River Region Parents April 2020 by KeepSharing

I would rather be able to run the bases after my home run hit than have to stop to catch my breath by 2nd. - Josie, 7th grade

For more information visit AlabamaHealthyTeens.com

EDUCATION is more than YO U K N OW

The diverse and creative achievements that Saint James students earn and accomplish are the tangible expressions of the distinctive purpose and impact of Saint James School. Educating the whole child has been our mission since our founding in 1955. Still true today, “...We are

committed to challenging and assisting students in realizing their individual potential and preparing them for lives of responsibility, service, and achievement.” Visit Saint James School and experience the most complete education offered in Central Alabama.

Pre-K3−12th Grade

Saint James School

334-273-3021 or STJweb.org

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE Call today to learn more about merit scholarships 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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Y O U R H E A LT H OUR MISSION

“So much competence and compassion.” Virginia, Baptist South Hip Surgery Patient When an accident left Virginia with a broken hip, she chose Baptist. “From my highly-skilled surgeon to the warm, healing smiles of the nurses to my amazing rehabilitation team—I was blessed to have that kind of care and caring right here at home.” Virginia now enjoys a full recovery and has resumed her very active life. “There’s an old saying that ‘there are angels among us’—and I know now that they are all on call at Baptist.”

Learn more about our COMPASSIONATE CARE at

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April2020 50

Volume 25 Number 4

58 Columns

8 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

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

10 Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied

Activities for your family during COVID-19.

Online & Virtual Fun

Our listing of resources for your childrens’ home learning and entertainment.

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

44 Elmore Education Matters

by Superintendent Richard Dennis

48 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media

2020 Child Care Guide Our comprehensive listing of daycares, preschools, and MMO programs.

Survival Tips for Single Parents

To help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.

On The Cover Lincoln Hudson (22 months) attends Montessori School @ Hampstead in Montgomery. He is the son of Jacob and Wendy Hudson. Lincoln is a very verbal child who has a love for reading and books. He also enjoys the outdoors, including catching bubbles, looking for ladybugs, and being active. He loves to help in the kitchen and go on mini adventures around the house and neighborhood. Lincoln’s love for learning definitely started at home, but he’s made huge leaps and bounds since starting at Hampstead Montessori.

64 Get This! Gerry Paige Smith

78 A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

Departments 12 Teacher of the Month 16 School Bits 76 Family Calendar 80 Mom to Mom

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Editor’sNote It’s been said that the only thing constant in life is change. None of us were ready for a change of this magnitude though, were we? In a matter of weeks we have gone from planning spring and summer family fun and enjoying a thriving economy to staying at home to “slow the spread” and fighting the fear of the unknowns that lie ahead for our nation and the world. All of us at River Region Parents want to walk with your family through this difficult time feeling as encouraged and hopeful as possible. We are planning content to do just that, including two features to help while you “stay at home” with your family this month. Dolores Smyth shares 10 Ways to Keep Kids Occupied and Keep Your Sanity and we have also compiled a listing of Online and Virtual Resources to Keep Kids Learning and Entertained. Just like most of you, we are working from home now (with a 9-year-old alongside us), so we will be utilizing the ideas in these features as well. Look for posts on our social media pages for more fun activities and helpful resources to help you through the month. In thinking ahead to May’s issue, we are asking schools and parents to share photos and news about their home and virtual learning experiences for our May School Bits section. Email these items to me at deanne@riverregionparents.com throughout the month of April. We look forward to sharing what families and schools are doing to make the best of this very unique situation! In this month’s issue you will also find the 2020 Child Care Guide, along with Sandra Gordon’s article, 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Daycare. Where your little one will spend many of their waking hours Monday through Friday is an important decision for so many parents, and we are confident these two resources will get you moving in the right direction. One section you will notice missing in our April edition, for obvious reasons, is the Family Calendar. Check out our Bits and Pieces pages for some important announcements regarding rescheduled events, along with unique opportunities provided by local businesses. With all the negativity and uncertainty surrounding the global pandemic we are facing, it has been a blessing to see neighbors, communities, churches and families pull together. Bad situations often bring out the best in people, and that’s something we can celebrate during these difficult days. I pray your family stays healthy and connected in the days and weeks to come...and Happy Easter!

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 Spence Agee Kimberly Blaker Richard Dennis Sandra Gordon Christa Melnyk Hines Dr. Charles Ledbetter Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Dr. Ann Roy Moore Gerry Paige Smith Dolores Smyth

Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com

Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com

Associate Publisher Gena Hill Community Coordinator Savannah Bowden Digital Manager Scott Davis Advertising Opportunities (334) 213-7940 ext. 703

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River Region Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing LLC, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, Alabama, 36123. River Region Parents is copyrighted 2020 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 2020

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Help Alabama

Shine!

The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint research project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its purpose is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not in order to aid in the development and assessment of programs designed to identify high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. New mothers are randomly chosen from the state birth registry to participate in PRAMS. Surveys may be returned by mail or completed over the phone. Let your voice be heard!

“Happy to be part of this survey.”

“Thank you for checking on us!”

Actual comments from survey responses.

Moms who complete the PRAMS survey receive their choice of a cooler bag, diapers, or manicure set! Responses are kept confidential to the extent of the law. For more information, please call us at 334-206-2923 or go to alabamapublichealth.gov/PRAMS ADPH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, genetic information, and other federal, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding 7 www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Civil Rights Coordinator: ADPH CRC, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1010, Montgomery, AL 36104, Tel. 334-206-5226, or email crcomplaints@adph.state.al.us.

TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

You Are a Craftsman, Parent There is currently a house under construction across the street from where I live. It has been incredibly fun to watch the progress. Well, in truth, I could do without the 7am Saturday sounds of saws and nail guns, but other than that it has been fun to witness that neglected piece of property go from being a field of thorns and thistles to being the ground upon which a family will soon call home. Having watched this build unfold over the last two months, and because I am a social worker and not a builder, it never ceases to amaze me how many steps are involved in a build of such magnitude. First, that ground had to be prepared and leveled, then the walls started to go up, the roof pitched at just the right angle, the front porch built and ready for a swing... it has all happened at such a rapid rate. That is until a few days ago when I happened to notice that all observable progress has been halted. After weeks of such rapid progress it now looks exactly the same day after day.

River Region Parents I April 2020

But what I realized today is that isn’t actually the case at all. The last couple of days have actually had enormous progress because the guts of the house are being taken care of. The electrical lines are being installed, the plumbing lines are being connected and the all-important data and Wi-Fi lines are being adjusted. But no one would know that if they were only looking from the outside – it is all happening on the inside. Through careful tweaking and knowledgeable manipulation at the hands of a skilled craftsman, the lines all begin to come online. And that got me thinking… It got me thinking about how much of our parenting corrections and tweaks and adjustments aren’t ever even going to be visible. For that matter, how much love and care and concern we pour in will not always be visible. Soon enough the drywall will go up in this home and cover up all that careful wiring and installation. The work of those craftsman forever hidden – no praise, no admiration of their work will be had – it will

just be expected that the lights will come on when someone flips a switch and it will just be expected that water will flow from that sink. But somehow the house knows. It will work and serve the family well because those anonymous craftsmen took such care and attention to detail in what they were building. You, my parenting friends, are those same anonymous craftsman. You are working and wiring and tweaking and encouraging and building a tiny human who will one day be grown. All of that love you pour in will be sealed within their skin, they will carry it in their bones, they will hold it in their hearts. So be encouraged. Small moments matter. Your very presence matters. You may not be able to keep that house from storms for the rest of its life, but the work you do – the work you’ve done – will help make it stronger.

Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to mitigate negative behaviors. She is the Director of Central Alabama for Lifeline Children’s Services and is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted and she is a foster parent.

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National Wildlife Federation Offers Free Digital Magazines that Connect with Nature

PBS Offers Programming And Online Content to Support Families

As many families and teachers face school closures, PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia are offering a variety of tools to help support learning at home, including educational videos and games from favorite series, and related skillbuilding offline activities. PBS local stations will continue to serve as resources for viewers to understand what is happening in their local communities and support families and teachers. PBS KIDS Video: Available on mobile, tablet and connected TV devices, PBS KIDS offers on-demand educational videos and a livestream of the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel. No subscription is required. PBS KIDS Games App: Includes nearly 200 educational games, which can be downloaded for offline play anytime, anywhere. Learn more about this and PBS KIDS’ other apps at pbskids.org/ apps. PBS KIDS for Parents: A robust website with information, activities and tips for parents, including resources for talking with kids about coronavirus, encouraging healthy habits, managing worried feelings and supporting playful learning at home. PBS KIDS Daily Newsletter: A new weekday newsletter with videos, games, related offline activities and tips parents can use to keep their children playing and learning at home. River Region Parents I April 2020

The National Wildlife Federation will offer free, complimentary access to Ranger Rick online and the digital editions of its magazines during the COVID-19 shutdown of schools and daycare centers. The access will extend through June 30 and will only require an e-mail address for access online. “We understand that this may be a scary, uncertain time for families,” said Hannah Schardt, editor of Ranger Rick for the National Wildlife Federation. “The most important thing right now is to stay healthy and do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here at Ranger Rick, we also want to help families stay engaged with wildlife and the natural world, so we are removing the paywall from rangerrick.org and making all the digital editions of our magazines free to the public through the end of June. And if you’re giving homeschooling a try, we hope you’ll take advantage of the activity ideas and student pages in our monthly Ranger Rick Educator’s Guides and Ranger Rick Jr. Parent Reading Guides.” The National Wildlife Federation’s magazines aren’t our only resources to help stay connected with nature. With spring on its way and cooped-up kids bouncing off the walls, now is the perfect time to play outside, even with playgrounds and public parks closed. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter feeds. We will keep them both updated with fresh ideas and activities. Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center at NWF.org/News.

For art enrichment ideas you can complete at home or outside, visit the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art’s website (http:// mmfa.org/) or Facebook page (https://www. facebook.com/montgomerymfa/). You can also visit Michael’s page for kids’ activities and fun things to do at home. Visit https://www.michaels.com/boredombusters. 10

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Get Moving!

During our break from school, kids still need to be physically active. Keon Addison offers a live P.E. class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. This class will allow kids to back away from the TV and computer screens and START MOVING! The class will last between 30-45 minutes. If you’re interested, join the Facebook group “Unleashed P.E. Class with Keon.” Anyone can find this group, but only members can see who’s in the group and what they post. For any questions, contact Keon at (334) 868-0796.

River Region Urged to Give Blood

The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. Right now, eligible and healthy donors are strongly urged to make an appointment to give soon. Visit redcrossblood.org today! Please postpone your donation for 28 days following travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea, or if you’ve been diagnosed with or have had contact with anyone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. www.riverregionparents.com

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Montgomery Biscuits Delays Start of Season

In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, and after consultation with medical professionals and our partners at Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball will delay the start of the 2020 Championship Season. We will continue to monitor the developments and will announce additional information about the season at a later date. We will work with Major League Baseball and our community partners to resume play as soon as it is safe to do so. The health and safety of Minor League Baseball fans, players and executives is our top priority, and our thoughts are with those around the world who have been affected by this outbreak. For more info, visit www.biscuitsbaseball. com or call (334) 323-0371.

YMCA Launches Free Online Classes for People Stuck at Home

YMCA wants to make sure people stuck at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak can still get the exercise they need. More than 60 free online exercise classes and youth programs include boot camp, barre, yoga, weightlifting, boxing and Tai Chi. Classes are available at ymca360. org. No membership is needed to access the classes. Live classes will also be held on the Y’s social media accounts.

State Postpones Alabama Book Festival

As our state and nation face the pandemic of COVID-19, or coronavirus, social responsibility has become the guiding principle in how we deal with this looming crisis. It is incumbent upon each of us, as individuals and as groups and organizations, to take precautions that might seem extreme but are aimed at slowing the rate of people who are infected. It is with that thought in mind that Alabama Humanities Foundation wants to do its part in the effort to keep people safer. Following the recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control against gatherings of more than 10 people, Alabama Humanities Foundation is postponing the Alabama Book Festival, which was set for April 18 in Old Alabama Town, Montgomery. Our plan is to reevaluate at a later date and reschedule this important literary event for our state.

Healthy Kids Expo Moved to June Date June 27 * 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

!!!NOTICE OF DATE CHANGE!!! With this event originally scheduled for late March in the midst of the coronavirus quarantine, River Region Parents magazine has decided to reschedule. We’ve already reserved the same facilities at Frazer and everything else will remain the same. We hope that this move will connect more families with more local resources to enhance their lives. See you on the 27th of June!

SUMMER ART CAMPS

May through July

Dive into art this summer at the MMFA! All camps are inspired by the Museum’s collection and challenge students to use the elements of art in new ways. Whether your child already has a love of art or is just getting started, everyone will enjoy art-camping. Learn more at mmfa.org/camp. Support for Summer Art Camps is by Susan and Bob Runkle.

One Museum Drive, Montgomery, AL Open Tuesday–Sunday; Free Admission mmfa.org | @MontgomeryMFA

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Jennifer Griffiths Prattville Kindergarten

Jennifer Griffiths of Prattville Kindergarten is our teacher of the month for April. She has been teaching for 11 years and began her teaching career in Pensacola, FL where she graduated with her education degree from University of West Florida. Her desire to be a teacher started at an early age. She says, “As a child, I struggled in school. I can still remember sitting with my dad when I was in elementary school practicing reading and doing flash cards. I was blessed to have so many supportive teachers who helped make me become successful and truly believed in me.” Jennifer wants to help her students feel confident and successful in everything they do. In her classroom, Jennifer incorporates whole brain teaching along with hands-on activities in a partner/group setting as much as possible. She feels this method will give her class more opportunities to learn collaboratively from their peers. When asked what she thinks her students’ biggest challenge is she says, “I believe the biggest challenge my students

River Region Parents I April 2020

are facing is the pressure from society to grow up so fast. Students are not having the opportunity to just be kids and enjoy their childhood.” Her advice for a first year teacher is, “Not only build a relationship with your students, but also your parents. We can achieve more when the parents and teachers are working together. You are a team, both wanting their child to succeed. And secondly, it takes a village. Do not be nervous or scared to ask questions or collaborate with your colleagues. We can all learn from each other, make connections with each other. We each have our strengths and weakness, and just want what is best for each other, our students, our school, and our community.”

Jennifer Griffiths is married to William for 10 years. They have two children, Will (8) and Kensington (5). In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys running, listening to music, going to the pool/beach, and spending time with my friends and family.

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We are proud to connect with our local schools and teachers. Thank you for all you do!

MyGuardianCU.com Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Learning Abounds Beyond the Schoolhouse Recent events have reminded us that a parent is a child’s first and most important teacher. Whenever schools are closed for whatever reason, it is important for parents to make sure that children continue to learn. There are many things parents can do to keep their children’s minds engaged whether schools are in session or not. One of the best things you can do is to read books with them. And for older children, encourage them to read as much as possible on their own. Ask them about what they’re reading, and start conversations that will stimulate their minds.

River Region Parents I April 2020

In fact, talking with your child in general is a great way to keep them learning. Take some time to have meals together or set aside other times when you can sit down with them and talk. If you are cooking meals at home, that creates many opportunities for learning as well. You can talk about math when using measurements, finances in regards to buying groceries, and even the chemistry and physics involved in cooking itself. You can even turn chores into learning opportunities. Find ways to make them fun and interesting and talk to them about why it is important to do them. Set up some kind of reward for them once they are done with the chores to help them see the value of it. It is important to keep children active, because that also helps their brains. You can go on walks with your child and talk about the different things you see along the way. Another fun thing to do is arts and crafts projects. Look online for projects you can do together as a family. From crayons to

watercolors to papier-mache, there are many easy ways to encourage kids to create. Whenever children are on any kind of break, it is important to make sure you stick to a routine. Make sure they wake up at a normal time and have something planned for them during the day. Limit their screen time, and talk to them about what they are watching. Being a parent is a hard job, especially when you also have work claiming much of your time, but it is worth it to help your child continue learning when they are not at school. Whether you’re reading, cooking, walking or fingerpainting, the time you spend with your child is precious and so important to their development. 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

ACA Hosts Special Olympics Basketball State Championship

Saint James Student Elected Youth Governor

Saint James high school students participated in the 2020 Alabama Youth Legislature held the weekend of February 21. Over the course of the mock legislative conference, several Saint James students were elected officers, while many were acknowledged for their years of service in the program, several more were awarded recognition for outstanding leadership, and others were accomplished delegates asked to attend the national conference. In all, the Saint James students gained high praise for their commitment and dedication to the Youth Legislature program. Saint James junior Ryan Barranco was elected as Youth Governor for the coming year as well as being selected to attend the Council on National Affairs in North Carolina this summer. Also a Saint James junior, Jeffery Ford was elected First Year Presiding Officer and Ford was also selected to attend the Council on National Affairs in North Carolina in June. Senior Joe Higgins was awarded the prestigious Servant Leader Award at the conference as well as receiving recognition with classmate Lucy Edwards for seniors who have attended two or more conferences. Junior Cole Armagost was chosen as the Editor in Chief for 20202021. Sophomore Jake Yohn was elected House Floor Leader and was selected as an alternate delegate to the Council on National Affairs. Freshman Anna Dickey was chosen as one of the outstanding delegates in their first year as well as recognition for having her bill passed in the First Year chamber with classmate Brooke Bender, also a freshman from Saint James. Students who attended the 2020 Alabama Youth Legislature were Cole Armagost, Ryan Barranco, Brooke Bender, Haley Brightwell, Sophie Caradori, Anna Dickey, Lucy Edwards, Tyson Eley, Anna Fett, Jeffery Ford, Kendall Hardaway, Emily Headley, Joe Higgins, Georgeann Killough, Preston Philips, Foster Rasmussen, Jarrett Simpson, Caroline Yancey and Jake Yohn. And Saint James School alumni who were involved in the 2020 conference included Claudia Hubbard, Harrison Carter, Haley White, LizAnne Livings, Pierce Godwin and Trinity Hunter. Youth Legislature is a national YMCA program for high school students preparing them for moral and political leadership through training in the theory and practice of developing public policy. The Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature is a program promoted and developed through the Student YMCA and Government Clubs of the YMCA. It is an educational approach to the development of citizen participation in the democratic government by providing opportunities to high school youth to study public government through a model legislative program. Shown above are Saint James students and alumni together at the 2020 Alabama Youth Legislature conference. In the smaller photo, Youth Governor Ryan Barranco is shown with Saint James alumni and classmates at the conference. River Region Parents I April 2020

Alabama Christian Academy had the privilege of hosting, for the second time, the Special Olympics State Basketball Championship. Thanks to Ms. Finlay Witherington for giving ACA the opportunity to host this amazing event. The morning started early as the ACA students and staff finished every last detail to properly welcome our honored guests. The state-qualified teams arrived on campus led by a police escort, coordinated by George Beaudry from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival, the Special Olympic teams were greeted by the ACA junior varsity and varsity cheerleading squads as well as the ACA Marching Eagle Band. The ACA Middle and High School student body lined the driveway with balloons, signs and pom poms to cheer on the players as they exited their buses. The Special Olympics athletes joined the band and cheerleaders as they walked “parade style” carrying the Olympic torch into the gymnasium, where they were greeted with music, banners, balloons and even more students cheering for them. The ACA student body worked for days prior to make sure the locker rooms were festive and each player had his name on a locker. ACA students performed the National Anthem and teacher Rick Solar said a prayer before the competition began. The atmosphere was enhanced by a live broadcast from sports talk show hosts Doug Amos and Charlie Trotman with MAX Roundtable at ESPN The Ticket. The games began around 9:30 in the morning and the awards to the state champions were handed out around 2 p.m. James Clemens won the State Title, while the second-place trophy went to Minor and Pinson Valley took home third place. Our goal for the event was to give the Special Olympic athletes a day to remember and to serve our community well. www.riverregionparents.com

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Montgomery County Schools

Grandparents Day at MEA

On February 13, the lower school students and faculty welcomed Macon East Academy grandparents to their annual Grandparents Day program. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation declaring Grandparents Day as a national holiday to honor grandparents and help children become more appreciative of the guidance and love they offer. This year’s program, which the students also performed for the residents at Wesley Gardens earlier in the week, was called “Acts of Kindness.” Through songs and recited word, the preschool through sixth-grade students shared how random acts of kindness and giving to others while expecting nothing in return brings the greatest joy.

ACA’s Cobi Keel Signs With Faulkner University

Alabama Christian Academy senior Cobi Keel signed with Faulkner University to play two sports. He will be playing with Faulkner’s soccer team as well as kicking for the football team. Keel’s coaches are confident that he will be able to compete in both sports very well.

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

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Tooth Fairy Visits ECA

A very special guest recently visited Evangel Christian Academy. The elementary students were excited to have the Tooth Fairy take time out of her busy schedule to stop by and discuss dental health. The Tooth Fairy read the students a story about the importance of taking care of their teeth. She also showed them how to properly care for their teeth by brushing and flossing.

STJ Speech & Debate Students Qualify for National Tournament

The last weekend in February, the Saint James speech & debate students who qualified to participate in the Deep South District Qualifier Tournament competed at Huntingdon College and Montgomery Academy vying for National Speech & Debate Tournament bids. At the district competition, senior Gabe Robbins won first place in Humorous Interpretation and a bid to the national tournament. Additionally, senior Trevor Otis won second place in International Extemporaneous Speaking and first place in Big Questions Debate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; securing his bid to the national tournament. Both will represent their school and the state of Alabama at the national tournament this summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From left are Otis; Robbins; sophomore Hamilton Cunningham, who placed in the contestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Informative Speaking ranks; and senior Joey Etheridge, a district qualifier. 19

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Montgomery County Schools

Eastwood’s Science Olympiad Team Places at Regional Competition Eastwood Christian School’s first Science Olympiad team traveled to UAB to compete with sixteen sixth- through ninth-grade teams in this regional competition. Daniel Gimlich and Logan Cox placed first for the event “Game On.” They were given a scientific topic and had to code a video game about that topic in under 50 minutes. Julia Bennett, Sarah Cox, and M.E. Grace Shuemake placed fourth in “Experimental Design.” They were judged on how well they could design, conduct and report findings of a scientific experiment entirely on site. Mary Margaret Bass and Connor Elwell placed fourth in “Mission Possible.” They had to design a Rube Goldberg instrument that could place a golf ball on a tee. Their instrument was successful. Noah Tan, Liam Waddell and Seonwoo Lee placed seventh in “Elastic Launch Gliders.” They had to design a glider that was judged on how long it could stay aloft. Manuel Jimenez assisted the team in all the events.

We are so proud of the ECS Olympiad team members who demonstrated their ability to problem solve and think on the spot. They learned how to work together

and compete with the best! ECS is very grateful to Publix Supermarkets Charities for the generous donation that made our program possible.

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Resurrection Catholic Reads Across America

During Read Across America Week, several classrooms at Resurrection Catholic School welcomed people from the community to read to students, including “Joey the Kangaroo“ from the Launch Trampoline Park in Prattville, who read to the kindergarten class. The students were very excited and engaging with Joey.

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

MEA’s Kyser Takes Second Place at State

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

Macon East Academy fourth-grader Avery Kyser took home second-place honors at the AISA State and District Science Fairs. Earning a first-place ribbon at MEA’s annual fourth- through sixth-grade science fair, Kyser and five other students presented their projects at the district event. Her project “Whatcha Drinking?” was a study of the effects of different drinks on our teeth. She used real baby teeth and displayed photos of the teeth before and after exposure to a variety of sugary and sugar-free drinks. Also representing Macon East at the AISA district event were Addison Longcrier, Payton Baggot, Payton Underwood (physical science category), Parker Ruskin and Elliot Fitch (biological science category). Baggot also placed second at the district fair and advanced to the AISA State Science Fair held January 31 at Huntingdon College. 21

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Montgomery County Schools

Trinityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Musical is a Hit!

Audiences enjoyed THREE incredible performances by Trinity Upper School students who participated in the spring musical, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant! The students worked diligently and practiced nightly for two months, while many also participated in spring sports and other activities simultaneously!

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MEAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jordan and Stringer Sign With Local Universities

Two Macon East Academy star athletes have committed to continue their athletic careers at Montgomery universities. Coleby Jordan signed to play football at Faulkner University. He is a three-time all-state defensive end, and in his senior season, rushed for 1,146 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 33 career sacks in 33 games. Jordan was an integral part of the Knights 2019 winning season (7-3), and was named to the AISA All-Star team. Bishop Stringer has won more than 10 AISA golf tournaments since 2017, and finished the 2019 season as the AISA State Runner-Up. He also earned AISA All-State Team honors in 2018 and 2019 and earned the 2019 All-Metro Golf Award. After being heavily recruited by golf coaches around the southeast, he chose to stay close to home and commit to Alabama State University.

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Alabama Christian Hosts Grandparents Day

Alabama Christian Academy welcomed more than 500 grandparents to its campus for Grandparents Day! Without contest, Grandparents Day is one of our favorite days of the entire year. We rolled out the red carpet and started the morning with a wonderful breakfast. The elementary student body prepared a musical program and each class performed a few songs in front of our esteemed guests. The entire elementary student body performed “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman and there was not a dry eye in the place. The students then invited their grandparents into the classrooms to show them where they spend their days. Students were then able to show off their artwork and classwork before heading to lunch with their grandparents.

ECA Celebrates Birthday of Dr. Seuss

Evangel Christian Academy’s elementary classes had a whimsical week celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Several classes ate green eggs and ham and other Seuss-related snacks. Students enjoyed special dress-up days that centered around Dr. Seuss books. They wore silly hats for The Cat in the Hat, green shirts for Green Eggs and Ham, wacky outfits for Wacky Wednesday, and crazy hair for Maisy Head Dayzie. To culminate the weeklong event, the students dressed as their favorite Seuss character and watched the movie Horton Hears a Who.

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Montgomery County Schools

Saint James Art Students Win Two Gold Keys

Two Saint James School students earned Gold Keys in the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. Saint James students were also awarded eight Silver Keys and five works were recognized with Honorable Mention in the competition. All works receiving Gold Keys advance to national judging. The Saint James Gold Key winners were Trinity Goff for her Photography piece and Isabelle Goulet for her Mixed Media piece. Goff also won three Silver Keys in Photography; Izabella Hernadez won a Silver Key for Drawing & Illustration; Najla Ibrahim won a Silver Key in Drawing & Illustration as well as Honorable Mention in Drawing & Illustration; Nayoon Kang was awarded a Silver Key in Painting; Minna Magnusson won a Silver Key in Drawing & Illustration; and Gracie Sullivan won a Silver Key in Mixed Media. Honorable Mention recognition was awarded to Aroa Jung for Digital Art; Anna Kreischer for Printmaking and for Painting; and Sarah Rice for Photography. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The Alliance is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Through the awards, students receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. Students across America submitted nearly 320,000 original works this year in 29 different categories of art and writing. Front row from left are Isabelle Goulet, Sarah Rice, Izabella Hernandez, Nayoon Kang and Mina Magnusson. Back row: Najla Ibrahim, Gracie Sullivan, Trinity Goff, Anna Kreischer and Aroa Jung.

MEA’s Rachel Sargent Honored as DAR Good Citizen

Macon East Academy senior Rachel Sargent was honored as one of this year’s recipients of the Good Citizen Award presented by a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Sargent and the other award recipients attended a luncheon held in their honor at the Montgomery Country Club. The DAR Good Citizen Award and Scholarship Contest, created in 1934, is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This award recognizes individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. These students are selected by their teachers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree. River Region Parents I April 2020

Trinity Names New Head Football Coach

Trinity Presbyterian School is pleased to announce Granger Shook as the Wildcats’ new Head Football Coach. He was a member of the Trinity Class of 2004 and played on the 2003 football and 2004 soccer state championship teams. Coach Shook is a former four-year college football starter with more than 10 years of collegiate and high school coaching experience. He has coached under legendary and Hall of Fame coaches Mike Turk at Huntingdon College and Rush Propst at Colquitt County High School. Shook comes to Trinity from 7A Prattville High School, where he has served as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and head strength and conditioning coach since 2015. Shook has played an integral part in culture development, program management and player development at both the collegiate and high school level with proven results. “We are excited to welcome Coach Shook back home!” said Trinity Athletic Director Jessica Lassiter. “He demonstrated an exciting vision for Trinity football during the interview process. Coach Shook has an impressive record of program and player development. We are confident in the future of our program under his leadership. He has been associated with winning programs throughout his career and will be an excellent leader for our school.” Coach Shook added, “My family and I are honored and excited to begin this new chapter as a part of the Trinity family. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get to work. Go Cats!” www.riverregionparents.com

Resurrection Students See Ruby Bridges at ASF

Resurrection Catholic School’s 4th-6th grade students attend the first matinee performance of Ruby Bridges at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The students learned a valuable lesson about Ruby Bridges who was six years old when the Civil Rights Movement came hammering at her door—choosing her as the first African-American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. Prior to the performance, students were taught a lesson about the story that aligned with their curriculum.

A DVA N C I N G STUDENTS TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL

$40.4M in Scholarships over the past 5 years

Numerous Ministries

supported worldwide, from the River Region to Guatemala and Uganda

ACA Freshmen Serve Others

In February, seventeen freshmen from Alabama Christian Academy spent the morning helping out at the Montgomery Zoo. They spread mulch, cleaned the playground area and even painted to help the zoo prepare for Zoo Weekend. Another group of AlCA freshmen went to Eat South, which is an educational self-sustaining urban farm. Students cleaned up debris, added to the compost pile, pulled weeds, cut up small trees and even chased a chicken or two around. The third group of ACA students visited the Family Sunshine Center, where they learned a little about how to help victims of abuse, particularly domestic violence. ACA students served around the administrative offices by washing windows, cleaning bookshelves, hanging wreaths and cleaning toys in the children’s rooms. All of these tasks are a part of ACA’s commitment to community service.

2 Jimmy Hitchcock Award Winners

for Christian leadership in athletics in the past 3 years

36 All-State Honor Band Members

and 86 All-District Honor Band members in the past 5 years

1 World Robotics Competition Team,

1 State Finalist team, and 8 State Competition teams in the past 3 years

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Montgomery County Schools

Catholic RoboKnights Win State Tournament For the second year in a row, senior Arthur Murray and junior Aidan Cochran built a world-class robot that qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship Competition. Their robot, “Happy Little Accidents,” is an homage to the late television painter personality Bob Ross, who often called minor mistakes in his art “happy little accidents” because they yielded beautiful end results. The Happy Little Accidents team headed to the Alabama State Tournament in late February, where they won both the State Championship and Robot Skills Champion titles. Either of these wins would have sent them to the World Championship, but they were able to secure both titles to guarantee a spot at Worlds. Unfortunately, due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, which runs the VEX Robotics competition, canceled the World Championship Competition, which was scheduled to be held in Louisville, Ky., April 22-25.

River Region Parents I April 2020

Happy Little Accidents—which also includes senior Ja’Michael Washington and 8th grader Hunter Dailey—has had an incredibly successful competition year. Prior to their appearance at the Alabama State tournament, the team brought home the Tournament Champion trophy at five different competitions and the Skills Champion trophy twice. Also making an appearance at the State Competition was high school team “Insert Team Name Here,” made up of sophomores Chris Lathram (a VEX Worlds alumni), Andres Lemuz and Jake Talbot. In the middle school division, two teams competed at the state level: “Last Resort,” comprised of 7th-graders Zack Azar, David Huston, Merritt Payne, Will Sasser and Jackson Wright, and “The Sevies,” made up of 7th-graders Ben Chitlik, Antonio Lemuz, Jaden Sigler and Harrison Vaughn.

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While the teams are disappointed that this season has come to an early end, they are all looking forward to the next competition challenge, which will be announced soon by the REC Foundation.

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MEA Names Hitchcock Nominees

Seniors Emi Lott and Jake Wyrosdick are honored to represent Macon East Academy as nominees for the prestigious Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award. Since 1959, the Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award has recognized Christian leadership in athletics, outstanding academics and community involvement in Montgomery area seniors. Lott (Mississippi University for Women) and Wyrosdick (Auburn University) will both be attending college on academic scholarships. Freshman certificate recipients from Macon East are Jack Jones and Anna Glynn Lott, as well as 8th-grade honorees Jameson Byrom and Kaiden Bryom. These freshmen and 8th-grade students are recognized for their promise as future nominees for the Hitchcock award. Each of these students will be honored at the May 5 banquet.

Christian Faith Instruction Specialized Extracurriculars

including Music, Robotics, Visual and Performing Arts

Rigorous Academics

serving multi-faceted students, with honors and college-credit AP courses available

Mission Work opportunities to aid education, healthcare, and wildlife in underdeveloped countries

Saint James School TEAMS Qualify for Nationals

Over 30 Athletic Teams with

foundational skills taught at the elementary level

Four groups of Saint James School students competed in TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Math and Science) on March 4. The participants completed two parts of the competition: the problem-solving component and the designand-build component. The 11th- and 12th-grade team (Team A) from Saint James is shown with their load-bearing crane construction. Jack Branham, Na Yoon Kang, Andrew Kellum, Ellie Kim, Trevor Otis, Gayeon Paek, Alex Whisenhunt and Su Yun earned the third-place trophy for the problem-solving component with an excellent score of 55. (The first-place team had a score of 57!) The team has qualified to compete in the TEAMS National Competition in late June in Nashville. The statewide ranking for the three components of the competition will be available in late April.

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L A Catholic Names Castanza President

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce that Justin Castanza, principal of the Middle and High School campuses, has been named the school’s new president. He will succeed current Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar, who is retiring in the summer. “I am tremendously honored and delighted to accept the position of president of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School,” said Castanza about his new role. “This is an immense responsibility, and I am fortunate to be following the example of Mrs. Anne Ceasar, who has prepared MCPS for great things to come. The faculty and staff at Montgomery Catholic are remarkable, and I’m humbled to part of such a great team. Please pray for me, as I will be praying for all of you.” Ceasar announced her retirement in November 2019 after serving in the role since 2008 and will remain president until the end of July 2020. A native of Montgomery, Castanza is a 2001 graduate of Montgomery Catholic and holds both Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from Mississippi State University. Being no stranger to service, Castanza worked as a camp counselor at YMCA’s Camp Chandler since 2000, becoming camp director in 2009. After transitioning to Montgomery Catholic in 2014, he started as a math teacher and dean of students at the High School Campus before assuming the role of principal of the Middle and High School campuses in 2015. Active in the Catholic community, he has served as the youth ministry leader at Holy Spirit Catholic Church and regularly leads pilgrimages to Italy, Guatemala and the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. He has continued to serve the YMCA in various leadership roles over the years and was named Man of the Year for the YMCA of Greater Montgomery in 2019. Castanza and his wife Meg, a fellow MCPS graduate, have been married for seven years and are active members of St. Bede Catholic Church in Montgomery. Together they have three children: Vincent, Natalie and Sal. River Region Parents I April 2020

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STJ Student Shines At Theatre Conference

LAMP Honors Distinguished Alumni and Educator

The tenth annual LAMP High School Hall of Fame Banquet, which was to be held Thursday, April 2, at First Baptist Church, is currently cancelled. The event may be rescheduled for Fall 2020. The Hall of Fame Banquet not only recognizes outstanding LAMP graduates and educators; it also serves as the major fundraiser to support LAMP students’ participation in a wide range of academic competitions. Alumni Inductees for 2020: Tarika Bhuta, M.D., Class of 1991, McCool & Bhuta Ear, Nose and Throat, and founder, Second Servings food insecurity and hunger nonprofit, Birmingham, Ala.; Warren L. Davis, IV, Ph. D., Class of 1991, Principal Member, Technical Staff, Sandia Laboratories, and 2019 national Black Engineer of the Year award, Albuquerque, N.M.; Kristen Rauschkolb Herde, Class of 1994, Founder and CEO, award-winning YeaHR; Düsseldorf, Germany; Leigh Rawls, Class of 2008, Graphics Specialist, United States Department of State, and actress, Washington, D.C.; Tanya Parker Snook, Class of 1991, teacher, West High School, and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Teacher of the Year, State of Texas, 2018, West, Texas; Col. Richard Tanner, USAF, Class of 1992, Commander, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kansas City, Kansas; and Educator Inductee: Janice Samford, 19982015, computer and math instructor. Information regarding the rescheduled banquet will be forthcoming as events allow.

The last week in February, Saint James junior Paige Hemmer attended the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) – which is the largest theatre conference in the United States and boasts a membership of more than 4,500 active individual members and 480+ organizational members (theatres, educational institutions, and arts organizations). Hemmer was one of only four people in the U.S. to be awarded the Keynote Emerging Artist of Promise Award (KEAP) and was presented a plaque at a gala on February 29. During the conference, she had the opportunity to audition with college programs across the Southeast and made “callbacks” to thirty-two (32) university theatre programs. “Paige had access and one-on-one time with many of the ‘theatre royalty’ who were chosen to present keynote addresses at the convention and was able to participate in many workshops, panels and college networking events over the five-day conference,” said Saint James Theatre Director Lonny Harrison. “This was a once-in-alifetime opportunity and a great honor for Paige.”

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Montgomery County Schools

Macon East Flat Stanley Fun

Macon East Academy first-graders sent out Flat Stanleys to places across the country and around the world. Our Flat Stanleys are traveling to places like Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Indiana, England and Germany! We have been patiently waiting for our Flat Stanleys to return so that we can learn more about different places around the world through Stanley’s adventures.

Resurrection Catholic School Pre-K Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss Week

To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, we had a week of fun activities to include: reading Dr. Seuss’ books, cooking green eggs and ham, and dressing as our favorite character, “The Cat and the Hat!” We use our artistic abilities to create our own “Hats.”

River Region Parents I April 2020

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STJ Student Artwork Advances to State Art Show

Eleven Saint James School students were awarded district honors in the Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) competition sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Through local and state recognition, VAAP offers encouragement to young artists, showcasing their work to a wide audience, and offering opportunities for advanced training beyond high school. District winners from Saint James included high school students Eric Lee, earning first place in Printmaking; Sarah Rice, winning first place in Photography; Aatika Albimani, awarded 2nd place in Printmaking; Trinity Goff, taking third place in Photography; and Isabelle Goulet, earning third place in Painting. Middle school student Emilee Alexander was awarded second place and Wild Card (advancing to state art show) in 3D/Crafts, as well as middle school second-place winners Wendy Stombaugh for Drawing, Junseo Oh for Printmaking, and Sarah Park & Zane Harris tied for Painting. The third-place middle school winner for Painting was awarded to Evi Willemen. In addition to Alexander’s 3D/Crafts entry, the works that earned first place by Lee and Rice will advance to the state competition for a second round of judging. Front row from left are: Zane Harris, Sarah Rice, Isabelle Goulet, Emilee Alexander, Sarah Park and Aatika Albimani; and back row: Eric Lee, Wendy Stombaugh, Junseo Oh, Trinity Goff and Evi Willemen.

Catholic Finds Success At Youth Legislature

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School students had a fantastic showing at the 2020 YMCA Youth in Government (ALYIG) Youth Legislature conference that was held February 21-23. This year’s participants were Michael Hodges, Gracie Barranco, Zach Izer, Julienne Pharrams, Ellie Pool, Michael Russo, Anna Sadie, Sebastien Sayegh and Ada Ziegler, advised by history teacher Haley Hart. “This was the smallest delegation Catholic has brought in my four years of Youth Leg,” said Sadie, “but this is definitely the most successful Youth Leg we have had in those four years!” Pool was selected to serve on the Governor’s Cabinet as the Superintendent of Education. Hodges, Barranco and Izer each authored and submitted bills, all of which were passed in their chambers. Of the hundreds of students in attendance at Youth Legislature, Sadie and Pharrams were selected to attend the upcoming Youth Legislature Conference of National Affairs (CONA), which will be held in June. Only 25 students were selected for this opportunity, and Barranco and Izer were picked as alternates to the conference. Barranco was given the Sunshine Award, and Sadie won the Bill Barringer Scholarship.

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Resurrection Students Play with Parachutes

Resurrection Catholic School’s first-grade students participated in a parachute activity during physical education, facilitated by Coach Aubrey Barnes. This activity is among the most memorable physical education experiences of a young child’s life. Just seeing the parachute creates excitement and joy for most students. It is also an important opportunity to reinforce critical personal responsibility skills, as well as introduce movement concepts and early muscular anatomy.

ECA Students Celebrate Manners of the Heart

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Evangel Christian Academy’s kindergarten class recently held a special tea party. The students had learned about mealtime etiquette as part of the Manners of the Heart curriculum. The party gave them a chance to display their good manners. The students dressed in formal attire during the luncheon. Everyone had a great time and displayed wonderful manners!

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River Region Parents I April 2020

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Alabama Christian Academy Holds Montala 2020

On February 22, the Alabama Christian Academy Yearbook Staff hosted its annual pageant, Montala 2020: “The Roaring Twenties.” The theme was reflected in the decorations, music and outfits. Twelve beautiful young ladies competed in the Miss Montala high school division, and ten girls were in the Jr. Miss Montala middle school division. Student involvement also included the emcees (seniors Payton DeCapite and Judd Hardin), entertainment (senior Madison Foshee), the elementary Broadway Bound club, the theater classes, and the Chamber Choir, as well as backstage help, admissions and welcoming committee, and concessions contributions and sales. In the middle school division, the following awards were presented: “Miss Congeniality” Erin Simmons; “People’s Choice” Kinleigh Pittman; Top Five Ella Grace Dicks, Cadence Roberts, Erin Simmons, Julie Waldo and Jonae Watts; Second Runner-Up Cadence Roberts; First Runner-Up Jonae Watts; and Jr. Miss Montala 2020 Ella Grace Dicks (crowned by Jr. Miss Montala 2019 Mandy Gregory). In the high school division, the following awards were presented: “Miss Congeniality” Bailey DiNunzio; “People’s Choice” Madison Parker; Top Six Caroline Carter, Jacque Hagan, Hayden Holladay, Bethany Hudson, Macy Kate Owen and Valorie Roberts; Second Runner-Up Bethany Hudson; First Runner-Up Valorie Roberts; and Miss Montala 2020 Macy Kate Owen (crowned by Miss Montala 2019 Grace Bruner.)

The Macon East Academy chapter of the National Junior Honor Society welcomed fourteen new members at an induction ceremony held February 24. After the NJHS officers presented the Honor Society ideals of scholarship, service, leadership and character to the inductees, Erica Hammonds, NJHS advisor, awarded the certificates of membership. Serving as officers this year are: Jack Jones (president), Ryan Russell (vice president), Ryann Moseley (secretary/treasurer), and Wade Desmarais (chaplain). 2020 NJHS Inductees include: Ethan Jones, Katie Kitchens, Chase Lashlee, Addison Little, Tiffany Marshall, Julia Mathis, Madison May, Mary Taylor May, Kaiden Merritt, Sawyer Nelson, Marissa Robledo, Jordan Rossell, Jacob Simpson and Hunter Wren.

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Montgomery Catholic Students Celebrate Mardi Gras

The students at all four Montgomery Catholic campus locations celebrated Mardi Gras to ring in the holy season of Lent. The day began at the High School campus where the sophomore class hosted the annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast. Serving a meal of pancakes, eggs and bacon, the students invited faculty, local clergy and special guests from the community to enjoy breakfast and fellowship with all the high school students. The highlight of the breakfast was special guest speaker Dennis Hoyer, a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University, who spoke to the school about the importance of self-sacrifice and responding to acts of love by also loving in return. Immediately following breakfast, the marching band and sophomores took the party on the road and visited the St. Bede and Holy Spirit campuses to give them their very own Mardi Gras parades. The high schoolers tossed candy, toys, beads and snacks to the eager elementary students while the band played a repertoire of popular Mardi Gras parade tunes. It was a fun and festive day to help ring in the holy season of Lent.

ACA Students Meet Clay Dyer

Students from Alabama Christian Academy had a unique opportunity to serve as host for the River Region Iron Work group. ACA students had the distinct pleasure of meeting Clay Dyer, a B.A.S.S. professional fisherman who motivated and challenged everyone in the room to not let life’s ups and downs keep you from reaching your goals. His motto “What’s Your Excuse?” hit home with several who attended, because it is very easy to give up when everyday struggles get difficult. However, the most important message Dyer shared that night was the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Dyer’s physical limitations have not dampened his determination and positive spirit. He now travels and speaks to audiences all over about his story and lessons learned along the way. He started fishing at age 5 and began tournament fishing at age 15. He refuses to use special equipment, wanting to cast with one hand as others do with two. He casts by tucking the rod under his jaw and whipping it around with a quick left-to-right twist. He reels fish in while holding the end of the rod under his chin. He ties knots with his tongue and unhooks fish with his teeth. Dyer fishes on the Bassmaster Open Series. He has fished in more than 200 bass tournaments and placed first in approximately 20 state bass tournaments. He is sponsored by O.R.C.A. coolers, Strike King Lure Co., Ranger Boats and Mercury Marine.

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Resurrection Catholic School Pre-K Students Visit McWane Science Center

Pre-K students at Resurrection Catholic School chartered a bus to visit The McWane Science Center in Birmingham. This field trip included science and math learning experiences for younger children. They enjoyed the Itty Bitty Magic City exhibit featuring a climbing structure and water play area. Their educational field trip also included lunch and a show at the IMAX Superdome Theater. Along with faculty chaperones, several parents accompanied the children.

Macon East First-Grade Fun With Let’s Pretend Hospital

In February, Macon East Academy first-grade students visited Baptist Medical Center’s Let’s Pretend Hospital. This is an annual event with the goal of introducing children to a hospital environment in a friendly, educational way. As our first-grade students moved through the different simulation rooms, they learned more about the process of being admitted into the hospital, different healthcare professions, and their own health. We followed our volunteer “family” (mom, dad and patient) through patient intake, the emergency room, the operating room, the blood lab, the radiology department, the patient room, the nursery and more.

Attention Schools: Please send us news and photos highlighting your virtual learning experiences for our May School Bits! Email to deanne@riverregionparents.com!

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Ready to Meet the Challenges That Lie Ahead We are going through an unprecedented time now as the world responds to the threat of a new, highly contagious infectious disease, COVID-19, or Coronavirus. The health and welfare of our students, employees, and community are our highest priority, and the Pike Road School System is making decisions accordingly. We are following the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control, the Alabama State Department of Education, and the Alabama Department of Public Health. We are communicating with them regularly

and adjusting our plans according to their directives. Following Governor Kay Ivey’s State of Emergency order to close schools for an extended period, our leadership team began preparing for a number of contingencies. Our teachers are providing enrichment activities for students as allowed by the State Department of Education. If we are directed to provide e-learning for our students, we have already made plans to do so. The College Board, the group that runs the Advanced Placement courses, has made arrangements for testing for AP courses remotely from home. In an effort to support our local community through the recent school closure, the Pike Road Schools Child Nutrition Program will offer free meals to students who need them. Meals will be available for curbside pickup only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

During this time, we will offer a limited selection of sack lunches and breakfasts that are ready to eat. Children, 18 and under, who use this service will be provided two breakfast and two lunches each day while supplies last. The Pike Road School System is committed to keeping our community safe, getting our seniors graduated, and helping all of our students to continue to learn and progress so that their learning is not interrupted by this world health crisis. We are uniquely prepared for this and will make sure that the students of Pike Road Schools get the best education in Alabama in these uncertain times. 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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Pike Road Elementary Reads Across America

Read Across America Day, also known as Dr. Seuss Day, is a yearly observance inaugurated by the National Education Association (NEA). It is held on the school day that is nearest March 2, which is the popular children’s author’s birthday. Since Read Across America focuses on motivating children to read, Pike Road Elementary had no shortage of special guest readers to help us celebrate this special day. Some of our guests included State School Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, WSFA news anchor Judd Davis, Big Mo the Montgomery Biscuits mascot, Pike Road School Board President Ray Hawthorne, and Pike Road board member Tommy Ratliff.

Pike Road Enrichment Learners Host Brain Awareness Fair

After studying the human brain, our Patriot Enrichment Program (PEP) learners shared their knowledge with the community through hosting a Brain Awareness Fair. Students set up interactive stations that provided an opportunity for others to discover how they can improve their brain function. Numerous guests rotated through the presentations and listened intently as our PEP learners proudly shared their projects and research information. Teachers, administrators, parents, family members, friends and community members provided an authentic audience for our learners to share their brain knowledge.

Pike Road Varsity Girls’ Basketball Makes it to the Final Four

Pike Road varsity girls’ basketball had an extremely successful season. The team made history by winning the 2019-2020 Area and Regional Championships, which allowed the players to compete in the AHSAA Final Four. Making it to the Final Four as a second-year basketball program is phenomenal. The team is made up of ten varsity players—five seniors, four juniors and one eighth-grader. The girls are led by Head Coach Courtney Ward and Assistant Coach Joi Washington. Starting summer of 2019, the girls worked extremely hard preparing for the season. They ran mile after mile after mile and never folded. As normal teenagers, there were plenty of days they wanted to quit but they fought and stayed together to be GREAT. They were determined to get what they deserved. They were determined to be the first girls’ basketball team to make a statement, make history and set goals. Coaches Ward and Washington are building a strong program on and off the court. They are teaching these players work ethic, character and how to handle adversity. They instilled in them that in order for the team to be great they must work hard in the summer. They used mottos to motivate and teach the girls. This year’s motto was was iNAM (IT’S NOT ABOUT ME), meaning it’s not only about one person, but us as a whole. It takes a team—all 10 of us plus the coaches—to win these games, keep focus along the way, and comprehend the bigger picture. “Though as a first-year varsity program last year doing pretty good... this year, as a coach, we wanted our players to play remembering what teams did to us while being a program built for years,” said Ward. “We never complained about losses, we never complained about not winning area and regional championship, we never complained about any losses that we ever took. As coaches we went to the drawing boards and did what we thought it would take to make the team better. No matter how many points we were winning by this year, we told our players, still play as if you’re losing. We only wanted to get better. Every game we wanted to be 75% from the free throw line, get three consecutive stops on defense three times, have 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, take a charge, and have 15+ rebounds every game. Their hard work certainly paid off! We are proud of all they have accomplished!” 37

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Pike Road Band Receives Superior Ratings

The Pike Road High School band recently participated in the Music Performance Assessments (MPA) held at Auburn High School. PRHS competed against 59 other band programs that are also in district six. Our MPA results were fantastic! Stage Performance: 1-1-1 Sight Reading: 1 Overall: SUPERIOR Patrick Darby is the band director for Pike Road High School.

Pike Road High School Selected as CLAS School of Distinction

Pike Road High School was one of four other schools selected as 2019 CLAS Schools of Distinction in State School District Five. Each school was nominated for this award by its respective superintendent. This award recognizes schools that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama. These exemplary schools will be recognized at a luncheon May 4 in Prattville, at which time the CLAS Banner School from State School Board District 5 will be announced. The CLAS Banner School program was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and service to students. Since then, 189 schools have been nominated for this prestigious recognition. CLAS, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, was founded in 1969 by a small group of school leaders to provide targeted professional development and support for Alabama’s public school administrators. CLAS now serves eleven affiliates representing each type of public school/school system leader. CLAS provides the framework to connect dedicated school administrators and other successful leaders with a network for professional growth and support. CLAS is the premier professional learning provider for administrators in public schools in the state of Alabama. Pike Road High School is honored to be recognized as a CLAS School of Distinction.

Pike Road Middle School Raises Money For the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Pike Road Middle School participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients fundraising drive in February, and raised a total of $2,279.30 to help cure blood cancer! The five classes that raised the most money are excited to throw a pie in their teachers’ faces soon. The class that raised the most funds will receive a catered lunch from Olive Garden. The following learners completed the most missions on this project: Alison May, 5th grade; Jackson Hamilton & James Trew, 6th grade; and Alison Brown & Rachel Brown, 7th grade.

Attention Schools: Please send us news and photos highlighting your virtual learning experiences for our May School Bits! Email to deanne@riverregionparents.com! River Region Parents I April 2020

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Pike Road Elementary Teacher Publishes Children’s Book

Pike Road Second-Graders Present American Symbols on Parade

Pike Road Elementary second-grade learners did an excellent job presenting American Symbols on Parade! The process of learning roles, participating in several hours of practice and actually performing before a live audience taught these learners confidence, cooperation, creativity, sustained focus and communication skills. Second-grade teachers chose this particular play because it provided a fun and engaging way to align with the social studies standards. Students learned about national symbols, American history, and the founding principles of our country. This was a great way to learn about the important figures who have helped shape our world as we know it today.

As mentioned last month, Pike Road Elementary School kindergarten teacher Terry Collins recently authored and published a children’s book that is also in the Library of Congress. Mouse in the House can be purchased online at major book retailers. Collins even has plans to publish and write more children’s stories. She enjoys writing about character building and feelings, using quirky animals to portray a story.

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Autauga County Schools

PCA’s Ginny Gunn Signs Troy University Track Letter of Intent

PJHS Student Visits State Legislators

Prattville Junior High seventh-grader Bryan Moody recently spent three days with state legislators learning the ins and outs of our state government. He was able to see the operations that make the words on the pages of his civics textbook come alive. This is an incredible program for our students and legislators alike. We appreciate our local elected officials who are investing in our future!

Prattville Christian Academy senior Ginny Gunn will continue her track and field career collegiately at Troy University in Troy, as a preferred walk on this fall. Having recieved The Scholars Award, the highest academic scholarship given at Troy University, she receives full tuition and housing for the next four years. As one of the four seniors this season, Gunn will lead PCA’s track and field team as the captain where she’s served since her sophomore year. In addition to many individual meet placements, she qualified for AHSAA’s 3A state meet in 2016, 2018, and 2019 in the 300m hurdles and 4x400 relay. Gunn has set multiple school records in long jump, 60m hurdles, and the 4x400 relay. “I am so excited about Ginny having the opportunity she has been given at Troy,” said Tara Osborne, PCA’s athletic director. “Ginny is a silent leader who leads by example, and she is very coachable. She is one of the hardest-working young ladies that I know.” As one of the top academically performing students in her senior class, she will also focus on her ability to make her mark on the world by earning a degree in either Language Arts secondary education or exercise science-nutrition.

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T c h o s

PLES Student Designs Water Festival Shirt

Pine Level Elementary is so proud of one of our 4th-grade students who designed the Autauga County Water Festival T-shirt.

PJHS Tournament Champs

The Prattville Junior High softball team has overcome adversity and worked hard to accomplish goals set at the beginning of the year. One by one, the girls are racking up on hardware to demonstrate their dedication. These Lady Cats were the recent champions of a weekend tournament in central Alabama. Athletic teams teach students about their sport and an awful lot about life and the attributes it takes to be successful.

Attention Schools: Please send us news and photos highlighting your virtual learning experiences for our May School Bits! Email to deanne@riverregionparents.com!

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Autauga County Schools

Governor Kay Ivey Affirms PCA’s 2019 National Blue Ribbon School Designation

Prattville Christian Academy was honored with a visit from Governor Kay Ivey during a school assembly recognizing its recent National Blue Ribbon School designation. PCA students of all ages listened attentively as Gov. Ivey, the first seated governor to visit the school’s campus, made her congratulatory remarks. Representative Will Dismukes and Senator Clyde Chambliss were also in attendance. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a U.S. Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools. PCA was named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos earlier this school year. Of the 362 schools recognized throughout the country and only 50 non-public schools, PCA is recognized as an exemplary high performing school in academic achievement and scored within the top 15% percent in the nation in elementary and middle school standardized test scores. The National Blue Ribbon designation is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. “It’s a tremendous honor to recognize Prattville Christian Academy and their dedication to raising up the next generation of Alabamians,” said Gov. Ivey. “Education is vital to the future successes of this great state, and PCA is to be commended for their proven strategies, passionate faculty and staff members, and high-achieving students.” Founded in 1997, Prattville Christian Academy is a private school dedicated to providing academic excellence, with an emphasis on life readiness skills, in a caring, Christian environment. Students have access to a range of opportunities through a resource program for struggling students, dyslexia intervention, and gifted classes for high-ability students. “This is a huge honor for PCA, and is a direct result of the day-in-and-day-out work of the entire PCA family,” said Kim Stephenson, PCA’s academic director. “When all parts of the school work together to achieve small victories, the result is astounding. PCA’s culture supports excellence in education and provides students with the tools necessary to be successful in academics and life.”

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Read Across America For Big Kids at PJHS

PJHS Students Visit Trenholm Tech

Dr. Jones’ classes at Prattville Junior High read Dr. Seuss books and analyzed them intensely. Students enjoyed reading classics from their childhood as they engaged in fun activities for Read Across America. They then put on their thinking hats to dig a little deeper into the books and learned about the history surrounding the time period and what the books meant to society. It was a fun way to tackle some tough topics.

Eighth-grade students from Prattville Junior High recently visited Trenholm Tech for some hands-on learning about opportunities after high school. As students are preparing registration for high school, this is a great time to begin to think about a career path. Students were able to talk with business leaders and participate in multiple activities to help them choose their electives wisely to set them up for the future.

Pine Level Serves Meals to Autauga County Students During the break from school, Pine Level Elementary was a Grab n’ Go lunch and breakfast site for Autauga County students 18 and under. It is Autauga County’s goal to feed our children while schools are closed down.

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P T D At the time of this writing, we are experiencing a major health crisis that has affected people around the world. The situation has evolved very rapidly, and we have worked diligently to prepare to meet the needs of our students and staff during this time. We began planning for the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) soon after the disease was identified in the United States. We focused on three main areas: providing instruction should the school closure last beyond Governor Ivey’s mandated two-week shutdown, providing meals to our students during the shutdown, and cleaning/sanitizing our facilities. Our first task was to plan how to continue with instruction for our students if we did not return to school on April 6, and we began working out the details to

be prepared to utilize virtual platforms for instruction if necessary. First, we determined which platform would be utilized in the elementary and secondary grades, then conducted a review/refresher training session for each group: Google Classroom will be used for students in grades K through 5, and Edgenuity will be used for students in grades 6-12. For virtual instruction to be effective, all our students must have access to the necessary technology. To identify specific needs, we sent a survey home with all students to collect information about the technological capacity in their homes, including availability of computers, internet connection, and knowledge of various apps and programs. This information was compiled at each school and will be used to distribute devices for students to use who do not have access to them at home. Virtual instruction will only be used if we have not returned to school by April 6, but our goal was to be prepared to switch to a virtual platform if necessary. Our Child Nutrition staff worked diligently to implement a plan to feed our

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students during the school closure. Five feeding sites in each of our communities offered meal pick-up to students multiple times over the course of the shutdown. Students were given several meals at each pick-up to last until the next pick-up day. This coordinated effort among our CNP staff, administrators, and volunteers provided a critical service to our students. All our facilities and buses were cleaned and sanitized on our last day before shutdown. Prior to the shutdown, we placed a renewed emphasis on good hygiene, including frequent hand washing and cough/sneeze etiquette, and staying home if you feel sick. The health and safety of our students will always our top priority. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for your understanding and support during this unprecedented event in our country. 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

Wetumpka Classes Create Living Wax Museum

Second-grade teacher Mrs. Wells and fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Deem’s classes participated in a Living Wax Museum at Wetumpka Elementary! The students spent weeks researching historical figures and bringing them “back to life.” They did a phenomenal job getting into character, writing about their figures and recreating the past!

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HMS Principal Receives Honor

Holtville Middle School Principal Lee Jackson has been named Principal of the Year by the Alabama Community Education Association.

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Eclectic Elementary Students of the Month

WHS Senior Wins STEM Logo Contest

Wetumpka High School senior Amelia Nettles was Elmore County’s STEM Logo Contest winner. Her logo will represent all things STEM in our school district. To see more occurring in STEM, visit the gallery at www.elmoreyoungengineers.org.

Eclectic Elementary Students of the Month for March include: Kindergarten: Noah Donahey, Aleyah Daniels, Mikayla Bailey, Alex Hoagland, Rishon Hicks and JaMichael Buckhanon 1st Grade: Greenlee Gantt, Skylar Brown, Austyn Thornton, Laina Robertson and Evie Gill 2nd Grade: Noah Irvin, McKenzie Newman, Landon Pritchard, Ellie Pemberton and Athena Burchell 3rd Grade: Madalyn Dutton, Tiyha Floyd, Kolton Lausee, Desirae Floyd and Saleena Winslett 4th Grade: Jessica Watts, Jamarcus Pritchett, Chesney Sullivan and Brayden Dopson

Elmore County Nutrition Workers

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Thank you to all the Elmore County Child Nutrition staff and volunteers for assisting with the feeding program. 7,050 meals were served to students in Elmore County in one day! River Region Parents I April 2020

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Elmore County Homeschoolers Go Full Steam Ahead

Elmore County elementary students made their own circuit butterflies, snakes, spiders, dragonflies and bunnies with glowing eyes as they learned about science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics in the Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead class at Academy Days Homeschool Co-op in Millbrook. Showing off their original designs are Rebecca Hand, Levi Baughcum, Abby Dannelley, Mady Kay Segrest, Michaela Dannelley; Jacqueline Newell, Sutherlin Halbrooks, Dawson Halbrooks, Gage Matheny, Cian Martin and Brian LaFond. In addition to this class, the Academy Days Co-op offers more than 40 homeschool classes in creative writing, art, religion, history, economics, science and PE for preschool through high school. Visit www.AcademyDays.com for more information.

Attention Schools: Please send us news and photos highlighting your virtual learning experiences for our May School Bits! Email to deanne@riverregionparents.com!

Wetumpka Softball Team Named Undefeated Champs at Auburn Varsity Tournament

Wetumpka High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball team scored 6-0 on the weekend... #WHSSoftball 47

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4 Skills -- from Empathy to Manners-That Tech Might Be Eroding

on your phone. Explain that it can be very difficult to put down your phone when you’re in the middle of a game or chat, but you believe it’s important to pay special respect to people like grandparents and elders. And of course, respect breeds respect, so put your phone down when your kid talks to you (unless it’s about how much redstone they need to build a castle in Minecraft, in which case it’s totally OK to ignore them!).

(and What to Do About It) You started with the best intentions. Your kid needed a laptop for homework. Your tween needed a phone to text you after school. You wanted a Fitbit to lose a few extra pounds. But now, you look around and devices are plugged into every nook and cranny in your home. Everyone’s staring, tapping, tracking. While you’re grateful for things like Google Maps and Netflix that make your life easier and more fun, something feels off. It’s the basics that are missing: courtesy, conversation, being bored, and appreciating simple pleasures. But all hope is not lost. Here are four ways tech has nibbled away at valuable life skills and experiences, and what you can do about it.

Internet vs. Value of Boredom

When a phone full of cute cat videos and funny memes is only a swipe away, it’s easy to forget what it was like to be truly bored. But science tells us that boredom is actually useful -- for kids and adults. Not only can boredom lead to deep thinking, it can help kids practice perseverance, or pushing through uncomfortable moments without stimulation or distraction. And without boredom, kids might not take the time to explore their surroundings -- dig in the dirt, wonder how a house is built, bake cookies without a recipe -- and they might not stumble on something they really love to do. What to do: Create opportunities for boredom by setting up times and places where devices are off-limits. And make sure kids have unstructured time -- even a little bit -- where they can roam the house or the neighborhood without a schedule. Keep a list of activities that kids say they like to do -- from drawing to hammering to bouncing a ball -- and point them toward it when they complain.

Home Assistants vs. Manners

If you are one of the millions of households in the United States with Alexa or Google Home, you may have noticed an unfortunate side effect of using the device: a lack of enforced courtesy. Kids (and adults) shout commands at the device: “Play Beyoncé!” or “What’s the weather?!” The devices do not require a “please” or “thank you,” and the more lifelike these devices become, the weirder it is to hear your child rudely demanding something from a humanlike voice. What to do: Model the behavior you want to see. It might feel strange to say “please” to a machine, but if that’s what you expect from your kid, you should do it too. It might help explain to kids that even though you know Alexa doesn’t have feelings, using polite voices and words makes it nicer for the real people in the house who do have feelings. You can talk about how it can feel bad to be around someone who’s yelling or angry, even if they’re not yelling at you.

Devices vs. Empathy

The mere presence of a phone on the table between two people having a discussion has been shown to decrease feelings of empathy. Whether this is because the phone owner is distracted by the possibility of an incoming message or the promise of something more interesting on the device is unclear. But it makes sense that if someone isn’t giving you their full attention, they’re less likely to understand or empathize with you, and ultimately that can affect the quality of the relationship. What to do: Prioritize face-to-face conversation over devices by putting phones and tablets out of site during meals. Recognize your thought pattern during conversations, and if you find yourself wondering about a missed call or guessing how many people liked your most recent Instagram post, refocus your concentration on your friend, spouse, or kid. And acknowledge how difficult digital distraction can be to manage yourself so that your kids understand that you think it’s an important challenge to wrestle with.

Phones vs. Respect for Elders

How many of us have witnessed a teacher, coach, or grandparent try to make conversation with kids who can’t unglue their eyes from a screen? Of course it’s only polite to put down your phone when anyone is talking to you, but it can be especially embarrassing for parents who were raised to defer to the older generation. What to do: Make your expectations very clear. Talk to your kids about how important it is to use good manners when you’re River Region Parents I April 2020

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The growing number of COVID-19 cases has triggered a wave of alarm and preemptive action across the globe and, closer to home, schools, libraries, and even churches have closed their doors. While social distancing is a necessaryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;albeit overwhelmingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;way to stem the coronavirus outbreak, many parents have been left floundering for ways to keep their kids occupied at home as they count the minutes for their day-to-day routine to go back to normal.

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Although some schools are providing their students with online classes, this may not be a viable option for your household and, even if it is, you still have to fill up the rest of the day as you hunker down at home with the kids. For many parents, letting their children play video games or watch TV for a reasonable amount of time is fun for the kids and gives you a much-needed opportunity to get things done. However, if none of that screen time offers any educational value or family bonding time, you may want to explore other solutions to help keep your kids and yourself from going stircrazy. Moreover, if your child is experiencing depression and/or anxiety because of the coronavirus pandemic, engaging in activities that promote family bonding can help reduce the incidence of depression and anxiety in children. Here are 10 fun (and cheap!) activities you can do at home with kids of all ages.

1. Set up an indoor campground. Bring the sleeping bags and tents down from the attic and turn your family room or backyard into a campground. No sleeping bags or tents? No problem. Create a campground by arranging chairs in rows of two in the family room, draping a bedsheet over the chairs to create the tent, and piling pillows and blankets underneath to create a sleeping area.

You can make your campground as elaborate as you’d like with items you already have in your home. String Christmas lights across the top of the tent to create a starry night scene. Enjoy the glow of a campground “fire” made with paper towel tubes, tissue paper, and LED candles. Set up lawn chairs outside the tent and serve hot dogs, chips, and trail mix, play cards and board games, or do an easy “camping” craft like making beaded necklaces or braided bracelets. Add to the camping aura by having the kids help you make s’mores in the microwave, oven or skillet.

2. Host Olympic games. If you look in your kids’ toy boxes and closets, you’ll probably find that you have enough games and activities at home to arrange back-to-back and create a challenging obstacle course for your kids to compete in, tantamount to a kiddie indoor Olympic course! You can kick off the “Olympic games” with an opening ceremony where each child gets to parade onto the course to a theme song of his or her choosing. Depending on your child’s age, your child may want to grab a favorite teddy bear to serve as his or her Olympic mascot. At the close of the opening ceremonies, get your stopwatch and score-

card ready and time your little Olympians as they compete in consecutive games of skill and physical fitness such as: • a ring or beanbag toss, a mini golf course competition (a broom, a ping pong ball, and a plastic cup can be used in place of a golf club, golf ball, and golf hole), or a ball throwing competition into boxes of decreasing sizes, with a point given per successful shot for each of these activities; • a sack race or a boiled egg and spoon race with a marked-off finish line and points given to the first person over the finish line; • a hula hoop competition with a point given for each second the competitors can hold up their hula hoop; • a pyramid cup-stacking race with points given to the first person to successfully stack his or her cups into a stable pyramid; • a physical endurance competition where points are given for the number of jumping jacks, push-ups, and sit-ups the child can do in three 30-second intervals; and • a mad dash crabwalk to the final finish line to close out the indoor Olympic games. At the end of the games, be sure to hand out prizes to each child, whether the prizes be stickers, dollar bills, or, if planned ahead, inexpensive pre-ordered gold medals.

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3. Send the kids on an indoor scavenger hunt. Staying indoors can be a blast when the kids are set off on a scavenger hunt to seek and collect common household items. The scavenger hunt can be subject to a time-limit where each child competes alone or as part of a team to see which team collects the most items first. Go online for free, printable indoor scavenger hunt checklists listing everyday household items for seekers to find.

4. Throw a costume party. Let your kids raid your closet for hats, scarves, and costume jewelry to throw a costume party. Add snacks and a tea set to make it a tea party-themed ball! Clear a space for a catwalk and let your little models parade their fashion choices for you.

5. Put on an airshow with popsicle stick airplanes. All you’ll need for this creative craft is popsicle sticks, a cutting tool, craft glue or a hot glue gun, and paint if you’re not already using colored popsicle sticks. Find age-appropriate tutorials online to guide your child as she cuts and glues popsicle sticks to create toy airplanes. You can add a propeller to the airplane by twisting pipe cleaner around the nose of the aircraft. For added fun, create

a runway by taping sheets of construction paper together along a table or floor or by laying down a section of cardboard complete with runway markings.

6. Hold an art show. Grab smocks for your kids and spread out watercolors and brushes, crayons, markers, or colored pencils on a table along with poster board or construction paper. Provide glue sticks and safety scissors to allow for added artistic touches. Once your little artists have created their masterpieces, hang up the artwork and host an art show complete with glasses of apple juice “champagne” and hor d’oeuvres.

berry parfaits with yogurt and granola, and no bake cookies.

9. Expand your child’s knowledge with easy science experiments. Amaze your children while having them brush up on their science skills with these easy science experiments that you can do in your own home and with products you likely already have. Click on the “Experiments” section of sciencebob.com to learn how to do simple scientific experiments.

10. Relax with low-key, familybonding activities.

8. Bring out your child’s inner chef.

If your days at home are better-suited for more low-key family activities, consider starting a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle that you and your child can work on and frame once completed. Older children may be interested in starting a scrapbook or smash book with you. Other ideas for low-key fun for children of all ages are playing Mad Libs as a family, building a Lego village together, or playing tried-and-true family-friendly board. rrp

Give your child an apron and set up a toppings bar to make homemade pizza or your own ice cream sundaes. Other kidfriendly foods you can easily find recipes for online to make together or let your older child make alone are Emoji-inspired rice cakes,

Dolores Smyth is a parenting writer and mother of three kids ranging in age from preschool to junior high. You can follow more of her work on Twitter @LolaWordSmyth.

7. Make Play-Doh come to life. Kids will enjoy following any of the numerous YouTube tutorials showing them how to make Play-Doh animal creations such as turtles, crocodiles, and unicorns, and a PlayDoh park scene featuring trees, flowers, and a duck pond.

River Region Parents I April 2020

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@ Washington, D.C. Go inside the Space Shuttle Discover with a special immersive film, 15 digital exhibits, virtual tours and over 200 online artifacts.

Scholastic

https://www.cnet.com/news/step-aboard-the-spaceshuttle-discovery-with-googles-8k-virtual-tour/

http://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/ learnathome.html

International Space Station

Royal UK

https://www.royal.uk

“Learn From Home” website with four categories: PreK and Kindergarten, and Grades 1-6+.

Titanic Sinks

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/ suni_iss_tour.html

Mars

http://www.historyview.org/library/titanic

http://accessmars.withgoogle.com

Jerry’s Artarama for Kids

Exercise

Moon

https://www.jerrysartarama.com/free-art-instructionvideos/skill-level/kids

Go Noodle

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

https://www.gonoodle.com

Art Online free video art lessons for kids.

Join Mo Willems everyday at noon to learn how to draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing. https://www.kennedy-center.org

Make

Free Art Lesson offered while schools are out. https://www.facebook.com/makepaducah/

Educational Girls Get STEM

Tune in to transport students to the STEM Center of Excellence where STEM will come to life in new and unexpected ways.

Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover.

http://moon.nasa.gov/resources/168/tour-of-themoon-4k/

Free Guide and video that teaches kids about the election process. http://freekidsguide.com/01fb20x01z03?fbcl id=IwAR3KoUx0QaUKRZ-5yKK8Psbetb3m1vEqOXWdhcfI4kS9EwNXwPHNyrEfBlc

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Virtual Story Time

Free Virtual Experience Gymnastics. Live 1 p.m. Central time.

https://www.instagram.com/gothamgymnastics/

Museums

Josh Gad (Olaf) Story time

Actor Josh Gad, who played Olaf in Disney’s Frozen movies, is reading to kids every evening off of his Twitter page.

http://accessmars.withgoogle.comtwitter.com/joshgad

The Ark Encounter & Creation Museum

View free livestreams of science labs, behind-thescenes tours, live animal encounters, lectures, etc. http://www.creationmuseum.org http://www.arkencounter.com

Storyline Online

Streamed videos of actors reading children’s books with creatively produced illustrations. http://www.storylineonline.net

Farm Tour

Learn Our History

http gal

Online Gymnastics Camp, Virtual

https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/l

https://www.khanacademy.org

Google Arts & Culture

Free education with video tutorials, schedule ideas and much more for kids from ages 2-7.

http virt

http://amazingsciencefacts.com/virtual-tour-to-the-sun/

Virtual Tours

Khan Academy Online Learning

@S Tou mo vid

Sun

British Museum

https://artsandculture.google.com/category/place

Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

http://girlsleadstem.com/virtual-field-trip/

Choose a country and view tons of history, photos and historical places.

A two hour and 40 minute real-time virtual video of the sinking of Titanic.

samuraivirtualtours.com/example/nadc/index.html

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@ London

3 Virtual Tours of Farms based on ages groups.

Musee d’Orsay @ Paris

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/ musee-dorsay-paris?hl=en

The J. Paul Getty Museum @ Los Angeles

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-j-paulgetty-museum?hl=en

Van Gogh Museum

@ Amsterdam

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/vangogh-museum?hl=en

www.origin.americandairy.com under the News and Events tab.

Liberty Bell

@ Pennsylvania A 3-D virtual tour of the Liberty Bell with historical information. https://historyview.org/library/liberty-bell

Boston Children’s Museum

Walk through the Boston Children’s Museum thanks to Google Maps! www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/ museum-virtual-tour

www.riverregionparents.com

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Buckingham Palace

www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace

Great Wall of China

This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life.

www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china

History View Virtual Tours

Choose a place on the map and see options for virtual tours and information. https://historyview.org

Johnson Space Center

Join Boeing and Discovery Education on a mission to inspire the world through aerospace innovation with an exclusive virtual field trip to historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. https://www.boeingfutureu.com

Manufacturing Hub

Take a virtual tour of Arconic’s Advanced Manufacturing hub in Alcoe, Tennessee and learn about the exciting ways robotics and digital technology impact the skills needed to succeed in Advanced Manufacturing. www.manufactureyourfuture.com/VirtualFieldTrip/US

Mount Rushmore

@ South Dakota Tour the memorial, navigate 3D “point cloud” models, laser scanners and a large collection of videos and photographs. https://www.nps.gov/moru/learn/photosmultimedia/ virtual-tour.htm

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. @ Washington, D.C.

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/nationalgallery-of-art-washington-dc?hl=en

Taj Mahal Virtual Tour

http://www.taj-mahal.net/newtaj/

The Louvre

The Louvre-Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual trip.

www.manufactureyourfuture.com/VirtualFieldTrip/US

The White House

@ Washington, D.C. The White House - Get even more up close to this magnificent building than in-person tourists with a virtual tour of the White House. www.youvisit.com/tour/aid.depoy

U.S. Space and Rocket Museum

@ Alabama U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, AL-See the Saturn 5 Rocket on YouTube and more on this tour, thanks to a real father-son outing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qe5RqyMNhc

Live Webcams Around the World

Eagles nests, animal sanctuaries, bird feeders, manatees underwater, Fox dens, honey bee hive and more! View in reat time. https://explore.org/livecams

Yosemite National Park @ California

www.virtualyosemite.org

Zoos Atlanta Zoo

@ Georgia Panda Cam at Atlanta Zoo

Vatican

www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html

http://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/

Yellowstone National Park

Facebook livestream offered every weekday at 3 p.m. (eastern time) showcasing an activity in their exhibit with an activity for kids to follow along with at home.

@ Wyoming Yellowstone National Park-Ready to explore Yellowstone? You don’t have to wait for your trip out here. You can start exploring now by virtually touring some of the main attractions around the park. www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

Cincinnati Zoo

Facebook at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Houston Zoo

@ Texas Tune in to the Houston Zoo Webcams and enjoy a live look at animals! www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

Webcams

Ouwehand Park Polar Bear

Glacier National Park

@ Montana Webcams are located throughout the park to provide views of the vast diversity of landscapes found in Glacier. https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/ webcams.htm

Grand Canyon

@ Arizona Grand Canyon National Park’s Webcam (at the Yavapai Museum of Geology on the South Rim) offers a window into the sights, weather, air quality and seasonal changes that the park is experiencing. www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/ webcams.htm

Welcome to the Ouwehand Zoo’s tundra exhibit in Rehen, Netherlands, where two polar bear cubs play under the watchful eye of their mother. www.explore.org/livecams/polar-bears/polar-bearouwehand-twin-cubs-cam-2

Reid Park Zoo

www.reidparkzoo.org/cameras/lion-cam/

San Diego Zoo

@ California The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities and games. Enjoy the tour! www.kids.sandiegozoo.org

Smithsonian’s National Zoo www.nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

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www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

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If you’ll be returning to work after your baby is born, you probably know that open daycare spots can go faster than ice cream melts on a hot day. Still, for your child’s wellbeing and your own peace of mind, it pays to get picky.

River Region Parents I April 2020

Starting about a few months before you’re ready, “visit three to five daycare programs,” says Kris Murray, author of The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide and a consultant to the childcare industry. To narrow your selection, here are the top questions Murray suggests asking daycare providers that can help you know if you’ve found the right place--or if you need to keep looking. 56 www.riverregionparents.com

1 What activities will my

child do? The code word to listen for

is “curriculum.” With emerging research about early brain development, top childcare programs aren’t glorified babysitters. They’re full-featured learning environments, even at the infant level because learning starts from birth. “There are all sorts of age-appropriate curriculums available now, from baby sign language in an infant room to early reading, nature, science, art, technology and drama programs for toddlers,” Murray says. Each program is typically organized into themes. If the theme is insects, for example, your toddler might be asked to dress up as his favorite bug for the drama unit, paint a bug for the art unit and learn about insects in the computer lab for the technology unit. To you though, it may all just look like fun and games. But that’s the idea. “Children learn best through play,” Murray says.

What’s the teacher to child ratio? It’s important for your

child to get plenty of attention, especially the younger she is. Babies and toddlers

12 months old and younger need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult per four infants). For toddlers 12 to 28 months old, the ratio should be 1:3, one instructor per three children. Small class sizes of 10 to 12 children or less is preferred too. Even if there are plenty of adults to children, a larger group of toddlers can feel chaotic.

It’s a big plus. Imagine sitting in a meeting and getting a text from your child’s daycare or preschool with a video or photo of a picture he just painted. “Real time streaming helps you stay connected to your child’s day,” Murray says. When you pick your child up, you can say “Look at the cute pictures I got from you today” and talk about them together.

The best answer is, “No problem. We have an open door policy.” Impromptu parent visits should always be welcome, Murray says. After signing your child up, you should be able to drop by anytime.

“Ask for a list of the teachers, which includes the number of years of experience they’ve had in the field, their degree (in early childhood education for the lead teacher) or the training they’ve had,” Murray says. Lead teachers should also have five to seven years of experience. With practice comes the competence to handle challenging issues, such as fighting and other behavioral problems or potty training in a toddler program.

What’s your policy What are the qualificaabout unannounced visits? tions of your caregivers?

4 How will I know what

my child did all day? Some

daycare centers will distribute a daily activity sheet detailing what each child experienced that day, such as what she had for snack and how often her diaper was changed. Even better is paperless communication. Many daycare centers offer e-mail or texting messages two to four times daily.

6 Are drop-off and pick-

up hours flexible? If you work

from home sometimes or need a half-day

Passion for Women’s Health Established in 1991, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecologic services. The practice also offers gynecological surgical services and the most innovative up-to-date Robotic Davinci Surgeries. The OB-GYN team of physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners strive to provide excellence in women’s healthcare and are welcoming new patients.

S E RV I C E S O F F E R E D :

Gynecology • Obstetrics • Nurse Midwifery

Urodynamics

Routine Mammograms

4D Ultrasounds

Bone Density • Weight Loss

PTNS (Percutaneous Posterior Nerve Stimulation) A low risk, non-surgical treatment for overactive bladder and similar symptoms.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation A treatment of bladder, bowel, and pelvic pain disorders.

(New) Mona Lisa Touch Laser A novel laser therapy for vaginal health that can be “life changing”

We Have Five Locations to Serve You

Montgomery (334) 279-9333 • 495 Taylor Rd. Troy (334) 770-4801 • 1320 Highway 231 South, Suite 2 Prattville (334) 365-6088 • 630 McQueen Smith Road Wetumpka (334) 279-9333 • 525 Hospital Drive, Suite B Midwife Office (334) 395-6969 • 7020 Sydney Curve, Montgomery

W W W. O B G Y N M O N T G O M E R Y. C O M 57

Gregory Waller M.D. Allen Dupre M.D. Keith Martin M.D., Joseph Desautels M.D. Matthew Phillips M.D. Benjamin Griggs M.D. Paula Sullivan D.O. Dana Moorer CNM Vicki Brooks CNM Charla Smith CNM Hayley Carnes CNM Della Fuller CRNP Brittney Mount CRNP Tracey Mendelsohn CRNP Michelle Aplin CRNP Terri Singletary CRNP Fran Rutledge CRNP www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

help here and there, look for a daycare option works with your nontraditional schedule. Daycare that’s less than fulltime is a growing trend. “For a monthly membership fee, many daycare centers will allow you to drop off your child whenever you want,” Murray says.

What’s the security situation like? Most childcare

programs are safer than they were five years ago. Some now, for example, have biometrics at the entrance. Instead of punching in a code at the door, you’re be required to place your finger on a pad to enter the building. “Stricter regulations on safety and background checks are now required in many states,” Murray says. When touring a daycare center, ask whether the children are monitored by a secure webcam. Is the feed distributed to the director’s office so there’s oversight of what’s happening in the classroom? (Good.) Can you have access to the feed as well? (Double good.) Not only does camera surveillance provide peace of mind

River Region Parents I April 2020

because you can see what’s going on, it allows you to engage in your child’s day (“I saw you help Sam pick up his crayons. That was so nice of you.”) “You get to spy with a positive purpose,” Murray says.

How often do the kids get to go outside?

Beyond extremely hot or cold weather, “there’s no excuse for children not to get outside every day,” Murray says. Your childcare center should support the full health of the child, which includes spending time in nature and being active.

9 What’s your disaster

recovery and emergency policy? If there’s a fire or disaster at the school, you want to know that teachers have been properly trained to respond quickly and effectively to get every child out. Every teacher should be trained in CPR too.

Ask yourself: Am I comfortable with the environment? After you’ve nar-

rowed it down to your top picks, spend an hour or two hour observing a classroom when the kids are awake (not at nap time). What’s the vibe? The daycare center should feel open and warmhearted. Teachers should look like they’re happy to be there and engaged with the children. If you get a good feeling about the place, chances are your child will like it too because he’ll pick up on your satisfaction. Finally, confirm your selection by finding out what everyone else has to say. Review testimonials from other parents on the daycare center’s Facebook page and review sites such as Yelp. “Sometimes there are disgruntled employees or an occasional unhappy parent,” Murray says. If you see 10 great reviews and one negative one, you’re probably fine. Look for a preponderance of positive.” rrp Sandra Gordon is an award-winning freelance writer who delivers expert advice and the latest developments in health, nutrition, parenting and consumer issues.

www.riverregionparents.com

Y O U R H E A LT H

OUR MISSION

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“The birthplace of higher expectations.” Baptist Medical Center East is proud to meet the toughest standards of excellence set by local women. We are the only hospital in Central Alabama to be recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Experience in Obstetrics. From excellent clinical care to ranking above average for patient safety to the highest level of overall patient satisfaction, we understand what matters most to women. And being recognized with the Women’s Choice Award signifies our commitment to meeting the highest standards in Obstetric care, close to home.

BAPTISTFIRST.ORG

www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

Tri

2020

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Ev ad

36013 Macon East Academy ad on page 39

15396 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. Ages: 3, 4, and 5 years Meals: Hot Curriculum: High Reach/Reading & Math for 3 & 4 year, McGraw Hill Reading & Math for Kindergarten. Contact: Glynn Lot, Headmaster, (334) 277.6566 info@maconeast.net www.maconeast.net

36016 New Horizons Preschool

213 S. Madison Terrace Montgomery, AL Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Little People’s Workshop, Hooked on Phonics, Wee Learn. Contact: Cammie Thomas, Director, (334) 834.9403

36043 Hooper Childcare/Early Learning Center

East Memorial Baptist Church Preschool

Little Lights Creative Learning Center

1320 Old Ridge Road Prattville , AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - K4 Meals: Snacks offered and Hot meal Religious Affiliation: Southern Baptist. Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Lisa Montgomery, Director, (334) 358-4110 www.eastmemorial.org

640 Malwest Drive Prattville, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Two snacks & lunch provided Kindergarten Preparation Contact: Kristie Skipper, (334) 356-0422 littlelightsclc@gmail.com

Journey Preschool

Kiddie Kollege

435 Sheila Blvd. Prattville, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 years Meals: Hot Religious Affiliation: Christian/ Non-Denominational Contact: Danielle Tedder, Director, (334) 351.9994 preschool.journeychurch@gmail.com www.myjourneychurch.com

KinderCare Learning Center

701 Sheila Blvd. Prattville , AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Pre-School at KinderCare and Welcome to Learning Contact: Charlotte Hardy, Director, (334) 365.0470 chardy@klcorp.com www.kindercare.com

Prattville Learning Academy

36092 202 Old Montgomery Hwy. Wetumpka, AL Hours: 6:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Ages: 18 mths. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Hazel Downs, Director, (334) 567.4236

Wetumpka Preschool Child Development Center & Periscope

502 North Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks-5 years (before Kindergarten) Meals: Hot Curriculum: High Reach Learning, Creative Curriculum Contact: Cecelia Hatcher, Director, (334) 567.4689 wps502@yahoo.com www.gatewaypreschool.weebly.com

36093

360 Fisher Road Hope Hull , AL Hours: 6:45 a.m. -5:45 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. 4 years Meals: Hot Curriculum: A Beka Contact: Lisa Wheat, Director, (334) 288.2770 www.hooperacademy.org

36054

36067

2425 Dozier Road Wetumpka, AL Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, hot lunch & afternoon snack Curriculum: Teacher led. Contact: Elana Segrest, Director, (334) 478.4938 weeonespreschoolllc@gmail.com www.weeonespreschool.net

Cousin Jane’s Preschool

First Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten

36104

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

36066 Learning Tree Child Development Center ad on page 41

1816 Glynwood Drive Prattville, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Full educational program. Contact: Tammy McLemore, (334) 365.1451 Learning-tree.org River Region Parents I April 2020

138 S. Washington St. Prattville, AL Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. Ages: 3K-Kindergarten Meals: Curriculum: Scott Foresman Language Arts Curriculum, Harcourt Math, Wee Learn by Lifeway, The Wright Skills Phonics Program and Sobut & Bogan. Contact: Heather Jolley, Director, (334) 361.9481 heather@fbcprattville.org www.fbcprattville.org/kindergarten

First Presbyterian Church Kindergarten

211 S. Chestnut St. Prattville , AL Hours: 8 a.m.- Noon Ages: K3-K5 Meals: Children bring snacks. Curriculum: Modified Abeka. Contact: Julie Cavnar, Director, (334) 491.3411 firstpreskindergarten@gmail.com www.fpkprattville.com

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949 Wright Street Prattville, AL Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Child Centered Contact: Shimon Epkins, (334) 361.2223 director@prattvilleacademy.com www.prattvilleacademy.com

ad on page 70

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Wee Ones Preschool & Beyond

Children’s Learning Center

305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 years Meals: Hot lunch and 2 snacks Religious Affiliation: Christian. Curriculum: Pinnacle Faith Based. Contact: Kim Herbert, Director, (334) 834.7475 kherbert@fbc-cm.org

Montessori Academy

1025 South Hull Street Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 months 6 years Meals: Hot lunch (optional) or brown bag. Curriculum: Montessori Contact: Erin Kilgore, Administrator, (334) 262.8685 montgomery.montessori@gmail.com www.montessorimontgomery.com

www.riverregionparents.com

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Trinity Church Preschool

1728 South Hull Street Montgomery, AL 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. Curriculum: Abeka, Handwriting without Tears, Saxon Hands on Math. Contact: Lucy Freeman, Director, (334) 262.8830 lfreeman@trinitypca.org www.trinitypca.org

36106 Evangel Christian Preschool ad on page 21

3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 3 yrs. Meals: Catered Religious Affiliation: Assemblies of God. Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Rosemary Hean, Director, (334) 273.0730 eaoffice@aol.com www.ecalions.org

Learning Tree Child Development Center ad on page 41

4120 Carmichael Road. Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 12 mths. 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: full educational program Contact: Ruby Davis, Director, (334) 271.4733 www.learningtree.com

Montessori at Mulberry ad on page 17

2034 Clubview Street Montgomery , AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 mths. - Kindergarten

Meals: Brown Bag Curriculum: Each child is encouraged to reach his/her full potential in all areas of life. The specific needs of individual children are met at each developmental level. Our curriculum, which is challenging, interdisciplinary and real world related, provides a strong academic bridge to elementary school. Contact: Terri Jackson, Director, (334) 265.7733 montessori.mulberry@gmail.com www.montessoriatmulberry.com

Vaughn Park Church of Christ Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out ad on page 14

3800 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Snack provided Curriculum: Varies by age Contact: Dee Dee Nolan, Director, (334) 272.2665 www.vaughnpark.com

Bethany Child Development Center

714 Cedar Street Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks - 6 yrs. Meals: Hot Religious affiliation: Seventh Day Adventist. Curriculum: Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Contact: Kim Griggs, Director, (334) 265.5521 bethanycdceagles@gmail.com

Cloverdale Preschool Academy

608 E. Fairview Ave. Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Hot Religious Affiliation: Christian/ Baptist Curriculum: Abeka

Contact: Sharman Nall, Director, (334) 265.7488 snall@cloverdalebaptist.net www.cloverdalepreschoolacademy.com

First UMC Early Childhood Development

2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Child centered, Christian using spiritual enrichment learning activities to insure success. Contact: Vicky Moore, Director, (334) 834.8964 vmoore@fumcmontgomery.org www.fumcmontgomery.org

First United Methodist First School

2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 2 mths. to Kindergarten Curriculum: Challenging age appropriate curriculum. Contact: Beth Mantooth, Director, (334) 481.0413 bmantooth@fumcmontgomery.org www.fumcmontgomery.org

Heritage Baptist Child Development Center 1849 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Star Fall and ABC Jesus Loves Me Contact: Tamira Quattlebaum, Director, (334) 279.0643 www.heritagecdc.net

Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center

1100 Tuscaloosa Street Montgomery, AL Hours: 8 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs. - 7 yrs. Meals: Hot, Gourmet Food Services Curriculum: Saxon Contact: Sandra Hinton, Director, (334) 229.4470 shinton@alasu.edu

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www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

Meals: Hot Curriculum: Creative Contact: Elizabeth Sankey, Director, (334) 286.1056 or (334) 286.9156 southlawn@aol.com

36109 Covenant Kids Child Development Center

9 Arden Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 years. Meals: Morning snack, hot lunch and afternoon snack. Curriculum: Pinnacle Faithbased Contact: Donna Jones, Director, (334) 356.9110 covenantkids1@outlook.com

36108 Alpha & Omega Learning Center

1562 Ann Street, Montgomery Hours: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ages: Infants, toddlers, kindergarten, primary and middle school. Contact: Lisa Williams, Owner, (334) 294.0805

36108 Central Alabama OIC, Inc.

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

East YMCA Kindergarten & Child Care

3407 Pelzer Ave. Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Catered Curriculum: High Reach Contact: Kendra Ringer, Director, (334) 272.3390 Kringer@ymcamontgomery.org www.ymcamontgomery.org

Eastern Hills Child Care

3604 Pleasant Ridge Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Stacy Royal, Director, (334) 277.5424 stacy@ehbconline.com www.easternhillsonline.com

36110 Resurrection Early Child Care

St. James School Kindergarten ad on page 1

6000 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Full day option available. Ages: K3-K5 Meals: Catered 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. Contact: Ms. Andrea Harris, Principle, (334) 277.8033 www.stjweb.org

Aldersgate Weekday Children’s Ministry

Century 2000

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4714 Virginia Loop Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 5 a.m. - Midnight Ages: 3 wks. - 15 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack. (for those staying late, dinner and snack offered) Curriculum: A Beka. Contact: Mrs. Deramus, Director, (334) 288.7740 www.century2000daycare.com

JAAD’s Child Care & Development Center

4002 St. Louis Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 4 wks. - 15 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack Established 1996. Curriculum: Self Developed. Contact: Theresa Hardwick, Director, (334) 284.9055 jaads_inc@yahoo.com www.jaadschildcare.com

Lighthouse Christian Pre-school

3570 Bell Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or full day. Ages: K2 - K4 Meals: Catered Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Mrs. J. Ford, Interim Principle, (334) 271.4200 info@lcapirates.com www.lcapirates.com

Kamp-A-Demics

36116

36117

Learning Tree Child Development Center

Lakeview Child Development Ministry

New Generation Preschool

3461 Old Selma Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 15 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Janet Long, Director, (334) 263.9660 www.newgenerationpreschool.com

Peppermint Hill Learning Center

1217 Oak Street Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 mths. 6 yrs. Meals: Catered, 2 snacks and 1 hot meal. Curriculum: Creative Contact: Cynthia Mull, Director, (334) 230.9650 ceeb57@aol.com

Southlawn Child Care Center

125 Greenleaf Drive Montgomery, AL Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: Infant - 15 Years River Region Parents I April 2020

ad on page 41

3335 Woodley Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Full educational program. Contact: Malkia Mathews, Director, (334) 284.5560

Montessori at Hampstead ad on page 20

5251 Hampstead High Street, Unit #111 Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 12 mths. - 12 years (6th grade). Meals: Hot meals available or brown bag. Curriculum: Montessori. Testing Requirements: Interview, Ed Psych Test, Transcripts for students 6 and up. Contact: Melanie Morrison, Head of School, (334) 356.1969 info@montessoriathampstead.org www.mshmontgomery.org

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3010 Mobile Hwy. Montgomery, AL Hours: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 8 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Creative Contact: Rita Faye Green, Director, (334) 269.5644

2308 Dillard St. Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 2 mths. 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. Curriculum: Pre-K, play based, and Creative Contact: Vivia Gadson, (334) 221.3101

6610 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - Pre K4 Meals: Hot Curriculum: Creative Curriculum, Letter of the Week, Abeka. We teach thematic units using social studies, science, math, language, art and music through a hands-on program. Contact: Lana Ward, Director, (334) 277.0880 www.aldersgateumc.org

2815 Forbes Drive Montgomery, AL 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, (334) 265.4615 www.rcmsouth.org

Hansel and Gretel Preschool

ad on page 29

9225 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 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. Curriculum: Abeka; Religious Affiliation: Christian Contact: Lisa Kemp, Director, (334) 396.3944 daycare@lakeviewbaptist.cc http://www.lakeviewbaptistchurch.cc/daycare_info

Memorial Presbyterian Church Children’s Center ad on page 58

2130 Bell Road Montgomery, AL Hours: Full day and half day offered. Ages: 2 mths. - 4 yrs. Meals: 2 snacks and lunch Curriculum: Abeka, Handwriting Without Tears & Sing, Spell, Read & Write Contact: Melissa Cameron, Director, (334) 274.1018 www.memorialpres.net

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Vaughn Road Preschool ad on page 18

8790 Vaughn Road (at Immanuel Presbyterian Church) Montgomery, AL Hours: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 6 yrs. Meals: Lunch and 2 snacks provided. 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. Contact: Barbara Anderson, Director, (334) 277.4815 vrpreschool@gmail.com

AUM Early Learning Center

7051 Senator’s Drive Montgomery, AL Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday Ages: 3 yrs. - 5 yrs. (potty trained) Meals: Hot meal or sack lunch from home, two snacks Curriculum: Project based, Research driven, and thematic. Contact: Laura Wildman Director, (334) 244.3772 LWildman@aum.edu www.education.aum.edu

Bo Peep Christian Child Development School

5690 Atlanta Hwy Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Brooke Woodfin, Director, (334) 271.1941

Frazer Memorial Christian Kindergarten

6000 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs. - K4 & K5, Kindergarten. 6 wks. - 2 yrs., Mother’s Morning Out. Meals: Snack Bucket or Brown bag for extended day. Curriculum: Abeka Contact: Jill Struthers, Director, (334) 279.0271 www.frazerkindergarten.com

GracePointe Child Development Center

1565 Ray Thorington Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 6 weeks - 5 yrs. Meals: Snack provided, bring lunch. Curriculum: Play based, Beyond Centers and Circle Time Contact: Sharon Kilpatrick, Director, (334) 799.8390 gracepointecdc@gmail.com www.grace-pointe.com

Kiddie Home Daycare at Mitylene Forest

618 Silver Moon Court Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snacks. Curriculum: combined Contact: Leeza Beaulieu, Director, (334) 221.4446 or (334) 396.2598 lizamay1972@yahoo.com

KinderCare Learning Center

6955 Halcyon Park Dr. Montgomery , AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 12 yrs. Meals: Hot Curriculum: Early Foundations Contact: Courtney Tate, Director, (334) 270.5955 ctate@klcorp.com www.kindercare.com

Legacy Early Learning Center

2323 Bell Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:45 Ages: 6 wks. - 4 yrs. Meals: Lunches and two snacks provided Curriculum: Christian based Pre-school program Contact: Tara Harris, Director, (334) 649.4601 tara@thelegacychurch.org

Little Explorers Learning Center

181 Eastern Blvd. Montgomery, AL Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ages: 6 wks. - 5 yrs. Meals: Lunch and snack for toddler and preschool Curriculum: Bible based Contact: Jennifer Mitchell, Director, (334) 324.7103 lelc@riversedgechurch.us www.littleexplorerslearningcenter.org

St. James Preschool

9045 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 8 M-mths. Kindergarten Meals: Brown bag, snack provided. Curriculum: Teacher developed including hands-on activities and age appropriate readiness skills. Contact: Leah Winn, Director, (334) 277.3412 www.sjlife.com under ministries.

Taylor Road Christian Kindergarten & Mom’s Day Out

1685 Taylor Road Montgomery, AL 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 Curriculum: Abeka & Handwriting without Tears Contact: Holly Nichols, Director, (334) 271.0845 www.taylorroad.org (link to preschool)

Vaughn Forest Preschool and Kindergarten

8660 Vaughn Road Montgomery , AL Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: 18 mths. - 5 yrs. Meals: Brown bag and snack Curriculum: High Reach and Letter People Contact: Mary James Newsom, Director, (334) 277.0362 www.vaughnforest.com under Ministries

YMCA Goodtimes Before and After School Programs

2325 Mill Ridge Drive Montgomery, AL Contact: Contact YMCA Goodtimes Center for additional information: (334) 279.8666 www.ymcamontgomery.org rrp

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Bouncing Babies and Beyond

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

Right along with crawling, walking and running, it’s a big deal when a toddler breaks the bonds of gravity, learning to bounce and jump. For the very young, bouncing begins to strengthen their core muscles and hone their balance. Older children gain cardiovascular exercise and development of their large muscle groups through bouncing and jumping. As an additional early benefit of bouncing, both sides of the brain and body work together to maintain balance and coordination. Fostering the safe exploration of this low impact movement, the following items get the younger set on the bounce toward engaging play and better health!

by Gerry Paige Smith

Comfort Curve Bouncer

Skywalker MiniTrampoline

Once a baby grows large enough to be cradled in an inclined rocker, adding bounce options multiplies the benefits to their development. A baby’s natural motions and kicking generate a subtle bounce that, in addition to creating their own momentum, moves the activity bar for more eye-catching entertainment.The rattling raccoon and baby deer ring sway overhead, helping to strengthen focus and visual tracking. Gross motor skills and eye-hand coordination are also fostered as baby reaches for and bats at those same toys. The soft fabric seat and optional calming vibrations offer a sense of security that mimics the comfort of being cradled in loving arms. The fabric insert is removable for easy cleaning and a three-point harness keeps baby secured and safe. The Comfort Curve Bouncer is an ideal launching point for little ones’ bouncing beginnings.

For free-form bouncing action paired with the security of a safety net, the Skywalker Mini-Trampoline hits new heights. This 40” round trampoline features a net surround sewn directly into the jump mat for secure bouncing and an easy-access entrance so kids can come and go safely. Stretch bands are used in place of springs to protect children’s joints. The Skywalker features space-themed moon and star graphics as well as space sounds that launch in sync with jumps. Designed for home indoor use only, this trampoline requires minimal real estate in the house. With a muted color palette this minitrampoline is an easy fit in any kid room decor. Perfect for burning off energy and improving coordination, the Skywalker Mini-Trampoline brings the best of bouncing right into your room!

(Fisher-Price)

(Skywalker Trampolines)

Bounce & Spin Puppy

Flybar Pogo Ball

If you’re thinking about getting a dog, get a pup that can do everything (without the mess to clean up!). Featuring a sturdy base, easy-grip handles, interactive buttons and multi-color lights, the stationary Bounce & Spin Puppy plays songs, sounds, and educational phrases while your baby bounces up and down or spins all around. As the rider explores and presses buttons, playful songs and phrases introduce the alphabet, numbers, colors, and more. And each ride on the puppy helps strengthen your baby’s balance and physical coordination skills. The only dog that is safe to ride, the Bounce & Spin Puppy combines active movement play with charming educational elements that grow toddlers’ body and brains as they bounce away!

A thrilling combination of balance board, pogo stick and jump ball, the Flybar Pogo Ball is a guaranteed hit for elementary ages and up. Its blend of balance and bounce fosters both strength and sensory development. Available in five vibrant colors, each pogo jumper comes with extra heavyduty grip tape designed for maximum traction and a pump for easy inflation. Crafted to withstand aggressive play the Pogo Ball boasts a weight limit of 160 lbs (and a free replacement warranty in the event its durability is tested). Quick to learn, the Pogo Ball gets kids bouncing their way to a healthier play-style with a self-propelled activity that burns calories, hones gross motor skills and builds confidence.

(Fisher-Price)

(Flybar)

Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Tonya Speed Dancers Shine The DC Strutters (pictured right), which is the competition team at Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection, have been working very hard on their pieces which were to compete in April. Pictured here is the big Production dance entitled “Siriusly DISCO”! Spring recitals are scheduled for May 30 at Frazer UMC in Wesley Hall! Our four Seniors, Michaela Knighton,Taylor Miles, Erin Jefferson & Madison Parker (pictured on front row L to R)are featured in the piece!

Garrett Elementary dancers (left) from Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection perform a Michael Jackson dance at their school’s Black History program! Miss Lauren, a senior dance major at ASU, is their instructor!

Send your organization’s events and accomplishments to editor@riverregionparents.com to be printed in an upcoming issue!

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Call 334-549-8955

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ADT Hosts Cinderella Parties After four successful performances of Cinderella, the Alabama Dance Theatre gathered at the Armory Learning Arts Centre for a cast party featuring food and dancing. To conclude the night, our graduating seniors, Savannah Golden, Abigail Perkinson, Mary Olivia Dudley, Ahsha Gray, Morgan Marshall and Karen Licari, gave heartfelt messages. Each left behind her legacy to younger dancers in the company. Faculty awards were also given to senior company members: Savannah Golden, Most Radiant Performer; Shannon McGaughey, Most Playful Performer; Lilla Kate Parkman, Most Luminous Performer; Morgan Marshall, Most Spirited Performer; Micah Sims, Most Confident Performer; Ryan Tucker, Most Elegant Performer; Jane Abbie Alford, Most Beautiful Dancer Award; Camilla Ohme, Most Generous Performer; Clover Hardin,

Most Dynamic Performer; Karen Licari, Most Open-Hearted Dancer Award; Abigail Perkinson, Most Professional Dancer Award; Celest Herod, Most Determined Dancer; Ahsha Gray, Most Fearless Dancer Award; Emily Efferson, Most Artistic Dancer; Mary Olivia Dudley, Most Gifted Dancer Award; and our guest artists Raul Peinado and Mickey Lonsdale (Ugly Stepsisters) received a Full Scholarship to Mrs. Caruso’s Finishing School for Young Ladies. Preparations are now underway for an exciting spring and summer! The Alabama Dance Theatre will attend RDA/Southeast (Regional Dance America/ Southeast) April 29-May 3 in Montgomery. ADT will offer summer classes in classical ballet June 8-July 9 (pre-ballet to the professional level), pointe and variations, composition, modern, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and a new class

Broadway! “Tutus and Tiaras” ballet camp will be June 1-5 (ages 3-8). The Alabama Dance Theatre Summer Seminar for intermediate and advanced dancers will be held July 13-25. “Stars on the Riverfront,” ADT’s free performances, will be held Sunday, July 26, and Monday, July 27, at 7:30 at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre. Classes will be held at the Armory Learning Arts Center, home of the Alabama Dance Theatre located at 1018 Madison Avenue. For more info, call (334) 625-2590 or visit www.alabamadancetheatre.com. Shown are the full cast (above) and Emily Efferson (Cinderella) and Jonathan Chapman (Prince). All photos are by Elisabeth Efferson.

Wetumpka Boy Scouts Celebrate with Joint Eagle Ceremony On March 15, four Scouts from Wetumpka Boy Scout Troop 50 held a joint Eagle Court of Honor at Trinity Episcopal Church. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill was the keynote speaker. Alex Young was born in Birmingham and first joined Cub Scouts in Greenpond, Ala., in 2008 as a Tiger Cub. Upon moving to Wetumpka in 2009, he joined Pack 50, and in 2013 crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 50 after earning his Arrow of Light. In 2017 he was elected into the Order of the Arrow, the National Scouting Honor Society, and spent two weeks attending the National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia. Young’s Eagle project consisted of building a Ga-Ga Ball pit at his school, Churchill Academy. He has overcome thyroid cancer, a spinal deformity, multiple learning disabilities, and autism to reach his objectives. Cade Womack joined Pack 50 Cub Scouts in 2008, where he earned the Arrow of Light in 2013 and crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 50. In the troop he has served in multiple leadership roles, including Senior Patrol Leader. In 2016, he was inducted in the Order of the Arrow, where he has River Region Parents I April 2020

reached the Brotherhood mem-bership level. He also attended the National Jamboree in 2017. Womack worked at Camp Tukabatchee this past year as an ATV instructor and plans to work again this summer. His Eagle project was building a fence at Fort Toulouse. It is 400 feet long and provides a barrier between campers and the Coosa River. Joseph Paul (JP) Baughman joined Pack 50 Cub Scouts in the second grade. He crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 50 in 2013 after earning his Arrow of Light. In Troop 50, he has served in multiple leadership roles, including Senior Patrol Leader. He is also a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, which he joined in 2017. Like Young and Womack, he attended the National Jamboree in West Virginia in 2017. He has worked at Camp Tukabatchee for the past two summers and will be returning for his third year on camp staff. Baughman’s Eagle project was in partnership with Main Street Wetumpka to install a seating area highlighting Lock 31 on the Tulotoma Snail Trail. Cade Taylor joined Pack 50 Cub Scouts in 2008, where he earned the Arrow of Light and crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 50 in 2013. After attending National Youth 66

Cade Womack is shown on the front row. Standing in back from left are Cade Taylor, JP Baughman and Alex Young.

Leadership Training in 2015, Taylor served in several leadership roles in Troop 50, such as Librarian, Troop Guide, and Patrol Leader. He also served as a Den Chief with Cub Scout Pack 50. In 2018, he was inducted into the Order of the Arrow and elected by his peers to serve as the Pinhoti Chapter Chief. He also earned his lifeguard certification in 2018, and then worked for two summers as a lifeguard and merit badge counselor at Camp Tukabatchee. Taylor’s Eagle project consisted of building three bridges on Redland Elementary School’s outdoor trail. www.riverregionparents.com

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Worship with us by TV and live streaming!

Easter Sunday, April 12 and every Sunday! WATCH ON YOUR TV • •

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WFRZ-TV: Channel 13 (cable) or 33 (antenna) Download the Frazer Channel for Roku, AppleTV or FireTV

9:30 am Sanctuary (Traditional) Service 11:00am Wesley Hall (Contemporary) Service

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Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another’s shoes. It’s similar to sympathy but with an important difference. To sympathize is to care about and understand the suffering experienced by another. When you sympathize

with someone, you feel sorry for them.

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When you empathize, rather than focusing on your own feelings in regards to the other person’s situation, you’re able to focus on the feelings of that person. When you empathize, the other person can tell you’re really listening to them. Furthermore, empathy increases your ability and likelihood to help the person with whom you empathize. According to neuroscientists, the vast majority of us are born with the brain wiring necessary to empathize. Psychopaths, which make up about 1% of the population, are the exception, according to a 2013 study by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago and University of New Mexico. Still, among the 99% of us who are born with this capacity, most don’t fully develop or use it to its potential.

Benefits of empathy

Empathy is beneficial in a number of ways, according to Katherin Sears, Ph.D., in “Why Empathy Benefits Everyone.” It provides us the ability to act kindly toward others, to forgive family and friends, and to bond with others over their ups and downs. Without the ability to empathize, it would be difficult if not impossible, to form and maintain friendships. In fact, we’d have difficulty getting along with others at school or work and in society. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, in an interview with CBS Good Morning, revealed another important benefit of empathy. Without it, she says, “there is no way we could innovate.” This makes a lot of sense. Although some people would still have the desire to innovate for personal gain, innovation would be far more limited. People would lack the motivation to innovate for the purpose of helping others unless it offered a reward for themselves. The field of medicine is a perfect example. Countless strides have been made in medicine over the decades, much of which has resulted from human empathy.

How to teach kids empathy

Experts believe, based on a large body of evidence, that empathy can be shaped. Not only can kids learn to empathize better, but so can adults. By practicing the following as a family, you can foster yours and your child’s ability to empathize. Active listening. This is a crucial component of empathy. Practice really listening to each other and trying to understand the other’s perspective. Active listening includes paying close attention to body language and facial expressions, so you can better understand the other person. It 69

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also requires refraining from interrupting. Parents’ modeling of active listening with their kids is particularly important to kids’ development of this skill. Give back. Talk with your kids about the experiences, feelings, and needs of those who are less fortunate. Consider various forms of adversity, such as kids with a terminal illness, the homeless, poor families, and those in nursing homes. Ask your kids open-ended questions. Have them consider how it feels to be in those other people’s shoes. Then make a plan with your kids to help out in some way. Commonalities. Despite the ability to empathize, studies have found people are often less empathetic toward those of other races or who are stereotyped in some way. Consider the things you have in common with those who are different and talk about these commonalities with your child. Also, ask your kids what they might have in common with someone of another ethnicity or race. Lose yourself in fiction. It’s a great way to experience and understand another, even though the characters are fictitious. This will improve your ability to empathize in real life situations. It’s a great way to teach kids empathy, too. Children’s books commonly have characters faced with adversity or dealing with difficult situations. Practice reading faces. People often don’t share what they’re feeling or experiencing. Yet, it’s often written all over their faces. Pay attention to people’s expressions, and try to understand what they’re feeling. Look for opportunities to care. Every day there are people all around us in need. So, set an example for your kids. If an elderly person is struggling to load heavy groceries into their car, quickly put yourself in their shoes. Then offer to help. Also, have your kids practice looking for ways to care (while also adhering to safety rules with strangers). Share in excitement and joy. Empathy isn’t only about understanding people’s downs. It’s also the ability to share in their happiness. Regardless of how busy you are, when your child is excited about something, take a moment to really share in your child’s enthusiasm. Likewise, share your experience with your child when something brings you great joy. rrp Kimberly Blaker is a freelance parenting and lifestyle writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.com.

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Stargirl

Timmy Failure

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B+ Violence: A Sexual Content: A Profanity: A Alcohol / Drug Use: AAfter his father’s death, Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere) and his mom (Darby Stanchfield) move to Mica, Arizona for a fresh start. Following a traumatic bullying incident, Leo decides that it is easier to blend in with the crowd and not draw any attention to himself. On his sixteenth birthday he meets Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal), a quirky girl who is unapologetically herself. As they get to know each other, Leo learns what it means to be yourself and not care what other people think of you. Stargirl is based on a bestselling novel of the same name by Jerry Spinelli published in 2000. Though the movie adaptation does try to modernize in some ways, it still feels its age. I doubt that today’s teens will be able to relate fully to the characters and situations, as high school has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Much of the plot is unrealistic and the teenage characters make choices and interact in ways that don’t feel authentic. It’s worth noting that the film’s overall theme is figuring out who you are and learning to be ok with standing out from the crowd - which is a message we’re all happy to share with young people. Seeing actual teenagers play teens is also refreshing, instead of the 20-somethings who are often cast in these roles. The musical elements are well done, especially Grace VanderWaal’s singing and ukulele playing. Overall, Stargirl is a sweet, family-friendly coming of age story, though it does show its age in the depictions of teenagers and especially in its main female lead.

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: A Violence: B Sexual Content: A Profanity: B Alcohol / Drug Use: A Timmy Failure (Winslow Fegley) is an 11-year-old who runs his own detective agency along with his business partner, an imaginary 1,200-pound polar bear named Total. Together they try to protect Portland from backpack thieves, homework, and Russian operatives. Family comedies have to toe the line between humor for children and humor for adults. Many lean too far one way or the other, but Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is a perfect balance. I laughed through the entire run time. The jokes are well written, which will appeal to adults, while also adding in some silly moments that children will love. Timmy is perfectly deadpan almost the whole time, making the absurd situations he finds himself in even more comical. His imagination runs away from him a lot, which leads to some entertaining “what if?” scenarios. Along with being hilarious, this film also has a lot of heart. Timmy is struggling with school and relating to his peers. Timmy’s mom, Patty (Ophelia Lovibond), is trying to provide for her son as a single parent, while also endeavoring to figure out his eccentricities. She is not a perfect parent, but she is making an effort, and she is willing to admit when she makes a mistake, which makes her a dynamic and relatable character. I highly recommend this film not just for kids, but for all ages. It’s a funny, earnest story about an eccentric young boy and the people trying to understand him. It has very few content concerns, making it a great option for family viewing.

A Hidden Life

Jumanji: The Next Level

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: A+ Violence: BSexual Content: A Profanity: A Alcohol / Drug Use: AFranz Jägerstätter (August Diehl), has spent his life as a simple peasant farmer in the beautiful Austrian village of St. Radegund. Working the land alongside his wife Franziska (Valerie Pachner), their young children, and his friends and neighbors, he doesn’t expect the larger troubles of the world to come crashing down upon him. But war has broken out, and Franz is conscripted by the Nazis. Unwilling to swear the required oath of allegiance to Hitler, he is imprisoned, threatened, humiliated, and beaten - all in an attempt to force him to join the Wehrmacht (Nazi armed forces). If you’re familiar with any of Terrence Malick’s work, you will be unsurprised that the style of this film has little in common with conventional Hollywood productions. Despite the quirks of Malick’s unique style, this is a beautiful film and well worth the absurdly long three hours it takes to watch. A Hidden Life has a terribly prescient message about standing up to authoritarianism and evil, whatever the cost. Even more impressively, these powerful positive messages come with hardly any objectionable content. There’s no profanity (in English, at any rate; if there are German curses I couldn’t understand them), no sex, little on-screen violence, and no major substance abuse. A Hidden Life earns its “PG-13” rating from its difficult adult themes and allusions to violence. That said, this is not a suitable movie for children or young teens, simply because it’s filled with mature themes and is long and challenging, which tends to make for restless kids.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B Violence: BSexual Content: B+ Profanity: BAlcohol / Drug Use: A After escaping from Jumanji, a game that comes to terrifying life, Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Anthony (Ser’Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) agreed to destroy the game to prevent anyone else from being sucked in. Secretly, Spencer decided to keep the pieces, and reassembled the game for another chance to be the muscular Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) in a virtual world. When his friends try to rescue him, they accidentally bring along Spencer’s grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his old friend Milo (Danny Glover). With such an unlikely cast of heroes, what hope do they have of rescuing Spencer? I seem to recall the comedy being a little stronger in the first film, but this doesn’t reach failed-comedy levels of aggravating. About three-quarters of the jokes landed, which is better than most dumb action comedies I’ve seen. The content is cleaner than most as well, with almost no sexual content (barring Ruby Roundhouse’s silly outfit), little profanity more significant than “hell” or “damn”, and violence that is firmly in the “slapstick” category. If you saw the last entry in this franchise, you’ll have a good idea what to expect here. Another case of “second verse, same as the first”, Jumanji: The Next Level still manages to be a reasonably entertaining way to kill two hours. I was actually expecting to be frustrated with this movie, since my sequel fatigue is approaching terminal levels, but the film is sufficiently sincere and well intentioned.

(Streaming on Disney+)

(New on DVD)

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Parenting is hard. Parenting kids without a partner to help can be grueling. From finding the right support to setting realistic limits, you can feel more in control and less overwhelmed. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how:

River Region Parents I April 2020

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Tap emotional support. A positive support network is instrumental for stress management. If you don’t have access to close family or friends, seek support from single parent or mothers’ groups. “We have discussion groups that discuss topics pertinent to single parents,” says Janet Gallinati, president of Parents without Partners, an international non-profit organization, with chapters across North America. “Sometimes all you need to do is talk about it, but there may be someone in the group who has gone through something similar.” Manage your finances. Many hardworking

Books For Single Parents Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids by Christina McGhee The Single Dad’s Survival Guide: How to Succeed as a One-Man Parenting Team by Mike Klumpp My Single Mom Life: Stories and Practical Lessons for Your Journey by Angela Thomas The Successful Single Mom: Get Your Life Back and Your Game On! by Honoree Corder

single parents struggle to make ends meet. If you qualify, numerous non-profit and government organizations are available to provide assistance. Also, eliminate unnecessary bills or contact the company to see if refinancing is an option. “One of the worst things to do is to let the kids think that the only thing that has changed is that mommy or daddy has left,” Gallinati says. “Explain that this is now a one income family and cuts need to be made.”

Seek flexibility. If possible, negotiate work hours or find a job that better accommodates you and your children’s needs. “Finding flexible work is realistic if you are clear about what you need, how you can be successful and matching that with the business need,” says Laura Wildman, a staffing consultant with Mom Corps, which helps match professionals who are raising young families with companies that offer flexible work conditions. Single mom Jill Gaikowski, says she works in the evenings and on the weekends when she doesn’t have her child. “I’m happy to make the trade-off because before becoming a single parent, I was a stay-at-home mom. I am lucky to have this option,” Gaikowski says.

Set limits. Say no to requests that will cause undue strain on your wallet or your time. Also, resist the urge to say yes to every activity your child wants to participate in. Make reasonable choices according to what works with your hours and available support.

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Resolve guilt. Are you haunted by feelings of guilt, inadequacy and resentment in the midst of juggling parenthood and a career? Realize that you are doing your best and focus on remaining optimistic. “You will get that important email that comes while you are at your kids’ game and you will get that call from school when you are working, but your mindset and flexibility can make it all work,” Wildman says. Ask for help. Without adequate emotional and practical support, caregiving can deplete your energy making you more susceptible to illness and depression. Utilize available resources and take advantage of any help that is offered by family and friends, says life coach Kristin Dunn. Also, find a reliable sitter, trade babysitting with a friend or check out area drop-in day cares.

River Region Parents I April 2020

Plan ahead. Include personal time on the calendar. “Do something for yourself once a week. You will see how it makes you better in all other areas of your life,” Gaikowski says. Integrate fun. Spend time with your kids cooking meals together, playing board games, bike-riding or watching a movie. Also plan playdates or outings with other families to build a sense of community.

Commit to self-care. Engage in activities that nurture and energize you like meditation, reading or exercise, even if that means waking up a few minutes earlier than usual. Use your lunch hour to connect with a friend. “Don’t underestimate the power of human touch,” Dunn says. “Schedule a massage or a pedicure. Human contact is really helpful in releasing bottled up energy and emotion that may not otherwise have an outlet for release.”

Involve your kids. Assign ageappropriate responsibilities which helps children grow more self-confident and independent. “If you over-function by doing things for your children they could be doing for themselves, you’re teaching them to have unrealistic expectations for themselves and others,” Dunn says. Although single parenting isn’t easy, remember that when you manage your stress and focus on creating a stable, loving home for your kids, you’ll not only survive, you and your family will thrive. rrp Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published freelance writer and author.

www.riverregionparents.com

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Montg Par

FamilyCalendar Saturday, April 18

U.S. Kids Golf Montgomery Local Tour Arostook Golf Course, Montgomery. U.S. Kids Golf Local Tours provide boys and girls, ages 5 to 14, the opportunity to advance their golf experience in ageappropriate competition. The top five finishers in each age group will receive Priority Status, granting them invitations to Championship Events. For more info, call Quincy Leonard at (334) 721-4536 or visit www.uskidsgolf.com.

***At press time, many local events were being canceled, postponed or rescheduled due to concerns about the COVID-19. Before making plans to attend one of these listed events, please use the contact information provided to confirm that the scheduled event is still taking place. ***

and reservations must be made by noon Monday, April 20, to Janie Kennett at (813) 309-0300 or jmkennett12@yahoo.com. Visit www.newcomersmontgomery.com for more info.

Food Truck Takeover at Hampstead Noon-3 p.m. A variety of local trucks may include Wharf Casual Seafood Montgomery, Smokin’ Wells BBQ, Taqueria El Campesino, Fire Meats Wood LLC, Frios Gourmet Pops - River Region, That’s My Dog Montgomery, Alabama Sweet Tea Co., Cheesecake Empori-Yum, and Dynamite Dogs. Live Music. Great for all ages. Parking located on Long Acre, Mercer Street and in 2 large Hampstead Parking Lots. For more info, visit www.hampsteadliving.com/.

Main Street Metal Sculpture Art and Auction 3-5 p.m. Wetumpka Main Street Merchant’s Alley. For more info, call (334) 478-3926.

2nd Annual Dinner on Dexter 6 p.m. Dexter Avenue, Montgomery. A unique full service open air dinner on the historic Dexter Avenue. Attendees will experience a fabulous evening of music, food and entertainment as a fundraiser to support the amazing programs offered by the Montgomery CityCounty Public Library System. The evening kicks off with a cocktail hour, followed by a multi-course meal prepared by local top chefs and ends with dancing under the stars. For more info, find us on Facebook.

Sunday, April 19

Friday, April 24

Saturday, May 9

Tavern Fest 2020 Gates open at 5 p.m.; show starts at 6 p.m. Old Alabama Town (North Hull Street). Lucas Tavern, the oldest building in Montgomery, is the impetus for this family-friendly event in its 20th year. Admission includes drink tickets for craft beers and there will be food trucks, too. Musicians include Wet Willie, Jimmy Hall and Souled Out Groove. No pets allowed. In case of inclement weather, the concert and festival will move to The Train Shed at 210 Water Street in downtown Montgomery. For more info, visit www.landmarksfoundation.com/events/ upcoming-events/ or call (334) 240-4500.

Whole Foods Second Saturday Kids’ Club 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Whole Foods, 1450 Taylor Rd., Montgomery. Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Each second Saturday, Whole Foods will host fun, hands-on craft activities to teach kids about healthy eating. It’s totally free, and every participant gets a piece of fruit and whatever they make in the workshop! For more info, call (334) 523-2940 or visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ stores/montgomery.

Montgomery Alumnae Panhellenic Council Sorority Recruitment Informational Meeting 2 p.m. Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road. This meeting is open to all River Region girls who are graduating seniors planning to attend any college or university. Visit our Facebook page - Montgomery Alumnae Panhellenic Council for information on submission of recruitment forms and additional information concerning the meeting. Montgomery Biscuits Bark in the Park 3:33 p.m. vs. Pensacola Wahoos. Riverwalk Stadium. Bring your four-legged best friend out to Riverwalk Stadium! Plus, all kids 14 & younger can join the Lil’ Crumbs Kids Club. Benefits include a complimentary ticket to all Sunday home games, retail discounts and more! For details, see April 15 listing. Simple Sundays at Jasmine Hill Gardens Also April 26 1-4 p.m. Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum, Wetumpka. A variety of activities for people of all ages.Each week will be different as friends enjoy art making, music playing, gardening workshops, kid games and more. Every week, we’ll host a yoga instructor at 2:00, so bring your mat and join us in the sunshine! Pack a picnic and enjoy the flowers and sculptures under our majestic trees. For more info, call (334) 567-6463 or visit Facebook. Music On The Deck - also April 26 & May 3 4:30-7:30 p.m. Kowaliga Restaurant, 295 Kowaliga Marina Road, Alexander City. Join us on the deck as we kick off the Music On The Deck summer series! For more info, call (256) 215-7035 or visit https:// www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com/blog/events/. April 19: Matt Smith; April 26: Murray Brown; May 3: Ben Sutton

Wednesday, April 22

Montgomery Biscuits Military Wednesday 10:35 a.m. vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Riverwalk Stadium. For details, see April 15 listing.

Thursday, April 23

Newcomers Club of Montgomery Monthly Luncheon All women of the River Region are invited to attend our monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Arrowhead Country Club. Our luncheon topic this month is “Textiles and Fashion in Alabama, Prestatehood through the Civil War.” Our guest speaker Diane Barnard, the collections curator for the Alabama Dept. of Archives and History, will give a fascinating talk on apparel and fashion. Luncheon cost is $18

River Region Parents I April 2020

Elmore County Homeschool Organization 10 a.m.-noon at Harvest Fields Community Church, 4280 Deatsville Hwy, Deatsville. Elmore County Homeschool Organization is a non-profit support group for homeschooling families. We provide a positive socialization environment for homeschooled children & support and encourage their parents in the homeschooling process. We typically meet the second and fourth Friday of every month year-round (except during November and December). Membership is free and is open to all homeschoolers in the tri-county area. For details, visit http://www.onlineecho.com.

Civil War Living History and Saturday Skirmish Also April 25 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days; Saturday skirmish at 1 p.m. Confederate Memorial Park, Marbury. Experience outdoor living history demonstrations performed by authentically uniformed & equipped Union and Confederate reenactors. Activities include; infantry drill & firing, cavalry horses & equipment, artillery firing, commissary and wagon, soldier’s equipment, uniforms, music, flags, civilian life, and tours of the barracks and other buildings. For more info, call (205) 755-1990 or visit https://ahc.alabama.gov/ properties/confederate/confederate.aspx.

Saturday, April 25

Lupus Walk Divas 4 Divas service organization will host this annual event at the DeBoer Building on the campus of Baptist Medical Center East. The walk is free to the public. Donations are accepted. If your business, vendor, or organization is interested in participating, please call (334) 777-9027.

Sunday, May 3

Montgomery Biscuits Bark in the Park 3:33 p.m. vs. Biloxi Shuckers. Riverwalk Stadium. Bring your four-legged best friend out to Riverwalk Stadium! Autism Awareness Day also takes place on this day. For details, see April 15 listing.

Wednesday, May 6

Capital City Master Gardener Association Lunch and Learn Series Open to the Public Noon-1 p.m. Normally the first Wednesday of each month. Sessions are held at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, next to the Curb Market. Related handouts from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service are provided at no cost. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches to each event. Iced tea and water provided.

Spring Zoo Volunteer Serve Day 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Museum, 2301 Coliseum Parkway. We are picking a single day to gather volunteer groups to accomplish several tasks, including landscaping, trimming bushes, planting flowers, raking leaves, painting, and overall prepping the Zoo for upcoming events. Volunteers ages 12-16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or a designated group chaperone. Volunteers under the age of 19 must obtain parent / legal guardian permission to volunteer. For more info or to register, call (334) 625-4900, e-mail zooinfo@ montgomeryal.gov, or register at https://www. montgomeryal.gov/.

Dads and Daughters Saturday (D.A.D.S) Calling ALL Fathers and Daughters for storytimes, fun and laughs, 11 a.m.-noon every 2nd Saturday at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library. There will be singing, dancing and arts & crafts. So come visit us and have an enjoyable time! For more info, visit www.facebook.com/events/137445469279 2666/?source=1. Second Saturday Divorce Workshop for Women Montgomery Country Club, Azalea Room, 3800 Narrow Lane Road. 9 a.m.-noon. 3-hour workshop that is offered monthly, designed to help participants explore the legal, financial, and emotional issues of divorce and gain a greater understanding of the process. Cost to attend is $20 per person and pre-registration required. For more info, please call or e-mail Sommer Morris at (334) 612-1086 or sommer.morris@morganstanley.com. You may also visit www.secondsaturday.com. Second Saturdays at Old Alabama Town 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Second Saturdays bring special programs for the whole family including crafts, music and lectures! Children are free with a paid adult. For more info, call (334) 240-4500 or visit www. oldalabamatown.com/.

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A Page in a Book A Great Wide World for Kids For thousands of years, humans lived communally, sharing common experience and spaces, and cultivating relationships based on similar lives. Today, most families benefit from individual lodging and increasingly socialize with communities through electronics. Both the ancient and modern ways of life recognize the value of human connection for growing a whole and healthy child. The following titles celebrate the shared experiences that thread through a child’s life everywhere and every way that they live. These stories inspire readers to recognize, nurture and celebrate the infinite bonds of humanity and the journey we all share as citizens of the same earth.

The Invisible Web: A Story Celebrating Love and Universal Connection by Patrice Karst, Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Little Brown Young Readers) Springing forth from a rising sun, a warm thread of color launches into the wider world. It curls around the feet of crowds as well as the shoulders of the lonely. Unseen by the story’s inhabitants, the thread swirls through the landscapes, connecting strangers and friends alike. The faintly rendered string winding through the pages sometimes gets tangled, but the knots are temporary and easily unwound with patience and understanding. Ideal for illustrating the invisible connections we have between distant friends, nearby fellow humans, and even the earth’s flora and fauna, The Invisible Web beautifully highlights the commonalities that unite us no matter where or who we are.

Ala

Here and Now

by Julia Denos, Illustrated by E. B. Goodale (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Grounded in the actual experience of paging through a book, this exquisite title serves as a subtle guide to meditative awareness of a moment and a place. Beginning with the reader, their location and position, this warmly rendered story slowly expands to reveal other things that are happening in the broader world. From worms burrowing underground to a future friend dining across town, a single moment grows to encompass all the things and actions that share this moment. This beautiful real-time meditation swells with the truth of where you are in the world and the vast possibilities existing in the world around you, here and now.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates, with Juniper Bates (Simon & Schuster) When the first signs of rain appear, a red umbrella is plucked from its place at the door and unfurled to protect a child venturing outside. Meeting new people as the rain picks up, the umbrella opens its arms wider to make room for others. While only the legs of those seeking shelter appear under the umbrella’s edge, the diverse walks of life that they navigate are clear. No matter who they are, there is room beneath this smiling protection from the rain. As a central character, a cheerfully expanding red umbrella serves as an easy metaphor for young readers to observe as it grows to offer its welcome to everyone in need.

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Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.

River Region Parents I April 2020

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

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Guardian Credit Union, 13

OB/GYN Montgomery, Dr. Desautels, 66

Guild Mortgage, 75

O’Connor Tennis Lessons, 52

Adventure Sports II, 32

Hooper Academy, 70

Parakeleo Counseling, 58

Alabama Christian Academy, 26, 51

Huntingdon Learning Center, 30

Prattville YMCA, 42

AL Dept. of Health, Inside Front, 5

Inflatables of Montgomery, 29

RR Dermatology and Laser, Inside Back

Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 47

Jackson Hospital, 9

Resurrection Catholic School, 34

ASKIN/Synergy House, 65

Jeff Dickey, New Waters Realty, 20

River Region Straw, 21

Autauga/Western Elmore Arc, 19

Judy Barranco Photography, 19

Riverview Camp for Girls, 44

Bandaloop Yoga & Wellness, 65

Just for Grins - Orthodontist, 14

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Baptist Health, 2, 59

Kingry Orthodontics, 28

Sea Dragon Pirate Cruises, 15

Bush Pediatric Dentistry, 61

Kreative Moments, 63

Spotless Cleaning Services, 53

Chapman Orthodontics, 70

Lakeview Baptist Church, 29

Success Unlimited Academy, 33, 45

Children’s Hospital of Alabama, 69

Larry Chapman, ALFA Insurance, 74

Sylvan Learning Center, 35

Churchill Academy, 28

Learning Tree Child Care, 41

Taylor Road Baptist Church, 22

Dentistry for Children, 42

Lil’ Priss Parties, 65

The Herb Shop, 31

Dynamite Magic & Balloons, 22

Macon East Academy, 39

The Montgomery Academy, Back Cover

Edward Jones-Lane Easterling, 52

Mathnasium, 3

Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection, 32

Evangel Christian Academy, 21

Memorial Presbyterian Childcare, 58

Trinity Presbyterian School, 49

Eye Center South, 73

Montessori @ Hampstead, 20

Tru-Cut Lawn Care, 63

Family Guidance Center, 43

Montessori @ Mulberry, 17

United Gymstars & Cheer, 8

Faulkner Baseball Camps, 35

Montgomery Catholic Schools, 25, 27

Vaughn Park Mom’s Day Out, 14

First Baptist of Prattville, 40

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 11

Vaughn Road Preschool, 18

First Presb. Kindergarten, P’ville, 69

My Kids Attic, 23

We Care Therapy Services, 55

Frazer Memorial UMC, 67

New Park, 71

Wine and Design, 36

Gogue Performing Arts Center, 4

OB/GYN Associates, 57

YMCA Camp Chandler, 40

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breaking down educational and access barriers, this organization is here to help parents see themselves as experts who belong at the table where decisions are being made about their child’s outcome and service delivery plans. I believe that every child has an ability toward success, if given the opportunity by exposure and appropriate support from parents and professionals. RRP: How would you describe your parenting style? Tametria: Child-led, with guidance. I am a facilitator. I’m going to help pull out what’s already inside of Conner and Anthem. I’m going to listen to them. I want to teach them how to express themselves in their own ways, and how to effectively deal with their thoughts, emotions and behaviors based on their needs. I’m a communicator and I talk to my kids more than I discipline them. I do not punish them for being kids and doing what kids do. I never make them feel like an inconvenience or like they are always doing something wrong. I want my kids to know I want them in my life, they are my priority, they are loved, they are worth my time. I want them to know they always have access to me and that I am here for them no matter what.

ler Tametria Conner Dantz

RRP: Tametria, you are a go-getter and a very fast learner. How did your personality help you in getting a diagnosis of Autism for your son?

RRP: Motherhood is a noble calling. Have you ever thought, “Gosh, I can’t do this?” Tametria: Motherhood is one of the most significant ministries a woman can have. There is no supervisor and handbook. I never once thought I can’t do this. Can’t is not in my vocabulary. “Figure it out’’ is in my vocabulary. Motherhood is about figuring it out and what I call God’s Triple Threat: His Favor, Grace and Mercy. Those two principles (figuring it out and God’s Triple Threat) are what propel me to continue this journey.

Tametria: I knew that getting a diagnosis swiftly and beginning therapy would be critical to Conner’s progress. Our brains are mostly fully developed by age 5, so I wanted to establish therapy targeting his deficits while there was still time for optimal progress potential. I have never been afraid to ask questions and dig for answers, so it was only natural for me to become my son’s advocate. I did not wait on experts. I researched Alabama Early Intervention services and got Conner enrolled at 15 months old and he had an autism diagnosis at 18 months old. I realized I’m an expert. No one knows Conner better than me, from his strengths, triggers to his deficits. I educated myself on autism and the best practices for educating him and living with him. We enrolled (as a family) into the autism research program and parent trainings at the Marcus Autism Center. I drove from Montgomery to Atlanta every week for 26 weeks. I had no prior knowledge. Learning how to quickly adapt t to Conner’s needs and getting on his level and then building upon that was also important to the progress that I’m seeing now at age 6, versus age 2.

RRP: What have you sacrificed since becoming a mother? Tametria: My career, first and foremost. Becoming a news anchor/ reporter was my dream since age 16. Not only did I accomplish being a week-day primetime slot anchor and award-winning investigative journalist, but at the time I decided to resign from TV news, I had just earned a national award for my investigation that made national news about the pastor who contracted HIV. I had goals of continuing to a larger market, never thinking I would have a child that required my full undivided attention and time commitment. That meant a loss of income, which resulted in a lot of luxuries being eliminated. I do not regret leaving my career to invest my time, energy and very being into my children. It’s an honor. I went from advocacy journalism to disability advocacy, not only for my son, but hundreds of children like Conner around Alabama and the Southeast. I’m still a voice, helping to make decisions that affect children with disabilities. I serve in a Governor’s appointed position on the state autism council and state early intervention council.

RRP: Conner’s diagnosis led you to founding a 501c3 organization that assists parents of children on the autism spectrum. Tell us about D.A.T.S.M.O.M. and how this has helped you in your own parenting journey.

RRP: Any advice for new parents? Tametria: Do not fear walking into the unknown. I had no idea where this new journey would take me, but I literally took one step at a time and created my own path... our path. Another word of advice is to remember it’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.” Your curveball may not be an autism diagnosis, but it will be something. Own it and make it a fulfilling journey.

Tametria: The struggles and successes of navigating along this new journey and “figuring it out” led me to founding Disability as an Ability Toward Success: Moms on the Move, also known as D.A.T.S.M.O.M. The goal is to provide a platform to help parents shift their child’s disability into an ability by connecting them to resources and equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to become an effective advocate for their child by providing free group and individual training, family enrichment activities and services. With a focus on culturally relevant support,

River Region Parents I April 2020

Tametria Conner Dantzler is CEO and Founder of Disability as an Ability Toward Success: Moms on the Move, also known as D.A.T.S.M.O.M. She is married to Andy and they have two children: Conner (6) and Anthem (1).

www.riverregionparents.com

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What does an MA graduate look like? Diverse in every way, yet sharing surprisingly similar qualities. As early as kindergarten, The Montgomery Academy looks ahead to the kind of qualities a young adult needs to succeed. Programs are structured and experiences are designed around creating life-long learners who challenge themselves. Co-curricular involvement is planned to champion honor, ethics, diversity, and service. We do all this. But if you ask a third grader what they did in school today, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably tell you about the amazing playground.

Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y The Pursuit of Excellence in K-12 Education Contact Rachael Gallagher, admissions@montgomeryacademy.org | 334.272.8210 | montgomeryacademy.org