council that enjoys creative experiences and collaborates to help shape the Museum’s teen program offerings and more. Participation allows students to meet professional artists and peers, learn about working in an arts and cultural organization, and gain real-world experience in event-planning, outreach, and project management. To learn how to represent your school and become part of the Muses, contact Elisabeth at epalmer@mmfa.org.
Thursday, February 7
MPAC Presents Wayne Newton 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Born in 1942, Newton started singing professionally as a child. In his teenage years, he performed with his older brother. He became a solo performer in the early 1960s and scored such hits as “Danke Schoen” and “Red Roses for a Blue Lady.” For the next several decades, Newton established himself as one of Las Vegas’s most popular and highest-paid performers. Tickets begin at $27. For more info, visit www.mpaconline.org/ or call (334) 481-5100.
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Galentine’s Floral Workshop 6-7:30 p.m. Shoppes at EastChase near Francesca’s. Learn the basics of floral design with Southern Posies. We’ll provide delicious sweets and drinks and you’ll be able to take home your very own floral creation! Tickets are $50 and space is limited. For more info, visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/.
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Earth’s Heart: Connecting Cultures -- Also February 14, 21 & 28 2:30-3 p.m. ArtWorks at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Explore the arts of different cultures. ArtWorks Educator Kelly Bazan will introduce young learners to the basic greetings, visual arts, music, clothing, and traditions of the country in focus (this month is Sweden). Connections will also be made to works in the Museum’s galleries. Classes are limited to 25 students. First come, first serve. For more info, call (334) 240-4333 or visit mmfa.org/.
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Wetumpka Depot Presents Girls’ Weekend Through February 23 7:30 p.m. performances except for one 2 p.m. matinee February 17. Written by Karen Schaeffer and directed by Brady Walker, this lightning-quick farce features four women who travel to Dot’s Northwoods cabin to consume copious amounts of wine, laugh at their lives, trade stories and chat about their book club’s latest selection. However, each lady has some secret plans that have nothing to do with the book club and more about romantic trysts. The madcap, door-slamming chaos comes to a head when Dot discovers her girls’ weekend is full of men! For tickets, call (334) 868-1440 or visit wetumpkadepot.com.
Friday, February 8
Elmore County Homeschool Organization Meets Also February 22 10 a.m.-noon at Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. 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 typically meet the second and fourth Friday of every month year-round (except during November and December). Membership is free and is open to all homeschoolers in the tri-county area. For details, visit http://www.onlineecho.com. Open Gym at the Armory 7-9 p.m. 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery. $10 fee. Pre-register by February 7. For more info, call (334) 625-2789 or visit armoryathletics.com.
Saturday, February 9
2019 Crossroads Theater Production: The Long Road to Love 7:30 p.m. Mezzanine at Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Rd. Featuring renowned storyteller Elizabeth Vander Kamp and her presentation of “The Long Road to Love Stories of the Human Heart.” Vander Kamp exquisitely captures the complexities of love in this story of drama and discovery. In the setting of a theatre company, two people meet, and it is love at first sight. A prior engagement and an on-stage love story create suspense that carries you through the years of their entangled lives…How will this story end? Visit https://pikeroadarts.ticketbud.com/ for ticket info. Cultural Crossroads XVIII: OLD FEDERAL ROAD 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Alabama Department of Archives & History. Speakers include Dr. Kathryn H. Braund, Dr. Angela Pulley Hudson, Raven Christopher, Mark Dauber, Collier Neeley, Dr. Gregory A. Waselkov and Carole King. Topics include “Slavery and the Federal Road,” “Mary Ann Neeley, Lucas Tavern and the Power of Ideas,” “The Road that Led to Destruction: The Federal Road and the Creek Indian Nation” and “Mapping the Old Federal Road.” The event concludes with a special reception and visit to Lucas Tavern in Old Alabama Town, which was originally located on the Old Federal Road. For more info, call (334) 240-4500 or visit www.landmarksfoundation.com. Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Shoppe 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Shoppes at EastChase. Find something for your sweetheart (or yourself) at our Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Shoppe featuring local small businesses. Featured vendors include: Vintage Love Boutique, Living Chic Boutique, Yogi by Sher and the Cheesecake Empori-YUM. For more info, e-mail swasserman@bayerproperties.com. Turtle & Tortoise Time at Alabama Nature Center Program begins at 10 a.m.; animal encounter at 1 p.m. Join one of our naturalists as we go in depth exploring the world of turtles and tortoises. We will have numerous species in house for guests to touch and hold! We’ll talk about where they live, what they eat, how they hunt, etc. General admission applies and includes this awesome program! For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (800) 822-9453. Whole Foods Second Saturday Kids Club 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Whole Foods, 1450 Taylor Rd., Montgomery. Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Each second Saturday, Whole Foods will host fun, hands-on craft activities to teach kids about healthy eating. It’s totally free, and every participant gets a piece of fruit and whatever they make in the workshop!
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FamilyCalendar For more info, call (334) 523-2940 or visit www. wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/montgomery. Dads and Daughters Saturday (D.A.D.S) Calling ALL Fathers and Daughters for storytimes, fun and laughs, 11 a.m.-noon every 2nd Saturday at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library. There will be singing, dancing and arts & crafts. So come visit us and have an enjoyable time! For more info, visit www.facebook.com/events/1374454692792666 /?source=1. Second Saturday Divorce Workshop for Women Montgomery Country Club, Azalea Room, 3800 Narrow Lane Road. 9 a.m.-noon. 3-hour workshop that is offered monthly, designed to help participants explore the legal, financial, and emotional issues of divorce and gain a greater understanding of the process. Cost to attend is $20 per person and preregistration required. For more info, please call or e-mail Sommer Morris at (334) 612-1086 or sommer. morris@morganstanley.com. You may also visit www. secondsaturday.com. Second Saturdays at Old Alabama Town 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Second Saturdays bring special programs for the whole family including crafts, music, lectures and more! For more info, call (334) 240-4500 or visit www.oldalabamatown.com/. AMC Theaters Offers SensoryFriendly Movietimes -- Also February 23 For guests and families living with autism or other special needs, AMC partners with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! This program is available on second and fourth Saturdays (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don’t forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.
Tuesday, February 12
Archives Launches History/Now: Conversations on the Past + Present 6 p.m. Alabama Dept. of Archives & History, 624 Washington Ave. The first history/now program will feature Foster Dickson, an award-winning educator and the author of the new book Closed Ranks: The Whitehurst Case in Post-Civil Rights Montgomery. The program will include a presentation by Dickson followed by an opportunity for informal conversation among attendees, moderated by ADAH staff and a local historian. For more info, call (334) 353-9270 or e-mail scotty.kirkland@ardchives.alabama.gov.
Wednesday, February 13
Central Alabama Master Gardener (CAMGA) Lunch & Learn Program Noon-1 p.m. Held at the Elmore County Extension (ACES) facility on Queen Ann Road in Wetumpka, these free events for the public are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch and learn. Beverages are provided by CAMGA. For more info, call 567-6301 or visit www.aces.edu/counties/Elmore/.
Thursday, February 14
MPAC Live Presents Ron “Tater Salad” White 8 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Come-
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
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dian Ron “Tater Salad” White first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon, but now is a chart-topping Grammy-nominated comedian and a feature film actor. Tickets begin at $52. For more info, visit www.mpaconline.org/ or call (334) 481-5100. Capri Theatre Presents The Princess Bride 7:30 p.m. A kissing story for Valentine’s Day! But if Buttercup and Westley want to make their relationship work, they’ve got to overcome pirates, princes, assassins, Rodents Of Unusual Size, torture and death. For more info, visit www.capritheatre.org or call (334) 262-4858. Union Springs Red Door Theatre Presents Swell Party -- Through February 17 7:30 p.m. performances except for 2:30 p.m. matinee Feb. 17. Written by Topher Payne and directed by Tom Salter, the year is 1932 and tobacco heir Smith Reynolds has just returned to his family’s North Carolina estate from an extended trip to New York. He brings with him a surprising souvenir: a wife! The new Mrs. Reynolds is a popular jazz singer and actress a dozen years older than her husband. But the wedding party is flat-out ruined when the groom turns up dead. Tickets are $15 and may be ordered at (334) 738-8687 or www.reddoortheatre.org. Cloverdale Playhouse Presents Tick, Tick... BOOM! Through February 24 7:30 p.m. performances except for 2 p.m. Sundays. Written by Jonathan Larson; directed by Randy Foster and Eleanor K. Davis. This autobiographical musical by the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent is the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theatre. For more info, call (334) 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org/. Theatre AUM Presents Matt and Ben -Through February 24 7:30 p.m. performances except one 2 p.m. matinee February 24. Written by by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers. $10 - general admission; $5 - senior citizen, non-AUM students, and military (with ID); and free - AUM students, faculty, staff, and alumni (with AUM ID). For reservations or more info, contact Katie at (334) 244-3632 or kpearso2@aum.edu.
Friday, February 15 Weekend to Remember --
Through February 17 Event begins Friday 7-9:35 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.4:40 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.12:15 p.m. Renaissance Montgomery Convention Center, 201 Tallapoosa St. Take your marriage to the next level at this marriage getaway! You’ll learn to connect with your spouse more intimately, understand God’s blueprints for a wonderful marriage, and draw from the experience and advice of leading marriage experts. For more info, call (334) 481-5000 or visit www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember/.
Saturday, February 16
Third Saturday @ Art Museum 1-2 p.m. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Learn more about the works of art on view at the Museum in these FREE docent-led tours offered the third Saturday of each month. For more info, call (334) 240-4333 or visit mmfa.org/.
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Love Run 5K Benefiting Brantwood Children’s Home 7:30-11 a.m. Paterson Field, 1215 Madison Ave., Montgomery. We welcome runners and walkers! Registered racers may pick up race day packets at Brantwood Children’s Home on Friday, Feb. 15, from 2-6 p.m. or day of event at 7:30 a.m. Register online. Cost is $25. For more info, call (334) 2650784 or visit www.brantwoodchildrenshome.org/. Prattville Mardi Gras Parade & Celebration 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The good times will begin to roll with food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, inflatables, and other activities at 11 a.m. and a car show starting at 8 a.m. at the Public Safety Building. The parade will start at 2 p.m. at the Autauga County Courthouse. It will follow Main Street through downtown, turn right on Northington then left on Doster Road, ending at Stanley Jensen Stadium. For more info, call (334) 595-0854. Pike Road Father-Daughter Dance 6-9 p.m., St. James United Methodist Church, 9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. Tickets are $20 per person and are sold through PayPal for your convenience on the purchase tickets page. Local photographer Jennifer Barker of Jennifer’s Photo Box will capture that special date night and music will be provided by the family-friendly Music Guy. For more info or to register, visit http:// pikeroadfatherdaughterdance.com/. MPAC Presents One Night with The Voice featuring Kirk Jay & Friends 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Montgomery native Kirk Jay is joined by Makenzie Thomas and Patrigue Fortson. Tickets begin at $19. For more info, visit www.mpaconline.org/ or call (334) 481-5100. Animal Enrichment Day at Montgomery Zoo 10 a.m.-2 p.m. From zoo animals to our pets at home and even including us, we all need enrichment. A chance to smell a new scent, taste a new flavor, play a new game or figure out a challenging puzzle or game. The result is to stimulate behaviors resembling those for that species found in the wild. It is a lot of trial and error, but it is always fun. For more info, call (334) 625-4900 or visit www. montgomeryzoo.com/. Ft. Toulouse Living History Weekend Also February 17 Fort Toulouse-Jackson Park, 2521 W Fort Toulouse Rd., Wetumpka. French & Indian War of 1812 reenactment. For more info, call (334) 567-3002 or visit https://fttoulousejackson.org/.
Sunday, February 17
Family Art Affair and Jazz Jams at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 2-4 p.m. Get creative when you and your family visit the art studios to complete a make-and-take art project. This free docent-led program has specific themes related to Museum exhibitions and is sure to be fun and engaging for the whole family. This program is complemented by Jazz Jams. For more info, visit http://mmfa.org/ or call (334) 240-4333.
Wednesday, February 20
See Me: Exploring Abstractions at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 1 p.m. This program designed for students with
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Thursday, February 21
Food For Thought Noon-1 p.m. The Alabama Dept. of Archives & History, 624 Washington Ave. Bring lunch and and join us every third Thursday for these FREE lectures sponsored by Friends of the Alabama Archives. Drinks are complimentary. Today’s topic is “Scottsboro Unmasked: Decatur’s Story,” presented by Peggy Allen Towns. Call (334) 353-4726 or visit www.archives.alabama.gov. Capri Theatre Vintage Concert Series: An Evening with Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin Doors open at 7 p.m.; music starts at 8. Tickets are $15. For more info, visit www.capritheatre.org or call (334) 262-4858. Metamorphosis Teen Workshop at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 5 p.m. Inspired by the About Face exhibition, join ceramic artist Jo Taylor in our clay studio to create your very own face form and learn about Picasso ceramic types. This program is free and tailored for teens, but space is limited. To register, e-mail bmorrison@ mmfa.org. ARTtalk at the Montgomery Museum o f Fine Arts 6-8 p.m. Join this monthly program for Museum members during which artists share one artwork apiece and receive feedback from their peers. Get an up-close look at artists, their work, and the creative process in this unique program designed for artists in
the area as well as those interested in art. Enjoy light refreshments and networking with other professionals in this unique program whether or not you choose to bring artwork. To register, please contact Brandy Morrison at edsecy@mmfa.org or call (334) 625-4365. Cost: $50 for the series of 12 meetings or $5 drop-in fee for single meetings. Millbrook Community Theatre Presents Arsenic and Old Lace -- through March 3 7:30 performances except for 2 p.m. matinees Feb. 24 & March 3. Written by Joseph Kessellring; directed by Stephanie McGuire. Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he goes to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene -- but his world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have deadly secrets. Call (334) 782-7317 or visit www.millbrooktheater.com/. Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Our Town-- through April 27 Written by Thornton Wilder; directed by Bruce Longworth. Our Town follows young lovers Emily and George and their neighbors through a life journey that delivers universal truths about what it means to be human. Recommended ages 11+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353.
Friday, February 22
Prattville Black History Celebration 6 p.m. Doster Community Center, Prattville. Free admission. Guest speaker Circuit Judge Calvin Williams, 15th Judicial Circuit, who is the first African-American male to hold this elected office in Montgomery.
Saturday, February 23
Alabama Nature Center Hosts Critter Crawl 5K and Yeti Dash The Critter Crawl is a TRAIL RUN benefiting the ANC education programs that takes runners through a portion of the ANC’s 5-mile trail system. The Yeti Dash is a 1-mile trail system run. Nature/critter costumes are mandatory for any guests who wish to participate in the Yeti Dash. One medal will be awarded to the first-place finisher in each age group category. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (800) 822-9453. Sign up on runsignup.com! 63rd Rummage Sale Presented by Junior League 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Alcazar Shriners, 555 Eastern Blvd. Come and shop for quality items at very low prices. Tickets are $5 in advance and at the door. All proceeds go directly back to the local community in the form of grants to deserving River Region non-profit organizations! For more info, call (334) 288-8944 or visit www.jlmontgomery.org/. 6th Annual Mardi Gras Block Party & Cajun Cook-off Noon-6 p.m. Commerce Street in Montgomery. Grab your beads and come out for DBA Montgomery’s Mardi Gras event! Admission is free and tasting tickets will be on sale soon for the Cajun Cook-off! Contact dbamontgomery@gmail.com or find us on Facebook for more info.
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FamilyCalendar Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade 9 a.m. Festival grounds officially open; parade begins at noon after the staging at Mill Creek Park located behind The Smokehouse Bar-B-Q restaurant on Main Street. Visit www.millbrookrevelers.org/ or call (334) 467-6726 for more info. 10th Annual Russell Forest Run 10K and 5K 7:45-11 a.m. Russell Crossroads, 19 Russell Farms Road, Alexander City. Registration is now open on the Russell Forest Run website! Join in the fun of the run, and enjoy the post-race party in The Stables at Russell Crossroads. The Russell Forest Run famous Grits Bar will be wide open with all your fixins’, fruit, energy bars and ice cold beer! For more info, call (256) 397-1019 or visit www.russellforestrun.com/. Wetumpka Impact Crater Public Tours Meet at the Wetumpka Administrative Building, 408 South Main St., Wetumpka, 15 minutes prior to your tour time. The tour is divided into two parts: a video and orientation, followed by a driving tour in one of our vans. Lectures begin at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The total cost of both parts of the tour is $20 for adults, $10 for children up to 12, accompanied by an adult. (Not recommended for very small children). Van tours will load immediately following the orientation. Van tour space is limited and must be reserved by February 15. Reservations are only confirmed by payment of the fee. Check and cash payments only will be accepted. Checks need to be made out to “Wetumpka Crater Commission” and mailed to: City of Wetumpka ATTN: Valencia Smith 408 South Main St. Wetumpka, AL 36092. For more info and to make reservations, contact Valencia at 567-5147 or e-mail vsmith@ cityofwetumpka.com.
Sunday, February 24
Jazz Jams at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 2-4 p.m. Join us for free music by local bands in the Wilson and Williamson Galleries. Be sure to arrive early to explore our temporary exhibitions. For more info, visit http://mmfa.org/ or call (334) 240-4333. WWE Live Road to Wrestlemania 7 p.m. Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Dr., Montgomery. Tickets begin at $15 and are available at Ticketmaster.com, the box office and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Talent subject to change; additional fees may apply. Visit wwe.com or Facebook.com/ wwe. Sanctuary Showdown 5-8 p.m. The Sanctuary, 432 S Goldthwaite St., Montgomery. An original music competition open to artists of all ages and musical genres, individuals and groups alike. Sign up to perform and compete: https:// tinyurl.com/ybax5exp. Invite your friends to come out and vote! Concessions and drinks will be for sale. Food trucks available as well. For more info, call (334) 245-4546.
Thursday, February 28
Newcomers Club of Montgomery Monthly Luncheon All women of the River Region are invited to attend our monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Arrowhead Country Club. The guest speaker will be Dr. Portia Love from the River Regions Dermatology
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
on “ Love the Skin You’re In: Prettier Without Surgery.” Luncheon cost is $18 and reservations must be made by noon Monday, February 25, to Cathy Donald at (225) 287-3693 or cathydonaldne@gmail.com. Visit www.newcomersmontgomery.com for more info. Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Romeo and Juliet -- Through April 28 Written by by William Shakespeare; directed by Rick Dildine. Romeo is a Montague, and Juliet a Capulet—“star-crossed lovers” whose families’ longstanding feud has pitted neighbor against neighbor in a mid-20th-century American town. Shakespeare’s iconic story asks the question: What happens when a community fails its young people? Recommended ages 12+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353.
Friday, March 1
Renascence Re-entry Community Ping Pong Tournament & Preview Party -- Also March 2 The preview party from 6-9 p.m. Friday is for adults only; the tournament from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday is for all ages and abilities. Both will be held at the Alcazar Center, 555 Eastern Blvd. The tournament benefits Renascence and the men coming out of the prison system who need a hand up, not a hand-out, as they transition into society and employment. Like a ping pong, the men of Renascence want to bounce back into productive lives. Preview party costs $45 and includes food, drinks, dance band, silent auction and opportunity to play ping pong. Tournament costs $10 for ages 18 and under; $20 for ages 19 and up. For more info or to sign up, call (334) 832-1402 or visit halfway-home.net. Alabama Dance Theatre Presents Beauty & the Beast -- Through March 3 7 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts. Performance tickets are $15-$30. Ticket prices for ages 12 and under are $15. For tickets, call (334) 625-2590 or visit www.alabamadancetheatre.com. *Following the Saturday matinee, children can meet Beauty & her friends onstage for an additional $10 charge.
Saturday, March 2
8th Annual Pike Road Art Market 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Road., will be filled with unique artwork and handcrafted items from all over Alabama. This event is free and open to the public. Wares range from traditional paintings to handmade jams and botanical skincare products, jewelry crafting and much more. The local British Car Club will be showcasing authentic British cars outside. For more info, call (334) 272-9883 or visit www.pikeroad.us/. Mardi Gras Madness, Zumba Concert and Fit Fest 2:30 p.m. check-in; events are 3-8 p.m. Bell Road YMCA. Come join us for a night of Powerlifting, Y Fit, Body combat, Y Ride and many more side attractions! This is a family event which means everyone is invited. For more info, e-mail mpeake@ymcamontgomery.org or call (334) 271-4343. Proceeds benefit the annual support campaign. Wetumpka Mardi Gras Festival 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Historic downtown Wetumpka. Vendors at Gold Star Park; parade at 1 p.m. Find us on Facebook. Zoo Volunteer Serve Day Spring 2019 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway. We are asking volunteers to help with landscaping, trimming bushes, planting flowers, raking leaves, painting, and overall prepping the Zoo for the Summer season. Volunteers can be adults, teens,
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civic groups, school groups, church groups, businesses, military squadrons, and families. Volunteers ages 12-16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or a designated group chaperone. Volunteers under the age of 19 must obtain parent permission to volunteer. For more info or to register, call (334) 625-4900 or register at www.montgomeryzoo.com/.
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MPAC Presents Needtobreathe: Acoustic Live Tour 7 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Grammynominated rock band hailing from South Carolina, whose most recent album H A R D L O V E was released in 2016 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Albums, Top Current Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts and #2 on the Billboard 200, their greatest debut yet. Tickets begin at $41. For more info, visit www.mpaconline.org/ or call (334) 481-5100.
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Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Winnie- the-Pooh -Through May 5 From the stories of A.A. Milne, dramatized by le Clanché du Rand; directed by Neil David Seibel. Join Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and friends in this charming musical adaptation of A.A. Milne’s classic stories. Winniethe-Pooh spends his days searching for honey, doing his exercises, and playing with his best friends. Adventures ensue as a new animal — a kangaroo — moves to the forest! Recommended ages 3+. For tickets or more info, visit asf.net or call (334) 271-5353.
Saturday, March 9
Black Jacket Symphony Presents Queen’s Night at the Opera 8 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. The Black Jacket Symphony features Marc Martel, the voice behind the worldwide hit movie Bohemian Rhapsody. The show begins with the multi-platinum-selling album performed note-for-note, soundfor-sound, followed by a full set of Queen’s greatest hits. Martel is a world-renowned singer known for his uncanny vocal likeness to Freddie Mercury. Tickets begin at $25. For more info, visit www.mpaconline. org/ or call (334) 481-5100. Free Book Arts Workshops for Kids 10 a.m.-noon for children ages 8-12; 1-3 p.m. for teens ages 13-18. Hosted by the Prattauga Art Guild at the Creative Arts Center & Gallery, 342 South Chestnut St. Students will create their own book and write and illustrate a story inside. Registration required. For more info, call (334) 595-0854. Intro to Bee Keeping at Alabama Nature Center Program begins at 10 a.m.; animal encounter at 1 p.m. We will learn about pollination, bee keeping and the equipment used in bee keeping. Honey jars will be for sale in the bear den gift shop. General admission applies and includes this awesome program. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (800) 822-9453. Montgomery Half Marathon and 5K 7 a.m.-noon. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium, 200 Coosa Street. 7 a.m. – The Montgomery Half Marathon begins; 7:15 – The Enlisted Heritage 5K begins; 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – EXPO, Awards & Entertainment. Register at themontgomeryhalf.com/. For more info, call (334) 356-7271.
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Calendar Montgomery Zoo Weekend - Also March 10 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Festive environment with live entertainment, games, rides, bouncy houses, big slides, inflatables, pony and camel rides, petting zoo, karate demos, Montgomery Police K-9 presentation, live animal presentations, concessions and animals from around the world. Enjoy the many activities, fantastic food and have fun together at an affordable price. It is also an excellent opportunity to take advantage of discounted memberships. For more info, call (334) 625-4900 or visit montgomeryzoo.com.
Sunday, March 10
Pike Road Art Talk & Afternoon Tea featuring Artist Patricia Caldwell 2-4 p.m. Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Road. These gatherings feature a Pike Road-area artist, classic tea-style refreshments, and time to connect with friends and neighbors. All ages are welcome and invited to dress for the occasion. Refreshments provided by Epicurean Delights. Tickets are $20 each, and seats are limited. Please purchase tickets by March 6 by visiting www.pikeroad.us. Family Art Affair at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Noon-3 p.m. Get creative when you and your family visit the art studios to complete a make-and-take art project. This free docent-led program has specific themes related to Museum exhibitions and is sure to be fun and engaging for the whole family. Come help us celebrate the onset of spring in our Garden. We will be creating garden-inspired creations to beckon a new season. For more info, visit http://mmfa.org/ or call (334) 240-4333.
Classes
Adoptive Parent Training Classes Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections recruits, prepares, and supports parents adopting waiting children in Alabama’s foster care. For information on adoptive parent classes or to register for classes in Alabama, contact our team at (866) 803-2722 or visit apac@ childrensaid.org. Baptist East Maternity Area Virtual Tour We invite you to visit our hospital from the comfort of wherever you are. A personal tour of Baptist Medical Center East’s Maternity Area is now just a click away. This virtual tour is designed to answer any questions you may have regarding our “family-centered maternity care.” Receive an inside look at our Labor and Delivery Suites, Newborn Nursery, Post-Partum and NICU units. From admission to discharge, this video provides all of the information you and your family needs to know. Visit www.baptistfirst.org/. Breastfeeding Class Designed to prepare the expectant mother for breastfeeding her newborn. Also includes troubleshooting common problems to establish a successful breastfeeding experience. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. Cost is $15. Class schedule is subject to change, so please call 293-8497 or e-mail liz.owen@jackson.org to register or for more info. Breastfeeding Class This one-time class at Baptist Health provides expectant mothers with information about breastfeeding including various factors influencing lactation, advantages of breastfeeding, basic anatomy and physiology of milk
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SupportGroup production, specific techniques to promote a successful breastfeeding experience and breastfeeding equipment and supplies. Classes are taught by IBLCE instructors. Partners are encouraged to participate. Class fee: $20. Registration is required. E-mail smallwonders@ baptistfirst.org. A 10 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. Caring For Your Newborn Taught by Baptist Health Newborn Nursery nurses, this
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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 747-7700 Option # for more information. Diabetes Education --Baptist Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education services available weekdays by appointment. Call 747-7700 Option # for more info. Family Nutrition Classes Fun, hands-on 3 or 6-week in-person or online course developed by well-known pediatrician Dr William Sears. Classes focused towards parents of children age 3-12. The goal is to learn simple ways to improve the health of your child through lifestyle, exercise, attitude, and nutrition. Fee includes materials, activities and a snack. A 2-hour preview class is available. For more info, contact alissabethtaylor@gmail. com or visit www.Facebook.com/ LeaninCentralAL.
one-time class helps new families become familiar with the basics of caring for your infant in the first six weeks after birth. This interactive class covers routine hospital newborn procedures along with bathing, diapering, swaddling and soothing, normal infant behavior, appearance and sleep patterns. Class fee: $20. Registration is required. Please e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org for more info. A 10 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. Childbirth Preparation (Four Sessions on Monday Nights) This four-session class is taught by Registered Labor and Delivery Nurses on the campus of Baptist South. This class for new mothers covers topics ranging from how your body changes during pregnancy to signs of labor to the benefits of breastfeeding and what to expect during your birth experience. This class is complimentary. To register, call (334) 286-3466. Childbirth Preparation Boot Camp (One Day Saturday Class) This fast-paced one day class taught by Baptist Health’s experienced Labor and Delivery Registered Nurses prepares families to welcome their new addition. All aspects of Labor and Delivery from our hospital admission process through postpartum care are covered during class. Additional topics include Cesarean sections, medication and anesthesia options along with coping and comfort measures. Breathing and relaxation techniques are also introduced. Maternity Area Tour is included as a part of this class. Class offered select Saturdays of each month. Fee: $60 per couple and includes lunch. Please e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org for more info. A 10 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. ID required. Cloverdale Playhouse Rep Class Series First Mondays every month from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Cloverdale Playhouse Rehearsal Hall. This is a safe space to work on your craft, develop your audition skills, share your newest piece, or just get feedback on your latest artistic endeavor. Guest panels and rotating faculty ensure constant growth and a variety of insight. Even if you don’t perform every time - you can learn a lot by observing! There will be a sign-up sheet if you would like to work. Call (334) 262-1530 with questions.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
Foster Parent Training Classes Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries sponsors foster care training classes in the Tri-County Area. For more information on foster care or to register for the classes, please contact Bobbi Olson, Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, at 334430-7569 or e-mail bolson@alabamachild.org. Infant Car Seat Safety Inspection Baptist Health’s Certified Car Seat Safety Technician will help set your mind at ease. Expectant parents can register for a one-on-one car seat installation session tailored to your vehicle. Our goal is to ensure your confidence in a safe ride home from the hospital. Space is limited. Pre-registration required Must provide your own car seat! $10 per car seat payable at the time of inspection by cash or check. Visit www.baptistfirst.org/ or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org. Infant Safety/CPR This one-time class sponsored by Baptist Health will teach parents and grandparents the 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. This class will also help parents with creating a safe environment for their child. Classes are taught by certified CPR Instructors. This class is not a certification class. Fee: $10 per person. Registration is required. Please e-mail smallwonders@ baptistfirst.org. A 10 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. Maternity Area Tour Only Baptist Medical Center East maternity area tour for expectant mothers and families not attending Childbirth Preparation Class or Boot Camp. This tour is complimentary and is offered on select Saturdays of each month. Space is limited. Registration is required. Please e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org for more info. Pre- and Post-natal Fitness Classes Includes water aerobics, step-floor aerobics and strength training. SportsFirst. Call 277-7130.
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Pregnancy Nutrition Classes Interactive 3-week series of classes developed by wellknown pediatrician Dr. William Sears. Classes focus on lifestyle choices, attitude, and exercise at any stage of pregnancy; optimal nutrition before, during and after pregnancy; transition from pregnancy to motherhood. Courses can be taken separately or as a series. Jump in any time! Materials and snack provided with fee. For more info, contact alissabethtaylor@gmail.com or visit www.Facebook.com/LeaninCentralAL. Prepared Childbirth Class (Understanding Birth) Jackson Hospital. Preregistration required. Topics include: pregnancy, labor, birth, options for pain management, medical procedures, cesarean birth. Note: This class is a basic overview of the labor and delivery process and does not prepare someone for “natural” or unmedicated childbirth. Cost: $25 (covers mother and support person). Class size is limited. Please try to register by the 5th month of pregnancy for the best selection of available class dates. Call (334) 293-8497 or e-mail: liz.owen@jackson.org. Preparing For A Natural Birth (One Time Class) Baptist Medical Center East. Please bring two bed pillows and a floor mat to class for breathing and relaxation exercise. This class equips expectant parents with natural childbirth options providing them with tools, techniques and coping skills for their labor and delivery experience. Participants will practice breathing and relaxation exercises along with other comfort measures. This class is most beneficial when your support person attends. Space is limited. Preregistration required. Class fee: $20 (couple or single) payable at class by cash or check. Please e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org or call 273-4445. Sibling Preparation Class 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 2734445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org. Tales for Tots Join us for this FREE introduction to art in storybooks and in the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts galleries for young children and their families. Each time a different work of art and special story will be presented. Next classes are February 20 from 10:30-11 a.m., and 11-11:30 a.m. Call 240-4365 or visit www. mmfa.org for more info. Wetumpka Line Dance Classes held at A Chance to Dance, 68 Queen Ann Road, Wetumpka. Country and Non-Country Music for All Ages! CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE: Mon. Beginner 7:15 p.m.; Wed. Beginner 10 a.m.; Wed. Senior 2 p.m.; Wed. Intermediate 7 p.m.; Fri. High Beginner/ Intermediate 7 p.m. *Open Dance to follow class. For more info, call (334) 452-0293 or find us on Facebook.
Support Groups Adoption Support
Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC) This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., at Vaughn Forest Church. For more info, contact Jill Sexton at 409-9477 or jsexton@ childrensaid.org. Birth Parent and Adult Adoptee Support Group Children’s Aid Society hosts a free support group for adult adoptees and birth parents. This group provides emotional support for people at all stages of the lifelong adoption process. Meetings held at Children’s Aid
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SupportGroup Society, 2141 14th Avenue South in Birmingham. For class dates and times, call Kathy King at (205) 943-5331 or e-mail kking@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 gettogethers 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 Counties: **To access or sign up for these programs, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. 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 1-800-ACS-2345 for more info. 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. 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 cancer.org. Information anytime and trained specialists at 1-800ACS-2345. Cancer Patient and Caregiver Support Group 1-2 p.m., Tuesdays, Montgomery Cancer Center, 4145 Carmichael Road. The group is facilitated by professionally trained health care providers and other members of the support care team. It’s free and open to all cancer patients and their caregivers. Call (334) 273-7000. 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
DivorceCare meets Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at Frazer Memorial UMC. Come to the Library area. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. For more info, call 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org.
DivorceCare meets at Vaughn Forest Church on Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m. It fosters a weekly supportive and caring environment to heal the hurt of separation and divorce. The DivorceCare experience involves a dynamic video presentation, group share time, and personal workbook exercises. Facilitators for DivorceCare are Todd Smith, Wendy Timbie and Becki Harrison. To register or for more info, call 279-5433. DivorceCare and DivorceCare 4 Kids First Baptist Church Montgomery, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $15 (scholarships available). Contact Kathy Cooper at kcooper@ montgomeryfbc.org or 241-5125. Second Saturday Divorce Workshop for Women Montgomery Country Club, Azalea Room, 3800 Narrow Lane Road. 9 a.m.-noon. This is a 3-hour workshop that is offered monthly, designed to help participants explore the legal, financial, and emotional issues of divorce and gain a greater understanding of the process. The cost to attend is $20 per person and pre-registration is required. For more info, please call or e-mail Sommer Morris at (334) 612-1086 or sommer. morris@morganstanley.com. You may also visit www. secondsaturday.com.
Gambling Support
Gamblers Anonymous Meetings in the River Region Area: Saturdays @ 6 p.m. and Mondays @ 6:30 p.m.: meet at Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US Hwy. 231 N in the Wetumpka/Wallsboro community. The church is 1 1/2 miles past Tutweiler prison on the same side of the street. Sundays @ 5 p.m.: meet at Mental Health of America, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. For more information about the GA meetings, call (334) 399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker, please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at (334) 277-5100.
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 at the church’s building, 301 Dalraida Road. Please e-mail farauthor@aol.com for more info. Bereavement Group, Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This 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. For more info, call 279-6677. 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. For more information about the group, call (334) 284-2721. GriefShare meets on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the parlor of First United Methodist Church Prattville. Led by Michael Beatty. For more info, call the church office at (334) 365-5977. GriefShare meets weekly at Vaughn Forest Church on Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m. This program is non-
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denominational and features biblical concepts for healing your grief. Three key parts make up your GriefShare experience: video seminar; support group time; and workbook study. GriefShare will be led by Howard and Carol Payne and Jim Williams. To register or for more info, call 279-5433. 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. 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. Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. We normally meet the last Thursday night of each month at Grace Baptist Church in Wetumpka, 304 Old Montgomery Highway. For more info, contact Alice Scarborough at (334) 4624775 or Gwen Ellis at (334) 567-8754 or e-mail us at mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook-Mourning to Morning Group. River Region Survivors of Suicide Loss meets on second and fourth Thursdays (excluding holidays) at Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road in Montgomery from 6:30-8 p.m. This is an open group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and welcomes anyone regardless of religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com with questions or for more information.
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
Illness Support
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group meets 1st Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in room 3103 at Frazer Memorial UMC. For more info, call 495-6350. 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 2796677. Topics include: Lifestyle Changes, A Heart Healthy Diet, Proper Fluid Intake, Importance of Daily Weights and Exercise Tolerance. 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 Montgomery (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides understanding, education and information to family members and friends of those who suffer mental illness. The NAMI Montgomery Family Member Support Group meets second Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in room 7205 at Frazer Memorial UMC. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) for details. NAMI also presents a
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SupportGroup 12-week series of free classes on mental illness. These classes are for family members living with or supporting individuals with mental illness. To register, call Mary Jo at 271-2280 or e-mail classicmjl@hotmail.com. NAMI Connection (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a support group for individuals with mental illness. It meets every Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 3103 at Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Call Mary Jo Logan at 271-2280 for more info.
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 https://sites. google.com/site/montgomerymultiples/home.
OCD Support Group Long showers, multiple hand-washing, rituals, checking the stove, hoarding and symmetry. This support group is open to anyone who has struggled with OCD. You’re not alone anymore. Meetings are held at 5500 Ash Grove Circle, Montgomery. Call Donald at 220-7555 for more info. Overeaters Anonymous, Millbrook City Chamber of Commerce meeting room, 34531 Main Street in Millbrook. Saturdays at a.m. Trouble with food? Do you worry about the way you eat? Overeaters Anonymous can help. It’s not a diet club; it’s a fellowship of people who don’t want to suffer anymore. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues, fees, or weigh-ins. Visit our new meeting in the area. All are welcome! For more info, call (662) 425-2010 or visit www.oa.org.
Parent Support
Century Strong Moms 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays. 11 Chapel Hill Street in Pike Road. At Century Church, we are dedicated to helping moms in our community be Strong Moms! This ministry is open to all moms in our community. The focus of this group is to build relationships through Bible study, play dates, and moms’ night out. Childcare is available for ages 1-5 years old. Please e-mail lifegroups@century. church for more info. 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. gives fathers and daughters an opportunity to read together to create fun, educational memories. This free event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Montgomery CityCounty Public Library and Dreamland Barbeque. For more info, call Ron Simmons at (334) 777-8596. La Leche League of Montgomery Area has served local mothers since 1984. Women who are pregnant, interested in breastfeeding and nursing mothers are invited to attend our free mother-to-mother support meetings or e-mail with breastfeeding questions. Join us with your babies. Children of all ages are welcome. We currently have morning and evening meetings. For more info, e-mail LLL.Montgomery.AL@gmail.com or visit http://www.llli.org/groups/@llli*group*montgomery or “like” us on Facebook. Mom2Mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of children ages birth-5 years at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. E-mail Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Moms in Prayer International is a Christ-centered interdenominational prayer ministry made up of moms, grandmothers, aunts or any woman who wants to gather to pray for their children and schools. Meets every Sunday afternoon from 3-4 p.m. at St. James UMC, 9045 Vauhgn Road. Call Annette Jones at (850) 5294730 or e-mail Montgomerymipac@gmail.com for more info on joining us or training to start your own group. 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.
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
Single Moms’ Care and Support Group, Perry Hill United Methodist Church, 910 Perry Hill Road (corner of Perry Hill and Harrison Roads). Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15-8 p.m. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants-16 years. Call 272-3174 for more info. SWAK (Single with Amazing Kids), Maxwell / Maxwell Gunter AFB. This network is connecting and empowering single parents and their families through information, encouragement, and many family-oriented events throughout the year. We meet the last Wednesday or Thursday of each month. For more info, e-mail t2763@aol.com. Join us on Facebook for daily restaurant specials, area kid-friendly events, and tips/ideas for families on a budget.
Special Needs Support
Alabama Angels Pageant, a nonprofit pageant for males and females of any age with special needs. Participation is free. Visit www.alabamaangels.org and look for us on Facebook! 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. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St., Montgomery. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Moms, need a little break? We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Visit www.montgomeryfbc.org/MOPS or contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Are you in need of a time-out? 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 vaughnforestmops@ gmail.com or visit http://vfcmops.weebly.com/.
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. Post-abortion Support Group, Saint James United Methodist Church. Do you have a secret you have promised yourself “you are taking to the grave?” Come and listen to stories of others who were scared to surrender their secret. Come and find healing and peace that you never even knew you needed. Come and learn about the One who came to set you free. Join us in a study of “Surrendering the Secret” by Pat Layton and know that you are not alone! (Learner guide and digital download sessions.) For more info, e-mail annpemberton@charter.net. First Choice Women’s Medical Center conducts a HOPE GROUP for women who have experienced the emotional aftermath of an abortion. Groups meet for one weeknight over eight consecutive weeks and are facilitated by women who have experienced abortion. Confidientiality is assured. Please contact Kathy at (334) 260-8010 or kkay@firstchoicewmc.com for more details and information about upcoming groups. “Take Heart,” Room 116 at Eastmont Baptist Church, first Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. Support group for women dealing with infertility and/or miscarriage. Contact Melissa at (205) 913-2667 for more information.
Single Parents Support
Single Moms Support Group, Landmark Church of Christ, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in Classroom 118. For more information call 277-5800.
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D.A.T.S. M.O.M. (Disability as an Ability Toward Success: Moms on the Move), a free online parent empowerment network for parents of children on the autism spectrum (or with related special needs challenges) that focuses on inspiring, equipping and motivating parents to move their child’s disability to an ability. Follow DATS MOM on Facebook, Twitter and Periscope for live sessions and discussion. E-mail datsmom@ yahoo.com for more information.
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Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach, Vaughn Park Church of Christ, 2nd Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare provided. Visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com or visit our Facebook page (MADSOG) for more information. Contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@ gmail.com for more info.
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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. Refreshments at each meeting. For more info, contact HearingInfo@earthlink.net. 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 info, contact Holli at (334) 290-0646 or e-mail: ahif_ montgomery_auburn@yahoo.com. Visit www.ahif.org.
Teens/Families Support
Call Family Guidance Center of Alabama at 2704100 for information about current classes. 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.
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First Presbyterian Kindergarten, 56
NeuroKinetic Solutions, 11
Frazer Memorial Kindergarten, 64
New Park, 77
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Adventure Sports II, 85
Frazer Memorial UMC, 47, 61
Newtopia, 17
Alabama Christian Academy, 27
Guardian Credit Union, 15
OB/GYN Montgomery, Dr. Desautels, 63
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AL Dept. of Health, Inside Front
Guild Mortgage, 59
O’Connor Tennis Lessons, 16
AL School of Math & Science, 4
Healthy Kids Expo, 13, 80
Prattville YMCA, 49
Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 83
Holy Cross Episcopal School, 24
Professional Pediatrics, 12
Aldersgate UMC, 74
Hooper Academy, 35
Pump It Up Party, 63
Alpha & Omega Learning Ctr, 16
Integrative Wellness, 52
RR Dermatology and Laser, Inside Back
Armory Athletics, 29
Jackson Hospital, 9
Redland Baptist Church MMO, 52
ASKIN/Synergy House, 85
Judy Barranco Photography, 56
Resurrection Catholic School, 21
Autauga/Western Elmore Arc, 30
Kingry Orthodontics, 37
Riverview Camp for Girls, 11
Baptist Health, 2-3
Lakeview Baptist Church, 20
Saint James School, 1
Birmingham Museum of Art, 79
Larry Chapman, ALFA Insurance, 22
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruises, 67
Chapman Orthodontics, 53
Learning Tree Child Care, 65
Spotless Cleaning Services, 8
Children’s Clothing Exchange, 30
Macon East Academy, 69
Success Unlimited Academy, 35
Children’s Hospital of Alabama, 25
Mathnasium, 41
Sylvan Learning Center, 20
Churchill Academy, 28
Memorial Presbyterian Childcare, 55
Sylvan Learing of Prattville, 51
CMH Mobile Notary Services, 87
Montessori @ Mulberry, 19
Taylor Road Baptist Church, 34
Cornerstone Christian School, 31
Montgomery Catholic Schools, 45
The Montgomery Academy, Back Cover
Dentistry for Children, 29
Montgomery Dermatology, 55
The Rock School, 23
Dr. Den Trumbull Book, 41
Montgomery Miracle League, 75
Tomatino’s Pizza/Cafe Louisa, 72
Dr. Kendall Dunn-Orthodontist, 73
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 70
Trinity Presbyterian School, 7
Dynamite Magic & Balloons, 73
Montg. Pediatric Dentistry/Ortho, 33
United Gymstars & Cheer, 21
Edward Jones-Lane Easterling, 49
Montgomery Uniforms Plus, 36
Vaughn Park Mom’s Day Out, 75
Evangel Christian Academy, 53
Montgomery Zoo, 42
YMCA Montgomery, 34
Family Guidance Center, 44
My Kids Attic, The Shoppes of, 23, 39
Young Living Essential Oils, 85
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my body because nothing fit. I noticed my daughter sitting in the floor playing and had an “aha” moment. It was then that I realized I wanted to change that narrative, not just for me, but for her as well. So I set out on a journey to understand nutrition. I started out with small, attainable goals because I knew that it was going to be a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. MP: You have said, “Training is what I do, it’s not who I am.” What do you mean by that? Casie: I never set out to be a trainer. I found myself on this career path because of my own fitness journey. I got my spin certification because I was doing triathlons and wanted to learn as much as possible about spin. Becoming certified in spin opened my eyes to a passion of being able to help and encourage others on their fitness journey! That passion has only grown and developed into what NShape is today. I am Casie, a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and have been given the opportunity to train other wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends to be the best versions of themselves!
Casie Scott
MP: As a mother, wife, trainer, and owner of NShape Fitness, you spend a lot of your time pouring into others. What do you do just for yourself so that you have the energy for everyone else?
MP: So often our parents inspire us without us even realizing it. In what ways have your parents inspired you? Casie: My dad is the hardest working man I’ve ever known. My mom is the most patient (8 kids in 10 years. HELLO!), kind and generous woman I’ve ever known. They both set the bar when it came to raising children. It’s not any one thing, but every little thing that inspires me every day. I can only hope to be half the parent to Emma and Lillian that my parents have been to me.
Casie: I do for myself what I tell my friends and clients to do for themselves which is: Rest, Regular Exercise, Proper Nutrition, Find the good in the day to day! By taking care of my physical, mental and spiritual health, I am able to pour into others! A little shopping never hurt anybody either.
MP: In what ways do you think you are inspiring your daughters? Casie: I feel like I have followed in my parents footsteps and have shown my girls not to be afraid of hard work, and I make time to slow down for them, to be present, in hopes that they see me the same way I saw my parents. MP: If you could go back and tell yourself one thing when you first became a mom, what would that be?
MP: As one of eight children, you grew up in a very active family, always playing, running and participating in sports. What are some challenges you face while trying to raise your girls in a much different time where technology rules most lives? Do you set any boundaries with technology use?
Casie: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Let them be little. The laundry can wait. Don’t wait to be perfect to show up. Time flies by so fast and, no matter what, you’re the best and only mom they could ever need!
Casie: My husband and I both know the importance of getting outside and being active! During the weekends, our girls have two 30 minute windows of screen time. We encourage them to use that time to learn or educate themselves on something they’re passionate about. We are challenged by the demand that technology presents, as it becomes more and more accessible, not just for our children but for us as well. Setting time limits reminds us to be intentional with our time. We are also aware that technology isn’t going anywhere so we want to teach our girls how to use it responsibly.
MP: Casie, what advice do you have for other moms reading this who want to be the best versions of themselves? Casie: Learn how to love everything about yourself! Every flaw and imperfection makes you YOU. Every phase of life comes with its own set of obstacles, but if you sit on the sidelines because you don’t feel like you have it all together, you’ll find that the time passes anyway. Becoming the best version of you is a process that takes time and you will get there, but it’s important to love yourself in the meantime.
MP: You describe yourself as hyper, therefore exercise gives you an outlet for your energy. Nutrition didn’t come as naturally for you. When did your journey toward better nutrition begin?
Casie Scott is the owner of NShape Fitness. She is married to Derek Scott (13yrs) and they have two daughters: Emma (12) and Lillian (6).
Casie: Eleven years ago, I was standing in front of a full length mirror getting ready for a wedding, shaming myself and criticizing
Montgomery Parents I February 2019
Hair and makeup by Taylor Skipper with Exist; Beautifully Salon. Mom2Mom and cover photo by Courtney Rae Photography.
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CHAMPIONS OF HONOR, RESILIENCE & THE JUNGLE GYM [ PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE—THE BEGINNING ]
What does an MA graduate look like? Diverse in every way, yet sharing surprisingly similar qualities. As early as kindergarten, The Montgomery Academy looks ahead to the kind of qualities a young adult needs to succeed. Programs are structured and experiences are designed around creating life-long learners who challenge themselves. Co-curricular involvement is planned to champion honor, ethics, diversity, and service. We do all this. But if you ask a third grader what they did in school today, they’ll probably tell you about the amazing playground.
Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y The Pursuit of Excellence in K-12 Education Contact Rachael Gallagher, admissions@montgomeryacademy.org | 334.272.8210 | montgomeryacademy.org