Montgomery Parents June 2013 by KeepSharing

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THINK FAST AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A

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

Every second is critical after stroke symptoms first appear. Receiving the right treatment quickly could save your life and minimize brain damage. That’s why you should immediately get to Baptist Medical Center South. As the area’s only Nationally Certified Stroke Center, Baptist South has a specialized Stroke Team on site 24/7, with the expertise to provide the fastest, most effective treatment. So in case of symptoms such as facial drooping, weakness in one arm, slurred speech, blurry vision, or sudden severe headache, think fast…call 911 and get to Baptist MedicalCenter South.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

“You are the light of the world. a citY set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” matthew 5:14 We congratulate the 138th graduating class of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. They’ve reached one pinnacle as they strive for another—to be salt and light to the world. Our graduates include two National Merit Finalists, a YMCA Youth Governor, and members of the Class 3A Boys State Champion Cross Country Team and the Outdoor Track and Field State Champion 4 x 800 Meter Relay Team. The graduating class of 2013 received $4.1 million in scholarship offers from

colleges and universities across the country, including Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Auburn University, AUM, Birmingham Southern, the University of Alabama, UAB, the University of North Alabama, Hampton University, Huntingdon, Millsaps, Montevallo, Ole Miss, Spring Hill, Troy University, and Tuskegee University. They’ve dedicated over 2,225 service hours to the community. These graduates have achieved so much in their time at Montgomery Catholic. Yet as proud as we are of what they’ve done, we’re prouder still of what they’ll do.

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Contents June 2013

Volume 18 Number 6

Features 64

Avoiding the Entitlement Trap

11 Unique Benefits of Homeschooling

2013 Homeschool Resource Guide

What Dads Do Best

Find tips for raising responsible kids in a consumption-crazed culture.

Learn why homeschooling is becoming more popular all the time, due in part to the fun and freedom it offers.

Columns

6 From One Parent to Another DeAnne Watson

8 Living With Children John Rosemond

Our detailed listing of all things “homeschool” will help you get started with the support you need.

Moms and dads are different in so many way, but equally needed and important to a child’s development. Discover what dads do best and compliment him today!

12 Kids Health Watch

Sponsored by Professional Pediatrics

Splish Splash Safety for Water Fun Summertime is here and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heating up. One of the best ways to beat the heat is to take a cool dip in the water. As refreshing as this sounds, keep in mind the hazards that come with it. From 2005-2009, 5,789 people were seen in the ER for nonfatal drowning incidents. Of those visits 52.8% were children under four years and 17.5% were children ages 5-14 years, making drowning one of the leading causes of unintentional injury worldwide. There are many ways to help cut down on the number of injuries while still having fun in the water. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children learn to swim. Most children over the age of four years are ready to learn to swim and taking formal swim lessons can teach them the basics. This should not give parents a false sense of security as they are inexperienced and still need supervision. Some recent evidence has shown that children 1-4 years may be less likely to drown if they have some exposure to formal swim les-

sons. Determining whether your younger child should take swim lessons depends on their emotional development, physical abilities, and the frequency of exposure to water. Formal water safety programs for infants under one year have not shown and evidence that they are effective at decreasing the incidence of drowning. Flotation devices are helpful at keeping children floating, but still require supervision as many children are not capable of keeping themselves upright in many of these devices. Flotation devices should not be a substitute for learning how to swim. Your child should wear one if they are on a boat or will be near the water, especially if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to swim. Having a pool fence that completely encircles the pool can cut drowning risk significantly. The fence should be four feet high, difficult to climb, and have a self-latching gate that opens away from the pool. Many above ground pools slip through the loopholes of fencing requirements since they are considered portable and will many times have no fence at all. Other helpful items are door alarms, hard pool covers and pool alarms, but the most effective of these is an appropriate fence.

The most important safety item of all is constant supervision by someone who knows how to swim and knows CPR. All pool owners and parents should know CPR and should be in the water and able to reach their child if they are not a good, experienced swimmer. For children who are experienced swimmers supervision poolside is acceptable as long as the person supervising is not distracted. This supervision should be extended to any circumstance where water is present. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water so bathtubs, toilets, kiddie pools and even buckets all need supervision or emptying. Now that you know the safety side, go grab your sunscreen and towels and have a great time splashing in the water. Dr. Hoy was born in Montgomery, Alabama. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and earned her medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia in 2007. She completed her Pediatrics Residency in Detroit, Michigan at St. John Hospital and Medical Center. Malissa is happily married to Jade and they have one son.

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Alabama native, educator, and activist Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Those words were echoing as the AdvancED group of nine educators from around the nation reported to the Montgomery County Board of Education announcing that Montgomery Public Schools will be recommended for system-wide accreditation. The group spent three days in Montgomery visiting schools and interviewing staff, community members and students. They took months reviewing documents, student achievement data and other information about MPS. Preparing for the review took a team of over a hundred people from our schools and the community over a year to get ready for the process.

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The evaluation completed by MPS was a new more rigorous version that AdvancED has only had in place a short time. That makes the positive report and the fact the system made district-wide accreditation on our first try even more gratifying. There were no surprises; every district that goes through this process has a list of required actions. This was a wonderful opportunity to take an honest look at what needs improvement and move forward. We were excited about the experts’ validation of our findings, and have already begun working on those areas. The resulting materials and the AdvancED report are a wonderful road map for the future and our new five-year strategic plan. And, of course, we are so pleased we will be recommended for a five-year accreditation. The evaluators left no stone unturned. They visited a dozen schools, talked with every principal and hundreds of parents, students and community members. Every principal, teacher and support worker played a part in this success. The evaluation team was especially complimentary of the intelligence and the politeness of our students and the

work being done by our classroom teachers. While official notification is still a few months away, the visiting team recommended Montgomery Public Schools be awarded system-wide accreditation. Schools within the system are currently accredited individually. Achieving system-wide accreditation gives an umbrella to all schools so they are not each required to undergo a separate process. It is no longer necessary for each school to get individual accreditation. This recognition validates the work being done in Montgomery Public Schools. No, the system isn’t perfect – we still have challenges. But with this accreditation, outside experts have certified that MPS has a solid foundation. We are moving in the right direction. Barbara W. Thompson is Montgomery County Schools’ superintendent. She has served children as a teacher, curriculum leader, elementary principal, and supervisor of secondary alternative and at-risk programs. Superintendent Thompson’s skill as an educator has garnered her several professional honors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of School Administrators and the Board of the School Superintendents of Alabama.

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ACA Holds Basketball Camp Open to the Public

Kids entering fourth through twelfth grades in August 2013 are eligible for the following basketball camps offered at Alabama Christian Academy with professional basketball player, Alain LaRoche: Entering 4th-6th grade boys and girls: June 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to noon Entering 7th-8th grade boys and girls: June 24 and 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Entering 9th-12th grade girls: June 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to noon Entering 9th-12th grade boys: June 26 and 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. All camps will take place in the ACA Gym. Cost is $45 (including T-shirts). Pay at registration and make checks payable to ACA.

Montessori at Mulberry Children Study Butterflies

BTW Students Sign State Library Proclamation

Booker T. Washington Magnet High library assistants were recently invited to the Alabama Library Proclamation Signing on April 17 with Governor Robert Bentley in celebration of the Alabama Library Annual Convention being held in Montgomery this year.

The children from Montessori at Mulberry had an exciting month, with Painted Lady caterpillars delivered to the school’s front door. The kids watched them eat leaf compote which created some big caterpillars. The time finally came that some of the caterpillars had begun the chrysalis stage, and during class, students watched as two began the process! Finally the magic happened and butterflies emerged. Students watched as they pumped fluid to their wings so that they could fly. Once they had all completed their transformation, they were released into the Mulberry district community. During their butterfly studies, the class read books, created art and sang songs related to caterpilllars and butterflies. The students learned the meaning of the word metamorphosis, about the butterfly’s body parts and how they drink nectar from a specialized mouth called a proboscis.

Holy Cross Sixth-Graders Design Simple Machines

E.D. Nixon Elementary Academic Bowl

E.D. Nixon fifth-grade students participated in the first Cleveland Avenue/Kershaw YMCA’s Academic Bowl Competition held recently at ASU. Shown are, back row: Ms. Veleria Carter, Principal Ronnie Belle and Mr. Mark Coty, middle row: Corbin Grant, Brandi McCall, Shamya Moore and Akhia Cain; and front row: Nathan Lacey and Edward Simms. www.montgomeryparents.com

In a recent science chapter on “Machines and Work,” the sixth-grade students at Holy Cross Episcopal School explored how machines help make work easier. They were aware of the usual ways, but when asked to stretch their brains, they found that simple machines are not always so simple. When Mrs. MacDonald gave them an assignment to really think about, each student had to come up with a problem or job that required a simple machine to help. The solutions that the children came up with were very creative. Mrs. MacDonald received everything from a simple pulley to compound machines, from levers to catapults. They shared their machines in class and the results were not only scientific, but entertaining! 16

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Trinity Lower School Travels to South Korea

STJ Wins Second Place In TEAMS Competition

Saint James School students Hayden Cavanaugh, Matthew Garnett, Justin Lee and McLean Stewart won Second Place in the tenth-grade division of Auburn University’s TEAMS competition February 22. TEAMS, which stands for Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics and Science, is a three-hour test focusing on a different theme each year. Team members collaborated to answer the multiple choice and essay questions. This year’s theme was “Engineering a Secure Cyberspace.”

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The Trinity Presbyterian Lower School completed a month-long culture study of South Korea. Third-graders hosted the kick-off event in Willett Hall. They sang several songs in English and Korean. Having visited South Korea this past summer, senior Molly Catherine Brown shared her experiences from South Korea and a brief video of her travels. Third-graders escorted classes through the Lower School hallways to view Korean street art and murals. The journey ended with a Korean treat! Exhibits from South Korea were displayed in the hallways for the entire month. Each grade level chose an area to research and share about by the end of the month. The Lower School Faculty had four learning goals for this culture study: teach concepts through interactive exhibits; use an interdisciplinary approach to study a country; teach critical thinking skills; and develop an understanding and appreciation of the people and culture of South Korea.

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Jeff Davis Student Wins Congressional Art Contest

Jeff Davis student Bryant Brown won second place in U.S. Congresswoman Terry Sewell’s 7th District Congressional Art Competition. The Congressional Art Competition started in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. The competition is open to all high school students (grades 9 -12) in the 7th District. The artwork of the overall winner of the district competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol along with the artwork from other winners nationwide.

Success Unlimited Academy welcomes visits from former students. Justin Holt, seen here with teachers Gwen Felder and Lauren Morgan, came by the SUA Elementary Campus to visit and encourage the students about staying focused in school and obeying their teachers. “Do your work, and ask for help if you need it,” Holt advised.

Eastwood Sixth-Graders Make Paper

The sound of blow dryers filled the elementary hallways at Eastwood Christian School again this year, as sixth-graders enjoyed making paper. Shown at left are Emily Jones and Ashlyn Lovelady.

SUA Enjoys Visit From Former Student

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ECA Student Wins Top Reading Award

Ahsha Gray, a student at Evangel Christian Academy, was recently honored by the Alabama Independent School Association. Gray won first place in the AISA State Reading Competition. The contest was open to students in AISA schools. The students had to keep a record to document how many pages they read this school year. Gray read more than any other student in the state of Alabama.

Ca McKee Engineering Students Win National Award

McKee Middle School students Devin Chappell, Kendal Hawkins and Makayla Harris recently competed and won a national award during the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering (SECME) competition in Daytona Beach, Florida. The McKee students placed third in the bottle rocket event, where they competed against students from 17 states. Their advisor is McKee math teacher Jennifer Julius.

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

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Catholic Students Rewarded For School Support

Montgomery Catholic’s Holy Spirit Campus held a PTC fundraiser this spring. Students were asked to sell products offered by Mixed Bag Designs. Students were also offered an incentive for participating. Shown at right, second-grade student Gabe Russo and fifth-grader Clare Wilson won Kindle Fires for their hard work in the PTC spring fundraiser. Russo was the overall winner with $799 in sales. Each student who sold more than $50 had his name placed in a bucket for a “wild card” drawing. Wilson sold $475 worth of mixed bag designs products.

MEA Students Learn at The Battle of Selma

Macon East Academy sixth-graders visited Selma’s school days at the Battle of Selma Re-Enactment. Students participated in hands-on demonstrations, listened to music from the 1800s, witnessed the firing of cannons, and experienced the different jobs people had while fighting in the war. They enjoyed seeing the period clothing worn by the men, women and children and also enjoyed drinking root beer and lemonade in old-fashioned bottles as a special treat. The students benefited from this great learning experience about the Civil War. Shown, Christian Ivey, Annslie Gourlay, Cole Faucheux and Claire Donaldson take part in re-enactment at the Battle of Selma. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Holy Cross First-Graders Trinity Golf Team Watch Baby Ducks Hatching Wins Chilton County Holy Cross first-graders came to school Tournament on a recent morning to a very special surprise. The family of fourth-grader Maggie Kenny donated eight eggs to the first-grade class, in hopes that they would be able to witness baby ducks hatching. Students were able to observe each egg’s progress by using a flashlight to see inside it. First-grade teacher Dianne Mann states that this was a “unit that excited the students.” Students were always ready to get into the classroom each morning to see the latest development. Coming back from a weekend to find three baby ducks in the special incubator was the highlight of their week. Even better, they were able to witness a duck slowly break its way through the egg.

The Trinity School Varsity Golf Team won the Chilton County Invitational Tournament on March 18. The team shot a score of 314. Wagner Ashmore and Cole Farris shot 77 to make the All-Tournament team. Parker Chase shot 78 to also finish on the All-Tournament team.

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Catholic Students Attend HOBY Conference

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Paige Barranco and Leo Petters were selected to represent Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School at Alabama’s Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Conference held at Troy University in May. HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States providing unique leadership training, service-learning, and motivational experiences for high school sophomores. HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.

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Pioneer Days At Cornerstone

Mrs. Buxbaum and Mrs. Gaines’s first-grade classes at Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy completed a unit on “Life in the 1800s” by having Pioneer Day May 2. Both classes dressed up in pioneer-era clothing, with the boys wearing straw hats and suspenders, and the girls wearing aprons and bonnets. Fort Toulouse re-enactors Larry Jacobs (as fort sergeant) and Richard Cumbie (as a trader) were very special guests who let the children handle furs and leather similar to what pioneers would make. They also demonstrated rope-making and let the children try out quill-writing and wax stamp sealing. Each of the children then made a jar of butter, and a canned candle to take home. Mrs. Price, a student’s mother, then organized pioneer-style games, like the three-legged race and sack races. After all the racing, the children had worked up an appetite, so they feasted on chili, cornbread, biscuits, apple pie and lemonade, made by different mothers in the class.

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Hooper Academy Seniors Visit Lanark in Millbrook

Hooper Academy’s senior environmental class visited Lanark Park in Millbrook to learn how the environment around us relies on its habitats. The students were able to spend the day fishing for catfish, bream and bass. While learning the patterns of fish and their behaviors, the students were able to participate in a catch and release program. After lunch, the students explored the nearby creek bed by walking downstream to see how the creek’s environment provides a home for nature’s creatures.The students were able to see crawfish, salamanders and snakes.

Dr. R. Lawson Bryan Senior Minister

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Catholic’s Van Alst Named All-American

Zachary Van Alst, a Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School eighth-grader is now a two-time All-American Wrestler. Van Alst earned the honor after he won his second consecutive AHSAA Class 3A 106-pound state title, and placed third in the NHSCA National Tournament in Virginia Beach in April.

Troy’s Symphonic Band Performs at Trinity

The Troy Symphonic Band, POPulus, performed a concert of classic music for Trinity students in Willett Hall on April 10. The band featured both Head of School Elect Kerry Palmer and Trinity Band Director Gene Butler as guest conductors. POPulus is an American band comprised of students in Troy University’s Music Industry Program. Artists of diverse and eclectic styles blend together in a unique musical environment honoring all genres of American popular music. The term POPulus was created by combining the musical genre “POP” with “ulus,” a Mediterranean languages term for “nation” or “people.” With their dynamic vibe and distinctive name, their music appeals across genres, generations and geographic borders. POPulus not only plays covers from wellknown artists, they also play original songs written by students from Troy University. Shown, Trinity’s Band Director Gene Butler as guest conductor to Troy’s Symphonic Band www.montgomeryparents.com

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YMCA Awards Jimmy Hitchcock Winners

The Montgomery YMCA recently named LAMP senior Daniel Brake as the male 2013 Jimmy Hitchcock Award winner. Brake was honored, along with 55 other area high school seniors, at an awards banquet held at Frazer Memorial Methodist Church. Brake has participated in baseball and basketball. He is a member of Gateway Baptist Church, where he is a drummer in the praise band and leader of a small group. He is the son of Michael and Cheryl Brake and plans to study engineering at Auburn. Krisie Stakely, a senior from Montgomery Academy, was the female winner. A Wendy’s High School Heisman state finalist, Stakely was a cross country and track and field runner at MA and is a member of First Baptist Church. This year, she was also on the school’s soccer team. In the fall, she plans to begin studying nutrition at the University of Alabama. Photo by Mickey Welsh, The Montgomery Advertiser

ACA’s Nguyen Places Second in Art Contest

Davis Teacher & Students Win at YMCA Academic Bowl

Eighth-grader Aly Nguyen, Art Commons student at Alabama Christian Academy, placed second in the state wide 2013 Alabama Pharmacy Association Poison Prevention Art Contest. There were more than 200 entries. The APA sponsored the contest in connection with Poison Prevention Week. All the finalists’ drawings may be viewed on the Alabama Pharmacy Association’s Facebook page.

Davis Elementary teacher Kenya Weary and students Andrea Jackson and Jireh Goldsmith won first place in the fourth-grade math category at the YMCA’s first-ever Academic Bowl held at ASU this spring.

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Eastwood Seniors Receive Literary Honors

Evangel Third-Graders Hold All-American Day

Evangel Christian Academy’s third-graders were excited about “All American Day.” Each student chose a state that he either had visited or wanted to visit. The children made an attractive poster with interesting facts and prepared a report with information they learned. Everyone was extremely creative and several dressed to represent the state they had chosen to research. Some students even brought food produced in that area of the nation. From this project, ECA’s third-graders gained an appreciation of the contribution of each state.

Eastwood Christian School Manning Russell was the first-place winner for the 25th Annual Roxie Lancaster Literary Arts Competition, which was open to River Region students in grades 6-12. The Roxie Lancaster award is sponsored by the Arts Counsel of Montgomery and the City of Montgomery. Criteria for judging included originality, imagination, and the ability of students to express themselves coherently. The topic for this year’s writing competition was, “How would you improve writing proficiency in America’s children and youth; and, what steps would you take to encourage and motivate students to recognize and understand the importance of writing?” Russell received a brand-new Kindle E-Reader. In addition, senior Lauren Gaines was the Honorable Mention winner and received a Books A Million gift card. Presenting their awards are Bill Ford, president of the Arts Council of Montgomery, and Joe Andrew of Max Credit Union.

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BrewTech Students Enter Holocaust Essay Contest

Sonya Keeton’s ninth-grade students recently participated in AUM’s annual Holocaust Commemoration. They wrote essays on various topics of the Holocaust. These students spent a lot of time and effort over months of individual research, discussion panels, and assigned novels and movies. Hannah Marcelino won fourth place. The title of her essay was “The Six Million Others.” Marcelino is shown with Mr. Max Herzel, a Holocaust survivor.

STJ Students Bridge International Barriers

MEA Student Named Junior Handler of the Year

Dylan Cox, a fourth-grade student at Macon East Academy, received the honor of being named Junior Handler of the Year for the State of Alabama. Cox handles a bird dog named Precious, and he received a trophy and ribbon for his accomplishment. Cox is shown proudly displaying his trophy. www.montgomeryparents.com

STJ seventh-graders met and spoke with their student counterparts in Oslo, Norway, on April 5, as part of a Skype session organized by Saint James School and the Bjorasen Skole. Using computer monitors and the Skype computer application, the students spoke to one another. Both schools intend to continue the effort to build a relationship using Facebook, as well as occasional group Skype discussions on various topics of international concern. The Norwegian students are part of a class on International Cooperation. They are 12 and 13 years old, as are students in STJ’s seventh grade. During the Skype session, thirty students in both Montgomery and Oslo each spoke for about a minute, giving their names, age, their country of origin, and any hobbies they enjoy. There was similarity in the music and hobbies enjoyed by all the students, despite their geographical differences. Both groups communicated by speaking English. 26

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MacMillan Chorus Performs at AUM Cultural Festival

The MacMillan International School chorus recently performed at Auburn University at Montgomery’s annual Global Cultural Festival. Led by music teacher Jana Harris, the children sang internationally themed songs during a cultural performance featuring traditions from around the world. The third-, fourthand fifth-graders also had the opportunity to sample international cuisine, view exhibits, have their names written in other languages like Japanese, and meet with representatives from more than 20 countries. The kid-friendly festival is held each spring on AUM’s campus and is free and open to the public. Photo by Buffy Lockette

Academy Forensics Team Has Successful Season

The Montgomery Academy Forensics team recently competed in the State Tournament for Speech & Debate. The competition was held in Montgomery at LAMP High School and The Embassy Suites Hotel, welcoming teams from high schools in the Huntsville, Decatur, Birmingham, Mobile and Prattville areas. The Montgomery Academy team consisted of 43 Upper School students who took first place in both the Congress and Debate team awards. The team finished the tournament in third place overall. The next competition for members of The Montgomery Academy Forensics team will be the National Speech & Debate Tournament which Birmingham will host in June. Seven students from The Montgomery Academy advanced to the National Tournament where they will compete with teams from all over the country this summer. Team Awards include: Congress 1st place - The Montgomery Academy; Debate 1st place - The Montgomery Academy; and Overall 3rd place - The Montgomery Academy. Individual Awards include: Novice House 4th place - Henry Hamlett, 3rd place - Jeffrey Stallings and State Champion - William Moore; Varsity House 5th place - John Ahn; After-Dinner Speaking 6th place - Michael Butler, 5th place John Ahn and 4th place - William Moore; Dramatic Interpretation 5th place - Evan Price; Poetry Interpretation 6th place - Evan Price; Varsity Public Forum Debate 6th place - Sallie Johnson & Neill McCorvey, 5th place - Grey Jones & Drake McGowin and 3rd place - Hendrick Adams & Grayson Anzalone; JV Public Forum Debate 2nd place - Benton Hughes & John Ahn; Novice Lincoln/Douglas Debate 5th place - Taylor Dockery and 3rd place - Henry Hamlett; Novice Public Forum Debate 5th place - Mollie Beth Dill & Scotland Kemper, 3rd place - Allen Millsap & Will Spain and State Champion Sterling Anderson & Tyler Duncan. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Academy Students Hold Community Service Day

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On April 18, Middle and Upper School students at The Montgomery Academy joined together for Community Day, a day dedicated to giving back to the community. While students are involved in service projects year round, twice a year, students and faculty devote an entire day to service on and off campus. Upper School students left campus with faculty and volunteer parents to help at various service organizations throughout the area including: M.A.N.E., Brantwood Children’s Home, the Family Sunshine Center, Habitat for Humanity, MACOA, the Salvation Army, local Headstart programs, and both the Prattville and Montgomery Humane Societies, just to name a few. From bathing animals and cleaning out stables to reading to children and serving food to the elderly, each student was able to impact the community in a positive way. Middle School students stayed on campus participating in a number of activities to help those in need. Fifth- and sixth-grade classes participated by decorating placemats for Meals on Wheels clients, stringing bracelets for children who go through Child Protect, creating neck warmers from tube socks and rice for Southeast Hospice Network, and making addition and subtraction notecards for the children in Adullam House. Seventhand eighth-grade classes decorated T-shirts for Brantwood Children’s Home, held a dog wash at the football field that raised $166 for the Montgomery Humane Society, painted pillowcases for Baptist Hospice and the Family Sunshine Center, and recorded themselves reading children’s books on CD, sending both the book and the CD to children at Adullam House to help them learn to read. All Middle School students spent the first few weeks of April collecting clothing for Goodwill; shredded paper, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and crushed cans for the Montgomery Humane Society; and Kleenex for John Knox Manor. Community Day was started in 1994 by student Ashley Nellums Modisett. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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STJ High School Students Donate to Stop Hunger Now

Saint James High School students packaged 10,218 dehydrated meals to feed hungry individuals across the globe April 4 as part of their year-long support of the international relief organization STOP HUNGER NOW. Through a series of SGA-sponsored school fundraisers, STJ high school students donated $2,500 to the charity and its mission to end global hunger. The donation allowed the relief agency to purchase the dried food STJ students later divided into meal packets. Each meal, consisting of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals, costs a quarter to produce, stores easily, has a shelf-life of five years, and transports quickly. Once the meals were packaged, STOP HUNGER NOW, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., began working with partner agencies in the U.S. and around the world to provide the meals to needy individuals in developing countries. The Alliance to End Hunger, Rotary International, and The New England Conference of the United Methodist Church are among the long list of partnering organizations. “Normally, the charities selected by our SGA as their year-long project help people in the United States,” said Sydney Brasfield, Saint James School’s SGA vice president. “But this is a huge charity that will benefit people all over the world. And because everyone was excited about the project, it wasn’t too difficult to raise the money.” STJ students involved in creating the meal packets included Kelly Joyner, Taylor Phillips, Reed O’Mara, Jessica Bozeman, Josef Jackson, Chase Ritter, Ashley Williamson, Sydney Brasfield, Walker Woodson, Jeremy Frasher, Ben Graves, Bridgette Johnson, Keith Pendley, Caroline Crisp, Hakan Sahingolu, Jordan Heyman, Alex McCain, Jake Allen, Matt Murray, Chase Collins, Hunter Smith, Matt Young, Ricardo Rios, Stephen Kwan, Hamp Hoover, Abigail Greenburg, Caitlin Cobb, Borden Cater, Jared Hunter, PJ Robin, Robby Bradford, Carolyn Byrd, Forrest Decker, Lexie Moore, Regan Riddle, Lacie Vette, Katie Bonner, Kane Davenport, Jake Sharp, Evan Border, Michael Azar, Emerson Buck, Braedan Krowe, Kang Lee, Alexander Chung, James McNeil, Clayton Allen and Tyler Bailey. Faculty members Amanda Ousley, Jeremy Turner and Lazaro Saavedra also participated in the event. Shown, Saint James School volunteers Ashley Williamson, left, Braedan Krowe, Michael Azar, Caroline Crisp and Sydney Brasfield.

Catholic Holds Blood Drive in Coach Turner’s Memory

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School hosted the seventh annual Coach Tim Turner Memorial Blood Drive April 24 in the parking lot of its Middle/High School Campus. The LifeSouth Bloodmobile was on site and accepted donations from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. This annual blood drive is hosted by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s high school student government association in honor of the late Coach Tim Turner who valiantly coached several MCPS Middle School sports teams while battling a terminal illness. Coach Turner’s sister Gena Brasington was at MCPS for the blood drive and said, “I am overwhelmed with joy to let you know that we had 75 units of blood donated! This beats our prior record of 73 units back in 2007 and 2009. Please send our family’s sincere appreciation to all the staff and students for their continued support of this very special cause, without them this would not be possible.” Coach Tim Turner is shown on the MCPS football Field. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Holy Cross Service Project Provides for Local Pantry

Marcia Bazzell of Holy Cross Episcopal School was in charge of the school’s Lenten service project for the year. She organized a food drive for students to bring in different types of food throughout the Lenten season for Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Food Pantry. The food drive kicked off with students bringing in pasta and spaghetti sauce. As more and more families brought in items, the faculty at Holy Cross was amazed at the mounds of food displayed on the table in the Great Hall. As the weeks went by, canned goods, peanut butter, rice, and other items had transformed the Great Hall into an area visitors marveled over. A number of priests commented on the generosity of the Holy Cross family in their sermons during chapel. “We put a big emphasis on service projects here,” says Grace Ann Armagost, kindergarten teacher. “I love that we teach our students the importance of helping those less fortunate!” Ellis Edmonds, Will Alexander, Isabelle Rutland and Cleo Washington show off the food that has been collected.

MEA Student Wins Awards At Dance Competition Macon East Academy first-grader Pressley Graham won several awards at the Thunderstruck Dance Competition in Birmingham. The competition was held in the Old Alabama Theatre. Graham won the Top Gold Award and placed first for her duet dance routine, “Some Kind of Man.” She also won the Top Gold Award and placed second for her trio dance routine, “The Triplets.”

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C Trinity Students Inducted into National Honor Society

ACA Honors Moms With Special Brunch

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Mrs. Torode’s and Mrs. Clifton’s pre-K classes at Alabama Christian recently honored their moms with a Moms and Muffins brunch. Moms enjoyed eating assorted muffins and fruits with their children at tables decorated especially with mom in mind. The children also sang several songs they had learned about moms. Each child presented his mom with a hand-painted gift on canvas using his handprint to make a lovely flower. Twins John Parker and Rex Turner are shown with their mom.

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The National Honor Society Induction was held on April 4 in Willett Hall at Trinity School. Membership in the National Honor Society is one of the highest honors that can be awarded a student. This organization strives to recognize the student who excels in scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. Students considered for membership must achieve the required cumulative grade-point average. Newly inducted members are as follows: seniors Kali Camerio, Caroline Cooper, Brennan Colley and Caroline Mahaney; juniors KK Carlson, Ty Mattox, Will Cook, Catherine Meriwether, Mary Grace Garrett and Shelby Stanaland; sophomores Jack Amster, Ben Jones, Elisabeth Bowman, Grant Keith, Mary Grace Burks, Jarrett Moseley, Grant Chambliss, Stuart Newsome, Anna Lee Curles, Clayton O’Barr, Cole DeBardelaben, Mark Pickering, Turner Duraski, Mary Claire Pouncey, Preston Etheredge, Barrett Riley, Cassie Felder, Michael Sellers, Anna Gentry, Emily Stone, Haley Gentry, Autumn Thaggard, Reed Grice, Carter Vance, Marshall Griffin, Parker Watts, John Hall, Dawson Williams, Weston Heartsill, Pat Williams and Joseph Hixon.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Catholic Track & Field Captures Three State Titles

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) state championship track and field meet began with a bang for the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Knights in Selma. Eighth-grader Kylie Frank, shown, highlighted in AL.com as a distance specialist, won her first state championship as she claimed the 1600-meter run. She crossed the line in front of defending state champion Karisa Nelson of T.R. Miller and beat the state record set last year by Nelson by finishing with a time of 5.11.11 - one full second ahead of Nelson who finished second. Frank followed that up with her second state championship, in her second event of the day, finishing first in the 400-meter dash. She crossed the line in a time of 1:00.51, a full second ahead of second-place Patriece Blackmon of Barbour County. Marissa Craig finished 12th overall in the race with a time of 1:05.91. The third state title of the day for the Knights came in the 4x800-meter relay, in which the boys captured their third consecutive state title. The team of Nathan Revor, Timothy McOmber, Jarrett Mason and Skip Martin crossed the line in a time of 8:30.75; finishing 11 seconds ahead of Winfield and 13 seconds ahead of third-place Trinity. In the same 1600-meter race, senior Katherine Terino finished 11th overall with a time of 5:44.49; while seventh-grader Katelyn Stark finished 20th overall with a time of 6:26.98. On the boys’ side in the 1600-meter race, Martin finished second with a time of 4:31.41, finishing six seconds behind Wesley Curles of Trinity who finished with a state record time of 4:25.29. Mason and McOmber crossed the line fourth and fifth overall with times of 4:38.12 and 4:40.75. Freshman Jennifer Westendorf competed in her first event of the state meet, finishing 11th overall in the long jump with a distance of 4.25 meters. She also competed in the high jump for the Knights, finishing ninth overall with a jump of 1.42 meters. After two field events, Westendorf took to the track and competed in the 100-meter hurdles and finished 13th overall in the prelims with a time of 18.89 seconds.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Eastwood Adjective Study ‘Sticks’ with Teacher

Eastwood Christian School first-graders were studying adjectives or “describing words” and wrote descriptions of their teacher, Ashley Barganier, on sticky notes and stuck them all over her. Some of their descriptions included the words beautiful, long arms, long hair, tall and bumpy. Shown with Barganier are Emma Sonnichsen, Molly Katherine Mauney and Abbie Grace.

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MA Middle School Chorus Earns Top Honors at State

Montgomery Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Middle School Chorus had an outstanding performance at its first state assessment. Under the direction of Susan Cooper, the students received all superior ratings at the Alabama Vocal Association State Choral Performance Assessment in Tuscaloosa on April 4. They also received a score of 87 out of 88 in sight-reading, a near perfect score. In sight singing, the students receive music that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen before and then sing it without accompaniment after only five minutes of preparation. Chorus members include Margaret Ann Allen, Tanim Begum, Emily Ernest, Dora Eskridge, Lindsey Ferraro, Emma Franklin, Caroline Gallahar, Shelton James, Jenny Jeon, Anna Lindsey, Lucy Longshore, Alice McGowin, Cate Moore, Alex Pierce, Mary Neill Starke, Mary Ren Stevenson, Maureen Stevenson, Helen Taylor and Dison Williams.

ACA Spring Benefit a Success

Alabama Christian Academy held its annual Spring Benefit Dinner in April. For several years, this event has been the biggest fundraising event for the school. Last year the funds went toward purchasing new school buses and this year the funds are earmarked to improve health and safety at ACA. The school nurse has been working in a closet-like space and this fundraising will make it possible for her to expand her work space. Work will begin in the summer. The school has hired a full-time security guard, and Officer Roundtree has been a fixture at ACA for a few months now, making his rounds on both campuses to ensure the safety of the students, faculty and staff. The entertainment for the night was a band named 10-O-C, with lead singer, ACA golf coach Clint Pulse.

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STJ Students Qualify For Duke TIP Recognition

Twelve Saint James seventh-graders were recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) in 2012-13, for their excellent academic performance on the ACT and SAT, both universally accepted college entrance exams. Duke University’s TIP identifies gifted students and provides resources to nurture the development of these exceptionally bright youngsters. The program has been in operation since 1980, with a commitment to serve these talented students by providing services and programs beyond what is offered in the classroom. Twenty-six Saint James seventh-graders participated in the Duke TIP program in the fall of 2012. STJ seventh-grader Declan Fitzpatrick qualified for Grand Recognition and was honored in a ceremony hosted at Duke University on May 20, with other Grand honorees. These students scored at or better than 90 percent of all high school juniors and seniors who took the college entrance exams. Each student recognized at the event, which is likened to a graduation ceremony, will receive a commemorative medal. A keynote speaker will address the students and honorees will be called on stage to receive their special medal. In addition to Fitzpatrick, ten STJ students qualified for state recognition, and were honored in a state recognition ceremony at the University of Alabama on May 19. STJ students who met the state level qualifying score criteria are: Jacob Cannon, Bin Cho, William Graves, Maddy Grace Hunter, Daniel Kim, Katie McIntyre, Nathan Pohlman, Eric Rice, Stephen Sadie, Elinor Skier and Declan Fitzpatrick. The state ceremony also features a keynote speaker and on-stage recognition of the honorees with a commemorative medal. Cannon, Fitzpatrick, Rice and Skier’s excellent SAT or ACT scores qualified them to study at the Center for Southern Studies. Their scores represent the highest-scoring students in Duke TIP’s 7th Grade Talent Search. The courses offered at the Center for Summer Studies are some of the most challenging and rigorous available to academically gifted students in the country. The threeweek study experience is offered at Davidson College and Wake Forrest University in North Carolina or Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the Duke program. Six other Saint James seventh-graders have also been offered unique opportunities to study at universities this summer, through the Academy for Summer Studies, also as a result of their excellent TIP scores. These students are in the top 5 percent of academically talented students in their grade level: Cho, Hunter, Kim, McIntyre, Pohlman and Joshua Garnett. They have been offered a three-week study opportunity at the University of Kansas, Austin College or Applachian State University. Front from left are: Bin Cho, Maddy Grace Hunter and Ella Skier; second row: Katie McIntyre and Jacob Cannon; third row: Eric Rice, Declan Fitzpatrick and Daniel Kim; and back: Stephen Sadie, Nathan Pohlman and William Graves. Joshua Garnett is not shown. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Cl Local MPS Educator Receives Scholarship

Success Unlimited Class Studies Solar System

The Achievers Class at Success Unlimited Academy has been busy studying the Solar System. Each student was assigned a planet to research. Along with the research, the students had to design a project that was a replica of the planet. To enhance their studies, the students took a field trip to the W.A. Gayle Planetarium. Teacher Kay Smith was excited to see the projects the students completed. “Everyone did an outstanding job on their assignment,” she said. “Our classroom looks like a Solar System!”

Betty Ann Palmer has received The Zora Ellis Scholarship from The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. The honor society for women educators promotes excellence in education and personal and professional growth of women educators, leading in the field of graduate scholarships given to members and emphasizing leadership development for its more than 90,000 members in 18 countries. A member of the Society’s Alpha Chapter in Alabama, Palmer is attending Capella University, where she is majoring in Leadership in Education Administration. Recipients must have earned a Bachelor’s Degree, be enrolled in a recognized graduate program and have been a Society member for at least three years to qualify for scholarship consideration. Since its scholarship program began in 1940, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International has given 1043 women educators $4 million in scholarships. In addition to the international scholarships, many state organizations and local chapters have scholarship funds to assist members pursuing graduate study. In 2012 all three levels of the Society provided approximately $466,075.54 in scholarships for members.

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

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Class of 2012 Continues to Make Holy Cross Proud

Once a member of the Holy Cross Episcopal School family, always a member of the Holy Cross family! Students in the Holy Cross graduating class of 2012 have been successfully attending various schools in the River Region and the School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. Holy Cross faculty reached out to learn what the graduates were up to as they finished up their seventh-grade year. Holy Cross graduates at Saint James shone in various sports, academics and performing arts. Fred Tippett has done excellent on the track team, and football has gained many talented players with Jack Mozingo, Elliot Steinwinder, William Fritz and Chandler Armagost. JB and Hawthorne Ramsey are playing soccer, and Karli Day is a member of the STJewels, a middle school show choir. Many have been inducted into the National Junior Honor Society in their first year. Holy Cross graduates at Catholic excelled in academics and athletics with Anna Nutting and Lauren Oates both making the straight-A honor roll. Gabe Lewendowski and John Faulkner worked hard as they both found themselves on the AB Honor Roll at Catholic. Nutting, Mya Averett and Maggie Tippett made their mark at Cathoic by being Middle School Ambassadors. Nutting and Oates are members of the Yearbook Committee. Oates is on the Middle School Cross Country Team, and Averett is a member of Catholic’s Middle School Cheerleading squad. Averett and Cherishe Long are also members of the Tennis Team. Averett plays the flute and Faulkner plays the trumpet in the Middle School Band. Zachary Graves had an amazing year at Trinity running track. He also placed first, receiving a medal in the Keep the Heat event at Science Olympiad in Mobile. Maggie Zaner shone at Eastwood as the number-one seed on the girls’ tennis team. She was also on the A and B honor roll. Holy Cross looks forward to watching these graduates grow and can’t wait to see how the rest of their journey unfolds.

Hooper Cheerleaders Enjoy Squad Retreat

Hooper Academy varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders enjoyed a recent retreat in Orange Beach. Standing from left are varsity cheerleaders Mackenzi Hill, Kamy Cobb, Morgan Maxwell, Abby Watts, Anabeth Milstead and Ashley Jones. Sitting from left are JV cheerleaders Laura Gravely, Abby Brasington, Madeline Maxwell, Charity Bowden, Jessika Wallace, Haley Reynolds and Haleigh Gill.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

ECA Students Place At District Art Show

Several students from Evangel Christian Academy recently represented their school at the AISA District 5 Art Show. The annual event was held at Morgan Academy in Selma. ECA had numerous students receive ribbons. In the kindergarten and first-grade division, Jailyn Dixon placed first in 3-D Art and third in waterbased Art. Bailey Cunningham took second place in Collage and Mixed Media. In the second- and third-grade division, T.J. McGough won third place in Collage and Mixed Media and Kendall Hardaway placed third in Drawing with color. In the fourth, fifth and sixth grade division, Ethan Britt won second place in Collage and Mixed Media. Three high school students were also honored. Mary Beth Peters received third place in the Painting Division. Sarah Baxley won first and second place in the Photography Category. And, Emily Berg placed first in Collage Mixed Media. The first-place winners will advance to represent ECA and district 5 at the state level.

BTW Teacher Receives Prestigious Teaching Honor

BTW English teacher Zestlan Simmons was selected as the National Math & Science Initiative’s AP English Teacher of the Year. Simmons was among four educators that were selected nationwide to be recognized by the National Math and Science Initiative. She was recognized for greatly increasing the number of students who enrolled in her AP Language Class, increasing the number of students who earned qualifying scores from 0 to 39, and for increasing the number of minority students’ qualifying scores from 0 to 24, which ranks her third in the state. On May 29, she and the other winners were honored at a special awards dinner in Dallas, and she received a cash award. www.montgomeryparents.com

Catholic Inducts New Members into National Honor Society

Macon East Students Celebrate Earth Day

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted nineteen new members into their society during an Induction Ceremony April 30 at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Dolly Barranco Activity Center. A reception hosted by the 2013 National Honor Society members for the new members and their families immediately followed the ceremony. The newly inducted members of the Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School are: Madeleine O’Mara (President), Sara Elizabeth Parker (Vice President), Anne Marie Dean (Treasurer), Ashley Barranco (Secretary), Tara Bourke, Coleman Dixon, Mallory Ellis, Andrea Hayes, Migyn Kim, Samantha Kocan, Daniel LoBello, Alexandra Micher, Anna Mills, Michael Moussalli, Ryan Norris, Sydney O’Connor, Guillermo Ravelo, Abigail Rohde and James Sherman.

Janet Johnson’s K4 class at Macon East Academy celebrated Earth Day picking up trash. The students learned the importance of caring for the Earth and wanted to do their part to keep the land beautiful. However, they didn’t throw away all the trash they picked up. The students enjoyed making “trash art.” Later they celebrated Arbor Day by planting a tree.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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MA Seventh Grade Visits Chattanooga

The Montgomery Academy seventh-grade class spent an exciting and educational two days in Chattanooga. The group arrived at its first destination, Cloudland State Park, around lunchtime and hiked a two-mile trail leading to waterfalls before enjoying a picnic lunch. After that it was on to the Hunter Museum of American Art, where docents taught students about the use of symbols in paintings. Afterward, they drew portraits including different symbols to tell the story behind their artwork. The day finished with dinner on the Delta Queen steamboat on the Tennessee River. Day two was just as eventful for the seventh-grade class. It began with a River Gorge Cruise where Captain Dave and the crew told the students about Chattanooga history and pointed out bald eagles, deer and other wildlife. Next it was on to the top of Lookout Mountain where the students visited Rock City, with its massive ancient rock formations, gardens with more than 400 native plants and breathtaking views. They then descended into the caverns to see Ruby Falls, a massive underground waterfall. Finally, the group headed to the Tennessee Aquarium where they had the whole place to themselves and enjoyed a “sleep in the deep” - actually getting to spend the night in the aquarium!

ACA Golfer Named to Championship Team

Alabama Christian Academy golfer Shane Wright captured top honors in the annual Capital City Championship (CCC) April 23. Held at Arrowhead County Club, the CCC features players from the city’s top private schools and players. Wright shot a low round 1-over 72 and defeated St. James golfer Walker Carr in a playoff hole to capture first place. Wright was also named to the CCC all-tournament team. He recently signed with Faulkner University to play golf. From left are ACA golf coach Clint Pulse, Shane Wright and Faulkner golf coach Travis Lauterbach.

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Jeff Davis Students Receive Autographed Copies of Book

On April 18, Jefferson Davis High School students received autographed copies of the book Subic: A Sailor’s Memoir (Based on the Story of Bobby Earl Perkins) written by Christian author and poet Dr. Barbara Perkins-Brown. The book is about the author’s father and his struggles against racism in the military while stationed in Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippines in 1967. The story also depicts Christian faith and mirrors the Civil Rights Movements of the 1960s. Students may take their Accelerated Reader (AR) test on the book after reading, which is counted towards their AR reading goals. Dr. Brown is a public educator and a former member of the Army National Guard; she received her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law from Alabama State University. For more information about the book Subic and the author, visit www.barbaraperkins-brown.com.

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Brew Tech Students Visit Washington, D.C. Sixteen student members of Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and Distributive Clubs of America (DECA) visited Washington, D.C. April 21-23. The highlight of their trip was a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court, not just to tour the beautifully structured building, but to hear an oral argument of the United States Supreme Court Justices. After visiting the Capitol building, Smithsonian museums, the Lincoln, King, Jefferson, and FDR Memorials, and Arlington Cemetery, the trip culminated with a tour of the J. Edgar Hoover Building which houses the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Students toured the FBI museum and were welcomed by their Human Resources Department. The staff discussed career paths and qualifications to become employees of the FBI as well as Secret Service agents.

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Catholic Students Give During Day of Service

With the help of Hands on River Region, more than 300 Montgomery Catholic students in grades nine through twelve and faculty members spent a combined total of more than 900 hours volunteering the morning of March 26. The students worked at 15 locations around the River Region performing various tasks such as spending time with elderly residents, cleaning up trails at YMCA’s Camp Grandview and Camp Chandler, cleaning up the Remount Cemetery with the Montgomery Clean City Commission, and completing projects on campus at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School among many other works of service throughout the community. The organizations and agencies that were served by Montgomery Catholic high school students in the River Region were: Montgomery Area Council on Aging-Archibald Senior Center, Remount Cemetery- Mtg. Clean City Commission, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Head Start Family Services Center, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, Fort Toulouse/Jackson Historic Landmark, YMCA, Camp Chandler, MANE, Montgomery Zoo, YMCA Camp Grandview, MACOA Senior Centers including Newtown Senior Center, Normandale Senior Center and Perry Hill Senior Center, John Knox Manor Nursing Home and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Middle and High School Campus. Shown, Montgomery Catholic high school students, along with teacher Mary Kathryn O’Connor, center, pick up trash in the campuses’ neighboring park.

Beekeepers Visit Eastwood

The buzz among third-graders at Eastwood Christian School recently was because of the beekeepers who were coming to talk to the students in Mrs. Lee’s and Mrs. Owen’s classes. Jack Fuhrman and George Coley invited their dads, Doug Fuhrman and John Coley, to talk to their classmates about the life of bees and their beekeeping hobby. The dads brought bees, honey and other tools of their trade. Beekeepers are also called honey farmers, apiarists, or less commonly, apiculturists. The students were studying bees so this presentation was a honey of a treat! www.montgomeryparents.com

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Famous Alabamians Visit Evangel Class

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Mrs. Cartee’s sixth-grade class at Evangel Christian Academy was learning about famous people from Alabama. To culminate the unit, each student chose a famous Alabamian to research. The students created a Power Point presentation about their person and dressed up as the character they chose. Some of the celebrities visiting ECA that day were George Wallace, Lurleen Wallace, Hank Aaron, Joe Lewis, Arthur Gaston, Daniel Pratt and Thomas Martin.

Success Unlimited Prepares for Summer Program

As the school year winds down, Success Unlimited Academy is gearing up for Summer School. “We usually serve more than 100 students in the summer,” said summer school Principal Janice Nunnelly. “We not only offer summer school credit recovery for high school courses, but we also have a thriving tutoring center and junior high program.” Students come to Success in the summer to sharpen skills, make up coursework missed during the regular school year and earn credits toward their diploma completion. “We have the best summer school students. They are always so pleasant to teach. They are eager to do their best work and make my day so enjoyable,” Nunnelly said. For more information, call 213-0803 for prices and times.

MEA Students Enjoy Reports About Famous Americans

The second-grade class at Macon East Academy recently studied famous Americans. Each student selected a biography by David Adler. They used their iPads to prepare an outline of information. Then, the students used the outlines to prepare book reports. Each student presented his book report to the class. The students enjoyed using their book reports to teach their classmates about several famous Americans. Front row from left are Wade Desmarais, Garrett Cook, Matthew Kitchens and Brennan Mauney; back row are Anna Glynn Lott, Austin Gorman, Kadence Moss, Lucy Taylor and Boston King.

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Catholic Art Students Contribute to Fundraiser Four Montgomery Catholic Preparatory art students painted birdhouses for the Family Sunshine Center’s Making Homes Safe Havens fundraiser, “which brings in resources that are vital to sustaining the agency’s mission to bring shelter, counseling, hope and healing to victims of family violence and sexual assault.” Making Homes Safe Havens is a series of parties hosted by friends of the Family Sunshine Center. Parties are held in homes, businesses, worship communities or other venues. In the past, parties have included showings of jewelry and art where all or part of the proceeds from sales were given to the FSC, bunko and bridge parties, pancake breakfasts, cocktail parties, church circle gatherings and more. This year a new component for the 2013 party season includes birdhouse

design. Architects, interior designers and others are being invited to submit a design for the perfect birdhouse, or safe haven, in a competition devised to spread the mission of the Family Sunshine Center. The birdhouses, painted by MCPS students over a two-week period, will be given as gifts to the hosts of the Making Home Safe Havens parties. Alisa Koch, a local artist and volunteer for

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the Family Sunshine Center, recruited Montgomery Catholic to participate. Koch is shown receiving the birdhouses from ninth-grade student Beth Vaughn and twelfth-grade students Callie Wilkinson, Maggie Starr and Joanne Spotswood.

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Trinity Science Olympiad Team Places First in Regional Contest Congrats to those winning medals: Steven Smelley and Daniel Smitherman won third place in Anatomy and fourth place in Water Quality; Chip Blake, Forrest Faulkner and Daniel Smitherman won fourth place in Experimental Design; Zachary Graves and Forrest Faulkner won first place in Keep the Heat; Brandon Kuhl and Ethan Fekete won second place in Helicopters and third place in Heredity; Dawson Oliver and TA Sluis won first place in Metric Mastery; Ben Pope, John Luke

The Trinity Presbyterian High School Science Olympiad Team placed first in the Regional Competition that was held at Springhill College in Mobile on March 2. The students went on to compete in the state finals on March 16 at Huntingdon College. The following students received medals for placing in the top three for their events. First-place winners include: Astronomy, Jake Singleton and Cole Debardelaben; Boomilever, Cassie Felder and Jarrett Moseley; DynamicPlanet, Kristian Duraski and Regan Goocher; Experimental Design, James Pate, Jacqueline Morris and Regan Goocher; Forensics, Jake Singleton and Kristian Duraski; Forestry, Nina Smith and Jacqueline Morris; Rocks and Minerals, Cassie Felder and Jarrett Moseley; and Water Quality, Kristian Duraski and Nina Smith. Second-place winners include: Anatomy, Jacqueline Morris and Nina Smith; Chemistry Lab, Tanner Cox and Marley Sport; Circuit Lab, Caleb Redden and Jacob Redden; Designer Genes, Jacqueline Morris and Regan Goocher; Elastic Launched Glider, Alex Mershon and Jarrett Moseley; Magnetic Levitation, Jake Singleton and Cole Debardelaben; Materials Science, Marley Sport and James Pate; and Remote Sensing, Jake Singleton and Cole Debardelaben. Third-place winners include: Disease Detective, Kristian Duraski and Jacqueline Morris. The Jr. High Science Olympiad Team came in fourth place overall at the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament in Mobile.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Phillips and Forrest Faulkner won third place in Mission Possible; and Abby Tinney and TA Sluis won first place in Reach for the Stars.

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B Eastwood Students Nominated for Hitchcock Award Eastwood Christian School had two senior high students nominated for the Jimmy Hitchcock Award this year and two junior high students nominated. Senior high nominees were Lauren Gaines, top left, and Jesse Jones, bottom left, and junior high nominees were Rachel Foxx, top right, and Tanner Shamburger, bottom right. The winners were ultimately Dan Brake from LAMP and Krisie Stakely from Montgomery Academy. Shortly after the death of Jimmy Hitchcock, a few of his friends and admirers expressed to each other a mutual desire to be a party to some movement to perpetuate his memory in an appropriate way. These friends invited others to join them in forming a committee for this purpose and the Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award Program was born. The objectives of the program are to recognize Christian Leadership in athletics and to encourage and inspire others to emulate the man whose memory is perpetuated by this award. In 1959 the need for this recognition was not nearly as great as it is today. The Hitchcock Award has grown stronger each year in expressing the true Christian principles of the YMCA. The current status of the Hitchcock Award is stronger than ever before and is held in high status in this community. Each year the respective coaches of each athletic squad of the senior high schools of Montgomery County nominate the athlete who has displayed the most outstanding qualities of Christian leadership in that sport. From this group of outstanding athletes one female and one male are chosen to receive the Hitchcock awards.

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R.E. Lee ROTC Cadet Receives Nat’l DAR Award

Cadet Major Kyra Taylor, a member of the Lee High Air Force JROTC program, was the recipient of a national leadership award sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was recognized at a luncheon at the Montgomery Country Club and received a bronze medal and ribbon. This prestigious award is presented to an outstanding student who ranks in the top 25 percent of his or her JROTC class. The recipient also must have demonstrated qualities of dependability, good character and possess leadership ability and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of JROTC Training. Cadet Taylor is also a recipient of a full academic scholarship to Alabama State University, majoring in science. She will begin in the summer to pursue a degree in Physical Therapy. Her plans also include enrolling in the ROTC program at ASU. She is a member of AFJROTC Flying Generals, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Phi Delta Kappa (teaching sorority), and was a contestant in the Miss Crème de Le Crème pageant, sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. www.montgomeryparents.com

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Brew Tech Students Win ASB Law Day Competiton Forty-five ninth-grade BrewTech students entered the annual Alabama State Bar Competition in the category of Social Media. These students designed Twitter project boards that highlighted the theme: “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.” They used Twitter symbols, symbols of unity and quotes that promoted “equality for all.” From this competition, Jordan Hendrix won first place, Madison Loehr won second place and Matthew Bailey won third place. They were honored at an award ceremony held at the Heflin-Torbert Building in downtown Montgomery. Their teacher is Sonya Keeton. In addition, Keeton’s tenth-grade U.S. History students entered the competition in the same category. These students designed Facebook pages that highlighted the life, legacy and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s theme was “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.” The students designed Facebook pages in the same manner Dr. King would have designed them if this technology had been available during the Civil Rights Movement. They incorporated video links, pictures, letters and a full analysis of Dr. King’s life and work to reflect this year’s

theme. From this competition, Alexandria Gauntt won first place and Corey Johnson won third place. Freshmen winners shown from left are Jordan Hendrix, Matthew Bailey and Madison Loehr.

Holy Cross Pre-K and K5 Perform Spring Splash

Sophomore winners from left are Alexandria Gauntt and Corey Johnson.

The pre-K and kindergarten students at Holy Cross Episcopal School learned a very valuable lesson as they rehearsed for their “Under the Sea” musical. Little Tiger Shark wanted to be friends with everyone, but the other sea creatures thought that she was crazy! The sea creatures told Little Tiger Shark throughout the performance that, “Sharks don’t have friends!” Little Tiger Shark, played by Anna Moore, met many friends with their own “quirks,” such as tuna fish who couldn’t carry a tune and zebra fish who had polkadots. They learned from the Great White that it takes all kinds of fish to make the ocean a beautiful place. The message, “different is not necessarily bad” was brought home to everyone in a warm and watery way.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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STJ Varsity Tennis Wins Four Championship Titles

Saint James School varsity tennis players Mason Blackwell, Stephen Sadie, Clayton Waring and Caroline Matthews received State Championship distinction at the Class 4 A state tournament at Lagoon Park April 26. Individual titles were received by STJ students at the following positions: Boys #1 Singles – Mason Blackwell; Boys #2 Singles – Stephen Sadie; Girls #6 Singles – Clayton Waring; and Girls #3 Doubles – Clayton Waring and Caroline Matthews. Overall, the STJ Boys Varsity team was named state runner-up, and the STJ Girls placed third. State individual runners-up were Michael Azar (#4), Duncan Blackwell (#6), Ellyn Livings (#4), and the team of Scottlyn Patterson and Cassie Sadie ((#2 Doubles).

Academy’s Miso Kim Named Outstanding Volunteer

On April 25, volunteers throughout the community were recognized and celebrated at the 2013 River Region Volunteer of the Year Celebration. Held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, the event was sponsored by HandsOn River Region and the Junior League of Montgomery. Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., chancellor of Troy University, served as the keynote speaker of the afternoon’s reception. The Montgomery

Academy was honored to have two distinguished students honored at the event. Hollan Smith, left, a senior at the Academy, and Miso Kim, right, a sophomore, were both nominated in the Youth Award division. Kim was also the recipient of the highest award of the afternoon, the Volunteers in Action (VIA) 2013 Most Outstanding Member. Volunteers in Action, a youth leadership council sponsored by HandsOn River Region, is an organization devoted to service and encouraging a lifelong commitment to volunteerism. Despite being one of the group’s youngest members, Kim was chosen by the group’s members for this prestigious award. She has dedicated more than 185 hours of service in the community, supporting local organizations including MANE, Salvation Army, Montgomery Humane Society, Feeding the Multitudes, the Alabama Council for the Arts, and Reading on Wheels. www.montgomeryparents.com

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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ACA Yearbook Holds Miss Montala Pageant

Alabama Christian Academy senior Alex Ashcraft was named Miss Montala 2013 at the yearbook’s annual pageant held on May 5. In response to the overwhelming love for the classic novel and excitement for the new film, A Night at Gatsby’s was chosen as the theme. On a stage of black and white decor, contestants from grades 9-12 showcased their beauty, personality, style, poise and articulation. The judges saw each contestant three times: once in the pageant t-shirt and jeans; once in an outfit that demonstrated personal style; and finally, in formal wear. As the ladies showcased their poise in gowns, they also answered a question on stage to highlight their articulation and thoughtfulness for the judges. Ashcraft came in first in the field of 24 contestants. Freshman Kortney Coleman was 1st runner-up and sophomore Peyton Northington was named 2nd runner-up, junior Ivey Best was given the People’s Choice award through donations to the Montala yearbook staff. Best was also named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. From left are Kortney Coleman, Alex Ashcraft and Peyton Northington

Send Your School News to: editor@montgomeryparents.com. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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With the end of the school year I spent time with many schools at their endof-the-year events, and I want to share a few with you. If you have never been to a band concert, you are missing a treat. I attended the Prattville Junior High School (PJHS) Christmas Concert, a Marbury High School (MHS) concert, and most recently, the Prattville High School (PHS) spring concert. They all were fantastic! In my opinion we have the best band programs and students in Alabama. I wish to recognize and thank our band directors for all their work: Chris King and Kenny Hall, PJHS; Rob Cothran and Jefferson Grant, PHS; Lydia Hall, Autaugaville School; David Simpson, MHS. I visited Prattville Intermediate School (PIS) for an ARMT assembly to get the

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students ready for testing. The teachers put on a skit that was hilarious! PIS is loaded with talented teachers in the classroom and on stage. Prattville Elementary School had a recycling celebration on April 23rd. The event was very informative and fun. Commissioner Sid Thompson and I had the pleasure of being involved in the program. She offered encouragement to recycle while I issued a recycle challenge to all the “Bobcats.” I was unable to attend the Prattville Primary School (PPS) Measurement Olympics this year due to a prior commitment, but I heard it was outstanding once again. If you have students attending PPS next year, go ahead and mark it on your calendar to attend. You will have a blast! The faculty at Prattville Kindergarten School (PKS) had their annual parade last week with day-long activities for students. If you have never been to a PKS parade, you are missing out. They had fire trucks, police cars, the PHS band, and even the participation of Mayor Gillespie. I had so much fun; they should have charged me admission! What a

great place for a student to experience the first year of school! Congratulations to the 82 students who scored a 26 or above on the ACT with 25 scoring 30 or above at PHS, 15 students scoring a 26 or above with four scoring 30 or above at MHS, and five students scoring 26 or above at Billingsley High School. The number of students scoring 26 or above in the Autauga County Public Schools is approaching 15 percent. Academic scholarships start at the 26 score level. Scholarship money will be flowing again in Autauga County for our seniors this year. “Great job” all you teachers in grades K-12 who contributed to this amazing academic success in Autauga County. We have had a great school year, and I hope everyone has a terrific summer! Spence Agee is the Superintendent of Education for Autauga County Schools. He is a third generation educator with an ED.S. in Educational Leadership. He has 16 years of experience in the education field as well as 25 years of military experience. Agee is an active member at First Baptist Church in Prattville. He and his wife, Cesily, who is also an educator, have two daughters, Abby and Addison.

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PEP Parental Escort Policy

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Visitors 17 years & younger are required to be escorted by a parent Friday & Saturday evenings after 6pm.

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S Prattville Seniors Write Winning Legislation

PCA’s Roberson Accepts Huntingdon Scholarship

Adam Roberson, a senior at Prattville Christian Academy, has accepted the Cross and Flame Scholarship to Huntingdon College, and has committed to play basketball for the Hawks beginning this fall. The Cross and Flame Grant/Scholarship is awarded to Methodist students based on their grades and leadership accomplishments. The amount is for $10,500 a year and is renewable all four years he will be at Huntingdon College. Roberson has played varsity basketball at PCA since seventh grade. Adam’s brother, Jason Roberson, is the head basketball coach at PCA and coached Adam all six years at PCA. His mother, Anita, is a Huntingdon graduate, and is thrilled that she will be able to make all of his home games. Roberson hit his 1000th point this past season against Reeltown in the PCA gymnasium in January, and has the PCA school record for most threes made in one game (12), most threes made in one season (114), and most threes made in a career (288). The Huntingdon Hawks will begin practice this October and their first game is scheduled for November 16. From left are PCA head basketball coach and brother Jason Roberson, Adam Roberson, Adam’s sister Sheila Roberson Barkley, and Adam’s mother Anita Roberson.

Send Your School News to: editor@montgomeryparents.com. www.montgomeryparents.com

Students in Mrs. Studdard’s class at Prattville High School, along with thousands of other middle and high school students from Alabama and across the country, participated in the spring 2013 session of the National E-Congress. E-Congress is an interactive online simulation of the United States Congress run by the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a national civics education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. The E-Congress simulation allows students to research and write their own bills, which are then exchanged online and debated by their fellow E-Legislators in classroom committees. Bills that pass the committee phase reach the virtual House Floor, where students from all areas of the country cast their final votes and find out which “laws” will be enacted this session. The simulation extended from January through April 2013, giving students a longterm, hands-on experience with the legislative process. From researching and writing to debating and voting, E-Congress is designed to demonstrate first-hand how legislation is crafted at the federal level. Students who complete E-Congress typically reported a sense of optimism about the lawmaking process and a belief that they could make a difference. After experiencing the responsibilities of a legislator, students were motivated to learn more about their representatives in Congress. YLI hosts the annual interactive session of the National E-Congress each spring for students at the middle and high school levels throughout the country. More than 6,000 students from 279 classes in 38 states wrote and reviewed bills this year. “This is the second year that my Advanced Placement classes have participated in this program,” said Studdard. “My students have learned so much about the legislative process; especially that passing legislation is not as easy as one might think. I am proud to see the hard work they put into the simulation and as a result, many of their bills were passed nationally. I highly recommend the program to other teachers and I will expand usage to my other classes next year.”

Important Information from Prattville Intermediate School

Students who are 11 years old and are entering the sixth grade MUST have the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diptheria and pertussis) before they can begin the next school year. Updated blue medical forms must be submitted to the office before August 12, 2013. Students WILL NOT be assigned a homeroom until an updated form is received. 48

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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After a very successful first year with the Prattville Christian Academy Speech and Debate team, Chris Searcy, shown, a Prattville Academy senior, was awarded Student of the Year at the Alabama Speech and Debate state tournament held April 18-20 at LAMP. Searcy also won first place in poetry, fifth place in Original Oratory, and was student runner-up in novice congress. Luke DeMarco, a PCA junior, won first place in Humorous Interpretation and second place in Prose. Sophomore Hannah Cherry and junior Jordan Graham won first place in Duo, while Cherry won fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation. Prattville Christian Academy won third place overall in the state sweepstakes for IE’s (Individual Events), even though it was the first year for the team. Rhonda Flanagan is the PCA Speech and Debate coach. Cherry and DeMarco also will compete in the National Tournament in June (which they won in the district tournament).

PCA 2nd-Grader Wins ‘Sports Illustrated Kids’ Contest

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Prattville Christian Academy secondgrader Collin Hancock entered and won a contest sponsored by Sports Illustrated Kids. The contest, called “Team Up to Fight Hunger,” required contestants to explain how they would let the world know about starving kids in the Horn of Africa. The contest stated there would be seven winners and they would each receive a $100 gift card and be featured in a future issue of Sports Illustrated Kids. With only 100 words to describe the idea, Hancock wrote a paragraph about a 5k run/walk, where the participants would have to pay an entry fee that would be used to help buy supplies and food for the kids in the Horn of Africa. He also described how he would have booths set up to provide information about the kids in the Horn of Africa and other ways people could help out. He wanted to make sure the kids weren’t hungry and could play and have fun and have food to feed their brains.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Tice Accepts Principal’s Award at Prattville Honors Night

Prattville High School held its annual Honors Night on May 9 in the Prattville High School Gym. This year’s graduating class was awarded $4,827,248 in scholarships to schools such as Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss and Florida State. Sophomore and junior students with 4.0 averages and seniors with career averages of 3.5 to 4.0 and above were also recognized. Prattville High Principal Richard Dennis also recognized students in the 2013 class who scored the top scores on the ACT. This year there was a four-way tie: Gyeong Kim, Jerome O’Driscoll, Nate Smith and Blake Sowers all scored a 34. A perfect score on the ACT is a 36. Dennis noted that 82 students in this graduating class had scored a 26 or higher and 25 of these scored a 30 or higher. Each department presented an award for excellence to one student from each grade, and a committee of administrators chose a student from each grade who exhibited leadership in academics and school involvement. Recipients of this award were: 9th grade- Jacob Dennis, 10th grade- Kailey Webster, 11th Grade- Mary Stewart and 12th Grade- Steven Tice. Blake Sowers and Madison Darling were recognized for their leadership in the school and community.

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Baptist Medical Center East, tops in healthcare for the second year in a row. Out of nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide, Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery was recently

named one of the Top 100 Hospitals in America by Truven Health Analytics when it comes to quality, safety and patient satisfaction. And we are the only hospital in Alabama to make the list.

Our employees and physicians are honored to be recognized again among the highest achieving hospitals in the country, but the real winners are our patients.

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Wow! It is hard to imagine that another school year has ended! There are many highlights from the past school year that I could share with you. One of those highlights occurred during our final days of school when three of our schools reached an

exciting milestone. Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc. awarded its Blue Ribbon Points of Light School Award to Wetumpka Elementary School, Wetumpka Middle School and Wetumpka High School. For the past three years, these schools have all participated in the Wetumpka Pilot Project, a collaborative initiative between a local business (Information Transportation Solutions), a local municipality (City of Wetumpka), and our school district. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes schools that have excelled in nine critical per-

formance areas including active teaching and learning, challenging standards and curriculum, technology integration and student focus and support, school organization and culture, among others. Schools receiving this award participated in a comprehensive school self-assessment, which was validated by a rigorous on-site evaluation. From this evaluation process, schools developed a school-wide action plan that included measurable, documented results. This positive, collaborative school reform process encompasses the entire learning community and leads to improvement. By participating in the Blue Ribbon assessment, evaluation and improvement process, schools also benefit from networking with first-class teachers and administrators across the country. These schools will be recognized at the Blueprint for Excellence Awards Banquet during the National Conference (Walt Disney WorldÂŽ) in December. With community, family, and strategic partnerships, these dynamic schools can continue on their path to excellence and reach the next stage of accomplishment--Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School status.

It is equally exciting that our Holtville High School is a candidate for National Blue Ribbon School after accepting an invitation from the United States Department of Education to apply for that status. This is quite an honor as Holtville High is only one of five schools in the state of Alabama nominated for this honor. There is another milestone that is important to mention. I am proud to announce a new prefix for two of our high school administrators: Dr. Jimmy Hull, Principal of Holtville High School and Dr. Jamey McGowin, Principal of Stanhope Elmore High School. Over the past three years, these men have effectively balanced the demands of family, doctoral study and the world of leadership at high schools to successfully complete this degree. On behalf of your Elmore County School System Family, we are proud of you!

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Dr. Jeff Langham is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. Now in his eighth year as the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader, he has a total of 27 years of experience in the field of education. Langham is an active member at Landmark Church in Montgomery. He and his wife, Ginny, a nurse educator, have one daughter, Weldon.

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Holtville Cleans Up Lake Jordan

Airport Road Students Receive 2013 Yearbooks Airport Road Intermediate School Principal Marcia Stephens and students were excited to receive their 2013 yearbooks.

Edgewood Selects 2013 Prom King and Queen

The junior class at Edgewood Academy hosted the 2013 Prom at the Capital City Club in Montgomery. John Mark Cosby and Abbie Davis were selected as Prom King and Queen.

Students at Holtville High School participated in the 23rd annual Renew Our Rivers lake cleanup that was coordinated by the Lake Jordan Homeowners and Boat Owners Association (HOBO) on April 27. More than 300 volunteers from the Elmore County area removed nearly 3.5 tons of trash and debris from Lake Jordan. This event has been held every spring since 1991. Holtville High School has dedicated this year to service and giving back to the community.

Airport Road Artwork Chosen by County Art Guild

Every student at Airport Road Intermediate School created an art project. The Elmore County Art Guild chose 10 for their upcoming art show.

Elmore County High Senior Chosen for AUM Cheer Squad

Elmore County High School senior Jade Bozeman is pictured with cheerleading sponsor Julie Powell. Bozeman was chosen to be a cheerleader at Auburn University of Mongtomery. She will begin as a student and cheerleader for the Warhawks in the fall.

WES Holds Honors Day for Kindergarten

Below, Wetumpka Elementary School recognized its 2013 kindergarten class on Honors Day in May.

WES First-Graders Visit Millbrookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lanark Kristy Shawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-grade class from Wetumpka Elementary took a field trip to Lanark Nature Center in Millbrook recently.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Elmore County Tech Center Makes Mark in Community

The faculty and staff at Elmore County Technical Center recently participated in a statewide campaign, “Scale back Alabama.” The campaign started in the middle of January and completed April 12. The rules of the contest were that each team member must lose at least 10 lbs. to be entered into various drawings to win prizes and money. ECTC had a total weight loss of 136 lbs.in our battle to fight obesity. Members who participated were: Mark Wellander, Ken Spivey, Carla McIntire, Carl Thomas, Terrie Hull, Dana Stringer, Jane Robbins, Jason Tew, Curtis Leonard, Barry Corbman, Jason Harris and Curtis Zeigler. The Elmore County Technical Center faculty also participated in the “Run for Boston 4/17” to support the bombing victims and their families. The run was encouraged by a page on Facebook that was started for people who believe in hope and peace, and as a sign for solidarity for the people and runners of Boston.

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Edgewood Math Team Wins Second Place in Competition The Edgewood Academy Middle School Math Team won second place in the Glenwood Math Competition. Front row from left are Jackson Ceman and Harris Woodruff; and back row, Mary Mann, Tripp Carr, Justin Dyer and Hunter Pabalate.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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WHS Student To Attend Camp MDme This Summer

Wetumpka High School student Aundrea Harrison, the daughter of Andre’ and Monica Harrison, has been selected to attend Camp MDme, a summer camp sponsored by M.D. Connection, an initiative of Envision 2020. The camp is designed for students who demonstrate academic strength in math and science and who are interested in attending medical school. Harrison is one of 20 students in the River Region who has been selected to participate in this summer experience. The camp will encompass meeting with local physicians, and taking field trips to a laboratory, the Institute for Patient Safety and Medical Simulations, Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham, and the Bodies Exhibit in Atlanta. The camp is one of many aspects created by Envision 2020 to address the healthcare need in the River Region area. In 2008 Envision 2020 released a regional healthcare access study which directly relates to the River Region’s “perfect storm”: aging U.S. population; aging physician population; fewer college students entering medicine; and fierce competition throughout the U.S. to permanently attract physicians. A goal of Camp MDme is to encourage high school students to pursue the study of medicine and to stay and practice in the River Region. Harrison’s father, Dr. Andre’ Harrison, is Elmore County’s deputy superintendent and Mrs. Harrison is the counselor at the Elmore County Alternative Program.

Reading Fluency Boot Camp Motivates WES First-Graders

First-grade classes at Wetumpka Elementary School participated in a Reading Fluency Boot Camp Graduation on April 29. Reading Fluency Boot Camp is a program created by WES first-grade teacher Kim Deem. The program was used to motivate students to become more fluent readers, as well as to help them learn to become better at retelling stories. Students completed six weeks of Reading Boot Camp and were rewarded for their hard work with a graduation ceremony where they received a dog tag and certificate of completion. Military service men and women from the community made this ceremony extra special by personally presenting the students with their dog tags.

Faculty Kickball Game Thrills Students

In a reversal of roles, Airport Road Intermediate School students were the audience and their teachers were the participants in a kickball game that pitted the third-grade teachers against the fourth-grade teachers. The cheering from the students for their teachers could be heard down the road from the field. Principal Marcia Stephens thought it would be fun for the students to see that their teachers could have fun, too. Teachers showed off their kicking, running and catching skills. It was a close game with fourth grade winning by one run, 9-8. The teamwork and the camaraderie the teachers displayed were a lesson in character for the students. www.montgomeryparents.com

WES Third-Graders Compete in Math Bowl

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On April 29, the third-grade students at Wetumpka Elementary School participated in the third annual Math Bowl. The Math Bowl is held in the spring of each year and features three competitions. Students compete in a math fact fluency drill, open-ended word problem session, and a standards-based multiple choice test. The overall class winner was announced at the ARMT+ Pep Rally held on May 3. The class with the highest average and 2013 Math Bowl champions was Mrs. Joanie Christie’s class! 56

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

ECHS Participates In Joe Sewell Program

Several Elmore County High School students participated in the Joe Sewell Memorial Awards Banquet Program. They were MaKayla Pickron, senior; Shannon Darnell, freshman; Carter Singleton, senior and Girls’ Overall Winner; Josh Wilson, freshman; Allyson Davenport, senior and Girls’ Church, Community and Character Award Winner; Damon Rowe, senior, Boys’ Church, Community and Character Award Winner; Elissa Brown, freshman; and Chase Thomas, freshman.

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RES Student Chosen as Google Contest Finalist

Redland Elementary fifth-grader Cooper Jones entered the most recent Google 4 Doodle contest and was selected as a finalist for Alabama in the 4th and 5th grade category. Chosen from more than 130,000 entries, Google’s 250 State Finalists represent aspiring young artists from across the nation. The State Finalists are the highest-ranked doodles from each grade group from each state. The State Winners are the highest-ranked doodles across all grade groups for each state. Google holds a contest each year and assigns a theme. This year’s theme was “My best day ever...” Students had to write a short essay and create a doodle with the Google logo to illustrate the story. The best day could be a real event that happened in the past, something the students wanted to happen in the future, or a fantasy “best day would be...” Jones illustrated the Golden Gate Bridge and wrote about his visit to California. His doodle may be viewed at www.google.com/doodle4google/finalists.html#d=d2-12

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WES Rodeo Rewards Positive Behavior

ARIS Student Compiles Most AR Points for 2013

Morrigan Ring, a fourth-grader who started at Airport Road Intermediate in January, accumulated the most Accelerated Reader Points for 2013. Her closest competitor was 50 points behind. Ring said her secret was to read the Harry Potter series, all seven books. She is pictured with ARIS librarian Diann Bennett.

The Wetumpka Elementary School Rodeo is part of the Positive Behavior Support program at the school. Students with good behavior in grades K-4 were able to attend. Activities included barrel racing, stick horse race, boot race, and Tonka truck race.

ECHS Selects April Students of the Month

From left are the April Students of the Month at Elmore County High School: Mary Rushton, Angel Sanders, Tammy Kelley, Janetria Leonard, Levi Knight and Haley Gray.

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Holtville Group Attends Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trust Fund Rally

Members of the FCCLA and Holtville High School Parenting Class attended the fifth annual Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trust Fund Rally at the State House for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness on April 17. Students have been studying parenting skills and child abuse prevention. The keynote speaker for the rally was Rene Howitt, who is the author of Whose Best Interest? A Fight to Save Two American Kids.

Magician Rewards Airport Road Fundraisers

After a terrific show, Skip the Magician gave balloons to students who were the top fundraisers at Airport Road Intermediate.

Elmore County High Junior to Play in All-Star Game

Elmore County High School junior Olivia Royal has been chosen to participate in the NorthSouth All Star Basketball Game held during the All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery this summer. Royal, on left, is pictured with the Lady Panthers Head Basketball Coach Amy Rachel.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Cut Your Losses by Marla Cilley

We all make mistakes! This is a fact of living. So why do we beat ourselves up when we have made a bad choice? I think it is because deep down inside we are doing what has been done to us all of our lives; punishing ourselves. This has got to stop. Instead of admitting that we have made a bad choice, we keep trying to make that decision work. Maybe we should take a lesson from business and cut our losses and move on. Instead, we keep trying to fix things to make them better. Clutter is clutter no matter what form it takes. You can’t organize clutter; you can only get rid of it! I want your home to be filled with things that make you smile. Our lives are too short to continually deal with that pink elephant in the living room. One time a dear friend was moving from a home where she had lived 27 years. It was hard for her to let go of things. Even-

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tually, she came up with a plan. If she had any doubt about whether something should be packed, she would set it in the main path to the truck. On the first day she would gingerly walk around the item. The next day she pushed it aside, and if on the third day she kicked it, it went to the curb. This showed her that she really didn’t love it as much as she had originally thought she had. We can decorate that pink elephant, but it is still a pink elephant. It is sucking the life right out of you. You spend your whole day doing your best to make it fit. God knows we don’t want to admit that we made the mistake of bringing that pink elephant home in the first place; that we wasted money and, worst of all, our time. We just keep plodding along, hoping that the pink elephant will not get mad and become the bull in the china shop. The sad part is that it already has. Many years ago I had a diseased gallbladder. I was sick all the time. This gallbladder was toxic to me. Once it was removed I was able to get on with my life. Relationships can be like this, too. We have all had people in our lives who suck the life right out of us. You may be with someone

right now who is toxic to you. You may have a friend who uses you to make herself feel superior. You may be struggling with an abuse situation that you hope and pray will get better. They don’t get better. They get worse. This abuse can mean a lot of things: physical, emotional, sexual, drug, alcohol and financial. It is time to cut your losses and strap on your wings to FLY...Finally Loving Yourself. For when you are FLYing, you realize when something is clutter in your life. As nurturers we really do want to help everyone, but in the end, we can only help ourselves. This is not a selfish attitude. It is all about self-preservation. This type of clutter is going to destroy your spirit. Accept that you made a mistake! Forgive yourself and cut your losses by decluttering. In business if you lose a nickel on everything you sell, and you sell a million of them, you are losing a million nickels. Stop the blood-letting! For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, see her website and join her free mentoring group at www. FlyLady.net. Also check out her books, Sink Reflections, published by Random House, and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter, published by Simon and Schuster. Copyright 2013 Marla Cilley. Used by permission in this publication.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

We’re making room for more.

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our new addition—phase ii lots—expected in August! New Park is growing. Phase I is almost sold out. And it’s no wonder—

New

neighborhood pool

with a great location within walking distance to the city’s newest schools and YMCA, a wide variety of builders creating comfortable, livable and

now under construction!

beautiful homes, plus a park-like neighborhood perfect for enjoying the great outdoors —New Park is a family favorite.

New

Stop by our New Home Information Center today before the lots in Phase I are gone!

pArk crossing high s cho ol opening August 2013!

G 334.215.9215

newparkliving.com

9430 Park Crossing, off Ray Thorington Road

For the latest neighborhood news and promotions, follow us on Facebook.®

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Dig This: Get the Dirt on Digging Toys!

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

The smooth plane of undisturbed sand, the soft terrain of dirt and clay, the hint of something hidden just beneath the surface of soft sandstone are all a siren’s call for little hands to dig in! From both a curiosity and a creativity standpoint, dirt, clay and sand are natural mediums that compel children to scrape, carve and shift it somewhere else, shape it somehow different. Whether they are moving mounds around, excavating a hidden wonder or simply getting the bottom of things, the following items will help your kids dig in fast!

by Paige Gardner Smith

Naturally Playful Sand Table

Diggin’ Rigs Grinding Gravel Yard Set

The Naturally Playful Sand Table features a self-contained elevated play area that is perfect for standing toddlers and seated children to belly-up to for every kind of sand play. The removable cover not only protects the sand from curious cats, but is also molded with roadways and tracks for extra vehicle play. Included are two shovels and a cup for instant excavating. The elevation makes it easy to sweep under and ideal for decks and patios. It’s also more accessible for physically challenged kids who may not be able to enjoy a traditional in-ground sandbox. And no more sandy bottoms right before you walk out the door (you’re on your own with sandy hands)! On the level with children’s comfort and access, the Step 2 Sand Table brings the action right where kids can get busy!

For kids accustomed to pressing Play-Doh into balls, the Diggin’ Rigs Grinding Gravel Yard Set will let them deconstruct the dough into gravel for building a whole new project. Play-Doh can be pushed into the grinder, then just turn the crank and it begins to produce “gravel” that can be transported anywhere on the job site (play mat) for your child’s big construction project! Chuck the Dump Truck can ferry the dough to and “gravel” from the grinder. The set includes Chuck the Dump Truck, grinder, grinder stand, gravel yard base and two cans of Play-Doh modeling compound so digging, grinding, hauling and building can break ground immediately!

Big Dig Ride-on Working Crane

Egypt Excavation Dig Kit

Sometimes you just have to put yourself in the driver’s seat on a big project. For kids with a sizable sandbox, sandy ground or garden area, the Big Dig Ride-on Crane offers them a realistic experience of working handles that control the digging action of the scoop. The seat can accommodate weights up to 60 pounds and rotates 360 degrees allowing kids to move and master their entire construction perimeter. With sturdy steel construction, it requires minimal assembly and can hold up well in all weather. It’s also great for developing hand-eye coordination as kids move sand, loose dirt and even snow where it needs to go!

For the older delicate digger, there is nothing more rewarding than chipping and carving away the sediment that stands between you and your discovery. The Egypt Excavation Dig Kit offers a matrix of sand plaster that hides within two treasures that recall ancient Egyptian civilization. Each kit may contain a variety of objects including a bust of Nefertiti, King Tut’s mask, sarcophagi, figurines or statues. Using the included chisel and brush, kids can dig into the block and, with patience, discover what’s beneath the surface. Perfect of the aspiring archeologist or field historian who would like to experience the careful work required to coax the earth to give up her oldest secrets!

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(Play-Doh/Hasbro)

(Reeves/Breyer)

(Geo Central)

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

www.montgomeryparents.com

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Avoiding the

Entitlement Trap Raising Responsible Kids in a Consumption Crazed Culture

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by Malia Jacobson

We all love giving to our children; there’s nothing like witnessing the joy on a child’s face when he receives a coveted toy, a favorite meal, or the latest gadget. But parental generosity has an ugly downside. Experts warn that by giving children too much, too often, parents can encourage an inflated sense of entitlement that snowballs into demands like, “But I want it…now!” In today’s abundant, instant-gratification society, parents must be intentional about raising children who don’t have a sense of entitlement, says Karen Deerwester, parenting coach and author of The Entitlement-Free Child: Raising Confident www.montgomeryparents.com

and Responsible Kids in a “Me, Mine, Now!” Culture. “Our entitlement climate promotes quick fixes and easy answers that sabotage effective parenting,” she says. Want to raise a responsible child who doesn’t demand constant gratification? Read on for expert tips on curbing entitlement, from toddlerhood to the teen years.

Early Years 0-5

(Waiting Game) Over-entitlement begins in toddlerhood, because two-year-olds are naturally self-interested—it’s normal and natural for them to be concerned with “me, mine, and now.” It’s when parents actually give in to 64

tots’ “now” demands that entitlement can begin to build. “If we constantly overdo and rescue children, they don’t learn to live with those uncomfortable feelings of wanting something and not always getting it,” Deerwester notes. One key to self-control is the ability to wait, a skill strongly correlated with future success. In the famous “marshmallow experiment” first conducted at Stanford University in 1972, researchers offered children a choice between receiving one marshmallow now or two marshmallows after a short wait. The researchers found that children who were able to delay gratification had more success later in life. “Asking a young child to sit still for a few Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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minutes so you can talk to the doctor is age-appropriate and builds those waiting skills,” says Deerwester.

Elementary Years 6-10

(School Rules) Often, the first clues of over-entitled behavior in school-aged children come via a phone call from the child’s teacher or school. “Parents will hear from their child’s teacher that the child has difficulty following directions or challenges authority a lot,” says Barbara Lowe-Greenlee, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. These red flags can be signs of a child used to getting things her own way—now. While it’s healthy for children to be assertive, challenging authority on a regular basis signals a problem. Parents can encourage children to question authority in appropriate ways, like asking questions of a doctor at a well-child checkup. “But sometimes, we need to tell children that they need to simply follow the rules, as long as the authority figure isn’t asking them to do anything wrong or illegal,” says Lowe-Greenlee.

Tween and Teen Years 11-18

(Giving Back) It’s not too late to dial down entitled behavior in a possessions-obsessed teen or older child. But adolescents will feel rightfully jilted if parents implement too many changes, too quickly. If parents have always given in to a child’s wants instead of teaching them to deal with conflicts and mistakes, they need to help teens build those skills, says Deerwester. “It’s about starting where you are.” One way to encourage a less selfcentered worldview? Encourage teens’ natural altruism by asking them to think of ways to contribute to their community. When tweens and teens understand that they can make a worthwhile contribution, their life may stop revolving around the iGizmo, fancy vacation or designer jeans. “Tweens and teens should understand that we all have a responsibility to our family and our community,” says LoweGreenlee. “And we don’t just take, we give back.” mp

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Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and parenting journalist and mom. Her most recent book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Annual Flag Boat Parade

Thursday, July 4, beginning at 12 p.m. at Kowaliga Marina on Lake Martin. Boats of all sizes parade from Kowaliga Marina to Children’s Harbor and back. Onlookers from the shoreline and water can watch free of charge. Boat registration is due by July 1. Forms can be picked up at any Russell Marine location Kowaliga, Real Island, The Ridge and River North. For out-of-towners, call 334-857-2111 to request a form. Registration is free.

Prattville Celebration 2013 Schedule of Events Annual 4th of July Parade

On Thursday, July 4th at 9am, family members of all ages will enjoy the fire engines, candy, floats and more. This years Grand Marshals are the Vietnam War Veterans. Bring your lawn chair and set up early for a good spot along the parade route. The one mile route goes through downtown and ends at Pratt Park. Roads will be closed during the parade. For more information, call 358-0297.

Annual Lion’s Club BBQ & Cardboard Boat Races

After the parade, join the fun at the annual Lion’s Club BBQ and Camp Stew Sale at Pratt Park. Music, a patriotic program, a children’s fun area and lots of arts and crafts. 10am-3pm. Free admission. Call 358-1068 for info. The annual Carboard Boat Races begin at 10am, with teams creating their competition boats out of cardboard and duct tape. Prizes inwww.montgomeryparents.com

clude: Longest floating boat, the Titanic award for most dramatic sink, Most Creative and more. For information, call the Dept. of Leisure Services at 361-3640.

Severe Weather and Fire Safety Training

The Prattville Fire Department will have their Life Safety Trailer on display at Pratt Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Bring your children by to learn important safety tips through handson activities. Children will learn what to do in case of a fire, severe weather, and more.

Fireworks Presentation

Get ready for lots of “oohs” and “aahs”, as the spectacular fireworks display begins at dark, at Stanley-Jensen Stadium. Come early and get a great seat or bring your own lawn chair. No pets, alcoholic beverages or glass containers allowed. Gates open at 6pm. Enjoy food and beverage vendors, patriotic program by the Prattville Pops and Community Chorus. Admission is free. Volunteers needed. It takes a lot of volunteers to make this event happen. Great for youth and adult community service organizations. Call 358-0297 for more info. Visit www.prattvilleal.gov for more info.

Russell Lands

4th of July Fireworks & Celebration Lake Martin Amphitheater will host a night of music and fireworks on Thursday, July 4, beginning at 5 p.m. Featuring Musical Artist Nation Wide Coverage with special guest Eat A Peach. Show starts at 7:00 p.m. and fireworks will being at 9 p.m. (This is one 66

of the Southeast’s largest fireworks show.) Children’s activities will be conducted by Children’s Harbor throughout the evening. The fireworks show is free (from an open field adjacent to the amphitheater or by boat), but for the best seat in the house and to enjoy the musical entertainment, tickets are available at the gate or through ticket master, with children under 6 free. Proceeds benefit Lake Martin area charities. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnics. Concessions are also available. The Lake Martin Amphitheater is located on Highway 63 about 1 mile south of Kowaliga Bridge. For more information call (256) 397-1019 or visit www.lmat.org.

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Fireworks Cruise

Thursday, July 4 Fireworks Cruise on the Harriott II Boarding begins at 7 p.m. Cruises from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Ticket prices are as follows: $25 per Adult, $20 per Child; Live Entertainment Concessions and Cash Bar Available Visit www.funontheriver.net.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

The celebration begins early and lasts into the night at our annual July 4th Star Spangled Beach Party. We celebrate Independence Day with a day of pure fun. So pack a picnic and sunscreen, round up your friends and family,

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and head to Callaway Gardens for a spectacular fourth of July! Admission to the Star Spangled Beach Party includes admission to all attractions within Callaway Gardens including the Day Butterfly Center, Callaway Discovery Center, Sibley Horticultural Center, Live Birds of Prey Shows, our many walking trails and our 10-mile Discovery Bicycle Trail. Garden attractions close at 6 p.m. Please refer to your July Calendar and Map for a complete listing of activities around the Gardens. July 4th admission is $25/adult; $12.50/child age 6-12; Children five and younger are admitted for free. Tax is included. Admission includes access to the gardens attractions from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Star Spangled Beach Party festivities at Robin Lake from 9 a.m. until the fireworks finale. Please visit www.callawaygardens.com for more information.

Pike Road “Symbols of Our Freedom” Parade

Thursday, July 4 Registration and assembly begins at 9 a.m. at the Pike Road Baptist Church. Parade begins at 10 a.m. Patriotic parade with floats, riders, horses, antique automobiles and more. Sponsored by the Pike Road Community Club. Activities end at The Feed Lot with prizes awarded. Please call 334-286-9516.

Pike Road Summer Fest

Thursday, July 4th Will be held at The Waters off of Marlar Rd. Come join us for family fun, food and fireworks. Food Vendors, live music and spectacular fireworks. $10 per car load. Gates open at 5:30. Events begin at 6 p.m. and fireworks at dark. Call 272-9883.

Wetumpka Celebration

Thursday, July 4th @ 7 p.m. Fireworks, Entertainment and Street Dance. Downtown Wetumpka at County Courthouse Please visit www.cityofwetumpka.com for more information and updates or call Tiffany at 334-567-5147 for more information or an application for the contests.

Cloverdale-Idlewild Parade

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Thursday, July 4 2 p.m. at the corner of Plymouth and Lexington. Ends at Bottom Park on Cloverdale Rd. Drums, bikes, floats; program at end of parade. Dress in your red, white and blue and join this old fashioned 4th of July celebration. Contact Charlie Colvin, 834-6030.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Amber Holley Owner/Operator

• Serving the Tri-County Area • Ages 2-6 • Birthday Parties • Church Events • Pre-Schools • Block Parties

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324.4628 67

www.BigGymBus.com www.montgomeryparents.com

Love at One of the Country’s

Top Ten Most Romantic Hotels Henderson Park Inn in Destin, Florida

TripAdvisor may be the world’s largest social travel network with over 100 million travelers having used it, and it’s been the starting point for many in search of the ultimate vacation. One of our favorite destinations within easy driving distance has just been selected as one of the top ten most romantic hotels in the United States. If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic getaway right on the beach, you need look no further than Henderson Park Inn. While Henderson Park Inn has received numerous awards for its ambience and exceptional service, including designation as “Destin’s Best Inn” from Southern Living Magazine and voted the “Most Romantic Inn” in North America by a reader’s poll from About.com, Henderson Park Inn has just been selected by TripAdvisor as one of the country’s Top Ten Most Romantic Hotels. Located on the Destin beaches bordering Henderson

Beach State Park, Henderson Park Inn offers all the beauty of the Emerald Coast without being surrounded by high-rise condominiums. “We are thrilled with the recognition,” said Innkeeper, Ryan Olin. “What makes this particular award so special is that it’s customer driven. Our location is second to none and so is the service and amenities we offer our guests. We’re proud to be recognized by TripAdvisor and our loyal guests.” Henderson Park Inn is a hidden gem that fronts nearly a mile of sugar white sand and emerald green water on the Gulf of Mexico. www.montgomeryparents.com

Privacy and romance are always in the air at the inn, beginning with wine and chocolates in guests’ rooms upon arrival, sunset toasts on the inn’s back deck and Toes in the Sand Dining right on the beach. Rooms are elegantly furnished and decorated with four-poster beds, sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, refrigerators and spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico. Henderson Park Inn joins other prestigious, romantic properties including the Bardessono in Yountville, California; Loa Kea Hotel & Resort in Poi Pu Hawaii, and the Casa Laguna Inn & Spa in Laguna, California. So…what makes Henderson Park Inn such a romantic destination? The secluded setting and location, situated directly on the beach, allows each room a vista of the Gulf of Mexico and the pristine white beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast. This beautifully-appointed inn offers New England architecture, warm, tailored décor, attention to every detail and Southern charm for a world-class experience. The on-site BeachWalk Café serves dinner each night and is the only meal not included in the cost of a stay. Complementing the 68

Inn’s TripAdvisor award, BeachWalk Café has just been named among the top 100 most romantic restaurants in the county by the dining website OpenTable. “We are proud to know that our guests have thoroughly enjoyed their overall experience both at the Inn and BeachWalk Café and gave us such high marks. Being named among the top most romantic destinations and one of the top romantic restaurants in the country is a testament to our gulf-front location and personal service we provide to our guests.” Keep in mind that this is an adults-only resort and though the rates are above the norm, all the included amenities and the

level of class and elegance to which the Inn holds itself, makes it well worth every penny. Visit www.HendersonParkInn.com for more information. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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11 Unique Benefits

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of Homeschooling by Kerrie McLoughlin

If you’re questioning whether homeschooling is the right choice for your family, check out some of these unique benefits and then see what you think! Of course you’ll have challenging days, but you’ll have a whole lot of fun alongside your kids, too! 1. Free time. If it seems like your child is coming home with endless hours of homework in addition to being in school 35 hours www.montgomeryparents.com

a week, free time is a big benefit of homeschooling. You can teach what is necessary and once your child “gets it” you can move on to something else. Also, I doubt you are trying to keep 20+ kids under control, which does take a lot of time for a teacher at school!

won’t be bored while the other kids in her class are learning things she already knows, according to homeschooling dad of one, Tom Kliethermes. Likewise, she won’t be frustrated trying to keep up with something she’s not ready for.

2. Great education. You can offer an education comparable to that of a costly private school, even if you don’t have a college degree. When you homeschool, your child

3. Teaching freedom. Do you want to homeschool lightly year-round? Or would it suit your family better to homeschool several hours a day for seven months, taking off a

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

week or so here and there, as well as taking off the summer? Are you a curriculum-loving person or do you like to create your own lessons? Further, maybe you are an unschooler and just go where your child’s interests take you (check out unit studies if this is you!). You are free to take off a day for a funeral or family function.

4. Focus on something cool. Remember

loving a certain subject in school and really getting into it, but when the bell rang, it was time to move on and get in a new frame of mind for a new subject? Homeschooled kids have time and freedom to pursue their passions, like music, writing, acting, sports and more. 5. Works great with any schedule. Forget about the vision of a homeschooling mom teaching her kids at the dining room table. Sometimes it’s Dad teaching English when he gets home from work and Mom teaching other basics in the morning, leaving the afternoon/early evening free for other activities. If Dad travels, the whole family can tag along. If Mom and kids are night owls, so be it! You can stay up late talking, reading or watching educational shows.

6. Socialization across the board. You won’t hear many homeschooled kids saying they can’t play with a kid who is younger or older than they are. Homeschooled kids in urban communities these days have friends who are homeschooled, friends who are unschooled, friends who attend public school and friends who attend private school. “Love the one you’re with” certainly rings true here! 7. Healthy kids. We’ve all heard about how schools are cutting recess time, and Tom K. says one benefit of homeschooling is that your child won’t be sitting at a desk six hours a day. As a result, your kids may be healthier because they are likely getting more regular exercise, more fresh air, more sleep, etc. 8. You learn, too! This one might be a little selfish, but one unique benefit to homeschooling is that you learn as much as your kids do! In teaching things to your own kids, it might seem like you’ve lost 90% of what you learned in school. Now that you don’t have that pressure to memorize and perform on a test, you’ll soak up what you pre-read and read to your own kids and can really teach it to them in a relatable manner.

9. Do what you want, when you want. Another selfish benefit is that you can go on vacation anytime you want and get a cheaper, off-season rate. “We can take breaks/vacations whenever we want to,” says Jennifer Bentley of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Field trips are by far not as crazy on a weekday as they would be on a Saturday. Parks and other fun kid venues are less populated. 10. Trickle-down learning. Think about how much easier your younger children will be to teach since they are learning already from what you are teaching their older sibling(s). Learning truly does filter down in a homeschooling household! 11. “Quality family time” is a big homeschooling benefit given by Jill Connors, mom of five. “It’s easier to be my child’s moral guide” was a reason given by Tom Kliethermes, dad of one. Those random conversations and life questions can happen any time of day when you’re together for most of it. mp Kerrie McLoughlin, homeschooling writer mom of 5, can be found at TheKerrieShow.com and would love to connect with you!

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

www.montgomeryparents.com

Homeschool Resources

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Getting Started & State Laws • www.leapingfromthebox.com – Informative website that answers common questions about home schooling in Alabama. Includes support groups, cover schools, etc… • www.homeschool.com – Wonderful website to visit if you are thinking of homeschooling. Great information on different approaches to homeschooling, such as: classical , unschooling, Charlotte Mason, school in a box, etc… • www.hslda.org - HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) gives families the freedom to homeschool without having to face legal threats alone. • www.homeschoolcentral.com- Resourceful website for new or veteran homeschoolers. Includes state laws, curriculums, unschooling and much more.

Cover Schools • Cornerstone Family Church School 341 North Madison Terrace Montgomery, Alabama 36117 Phone:(334) 361-1227 Website: www.cornerstone-biblechurch.org

www.montgomeryparents.com

Contact: Mike and Anna Mae Jones – Prattville, 334-361-1227 Requirements: Interview, agreement with doctrinal statement, quarterly evaluations (record of attendance, curriculum using, activities, etc.), optional online record keeping. Tuition Fee: $25 per year per family, HSLDA membership Enrollment Deadline: No deadline • Dayspring Academy/High School Decatur, AL 35603 Phone: (256) 353-2592 Contact: Donna Mitchell, Administrator; Jazmin Price, Assistant; Delaina Smitherma , Assistant Email: dayspringacademy@att.net Website: http://www.dsacademy.org Requirements: A church enrollment form to local Board of Education Enrollment Fee: $95 first time enrollment fee Re-enrollment for members is pro-rated per family. Enrollment Deadline: Accept new enrollments yearround Other: Phone/in person curriculum help, message board (covers all of Alabama), transcripts for each child, online support, area coordinators available to plan local activities. All books, report cards, graduation ceremony and awards or diplomas will be extra.

• Evangel Family Christian Academy Attn: Homeschool Office 3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36106 Phone: (334) 272-3215 Contact: Denise Matthes, Administrator Requirements: Membership in Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); letter from your pastor stating that your family is a member in good standing in a Bible-believing church; course of study for each school-age child; 170 schooling days; orientation meeting at beginning of school year. Tuition: $100 per year per family Enrollment Deadline: August 2nd Other: Quarterly student evaluations; Supplemental classes available through Gateway Academy for ages 13 and up, monthly newsletter, field trips, clubs, sports (ages 12 and up), standardized testing as requested and graduation with diploma. www.evangelfamily.net • Ezekiel Academy P.O. Box 243034, Montgomery, AL 36124 Phone: (334) 315-0010 Contact: Maretta Oswald, Administrator or Debra Monplaisir, Assistant Administrator Requirements: Letter from your pastor stating that your family is a member in good standing in a Biblebelieving church; course of study for each school-age

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

child; 170 schooling days; orientation meeting at beginning of school year. Tuition: $200 per year per family which includes legal services provided by Kotouc & Vogel law firm Enrollment Deadline: August 2nd Other: Quarterly student evaluations; LIFT classes for ages 13 and up, field trips, clubs, sports (ages 12 and up), standardized testing as requested and graduation with diploma. Please visit our website at www. Ezekielacademy.org. • Everest Academy 1035 Jenkins Rd., Graysville, AL 35079 Phone: 205-433-9828 Administrator: Deb Spradlin Email: everstacademy1@gmail.com Website: www.alabamahomeschooling.com Mission: Everest Academy believes that the parent has the best interests of their children at heart. We believe that the parent is the first and only teacher that a child needs. In keeping with this philosophy, we wish to be a very hands-off cover school and allow the parent to lead and guide their children in the direction and at the pace they feel is best suited to their children. We ask only for what the law requires while offering support along with quality resources to aid families in their efforts. Other: We serve all of Alabama, Statewide coverage. Newsletter sent weekly by email. We offer a wider range of field trips and activities. Requirements: Application for enrollment and grades and attendance records due at time of graduation or transference. Tuition: $200 new enrollees / $100 re enrollment per family per year • Holy Spirit Academy Telephone: 334-294-7305 E-mail: happygirl.beach@yahoo.com

Administrator’s Name: Monica Burke Location (mailing address): 8570 Vaughn Rd., Montgomery, AL 36117 Office hours (for phone contact): 9am-9pm Sponsoring church: Holy Spirit Catholic Church Enrollment area: Local to Central Alabama Statement of Faith: not required. HSLDA: required General description (or Mission Statement): The mission of Holy Spirit Academy is to serve families choosing to educate their school age children at home in compliance with Alabama law. HSA provides home schooling families with a structure of support and services for academic excellence and for living the Catholic faith in the home and society. Requirements: HSLDA membership, Church School enrollment form filed yearly, curriculum list, semester progress report, semester attendance report, August and January required meetings of primary teachers. We do accept families of other religions with a pastor’s letter stating they are registered members of their church. Tuition: $35 yearly fee. • Little Flock Ministries P.O. Box 250504, Montgomery, AL 36125 (334) 288-7475; (Montgomery) Hours: 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Administrators: Tracy Glover Email: glovereleven@bellsouth.net Mission Statement: Interdenominational church school. Our goal is to serve homeschooling families regardless of church and/or religious affiliations. Requirements: We do require that the four basic subjects be taught, one attendance report per month, two progress reports per year. You must maintain daily record of attendance, grade book, lesson plans and a work portfolio with samples of past work at home. You must fill out application package.

Tuition: $25 per year per family Enrollment Deadline: open year round • Outlook Academy P.O. Box 1027 Millbrook, AL 36054 Phone: 334-290-0919 Directors: Carren and Daniel Joye Email: info@outlookacademy.com Web site: www.outlookacademy.org Outlook Academy is a hands-off church school. Because we believe that parents are best suited to direct the education of their children, Outlook Academy asks only for what the law requires while also offering support for your personal choices. We accept students from all over the state. Because we wish to use today’s available technology to make the homeschooling process as easy, efficient and convenient as possible, many of our services have Internet options, such as attendance reports via email. Requirements: Attendance reports at the end of the year. Not required: membership in HSLDA, meetings, minimum days of attendance, testing, curriculum review, or statement of faith. Enrollment Fee: $30, one time Tuition: $95 per family, per year. Enrollment Deadline: August 1, with mid-year enrollments for an additional fee Other: Weekly Co-op, convenient attendance reporting via email, monthly newsletter, online support, contact information for local homeschool support groups, web site featuring curriculum information and news of home schooling interests. • New Hope Academy c/o The Learning Place 698 Silver Hills Drive, Prattville and 334-361-9505

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Hours: 8 a.m until 6 p.m. Administrators: Tina Halbert Email: thelearningplace@att.net Website: http://www.thelearningplacealabama.com Mission Statement: The Learning Place provides a legal homeschool covering for those parents choosing to homeschool their children. We are a “hands-off” cover school, requiring only the basic enrollment procedures and attendance policies. Please read our forms for more information. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Enrollment: Accepting applications year round. Tuition: $20 per child with an $80 cap. Please visit www.leapingfromthebox.com for statewide cover schools. Also, check with your local church to see if it might be a cover school for its members.

Curriculum • ABEKA Curriculum: Abeka Curriculum has a Christian and traditional approach to education. They offer three options to teaching. The DVD option is a fully accredited college preparatory program with ABEKA Academy. The second option is the traditional parent – directed option with ABEKA Academy. The third option is textbooks / materials for home schooling that you pick and choose from. ABEKA offers home school material displays several times a year in Montgomery and surrounding areas. Please visit www.abeka.com for more information or for a free catalog. • Alpha Omega Publications: Alpha Omega offers a wide variety of Christian curricula for varying learning styles. Please visit www.aop.com for more information or a free catalog.

• Bob Jones Curriculum: BJU offers quality textbooks, homeschool consultants, student focused distance learning classes, and a wide range of other products and services to meet your educational needs. BJU Press offers home school material displays in Montgomery and surrounding areas during the year. Please visit www.bjupress.com or call 1-800-8455731 for more information or a free catalog. • Calvert School – “When enrolled in Calvert school, you have a partner in education.” They provide you with all of the textbooks, tools and support you need. Calvert is a classical Christian Private School. The teachers provide the lessons plans and everything is provided to you. They offer support with placement testing, education counselors, and advisory teaching services. Please visit www.calvertschool.org/homeschool/ or call 1-888-487-4652 for more information or a free catalog. • Heart of Dakota - Christ centered homeschool curricula that is flexible, easy to use, and educational. This curricula can be used with multiple ages at the same time. Please visit www.heartofdakota.com for more information or for a free catalog. • Keystone National High School - Online Accredited High School and Middle School where you can earn your diploma online. Visit www.keystonehighschool.com. • KONOS – KONOS is distinct from other curricula. It uses the entire library as a textbook and the whole world as its curriculum. www.konos.com • My Father’s World – Raising up generations of families who see the world through God’s eyes and live according to that knowledge. www.mfwbooks.com

• Oak Meadow – Oak Meadow offers many different options to meet individual family needs for education. They offer complete curriculum for at home use or you can enroll online to receive academic credit. Their curricula gives students freedom to learn with flexibility and recognition of learning styles. Please visit www.oakmeadow.com for more information or a free catalog. • Rod & Staff Curricula – Rod and Staff offer Bible based textbooks that are designed to make the child God conscious. Please visit www.rodandandstaffbooks.com and click on the homeschool link. • Saxon Curriculum – Saxon teaches the foundational skills of math and reading. Please visit www. saxonpublishers.com for more information. • Sonlight Curriculum - Sonlight uses a classical Christian approach to education. It is literature rich and focuses on teaching children to seek God’s kingdom and to create a learner’s heart, enthusiasm and excitement for learning. Please visit www.sonlight. com for more information, a free catalog or to visit the forums. • Tapestry of Grace – Tapestry of Grace uses a Classical / Redesigned approach to education through a plan of study that helps parents provide a Christian, classical education using a guided unit study approach. Students cycle through world history every four years, with all ages studying the same slice of history each week, each at their own learning level. This curricula does not include does not include a phonics program, science, math, grammar, spelling, or foreign language. Please visit www.tapestryofgrace.com for more information.

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• Timberdoodle Co. – Offers a wonderful selection of books and Core Curriculums. Our selection is based on over twenty-five years of homeschooling and 24 years of selling homeschooling supplies. Please visit us at www.timberdoodle.com • Veritas Press – Specializes in providing educational materials for a classical Christian education. Scripted lesson plans with a complete curriculum package or online classes with expert teachers available. Please visit www.veritaspress.com for more information or a free catalog. • Winter Promise - Winter Promise celebrates the strengths of family by building unity, togetherness and memories. Our captivating programs will excite your family’s curiosity and our interactive learning opportunities will involve every type of learner. www.winterpromise.com

Special Needs www.autismtoday.com Everything you need to know about autism www.autism-society.org: Information, education and support for families www.autism-pdd.net/inks/alabama.html: Information and support www.wrightslaw.com: Special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities www.mitchells-place.com Diagnostic services, treatment, education and support for families

Resources A to Z Home’s Cool – Curriculum and information; http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com Becky’s Porch Swing – 425 Coliseum Blvd., Montgomery, AL. Located inside the Eastbrook Flea Market, downstairs in booth 409 and 398. A Garden of books and resources for home education. “Plant a good book…and watch a great mind grow.” We have the best selection, and the best prices, all under one roof. For more information please call, Becky at 270-1557 or email beckyrod@knology.net. Open every day: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday 12:30 until 4:30 p.m. Bellerophon Books – Books covering art, literature, history, etc. www.bellerophonbooks.com Beautiful Feet History and Science Curriculum – Offers classic and historic works that nurture a love for reading. www.bfbooks.com Chem4kids- Wonderful chemistry website for kids. www.chem4kids.com Children’s Books- Wide assortment of curricula and books. www.homeschooldiscountproducts.com Christian Liberty Press – Large assortment for the Christ centered biblical approach. www.christianbook.com Distance Learning Integrators- Electronic field trips www.efieldtrips.org

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Greenleaf Press – The original and still the best resources for teaching history and literature chronologically. www.greenleafpress.com Hands of a Child – Large variety of Lapbook kits www.handsofachild.com Hearthsong – Unique toys, games, puzzles, dolls, arts and crafts. www.hearthsong.com Homeschool Super Center – Secular and religious material offered. www.homeschoolsupercenter.com/ Home Science Tools – Affordable Science tools and kits for hands on experimentation. www.homesciencetools.com

Learning Things – The Education Store www.learningthings.com Mindware – Educational toys, games and learning toys. www.mindware.com Rainbow Resource Center – Educational Books and Curriculum at Great Prices http://www.rainbowresource.com/index.php Real Science 4 Kids - Science Curriculum from Preschool to Highschool. Please visit www.gravitaspublications.com ROCK Solid – Educational Books and Curriculum at Great Prices. www.rocksolidinc.com

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Store for Knowledge – A variety of kits, models and toys. www.storeforknowledge.com Timberdoodle - Fully customizable, budget friendly, complete curriculum and more! www.timberdoodle.com Vision Forum – Christian based company with inspirational toys, books, classical reading. Wonderful website! www.visionforum.com White House Kids – News, history and games www.whitehouse.gov/kids Yesterday’s Classics- Classic Books for Children http://www.yesterdaysclassics.com/ Zoom Kitchen Chemistry Explore the virtual kitchen and perform online experiments. http://pbskids.org/zoom/games/kitchenchemistry/ Also, check with your local library for resources.

Support Groups & Supplemental Instruction • Academy Days Homeschool Co-op Contact: Carren Joye, carren@outlookacademy.com http://www.academydays.com Upcoming classes at the Academy Days co-op vary from American Literature and Composition, Spanish, Fun With Words (Spelling/Vocab), Creative Writing, Art Exploration, P.E., Photography II, Oil Painting, Choir, Art History, Scrapbooking/Cardmaking, World History, Ancient History, Biology, General Science,

Marine Biology and many more ! Held weekly during the school year at Grace Community Church in Millbrook, this affordable co-op is designed for students (preschool through high school) to gather for subjects difficult to teach at home or best taught in group setting. The co-op is open to all homeschoolers of any covering. Deadline to sign up for Fall is July 31. • Charlotte Mason Contact: Lavonne Hart montgomerylifelearners@gmail.com Becky Rod, beckyrod@knology.net; 334-270-1557 This group holds monthly meetings for fellowship, encouragement and application of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophies for our homeschooling families. We also host speaker seminars with regional CM experts and maintain a members only yahoo group to share encouragement, ideas and information. • Fellowship of Home Educators (FHE)http://groups. yahoo.com/group/fhenewsandinfo/ FHE is a group of families in Prattville and surrounding area who support one another in the area of home education. We offer many educational opportunities as well as social gathering for our children. • Elmore County Homeschool Organization (ECHO) http://www.onlineecho.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschoolecho We are a support group for homeschooling families in the tri-county area (Elmore, Autauga, Montgomery) of Alabama. Our motto at ECHO is: “You get out what you put in!” We meet the second and fourth Friday of every month year-round from 10 a.m. to noon at the Coosada Baptist Church (Annex). Membership is

free! Just bring your children and your enthusiasm. We feel that we can conduct our adult discussions with our children in the room, so there is no cost for childcare at ECHO! Our meetings provide practical support for parents while our children participate in supervised activities and playtime. From small things, great things grow -- ECHO is like that. What you put in, what you plant, is what comes out, and with care it will GROW! So get to know your fellow homeschoolers while your children make some homeschooled friends! • Gateway Academy Supplemental Classroom Instruction (open to families from multiple homeschool coverings) 3300 Bell Road, Montgomery, 334-272-9494 Wide variety of classes offered for the 2013-2014 school year. There is a $75 per family per year (due upon enrollment) registration fee. Tuition is $330 per student per class broken into 3 payments. Please visit our website at http://gateway-academy.com to view available classes and payment options. • L.I.F.T. Sharon Hubbard, 286-9957 LIFT is a supplemental program to homeschooling your students. It was developed with the intention of assisting parents of students 13 years old through students 19 years old in areas they may not feel fully confident to teach. Members of other church school ministries who pay the activities fee to Ezekiel Academy may participate in LIFT during the school year. Large variety of classes offered. Cost per class per student is broken into three quarters: 1st: $120.00, 2nd: $110.00 and 3rd: $110.00. Please visit us at www.ezekielacademy.org and click the LIFT tab for classes offered and more information.

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• Maxwell Area Home Educators (MAHE) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MAHE/ Maxwell Area Home Educators is a support group formed primarily to encourage military homeschoolers in the MGM (Maxwell/Gunter/Montgomery) area regardless of their reasons for homeschooling, philosophy, or method of instruction. MAHE is NOT a legal “church school,” but a network of homeschoolers working together to assist one another in our homeschooling efforts. If you are new to homeschooling or are long term homeschool parents looking to broaden your child’s academic experience, there is much we can do to help you. • PEAK of Montgomery (Parent Educators and Kids); http://www.peaknetwork.org/montgomery Parent Educators and Kids (PEAK) of Montgomery is an inclusive, member led-group, welcoming all local home educators who enjoy sharing and learning within a diverse community. Our members plan local field trips, park days and other social and learning opportunities for home educators in the Montgomery area. To join us, visit www.peaknetwork.org/montgomery. • Sylvan Learning Center Home School (334) 262-0043 2640 Zelda Road, Montgomery, AL 36107 The Sylvan Learning Center in Montgomery is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and offers Home School services for children in grades K through 12. Students receive 560 hours of instruction in Math, Science, History, and Reading/English. Home School instruction is offered Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. State required electives are completed outside of the Learning Center as an independent study. Requirements: Transcripts from previous school withdrawal letter from previous school. Proof of registration with Home School Organization Cost: $11.75 to $11.25 per hour (Dependent upon which payment option is selected) For more information please visit us at www.sylvanlearning.com.

Workshops and Book Sales • Alabama Homeschool Expo June 13-15 at the Montgomery Convention Center. Look for discounts and details at AlabamaHomeschoolexpo.com. • AUM Homeschool Programs AUM’s Homeschool classes are enrichment classes that are specially designed for homeschool students. They are not designed to replace curriculum. Class sizes are small so students receive individualized attention. All classes are hands on. Our goal is to offer learning experiences that parents are not able or willing to attempt at home. Classes will resume in September and a complete schedule will be available in August. For more information please call 2442804 or visit us at www.aum.edu and click on the Continuing Education tap at the top right and scroll down to Youth programs. • Evangel Family Christian Academy Used Book Sale Saturday, June 22nd, 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. in the Evangel Temple Gym. The used book sale is for all who desire to attend. Table space must be reserved for families who are NOT EFCA members ($20.00 fee) by calling EFCA by Friday, June 20th.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

• CHEF Home School Conference – June 20-21 in Gardendale, AL at Gardendale First Baptist Church. www.chefofalabama.org CHEF of Alabama serves all home educators in Alabama by providing information, services, and resources from a Christian perspective to anyone who needs help in the area of homeschooling. CHEF had a huge Homeschool Convention and Curriculum Fair every year. To find our more about CHEF please visit their website at www.chefofalabama.org • ABEKA Homeschool Materials Display June 14-15, The Montgomery Convention Center for the Alabama Homeschool Expo July 10, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2555 Hilton Garden Dr., Auburn, Al. July 11, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Comfort Inn & Suites - in Eastchase. Please visit Abeka’s website for dates in other locations.

• Southeast Homeschool EXPO July 25-27 Cobb Galleria in Marietta, GA. The Homeschool Expo is a “don’t miss” whole family two day event with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of products where parents can review and purchase the latest curriculum, hear great speakers who give practical encouragement, and receive personalized help and answers to any questions. Please visit www. southeasthomeschoolexpo.com.

Extra-curricular Activities • Armory Gymnastics Center 1018 Madison Avenue, 334-241-2789 Classes for ages 2 years and up. Cost: $40 per month (2 classes per week) Additional siblings receive 60% discount. Mondays and Wednesday classes: 12:30-1:30 or 1:30-2:30. Tuesday and

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Thursday classes: 12:30-1:30 or 1:30-2:30. Please call for more information. • AUM Homeschool Science Labs Don’t want to purchase tons of supplies for one science experiment? Don’t want to clean up the mess after the experiment? If so, AUM Home School labs are just right for you. These labs are developed specifically to enrich what you are teaching at home. Our labs are full of hands on learning opportunities. Please call 244-3804 for more information or visit www.aum.edu/coned to learn more. • Brunswick Zone Home School Bowling League 1661 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL The Home School League will meet in September. Please call closer to this time to get the exact date. At this meeting the parents will decide what day and what time Home School League will meet. All ages of home school students are invited to bowl in this league. For more information about the league contact us at 334-819-7171. • Docarmo’s Takewondo Center 3179 Taylor Rd. Phone: 334-220-5835 Homeschooling classes year round Monday and Thursday mornings. Please visit www.trytkdfree.com • Family Karate Center 8159 Vaughn Road Phone: 277-4911 or 467-5762 Instructor: Master Carole Coker Offers homeschool classes Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays at various times. Private classes. Instructor has master’s degree in early childhood education and special education (Only school

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that offers work with Autism, Aspergers, ADD, and ADHD). We have a full workout room for mom’s while children are in class. Free tutoring from certified teacher for all children. Homework checked. Outstanding academic achievement receives treasure chest rewards. Each homeschooler’s report card displayed on Wall of Fame. Students earn bonus bucks for pro-shop. Call for FREE class today. • Homeschool Skate Day at Looney’s Super Skate Phone: 334-281-1032 September thru May, 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. $3.00 per skater (includes skate rental) • McWane Science Center Labs 200 Nineteenth Street North, Birmingham 205-714-8359; www.mcwane.org McWane Science Center Labs are designed to supplement what you are teaching at home. Students will be able to use equipment and take part in experiments that are not easily executed in the home classroom. Our labs fall within the standards of the Alabama Course of Study as well as the National Science Standards. • River Region Homeschool Band Meets on Thursdays beginning in September at Fountain of Grace Church in Prattville. We offer a beginner class and Intermediate/Advanced Class. $40 per month with an additional discount for family members. Please call Ted Mann at 334-312-1486. • United Gym Stars 6100 Brewbaker Blvd., 334-284-2244 What a great way to get in physical education. Classes are offered on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until

2 p.m. for ages 6 and up. A waiver is signed for each participant. Cost is $6.00 per child per visit. • YMCA Homeschool Physical Education Select YMCA’s offer PE to homeschoolers for an hour. Please call your local branch for more info.

Recommended Reading The Well Trained Mind…Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. Great book for resources. 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy The Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith. Making the Decision and Getting Started. The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. Discover and teach to your child’s strengths. For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macalay The Five Love Languages of Children by Chapman & Campbell The Practical Home Schooling Magazine by Mary Pride The Big Books of Home Learning by Mary Pride mp If you provide any services or resources to homeschooling families and you were not listed in this issue, please contact us at editor@montgomeryparents.com. We want to make sure you are included!

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It’s Your Move!

Relocating with Kids

Homeschool Families on the Move --Resources and tips for moving your homeschool family into the River Region. When Melissa Anderson moved to Prattville, she and her husband decided it was a good time to transition into homeschooling their children. Michelle Johns’ family also moved to the Prattville area, but Johns was already a seasoned homeschool parent when she arrived. I sought out both of these moms to share their best homeschool relocation tips, and the resources they discovered while living and teaching in the River Region. Whether a veteran homeschooler or just starting out, you’re sure to find these tips from the Johns, Anderson and other homeschooling moms to be useful during your transition and beyond.

Get Prepared Before You Move

When you move to another state, you will need to be aware of the homeschooling laws and regulations for that particular location. “I always get online before the move. I find out the homeschool laws for the [new] state, and gather any needed paperwork ahead of time,” says Johns. “I get addresses I need to submit forms to and mark deadlines on the calendar.” The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA.org) acts as a legal advocate for homeschool families, and this nonprofit organization also provides customized forms and information to help homeschool families comply with state regulations. HSLDA breaks down information by state and is a good starting point for homeschool families on the move.

Join Support Groups

“I also search for support groups in [the new] state, both on Google and in Yahoo Groups,” says Johns. She requests permission to join support groups before her family relocates so that she can get a feel for www.montgomeryparents.com

the homeschool community and see what resources are available for her children.

The River Region offers many opportunities for homeschool children to participate in social and extracurricular activities. Outlook Alabama Homeschool Expo Academy (outlookacademy.org) The Alabama Homeschool Expo is June 13-15 has an extensive list of activities available to homeschool at the Montgomery Convention Center. For children in the area.

more information about speakers, workshops and other opportunities at the Expo, visit Keep it Together alabamahomeschoolexpo.com. Without Getting Overwhelmed Homeschool mom Carrie Robaia suggests contacting a nation-wide homeschool group. “They might be aware of other programs in the [new] area as well. Also, bigger churches are a GREAT resource. Many of them have homeschool programs or can put you in contact with other homeschool families.”

Find and Participate in Extra Curricular Activities

Anderson had no trouble finding extra-curricular activities for her children when her family arrived in Alabama. “The Prattville YMCA offers PE class for homeschoolers that the kids went to every week,” says Anderson. “We are very involved with church. The kids took classes on Sundays and Wednesdays and participated in extra activities. Both kids did Scouts and socialized with other kids there as well.” Anderson’s children even participated in an animal club. “We went to a farm and learned about caring for chickens and horses, and did some farmhand work.” Johns has found that getting out into the community is also a great way to connect with other homeschoolers. “Go to the park during school hours, or even the grocery store. Look for people out playing and shopping with older kids,” says Johns. “Go up to them and ask [if they homeschool].” 80

Balancing lesson planning and execution, together with the demands of relocation, can be a bit of a juggling act. However, homeschool parents point out that a huge benefit of homeschooling is being able to manage your time however it works best for your family. “If you’re a veteran homeschooler, things like moving or travelling aren’t such a big deal because schoolwork is most often portable,” says homeschool mom Anne Davis. “Having a sound plan, with a willingness to be flexible when situations arise and then tweaking that plan, is your best defense . . . ” Johns agrees, saying that her family prefers to homeschool year round, taking short breaks throughout the year. “I find that [year round homeschooling] is nice because you can come back [from breaks] refreshed and ready to work, instead of being burned out and losing both patience and enthusiasm by the end of the school year.” As with so many aspects of relocation, successfully homeschooling in a new location requires a bit of patience, flexibility and planning. Use the tips from these moms, plus the available local resources, to get your family settled and back into a routine quickly and confidently.

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Julie Steed is a writer, mom and military spouse. She’s getting ready to move her family for the 11th time in 14 years.

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13U Dirtbags Baseball Team Starts Off Strong On April 27 and 28, the 13U Dirtbags baseball team played in the USSSA Champs Wear the Rings Championship in LaGrange, Ga. The Dirtbags went 2-0, allowed only two runs and walked away with the championship rings. In Game 1 versus the Decatur Braves (Ga.), the Dirtbags exploded at the plate and ran past the Braves, 13-1. Kevin Dowdell (Calera) threw all three innings, allowing only three hits, no earned runs and striking out four. The Dirtbags were led at the plate by Ford Hilyer (ACA) who went 3-3 with a triple and drove in four runs. Dowdell and Jay Brown (Handley) added two hits a piece, with Dowdell hitting a double and Brown sprinting to a triple. Jalon Long (Goodwyn), DeMarvin Perry (ACA) and Gabe Maynard (Elmore Co.) each picked up hits. In Game 2, the Dirtbags cruised past the Middle Georgia Baseball (Pike Co. Ga.) 6-1. Long started the game on the mound for the Dirtbags

and struck out six in three innings. Hilyer finished the game striking out four in two innings. The two combined for a no hitter. Dalton Hill (Trinity) lead the attack with three hits, with a double, and drove in two runs. Perry and Tyler Britton (ACA) each had two hits. One of Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hits was a double. Maynard added another hit as well. On April 13 and 14 the Dirtbags went 2-0 in the USSSA 300 Paoint Capital City

Global tournament at Fain Park. In the first game, the Dirtbags defeated Copperhead Blue (Columbus, Ga.) 12-5. Hill led the Dirtbags at the plage with two hits. Brown, Long, Hilyer, Britton and Maynard all had hits. Britton threw three innings for the Dirtbags allowing only two hits and striking out four. Hilyer threw two innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. In Game two, the Dirtbags eased past the Auburn Stars, 9-5. Once again, Hill led the Dirtbags with two hits. Grayson Evans (ACA), Brown, Hilyer and Maynard all had hits. Hill threw three innings and Perry two for the Dirtbags. The Dirtbags ran their 13U record to 14-3 with three first-place finishes and one runner-up in five tournaments.

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A Page in a Book

by Paige Gardner Smith

Real Boys Who Made a Difference

Looking at our little boys we can’t help but wonder who they will become as adults. We ask ourselves what we can do to foster their strengths, to give them courage to take on hard challenges. Their experiences as children often provide the early inspiration that moves them in the direction of a future that is both rewarding for them – and sometimes rewards the greater community as well. Cultivating a “can-do” attitude in children goes far toward building their confidence to follow their heart, pursue their dreams and blaze new paths. The following titles share the inspirational stories of young men who stepped up to a challenge and made a difference!

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau

by Jennifer Berne, Illustrated by Eric Puybaret (Chronicle Books) As a little boy in France, Jacques Cousteau was fascinated by water…how it felt, why he floated on it, why rocks sank in it. He dreamed of flying among the fish below, delving their world beneath the surface of the water. But you can only hold your breath so long. As he got older he began to explore his passion for mechanics, chemistry and film, learning how cameras worked, processing his own film and making a LOT of home movies. But the sea kept calling to Jacques until he found a way to fly among the fishes below. His invention of scuba gear, with his friend Emile, and his knowledge of film-making allowed him and his friends to record the unseen beauty beneath the waves, inspiring generations to protect its fragile majesty. With poetic rhythms, stark illustrations and inspirational afterword, “Manfish” is a book you’ll dive into regularly!

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Dial Books for Young Readers / Penguin) In William’s village in Malawi, there was no electricity or running water. He spent his days alongside his neighbors and family farming in the drought-plagued earth. But at night he dreamed about the radios he heard, cars he saw on roads – he wanted to know how they worked. As the crops dried up brining famine in its wake, William was forced to leave school and had to find another way to learn. Using the small library near his village, he found an English dictionary and taught himself to read the science and technology textbooks. He learned how things worked and believed he could make something that would help his village – a windmill. But with no money for tools and materials, the boy William will have to use all his creativity and tenacity to build something that may save his village. The title’s message of strength and perseverance is as lovely as the richly illustrated pages that bring this true story to life.

Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story

by Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia (G.P Putnam / Penguin) When Mikey’s father heads off to war, he wants to be brave and go with him. But as his Dad boards the train, he reminds Mikey that sometimes it takes bravery to stay behind and support the war from home. When Mikey asks his mother what he can do to help with the war, she reminds him that the soldiers need knitted socks and caps. She offers to teach him how to knit, and he immediately nixes the idea… because “knitting is for girls”. But when he sees pictures of firemen knitting, and the president raising wool sheep on the White House lawn, he realizes that everyone can do their part. Mikey decides he’s brave enough to take up the needles and learn to knit. (He even persuades some of his buddies to join him.) This story is based on the true “Knit Your Bit” efforts across the U.S. when schools and clubs hosted contests, knitting bees and other events to get everyone knitting for the soldiers overseas. Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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What Are The Signs and Symptoms Of Adolescent Alcohol And Drug Abuse? • Sudden or Gradual Drop in Grades • Pattern of School Tardiness • Lying/Blaming • Unusual Need to Access Money • Changes in Peer Group • Sneaking Alcohol or Drugs • Burns on Hands or Clothing • Denial when concerns are expressed regarding drinking and drug use • Unusual sleeping patterns

Free 24 hour Emergency Consultations

(334) 244-0702 or 1-800-873-2887 www.bradfordhealth.com Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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What DADS Do Best

by Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.

Pop culture doesn’t appreciate dads. Sitcoms make fun of their diapering (in)abilities or portray dads as irresponsible babysitters who feed the kids pizza, ice cream and sugary soda while mom is out for the evening. Personal experience tells me there may some truth in this. My own husband shows our kids zombie movies then acts surprised when they refuse to sleep with the lights out. Really. Stereotypes aside, it can be hard to move past the mom-knows best mentality and make room for dads’ different style of parenting. Mom of four Tsara Shelton of Teague, Tex., says parenting together with her boys’ dad has been the biggest challenge in their happy, 13-year marriage. “I always want to be the one with the answers and insights! But in truth, it’s been co-parenting that’s blessed my boys with the best of what both mom and dad have to offer.” All moms can learn valuable lessons from watching what dads do best. Here’s how.

Dads are good with good enough

Most moms I know struggle to drown out the nagging inner critic who says we aren’t good enough. We feel intense pressure to keep the house (and kids!) clean and to respond cheerfully to every social obligation. Our to-do lists never get done. And it’s stressful. Researchers at Auburn University found women are more likely to feel inadequate at home and at work than men because we’re more perfectionistic. Dads recognize the 80% solution is often good enough. They can walk away from a sink full of unwashed dishes – without feeling guilty – to spend time playing with the kids before bedtime. Moms can’t deny there is wisdom in this approach. Dishes don’t grow up and go off to college. Kids do. www.montgomeryparents.com

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ing co pe tio psy Ov de Being good with “good enough” doesn’t mean dads deny their shortcomings. Tina Bushman, co-author of the family discussionstarting book Table Talk, says she has learned from watching her husband, John, address his missteps. “When it has been a rough parenting day, he will sit on the edge of our child’s bed and explain that even though parents try hard, we aren’t perfect. He apologizes if he got upset or said the wrong thing and asks forgiveness. It takes a humble dad to do that and I love him for it.”

Dads encourage active play

Mud pies, snow forts and do-it-yourself science experiments are dads’ domain, says Wendy Valderrama of Denver, Colo., “They do messy fun really well.” Valderrama watches her 3-year-old daughter’s princess wedding ball with prince Daddy every night. “He lets her take the lead and follows right along with 84

her in the imaginative play,” she says. Dads’ passion for play is a joy to behold. When they aren’t entertaining kids on their own level, dads expose kids to grown-up tasks and topics. A dad might teach a child how to mow the lawn or talk about financial matters during informal apprenticeship sessions. Since dads aren’t focused on ages and stages of development, they may share information that is over kids’ heads. There is an upside to this, Valderanna says. “The conversations I overhear between my daughter and her dad are amazing! I see her processing concepts I wouldn’t have thought possible because I am stuck in a preschool mentality all day.”

Dads encourage risk-taking

While moms’ protective instincts lead us to discourage kids from taking physical risks, studies show dads give kids more Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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personal space to explore the environment, even if there is risk involved. “At the park, I’m nervous about my 2-year-old going down the big slide, and, at home, I protect my baby from face-planting every time he attempts to crawl,” says San Diego, Calif., mom Anna Crowe. Dads often push kids to go outside their comfort zones. Physical challenges help kids develop strength, coordination and confidence. And, by testing their physical prowess, “kids learn valuable skills that could prevent them from getting into serious trouble in the future,” Crowe admits. Dads allow kids to learn by doing when moms might be more likely to teach by talking. During the anxious moments in parenting, dads maintain a calm composure moms admire. Stacy Lewis of Long Beach, Calif., says her husband changed her perspective on parenting forever during one intense encounter with their three kids. He said, “I don’t get it! You are the mom. Why are you hollering?” And something clicked for Lewis. “He keeps things insanely balanced, and I love him for that.”

Dads set boundaries

Because women are focused on preserving social connections, we may avoid family conflict. The mental and emotional effort of peacekeeping can lead to emotional exhaustion for women, according to research by psychologists at Carnegie Mellon University. Over time, minor frustrations can grow into deep, simmering resentments. Shelton admits she struggles to establish clear, firm rules for her kids. She sees most issues as gray areas and enjoys discussing the connections between kids’ behaviors, social expectations and cultural pressures. While moms might see kids’ behavior in shades of gray, dads can take a more black-and-white view. Men are less likely to shy away from conflict because they don’t take it personally. That means they step in and confront interpersonal issues head-on. Shelton’s two youngest sons – who had symptoms of autism at early ages – learned to be comfortable in their own bodies and brains because of their dad’s black-andwhite boundaries. “If my husband didn’t bring everything down to its simplicity I would get lost loving my boys in the gray,” she says. The key to parenting well is to figure out which situations require a firm, rule-based response and which ones call for deeper conversation. Dads seem to know this intuitively. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Dads don’t fret

Women often wish men would listen to our problems without trying to solve them, but that’s not how men are wired. When things go wrong, dads jump into problem-solving mode and determine what steps they can take to change the situation. If the first attempt isn’t successful, dads try another approach. Women are more likely to focus on feelings, which can actually amplify distress. We may commiserate with girlfriends or replay worst-case scenarios in our minds. C. Lee Reed of Beachside, Florida recalls her father often told his kids to “suck it up” in the face of disappointment. “It sounds crazy but we learned to put on our big girl panties when things didn’t go our way,” Reed says. Now she uses the same phrase with her own daughter. It lightens the mood when emotions run high. Dads’ emotional balance allows them to keep parenting problems in perspective. Crowe says she often panicked at her son’s inability to sleep through the night or the fact that he didn’t crawl when other babies did. But her husband took a longer view. “He taught me not to worry so much about the little things, unless they become a bigger concern,” says Crowe. A calm response is both comforting and practical.

Dads are present

Moms take pride in our super-human ability to do five things at once, but there is an undeniable downside. Multitasking prevents us from seizing the joys of the present moment. Lauren Nichols of Farmingdale, NY, praises her husband’s ability to be in the moment with their 4-year-old son. “I admire his ability to slow down and listen to everything our son has to say. It is as if he really remembers what it was like to be a little kid. They are two peas in a pod.” Reed is inspired by her husband’s presence as well. While Reed, who calls herself “Helicopter Mom” is busy multitasking, her husband, “Just Plane Dad,” knows how to be fully present in the moment, she says. “When he spends time with our daughter, he’s not worried about the laundry or paying the bills. He is all there.” Tuning in completely allows dads to see children as growing, loving little people. And it reminds us all that we’re blessed by our children – and their dads – in big and small ways every day. mp Heidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist who has gleaned many practical parenting strategies from her husband’s more laid-back approach. She is the author of Detachment Parenting.

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is the largest girl-led business in the country, teaching girls essential skills, such as goal setting, decisionmaking, money management, public speaking and business ethics. In southern Alabama alone, Girl Scouts sold more than 960,000 packages of cookies. With Girl Scout Cookie Program earnings, girls fund important community projects or go on educational trips as a troop. Girl Scouts in southern Alabama did more than just sell cookies this year -- they donated them, too! Surprisingly, there are cases of cookies that never get purchased. When this happens, each troop can choose to donate the leftover cookies to a special project called Cookie Share. This year, more than 3,200 packages of Girl Scout cookies were shipped to the men and women serving in the military, and another 7,200 packages were donated to local churches, hospitals, food banks and food pantries. The troops participate in the Cookie Share program annually when the Girl Scout Cookie Sale is over and use their decision-making skills to decide which organization best aligns with the needs they would like to meet.

Retired Colonel Speaks to Teenage Republicans

Colonel John Warden, III, USAF, Retired, and his wife, Marjorie, center, visited with the Montgomery County Teenage Republican Club recently. Warden is a noted strategist who was the architect for the successful Gulf War 1991 Desert Storm air campaign. He spoke to the group prior to the viewing of Zero Dark Thirty. The club is open to conservative teens in Montgomery County. They meet each month at the Montgomery County Republican Headquarters and get involved with local and national conservative issues and campaigns. Shown here are, from left, Will Littleton, Zach Hulcher, the Wardens and Sydney Jarman. For more information, contact Jean Bradley at montgomerycountyteengop@gmail. com or visit the Facebook page.

Local Events Donate to Support Boston Victims

In response to the Boston Marathon bombings, Team-Magic, Inc., a professional multi-sport event management company, has decided to dedicate proceeds from the Capitol of Dreams 5K Run/Walk to The One Fund Boston. The One Fund Boston is committed to donating money to victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and their respective families. The 5K Run/Walk was part of the inaugural Capitol of Dreams Triathlon, hosted by the City of Montgomery on April 27. The course included notable civil rights historical markers: Rosa Parks’ bus route, Court Square, Martin Luther King Church, and State Capital Building. The finish line was located at The Riverwalk Amphitheater. Visit www.onefundboston.org for more detailed information regarding The One Fund Boston or simply to donate. Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Dance Generation Petite Company Wins State

Dance Generation’s Petite Company entered their first competition. They entered tap and jazz winning platinum, double platinum high point overall and are Alabama 2013 State Champions! Visit www. dancegenerationstudio.com. Instructors are Shawn Parker, Janice Ransom.

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Pink & Pearls Girls Hold African Culture Day

Pink and Pearls for Girls held its second annual Multicultural Day. This year’s theme was “Wild About Africa.” Each girl chose a country from Africa to present at the event. They also had the opportunity to have a discussion with Kidatou Kane, a native from Senegal, Africa. She prepared an African meal for the girls to taste and enjoy. If you would like to become a member, call Grace Harvey at 334-561-5091. www.montgomeryparents.com

Public Library Events MONTGOMERY CITY-COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Storytimes

Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library (Main Branch) 245 High Street 240-4991 Preschool Storytime Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium Summer Reading Program June 6 PNC Bank Grow Up Great PNC Bank will present Dream Big, Grow Up Great! Help young children turn everyday experience into math moments! (PNC Grow Up Great is highlighting math resources that help parents and educators explore math concepts with the young children on their lives in a fun way.) June 13 Blue Bell Bobby Thompson will talk about how Blue Bell is made and kids will watch a movie. We will also have a cool treat! June 20 The Montgomery Humane Society Mary Hughes will talk about how to read pet body language, the basics of pet care and how to be safe with pets. June 27 Dig Into Reading, Be Safe Deputy Dave loves talking to children about strangers, the proper use of 911, and saying NO to DRUGS. Teen Summer Reading Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. June 5-July 17 (No meeting July 3) June 5 Book Discussion: Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson (YA Area) June 12 Book Discussion: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (YA Area) June 19 Film: The Hobbit (Auditorium) www.montgomeryparents.com

Governor’s Square Branch 2885-B E. South Blvd. 284-7929 Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

June 26 Book Discussion: Holes by Louis Sachar (YA Area) Coliseum Branch 840 Coliseum Boulevard 271-7005 Preschool Storytime Thursdays, 10 a.m.

June 4 Working Animals Mary Hughes, Montgomery Humane Society, and her dog will give a presentation about working dogs.

June 6 I love a clean room! Curious George Cleans Up What a Mess! Craft: Monkey masks

June 11 Can Trees Really Talk? The children will be visited by “The Talking Tree,” Cynthia Jancanterino, Clean City Commission.

June 13 It’s nice to show others we care! The Adventures of Itty Bitty Bunny To Bathe a Boa Craft: Bunny masks

June 18 Shape Landscape Pamela Swann, Ann Wells and Lola Warner, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, teach,“When a line bends, a shape begins.”

June 20 It’s O.K. to be different. Horace Will Gets a Haircut Craft: Spotted leopard masks

June 25 Vehicles That Dig Ms. Anita reads Diggers and Loaders, followed by special guest James Ivey, City of Montgomery, who will demonstrate two of Montgomery’s construction vehicles.

June 27 It’s nice to know someone you can trust! Help! A Story of Friendship Grandpa Toad’s Secrets Craft: Frog masks

Summer Reading Program Grades K-5th Mondays @ 10 a.m.

Summer Reading Program Fridays @ 10 a.m. for ages 5-12

June 3 Working Animals Mary Hughes, Montgomery Humane Society, and her dog will give a presentation about working dogs.

June 7 Dig into Juggling with Ben Holland June 14 Dig into Gardening with Suzanne Brookhart and Maggie Stringer

June 10 Dig into History “The Traveling Trunk Lady,” Sarah Kunau, Alabama Museum of Archives and History

June 21 Dig into Fossils with Dr. John Van Valkenburg Activity: Dinosaur skeleton craft

June 17 Babar’s Visit to the Museum Special guests Pamela Swann, Ann Wells, and Lola Warner, Montgomery Museum of Fine Art, will read Babar stories and present a program about various types of art.

June 28 Dig into Southeastern Indians and Archaeology with Sarah Kunau Activity: Gorget necklaces Teen Summer Reading Club Ages 13 – 19

June 24 Digging for Dinosaurs Special guest Joyce Brown, Media Specialist, Seth Johnson Elementary School, will take the children on an imaginary trip back into the time of the dinosaurs.

June 11 @ 3 p.m. Beneath the Surface Movie: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time 88

Hampstead Branch Library 5251 Hampstead High St., Ste. 107 244-5770 Baby & Toddler Time Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. An early learning & literacy program designed for children ages 6 months to 3 years June 5 Nursery Rhymes: “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!” and “Jack and Jill.” Signing “drink.” June 12 Nursery Rhymes: “A Wise Old Owl” and “Old King Cole.” Signing “all done.”

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June 19 Nursery Rhymes: “The Queen of Hearts” and “As I Was Going to St. Ives.” Signing “mother.” June 26 Nursery Rhymes: “Pease Porridge Hot” and “Sing a Song of Sixpence.” Signing “father.” Pre-School Story Time Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Children 3 and up June 4 Oceans Shark in the Dark Smiley Shark Paper plate shark teeth June 11 Pirates Papa is a Pirate: the Biggest, the Strongest, and the Bravest How I Became a Pirate Feel free to come dressed as buccaneers! Get your face painted like pirate! June 18 Construction Good Night, Good Night Construction Site Under Construction Building with Mega Blocks (bring your own if you like) June 25 Reptiles Giant Tortoise Adventure Can I Play Too Craft Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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K-4th Grade Summer Reading Program Thursdays 1 p.m. (Note exception for zoo program)!

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June 13 Pirates with special guest, Cap’n Matt o’ the Pike Road. Come dressed in your best buccaneer costume for some fun on the High Seas!

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June 20 Construction June 27 Reptiles Alive **Special Time** 1:30 p.m. Brought to you by our very own Montgomery Zoo Rufus A. Lewis Branch 3095 Mobile Hwy. 240-4848 Summer Reading Program Tuesdays & Wednesdays June 4 Meet Toby Expect a Treat! June 5 Let’s Create a Healthy Snack with Earth Fare, the Healthy Supermarket, presented by Ms. Tish MacInnis, Community Relations Manager June 11 Special Guest Allen Bowen, reader, youth pastor, entrepreneur (Space Walker Inc.), coach and inspirational speaker June 12 Special Guest Ron Mays, corporate pilot, inspirational speaker, reader and devoted library patron & Special Guest Henri Cheramie, storyteller, entertainer, reader and devoted library patron

June 26 A Giraffe and a Half One Two Three Me Giraffes Can’t Dance Color a Lovely Giraffe Picture

June 3 Lil Lady Fancy Face Yoshiko Megg, Atlanta, will demonstrate the art of face painting June 10 Teen Safety Corporal Watt of the Montgomery Police Department will speak on teen safety and bullying

June 25 @ 10:30 a.m. Safe-T-Opolis Safety Program Come and get the information you need to safely live and work where electricity is present. There will be a display! Bertha Pleasant Williams Library (formerly Rosa L. Parks Branch) 1276 Rosa L. Parks Ave./240-4979 Pre-School Story Time Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

June 17 TASTE-N-SEE-IF-YOU-LIKE-IT Lisa Pitchford will show different types of pizzas. Each child will sample the many types.

June 4 Hug Your Cat Day! Join us as we read several Pete the Cat books and sing his songs! We’ll do an activity sheet where we color his shoes!

June 24 Jerry Morris, Job Corp’s Business Community Manager. E.L. Lowder Branch 2590 Bell Road 244-5717 Preschool Storytime Fridays, 10:15 a.m.

June 11 Celebrating Flag Day We’ll learn all about the American flag and why we celebrate it!

June 7 Maxine in the Middle Craft: Coloring Activities

June 18 Go Fishing Day Come and hear some fishy tales and sing along to some fishy songs!

June 14 Father’s Day Celebration Oh, Daddy! Craft: Coloring Activities

June 25 A Pirate’s Life for Me! Arrrrrgh Matey! Join us as we read about pirates and what they like!

June 21 ***Summer Begins*** Great Aunt Martha Craft: Coloring Activities June 28 Piglet and Papa Craft: Coloring Activities

June 19 Special Guest Tunisia Thomas, membership director, Old Alabama Town, reader and devoted library patron & Special Guest Henri Cheramie, storyteller, entertainer, reader and devoted library patron.

Summer Reading Program Tuesdays

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

June 18 @ 2:30 p.m. For Teens Only (Ages 12-up) Dress up in your favorite Harry Potter outfit and watch Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone. We will provide the refreshments.

Teen Reading Program Mondays @ 2 p.m.

June 18 Footprints of the Past (Indians) presented by Dr. John VanValkenburg

June 25 Come visit the Talking Tree featuring Cynthia Jancaterino, educa-

June 11 @ 11 a.m. Montgomery Humane Society Learn to be your pet’s best friend…. Presented by: Mary Hughes

tion coordinator, Montgomery Clean City Commission (MCCC)

Summer Reading Program Wednesdays @10 a.m. June 5 African Drumming Workshop, Al Lewis, Percussionist June 12 The Talking Tree, Cynthia Jancaterino

June 4 @ 11 a.m. Yello Dyno Safety Party Builds self-esteem, reawakens instincts, educates without fear, identifies dangerous behavior, corrects stranger danger education and ensures memory retention, especially in a crisis. Presented by: Jennifer Hartley, Family Sunshine Center

June 19 Native American Artifacts, Dr. John VanValkenburg, Historian and Archaeologist June 26 Martial Arts, 89

Michael Jackson, Martial Arts Instructor Pike Road Branch 9585 Pike Rd. / 244-8679 Story Time for ages 3-7 Mondays at 4 p.m. June 3 Dig into Reading, Part 1: Special guest reader Ms. JaNet will lead us in music, stories and activities based on our summer theme of “Dig into Reading.” June 10 Dig into Reading, Part 2 June 17 Dig into Reading, Part 3 June 24 Dig into Reading, Part 4 Summer Events for First through Fourth-Graders Tuesdays June 4 at 10 a.m. Big Mo and the Montgomery Biscuits will read some books and sign autographs. June 11 at 4 p.m. A historian from the Alabama Historical Commission will show us some artifacts and tell us what life was like for American Indian tribes here in Alabama. June 18 at 4 p.m. Magician Russell Davis brings the magic of reading to our library. June 25 at 4 p.m. Al Medina will tell us about his collection of gems, geodes and rocks. Choose Your Own Apocalypse – A Summer Program for Teens Wednesdays Teens love post-apocalyptic fiction and, this summer, they will imagine what life would be like for them in the apocalypse of their choice. Teens will share their apocalyptic lives through journal entries, art, video or any other form of creative expression. Teens will meet on the following dates and times: June 5 at 4 p.m. June 19 at 4 p.m. Video Game Days for Fifth through Eighth-Graders Thursdays www.montgomeryparents.com

Are you a Mario Kart champion? Do you have the best moves in Just Dance? Come test your skills against other gamers at the library!

Hidden Picture Puzzles Craft: Make and decorate sun visors Game: Dress Up Race Snack

Video Game Days will take place on the following dates and times: June 20 at 3 p.m. June 27 at 3 p.m.

June 20 MOVIE: Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Bring our pillows and blankets

Pine Level Branch 20 Kohn Dr., Pine Level 584-7144 Pintlala Branch 255 Federal Rd., Hope Hull 281-8069 “Dig Into Reading” Ages 1 – 14 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. June 4: KICK OFF “Dig Into Reading” Meet and Greet. Fill out ALL paper work. Make name tags and MORE. Walk Away the Pounds. Snack June 5 A Green, Green Garden Activity: Make and play Bingo Craft: Children will plant greenery and watch it grow over the course of the Summer Reading Program. Snack June 6 Usborne Discovery Bugs Activity: Go outside and dig for bugs Game: Worm Race Snack June 11 The Runaway Mummy Activity: Fill in the Blank Adjective Mummy Sheet Game: Mummy Wrap Craft: Make stick mummies Snack June 12 Surprise, Surprise, Surprise, June 13 EVERYTHING FATHER’S DAY Activity, Book, Craft and Snack Snack June 18 Rocks and Minerals Activity: Go outside and look for rocks Do an experiment with rocks Game: Where is the rock? Snack June 19 Tractors Activity: Scavenger Hunt Cards, www.montgomeryparents.com

Autauga-Prattville Library

254 Doster Street, Prattville Call 365-3396 or visit http://www.appl.info Preschool Storytime, Tuesdays at 10 a.m. P.A.W.S. dogs, Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Book clubs for different reading levels: Spiderwick (levels 3.9-4.4); Tuesdays @ 1:30-3 p.m. Young Cam Jansen (levels 2.4-2.9); Wednesdays @ 1:30-3 p.m. Bunnicula (levels 4.5-4.8); Fridays @ 10-11:30 a.m. Heroes of Olympus (for teens and tweens); Mondays @ 1:30-3:30 p.m. Programs on Tuesdays @ 4:30-5:30 p.m.

June 25 Nature’s Children: Monarch Butterfly Activity: Life Cycle of a Butterfly Craft: Make butterfly crowns Snack

Millbrook

3650 Grandview Road Call 285-6688 or visit http://library.cityofmillbrook.org/ Come join the fun at the Library this summer! Three days a week we will have activities for the children! Tuesday is Movie Day, Wednesday is Family Day and Thursday is Pre-School Story Hour. All programs begin at 10 a.m.

June 26 Dinosaurs Activity: Dinosaurs bones Baby Dinosaurs Look? Game: Dinosaurs in basket Snack

Wetumpka

June 27 OPEN DAY Snack

212 S. Main St. (next to Wetumpka Depot) Call 567-1308 or visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com Preschool storytimes; Tuesdays & Fridays at 10 a.m. “Dig Into Reading!” Program for 1st-6th graders Tuesdays @ 2 p.m.; Wetumpka Civic Center, June 11-July 23 June 11: In the Garden with the Central Alabama Master Gardeners June 18: Magician Russell Davis June 25: Art with Carol Barksdale “Beneath the Surface” Program for 7th-12th graders Thursdays @ 1 p.m. Jeanette Barrett Civic Room; June 13-July 25 June 13: Movie in Library: Part I June 20: Movie in Library: Part II June 27: Art... Underground City

Ramer Branch Library 5444 State Highway 94 (334) 562-3364 Summer Schedule Story Times Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.

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June 4 “Digging Books” with Barbara Strickland, retired Montgomery City-County Public Librarian. June 11 “Summer Fun” with Brenda Hinson, Montgomery County Cooperative Extension. June 18 “Finding Out About Earth” with Tish MacInnis, Earth Fair. June 25 “Summer Stories” with Kalia Brooks, teacher, E. D. Nixon Elementary. Movie Matinee Wednesdays @ 3 p.m. June 5 Movie - Funky Monkey June 12 Movie - The Nutty Professor June 19 Movie - Diary of a Wimpy Kid June 26 Diary of Wimpy Kid II 90

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

FC Torjager Soccer Club Wins State Cup

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Family Karate Center News

Montgomery Soccer Club FC Torjager was honored with the State Cup Championship at the 2012-2013 Division I Powerade State Cup Tournament in Decatur, Ala. The tournament included teams from Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Hoover and more. FC Torjager secured the State Cup after a very successful season. From left are Coach Elvar Gudjonsson, Noah Godfrey, Hayes Colvin, Hunter Atkins, Bradley Westhauser, Dustin Housman, Gabriel Stevens, Sam Castleberry, Douglas Macon, Kobe Stoup, Michael Ganini and Luke Adams.

The hard work of four students at the Family Karate Center paid off as they tested to their Black Belt and an advanced Black Belt May 3 in Helen, Ga. Megan Dodd, Aliia Woodworth and Jennifer Walston tested for their first degree Black Belt, and Matthew Chandler tested for his third degree Black Belt after ten years of training. Master Carole Smith’s students joined 70 other Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do students from many states. After performing for more than four hours Friday night, the students participated in a tournament with all family members watching. As Master Smith watched each student receive his or her medals, she was very proud of their hard work and practice in class each night. The next Black Belt test will be in the fall at Camp ASCCA, and the Black Belt candidates that are testing then are already excited! Come join our new Black Belts in an action-packed SUMMER CAMP here at the Family Karate Center. There are many spots left for kids age two and up. Call 220-9319 or 277-4911 today. The Family Karate Center is convenient to Deer Creek and all who live near Vaughn Road. Introductory classes are always FREE.

Join us for a celebration of God’s goodness through praise and worship, followed by a life-applicable Biblebased teaching by senior pastor John Schmidt via video. Come casual and enjoy our service that starts at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Jim Wilson YMCA at New Park. Nursery and children’s program provided.

For more information contact our office at (334) 356-3076 or visit our website at centeringlives.com

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Family Calendar Ongoing Ala. Dept. of Archives & History

Exhibit galleries include a children’s gallery and a reference room for genealogical and historical research. Hands-On Gallery includes Grandma’s Attic where you can try on clothes, uniforms, shoes, try an old typewriter, sit at an old school desk or experience making a quilt square. However, the Hands-On Gallery and Grandma’s Attic will temporarily close for 2nd floor hallway renovations this summer. The Museum will remain closed until Monday, August 19. You can visit our History at Home web page to print off fun activities you can do at home. Stay tuned in for upcoming events from the Archives, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook. Call 242-4435 or visit www.archives.alabama.gov. Alabama River Region Arts Center in Wetumpka has weekly after-school Arts Clubs which meet on Thursdays from 4-5 & 5-6 p.m. There are three clubs: Guitar (acoustic), Clay (polymer, ie “sculpy”) and Painting/Drawing. Each Club is $20 a month. Students for Guitar Club must be 10 years old, but 7-year-olds are welcome for the other two. Clubs are limited to the first 10 students, for one month. While children are in Arts Clubs, parents are welcome to stay and browse our Gallery or Resource Library, or just wait in the kitchen with a soda! Studio space is also available on a lease basis. The Pottery Studio is available to ARRAC members trained on the wheel. First Saturday of every month is a free Sit & Sew, from 9 a.m.-noon. Bring your hand-sewing project or sewing machine for a morning of sewing with the ladies. (Bluegrass Jam is going on at the same time in another room.) 300 W. Tallassee St. (former Wetumpka Jr. High building), Wetumpka, AL 36092. Visit www.arrac.org or see us on Facebook: Alabama River Region Arts Center, or call 578-9485 for more information. Artists In Action: 1st Wednesday and 3rd Saturday of EVERY month at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts from noon-2 p.m.. Local and regional artists at work. For more info, call 240-4333. “Artworks,” a hands-on children’s exhibit. FREE. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Blount Cultural Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Open until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Closed Mondays. For more info, call 240-4333. Bama Brushstrokes Art Club Meets 9 a.m., 2nd Saturdays of each month, Messiah Lutheran Church, 6670 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. Club members include beginners, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Activities include seminars with well-known artists. Classes are taught by our members or guest artists. We share our talents with our community in various programs, such as the Memory Box Project for hospice patients through sponsorship by the Society of Decorative Painters. Our chapter creates finished paint projects and murals for various hospitals, libraries, and community-based organizations. For more info, contact Diana French, president, at garnet2@bellsouth.net. Celtic Dance Classes Fridays at Montgomery Ballet from 4-5 p.m. We welcome boys and girls ages 6 to adult. Call Amanda at (706) 457-9254 or e-mail Celtic.traditions@gmail. com for more info. The Central Alabama Tennis Association (CATA) is a volunteer-based tennis organization formed to provide programs which promote and develop the growth of tennis throughout central Alabama. The CATA has four essential charitable and educational purposes: (1) to promote and develop the growth of tennis in central Alabama area by providing a variety of educational and charitable tennis programs and services; (2) to educate the community concerning

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June 2013

the importance or tennis and the benefits that can be derived from tennis; (3) to expand the opportunities in the community for learning tennis and to offer opportunities for learning tennis to individuals who do not have access to tennis; and (4) to provide programs and services in the community that teach participants scholarship and fair play and that permit access to volunteers and instructors who can serve as positive role models and mentors. For event info, call Ernie Rains, CATA Community Coordinator, at 3241406 or e-mail www.centralalabama.usta.com. The Children’s Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa A private, non-profit, community-based organization located at 2213 University Blvd. in downtown Tuscaloosa, next to City Hall. Current hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed most holidays. Special programs are held for preschoolers weekly. Admission is $5 per person, with no charge for museum members or children under the age of 1 year. Special discounts are available to schools. For info, call (205) 3494235 or visit www.chomonline.org. Civil Rights Memorial A monument to those who died and/or risked death in the struggle for civil rights. 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery. For information, call 264-0286. Cloverdale Playhouse “Third Tuesdays” Montgomery’s singers and songwriters perform in our intimate theater space each month on the third Tuesday. Join us for a musical evening in Old Cloverdale. For details, call 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse. org. Also contact us about volunteer opportunities, auditions, and the Playhouse School! Cool Kids Cook is a faith-based ministry with classes offered at different locations. Please call 220-3651 if you’d like to attend or volunteer with this ministry. First White House of the Confederacy Open on Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This year begins the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. The First White House of the Confederacy played a significant role during the war and served as Jefferson Davis’ family residence from FebruaryMay 1861. Located at 644 Washington Avenue in downtown Montgomery, neighboring the Alabama Department of Archives and History. For more info or to tour the museum, call 242-1861 or visit www. firstwhitehouse.org. Garden Tours Local gardens include Southern Homes and Gardens, Blount Cultural Park’s Shakespearean Garden at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Grace Episcopal Church, Prattville’s historic gardens in Old Pratt Village and the Wilderness Park, and Wetumpka’s arboretum at Ft. Toulouse. For more info in Montgomery, call 1-800-240-9452 or visit www.VisitingMontgomery.com. In Prattville, call 361-0961 or visit www.prattville.com/visitor/history. In Wetumpka, call 567-3002 or visit www.wetumpka.al.us/features. Other numbers are: Blount Cultural Park (274-0062 or www.blountculturalpark.org); Grace Episcopal Church (215-1422); Old Alabama Town (240-4005 or www.oldalabamatown.com); and Alabama Garden Trail (1-800-ALABAMA or www.touralabama.org). W. A. Gayle Planetarium Public Shows offered Mon.-Thurs. and Sun. Admission $3.50/person, children under 5 free, seniors $2.50/person. Mon-Thurs. at 3 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m. 1010 Forest Ave. in Oak Park. Call 241-4799. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is a family-friendly space filled with interactive and educational hands-on exhibits for children age eight and under. Imagine It! also offers birthday parties, memberships and field trip tours. Museum hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $11 plus tax for adults and children ages 2 and above. Imagine It! is

located at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For more info, visit www.imagineit-cma.org or call (404) 659-KIDS [5437]. Montgomery’s Freedom Rides Museum Road to Equality: The 1961 Freedom Rides yearlong exhibit features works of art from top Alabama artists and offers unique interpretations of one of the most pivotal desegregation events in the nation’s history. Located in the capital city’s recently restored 1951 Greyhound Bus Station, the exhibit will remain open every Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment throughout the year. For more info, visit www.freedomridesmuseum.org or www.montgomerybusstation.org MOOseum, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Children’s educational center featuring past, present and future in agriculture and the cattle industry. Free. Group tours should be pre-scheduled. Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. -noon and 1-4 p.m. Last scheduled tour of the day starts at 3:30 p.m. 201 Bainbridge St., Montgomery. For info, call 265-1867 or visit www.bamabeef.org. Old Alabama Town 19th and early 20th century outdoor history museum. Tours Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults, $4 for students ages 6-18. Under 6 free. 301 Columbus St., Montgomery. For information, call 240-4500. Prattville-Millbrook Newcomers Club A non-affiliated social club geared to new people moving into the area AND to those looking to form new friendships or just learn more about the area. We will also have interest groups that meet during the month at various times and locations. They could be groups such as canasta, bridge, lunches, movies, etc. General meetings are second Tuesdays SeptemberMay at 10 a.m. at the YMCA on McQueen Smith Road. For more information, contact Nancy Schrull at (334) 356-5026 or nschrull@theschrullgroup.com River Region Contra Dancing Everyone, school-age through adult, is invited for a little exercise and a lot of fun. Singles, couples and families are welcome. All levels of experience – including no experience. Dancing is on 1st & 3rd Fridays at 7 p.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 5260 Vaughn Road. For more info, visit www.riverregioncontradance.com or call Katherine Thomas at 334-361-6572. Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1973 is planning its 40th class reunion to be held in July. If you are interested in helping, please call (334) 269-0959. Rosa Parks Museum 252 Montgomery Street, 241-8615. Hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Sundays and holidays, closed. Admission 12 years and under-$5.50/Over 12-$7.50. Alabama college students with a valid student ID: $6.50; discount price for both Museum & Children’s Wing: adults: $14, children $10 Stone Mountain Park, Georgia Enjoy the outdoors together, while experiencing a variety of attractions, entertainment and recreation. Visit the 1870s town of Crossroads and enjoy live entertainment, skilled craft demonstrations, shopping, dining and more. Additional attractions include: the 4-D Theater, The Great Barn, Paddlewheel Riverboat, Summit Skyride, Scenic Railroad, Antebellum Plantation and Farmyard, Pedal Boats, Mini-Golf, New Camp Highland Outpost and Treehouse Challenge, Discovering Stone Mountain Museum and the Antique Car & Treasure Museum. The Regular OneDay All Attractions Pass is $24 (plus tax) for ages 12 and up, and $19 (plus tax) children ages 3-11. For an additional fee, guests can also “Ride the Ducks” sightseeing tour. Required parking permit is $8 for one day or $35 for an annual permit. Call (770) 4985690 or visit www.stonemountainpark.com.

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Toastmasters International is an organization that was founded in 1924. Its mission is to help individuals with their communication and leadership skills. Each club provides an atmosphere where individuals can speak without being criticized or judged, yet provide effective evaluations. We also offer the opportunity to take on leadership roles as club president, vice president, and other officer positions that teach planning, time management, organizing and parliamentary procedures. Anyone 18 years or older can join Toastmasters. We currently have six clubs in the River Region. Toastmasters is now starting a club named The River Region Toastmasters in the Prattville/Millbrook area. Meet every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Journey Church located at 2050 Commerce Street, just off I-65, exit 179. For more info, contact the interim president, Gene Ann Hildreth, at 361-6333 or alabamasoupgirl@aol.com. Tales for Tots Join us for this FREE introduction to art in storybooks and in the Museum galleries for young children and their families. Each time a different work of art and special story will be presented. Call 240-4365 or visit www.mmfa.org for more info.

Classes Bradley Method Natural Childbirth Classes

Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Zink Chiropractic Clinic, Course includes pregnancy exercise and nutrition, body changes during pregnancy, the coach’s role in pregnancy and natural birth, the stages of labor, breathing and relaxation for labor, common interventions and how to avoid them, breastfeeding, basic newborn care, and more. Contact Lanette Tyler, 450-4605 or lanette.tyler@ gmail.com; or visit www.bradleybirth.com Breastfeeding Class Designed to prepare the expectant mother for

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

free-of-charge as a service to the community. For more information or to register, contact April Ma at 244-3018 or ama@aum.edu CPR & First Aid The American Red Cross offers classes in adult and infant/child CPR as well as first aid and babysitting classes monthly. Call 260-3980. Diabetes Education --Prattville Baptist Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education services available Wednesdays by appointment at Prattville Medical Park. Call 213-6360 for more information. Diabetes Education --Baptist Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education services available weekdays by appointment. Call 213-6360 for more info. Grandparent Class This program presents new concepts in newborn care to grandparents who need a refresher course. Usually one Tuesday per month. FREE. Call for schedule. Jackson Hospital. Call 293-8497. Infant Safety/CPR Class Teaches parents and grandparents American Heart Association’s Family and Friends CPR for infants and children, including care of the choking infant, infant rescue and breathing with hands-on practice using ACTAR CPR dolls for class participants. Class will also help parents with creating a safe environment for their child. Classes are taught by certified CPR instructors. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Maternity Area Tour Maternity area tour for expectant mothers and families not attending Childbirth Preparation Class/Boot Camp. Baptist Medical Center East. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Pre- and Post-natal Fitness Classes Includes water aerobics, step-floor aerobics and strength training. SportsFirst. Call 277-7130.

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Family Calendar Prenatal Breastfeeding Class Provides expectant mothers information about breastfeeding including various factors influencing lactation, advantages of breastfeeding, basic anatomy and physiology of milk production, specific techniques to promote a successful breastfeeding experience and breastfeeding equipment and supplies. Classes are taught by IBCLC instructors. Partners are encouraged to participate in this class. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst. org to schedule your class. Sibling Preparation Class Fun one-hour class is designed for expectant “big brothers and sisters” ages 3 to 8. They will learn about the arrival of their new baby through an introduction to the hospital experience and the early days at home. Parents should plan to attend with their child. Baptist Medical Center East. Registration is required. Call 273-4445 or e-mail smallwonders@baptistfirst.org to schedule. Your Amazing Newborn One-night class taught by a pediatrician and nursing staff usually one Tuesday a month. This class presents new concepts in newborn care and helps alleviate parenting jitters often experienced by soonto-be parents. Grandparents also welcome. Jackson Hospital. FREE. For more info, call 293-8497.

Services American Cancer Society seeks Volunteers for

Road to Recovery This program is designed to ensure that cancer patients have transportation to and from medical facilities for treatment. Road to Recovery volunteers can be individual drivers with time to help others or even local companies who allow employees to provide transportation on company time in company cars. Anyone who has a driver’s license, a safe driving record, personal automobile insurance, owns a car or has access to one, and can spare as little as one morning or afternoon a month is encouraged to volunteer. For more information, or to volunteer, please call Luella Giles at 612-8162 or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. Hospital Volunteers Volunteers are needed at Baptist Medical Center East, Baptist Medical Center South and Prattville Baptist Hospital. Duties vary by facility but include delivering mail and flowers, transporting patients, staffing waiting rooms and information desks, and furnishing coffee for visitors. Volunteers work one four-hour shift per week. For more info, call 286-2977. Hospice Volunteers Through volunteering at Baptist Hospice, the opportunities to help are endless. Our volunteers are an important part of the patient’s care and are the heart of the hospice family. There are many other ways to help, such as special projects and events or providing administrative support for the staff, that are essential. Volunteers often have special talents and innovative ideas that add so much to our program. Please call Gloria @395-5018 to join our dynamic team. Volunteer Services Jackson Hospital is looking for volunteers for the information desk. These volunteers are needed for the evening shift, 5-8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Volunteers must be friendly and eager to offer information to those visiting the hospital. With this position, a free meal will be given as well as a parking spot next to the lobby. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are asked to work 4 hours a week. They must complete an application and pass a background check and health screening. If you are interested in volunteering, call 293-8967 or visit www.

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jackson.org/patients_volunteers.html and fill out the application. Baptist Sleep Disorders Centers Baptist Medical Center South and Prattville. Both centers have the ability to diagnose up to 84 different sleep disorders. There are four board-certified physicians and a clinical psychologist on staff between the two centers. For more information, call 286-3252 for Baptist Medical Center South and 3614335 for Prattville Baptist Hospital. Jackson Sleep Disorders Center Jackson Hospital houses a sleep disorders center on the third floor of the Goode Medical Building to monitor those who are suffering from sleep disorders. For more information, contact your physician or the Sleep Center at 293-8168. Jackson Hospital Offers Animal Therapy Program to Pediatric Unit Jackson Hospital’s Animal Therapy Program is a vital part of its patient care. Animals in the program are limited to dogs, and no other animals are allowed to participate. Currently, there are 10 dogs in the program. Their handlers have undergone extensive training and orientation, and visit the hospital weekly. For more information, please call 293-8894. Nolan Research Pays Kids for Toy Testing Nolan Research, 2569 Bell Road in Montgomery, conducts toy tests that pay $20 in cash to each child ages 4-12 that participates. Testing takes place usually between 5 and 7 p.m. and only takes about 30-45 minutes. Results are used to help toy manufacturers decide whether or not to bring new toys out on the market. Please call 284-4164 to sign your child up and spread the word to any other families who may be interested in allowing their children to participate.

Support Groups Adoption Support

Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC), This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer Memorial UMC. For more information, call Kai Mumpfield at 409-9477 or the church office at 272-8622. Autauga/Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For more info, call 409-9477 or e-mail apac2@childrensaid.org. Panda Pals is a support group for families who have adopted or in the process of adopting children from China. We have playdates, family nights and get-togethers to talk about raising our children from China. If you would like to join our group, just e-mail PandaPals2005@yahoogroups.com or call Tracie Singleton at 395-8215.

Cancer Support

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

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

Divorce Support

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

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Gambling Support

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

Grief Support

Bereaved Spouses Support Group A new ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church, USA (Unavoidably Single Again) Ministries is designed to offer ongoing support, social events and fellowship to those who have lost their spouses to death. The group is open to ALL widowed individuals, regardless of age, religious beliefs, or length of marriage or widowhood. Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the church’s building, 301 Dalraida Road. Please e-mail Lynda Coats at farauthor@aol.com for more information. “Big Leap!” Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This group is designed to meet the needs of children who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. This group provides a hands-on, safe space for age-appropriate expression of grief. These sessions aim to increase feeling identification, decrease self-blame or guilt, and build coping skills. Through music, art, and play we meet your

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Alzheimer’s and Dementia Day Care, Frazer Memorial UMC, Thursdays, in Room 3101, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. There is no charge, but registration is required. For more information, call the Congregational Care office at 272-8622. On the first Thursday of each month, the hours are extended to 12:30 p.m. while the Caregivers’ Support Group meets in Room 3103 beginning at 11 a.m. Only during this time will each participant need to bring a sack lunch. For the support group, call the church at 272-8622. This new series is for all patients with congestive heart failure and their caregivers. This series is FREE for all participants. Below is the information: Cardiolife, a new educational series for congestive heart failure patients and their caregivers, meets 4th Thursdays of each month, 10-11 a.m. Diabetes Center classroom, Jackson Hospital. For more info, call 279-6677. Topics include: Lifestyle Changes, A Heart Healthy Diet, Proper Fluid Intake, Importance of Daily Weights and Exercise Tolerance. Support for this program provided by River Region Supportive Care – a Division of Hospice of Montgomery. Facilitated by Arla Chandler, RN, BSN, MBA. Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance, Room 3101 at Frazer UMC, 1st Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m.

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ECHO (Elmore County Homeschool Organization), Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. 2nd and 4th Fridays yearround from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a support group

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for homeschooling families in the tri-county area. Membership is free. For more info, please visit http:// www.onlineecho.com PEAK of Montgomery Homeschool Group Parent Educators and Kids (PEAK) of Montgomery is an inclusive, member-led group of homeschooling families who meet regularly for field trips, park days and other social and educational activities. We welcome all local home educators who enjoy sharing and learning within a diverse community. To join us, visit us at www.peaknetwork.org/montgomery

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Grief Recovery Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622 for more info. Grief Recovery After Suicide, Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy., first Tuesdays from 5:306:30 p.m. in Room 3102. This group is open to family members and friends who have lost a loved one as the result of suicide. Group offers a confidential environment in which to receive support, hope and information. Contact Rev. Susan Beeson, 272-8622. Grieving With Hope, St. Mark UMC, meeting weekly on Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. The group offers a place to share, care and heal from the losses of life. Facilitated by Dr. Lennie Howard and Marie Parma. Contact the church at 272-0009. Honoring Angels Like Owen, Inc. (HALO) offers family-oriented, Christian-based grief support groups that meet monthly. These groups are for families who have lost a child from 20 weeks gestation up to the age of 2 years old. Our parents’ group is for mothers and fathers. Our siblings’ group is for children ages 6-15. Both groups meet at the same time and place. These groups offer faith-based healing through sharing and emotional support. Meetings offer an outlet for sharing your child’s memory and your day to day struggles, while receiving support of others who have been in similar situations. Please feel free to bring photos of your child to share. HALO also offers free professional photography for families facing the loss of a child up to the age of 2 years old and needsbased financial assistance for burial. Visit www. honoringangelslikeowen.org or call (334) 328-1202.

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child or grandchild on their level. We encourage your children to hold tight to their memories as they make a “big leap” into their new future. This group is open to children ages 7-11. Space is limited to 6 participants so call 279-6677. Start date will be determined once reservations are confirmed. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW “Comfort and Conversation,” Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This group is intended to address those affected by a recent loss (0-12 months after death). Through meeting with others who are walking a similar journey, you will be encouraged to work through the complications of your loss, understand your pain, and adjust to your new reality. Space is limited, so please call 279-6677. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW Compassionate Friends, Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Hwy, first Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child. We have an annual special event on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We will hold a Candlelight Ceremony in memory of our children at 7 p.m. at Eastmont Baptist Church. Registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (334) 284-2721. We will also collect Toys for Tots for anyone interested in participating. “Connect,” Fridays at 11 a.m., biweekly, Hospice of Montgomery office, 1111 Holloway Park. This group is for those who have already walked through the initial grieving process but still desire to connect with others who share similar experiences. This group will allow you to meet new people, stay active in the community, and look ahead to a bright future. We will share lunch, visit museums, volunteer, attend movies, and participate in area events. We even have a fishing trip on the agenda! This group is ongoing and does not have a participation limit. It’s time to have fun again, come join us! For more info, call 279-6677. Facilitator: Lee Lowry, MSW

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Family Calendar This group is for those with depression and bipolar illness and their families. For more info, call 2728622 or visit dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com Meetings also available 3rd Saturday afternoons from noon-2 p.m. at Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway. For more info, call 652-1431. Depression & Bipolar Support, Montgomery Public Library Main Branch, 245 High Street downtown, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 3rd Saturdays, Noon-2 p.m.; OR 1609 West Street, north off Carter Hill and Narrow Lane, 2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call 201-9638 or 652-1431 for more info. Fibromyalgia Support, Room 8114 at Frazer UMC, 3rd Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. This group is for those that have fibromyalgia and for their family members and friends. For more info, please call 272-8622. Gluten Intolerance Group (www.gluten.net) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide support to those with any form of gluten intolerance. GIG-Montgomery assists with awareness of diverse potential symptoms, which can range from fatigue and headaches to nausea and intestinal problems. Guidelines are provided on how to eat safely both at home and eating out. Another objective is to facilitate more effective communication between the local gluten-free community and stores, restaurants and the medical community. Meets 2nd Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., at Taylor Road Baptist Church, Fellowship Suite (faces entrance of EastChase-NE. Turn on Berryhill Rd. by EastChase). Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings (www.glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot. com) For more info, you may also e-mail dr.hetrick@ charter.net or visit the group’s Facebook page. Montgomery Area Mended Hearts, First floor of Montgomery Cardiovascular Institute on the campus of Baptist Medical Center South. For anyone who has experienced cardiac illness. Third Mondays, alternates between 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Call 286-3410 for more info. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Montgomery offers General Membership meetings on 4th Mondays (beginning January 28, 2013) at the Dalraida UMC annex building at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are open to anyone who is interested in issues concerning mental health. The NAMI Montgomery Family Member Support Group continues to meet on 2nd Mondays, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Call Mary Jo Logan (2712280) for directions/details. Beginning in February, NAMI Montgomery will offer the 12-week “Family To Family” education program (free) on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Bell Road Lowder Regional Library. Call 271-2280 to register. Overeaters Anonymous, Unity of Montgomery, 1922 Walnut St., Saturdays from 3-4 p.m. Contact Misty at 324-9568 or Carol at 467-5742. Parkinson’s Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, meets 4th Thursdays at 6 p.m. in Room 8114. Group is for Parkinson’s patients and their family members. For more info, call 272-8622. Sjogren’s Support, Frazer Memorial UMC, WILL NOT MEET in FEBRUARY. Monthly meetings will resume 3rd Tuesdays in March from 6:30-8 p.m. in room 3104. This group is for those with Sjogren’s disease and the family members of those affected by this disease. For more info, call 272-8622. Traumatic Brain Injury Support, cafeteria at HealthSouth on Narrow Lane in Montgomery. 2nd Thursdays at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Alabama Head Injury Foundation for anyone with a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or related disability. For more information, contact Holli at (334) 290-0646 or e-mail: ahif_montgomery_auburn@yahoo.com. Visit www.ahif.org Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets 3rd Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room

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June 2013

3108 at Frazer Memorial UMC. This group provides support and understanding to those caring for OEF/ OIF Veterans. For more information, contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS, (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.

Parent Support

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

Pregnancy Loss/Infertility

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

Single Parents Support

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

Special Needs Support

Central Alabama Autism Support Team (C.A.A.S.T.), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Hwy. 31 in Prattville from 6-8 p.m. 3rd Thursdays quarterly (Feb., May, Aug., Nov.). Visit www.easysite.com/ caast or e-mail casst50@yahoo.com for more info. Down Syndrome Support, Vaughn Park Church of Christ, 1st Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Childcare provided. Call 356-9048 or visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com for information. Montgomery Area Hearing Loss Support Group meets monthly at the Wesley Building of the First Methodist Church in Montgomery on 2nd Thursdays at 4 p.m. It is affiliated with the nationally recognized non-profit advocacy group, Hearing Loss Association of America. The purpose is to bring together all adults and parents of children who would like to know more about hearing losses, its causes and its possible corrections. Licensed audiologists make brief presentations explaining their local programs, their offices and the availability of hearing tests, of possible medical corrections, and/of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Refreshments at each meeting. For more info, contact HearingInfo@earthlink.net Parents of Special Needs Children, Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, 1st Sundays, 5-6:30 p.m. Please notify Chris Henderson if you plan to come. (Home: 215-0427; e-mail: chenderson41@yahoo.com River Region Autism Support Group, Cafe Louisa (in Old Cloverdale), 1036 E. Fairview Ave. We meet on 1st Saturdays from 4-6 p.m. This group is comprised of parents whose children are on the autism spectrum. We also welcome others involved with autistic children, such as grandparents, friends, teachers, therapists, etc. For more info about how to join the group, or if you plan to attend a meeting, e-mail Lyra Stephens at LyraStephens@yahoo.com

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Teens/Families Support

Life is Fun Together (LIFT): A FREE Relationship and Marriage Enrichment Program providing different educational and fun-filled seminars to individuals and families. The LIFT Program is provided through Family Guidance Center of Alabama in partnership with the Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative. Call Tonya Rogers at 270-4100 for class start dates or more info! “Relationship Smarts Plus” teaches teens in grades 7-12 about healthy relationships in a fun, interactive way. Six-week sessions are available throughout the year on Mondays from 4–6 p.m. “Smart Steps for Stepfamilies” is a six-week session that helps stepfamilies learn strategies to strengthen and stabilize their families. Parents and children ages

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8 and up meet in their own groups, then meet up at the end of each session for a fun family activity! “Together We Can” gives non-married parents the skills they need to maintain healthy relationships between themselves and their children. “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette)” teaches single adults how to get the most out of dating. “Mastering the Magic of Love” is a communication class for all couples. Bring your spouse, fiancé, or that special someone in your life with you to learn new communication techniques and enhance your skills as a team of two. All adults are welcome, including graduates looking for a refresher! Also…. LIFT has a brand-new program just for parents of teens!!! “Bridging the Great Divide: Parents and Teens Communicating About Healthy Relationships” is perfect for parents or guardians who want open lines of communication with their teen. Topics include “Principles of Dating & Healthy Relationships,” “Sensitive Topics,” “Rules & Boundaries,” and more!!! Building D of Family Guidance Center, 2358 Fairlane Drive. This workshop lasts only three weeks, so call TODAY to reserve your spot! You can look at a calendar of LIFT classes & events online by visiting our LIFT web page: http://www. familyguidancecenter.org/ Remember, LIFT has FREE programs for singles, couples, stepfamilies, parents, teens, and now parents of teens! Call 2704100 or e-mail trogers@familyguidancecenter.org if you didn’t see your class listed so we can contact you when the next one starts. Support Group for Teens with difficulties communicating with parents and friends. This group begins March 19 using the life skills training model. Contact Felicia Pressley at Pressley Counseling by leaving a message at (334) 625-0159.

This Month Saturday, June 1

Annual Pike Road Community Yard Sale Pike Road Town Hall from 7 a.m. to noon. Deadline for reserving booth space is May 29 at 5 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Pike Road Lions Club and Lions Club charities. For more information, call 495-4109 or e-mail marycatherine@pikeroad.us. This yard sale is part of the World’s Widest Yard Sale. Visit www.widestyardsale.com for more info. Prepared Childbirth Class Provides childbirth information for those who choose to have pain relief during labor and delivery. Topics include stages of labor, breathing and relaxation techniques, the role of the coach, and proper care of mother and baby after delivery. Sessions are taught throughout the year, from 9 a.m.-noon. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. Cost is $25. Call 293-8497 or e-mail liz.owen@jackson.org. Home Depot Kids’ Workshop Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. This month’s project is build a lawnmower pencil holder perfect for Father’s Day. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin. 9 a.m.-noon. Ages 5-12. Free. AUM Offers Free Mandarin Classes Auburn Montgomery’s Confucius Institute continues to offer free Mandarin classes to the community on Saturdays this spring. To register, send the student’s name, age and contact information to ama@aum.edu. Santuck Flea Market An outdoor flea market with more than 450 booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports,

food, and more. The Santuck Flea Market is open the first Saturday of each month from daylight until 2 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE. Free admission, free parking available. Call 567-7400. Wetumpka Depot Presents The Wedding from Hell Through June 8 This Bridezilla vs. Redneck wedding returns with all the bridesmaid drama and canned spam audiences can handle. Filled with fluster, bluster, Twinkies and Cheez Wiz, The Wedding From Hell not only punctures the air of bourgeois Southern respectability, it steals the tires. The Wedding From Hell was created in 2009 as a homegrown fundraising piece to benefit The Depot Players, but it was so wildly successful that it broke all Depot box office records to date. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. June 2. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Depot at 334868-1440 or by visiting www.wetumpkadepot.com. Photographer Teenie Harris: An American Story Through June 28 Free exhibit at Rosa Parks Museum and Children’s Wing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 241-8701 or visit www. troy.edu Jasmine Hill Gardens in Wetumpka Open for the Season -- Weekends through June 30 “Alabama’s Little Corner of Greece” now features more than 20 acres of year-round floral beauty and classical sculpture, including new statuary honoring Olympic heroes. The Olympian Centre welcomes visitors with a video presentation of Jasmine Hill’s history and a display of Olympic memorabilia from the Games of past years. A tour of Jasmine Hill, now completely accessible to visitors with disabilities, offers spectacular and everchanging views, including our full-scale replica of the Temple of Hera ruins as found in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Flame. For

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Montgomery Parents I June 2013

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Family Calendar more info, visit www.jasminehill.org or call (334) 263-5713. Berry Picking at Barber Berry Farm in Millbrook Pick your own pesticide-free blackberries and blueberries now through June 30 and pesticide-free muscadine and scuppernongs from mid-August through late September. Contact Ken Barber at 334-549-4710 or e-mail kenandanida@barberberryfarm.com Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market -- Every Saturday through August 31 7 a.m.-noon. The Farmers Market producers and growers offer unique items such as organic meats and milk, goat cheese, natural bath products and handmade soaps, honey, sprout breads, plants, fruit pastries, bird houses and handmade jewelry—all made from local vendors and locally grown ingredients. For more information, call 279-6046.

Sunday, June 2

Kids’ Day at the Montgomery Biscuits -- Also June 9, 23 & 30 6:05 p.m. Kids run the bases! June 2 is also Bark in the Ballpark Day, where dogs on leashes are welcome with their owners! For more info, visit biscuitsbaseball.com or call 323-2255.

Monday, June 3

Complete ACT Review at AUM -- Through June 20; Also June 24-July 18 10 a.m.-noon Mondays-Thursdays. Learn how to approach standardized tests in terms of accuracy, timing, what to study and how to reduce test anxiety. Review covers mathematics, reading and language arts, and science reasoning. All materials are included. Fee for this course is $202. Call 244-3804 or visit www.aum.edu/coned to register.

June 2013

Tuesday, June 4

Sizzling Summer Studio Series at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (Ages 5 and older) -- Also June 6, 11 & 13 2:30-3:30 p.m. Join us in the studios to create a different art project each day. Explore a variety of art media, including painting with tempera and watercolors, tissue paper collage, printing and more! Tuesdays and Thursdays: June 4 and 6; June 11 and 13. Cost: $2 members/$5 non-members for each class. Visit www. mmfa.org or call 240-4333 for more info. “Your Amazing Newborn” Class Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. $ 15 fee covers cost of mother and support person. One-night class taught by a pediatrician and nursing staff. Presents new concepts in newborn care and helps alleviate parenting jitters by soon-to-be parents. Grandparents welcome to attend for free. Class schedule is subject to change, so please call 293-8497 or visit www.jackson.org/events. Millbrook Farmers Market -- Tuesdays Through August 27 The Village Green. 3-6 p.m. Visit www.cityofmillbrook.org or call (334) 285-0330.

Thursday, June 6

Bearden and Jazz at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 5:30-6:30 p.m. Romare Bearden’s love of jazz is reflected in his improvisational compositions, evocative of his Southern roots and Harlem life. Join Tim Brown, Curator of Education and former Romare Bearden Fellow, as he explores Bearden’s work as a visual corollary to modern jazz. Visit www.mmfa.org or call 240-4333 for more info.

The Millbrook Community Players Present Hee Haw Revisited -- Through June 9 7:30 p.m. performances except for June 9 @ 2 p.m. Take a trip back to the cornfield with some of your favorite Hee Haw characters. This show is filled with plenty of music and cornball comedy. Tickets are $22 and include dinner and the show. Call (334) 782-7317 or visit www.millbrooktheatre.com for ticket information. Faulkner Dinner Theatre Presents The Good Samaritan -- Through June 8; 13-15; and 20-22 Theatre doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner is served from 6:15 until 7. The show begins promptly at 7:30. Tickets are $25 and include dinner and the show. Members of the military can purchase tickets for just $20. Reservations must be paid in advance. Make reservations or for more information, call 386-7190 or e-mail boxoffice@faulkner.edu.

Friday, June 7

Freebie Friday at the Montgomery Biscuits 7:05 p.m. Kids under 12 receive a FREE hot dog, ice cream sandwich and soda! For more info, visit biscuitsbaseball.com or call 323-2255. Late Night with YMCA Goodtimes -- Also June 14, 21 & 28 A weekly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of five-to 12-year-olds offered at the YMCA Goodtimes Center on Bell Road. Time is 6:30-11:30 p.m. and supper is included. Cost is $15 per child and no reservations are required. Child to staff ratio is 15:1. Call 279-8878 for more info. Tallassee Now! Cook-Off and Music Fest -- Also June 8 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce hosts the fourth annual Tallassee Now! Cook-Off and Music Fest around the Tallassee City Hall green

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(located at 3 Freeman Ave.) in historic downtown. Along with live music on three stages, wine tastings and a farmer’s market, the event will include kids’ activities such as storytelling, games and crafts. In addition, attendees will be able to participate in several tours, including a tour of the 1844 mill and Confederate armory. Barbecue will be sold throughout the day from the Bar-B-Que Cook-Off. During the event, 12 competitors will compete to see who grills up the best chicken, ribs and brisket while attendees select their favorite for the People’s Choice Award. Visit www.tallasseechamber.com for details.

Saturday, June 8

Star Wars MAX Fireworks Spectacular at the Montgomery Biscuits 6:35 p.m. For more info, visit biscuitsbaseball.com or call 323-2255. Canoe Trail Fun Run Spend some time with family and friends and try out Prattville’s Autauga Creek canoe trail (at your own risk). You must provide your own equipment. (canoe, kayak, paddle board, lifejackets, sunglasses, drinking water, sunblock, etc.) No glass or alcoholic beverages allowed. After dropping off your canoe at the starting point (behind Police Dept.) and taking your vehicle to the ending point (take out point - on Co. Rd. 4 on Rueben Road) a bus will be waiting to shuttle you back to the starting point (Police Dept.). The last shuttle will be at 9:45 a.m. FREE! For more info, visit www. prattvilleal.gov Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics Also June 9, 22 & 23 Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. This month’s projects are Monsters University Scarers (June 8-9) and Monsters University Chests (June 22-23). 10 a.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Ages 5-12. Free. Online registration opens a few weeks before each clinic’s date. For more info, visit www.lowesbuildandgrow.com or call your local Lowe’s. Southeast Dueling Dragon Classic 8 a.m. Riverwalk Amphitheatre. The Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival presents Alabama’s first regional competition for club teams in the southeast: Southeast Dueling Dragon Classic (ProAM). This SRDBA-sanctioned event is a one-day divisional competition on a 500-meter course. For more information visit www.montgomerydragonboat.org. 2nd Saturday Riverfront Festival 5-8 p.m. every second Saturday through September. This free event is perfect for the entire family! Enjoy live entertainment, interactive activities for all ages, face painting, magician and balloon twisting, and a variety of food vendors and cocktails from SandBAR. No coolers or outside food allowed. Free admission. For more info, call 334-625-2100 or visit www.funontheriver.net. Run for Autism (5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk)! Hosted by the Center for Child and Adolescent Development (CCAD), proceeds from this event will be used to assist with start-up costs for CCAD’s new program for children on the autism spectrum: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy. Sponsors are needed as well as participants for the event. Registration fee is $25 and pre-registration may be done through www. Active.com. For more information on how to become a sponsor or how to register for the race, please visit www.ccadmontgomery.org or call 334262-5744. Cool technical shirts will be provided

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

to those registered. Water, drinks and snacks will be available at the finish line. Trophies will be awarded in each 5K Run age group. River Region March for Babies Union Station Train Shed. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Opening Ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. 2.5mile walk. Family-friendly activities and a great celebration. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes helps moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. And if something goes wrong, we offer information and comfort to families. We research the problems that threaten our babies and work on preventing them. For more information, call 277-6910 or visit www. marchforbabies.org

Sunday, June 9

Montgomery Performing Ars Centre Presents Aaron Lewis in Concert 7:30 p.m. This Grammy nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter is one of the most versatile artists of modern times. From his rockin’ roots to his country boots, come see Aaron Lewis like you have never seen him before. For tickets, visit www. mpaconline.org or call 481-5100.

Wednesday, June 12

Master Gardener ‘Lunch & Learn’ Program Noon-1 p.m. Bring your own lunch to the Alabama Extension Services (ACES) at 340 Queen Ann Road, just off Highway 14 on the west side of Wetumpka. The program is free and beverages will be provided at no cost. Four members of the Central Alabama Master Gardeners’ Assn (CAMGA) will team up to lead the program. John Barnes, Jane Mobley and Rosemary Mobley of Wetumpka and Virginia Pruitt, Deatsville will present several different aspects of growing and using herbs: how they are defined, how they are used, grown, harvested, prepared and stored. The ‘Herb Team’ will provide easy recipes involving herbs as well as provide samples of some for tasting. In addition, those attending the June ‘Lunch & Learn’ will then tour the herb garden at ACES. The ‘Lunch & Learn’ series will continue on the second Wednesday of each month. Additional subjects for the year include sessions on hydrangeas, growing garlic, recycling yard and kitchen waste, etc. For more information, call 567-6301 or visit the Extension Office on Queen Ann Road in Wetumpka.

Friday, June 14

Parents’ Night Out at the Wetumpka Family YMCA A monthly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of kids 12 years and under offered the 2nd Friday of each month from 6-10 p.m. Games, arts and crafts, a movie and hot dogs are offered. Cost is $10 per child for members and $15 per child for non-members. You must register by the Thursday prior. Call 5678282 for more info. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Presents Zoso and Hell’s Bells These two bands are bringing back legendary old school rock! Zoso is a Led Zepplin tribute band and Hell’s Bells is the #1 AC/DC tribute band in country. For tickets, visit www.mpaconline.org or call 481-5100. Elmore County Homeschool Organization Meets -- Also June 28 Elmore County Homeschool Organization is a nonprofit support group for homeschooling families. We provide a positive socialization environment for homeschooled children & support and encourage their parents in the homeschooling process. We meet the second and fourth Friday of every month year-round from 10 a.m. to noon at Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. Membership

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Family Calendar is free and is open to all homeschoolers in the tricounty area. ECHO has field trips, park days, holiday parties, enrichment activities, and a yearly awards ceremony. For details, visit http://www.onlineecho.com

Sunday, June 16

Father’s Day at the Montgomery Zoo All moms receive FREE admission to the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum. For more info, call 240-4900 or visit www.montgomeryzoo.com.

Thursday, June 20

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

June 2013

(568-9621) is registered with ADEM as an electronic recycler. For details, call John-Paul (358-6749). Magic on Main in Prattville Family fun 5-7:30 p.m. Activities include humane shelter animals, PJ’s inflatables, Big Green Bus and art for kids. Musical guests and food vendors. Sponsored by Prattville Downtown Unlimited. Visit www.prattvilleal.gov. Cloverdale Playhouse Theater Presents The Last Five Years -- Through June 30 Written by Jason Robert Brown, this musical ingeniously chronicles the five-year life of a marriage, from meeting to break-up ... or from break-up to meeting, depending on whose version of events we hear. For tickets or more information, call 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org

Friday, June 21

Family Faith Night at the Montgomery Biscuits Presented by Faith Radio. Gates open at 5:30 and a concert begins at 5:50 p.m. featuring contemporary Christian artist Shelly Johnson. Following the game will be a MAX fireworks spectacular. For more info, visit biscuitsbaseball.com or call 323-2255.

Sunday, June 23

Tim Hawkins Concert at Frazer UMC 7 p.m. in Wesley Hall. Who says you can’t have good, clean family entertainment that’s roll-on-the-floor funny? Whether Tim Hawkins is ranting on aging rock stars, questioning life on Noah’s Ark, or singing his famous “Chick-Fil-A Song,” you’ll be laughing along and loving every minute. A portion of all pro-

ceeds goes to benefit Frazer missions. For more info, visit www.timhawkins.net .As a bonus, special guest comedian Bob Smiley will join Tim and give a 15-20 routine during the show.

Satuday, June 29

Beth Nielsen Chapman Plays Benefit at the Capri 7 p.m. After two delays due to sickness, Beth Nielsen Chapman has fully recovered and has rescheduled. Tickets may be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the Capri Theatre box office. Tickets purchased at the box office for the April 27 show may be exchanged for tickets to the June 29 performance. See the Capri website, FB page, or call the theatre at 334.262.4858 for advance ticket info.

Thursday, July 4

Prattville Independence Day Celebration Various locations. Parade begins at Autauga County Courthouse at 9 a.m.; BBQ/camp stew sale begins at 10 a.m. at Pratt Park. Fireworks begin at dark at Stanley/Jensen Stadium. Call (334) 358-0297 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov for details. Wetumpka’s 4th of July Celebration Free. Behind City Administrative Bldg. 5 p.m.-until. Call 567-5147 or visit www.cityofwetumpka.com

Calendar information due by the 15th of each month. Send to editor@montgomeryparents.com.

Business Card Directory

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Home Based Business Directory Southern Quality Lawns, LLC

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

Thirty-One Gifts

Tonya Connor Independent Senior Consultant We specialize in purses, totes, thermals, wallets, organizing products and more! Most products can be personalized! Host a girls night out or a catalog party and earn FREE products or join my team and earn extra money! 334-315-0435 31bytonya@gmail.com www.mythirtyone.com/tonyaconnor

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

We Make Life Easier

Le Concierge provides the assistance you’re looking for. If it has to get done but not necessarily by you, we can help! We provide errand services, personal/grocery shopping, scheduling appointments, in home assistance and room organizing. Let us make your life a little easier. Contact Sonja Mason @ 334-294-9088 or LeConcierge4u@gmail.com to schedule your appointment.

Chemistry Tutor

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

Advanced Placement Chemistry Honors Chemistry General Chemistry

Summer Tutoring

The Mentor

Workshops for nursing students or new nurse graduates. Call 361-2808 or email Cassandra at nursecam41@yahoo.com Calling Prattville Parents Grades K-6

Provides breastfeeding education, antepartum doula services, childbirth education, and Happiest Baby on the Block classes. Handmade breastfeeding greeting cards and breast pump rental services also available. For more info please contact Tangela Boyd at 334-782-9816. Email: Tangela@mommymilkandmeinc.com Website: www.mommymilkandmeinc.com

the baby boom

We Sit And Stay While Your Away....

Specializing in Diaper Cakes, Invitations, Birth Announcements, Baby Shower Planning, and More! Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/thebabyboom or email us at thebabyboom@ live.com.

Double masters, state certified reading specialist can help your young learner with reading and study skills. Make a plan for your student to spend some time this summer getting ahead of the pack. References available! 334-3585218, samandrew77@bellsouth.net Samantha Schiff

Piano Lessons

Saxon Lawn Service

Make the Joy of Music Yours

You grow it, we mow it Affordable pricing Please call 274-0324 Bow Wow Meow Pet Sitting and Training

Piano Teacher

MaryCare Adult Day Care Home

Services for persons with Learning Disabilities, Memory Loss, Dementia, or Alzheimer’s. Care provided in my home at and affordable daily rate. 7:00 to 5:30 Mon-Fri. Call now for information at 334-320-5108.

Lucky Lawns

Aseelah Salaam Mary Kay Cosmetics

Knitting & Crocheting Lessons

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

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

Beginners, Intermediate, or Advanced. Experienced Teacher & Adjudicator. MTNA and Nationally Certified. Summer lessons available. Call now for information at 334-265-8154.

Top quality lawn care for your home and business! Dependable tri-county service. Call James today at 424-2974 for a free estimate. 20% off for referrals!

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

Mommy, Milk, & Me, Inc.

Available for Grades K-6 Learn new skills for the upcoming year or review old skills.(Current Teacher) Mrs. Debra Taylor 334-590-2098 hdtaylor101@charter.net

For all people, all ages. Contact Katie Garner at 334-322-7791 or krgarner1@yahoo.com

I specialize in skin care solutions, age fighting skin care, foundation shade & match, color consultations, & fragrance and body care. Call for a Free makeover @ 334-2014468 or Visit my website: www.marykay.com/ansalaam

Work From Your Kitchen Counter

In health/wellness as marketing rep for only $25! Requirements for team members: Focus, willing to work hard, ready to do it now, enthusiastic, grateful, confident, self-responsible, teachable, team builder/player and best of all POSITIVE. Call 805-621-2466!

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

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Advertising Information

RESOURCES M o n t g o m e r y P a r e n t s ’ Advertiser Directory

Welcome to the Montgomery Parents’ Advertiser Directory. This section was created to help our readers easily access advertising information in our magazine. We know that readers consider our advertisers as valuable a resource as the editorial content in Montgomery Parents. We hope this directory saves you time as you refer to the magazine throughout the month. Page numbers follow the advertiser’s name. A Great Start Learning Academy, 20

First UMC, Prattville, 24

My Kids Attic, The Shoppes at, 19

Adventure Sports II, 55

Fleming’s Martial Arts, 76

New Park, 61

Alabama Army National Guard, 57

Frazer Memorial Kindergarten, 24

O’Connor Tennis Lessons, 43

Alabama Christian Academy, 63

Frazer United Methodist Church, 36

PALS, 59

Alabama Dept. of Public Health, Inside Front

Greengate School, 79

P’zazz Art Studio, 30

Alabama Homeschool Expo, 71

Holy Cross Episcopal School, 22

Party Ponies by Renfroe & Daughters, 101

Alabama Museum of Natural History, 85

Honey B Photography, 42

ALFA Insurance, Jeff Knee, 18

Pediatric Cardiology, 46

Hooper Academy, 15, 57

Arts in Motion, 59

Huntingdon Basketball Camp, 46

Piano Instructor-Skye Jenkins, 101

ASKIN/Synergy House, 101

Huntington Learning Center, 25

ASU Continuing Education, 39

Kazoo Toys, 73

AUM Continuing Education, 40

Kindercare, 28

Auditory/Visual Enhancement, 99

Kingry Orthodontics, 85

AWOT True Blessing Child Care, 100

Kumon East, 2

Baptist East Hospital, 51

Kumon Central, 37

Baptist Health, 1

Lakeview Baptist Church, 31

Bradford Health Services, 83

Laura’s School of Dance, 41

Brian Hodges Music Lessons, 100

Learning Tree Child Care, 98

Catoma Baptist Church Preschool, 90

Lesyn’s Handbags, 101

Centerpoint Fellowship Church, 91

Lori Mercer Photography, 86

Century 2000 Daycare, 81

Many Things, 27

Chapman Orthodontics, 21

Mary Kay-Didi Henry, 100

Churchill Academy, 77

Mathnasium, 58

Cupcake Castles Travel, 101

Memorial Presbyterian Childcare, 97

Dance Generation, 18

Montessori @ Hampstead, 67

Dancewear, Etc., 101

Montessori @ Mulberry, 45

Dentistry for Children, 41

Montessori Academy, 50

Dr. Bradley Willis-Dentist, 65

Montgomery Advertiser, 69

Dr. Kendall Dunn-Orthodontist, 52

Montgomery Ballet, 25

Dynamite Magic & Balloons, 76

Montgomery Catholic School, 3

Eastdale Mall, 47

Montgomery Humane Society, 11

Edgewood Academy, 17, 65

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 86

Edward Jones-Lane Easterling, 81

Montgomery Pediatric Dentistry/Orthodontics, 73

Evangel Christian Academy, 34

Montgomery Taekwondo, 37

Extermitech Pest Control, 101

Montgomery Zoo, 32

Family Karate Center, 7

Mrs. Sandy’s House, 100

First UMC, Montgomery, 23

Murals by Morrow, 101

Montgomery Parents I June 2013

Professional Pediatrics, 12 Pump It Up Party, 75 River Region Straw, 45 Riverview Camp, 95 Ross Christian Academy, 30 Saint James School, 21

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Saint James UMC, Inside Back Cover Shade Tree Riding Academy, 43 Shoppes @ Eastchase Fashion Camp, 4 Smiles Galore Parties, 20 Spacewalk of Montgomery, 27 Spacewalker, The, 42 Spotless Cleaning Services, 60 Success Unlimited Academy, 13, 33 Sylvan Learning Center, 44 Take Shape for Life, Laura Dean, 54 Taylor Road Baptist Church, 78 The Big Green Bus, 67 The Montgomery Academy, Back Cover Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection, 78 Trinity Presbyterian School, 9 Twisted Spur, 52 United Gymstars & Cheer, LLC, 55 Vaughn Park Mom’s Day Out, 93 Vaughn Road Preschool, 74 Waterville USA, 49 Wonder World, 14 Zackery Burr, Attorney, 8 www.montgomeryparents.com

Epic

Fast & Furious 6

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: BViolence: BSexual Content: A Language: AAlcohol / Drug Use: A The MPAA has rated Epic PG for mild action, some scary images and brief rude language. For a movie with a hyperbolic title like Epic and a tagline that reads “discover a world beyond your imagination”, this animated production is disappointingly average and unimaginative. In many ways if feels like Avatar for six-year-olds, but without the happy ending or overt environmental message. The heroes in the story are leaf men, tiny soldiers who patrol the forest while riding on the backs of birds. They protect Queen Tara (voice by Beyonce Knowles), the ruler and preserver of the woodlands. Mandrake (voice by Christoph Waltz), their enemy who dresses in rat pelts and badly needs dental work, leads an army of gruesome characters made up of undesirable forest creatures like mice, bats and pesky mosquitoes. As with all stereotypical villains who want to take over the world, he plans to destroy it first. To do so Mandrake must capture a magical bud that will determine the next ruler when it blooms. But just as he is about to snatch the unopened blossom from the hands of the dying queen, she tosses it to Mary Katherine (voice by Amanda Seyfried), a huge human teen who suddenly shrinks to the size of the other miniscule forest inhabitants. The focus on epic battles involving arrows, swordplay and midair dogfights as well as scores of characters, allows little time for character or script development. And what minutes there are for the plotline are sliced and diced into multiple narratives including a troubled daddy/daughter relationship between Mary Katherine and her absent-minded father (voice by Jason Sudeikis), a headstrong young soldier (voice by Josh Hutcherson) who snubs the advice of his wiser mentor (voice by Colin Farrell) and a typical comic relief duo (voices by Chris O’Dowd and Aziz Ansari). While young and less jaded viewers (who haven’t seen this script multiple times) may buy into the adventure, parents should note that moments of peril, hand-to-hand combat and the death of a prominent character may be too intense for young children. And though there’s an absence of other content concerns, there’s also a scarcity of charm in this animated adventure. Considering the price of movie tickets, maybe the filmmakers should have stuck with quaint over epic.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: D Violence: D+ Sexual Content: C+ Language: D+ Alcohol / Drug Use: C+ The MPAA has rated Fast & Furious 6 PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and mayhem throughout, some sexuality and language. Sticking with the same formula of fast cars and scantily clad women, the production crew fudges the series’ time frame in order to bring back characters already killed off in previous films. So don’t let deceased team members from The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift confuse you. They aren’t dead yet. In the meantime, this script rounds out this cast of fast-driving, lawbreakers to make them even more appealing to audiences. A healthy dose of humor, plenty of buddy moments and a new baby all do their part to take the edge off these characters who are living in exotic locations around the globe while enjoying the fruits of their last million dollar heist. The only hitch is they have to stay in countries without extradition laws that would send them back to the U.S. to face charges. However their life on the lam promises to come to an end when Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) gets an unexpected visit from Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). Hobbs is closing in on Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), a ruthless thief who specializes in vehicular warfare. He plans to steal a military computer chip that will sell for bazillions of dollars on the black market. As is often the case in movies, the only people Hobbs can rely on to get Shaw in cuffs is Dom and his team of fellow felons (Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot and Ludacris). While there is less street racing merely for the pleasure of putting pedestrians and property at risk of death or destruction, the film still includes a plethora of car chases, explosive crashes, bullets and bikinis. But while the morals in this script are all wrong, the film unfortunately does a brilliant job of selling irresponsibility and high-octane action. In the end these criminals name their price for their part in preserving the American dream, which in this case seems to be the right to recklessly drive fast cars, steal exorbitant amounts of money and hold the law-abiding public hostage with their demands. And they do it all in the name of family. Any parent, with or without street smarts, will want to steer their children clear of these delinquent drivers.

What Parents need to know about Epic...

Violence: Swords, bows and arrows, clubs and fists are all used as weapons in this film. Characters engage in frequent battles and face numerous moments of peril. Midair dogfights occur between opposing forces. A female character is shot with an arrow and dies. Another character falls to his death. Characters are chased and attacked by animals. A man makes a reference to a pet that died from neglect. Characters shock one another with build-up from static electricity. A man is shot in the buttocks with an arrow. Household items are knocked over or broken during a chase scene. Characters are shown with bruises and lacerations. Moments of peril and suspense include scary or frightening depictions. Sexual Content: Characters kiss briefly. Language: Brief name-calling is included in the script. Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted. www.montgomeryparents.com

What Parents need to know about Fast & Furious 6...

Violence: Numerous explosions, scenes of gunfire and other weapon use are depicted. A character blows up a parking area and building killing a large number of police officers and others. A woman shoots a man in the chest. Two women rough up a man in order to get information. Frequent gunfire is exchanged, resulting in the death of at least one man. A man’s head is repeatedly hit against a glass partition until he is knocked out. Women and men engage in brutal fistfights. Characters are also stabbed, choked, punched, run over, hit by cars and dragged. Frequent intense action, brief explicit violence and disturbing scenes are portrayed with limited blood. Sexual Content: An unmarried couple is shown in bed together with bare backs and chests, but no explicit nudity. Numerous characters wear bikinis or provocative clothing. Suggestive comments are made about male anatomy. Other sexual innuendo is included. Characters embrace and kiss. Language: One use of a strong sexual expletive, one crude hand gesture and frequent profanities, scatological slang, terms of deity, and vulgar expressions. Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink on several occasions.

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90% of the 48 member Class of 2013 received merit-based scholarships totaling $3.5 million.

With a

MAr k a b l e

education,the opportunities are endless.

Alabama A&M University Arizona State University Ashland University Auburn University Auburn University Montgomery Berry College Birmingham-Southern College Boston University Brenau University Clemson University College of Charleston Davidson College Furman University George Mason University Hillsdale College Huntingdon College James Madison University Louisiana State University Loyola University New Orleans Marshall University Millsaps College Mississippi State University New York University Ohio University Rhodes College Samford University Southern Methodist University Spring Hill College Stillman College St. John’s University

State University of New York at Purchase College Texas Christian University Texas Tech University The Ohio State University Troy University Tulane University University of Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arizona University of Arkansas University of Colorado at Boulder University of Denver University of Georgia University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Mississippi University of Montevallo University of North Carolina-Greensboro University of Rochester University of South Carolina University of the South: Sewanee University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Dallas University of Virginia University of Washington Wake Forest University Washington & Lee University Western Kentucky University Westminster Choir College

Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y T h e

P u r s u i t

o f

E x c e l l e n c e

Contact Susannah Cleveland, Director of Admissions susannah_cleveland@montgomeryacademy.org • 334.272.8210 • mon tgomeryacademy.org Financial Aid Available

MA05-26056-graduation-parents 6.13.indd 1

The Montgomery Academy admits students of any race, religion, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the school.

5/28/13 12:01 PM