River Region Parents Child Care Issue April 2021 by KeepSharing

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• It’s safe, simple, and free of charge. • It could keep you from getting COVID-19. If you still get COVID-19, it could keep you from becoming seriously ill. • It will help you do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of your family, your friends and your community. • It’s an mRNA vaccine. These types of vaccines have been studied for more than two decades to evaluate their safety and effectiveness. • It’s the first step toward life returning to normal.

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EDUCATION is more than YO U K N OW

Experiences in the classroom, moments in the spotlight, and lessons on the field work together at Saint James to educate the whole child, develop young men and women of character, and prepare students for life.

Pre-K3−12th Grade

Saint James School

334-273-3021 or STJweb.org

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE Call today for more information on tuition assistance and affording a Saint James education for your child. Academic support for English Language Learners available. Saint James School admits students of any religion, race, gender, creed, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

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for patient care that requires less patience. In order to be truly helpful to you, healthcare has to be convenient and accessible. That’s why, at Jackson Hospital and Clinic, we offer services designed around your life. Like one-number scheduling for all of our primary care offices, telehealth appointments and JacksonCONNECT, which lets you access your health history, test results and much more anytime. Plus, as we continue to add more primary care locations, getting the care you need will just keep getting easier.

YOUR HOME FOR HEALTH

River Region Parents I April 2021

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For our 20th anniversary, the Walk of Life has been re-imagined to celebrate the amazing passion and talents of you...our incredible participants! We know times remain uncertain and many of you are still – and will be for the foreseeable future – hesitant to gather in larger groups. But the pandemic will not stop us from celebrating survivors and remembering those who’ve lost their battle with breast cancer!

This year, participate in the Walk of Life YOUR WAY! Join us by doing something you love: ♥ ♥

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Walk or run a 5k Walk “The Loop” in Downtown Montgomery April 24 or 25 Hold a virtual dance contest Ride your bike Create a neighborhood scavenger hunt Draw sidewalk chalk art Make masks Ride your motorcycle Teach yoga to friends Whatever you love to do!

YOU decide how you’ll participate this year!

Visit WalkofLife2021.org today! Be safe, have fun and feel amazing by helping more women access breast cancer screenings! The Walk of Life raises awareness and funds to fight breast cancer in Alabama.

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River Region Parents I April 2021

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April2021 42

Volume 26 Number 4

Columns 8 Kids Say the Wisest Things Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

14 Montgomery Education Matters by Dr. Ann Roy Moore, Interim Superintendent

Do You Overparent?

Common pitfalls and how to turn them around.

Help Your Child Make the Most of Daycare

30 Pike Road Education Matters by Superintendent Charles Ledbetter, Ed.D.

A prescription for smooth, fun days. 37 Elmore Education Matters

by Superintendent Richard Dennis

40 Unleashing Your Potential by Keon Addison

44 Dinner’s Ready by Kimberley Carter Spivey

2021 Child Care Guide

Our detailed listing of daycares, preschools, and MMO programs.

How to Take a Family Trip on a Small Budget

56 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media

It CAN be done with these tips!

Departments On The Cover Aaliyah Means (age 2 1/2) is the daughter of Ikeem and Monica Means of Montgomery. Aaliyah loves to read, color, dance, play outside and sing!

12 Teacher of the Month 15 School Bits 61 Grading the Movies 64 Mom to Mom

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Editor’sNote

Parents

Raising kids can be quite the balancing act. As parents, we are charged with full responsibility for our little humans, while also needing to teach them how to be more and more independent with each passing year. We desire our children to be happy and have comfort while knowing that discomfort is sometimes required for them to learn and grow in character. Which messes do we bail them out of and for which do we let them suffer the consequences? Which sibling arguments do we play judge and jury for and when should we take a step back and let them work it out on their own? What are we doing for them that they are capable of doing themselves? If you think you may swoop in to fix things a little too quickly or too often, or if you feel uneasy letting your children live with the natural consequences of their decisions, you will find helpful advice in Are You Overparenting? by Sarah Lyons. She shares several common “overparenting” pitfalls and how we can turn them around to best benefit our children. Daycare and preschool are two places where children can begin to learn independence outside the home, Whether you are a working parent needing full time daycare or just looking to send your child to preschool a few half days a week, finding the right program for your family is so important. Our 2021 Child Care Guide lists River Region daycare, preschool and Mom’s Day Out programs with details you need to begin making your decision. Also, be sure to read Sandra Gordon’s article, Help Your Child Make the Most of Daycare and Preschool. She shares what you can do at home to prepare your child for a happy and successful transition to their new school. If spring break passed you by and no vacation was to be had, or even if you did take a trip but hope for one more during the summer months, be sure to read How to Take a Family Trip on a Small Budget. Kimberly Blaker offers fun and creative ways to travel and explore with your kids, but without breaking the bank. Traveling as a family is all about connecting through new experiences and making lifelong memories, and this can be accomplished in a variety of ways. I think you’ll find something in this article that will work for your family’s budget...so get the kids involved and start planning your next adventure! April is a beautiful month in the River Region. We wish you all a Happy Easter and a month full of outdoor fun with your family!

River Region Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. River Region Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Founder Marty Watson (1950-2006) Editor DeAnne Watson editor@riverregionparents.com

Associate Editor Alison Rouse Research Editor Wendy McCollum Contributing Writers Keon Addison Katie Blair Kimberly Blaker Richard Dennis Sandra Gordon Dr. Charles Ledbetter Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA Sarah Lyons Dr. Ann Roy Moore Kimberley Carter Spivey

Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com

Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com

Advertising Department (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 adservices@keepsharing.com Digital Manager Scott Davis

DeAnne

Ad Design Tim Welch

editor@riverregionparents.com

Member

River Region Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing LLC, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, Alabama, 36123. River Region Parents is copyrighted 2021 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. opinions expressed in River Region Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

River Region Parents I April 2021

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3. Tell your family’s stories over and over again. Research has revealed that children who are informed about their family history have higher self-esteem, a better sense of their capacity to control what happens to them, and lower levels of anxiety.

by Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

“My Parents Are Always On Their Phones” This month’s wise statement comes from children as young as three, as old as 19, and every age in between. This is not a one-time statement from my younger clients, it is a reoccurring cry for attention. The words are simple, but the implication is very telling: “My parents are always on their phones.” I am not surprised by the 3-year-olds, however, the teenagers who say this break my heart. All day long they have to compete with screens to obtain the attention of their peers, teachers, and employers. These teens are yearning for a place where they belong; a place where people put down everything and run to the door to greet them. They may never say this to your face, but they truly want this from you. So how do we provide a sense of belonging to our children? The answer is simple: shared experiences. In other words, do things together as often as you can. Shared experiences are made up of four things that help a person feel like they belong.

River Region Parents I April 2021

These four things are feeling seen, appreciated, liked, and loved. Let’s be honest, shared experiences do not happen when we are distracted by our phones, they happen when we are fully engaged in the moment. Here is a list of ideas for shared experiences that will do more than just make memories… 1. Play LOTS of family games. Games are important for a variety of reasons. They provide opportunities to practice and learn important life lessons (social skills, manners, academic skills, patience, good sportsmanship, etc). If your children need to learn a lesson, use a game to teach it instead of giving another boring lecture. According to Jeanne Segal, PhD, children learn best when they are playing and retain the lesson longer. 2. Use multiple senses. Experiences that use more than one sense are easier to recall (Gottfried and Smith, 2004). For example, cook dinner with your family while listening to fabulous music. Another idea is to take a Sunday drive with the windows down while eating a special snack.

4. Take time to listen. This is especially crucial for parents of middle school children. When you take the time to listen without judging or blaming, children are more able to hear you and change their own behaviors (Bernstein, 2013). I cannot tell you how many times I have just listened to a child’s ludicrous rant only to watch them go on and correct their own thinking. 5. Do chores together. Several peer reviewed studies (each with over 1000 participants) showed that family chores are associated with childhood happiness. Chores help children realize that they are able to make meaningful contributions to their families. Also, collaborative chores have been shown to improve sibling relationships. So…crank up the fun music and have your entire family help clean the house. 6. Let the kids be in charge. Giving your children an opportunity to plan something for the family will give them a chance to create, organize, and lead an outing for a group. This is the perfect way to let them know that they belong in your family. As you follow their plan, make sure to let them know that they are seen, appreciated, liked, and loved.

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

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I wish I could see the board instead of trying to read through your vape cloud. - Sarah, 8th Grade

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For more information visit AlabamaHealthyTeens.com 9

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Second Saturday Curbside Cinema

April 24 * 4-9 p.m. Union Station Train Shed, 300 Water St., Montgomery Live music featuring local artists. Minimum $5 donation benefits Child Protect. For more info, call (334) 625-4636 or visit www.funinmontgomery.com/.

Wetumpka’s Community Market

1st Thursdays April-November, 5-8 p.m. Merchant Alley, Downtown Wetumpka Join us in Merchants Alley (along the riverwalk behind Hill Street) first Thursdays through November and enjoy shopping local from community merchants! If you’d like to be a vendor, e-mail market@mainstreetwetumpka.org.

Wilson Pickett Music & Arts Virtual Festival

April 3-May 1 Hosted by the City of Prattville. Activities will include a virtual look back at our annual Honoree Dinner event, a virtual art exhibition, virtual arts workshops, and the 2021 Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival, which will be held online this year. If you are interested in participating as an artist, musician, writer or other entertainer, please call (334) 595-0854, or e-mail samples of your work to brittany.glenn@ prattvilleal.gov. For more info, visit www. wilsonpickettfestival.com/.

River Region Parents I April 2021

April 10 * 6 p.m. Autauga-Prattville Public Library parking lot All ages. Join us in the parking lot for a curbside screening of Wall-E (2008), weather permitting. Parking spots are limited on a first-come, first-served basis. For more info, visit www. appl.info or call (334) 365-3396.

17th Annual Autism Mud Bug Ball

April 3, 10, 17 & 24 / 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s like Zoo Weekend with a twist. In order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all our guests, Zoo Weekend is going to be held over four Saturdays in April. Guests will be LIMITED to 4,000 per Saturday, so purchase your tickets today! Each Saturday will provide a slightly different experience. Come to one, or better yet, come to them all. You and your guests are guaranteed to have an awesome wildlife experience. Each Saturday will provide: -- a festival-like environment, -- games and rides for the kids, -- live entertainment, -- animal presentations, -- wildlife attractions and encounters, -- train and sky lift rides, and -- tasty concessions. Admission fees for the day are: -- Adults: $17 -- Children (ages 3-12 years old): $13 -- Toddlers (2 years old and younger) and Montgomery Zoo members: FREE (Admission includes entry to the Zoo and Mann Museum) No daily admission discounts will be provided during Zoo Weekend(s). Also, no member GUEST PASSES will be eligible for admission during this special event. Zoo Weekend(s) is a spring fundraising event for the Zoo and its expansion. For more info, please contact the Zoo at (334) 625-4900, zooinfo@montgomeryal.gov or montgomeryzoo.com. 10

April 10 * 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium Crawfish boil benefits Easterseals Central Alabama’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic. Tickets available by pre-sale only. For $33, get a bag of crawfish and fixin’s. Tables will be available on site for those who want to enjoy their bags of crawfish in the stadium. Live music & more. Visit mudbugball.com.

Flimp Festival: Chalk Celebration

May 1 * 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Caddell Sculpture Garden Come see National Competition Chalk artist Jennifer Richardson demonstrate her talents. Families will be able to enjoy a live performance of whimsical songs and poems by Calliope Pettis, play outdoor yard games, and take part in other art activities. For more info, visit mmfa.org or call (334) 625-4333.

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YMCA Strides for Kids 5K Dash

Alabama Dance Theatre Open House Classes

April 17 * 8:30 a.m. 5K Dash 9:45 a.m. 1 Mile Fun Run Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, 300 Brown Springs Rd., Montgomery For ages 6 and up. Cost before April 5: 5K Dash - $25; 1 Mile Fun Run - $10. Late registration starts April 5 at $30 for 5K Dash and $15 for 1 Mile Fun Run. For more info, e-mail msanchez@ymcamontgomery.org or call (334) 218-3750.

April 10 * 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. @ Armory Learning Arts Center Young people ages 8-19 from any dance experience level are invited to try a series of three classes, each an hour long. Classes will rotate by age group to take one class with each guest teacher; ADT faculty will be present to assist. A free T-shirt for the event will be given to each participant. Advance registration is required, but the day’s classes are free and open to any member of the community. Forms are available at alabamadancetheatre. com. Call (334) 625-2590 for questions.

Puppy Palooza

April 10 * 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Shoppes @ EastChase near Pies & Pints This event features live music, pet adoptions, a fido marketplace, doggy activities, great food from local food trucks, K9 splash zone, and more! Puppy Palooza benefits our friends at the Montgomery Humane Society. For more info, visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/ or call (334) 279-6046.

MPAC Presents The Magic of Bill Blagg Live

April 23 * 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Blagg’s show combines mind-blowing magical talent along with trademark off-thecuff personality to take you on a magical journey you’ll never forget. You’ll witness objects float in mid-air, vanish in the blink of an eye and more! Tickets start at $28. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline.org/ events/ or call (334) 481-5100.

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Dr. Jennifer Lewis Dozier Elementary School

tion for the rest of their school careers. She plans fun projects with the kids and always does her best to keep them interested in learning. I wish we could have her as a teacher every year!” Inspiring young students to dream and reach those dreams is something Dr. Lewis holds close to her heart. “As I have only taught primary grades, I strongly believe beyond the subject matter, and hope to pass on to my students to believe in themselves. When I receive my little ones, they are babies, but when they leave, I want them to know the sky is the limit.” Lewis said her favorite moments are when her former students come back to see her and she recounted one such visit. “A former student came back to visit me and said, ‘Thank you... you were my favorite teacher. I have been accepted to The University of Tennessee.’ I was happy to see the fruit of my labor.” With her passion and spirit for teaching young minds, Dr. Lewis will no doubt leave more footprints on the hearts of all who enter her classroom doors. Congratulations, Dr. Lewis!

Dr. Jennifer Lewis has had a passion for teaching ever since she was a young girl. “As early as I can remember I have always had a desire to teach others. As a little girl, I can remember lining my dolls up in my room and teaching them what my parents and teachers taught me,” said the first grade teacher at Dozier Elementary School in Montgomery, Alabama. During her 16 years in education, Dr. Lewis has had many wonderful experiences in teaching, but says that knowing she is pouring into the next generation is extremely gratifying. “The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is knowing each year I am responsible for helping to develop our next teacher, neurosurgeon, policeman, doctor, and electrician. I know what I am providing to my students will evolve and help to build a productive society,” she said. As she reflected on her years in education, Dr. Lewis, who holds her Doctor of Philosophy from Alabama State University in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law, said that while she is the teacher, it is her students who also provide her with a lesson. “My students have taught me to be adaptable, flexible, and show my love and excitement for learning.” It is that excitement for learning that earned Dr. Lewis this month’s nomination for Teacher of the Month by Joelen Jones Ward, who has a granddaughter in Lewis’ classroom. Ward explains, “She is giving students a solid founda-

River Region Parents I April 2021

Dr. Jennifer Lewis considers her nieces, Jennifer Brooke and Avery Grace, to be her daughters. She is a member of Southlawn Baptist Church and teaches the intermediate grades for Vacation Bible School. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling.

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Dual Enrollment Opens Up World of Possibilities One of the most important things we are tasked with as a school district is to ensure that our students are college and career ready. These efforts begin as soon as students step into their first classroom, whether it is pre-K, kindergarten or first grade. As students move into higher grades, we encourage them to take more control and be more involved in their education. By high school, they might even be ready to start earning college credits. The way they are able to do that is through a program called dual enrollment. This program allows students to be enrolled both in high school and an institution of

higher learning. Students are able to earn college credits, and in many cases, they can earn both college and high school credits at the same time. I cannot overstate how much of an advantage it provides students to have credits at a two- or four-year college after earning their high school diploma. Besides the academic head start, it also can cut down on tuition costs and give the student a preview of what college life is like. By stepping into actual college classes and receiving instruction from college professors, students can begin to acclimate themselves to the environment. Every one of our high schools have dual enrollment programs, and our participating schools are Alabama State, Auburn, Auburn Montgomery, Faulkner, South, Trenholm State Community College, Troy and Alabama. Each of these schools offers slightly different programs. In some cases, students can gain automatic admission to the college or university as long as they complete a certain amount of coursework and maintain

academic standards. Costs for dual enrollment classes are generally at a discounted rate compared to normal college classes. Generally, students must be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade. They also must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in completed high school courses. Participating schools offer a wide array of courses in subjects such as English, math and foreign languages. At Trenholm, you can study subjects such as welding, automobile manufacturing and graphic design. High school students who are interested in dual enrollment should talk to their counselor or an administrator. I encourage parents to talk to students about this opportunity. It can save you money in the long run and make the transition to higher education much easier.

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For more than four decades, Dr. Moore has educated the children of Alabama. From her first post as a pre-school teacher, to her administrative work as a principal, central office curriculum specialist, superintendent, and her mentoring the next generation of teachers as an adjunct professor at colleges and universities, teaching is her passion.

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Montgomery County Schools

STJ Hosts ACTE Virtual Tech Fair

On February 17, Saint James School hosted the 2021 ACTE Virtual Tech Fair for Region 5. In past years, the Tech Fair has been an in-person event, but due to Covid, Regional Director Deborah Otis hosted a virtual event. Students from grades three through twelve competed in this year’s fair from all over the region. Saint James held an elementary tech fair earlier in the semester because of the large amount of interested students. Winners in the local competition were able to present their projects at the ACTE Regional Tech Fair. Elementary and middle school students from Saint James competed in this year’s Regional fair. The following all received medals in their specific categories. From 6th grade, Ruthie Blakeney first place, Multimedia; David Boles - first place, Website Design; Asher Hagler - first place, Animation; Waverly Milligan - second place, Website Design; Abigail Roark - second place, Website Design; and Aidan Saldanha - first place, Multimedia Application. Seventh-grader Sophie Shoults was awarded first place in Productivity Design. Elementary Technology teacher Tina Waggoner and Middle School Technology teacher Martha Cavanaugh were so proud of the projects submitted by these students and all the students who competed from Saint James. Top left, Ruthie Blakeney won first place in Multimedia. Group photo from left, ACTE Virtual Tech Fair medal winners include: Sophie Shoults, Asher Hagler, David Boles, Abigail Roark, Aidan Saldanha and Waverly Milligan.

BTW Artists Place in Visual Arts Program

Several Booker T. Washington Magnet High Visual Art and Photography students placed in the District 2 Visual Art Achievement Program sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. These works were selected from submissions from Montgomery, Auburn, Opelika and Troy. First-place and wild card winners will continue to the state competition. Shown here is “Variety” by Desiree Senn, which won third place in photography. Ariel Steele won first place in 3D/ Crafts; Daniel Vallejo won first place in Drawing; Ada Withers won second place in Drawing and was a wild card winner; Ashley Luna Mendez won second place in both Painting and Printmaking; Josiah King won third place in Printmaking; and Mia Johnston won second place in Photography.

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Montgomery County Schools

Montgomery Catholic Hires Two New Coaches Montgomery Catholic announces two new additions to its coaching staff for the coming year. Kaleb Forr, below, joins the staff as football offensive coordinator, and the baseball team will be led by Cam Lewis. Forr has already begun his transition to MCPS after moving to the area from Michigan. His football career includes serving as the head football coach at Flint Kearsley for four years in Michigan as well as playing collegiate football at Saginaw Valley State University. In preparation for the upcoming season, Forr is currently working through the spring season and is also assisting at the Holy Spirit Elementary campus in the PE department. Forr will serve as an elementary PE teacher next year in his full-time role at Montgomery Catholic in addi-

tion to football offensive coordinator. “I am very blessed and excited to be a part of the Montgomery Catholic family!” Forr said. “I look forward to building strong, Christcentered relationships with all of the great people here while developing the students and student-athletes to be their best.” Athletic Director Daniel Veres added, “I am extremely excited with the hiring of Coach Forr. His combination of college playing experience, head coaching success, and leadership philosophy will be invaluable in helping us continue to build on our foundation of successes, as well as propel us closer toward our ultimate goals of consistent championshiplevel programs.” Lewis, at left, will take over as the head baseball coach for the Knights for

the 2021-22 school year. Former head coach Aubrey Blackwell’s mid-year departure for Benjamin Russell High School allowed for an interim year led by Coach Tony Hudson and Lewis’s return to MCPS this coming school year. He spent a year on staff at Montgomery Catholic following his tenure at Huntingdon College as a student-athlete. Since graduating, Lewis moved into the coaching world and comes to MCPS after serving most recently as the head baseball coach at Pearl River High School in Louisiana. He will serve as an elementary PE teacher next year in his full-time position at Montgomery Catholic in addition to head baseball coach. “I am very excited about coming back to Catholic,” Lewis said. “I would like to thank the administration for the opportunity to mold these young men into not only great baseball players, but into great young men.” Veres said he is, “thrilled to be able to bring Coach Lewis, his wife Arlyn and Charlie back to Montgomery Catholic. We are confident Cam is the right man to take our (baseball) program to its next logical step.”

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MA Students Study Solar Energy

Montgomery Academy seventhgrade Earth Science classes have been studying how Earth’s spherical shape and surfaces affect incoming solar radiation. In a recent lab, students investigated how different surface types, such as sand and water, affect how solar energy is received on Earth. Students compared sand and water in their abilities to absorb and release heat. Using thermometers, they measured and recorded the temperatures of 500 ml beakers of sand and water. They recorded their temperatures before, during and after removal from a heat source. They compared the rates at which the sand and water absorbed and released thermal energy. In the end, they discovered that the sand absorbed and released thermal energy at a faster rate than water.

If you have thirty minutes or more to listen, ask Antonio what he dreams of being in ten years. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org

Churchill Seniors Celebrate

Churchill Academy’s senior class kicked off March with a Senior Social and Breakfast at the school’s Ray Thorington Road Campus. The Class of 2021 embraced a beautiful day with outdoor activities, a choice of breakfast selections, and special treats of balloons and gift bags. High School Director Patsy Lockwood coordinated the event and conducted a special senior class meeting following the breakfast. As the students move closer to their May graduation date, the Class of 2021 will have continued opportunities for fellowship and celebration to mark this special time in their lives. 17

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Montgomery County Schools

Camp McDowell Comes to Catholic

Every year the sixth-grade classes at Montgomery Catholic’s St. Bede and Holy Spirit campuses travel to Camp McDowell for an overnight retreat. Unfortunately, due to Covid, students were unable to go on their trip this year. Instead, Camp McDowell helped keep this tradition alive for our students by sending their counselors to each of our campuses. Both groups of students were able to spend a couple of days outside playing camp games, singing songs, having a bonfire, and enjoying each other’s company. Parents even joined in the fun for Parents’ Night! We look forward to seeing all of these students together on our Middle School campus in the fall.

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MA Students Place in Tech Fair

Montgomery Academy Middle & Upper School STEM students recently participated in the Alabama Consorti-um for Technology in Education regional tech fair and qualified for the state competition in April. The following students are advancing to thee state competition: Picasso Avezzano – 1st Place Level IV Digital Game Design; Charles Norris – 2nd Place Level IV Digital Game Design; Ted Lee – 1st Place Level IV Programming; Rob Ashworth – 1st Place Level III Website Design; and Price McLemore – 2nd Place Level III Web-site Design.

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MEA Students Chosen for AISA All-Star Teams

Macon East Academy had two studentathletes chosen for the AISA All-Star basketball game from its AISA 2A state championship team: Stone Yarnell and Jeremiah Carnegie. Both boys enjoyed playing with the East All-Star team and it was a fun event to watch. The Macon East Lady Knights had seniors Kathryn Barker, Georgia Blaze and Emily Nickles chosen as AISA East All-Stars. Barker also earned Most Valuable Player honors in the game.

GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR ME

Evangel Christian Academy Encouraging each child to achieve their God-given potential

AISA Blue Ribbon School “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord... Jeremiah 29:11

3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36106 ecalions.org 334-272-3882

Eastwood’s MacLeod Places in County Bee

Accredited: ACTS, AISA, SACS, Advanced ED, NCPSA

Caroline MacLeod, a seventh-grade student at Eastwood Christian School, won second place in the Montgomery County Spelling Bee. All of the spellers were tested virtually with a significant number of the words for both spelling and vocabulary not on the study guide. Getting those right required the speller to reason through the spelling or definitions as best they could. 19

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Montgomery County Schools

MA Debate Students Qualify for Nationals The Deep South District Speech & Debate Tournament hosted 18 schools across Alabama that competed to qualify in the National Speech & Debate Association’s National Tournament which will be this June. Montgomery Academy came in First Place Overall Sweepstakes and qualified more individual students to nationals than any other high school in Alabama. Individual Awards went to: United States Extemporaneous Speaking 1st place - Charlie Hill - National Qualifier, 2nd place - Alisha Singh - National Qualifier and 4th place - Tristan Dumas; Programmed Oral Interpretation 4th place - Isabella Hosein; Original Oratory 1st place - Alex Brewbaker - National Qualifier and 6th place - Isabella Hosein; International Extemporaneous Speaking 4th place - Hudson Whitt; Informative Speaking 3rd place - Allie Fitzpatrick - National Qualifier; Humorous Interpretation 1st place - Cole Mozingo and 3rd place - Norah Desautels - National Qual-

River Region Parents I April 2021

ifier; Duo Interpretation 1st place - Bryant McClendon & Cole Mozingo - National Qualifiers and 2nd place - Gianna Foti & Will Ashworth - National Qualifiers; Dramatic Interpretation 3rd place - Sarah Kate Barton; Lincoln/ Douglas Debate 7th place - Camp Jernigan; Big Questions Debate 3rd place - Elizabeth Ray; Congressional Debate – Senate

5th place - Alisha Singh and 6th place Easton Strickler; Congressional Debate – House 4th place - Tristan Dumas National Qualifier and 6th place - Jones Corley.

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Saint James Names VAAP Winners

The Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts provides local and state recognition for student achievement in the visual arts. The program is designed to offer en-couragement to young artists, showcase their work, and offer opportunities for advanced training beyond high school. The following Saint James high school students won awards at the District Level: Photography 1st Place, Haley Taylor; Printmaking 2nd Place, Luke Beasley; Painting 3rd Place, Izabella Hernandez; Mixed Media 3rd Place, Logann Dean and Computer Images 3rd Place, Caroline Gregory. The following Saint James middle school students also won awards at the District Level: Drawing 1st place, MaryEllis Killough (art: Puzzling Bird) 7th grade; 2nd place, Stella Kim (art: Bottles) 8th grade; Mixed Media 1st place, Kaleigh Soto (art: Shoes) 6th grade; Painting 2nd place and wild card, Mae Puckett (The Time) 8th grade; Printmaking 1st place, Bridget Shaffer (art: The Church) 7th grade; 2nd place and wild card, Emilee Alexander (art: Snowy Day) 7th grade; 3rd place, Izzy Pappas (art: Sounds of Church Bells) 7th grade; 3D/ Crafts, 1st place, Grace Yu (art: The Castle) 7th grade; and 2nd place, Chloe Song (art: Pears) 6th grade. First-place winners will go on to the state competition for a second round of judging. Each division is allowed to enter a total of 10 pieces into the competition. Saint James art teachers Evelyn Shoults and Bethany Davis are extremely proud of the hard work and talent of these students. Saint James High School winners’ artwork for the VAAP Competition is shown in this collage. Middle School VAAP Winners from Saint James include, front row from left, Stella Kim, Mae Puckett, Bridget Shaffer and Chloe Song; back row: Izzy Pappas, MaryEllis Killough, Emilee Alexander, Grace Yu and Kaleigh Soto.

Catholic Students Learn About Germany

Montgomery Catholic Holy Spirit campus celebrated its annual Cultural Day this year learning all about Germany! Students had a special visit from Coach Wulf Koch, our boys’ varsity soccer coach and 11thgrade history teacher. Koch, a German native, taught them about various aspects of life in Germany. The students had a wonderful day reading Hansel and Gretel, making paper cuckoo clocks, and learning about the German Christmas tradition of the Christmas pickle. Typically on Christmas Eve, parents will hide a pickle ornament deep in the tree’s branches. On Christmas morning the first child to find the pickle receives an extra gift from St. Nicholas. Students were also able to partake in German-made Haribo gummy bears and soft pretzels for snacks. It was a great day learning about a new culture!

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Catholic Wins Awards at ACES

John Scott Jackson

Myles Jordan

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Multiple Montgomery Catholic students auditioned for the 2021 Artistic Competition for Exceptional Students. The Montgomery Arts Council created this competition to help motivate students to grow and learn through the pursuit of their artistic goals. It recognizes 6th-12th Nate Garland grade students who display talent in the musical, visual or performing arts. Five Montgomery Catholic students placed in their respective categories. In the senior high instrumental category, Carlo De Jesus 9th-grader John Scott Jackson took first place on the trumpet. In the senior high strings category, 10th-grader Nate Gartland took first place on violin. In the senior high piano category, 12th- grader Myles Jordan took second place. In the senior high guitar category, 12th-grader Carlo De Jesus received honorable mention. And in the senior high dance category, 12th-grader Inés Gonzalez-Ansaldi received honorable mention.

River Region Parents I April 2021

BTW Mock Trial Team Advances

Members of the Booker T. Washington Magnet High mock trial team proved their legal prowess when they made it to the Final Four of the YMCA State Youth Judicial Competition. The BTW team was one of 18 to qualify for the state tournament, which was held virtually this year. BTW, Vestavia Hills, Spain Park and Hoover high schools were the four represented in the Final Four. BTW competed as a plaintiff team against Hoover in one round of competition and three different Spain Park teams in additional competition rounds. BTW’s student attorneys are Claire Harden and Erica Luckie, and witnesses are Michael Pritchard, Mia Johnston and Jack Gillet. Brewbaker Technology Magnet High student Jada Burroughs also participated as part of the BTW team. The team’s faculty sponsor is Dr. Elizabeth Bowles of the BTW law magnet, and the attorney coach is BTW parent Lisa Harden. The BTW mock trial team benefited from the support of multiple community partners, including the FAME Board, the Cloverdale Playhouse and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

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Eastmont Christian Kindergarten Reopens Its Doors

Eastmont Christian Kindergarten will open in August 2021, with classes for K3, K4, and K5 Monday through Friday from 8:30 until 11:30 am. It has been a few years since Eastmont had a weekday program so everyone is very excited and looking forward to opening the doors this fall. A ministry of Eastmont Baptist Church, the school will use Abeka curriculum enhanced in a unique way to challenge students and help them reach their full potential. The program will be directed by Lynn Blackwell and the staff at Eastmont is committed to providing a loving, Christian environment with excellent academics. Registration is open, but class size is limited. For more information visit https://Eastmont.org/eastmont-christian-kindergarten/ or contact the school office at (334) 239-8555.

MA Art Students Recognized in District Competition

Montgomery Academy advanced placement art students recently placed in the Visual Arts Achievement Program District 2 Competition at Troy University. First-place and wild card winners’ work will proceed to the state competition with the Alabama State Council on the Arts. These include: Ellie Kim – 1st place Computer Imagery; Laine Martin – 2nd place Computer Imagery; Anna Munson – 2nd place & wild card Mixed Media; Abby Baird – 1st place Painting and Leighton Robertson – wild card Painting.

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Montgomery County Schools

Churchill Student Council Thanks Medical Workers

MA Students Conduct Blood Typing Lab

While studying the cardiovascular system, Montgomery Academy’s Upper School Anatomy and Physiology students discovered their blood types in a lab. Students used sterile lancets to prick their fingers and perform tests to determine their ABO and Rh blood types. Students also performed agglutination testing.

River Region Parents I April 2021

Churchill Academy’s Student Council, lower school representatives and the school’s therapy dog, Tyson, brought baskets full of snacks and joy for the team at Baptist Medical Center East. Handwritten notes of encouragement from each High School student were an extra special touch, and the healthcare heroes at Baptist Health felt the love. The students and teachers of Churchill Academy plan to refill these baskets in the months to come as the hospital teams continue working to care for the patients of the River Region during this unique season of care.

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STJ Track Team Breaks School Records

At the Homewood Invitational Meet on March 13, the Saint James Track & Field Team produced several personal best performances. School records were broken by Connor Owens for Shot Put and Kendall Hardaway in the Long Jump events. Owens placed second overall with a throw of 47 feet, beating the previous school record by more than a foot. The Boys’ Shot Put record was previously broken a few weeks ago on February 27, by teammate Lucas Huckabee. Owens and Huckabee have broken the record three times over the past year. Before this streak, the previous record was set in April 2014, by Michael Robinson (2016 class). Hardaway placed second overall in both the long and triple jumps. Her long jump of 17-6.5 feet is a new school record. The Girls’ Long Jump was previously set in April 2018, by Logann Dean (2021 class). Top photo, Connor Owens readies to launch the shot put at the Homewood Invitational Meet. Bottom, Kendall Hardaway executes a record-breaking long jump at Homewood.

MEA Girls Compete as Lady Pee Wees

Macon East Academy girls in fourth through sixth grades joined together as a Pee Wee Lady Knights team to compete in the Hoops League this season. The Hoops League program focuses on teaching and developing basic fundamental skills, having fun and learning the values of being part of a team. The league opens play each December and continues through February, with organizers trying to keep the game realistic, on time and fun for both participants and parents. Currently, the Hoops League has about 700 kids participating. There are 97 total teams from 21 different schools. Faulkner University took the extra step for the Hoops League by making a special championship night for the Hoopsters. The university brought in its actual game announcer and game day management team, and provided all of the game day bells and whistles. The Lady Knights Pee Wee girls’ team were league tournament runners-up in the championship game. Shown kneeling from left are: Aubrey Smith, Mikayla Purifoy, Kylie Taylor and Campbell Lockridge; standing: Bella Chambers, Kaci Armistead, Addie Longcrier, Bentley Graham and Avery Kyser.

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Montgomery Academy senior Ann Cobern Chapman has been selected as the 3A Region 3 BryantJordan ScholarAthlete. A total of 56 seniors in the Alabama High School Athletic Association were selected in each category from nominations submitted by member schools. Eight students, one from each district in each of the state’s 1A through 6A classifications, and four students in Class 7A, will receive $3,000 scholarships for their selection. The overall class winner will receive an additional $3,500 scholarship and the overall state winner will receive an additional $4,000 scholarship in each category. The recipients will be honored at the 36th annual banquet set for April 12. The Bryant-Jordan Awards program, named after legendary coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ralph “Shug” Jordan, was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the AHSAA. It is supervised by the BryantJordan Foundation’s board of directors and has been recognizing senior studentathletes annually since 1986 (ScholarAthlete) and 1989 (Achievement Award).

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BTW Student Artworks on Display

6000 Atlanta Highway - Montgomery • 334-495-6370 • preschool@frazer.church

River Region Parents I April 2021

The work of art students at BTW Magnet High School that reflect the legacy of the 1961 Freedom Rides are currently on display. The top three finalists will be in Montgomery’s Freedom Rides Museum from April 1 until May 31st. The top 13 finalists are on the Friends of the Freedom Rides Instagram page. The works reflect the theme of the Freedom Rides 60th Anniversary: Passing the Legacy. Freedom Rider and artist Judith Wright was amazed by the quality of the work and was astonished to learn that some of the best works were 9th-grade students. www.riverregionparents.com

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TEA Celebrates Black History Month

TEA Christian Academy celebrated Black History Month by shining a light on ten black history-makers from Alabama during its virtual Black History Program February 25. The school took the liberty of spotlighting five individuals from our own Montgomery community – E.D. Nixon, Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks, Alvin Holmes and Mayor Steven Reed. These trailblazers made their mark in the city in different ways and during different times. They are deserving of this honor, because their impact tremendously laid the foundation and frame-work for where we are today as a city. The program ended with the Black Negro Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson. Also, during the month of February, the students spotlighted a black history-maker every school day. This gave the students the opportunity to learn even more about the contributions of various black people in his-tory. TEA Academy will continue to do things that empower the community and render a positive impact on our society.

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MA Football Players Commit to Auburn Montgomery Academy seniors Thomas Kirkham and Jackson Kelly have signed letters of commitment as preferred walk-ons to continue their football careers at Auburn University.

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Macon East Participates in Fun Run

Macon East Academy’s Lower School and Pre-school students recently had a blast participating in the annual Fun Run. During this fundraiser, families gather donations for laps run by their students on the day of the Run. Students took part in character-building lessons each day from the Booster team, learning about teamwork, courage and determination. The twoweek event was a great success, earning the kids many exciting rewards along the way for reaching their goals. Some of their favorite rewards were an ice cream truck and a Color Run for the older kids. A portion of the funds raised went toward the new school intercom system which has just been installed for all buildings.

Forest Avenue Student Wins County Bee

Forest Avenue Academic Magnet fourthgrader Ayaan Patel is the Montgomery County Spelling Bee champion. Veterans of Foreign Wars Smith-Wynn Post 96 sponsored the contest, and Post Commander Robert Carr presented Patel with a certificate and $300 for winning first place.

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River Region Parents I April 2021

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Cornerstone Promotes Hough to Principal

Michelle Hough will assume the role of Grammar School Principal at Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy. A Montgomery native and longtime Cornerstone teacher, Hough holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Mobile. “Mrs. Hough’s unrelenting desire to pass on the tools of learning and knowledge of and faith in Jesus Christ to our students is a daily inspiration to us all,” said Cornerstone Headmaster John Bradley. “We are thrilled to have her join us in this new role.” Hough has been married to her best friend, Judd, for 25 years and has a passion for early childhood education and international missions. She is a fixture in the Cornerstone family and a mother to three current and former Cornerstone students— Hannah, married to Cornerstone graduate Andrew; Susanna, a senior with plans to attend Mississippi College next year; and Sarah Kate, a current sixth-grader who loves competitive swimming.

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MEA Varsity Basketball Team State Champs

The Macon East Academy varsity boys’ basketball team won its third state basketball championship in the last five years. Macon East finished 14-7 with a remarkable run through the AA playoffs. The boys rallied together amidst COVID-19 and a coaching change midway through the season to be AISA 2A State Champions! The Knights defeated Escambia 62-55 at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. Jeremiah Carnegie led Macon East with 16 points, Chase Dumas had 15 points, followed by Maurice Poole with 13 and Tyler Daniels with 12. Poole, Carnegie and Dumas also made the all-tournament team. Glynn Lott is the team’s coach. The Knights will lose six senior leaders this season including Carlos Carter, Eric Lawson, Aidan Steyer, Stone Yarnell, Carnegie and Dumas. Shown, Coach Glynn Lott, Carlos Carter, Garrison Miller, Gunner Justice, Tyler Daniels, Joshwa Browder, Jeremiah Carnegie, Aidan Steyer, Maurice Poole, Stone Yarnell, Eric Lawson, Chase Dumas, Tanner Surles, Dalton Nickles, Barrett Spaeth and Assistant Coach Philander Browder.

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The month of April brings beautiful spring weathe, longer days, and numerous special occasions to celebrate. Among those special occasions are Administrative Professionals Day, Earth Day, International Children’s Book Day, National Autism Awareness, Month of The Military Child, and the one-year mark of navigating a school system through COVID-19. We have closely followed our experiences within Pike Road Schools this year as it relates to COVID spread. We have found that overwhelming evidence supports the idea that masks reduce the spread of COVID. We have had to quarantine many healthy people for being within 6 feet of a COVID positive person for over 15 minutes. When masks were in use, less than one percent of those healthy quarantine cases contracted COVID. In light of these experiences and

the fact that our learners are not of an age to receive the vaccine, Pike Road Schools will continue to enforce a mask wearing policy until the end of the school year. Our teachers and staff have continued to do a phenomenal job ensuring our students’ growth and learning. This year has been challenging and tedious for all, but the PRS team has continued to make it all work through their dedication. The Pike Road Board of Education recently approved a onetime payment of $500 for all PRS employees in light of the extra work to make this year a success for our learners. In addition to special occasions, April also brings annual state assessments. We will slow down just enough to measure our learners’ progress toward required knowledge and skills as set and defined by Alabama’s content standards. We also continue to show what our learners can do through authentic learning by solving problems and producing real things of real value. A prime example of authentic learning by solving problems is the walkway project our Student Government Association (SGA) at Pike Road Intermediate School (PRIS) just completed. After numer-

ous complaints from peers about inaccessibility to the new playground, the SGA officers at Pike Road Intermediate School (PRIS) worked with Froggy Bottom owner Ben Lassiter to build and fund a walkway to the playground. You can read more about this project in the School Bits section. Outside of the classroom, our learners’ are excelling in sports and extracurricular activities. We had four robotics teams to qualify for the VEX State Competition, and our golf team won the Capital City Scramble. To further credit our district, the Pike Road Chapter of Mu AlphaTheta just inducted 82 new members. The future is bright for Pike Road Schools! Keep an eye on us as we continue to lead the way in education and make our district the best it can be. Chuck Ledbetter has been an educator for 30 years. He earned a B.A. in history from Auburn University; a Masters of Education in history from AUM; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Auburn University. Ledbetter was a history teacher for 11 years, an assistant principal, a middle school principal, a high school principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and for finance, and is in his 11th year as a superintendent. He is married to Kim and has three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

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PRIS SGA Officers Work Together

After numerous complaints from peers about inaccessibility to the new playground, the Student Government Association officers at Pike Road Intermediate School (PRIS) got busy. Officers Tristian Bradsher, Gunner Gibbs and Micah Posey began by asking community members for input and guidance. Pike Road Town Councilwoman Angie Bradsher played an essential part in organizing a meeting with Ben Lassiter, co-owner of Froggy Bottom Materials, and our SGA officers. Lassiter met with the officers at PRIS. He walked them through how to tackle such a large project. They discussed everything from measuring the project site to organizing and completing the project as a group. They looked at blueprints of the area and identified what materials would work best for what they were hoping to accomplish. Finally, Lassiter discussed pricing for projects like this one. The officers were able to “strike a deal” with Lassiter. In exchange for the SGA providing labor, Lassiter will donate all materials. This has been a wonderful project and we cannot wait to start “construction!” Ben Lassiter is shown meeting with Pike Road Intermediate School’s SGA officers.

PRHS Newspaper Receives Honor Rating

The Revere, the student newspaper for Pike Road High School, has earned an “Honor” rating based on a critique of the publication by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association at the University of Alabama. From the judges’ overall evaluation: “You have a terrific start to a student newspaper. You cover important stories that are directly relevant to your audience. Your coverage and understanding of the importance of fleshing out stories is perhaps your strongest asset. That alone provides an excellent foundation upon which to build, grow and expand.” Ken Spear is the PRHS faculty adviser of the newspaper. Follow us on Facebook at One Nation Media @ PRHS.

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PRHS Competes in Youth Judicial

Many things look different for our learners this year, and YMCA’s Youth Judicial competition was not exempt; however, technology made possible a fun and inspiring Saturday of mock trial competition come to life across our state. Pike Road High School had two teams compete, one prosecution team and one defense team, with members playing the role of attorney or witness. Our teams were a mix of virtual and in-person learners, and they collaborated via Zoom until the day before competition, where

The Pike Road Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national high school and twoyear college mathematics honor society, just inducted 82 new members! Membership requirements include: members must be in grades 9-12; must have completed the equivalent of two years of college preparatory mathematics, including algebra and/or geometry; and have completed or are enrolled in a third year of college preparatory mathematics. On the 4-point grading scale, members must have at least a 3.0 math grade-point average.

they practiced in the same room for the first time since prep began in December! Representing grades 9-11, these learners did an amazing job of overcoming any barriers and working together to present their cases. Top from left are the team of Guadalupe Lopez, Brianna Arnett, Aurora Breland and Chandler Kimball. Bottom from left are the team of Kylon Garrett-Townsend, Aden Stricklin, Aurora Kimball, Maria Estrada and SiEun Baik.

River Region Parents I April 2021

PRHS Students Inducted Into Math Honor Society

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Pike Road Participates in Mock Senate Chamber

Mrs. Young and Mrs. Goulart’s fifth-grade English language arts students conducted a mock Alabama Senate Chamber in which students presented speeches on a selected bill. Three current Alabama state bills were presented to the class and students were able to select a bill that they were most passionate about. Students then had to analyze what the bill was about and decide their stance on the bill. Fifth-grade students were required to research the bill in depth, find additional information regarding the topic through use of extensive research, and form an opinion on whether the bill should be passed. Students then wrote a speech to present during the mock Alabama Senate Chamber. Each bill was voted on as a Senate (class). This project allowed students to further develop Alabama state standards regarding speaking and listening skills, writing and research. Classrooms were arranged to mimic a senate chamber. Students dressed in professional attire on the day of the speeches, and a formal script was used to enhance the feel of the speeches taking place in the actual Alabama Senate Chamber. To further enhance the learning experience, State Senator Will Barfoot took time out of his busy schedule to speak to fifth-graders about the legislative process, and even issued official Alabama state pins for students to wear. Senator Barfoot is shown speaking to Pike Road fifth-graders about the legislative process.

PRES Students Create Black History Museum

During Black History Month, Pike Road Schools celebrated influential figures that have profoundly impacted history and culture. Pike Road Elementary School (PRES) first-grade students and teachers researched these individuals and created a very impressive Black History Museum. The museum included musicians, athletes, artists, inventors, authors and The Tuskegee Airmen. Each exhibit had a QR code that viewers could scan for detailed information.

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

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Autauga County Schools

Pine Level Teachers Receive Grant

Pine Level Elementary special education teachers Chelsea McCullers and Joey Robison received a grant from the PrattvilleAutauga Character Coalition. The grant was awarded for trade books teaching character traits to be used within their special education classroom for students with disabilities.

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Billingsley Junior Recognized by UA

Billingsley School junior Jackson Manning is participating in the University of Alabama Early College Program. This past fall, Manning made the Director’s List. The Director’s List consists of current UA Early College students with a 3.6 GPA (or higher) in their academic work.

Prattville Primary Wins CLAS Distinction

Prattville Primary School was awarded the CLAS Schools of Distinction. Out of 130 schools statewide, 31 were chosen within the eight districts. River Region Parents I April 2021

PHS Sends Debate Students to Nationals

Prattville High School’s speech and debate team has now qualified at least one student to the national tournament each year for the past 16 years. But during this past year, tournaments were forced to change format and adjust to COVID protocols. Typically in person, debate tournaments happen on high school campuses all across the state – but with statewide mask mandates and CDC guidelines in place, students had to compete virtually this year. That didn’t stop three Prattville High School students from qualifying to the national debate tournament this year, which will also take place online this June. The qualifiers are John Tate Smyth in International Extemporaneous Speaking, Brooke Turley in Original Oratory, and Brooklyn Woods in Programmed Oral Interpretation. Troy Chesser will serve as first alternate in Original Oratory. The students qualified at the district tournament after placing either first or second in their respective event. PHS Head Debate Coach Katy Olienyk has been coaching at the school for the past 15 years and has never experienced anything like this last season. “Having to wear masks when we were together would obstruct facial expressions, which can make it difficult to read student’s faces when they are performing,” Olienyk said. “This presents an obstacle that makes it hard to effectively prepare for a tournament; however, the students have done a great job this year helping each other out and coaching each other through the challenges. We’re very lucky because we could still participate due to the virtual options that were given to us by the Alabama Speech and Debate Association. Everyone did the best with what they were given.” The Alabama State Tournament will be held on April 8, followed by the national tournament on June 13. Information for this article came from Elmore Autauga News. www.riverregionparents.com

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PCA Lady Panthers Win State Title

Prattville Christian Academy’s varsity girls’ basketball team’s postseason play began with decisive victories against Beulah and Slocomb before facing off against in-town rival Montgomery Academy in the Elite Eight. Five times this season the Lady Panthers had been pushed back by the Eagles, but despite trailing during the third and fourth quarters, they eventually defeated the Eagles 57-56, earning a spot in the Final Four for only the third time in school history. Both Head Coach Jason Roberson and Assistant Coach Jim Graham agreed that defeating the number-one ranked team in the area during state play was a highlight of their season. Roberson added that he enjoys “each moment with this team. They are just so much fun to coach and be around; every day is a great day!” On and off the court, the varsity team found a way to build each other up and improve with each second spent playing. “They truly love each other, encourage each other, want the best for each other! They never quit, accept coaching, and do their very best to apply it!” Roberson noted. When the Lady Panthers faced off against 2nd-ranked Susan Moore High School, they were led by high scorers Ella Jane Connell and Hannah Jones. The Panthers took the early lead and never looked back, handily defeating Susan Moore 70-56. Both coaches again expressed admiration for the team, this time as they traveled for only the second time in school history to the state championship game. Throughout all the challenges this season brought, from COVID-19 restrictions to injuries and quarantines, Roberson could only speak highly of the Lady Panthers, saying that “[we] have ladies on our team with extremely high character who are super competitive and who are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. For these reasons, they were able to overcome any adversity that came our way this season.” The stadium was packed with fans from both PCA and competitor Sylvania High School flocking to Birmingham in support of their team. The Lady Panthers weren’t intimidated by the challenge or the pressure, and falling behind only once in the first quarter, fought tooth and nail to keep a lead on Sylvania. Trading shot after shot, the Panthers held their lead on the Rams, and after a nail-biting fourth quarter, defeated Sylvania 62-55, winning the 3A Girls State Basketball Championship for the first time in school history! CoCo Thomas led with 25 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks. Jones added 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks. Avery Rogers scored eight points. Connell added six points, six assists, and five rebounds, and MaKenna Simpson scored five points. Jones and Connell received nominations to the All-Tournament Team, and the crowning achievement of the 3A Most Valuable Player was also awarded to Jones. PCA senior journalism student Jenna Stilling contributed to this article.

Prattville Primary Teacher Receives Grant Prattville Primary School’s Mrs. Langham received a grant from the Autauga Education Foundation. Funding for Langham’s proposal, Interactive Technology for Pre-K, will be used to purchase Smart Board technology to provide Pre-K students with enriching and engaging learning opportunities that support student-led learning and collaboration.

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Autauga County Schools

Prattville Primary Explores Careers

Prattville Primary School explored many different careers during career day. Students had the opportunity to Zoom with professionals, view short videos about careers created by community members and dress as their future career. The students enjoyed exploring many different career options.

Prattville Primary Celebrates Seuss

Students at Prattville Primary School celebrated Read Across America week by reading many books. They had the opportunity to wear their Dr. Seuss hats and wacky socks as well as eat green eggs and ham for lunch. Several guest readers took the time to Zoom with classes and read some great books. Students and parents were given a literacy packet that included a book and information on helping students become great readers, as well as a few fun Dr. Seuss items.

PCA Student Competes In County Spelling Bee

Pine Level Celebrates Read Across America

After winning Prattville Christian Academy’s Scripps School Spelling Bee, eighth-grader Elijah Harris competed in the Elmore County Spelling Bee, placing third in the county-wide competition in February.

Pine Level Elementary celebrated Read Across America the first week in March. School Resource Officer Angela Young was a guest reader in several classes.

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

PCA Student Earns Top Honors at ACES

Prattville Christian Academy sophomore Paulina Roughton earned top honors in The Arts Council of Montgomery’s Artistic Competition for Exceptional Students (ACES) in the disciplines of voice and guitar. This juried competition features the area’s top artists and provides cash prizes that winners use to continue pursuing their talents and passions. River Region Parents I April 2021

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“Every Student Empowered – Every Student Succeeds.” This statement captures our purpose as a school district and keeps our focus on our students in all our decisions. One way we can empower our students is to ensure we have excellent facilities for learning. To that end, we are currently involved in several construction projects that will provide our students with high-quality learning environments. We have several projects at various stages of completion that will enhance our students’ educational experiences with new, state-of-the art facilities. Recently completed projects include new security entrances at Elmore County High School and Holtville High School. These entrances involved significant renovations to existing facilities and will control

visitor access and increase security for the students and staffs at these schools. A new baseball/softball field house at Holtville High is also complete and provides much-needed space for these sports. We have four capital projects currently underway that will provide new instructional spaces for our students. The Elmore County Technical Center is adding a 44,450 square foot classroom/lab facility that will house the Welding Technology, HVAC, Public Safety & Law, Construction Technology, and Health Sciences programs. New band/choral space is under construction at Stanhope Elmore High School which will include practice, office, and storage space. All our middle schools will implement Project Lead The Way, an engaging, hands-on STEM curricula, this fall. To support our increased focus on STEM opportunities for students and provide an appropriate space for inquiry-based learning, STEM classrooms for our middle schools are in the design phase and we hope to begin work on those areas in the near future.

The largest of our current projects involving instructional space is the longawaited Redland Middle School that is scheduled to open at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. Redland Middle School is a 110,000 square foot facility with 32 classrooms, gym, locker room, cafeteria, band room, etc. and will house grades 5-8. Finally, we are planning for a new Performing Arts facility for band and theater at Wetumpka High School. We anticipate that construction will begin on this muchneeded facility this fall. We are excited to be able to provide these new and improved facilities for our students and staff as we continually strive toward “Every Student Empowered – Every Student Succeeds.” Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.

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Elmore County Schools

Holtville Junior Named DECA State President

On February 24 and 25, students from across the state participated in Alabama DECA’s virtual Career Development Conference. During this time, members of DECA competed in various events and elected new officers for the 2021-2022 academic year. Hannah Daniel, a junior at Holtville High School, was elected as the new DECA state president. She and the DECA State Officer Team will be representing the state at the International Career Development Conference in April.

ECTC Students Earn HOSA Honors

Wetumpka Students Named FFA Officers

Elmore County Technical Center’s Medical Sciences students earned honors at the 2021 Alabama HOSA State Leadership Conference. Hannah Loyd, left, and Shemia’ya Peak, right, both from Stanhope Elmore High, qualified as Healthcare Issues Exam Winners. Peak also placed first in the Research Poster category, earning her the opportunity to compete at the Virtual HOSA International Leadership Conference this summer.

Wetumpka High School Future Farmers of America student Jackson Hill, left, was selected as the 2021-2022 Central District Sentinel, while Luke Pullen, right was just short of being selected as a state officer candidate! These young men went through a tough interview process and represent the organization well.

WES Receives Bright Ideas Grant

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Wetumpka Elementary’s 4th-grade team received a $1,500 Bright Ideas Grant from Central Alabama Electric Cooperative! The funds were used to create a rolling STEM lab, and each cart will allow teachers to provide an independent activity for every student in the classroom when in use. This year Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s Bright Ideas grant program provided $24,000 to 23 innovative projects benefitting nearly 3,800 students throughout its service area. Funded projects included studying human skin with lifelike models and conducting science experiments with a fully functional weather station, which allow educators to teach their students critical thinking skills through creative initiatives. The application process for 2021/2022 Bright Ideas Grants will begin this September. Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges from local community associations.

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Coosada Elementary Participates In STEM Day Coosada Elementary students and teachers participated in a Winter STEM day on February 19. Students were able to explore different materials and experiment winter scenarios using problem solving skills.

Wetumpka Senior Signs with Huntingdon

Wetumpka High School senior Ben Barker has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his football career and education at Huntingdon College starting this fall.

Millbrook Middle Earns CLAS Distinction

Millbrook Middle School was awarded the CLAS Schools of Distinction. Out of 130 schools statewide, 31 were chosen within the eight districts. MMS will attend the awards banquet in May to see who receives the CLAS Banner Schools achievement for our district.

Send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

Coosada Celebrates Read Across America

Students at Coosada Elementary had a wonderful week celebrating Read Across America! Each day the students were able to dress up according to the theme of the day. Students also enjoyed reading, making crafts, writing and participating in author studies. Each pod transformed hallways into scenes from favorite books. Members of the Elmore County Board of Education judged the pods and their creations. Yellow pod 2nd Grade won first place!

Advice for the expected and unexpected.

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Financial Advisor

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So Pl with Coach K

Let’s Take It Outside Goodbye, Winter! Goodbye, cold weather! Goodbye to all of the excuses made for not exercising. Say hello to Spring! Say hello to birds chirping and flowers blooming. Spring is the perfect weather remix – not too cold and not too hot. Since the days are longer and the weather is nicer, this is a great time to take advantage of all the outdoor activities and exercises. Did you know it is recommended that adults have at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity at least once a week and children are recommended to have at least an hour of physical activity a day? This is because exercising can help with many things, including weight loss, reducing risks of heart disease and certain cancers, and strengthening bones and muscles. During this pandemic, one of the benefits I’ve added into my daily routine is outside activity. I absolutely love my daily “wog” (cross between a walk and jog). With gyms unfortunately closing their doors and also practicing social distancing, being outside was a safer and more cost-efficient route to staying healthy and fit. I want to encourage you to take your exercise/activities OUTSIDE. Here are some important tips to keep in mind, to keep you motivated and driven to not only ‘go outside, but stay outside’… until the street lights come on. 

Create a Schedule The saying goes “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Every day you should have a time set for your activity…whether it’s walking, jogging, or yard work. Take River Region Parents I April 2021

about 45-60 minutes a day of physical activity, but don’t write the schedule in your mind. Write it in a journal, note pad, or your phone. Hold yourself accountable.

Invite Family and Friends Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can

• Early mornings (4am-5am) are good because the temperature is cool and the sun isn’t out. The heat can drain your energy. • Studies have shown that those who perform early morning exercise sleep better than those who exercise later in the evening. Exercise stimulates our bodies so it’s more difficult to fall asleep.

Volunteer Sign up for some volunteer work. There are tons of outdoor spring events that you can partake in, from different 5k runs, to cleaning up your local park, or volunteering at a local animal shelter.

Hit the Beach

help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” It is profitable and helpful when you have true friendship. Whether it’s your kids, siblings, parents, or friends, call them. Also, this is a great time to bring back true relationships. No texting. No social media. REAL TIME TOGETHER!

I know I’m your friend now! According to one study (I researched myself), running on the beach takes almost two times more energy than running on a track or road. You don’t even notice the rigor with the ocean breeze and the call of seagulls. So if you have access to a nearby beach, there are unlimited ways to incorporate both ocean and sand into your fitness activity. Walking, jogging, crunches, and pushups are all great beach workout activities. Let’s head outside everybody! You have unlimited equipment. Use the curb, park bench, and even the bumper on your car. Let the world be your gym!

Morning Exercise I know what you’re thinking, ‘I’m not a morning person!’ I do understand. However, allow me to share with you why mornings aren’t so bad. • When you begin your day with physical activity, it puts you in a better mood for the rest of the day. 40

Keon Addison is a 5th grade teacher of 19 years at Wares Ferry Road Elementary. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two beautiful girls, Ashlyn and Keona. Keon is the visionary/coach of Unleashed Potential Fitness where he hosts bootcamps, group training, and personal training. He is also a lifestyle coach for the Wellness Coalition teaching people how to delay and/or prevent type 2 diabetes. Find out more at www.unleashedpotentialfitness.org.

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Parents want the best for their kids and have a strong desire for them to be successful in every endeavor. While this tendency comes with positive intentions, it can occasionally backfire and leave kids unprepared for the natural consequences and reali-

ties that come with everyday life as an adult.

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According to the Cambridge Dictionary, overparenting is defined as “too much involvement by parents in the lives of their children, so that they try to help with or control everything that

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happens to the child.” Kids who are raised in this environment struggle in college and beyond with basic tasks, common disappointments, and self sufficiency.

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How do you know if you are overparenting? Here are some common pitfalls parents can easily find themselves falling into and some tips to turn these tendencies around.

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River Region Parents I April 2021

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Common pitfall: Power struggles

Do you find yourself having a heated debate with your child about something that isn’t important in the grand scheme of things? For example, you may be tempted to argue about your child’s clothing choices, if their room isn’t clean enough, if they are not playing with toys the “right way”, or if they are simply approaching a task differently than you would tackle it yourself. You may be overparenting. Turn it around: When you find yourself in the middle of another power struggle, pause and reflect if it is worth debating. Your child will learn problem solving skills and gain independence from doing things their own way. If it doesn’t work as smoothly as the way you would have done it, that’s to be expected. They will learn the lesson and adjust naturally on their own. The best part will be less arguing and stress in the home.

Learning, Growing, & Belonging Our Pre-K and Kindergarten program is designed to foster the growth of the whole child. Self-contained classrooms provide the perfect start to a lifetime of learning. Each child benefits from the individual attention provided by our experienced full-time early childhood teachers. Kindergarten students focus on reading, working with iPads to learn essential readiness skills and additional enrichment activities. K3 and K4 students experience a nurturing fun-filled day of developmentally appropriate activities. Come join our Knight family and experience a happy busy family atmosphere! We have room for you! For more information or to schedule a personal tour, please contact Jill Taylor, our Admissions Director.

Common pitfall: Lack of natural consequences

One of the hardest things about parenting is watching your child fail. If they don’t make the team, get a bad grade, break a toy, or have a disagreement with a friend, parents are often tempted to step in and “fix” the situation so their child is not hurt or disappointed. While this seems like a good thing now, it can cause long lasting challenges for your child. Turn it around: Let them try, make mistakes, and deal with the aftermath - positive or negative - that comes from their actions. Facing natural consequences is hard but kids who do so are better prepared for making decisions as an adult, when the stakes are much higher and the choices can be life altering.

Common pitfall: Lack of responsibilities

A common sign of overparenting is a lack of age-appropriate expectations and responsibilities. It is tempting to do all of the chores around the house, help your child with homework assignments, allow them to give up when things get tough, clean up for them, and assist them with daily tasks they can do on their own. Kids often surprise us with how much they can do by themselves when given the chance to try. Turn it around: Start by choosing one task and let your child know they will be responsible for it from now on. Teach them how to do it, let them know you are there to answer questions and help but they will need to do the task on their own. It will most likely be a struggle at first, but over time they will be able to do it independently and will gain a sense of pride. Soon they will be ready to take on more responsibilities and harder tasks.

Common pitfall: No time for traditional play

Traditional play and down time are important for kids development because it promotes creativity and allows your child rest from the structure and pressures that school and extracurricular activities bring. If your child has so many scheduled activities that they have very little free time, it may be due to overparenting. It’s best to find a good balance of your time that promotes both traditional play and activities such as sports or artistic interests equally. Turn it around: Ask your child what they are truly interested in and reduce the rest of the activities to allow more free time. Keep in mind this may or may not be the activity they excel at. Allowing your child to choose what activities outside the home is important as they gain independence and allows time for them to develop their interests rather than spreading them too thin. Parenting is challenging and changing behavior is even more so. Give yourself grace and make small changes at a time. The hard work will be worth it when your child develops into a healthy, self sufficient adult ready to face the challenges and successes that life brings. rrp

15396 Vaughn Road • Cecil, Alabama 36013

(334) 277-6566 • maconeast.net We are located only a few minutes east of Chantilly Parkway, serving the Pike Road and surrounding communities.

Sarah Lyons is a contributing writer.

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by Kimberley Carter Spivey

When it comes to food, fitness, and family—Casie Scott, business owner, wife, and mom, has a passion for it all—and she’s no rookie. Her personality and energy are contagious. One can’t help but feel welcomed, positive, and excited in her presence, and her interview was all the rave. She’s the owner of NShape Fitness and Jo Wells Boutique, and both establishments are located here in the heart of the Capitol City. NShape Fitness opened its doors in 2008, and Jo Wells has been open since 2018. Both local businesses have forged a community of support from residents near the Montgomery area. Being an entrepreneur provides Casie an opportunity to give back and help people in the community. She has a heart for people, and she believes that she’s fulfilling her calling. A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Casie moved to Montgomery in 2001. Meeting the love of her life, Derek, they were married in 2006. They have two beautiful daughters: Emma (14) and Lillian (8). And their family wouldn’t be complete without their fur baby (a boxer) named Daisy. Casie Scott’s admiration for people shows in so many ways. She says, “I love being able to support people on their journey to wellness and loving themselves! From a great workout in the gym to getting dressed up and feeling beautiful and loving themselves—that’s what it’s all about.” Since she’s a fitness guru, she naturally has a knack for nutrition and River Region Parents I April 2021

creating healthy, yet delicious, meals to devour. She shares, “I love creating tasty recipes with healthy ingredients for myself, my kids, and my NShape family. One of my favorite things to do is to make yummy snacks and bring them to the gym for people to fuel their bodies after a long workout.” Another fun food adventure through her NShape Fitness family is sharing recipes for support and accountability. Being part of a large family (one of eight siblings), Casie quickly learned her way around the kitchen. Always helping her mom in the kitchen from a young age, Casie received age-appropriate tasks and slowly learned how to cook. Cooking is a hobby she enjoys, and she graciously shared some of her favorite go-to foods to eat. “I really enjoy making muffins with bananas and baked oatmeal. These have great ingredients to fuel my body, and they are easy to grab and go.” While she loves to create recipes when she has free time, it’s evident that she incorporates her love for cooking into her business. During the time she spends with her husband and girls, she cherishes making food for her family that everyone enjoys. In fact, in the Scott home, Friday nights are pizza nights. It became a tradition after Casie made a household favorite— 44

personal pizzas. The best thing about pizza is the endless amount of toppings to choose from in creating this mouthwatering meal. Not to mention, it’s fun to make, simple, and quick for busy moms and dads.

Personal Pizza Ingredients 2-3 packs of Stonefire Original Nann Bread 1 cup Pizza Sauce of your choice 1/2 cup Sargento Mozzarella Cheese Add toppings of your choice (Sausage, Pepperoni, Chicken, Vegetables, etc.) 2-3 tablespoons of Italian seasoning (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sauce and Italian seasoning in a small bowl until well blended. Spread evenly onto crusts. Sprinkle pizzas evenly with cheese, add toppings, place on a pizza stone and bake for 25 minutes. Let it cool for five to ten minutes and serve.

Kimberley Carter Spivey is a freelance writer, blogger, author, and entrepreneur. When she’s not working as an Instructional Systems Designer and copy-editor on Maxwell AFB, she’s busy freelancing, blogging, or toiling away at her next book. Her debut book Bloom: How to Get from Good Enough to a Life You Love can be purchased on Amazon and girlyouwrite.com.

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Besides helping you get work done or caught up on some errands, daycare and preschool present enormous benefits for your child. “Both offer kids experiences they might not get at home, such as exposure to a larger social environment that can help them learn how to get along well with others,” says Cathy Keller, the director of preschool and infant care center. Who knew that 18-month-olds could have friends? When kids go to daycare and preschool, their schedule tends to fill up with play dates and birthday parties. Developmentally, kids who’ve done at least a year of preschool are more ready to jump into the learning environment of kindergarten, too. “Preschool is an environment in which kids have the opportunity to use language in many different ways with others who are at the same developmental age,” says Jennifer Kurumada Chuang, the owner of a multi-grade child care center and preschool that serves 225 children and their families. But, overall, preschool helps young naturally-egocentric kids learn how to exist with others in a classroom. “Preschoolers learn how take turns, follow directions, pick up after themselves, stand in line, sit in a circle, raise their hand, use their words to express themselves instead of physically acting out and talk when it’s appropriate,” Kurumada Chuang says. “If they master those social skills in preschool, they’re ready to learn in kindergarten.” All told, your child’s early learning experiences can set the tone for years to come. To help your child prepare for daycare and preschool and reinforce the lessons he learns there, here’s the homework you can do that can make all the difference.

Ace the Drop-Off Pick the right daycare or preschool. “Separating from mom and dad can be tough for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, though some kids display it more aggressively than others,” says Keller. To make drop-off easier, choose a daycare or preschool you feel good about. “Parents telegraph their comfort and confidence about the school in so many ways to their 47

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kids,” says Keller. If you’re happy with your choice of school and know that your child is in a good learning situation, your child will pick up on your confidence and be okay with it, too, even if he initially doesn’t seem to like going there. And keep in mind that separation anxiety is often more painful for you than your child. “Children are amazingly adaptable,” Keller says. Manage morning madness. To help make drop-off at daycare or preschool smoother, take the hassle out of your AM. Try doing what you can the night before, when you have more time to think the next day through. For example, fill out permission slips, write any notes to the teacher and checks for daycare or preschool field trips and put them in your child’s backpack or lunchbox. Have your child take her bath or shower too. You can even set the table for breakfast and take out the breakfast cereal, if you want to. You could also check the weather forecast and let your preschooler set out the next day’s outfit. Stick to a routine. Whether your child is in daycare or preschool, establish a morning routine and stick to it. It might be: wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, has a short playtime together, double check the backpack or lunchbox, and leave the house. Structured routines give children a sense of control. “When they know what’s coming next, they’re less likely to procrastinate or become anxious about going to daycare or preschool,” Keller says. Make a morning-routine poster for your family and put it in a common area, such as on your fridge. The poster should outline the order of tasks such as dress-

River Region Parents I April 2021

ing, eating breakfast, putting on shoes and socks and brushing hair and teeth. Use pictures to convey the message. If your child dawdles even with a set routine, move up his bedtime and his wake-up by 15 minutes instead of trying to get him to conform to your schedule. Also, make sure he gets to bed early enough so he’s more apt to be up-and-at-‘em in the morning. Keep in mind that infants 3 to 11 months need 9 to 12 hours of sleep at night and a 30 minute to 4 hour nap one to three times a day. Toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours and preschoolers need 11 to 13 hours of shut eye at night. Don’t linger. At daycare or preschool, say goodbye to your child calmly, give your child a kiss and hug and tell him when you’ll be back to pick him up (such as after lunch or his nap). Then walk out the door and let the teacher give your child some lovies so you can make a quick exit. At the end of the day, make sure you’re there to collect your child when you say you will be. “Kids that young can’t tell time, but they will know that if you always pick up after their nap and you’re not there until 5 PM, that’s a big difference,” Keller says. Try to pick up at the same every day, if possible.

School Success Rx Help your child learn to follow directions. Practice at home by giving simple commands, such as “Please help me pick up your toys and put them in the toy box.” Then, encourage your child to follow through by offering an incentive to do whatever it is you’re asking. Tell your child

that he can play outside once he’s finished putting his toys away. An incentive helps him understand that following directions makes other fun activities possible. If he doesn’t follow your directions and, for example, put his toys away, calmly explain that he won’t be able to play with those toys for the rest of the day or go to the park. Keep it positive by focusing on how clean the playroom will look when you’re done. Then praise him when he’s successful. Help your child master sharing and turn taking. From age 3 to 5, children tend to hoard coveted toys and objects. They’re not really ready to grasp the concept of sharing yet. But you can help your youngster practice by having him “take turns” with toys and catching him when he shares on his own. To help him develop the empathy that true sharing requires, state what he did and how it makes others feel, such as: “Thank you for sharing. It makes your sister feel good when you share the ball.” Your child should be able to “own” special or new toys, though, so keep them out of sight on play dates or in his room away from siblings.

Be There at Pick-up Focus on your child. When it’s time to collect your time, be really glad to see her. Make sure you’re not on your cellphone or otherwise distracted. “Pick-up should be all about your child,” Keller says. “Your child wants to know you’re super glad to see her and that you’ve been looking forward to it all day.” rrp Sandra Gordon is a contributing writer.

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36013 Macon East Academy ad on pages 30, 43

15396 Vaughn Rd., Montgomery Curriculum: High Reach/Reading & Math for 3 & 4 year, McGraw Hill Reading & Math for Kindergarten. Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. Ages: 3, 4, and 5 years Meals: Hot Contact: Glynn Lot, Headmaster Plus: Extended day care and early arrival, Summer Enrichment Program. Multiple child discount. Call for monthly fees. (334) 277.6566 info@maconeast.net www.maconeast.net

36016 New Horizons Preschool

213 S. Madison Terrace, Montgomery Curriculum: Little People’s Workshop, Hooked on Phonics, Wee Learn Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Cammie Thomas, Director Plus: Before and after school care offered. Special summer program. All certified teachers. (334) 834.9403

36043 Hooper Childcare/Early Learning Center

360 Fisher Road, Hope Hull Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 6:45 a.m. -5:45 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 years Meals: Hot Contact: Salina Guest, Director Plus: Multiple child discount. Annual Registration. Call for rates. (334) 288.2770 www.hooperacademy.org

36054 Cobblestone Learning Center 66 Penser Blvd., Millbrook Curriculum: Teacher Led Hours: 6:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Sharon Plyler, Director Plus: Multiple child discounts.

(334) 285.8517 cobblestonelearning@gmail.com www.cobblestonelearning.com

River Region Parents I April 2021

Cousin Jane’s Preschool

3080 Main Street, Millbrook Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 6:30 a.m. -6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Jennifer Cousins & Jane Aplin, Director Plus: Multiple child discounts. Special summer program. (334) 285.2476

36066 The Learning Tree Child Development Center ad on page 53

1816 Glynwood Drive , Prattville Curriculum: Full educational program. Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Tammy McLemore Plus: Before and After School care program offered. Summer program. Multiple Child Discount. (334) 365.1451 Learning-tree.org

East Memorial Baptist Church Preschool

1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville Curriculum: Abeka Religious Affiliation: Southern Baptist. Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - K4 Meals: Snacks offered and Hot meal Contact: Lisa Montgomery, Director Plus: Registration Fee: $75. Please call for rates. (334) 358-4110 lmontgomery@eastmemorial.org www.eastmemorial.org

Journey Preschool

435 Sheila Blvd., Prattville Religious Affiliation: Christian/Non-Denominational Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 years Meals: Hot Contact: Leann Manning, Director Plus: After School Care and Summer Program offered. Multiple Child Discount. Annual Registration fee. Please call for rates. (334) 351.9994 preschool.journeychurch@gmail.com www.myjourneychurch.com

KinderCare Learning Center

701 Sheila Blvd., Prattville Curriculum: Pre-School at KinderCare and Welcome to Learning Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Charlotte Hardy, Director Plus: Before and After school care offered. Multiple Child discount. Annual Registration fee. (334) 365.0470 chardy@klcorp.com www.kindercare.com

36067 First Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten ad on page 37

138 S. Washington St. , Prattville Curriculum: Scott Foresman Language Arts Curriculum, Harcourt Math, Wee Learn by Lifeway, The Wright Skills Phonics Program and Sobut & Bogan. Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. Ages: 3K-Kindergarten Contact: Heather Jolley, Director Plus: Before school care begins 7:15 a.m., extended program offered for after hours until 2:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday. FBC offers Mother’s Morning Out Program. (334) 361.9481 heather@fbcprattville.org www.fbcprattville.org/kindergarten

First Presbyterian Church Kindergarten ad on page 47

211 S. Chestnut St., Prattville Curriculum: Modified Abeka Hours: 8 a.m.- Noon Ages: K3-K5 Meals: Children bring snacks and lunch. Contact: Julie Cavnar, Director Plus: Early drop-off and after school care program offered Monday-Friday until 5:30. Multiple Child Discount. Annual Registration fee. Please call for rates. (334) 491.3411 firstpreskindergarten@gmail.com www.fpkprattville.com

Little Lights Creative Learning Center 640 Malwest Drive, Prattville Curriculum: Kindergarten Preparation Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Two snacks & lunch provided Contact: Kristie Skipper Plus: After School care offered. (334) 356-0422 littlelightsclc@gmail.com

36092 Wee Ones Preschool & Beyond

202 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Curriculum: Teacher led Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, hot lunch & afternoon snack Contact: Jennifer Boyd, Director Plus: Before & after school care offered. Summer program available. Mother’s Day Out offered. Multiple child discount. (334) 478.4938 www.weeonespreschool.net

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Wetumpka Preschool Child Development Center & Periscope

502 North Bridge Street, Wetumpka Curriculum: High Reach Learning Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks-5 yrs (before Kind.) Meals: Hot Contact: Cecelia Hatcher, Director Plus: Before and After school care offered. Special Summer Program and “Periscope”. Multiple child discount. (334) 567.4689 www.gatewaypreschool.weebly.com

Trinity Church Preschool

1728 South Hull Street, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka, Handwriting without Tears, Saxon Hands on Math. Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Ages: 4 mths. - K5 Meals: Snack provided for one year olds, snack bucket for older children. Contact: Lucy Freeman, Director Plus: Early drop off and Late room available. Special Summer Program offered. (334) 262.8830 lfreeman@trinitypca.org www.trinitypca.org

36104 Children’s Learning Center

305 South Perry Street, Montgomery Curriculum: Religious Affiliation: Christian. Curriculum: Pinnacle Faith Based. Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 years Meals: Hot lunch and 2 snacks Contact: Kim Herbert, Director Plus: Multiple child discount offered. Activities: Computer for 4 year olds, music included, Big Green Bus every Thursday and Tonya Speed Dance every Tuesday. Annual Registration fee.

36105 Sunnyside Child Care Center

3784 Norman Bridge Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Little People’s Workshop, Hooked on Phonics and Wee Learn Hours: 5:45 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Tracy Hill, Director Plus: Before and After school care available. Special summer program. (334) 612.0903

(334) 834.7475 kherbert@fbc-cm.org

Montessori Academy

1025 South Hull Street, Montgomery Curriculum: Montessori Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 months - 6 years Meals: Hot lunch (optional) or brown bag. Contact: Erin Kilgore, Administrator Plus: Programs available full and part time. Multiple child and Active Duty discount. (334) 262.8685 montgomery.montessori@gmail.com www.montessorimontgomery.com

36106

Contact: Rosemary Hean, Director Plus: Multiple child discount. Activities: ORFF, Gymnastics, computer and dance offered. Annual registration. Please call for rates. (334) 273.0730 eaoffice@aol.com www.ecalions.org

Learning Tree Child Development Center ad on page 53

4120 Carmichael Road., Montgomery Curriculum: Full educational program Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 12 mths. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Ruby Davis, Director Plus: Before and after school care offered. Multiple child discount and Baptist Hospital Employee discount. Please call for rates. (334) 271.4733 www.learningtree.com

Cloverdale Preschool Academy

608 E. Fairview Ave. , Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Religious Affiliation: Christian/ Baptist Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Jana Edmundson, Director Plus: Special summer program. Call for rates. (334) 265.7488 snall@cloverdalebaptist.net www.cloverdalepreschoolacademy.com

Evangel Christian Preschool ad on page 19

3975 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Religious Affiliation: Assemblies of God Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 3 yrs. Meals: Catered

First UMC Early Childhood Development

2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery Curriculum: Child centered, Christian using spiritual enrichment learning activities to insure success. Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Vicky Moore, Director

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www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

Plus: Multiple child discount offered. Development appropriate learning environment. Learn through play, making choices and guided discovery in a warm, loving environment. Gymnastics, dance, soccer, music and art offered. Annual Registration fee: call for rates. (334) 834.8964 vmoore@fumcmontgomery.org www.fumcmontgomery.org

First United Methodist First School

2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery Curriculum: Challenging, age appropriate Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 2 mths. to Kindergarten Meals: Brown Bag Contact: Beth Mantooth, Director Plus: Early and Late room available. Activities: Music program, weekly chapel, field trips, gymnastics, dance, art, computer and soccer. Please call for rates. (334) 481.0413 bmantooth@fumcmontgomery.org www.fumcmontgomery.org

Heritage Baptist Child Development Center

1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Star Fall and ABC Jesus Loves Me Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Tamira Quattlebaum, Director P lus: Activities: Mobile Mouse, Barber Elite Soccer and Flip Factory available. Weekly chapel for 2-5 year olds. Registration and supply fee. Please call for rates. (334) 279.0643 www.heritagecdc.net

Montessori at Mulberry

2034 Clubview Street, Montgomery Curriculum: Challenging, interdisciplinary and real world related. Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 mths. - Kindergarten Meals: Brown Bag Contact: Terri Jackson, Director Plus: Registration is open as space permits. Personal interview for testing requirement. Please call for rates. (334) 265.7733 montessori.mulberry@gmail.com www.montessoriatmulberry.com

Second Mom’s Childcare and Learning Center

2703 Highland Avenue, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka and Baby Can Read Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot breakfast, lunch and two snacks Contact: Sandra Hill, Director Plus: Before and after school pickups. Extended care and Summer program available. All certified teachers. Please call for rates. (334) 832.9403

Second Mom’s Childcare and Learning Center, Too

2726 Highland Ave., Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 2.5 yrs. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot breakfast, hot lunch and two snacks Contact: Cheryl Shelby Howard, Director Plus: Before and after school care pickup. Extended care and summer program available. All certified teachers. Please call for rates. (334) 832.1876

Vaughn Park Church of Christ Mother’s Day Out

3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Varies by age Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday Ages: 6 wks. - Kindergarten River Region Parents I April 2021

Meals: Snack provided Contact: Callie McDermot, Director Plus: Please call for rates (334) 272.2665 www.vaughnpark.com

Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center

1100 Tuscaloosa Street, Montgomery Curriculum: Saxon Hours: 8 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs. - 7 yrs. Meals: Hot, Gourmet Food Services Contact: Sandra Hinton, Director Plus: Extended hours and after school care available. Registration fee. Please call for rates. (334) 229.4470 shinton@alasu.edu

36108 Central Alabama OIC, Inc.

2035 Mobile Road, Montgomery Curriculum: SMARTBOARD: Computer Based Instruction Hours: 6:50 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 5 wks. To school age Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack Contact: Geraldine Hill, Director Plus: Subsidized childcare accepted. Offering SMART Board: Computer based instruction. (334) 265.1594 www.centralalabamaoic.com

New Generation Preschool

3461 Old Selma Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Janet Long, Director Plus: Before and after school care available. Special summer program offered. Multiple child discount. Please call for rates. (334) 263.9660 www.newgenerationpreschool.com

Southlawn Child Care Center

125 Greenleaf Drive, Montgomery Curriculum: Creative Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: Infant - 15 Years Meals: Hot Contact: Elizabeth Sankey, Director Plus: Multiple child discount. Annual Registration. Please call for rates. (334) 286.1056 or (334) 286.9156 southlawn@aol.com

36109

3407 Pelzer Ave., Montgomery Curriculum: High Reach Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Catered Contact: Ruth Davis, Director Plus: Multiple child discount. Activities: Wade pool, gym activities, music and Bible stories. (334) 272.3390 Kringer@ymcamontgomery.org www.ymcamontgomery.org

Eastern Hills Child Care

3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Stacy Royal, Director Plus: Multiple Child Discount. Activities: Music, Soccer and Big Green Bus. (334) 277.5424 stacy@ehbconline.com www.easternhillsonline.com

36110 Resurrection Early Child Care

2815 Forbes Drive, Montgomery Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. (extended care from 3:10 - 5:30) Ages: 4 - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot breakfast and lunch. Contact: Dr. Edjuana Johnson, Director Plus: Please call for rates. (334) 265.4615 www.rcmsouth.org

36116 Montessori at Hampstead ad on page 16

5251 Hampstead High St, Unit #111, Montgomery Curriculum: Montessori. Testing Requirements: Interview, Ed Psych Test, Transcripts for students 6 and up. Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 mths.. - 6 years Meals: Hot meals available or brown bag. Contact: Melanie Morrison, Head of School Plus: Activities: P.E., Music, Big Green Bus, Foreign Language, Library, art and a Farm Education program taught by a USDA-Certified Organic farmer. Elementary students also take theater, digital citizenship and robotics in the MSH Tech Lab. Please call for rates. (334) 356.1969 info@montessoriathampstead.org www.mshmontgomery.org

Eastmont Christian Kindergarten ad on page 21

4505 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery Religious Affiliation: Baptist Curriculum: Abeka enhanced Hours: 8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Ages: K3-K5 Contact: Lynn Blackwell, Director Plus: Snack Bucket, Better than DHR Standards, Registration fee: $125 per student. Please call for rates. (334) 239.8555

East YMCA Kindergarten & Child Care

www.eastmont.org

Covenant Kids Child Development Center

9 Arden Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Pinnacle Faith-based Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 years. Meals: Morning snack, Hot lunch and afternoon snack provided. Contact: Donna Jones, Director Plus: Multiple child discount. Please call for rates or to schedule a tour. (334) 356.9110 covenantkids1@outlook.com

St. James School Kindergarten ad on page 1

6000 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Kindergarten use an integrated approach with literature, art, music and science to introduce readiness skills with hands -on activities. Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Full day option available. Ages: K3-K5 Meals: Hot Contact: Ms. Andrea Harris, Principle Plus: Extended school day from 7:45 a.m. - 2:45; after school care until 5:30 p.m. Special summer program. Multiple child discount available. Please call for rates. (334) 277.8033 www.stjweb.org

The Learning Tree Child Development Center ad on page 53

3335 Woodley Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Curriculum: Full educational program. Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

www.riverregionparents.com

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Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Malkia Mathews, Director Plus: Before and after school program available. Special summer program offered. Multiple child discount offered. (334) 284.5560

Aldersgate Weekday Children’s Ministry

6610 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Creative Curriculum, Letter of the Week, Abeka. Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - Pre K4 Meals: Hot Contact: Lana Ward, Director Plus: Summer program offered. Surveillance System, Code entry and 3 separate playgrounds. Please call for rates. DHR licensed and inspected. (334) 277.0880 www.aldersgateumc.org

Century 2000

4714 Virginia Loop Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 5 a.m. - Midnight Ages: 3 wks. - 15 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack. (for those staying late, dinner and snack offered) Contact: Mrs. Deramus, Director Plus: Before and after school care. Summer program offered. . Please call for monthly rates. (334) 288.7740 www.century2000daycare.com

JAAD’s Child Care & Development Center

4002 St. Louis Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Self Developed. Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 4 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack Contact: Theresa Hardwick, Director Plus: Before and after school care available. Night care available. Please call for rates/fees. (334) 284.9055 jaads_inc@yahoo.com www.jaadschildcare.com

Lighthouse Christian Pre-school

3570 Bell Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or full day. Ages: K2 - K4 Meals: Catered Contact: Mrs. J. Ford, Interim Principle Plus: Before and after school care available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (334) 271.4200 info@lcapirates.com www.lcapirates.com

Meals: 2 snacks and lunch Contact: Megan Jolley, Director Plus: Summer program for 2 mths.. - 3rd grade. Early and late rooms available. Chapel and music daily. Enrichment classes offered. Please call for rates. (334) 274.1018 www.memorialpres.net

Taylor Road Christian Kindergarten & Mom’s Day Out ad on page 63

36117 Frazer Christian Preschool ad on page 26

6000 Atlanta Hwy. , Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Religious Affiliation: Christian Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ages: 6 months - 5 yr. Kindergarten Meals: Snack Bucket or Brown bag for extended day. Contact: Jill Struthers, Director Plus: Early drop off and extended day available. Activities: Music, field trips, chapel, and physical education Strong faculty with unwavering interest in your child. Please call for rates. (334) 495.6370 preschool@frazer.church frazer.church/about/fcp

Memorial Presbyterian Church Children’s Center ad on page 59

2130 Bell Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka, Handwriting Without Tears & Sing, Spell, Read & Write Hours: Full day and half day offered. Ages: 2 mths.. - 5 yrs.

1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka & Handwriting without Tears Hours: Kindergarten: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Three or four day options. Mother’s Day Out: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Ages: Kindergarten: K3-K5. Mother’s Day Out: 6 wks. - 36 mths.. Meals: Brown bag Contact: Holly Nichols, Director Plus: Before and after school care available. Special summer program offered. Please call for rates. (334) 271.0845 www.taylorroad.org (link to preschool)

Vaughn Road Preschool ad on page 18

8790 Vaughn Road (at Immanuel Presbyterian Church), Montgomery Curriculum: Creative Curriculum; linked to the WV Early Learning Standards Framework in Social and Emotional Development, the Arts, Physical Health and Development, Mathematics and Science. Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 6 yrs. Meals: Lunch and 2 snacks provided. Contact: Barbara Anderson, Director Plus: Please call for rates. (334) 277.4815 vrpreschool@gmail.com

N O W E N R O L L I N G F O R 2021 2011

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AUM Early Learning Center

7051 Senator’s Drive, Montgomery Curriculum: Project based, Research driven. Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday Ages: 3 yrs. - 5 yrs. (potty trained) Meals: Hot meal or sack lunch from home Contact: Laura Wildman Director Plus: Please call for rates.

(334) 244.3772 LWildman@aum.edu www.education.aum.edu under Early Childhood Center tab

Bo Peep Christian Child Development School

5690 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Brooke Woodfin, Director Plus: Before and after school program offered. Special summer program available. Activities: Super Summer camp, swimming, flannel board Bible stories, games, art, puppet shows. Please call for rates. (334) 271.1941

GracePointe Child Development Center

1565 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Play based, Beyond Centers and Circle Time Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 6 weeks - 5 yrs. Meals: Brown Bag Contact: Lauren Evers, Director Plus: Surveillance system, two separate playgrounds. Please call for rates. (205) 799.7570 gracepointecdc@gmail.com www.grace-pointe.com

Kiddie Home Daycare at Mitylene Forest 618 Silver Moon Court, Montgomery Curriculum: Combined Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snacks. Contact: Leeza Beaulieu, Director Plus: Please call for rates.

(334) 221.4446 or (334) 396.2598 lizamay1972@yahoo.com

KinderCare Learning Center

6955 Halcyon Park Dr., Montgomery Curriculum: Early Foundations Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Contact: Courtney Tate, Director Plus: Before and after school care. Special summer program offered. Multiple child discount. Please call for rates. (334) 270.5955 ctate@klcorp.com www.kindercare.com

Lakeview Child Development Ministry

9225 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Curriculum: Abeka Religious Affiliation: Christian Hours: 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. Ages: 6 weeks to 4 years old Meals: 2 snacks per day. Children provide their own lunch. Contact: Ashley Tidwell, Director Plus: On site extra-curricular activities offered. (334) 396.3944 daycare@lakeviewbaptist.cc http://www. lakeviewbaptistchurch.cc/daycare_info

Legacy Early Learning Center

2323 Bell Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Christian based Pre-school program Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:45 Ages: 6 wks. - 5K Meals: Lunches and two snacks provided Contact: Tara Harris, Director Plus: Special summer program available. (334) 649.4601 tara@thelegacychurch.org

Little Explorers Learning Center

7735 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery Curriculum: Bible based Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Lunch and snack for toddler and preschool Contact: Jennifer Mitchell, Director Plus: Summer program available. Star rated Center. (334) 324.7103 contact.littleexplorers@gmail.com

St. James Preschool

9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: Teacher developed including handson activities and age appropriate readiness skills. Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 8 mths. - Kindergarten Meals: Brown bag, snack provided. Contact: Leah Winn, Director Plus: Late day offered. Please call for Registration fees and monthly rates. (334) 481.0722 www.sjlife.com under ministries.

Vaughn Forest Preschool and Kindergarten 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Curriculum: High Reach and Letter People Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 18 mths.. - 5 yrs. Meals: Brown bag and snack Contact: Mary James Newsom, Director Plus: Early and late offered. Certified teachers. Please call for rates. (334) 277.0362 www.vaughnforest.com under Ministries

YMCA Goodtimes Before and After School Programs

2325 Mill Ridge Drive, Montgomery

Contact YMCA Goodtimes Center for additional information: (334) 279.8666 www.ymcamontgomery.org

2021Youth Baseball Camps (ages 5-17)

Sessons 1

June 14-17, 2021

Sessons 2

June 21-24, 2021

Each session will have two different groups essentially two different camps one for young campers (age 5-11) and one for older campers (age 12-17). The age groups will have age appropriate and skill level appropriate instruction taught.

$150.00 per player

All registration is online at: River Region Parents I April 2021

Patrick McCarthy Head Baseball Coach Faulkner University

www.faulknerbaseballcamps.com 54

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Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Instagram When you see a teen taking a selfie, chances are that picture will end up on social media. Often, that means Instagram, one of the most popular social image-sharing platforms in the world. What’s all the fuss about? Teens love Instagram for a lot of reasons, but most importantly, that’s where their friends are. They can also keep tabs on their favorite celebrities, follow accounts that align with their interests, and, of course, maintain their own profile (or profiles) that present an image of themselves to their friends -- and sometimes to the world. As with all social media, the elements that make teens love Instagram can also be breeding grounds for trouble. Depending on whom you follow or what you search for, you can find lots of mature content. And the comments on posts can be downright vicious, especially if an account is public. Then there’s the pressure. Lots of kids feel that they have to maintain a perfect profile, so they’re constantly scanning posts for likes and deleting ones that don’t measure up. And they have to check their feeds all day (and sometimes at night) for updates from friends. Instagram also has a commercial aspect. Embedded ads, celebrity endorsements, and links to buy products are all over kids’ feeds. Still, with some guidance around settings, limits on use, and ongoing conversations about content and comments, Instagram can be a place for kids to connect and be creative. Here we answer a few of your most common questions.

What kinds of content will my kid see on Instagram? The kinds of

content kids will see mostly depends on whom they follow: If they only follow friends and don’t search for anything, they may see only pictures of their friends having fun. But kids rarely limit their feeds to people they

River Region Parents I April 2021

know, so it’s likely they’ll see mature content (including sexy stuff, swearing, and substance use), mean or sexual comments, and hashtags about suicide, anorexia, and other concerning topics. If they follow celebrities, they’ll probably also see marketing.

How can I monitor my kid’s activity on Instagram? You can ask your kid to

give you a tour of their Insta. Ask them to walk you through their account, explain memes and comments, discuss friends, and share whatever comes up. Or try one of these ideas:

• Create your own Instagram account and follow your kid. You’ll see what they post (unless they block you), but you won’t see their DMs (direct messages). • Follow their friends. It’s not unusual for parents to be friends with their kids’ friends online (but you should hold back on comments). If you’re close with your kids’ friends, you can follow each other and keep tabs on your kid’s doings. • Ask for your kid’s Instagram username and password. Then, you can log in as them and review their accounts. • Do spot checks. Either random or scheduled, these check-ins give you time to sit down together and go through your kid’s feed. • Install a third-party monitoring app. Parental controls such as Bark give you a lot of visibility into what kids are doing online. Learn more about parental controls.

Is there any way to limit or restrict my kid’s activity on Instagram, including connecting with strangers? Instagram accounts are public by default, so the first thing to do is make your kid’s private. To do this, go to Settings from your profile page. Select Privacy and toggle on Private Account. With a private account, only people you approve can see what you post. You get a lot of options in the Privacy 56

section -- and you should spend some time here if you’re helping your kid set up their first account. You can’t lock Privacy settings, though, so be aware that kids can change them back. A few more key Instagram privacy settings: Comment controls. You can limit comments to followers, block comments from specific people, hide “offensive” comments, and create specific filters for words and phrases. Resharing to stories. You can control whether or not other people can reshare your posts. Photos and videos. You can prevent people from automatically adding pictures of you to your profile without your approval and hide photos and videos so they don’t display in your feed.

What can I do if it seems like my kid can’t stop looking at Instagram? All social media uses persuasive techniques to keep users engaged, and while it can help kids feel connected to friends and family -- especially during times of isolation like extended school breaks -- it’s easy to get sucked in for longer periods than is healthy. If your teen has trouble logging off when they have other stuff to do or they just need a break, you can try using Instagram’s Your Activity feature, which the company introduced to help people be more aware of the time they’re spending on the app and to set limits for themselves. To get to Your Activity, go to the profile page, tap the three horizontal lines, select Your Activity, and then tap Time. You’ll see your daily average, and you can set a time limit and get a reminder to stop. If your kid has mastered self-regulation, Your Activity may work to curb their use. If not, you can try using the parental controls built into your phone’s operating system (Screen Time on iOS or the Family Link app on Android) to block access and set time limits on all the apps on your kid’s phone. A few other tricks: Adjust or turn off notifications completely to calm the need to check the phone every few minutes; and tell kids to stop scrolling once they see the “You’re all caught up!” message that tells them there’s no new content to see since the last time they checked. www.riverregionparents.com

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Traveling is a great way to enjoy new experiences, learn about the world, bond with your family, and take a break from the monotony of daily living. But the cost of travel can be prohibitive. So many of families don’t get away as frequently as they’d like or miss out on places they’ve dreamed of visiting.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to travel and explore the world without breaking the bank. River Region Parents I April 2021

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Visit family or friends

Another way to reduce your travel cost is to save up money for travel with travel rewards credit card that cater to your travel interests.

When thinking about where to travel on a small budget, visiting places near family or friends can help keep the costs down. Depending on the situation, it could reduce or eliminate the need for a hotel, rental car, or eating out every meal. Traveling to an area near family or friends can also reduce your entertainment cost since spending time visiting and catching up will serve as part of your entertainment. It’s also an excellent opportunity to have your own local tour guide since your family or friends there will know all the hot-spots, attractions, and not-to-be-missed sight-seeing.

aviation advisor for Consumer Reports, that pricing may be based in part on your search history. An easy fix is to clear the cookies in your browser before visiting the same travel website again, so the site can’t track you following specific companies, destinations, or deals. There are also many theories about the best time to book your flight, with the most common being on a Tuesday afternoon, six weeks before your trip. While this exact date is subject to debate, it does seem that airline fare sales tend to start on Tuesdays. Your best bet is to start checking fares early and pay attention to any patterns. Some airlines also have better deals if you book at least two weeks before your trip.

Compare costs

With so many airlines, hotels, and tours to choose from, planning a trip can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites simplify this by allowing you to enter your travel dates and preferences to compare prices and features from different companies. These websites are particularly helpful for comparing costs in a single place and keeping track of your findings. Many travel comparison sites also show ratings, so you don’t waste your money on a seemingly good deal that turns out to be a bad experience. Different travel comparison sites focus on particular parts of traveling. Some of the most popular include Booking. com, Priceline, Expedia, Kayak, and Trivago.

Road trip!

If you’re traveling as a family, the cost of airline tickets for everyone adds up quickly. Depending on how far you plan to travel, a road trip might be a good option. Your journey can become part of your vacation. Gas for one car which can hold everyone will likely cost much less than airline tickets for multiple people. It can also be better for the planet. If you’re feeling extra

Search smart

When searching online for travel deals, there are a few tricks to know in order to get the best deals. Many websites use cookies and can see when you’ve been searching for specific hotels or flights. There is some evidence, according to William McGee,

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adventurous, rent an RV to save on both your travel and lodging costs (but do the math for the added fuel costs). You can typically find RV parks along any route for much lower prices than staying in a hotel. It can also be a fun bonding experience for your family or group to travel this way.

destinations, like Disney, also have credit cards you can use to earn rewards toward future vacation costs. Capital One and many other credit card companies also offer similar travel reward credit cards that provide greater travel flexibility.

Discounts and deals

Travel locally

Websites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer significant discounts on specific travel deals. Because they only offer deals to particular places within a range of dates, this is a good option if you want to travel but don’t have a specific destination or dates in mind. Depending on your age and interests, some companies host trips and tours with lodging, attractions, and travel costs included. Traveling with a tour group can result in deeper discounts than traveling alone. Topdeck and Contiki are popular group tour hosts that cater mainly to young adults and offer specific budget travel options. For all ages, Flash Pack and Austin Adventures are excellent choices. Companies such as Costco or AAA also offer travel packages at discounted prices. By signing up for a free membership on certain websites, such as Hotels.com, you can earn free hotel-stay nights and get exclusive discounts on hotels. Another way to reduce your travel cost is to save up money for travel with a travel rewards credit card that caters to your travel interests. Many airlines offer credit cards on which you can earn miles to redeem for future travel. Some specific travel

River Region Parents I April 2021

It’s easy to overlook fascinating or exciting attractions, sight-seeing, and activities that are close to home. If you have the travel bug but lack the time or money for a big trip, do some research to see what opportunities and adventures you can find nearby for a weekend or day trip. This can save you a lot of money on travel and lodging expenses. Plus, it’s easier to pack food for a short journey, which can also save you money instead of eating out. You might be surprised at what exciting new things you’ve been missing out on locally or nearby. Realize that with a little creativity and effort, traveling doesn’t need to be out of reach just because of a small budget. If you plan ahead and travel smart, you can find lots of opportunities to explore the world around you. rrp

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance lifestyle writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.com.

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Grading Family Movies: Streaming, Digital Rentals, and DVDs Raya & The Last Dragon

Moxie

Netflix

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

A-

B-

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13

C+

C-

Vivian has finally had it with sexism in her high school. She is disgusted that boys rank girls based on their anatomy, angry that girls’ teams are underfunded, and sick of dealing with entitled guys. She channels her anger into a self-produced zine which triggers a cascade of unexpected consequences. This movie raises important issues for teens and is a great way to begin conversations. Unfortunately, it also contains a fair bit of negative content. Photo ©Netflix

. u-

Rating

The Druun have returned to Kumandra, turning people to stone. When Raya’s father is affected, she goes on a quest for the last mythical dragon and the pieces of the dragon gem. But the dragon isn’t what she expects, and Raya learns that a magic greater than that inside the gem might be necessary to save her people. Disney’s genius for storytelling and animation shines in this outstanding family film but it does have some unusually intense violence. Photo ©Disney +

or es

es.

Disney+

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

Digital on Demand

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

A-

SpongeBob's beloved pet snail, Gary, has been snailnapped! The culprit appears to be none other than King Poseidon, and SpongeBob and Patrick head off on a rescue mission. This film leans hard into the goofy silliness that made the TV series a hit and will be appreciated by kids and adults who are feeling nostalgic. Content issues are minor, limited to slapstick violence. This is probably a bit much for preschoolers, but school aged kids will have a blast. Photo ©Paramount Pictures

Yes Day

Netflix

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

B-

Allison and Carlos are sick of feeling like the bad guys for always telling their kids "no". The solution? A day where they have to say “yes” to everything the kids want to do. But things start spiraling out of control fairly quickly. Not surprisingly, this chaotic story will be a big hit with elementary school aged kids. Parents will be less enthused both by the movie’s writing and the thought of putting the kids in charge. Photo ©Netflix

Bombay Rose

Netflix

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13

B-

C+

Having escaped from a forced child marriage, Kamala makes flower garlands to support her sister. Meanwhile, Salim sells flowers on the streets of Bombay. The two fall in love but they both have big secrets to keep. The story is unremarkable but this film boasts stunning hand painted animation which illuminates the inner lives of its characters and brings Bombay to vibrant life. It’s not a story for kids but adult animation fans will enjoy the artwork. Photo ©Netflix Grades range from: A= absence of content concerns to D= excess of content concerns Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com 61

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FamilyCalendar Thursday, April 1

Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast April 1-3 and 8-10 at 6:30 p.m. with 2:30 matinees on April 3 and 10. Two different casts will each perform four shows! Audiences will be limited to 100 per show and masks are required. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Use the GoFan ticket app or visit https:// gofan.co/ and search for Wetumpka High School. Adults are $10 and children ages 10 and under are $5. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more info, search for Wetumpka High Theatre Guild on Facebook. Cultural Crossroads: Reconstruction in Alabama and its Legacies -- Also April 15 & May 6 6 p.m. Join the Landmarks foundation for a digital event and conversation with historians Bertis English, Daniel Cone, Elijah Gaddis and Sedric Wytch. We will discuss black politicians in Alabama during Reconstruction and their impacts on politics in Alabama. Register at www.oldalabamatown.com/ events for the free digital event. Wetumpka Depot Players Present 84 Charing Cross Road - Through April 9 7:30 p.m. April 1-3 & 9; 2 p.m. April 4. Adapted by James Roose Evans from the book by Helene Hanff. A dramatization of business letters between a young struggling writer in New York and an antiquarian book store in London. For tickets or more info, visit wetumpkadepot.com or call (334) 868-1440. Spring-Themed Online Craft Classes Other projects available April 6, 7, 8, 15, 20 & 29 4 p.m. For more info or to sign up, visit https://www. michaels.com/onlineclasses. Community Market in Wetumpka -First Thursdays through November 5-8 p.m. Merchant Alley, Downtown Wetumpka. Join us in Merchants Alley (along the riverwalk behind Hill Street) first Thursdays through November and enjoy shopping local from community merchants! If you’d like to be a vendor, e-mail market@mainstreetwetumpka.org.

Friday, April 2

Arts for Autism at Montgomery Museum of Fine Art 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. In celebration of World Autism Day, the MMFA is providing sensory-friendly take-home art kits that enable people on the spectrum to express themselves through art. To request a kit for your family, complete the registration link at https://mmfa.org/event/ arts-for-autism/. Reserved kits will be available for pickup at the Museum’s Caddell Sculpture Garden entrance on April 2. Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast Details on April 1. Easter Movie Event: Hop 5:30 gates open; 6:30 p.m. movie begins. Riverwalk Amphitheater, 355 Coosa St. Chairs, blankets & picnics allowed. Food vendors on site. Socially distanced photos with the Easter Bunny!

Saturday, April 3

Woodland UMC Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt 10 a.m.-noon. One hunt will take place in the Woodland Creek neighborhood and the other will take place in the Waters, Boykin Lakes, and Orchards of Pike Road. You will receive a list of addresses for the hunt you choose. Those houses will have an Easter egg cutout in their yard or by their front door. Once you’ve found all 8 eggs, come to the portico entrance at Woodland UMC (4428 Wallahatchie Road) to receive your Easter basket full of candy-stuffed eggs. Children should be 12 or under to receive basket and must be pre-registered. Find us on Eventbrite.

River Region Parents I April 2021

Zoo Weekends -- Every Saturday in April 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s like Zoo Weekend with a twist. In order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all our guests, Zoo Weekend is going to be held over four Saturdays in April (April 3, 10, 17 and 24). Guests will be LIMITED to 4,000 per Saturday. So purchase your tickets in advance at (334) 625-4900 or montgomeryzoo.com! Pike Road Arts Center Presents It Isn’t Easy Being Green Art Show -- Through April 18 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays & 1-4 p.m. Sundays. 944 Wallahatchie Rd, under the water tower. 70 pieces by Alabama artists are on display and feature creative usage of green to add depth and energy. To visit the Arts Center outside of weekend hours, e-mail Arts Council Coordinator Patty Payne at patty@pikeroad. us. to make an appointment. Face coverings are required, and social distancing and other health precautions are in place. Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Virtual Festival Through May 1 The City of Prattville will host this event virtually this year. Activities will include a virtual look back at our annual Honoree Dinner event, a virtual art exhibition, virtual arts workshops, and the 2021 Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival which will be held online this year. If you are interested in participating as an artist, musician, writer, or other entertainer, please call (334) 595-0854, or e-mail samples of your work to brittany. glenn@prattvilleal.gov. For more info, visit www. wilsonpickettfestival.com/. Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast Details on April 1.

Monday, April 5

Research Rundown: History & Genealogy How-to Noon. Part of the online series offered by Ala. Dept of History & Archives. Each program will livestream on the ADAH’s Facebook and YouTube channels, and will remain available following the presentations at youtube.com/ alabamaarchives. Today’s topic is “Confederate Pension Records,” presented by Kayla Scott, Reference Archivist. ACT Test Prep Classes at AUM -Through April 15 Classes will meet Mondays through Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. Books will be provided at the first class meeting. Math is available April 5-8 and Science is available April 12-15. Each course costs $119. Call (334) 244-3804 or visit www.aum.edu/coned.

Thursday, April 8

Story Time in the Galleries: The Imaginary Garden 10-10:30 a.m. Join Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts educator Kaci Norman for the first Story Time in the Galleries of the year. This online read-along is designed specifically to help young children link aspects of art and language. Visit https://www.youtube.com/user/ MontgomeryMFA. Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast Details on April 1. Spring Open House in Wetumpka Also April 10. 10 am to 7 pm. Market Shoppes, 211 Hill Street, Wetumpka. Spring has sprung and we have stocked the store with all the newest arrivals for Spring & Summer! Join us April 9th & 10th for our Spring Open House and shop all the latest styles & trends in clothing, home decor, gifts, and MORE!

Friday, April 9

Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast Details on April 1.

Saturday, April 10

Puppy Palooza 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Shoppes at EastChase near Pies & Pints. The event features live music, pet adoptions, a fido marketplace, doggy activities, great food from local food trucks, K9 splash zone, and more! Puppy Palooza benefits our friends at the Montgomery Humane Society. For more info, visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/ or call (334) 279-6046. Wetumpka High School Performs Beauty and the Beast Details on April 1. 17th Annual Autism Mud Bug Ball 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. Crawfish boil benefits Easterseals Central Alabama’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic. Tickets available by pre-sale only. For $33, get a bag of crawfish and fixin’s. Tables will be available on site for those who want to enjoy their bags of crawfish in the stadium. Live music & more. Visit mudbugball.com. Second Saturday Curbside Cinema 6 p.m. Autauga-Prattville Public Library parking lot. All ages. Join us in the parking lot for a curbside screening of Wall-E (2008), weather permitting. Parking spots are limited on a first-come, first-served basis. For more info, visit www.appl.info or call (334) 365-3396. Armory Athletics Gymnastics and Ninja Clinic Call (334) 625-2789 or e-mail armoryathletics1@gmail. com for reservations or more info. Community Day Open House Dance Classes 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Alabama Dance Theatre’s studios at the Armory Learning Arts Center. Young people ages 8-19 from any dance experience level are invited to try a series of three classes, each an hour long. Classes will rotate by age group to take one class with each guest teacher; ADT faculty will be present to assist. Advance registration is required, but the day’s classes are free and open to any member of the community. Forms are available at alabamadancetheatre.com. Call (334) 625-2590 for questions.

Sunday, April 11

Flimp Chalk at Home -- Also April 18 & 25 2-2:30 p.m. To help celebrate this year’s Flimp Festival local artists, Tori Nicole, Winfred Hawkins and Nathaniel Allen will be demonstrating their chalk art skills at home. To serve as inspiration for families to create chalk works together at home, each artist will join Museum educator Kaci Norman for a virtual interview about their work as an artist and what they chose to create for the Flimp Chalk at Home Celebration. Visit www.youtube.com/ user/MontgomeryMFA.

Saturday, April 17

YMCA Strides For Kids 5K Dash 8:30 a.m. 5K Dash and 9:45 a.m. 1 Mile Fun Run. Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, 300 Brown Springs Rd., Montgomery. For ages 6 and up. Cost before April 5: 5K Dash - $25; 1 Mile Fun Run - $10. Late registration starts April 5 ($30) for 5K Dash and $15 for 1 Mile Fun Run. For more info, e-mail msanchez@ ymcamontgomery.org or call (334) 218-3750. Herb Day 2021 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Grace Presbyterian Church. Returning and new vendors, growing tips, art, medicinnal herbs and expert gardeners. For more info, find us on Facebook. Wetumpka Earth Day 9-11 a.m. Wetumpka Farmers’ Market, 304 East Coosa Street. Take advantage of our plant swap, plant care advice and free T-shirts. Drop off recyclables: plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, magazines, books, aluminum and steel cans.

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FamilyCalendar Monday, April 19

Research Rundown: History & Genealogy How-to Noon. Part of the online series offered by Ala. Dept of History & Archives. Today’s topic is “Civil War Service Records & Fold3,” presented by Kayla Scott, Reference Archivist. For details, see April 5 listing.

Wednesday, April 21

MAX4Kids 4th Annual Charity Clay Shoot 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club, 4758 Lower Wetumpka Road, Montgomery. Enjoy a day outside the office in a COVID-friendly environment while raising money all at the same time! For more info, visit www.mymax.com/aboutmax/events/2020/max4kids-clay-shoot.

Friday, April 23

MPAC Presents The Magic of Bill Blagg Live 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Tickets start at $28. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline.org/events/ or call (334) 481-5100. Tulotoma Art Trail -- Also April 24 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wetumpka’s historic downtown will transform into the area’s liveliest art show. Visit www. thekelly.org or e-mail thekelly36092@gmail.com for more info.

Saturday, April 24

Market Days at Old Alabama Town Gates open at 10 a.m. The public is welcome to visit and enjoy music, arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks at Old Alabama Town. Tickets are $10.

Happy Bloomin Birthday Concert - Old Cloverdale 3:30 – 6 PM. 1128 Woodward Ave. Please make plans to join us for a birthday concert to benefit the Old Cloverdale Association’s Community Garden, featuring Alabama native and Nashville singer-songwriter, Will Kimbrough. Tickets are being sold that day. Gates open at 2:45 PM • Cash or check only • $10 for OCA Members; • $15 for Non-OCA Members; • Children under 12 admitted free • Bring your chair, cooler, etc. Proceeds, after expenses, will support a new capital project at the community garden. Seafood and Arts Festival 4-9 p.m. Union Station Train Shed, 300 Water St., Montgomery. Live music featuring local artists. Minimum $5 donation; benefits Child Protect. For more info, call (334) 625-4636 or visit www. funinmontgomery.com/.

Thursday, April 29

ArtTalk at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 6-8 p.m. Free. For more than two decades, the Museum’s ArtTalk has offered local artists constructive feedback and camaraderie. Through its current virtual format, artists from beyond the River Region are able to enjoy the artful discussion too! Participants are invited to submit a work of art or just join the inspiring conversation. Free via Zoom. For more info, call (334) 625-4333 or visit mmfa.org. Cloverdale Playhouse Presents Sweat -Through May 9 Performances will be outdoors! Written by Lynn Nottage; directed by Georgette Norman. Sweat tells

the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat. Call (334) 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org.

Friday, April 30

MPAC Presents The Allman Betts Band 8 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Tickets start at $40. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline. org/events/ or call (334) 481-5100.

Saturday, May 1

Flimp Festival: Chalk Celebration 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Come celebrate Flimp in the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Caddell Sculpture Garden, where National Competition Chalk artist,Jennifer Richardson will be demonstrating her talents. Families will be able to enjoy a live performance of whimsical songs and poems by Calliope Pettis, play outdoor yard games, and take part in other art activities. For more info, visit mmfa. org or call (334) 625-4333.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

Please send calendar info to editor@riverregionparents.com.

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foster brothers; so accepting, so giving. Anyone could show up and my boys never missed a beat. Whoever was closest in size divided up their clothes. When our exchange student Anderson came, my middle son’s first question was, “What size is he?” I explained he wasn’t poor and would have his own clothes. He was amazed! I often said, and still believe, that I tried my best as a foster mom, but the rockstar brothers are what made it work. They surrounded them with love, trust and immediately played with them and included them in everything. They were amazing!

RRP: If you could go back to when you first became a mother, what advice would you give yourself?

DeeDee Nolan

DeeDee: Give myself more grace. I had no idea what “good” mothers were suppose to do so I overdid EVERYTHING. I had incredible Sunday School teachers who taught me so much. I can’t imagine not being in a church family. I had incredible counselors. Becoming a mom is what made me realize how not normal my childhood was and I was determined to not repeat it. Early on realized I had a lot to learn and I learned it’s okay to not be perfect. I am still learning and now that I have grandchildren, I find I still have much to learn.

RRP: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. First of all, tell us a little bit about your family. DeeDee: Chris and I have been married for 41 years and have three grown children. Christopher is married to Callie and they have given us two incredible grandchildren: Dax, 3 and Whit,1. Jeremy is married to Jordan and has given us Hamp, 4 and Merrett, 2. Justin lives with his wife, Myumi, in Japan.

RRP: What is the hardest thing about being a mom? DeeDee: The world comes at your children so hard. You’ve got to be strong and there are times when you can’t be. When I had cancer I was horrified that I was scaring my children. I didn’t want them ever scared because of me. Then, someone said the words I needed to hear: “You might die, but that’s not the worst thing. The worst thing is you are living in fear, and if you die, the last thing your boys will remember is their mother died in fear. In the end, she didn’t walk the walk, so get it together.” The thought of me leaving my boys horrified me, but leaving them in fear just couldn’t happen. From that day on I was never scared. I had the “peace that passed all understanding.”

RRP: You are a “Boy Mom”. What lessons have you learned from raising your sons that you can share with other moms of boys? DeeDee: BE THERE! I was determined to raise my own children and to break the cycle of total dysfunction. I knew my children and knew their friends. I spent a QUANTITY of time with them...sure “quality” is important, but it should be quality with lots of quantity! Also, boys LOVE to eat, so cook a lot and expect them to bring their friends. I loved that so many of their friends spent lots of time at our house. I loved watching them play sports. I loved everything about being a “Boy Mom”. I look at my children and can still tear up because I am humbled that God trusted me with these boys to be their mom. I am humbled and thankful beyond words.

RRP: What has been the easiest? DeeDee: Being a mom TRULY came as easy to me as breathing... I loved loving them, spending time with them, and participating in whatever they were involved in. I loved their friends and am so thankful to still be close with so many of them!

RRP: You have opened your home to many foster children over the years. What advice do you have for families thinking of fostering a child, especially if you already have children? DeeDee: DO IT! It’s probably the single best thing I did for my boys. I didn’t have to “tell” them anything about how blessed they were or how they “should” help others. I didn’t have to tell them to ALWAYS be on the side of the underdog. They lived it. They were incredible

River Region Parents I April 2021

DeeDee has been married to Chris for 41 years. She is the mom to three adult sons and the proud grandmother to four grandchildren. DeeDee is retired from Nolan Research and serves as a children’s minister at Vaughn Park Church of Christ. She also owns an online CBD oil business. You can find her at www. ddnolan.com.

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The Montgomery Academy is committed to attracting the area’s most talented and motivated students. Offered to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, TailorMAde Tuition allows families to pay the amount of tuition that makes sense for their financial situation. A wide range of families qualify for a reduced tuition, from those who can afford only minimal tuition to those who can afford almost full tuition. To find out more about how our TailorMAde tuition might work for you, visit MontgomeryAcademy.org/TailorMAde, or contact Rachael Gallagher, Director of Admissions, at 334.272.8210.

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