River Region Parents December 2020 by KeepSharing

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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, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding 1 genetic information, and other federal, www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents 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.

A Saint James

EDUCATION

OPENS DOORS Walk the halls of Saint James School and discover the world of opportunities that await your child. From academics to arts to athletics—Saint James has a path for your child to grow, flourish, and gain the foundation they need for the future. Learn more about STJ’s academic curriculum, enrichments, electives, and extra-curricular offerings.

Join Us For A Campus-Wide Open House Parents & Students: Rising Pre-K3 through Grade 12 SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021 1:30-3:30PM RSVP ONLINE AT STJWEB.ORG/ADMISSIONS OR EMAIL ADMISSIONS@STJWEB.ORG

Pre-K3−12th Grade

Saint James School

334-273-3021 or STJweb.org

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

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one test two lives Get tested for HIV. For you and baby.

Plea Thou • • • • • • • • • •

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Open House Drop-In Tours 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 13 • Wednesday, January 27 • Wednesday, February 10 Choose a date convenient for you! Please join us at Macon East Academy, where we will partner with your family to help your child reach their fullest potential. Thousands of families have trusted Macon East Academy and we hope your family will too. • • • • • • • • • •

Family atmosphere that provides students with a safe, nurturing environment Integrated Bible curriculum, chapel and encouragement in building faith Engaging teachers and small class sizes that ensure students receive personal attention Apple iPad program equipping every student in Kindergarten through 12th grade with an iPad for classroom and virtual learning during the school year Pre-K and Kindergarten programs teach students readiness skills Located only 10 minutes from Chantilly Parkway, serving the Pike Road and surrounding communities Class of 2020, with 34 students, accumulated over $6.2 Million in scholarships Year-round guidance and support from our College Counselor for students and their families as they go through the college selection and application process 24 student-athletes participating in various sports at the collegiate level Affordable tuition, extended day care, dual enrollment, flexible scheduling and more!

Financial aid is available, please contact the school office for more information.

Pre-K3 - 12th Grade

334.277.6566 or maconeast.net 3 - RSVPs are not required but are appeciated. RSVP: Jill Taylor - jtaylor@maconeast.net www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

Y O U R H E A LT H OUR MISSION

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COVID cases are on the rise. And with the addition of flu season, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and others by wearing a mask. It’s a simple step that can help curb the increase of COVID cases, and help us keep our community healthy.

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River Region Parents I December 2020

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Volume 25 Number 12

Columns

8 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

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

Holidays at Home

Discover 7 sweet and easy ways to enjoy the season at home.

10 Commandments for Holiday Cheer

Simple ways to find Christmas joy.

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

46 Elmore Education Matters by Superintendent Richard Dennis

52 Dinner’s Ready by Kimberley Carter Spivey

Our guide shares what’s going on around town and nearby to fill the holidays with joy and memories!

Improving Parent/ Teen Communication Research study advice for you!

60 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media

Departments On The Cover Keon and Jennifer Addison are ready to celebrate Christmas with their daughters, Ashlyn and Keona. Ashlyn is so loving and enjoys being a big sister. Her favorite things are gymnastics, singing, coloring and Moana! Keon and Jennifer call Keona their warrior princess. After arriving in the world as a preemie and spending six weeks in the NICU, the Addisons are grateful she’s now home, doing great, and growing fast.

12 Teacher of the Month 16 School Bits 68 Mom to Mom

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Editor’sNote

Parents

Just like everything else in 2020, the holiday season is looking different for most families. The question of whether or not to gather is on all of our minds, as we take into consideration older and more vulnerable family members. Fortunately, with our Alabama weather, we have options that include being outside or keeping doors and windows open, so we can feel safer if we do decide to gather. That’s what we are planning to do on Christmas Eve and Day in order to be with my mom and step dad. And, if it happens to be really cold, we will still keep the doors open, crank up the heat, pull out the coats and light the fireplace. Yes, 2020 has turned into the ultimate year of making the best of a bad situation. We’ve already made it this far... through a shutdown, “crisis schooling” from home, travel bans, sick loved ones, political and social unrest, and the list goes on. Let’s try to stay positive just a little longer and find ways to create joy and make memories this holiday season, even in the midst of the chaos. We can do this! If it requires straying from our usual traditions...well, we can do that, too! A couple of articles to help get you in the Christmas spirit are included this month! First, Katy Clark shares 7 Simple Ways to Savor the Holidays at Home. If you are planning to keep Christmas low key this year, these are great ideas for connecting with your family in creative ways. Christa Hines shares 10 Commandments for More Holiday Cheer, including my favorites: #5- Thou shall invite thy partner’s participation, and #4- Thou shall not allow others to steal thy happiness. As parents, we are always trying to make the holidays wonderful for our kids, but these “10 Commandments” will inspire us to take care of ourselves, especially this year! Next, flip through our Holiday Happenings Guide and plan some fun outings for your family. While not all events from past years are happening, you’ll find that plenty still are. Please check with the venue before attending to be sure there have not been any changes and to check COVID policies and procedures. As we say goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and (I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to say) Happy New Year!

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 Katie Blair Katy M. Clark Richard Dennis Christa Melnyk Hines Dr. Charles Ledbetter Cheryl Maguire Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Dr. Ann Roy Moore Kimberley Carter Spivey

Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com

Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com

Advertising Accounts Manager Savannah Bowden (334) 213-7940 ext. 704 adservices@keepsharing.com Digital Manager Scott Davis Advertising Opportunities (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 ads@riverregionparents.com

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Ad Design Tim Welch

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editor@riverregionparents.com 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.

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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

Improving Your Child’s Sleep Sleep during parenthood is a bit of an oxymoron. It is about as precious as that first sip of coffee, yet as unattainable as the ability to drive to work in the morning without spilling that coffee on your newly ironed shirt. As parents, we tend to put an enormous amount of focus on sleep. We want it, we seek it, we are willing to mortgage the house to get it. It is the hidden gem of parenthood that will make us feel human again. And when our kids pass through that precious newborn stage, where the sleep deprivation is expected, but then enter early toddlerhood and preschool and we still see no sign of quality, sustained sleep on the horizon – we tend to want to curl up on the floor of the closet and call it a day… at 10am. I wish I had THE answer for you, but I don’t. Before you stop reading, though, I will say there are certainly things you can be aware of that might help encourage those little “fighting sleep” soldiers to not only lay down and sleep, but stay asleep… at least until the sun crosses the horizon. Here are a few things to consider:

River Region Parents I December 2020

1: Be aware of the temperature. Our body temperature naturally lowers at night. This is intentional and for our good, and we don’t want to work against that effect. Keeping a cool, but not cold, room will help the body maintain sleep cycles a bit longer. 2: If your child is above the age of three you can speak with your physician about introducing a weighted blanket that is titrated to no more than 10% of your child’s body weight, plus one pound. This gentle pressure mimics the effect of being held and increases rates of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that aids in sleep regulation and has an overall calming effect. 3: Consider adding a white noise maker. These machines tend to mimic a womblike environment, which can help silence your baby’s built in alarm clock that wakes them frequently as they progress between sleep cycles. Note there is a difference however between “light” white noise (raindrops, crashing waves, heartbeat sound) and “heavy” white noise (a whirring fan, an

A/C fan). Heavy white noises are what you are after, as they will work to keep them in those deeper sleep cycles longer. 4: If your child has a bigger problem falling asleep, rather than staying asleep, consider gifting them some fun new accessories for their bedroom this year that may help. Consider items like a bed tent, a projector that casts stars and planets around the room, and a speaker wherein you can play a calming bedtime story from your phone (available on the app store), complete with calming sound effects. You can also go old school for your preschooler and get a Walkman and headphones with some tapes or CD’s of bedtime stories. Let’s be honest – any gift you buy them to help them sleep is really a gift to you. Hang in there! Another 15 years and you will be begging them to get out of bed before noon. Funny how that works. 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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Telehealth brings the doctor to you.

See a primary care physician or specialist on your tablet, laptop or smartphone.

With our Telehealth service, The Jackson Clinic makes it simple and convenient to see a physician from the comfort of your home – or wherever you go. It’s available to the whole community, from Greenville to Prattville. And new and current patients are welcome. Just visit us online and schedule your appointment to talk with a doctor on your video device. Primary care physicians as well as a full range of specialists are available. Whether you prefer to visit us virtually or in person, we’re here to help you and your family stay healthy. To learn more about Telehealth, visit JacksonClinic.org.

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Capri Theatre Presents It’s a Wonderful Life

December 18-21 4 & 7 p.m. Collecting hats and gloves to benefit the Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless. For more info, call (334) 262-4858 or visit www. capritheatre.org.

Kids’ Christmas Canvas Workshops

December 2 & 9 @ 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join us under the patio for a Kid’s Christmas Canvas Workshop with Barb! This workshop will include one canvas per ticket and everything you need to create your masterpiece! The Shoppes will also provide light refreshments to fuel the creative process. Please note, this is an outdoor event under a covered patio. We will have heaters available, if needed. Kindly wear a mask while entering the workshop. Kids 3 and up. Guardians must be present will children 13 and under. Please no more than 2 guardians per child. December 12 @ 10:30 a.m.-noon Get in the Christmas spirit with our Kid’s Christmas Canvas Workshop with Abrakadoodle! Tickets will include one canvas, all of the tools needed for the painting, and light refreshments. You will have the choice between painting a Christmas tree or a snowman. Your instructor will lead you through each stroke to create your Christmas masterpiece! Families are welcome to share a canvas if they would like.The workshop will be located near the fountain, under the covered patio. This is an outdoor event but there will be heaters provided, if needed. Kindly wear a mask entering the workshop. Kids 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. No more than 2 guardians per child. Visit www.theshoppesateastchase. com/ or call (334) 279-6046.

Pike Road Christmas Spectacular

December 4 Santa Claus will be at Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Rd) from 5-7 p.m., so drive by to drop off letters to Santa and Season of Giving donations! From 6-7 p.m., we’ll talk all things Christmas during a live radio special - tune in on the MAX Round Table, 107.5 FM / 1210 AM! Then, at 7 p.m., don’t miss the premiere of our virtual Christmas tree lighting on our Facebook page. The video event will feature special holiday performances from the The Pike Road Dance Academy and Pike Road Schools Show Choir, a Christmas story read by Mayor Stone, and details about our Season of Giving holiday collections drive. For more info, find us on Facebook.

Sensory Santa through December 24

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City of Millbrook’s Spirit of Christmas Festival & Parade

The Shoppes at EastChase is making sure every child gets time with Santa by providing a Sensory Santa experience for those families with special needs children. Sensory Santa will be open during regular photo hours and will offer families the opportunity to take photos with no lines and additional time with Santa. Places are limited and booking is essential. Visit https://www.theshoppesateastchase.com/ event/sensory-santa/.

Festival begins at 9 a.m. December 5 and features vendors, arts and crafts, entertainment and more. The parade will roll at 2 p.m. from Smokehouse Barbecue down to the old City Hall and Village Green. Entry into the parade is free, and applications can be found at cityofmillbrook. org. Paid vendor booths available. River Region Parents I December 2020

December 18-20 To keep its rock holiday tradition alive, Tran-Siberian Orchestra will bring a performance right into fans’ homes with the world premiere of its first-ever livestream event, “Christmas Eve and Other Stories Live In Concert.” In addition to the full album concert, fans will view special preshow content including behind-the-scenes footage and classic interview segments. In addition to purchasing the stream, fans will have the option to purchase gift packages, including T-shirts, ornaments, and masks, plus livestream tickets can be sent digitally to friends and family as presents. For more details and to purchase tickets and packages, visit www.trans-siberian.com.

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City of Prattville Christmas Market

December 3-20 * 5-9 p.m. Are you an artist, a baker, or have other handmade or unique homemade gift or holiday items? The Christmas Market will be set up at Heritage Park by the Christmas Tree on Thursdays through Sundays. We currently are accepting vendor applications, and space is limited. For info, call (334) 595-0580.

Red Door Theatre Presents Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas

December 3-6 Dream Field Farms, Fitzpatrick. Based on books by Robert Fulghum, adapted by Ernest Zulia & David Caldwell and directed by Kim Mason. Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas takes a funny, heartwarming and often poignant look at the struggle to find the spirit of the holidays amid the avalanche of commercialism, stress and chaos that crashes down every December. An optional dinner will be catered by Amber Anderson of the FPH Bakery; reservations required. Play tickets are $20 per person; dinner also $20 per person. For tickets or more info, call (334) 738-8687 or visit www.reddoortheatre.org.

Mistletoe at Home

December 6 * 2 p.m. The Alabama Dance Theatre will open its 34th season with a virtual production of Mistletoe. This year’s production will feature “Miss Kitty’s Favorite Dances of Christmas.” For viewing options, visit https://www.alabamadancetheatre.com/ or call (334) 625-2590.

Party Palace Pop-Up

December 13 @ 6-7:30 p.m. Shoppes at EastChase Come meet your favorite princess and superhero at The Shoppes! Stick around for a meet + greet with characters like Elsa and Spider-Man! Please wear a magical mask during the meet + greet! This free performance will be held in front of H+M. Visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/events/ or call (334) 279-6046.

A Downtown Dickens Christmas

December 4 & 5 * 5-8 p.m. Historic downtown Wetumpka Visit Wetumpka for a two-night community event as we celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting and enjoy a Victorian Christmas! At A Downtown Dickens Christmas, you’ll be transported back to scenes from A Christmas Carol with period costumes, Christmas Carols sung by the Wetumpka High School Chorus, Father Christmas on-site for photos, authentic vendors, The Kelly Holiday Artist Market, a live nativity, and decorated downtown businesses. This is the perfect time to walk around our whimsical historic business district and complete your holiday shopping. Visit business.wetumpkachamber.org.

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Nancy Ausley Forest Avenue Academic Magnet

students. “I want to build their confidence. I want them to believe that with hard work and determination they can accomplish anything. I want them to know that I believe in them and will always be there for them.” Grace Kim, who nominated Ausley, says, “Ms. Ausley deserves to be the teacher of the month. She always thinks about her students first, always keeps the parents informed and always asks parents how she can improve. With all the virtual teaching and the barriers there are with technology, she finds new creative ways to teach her students and challenges them every day. I can’t imagine a more deserving teacher. She truly loves her students.” Ausley said it is a complete honor to be nominated for her work. “It feels wonderful. Parents are sharing their most treasured gift with me. It is an honor to know that they feel I am deserving of this recognition. Especially, when I have been teaching this child virtually. Teachers have had to learn a whole new way of teaching in a short amount of time. It is awesome to know that we are making a difference with children, even through a computer screen.”

December’s Teacher of the Month, Nancy Ausley, does it all when it comes to teaching. She teaches reading, math, science, social studies, health, and physical education to her kindergarteners at Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School in Montgomery. The veteran teacher, who is in her 32nd year of teaching, says that she has always loved working with children and always wanted to become a teacher. “I love to see them discover and learn new things. It is so rewarding to watch their confidence grow as they progress through the year.” Ausley said it is the children that keep her motivated. “Teaching has changed so much over 32 years, but the children are the same. They are loving, inquisitive and so much fun to be around.” When asked how she keeps her students engaged, Ausley said that happens through finding ways to make learning fun and exciting. “We all learn better when it is something we enjoy and want to do. I like to turn the learning over to the children and let them have a turn to lead.” Ausley, who graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, says her greatest reward from teaching comes when a student masters a difficult skill and her favorite teaching moments occur when she sees a child helping another child with a skill she has taught them. While the classroom lessons are important, Ausley explains that she hopes to pass down more than just classroom knowledge to her

River Region Parents I December 2020

Nancy Ausley has taught school for 32 years in Montgomery County Public Schools including Hayneville Road Elementary, King Elementary, Garrett Elementary and Forest Avenue Academic Magnet. When Ausley is not teaching kindergarten, you can find her spending time with her two fur babies, Brindley and Colton.

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A Brighter Future for MPS On November 3, Montgomery’s citizens rallied together and helped pass a tax referendum that will generate an estimated $33 million starting Oct. 1, 2023. The future for Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) became much brighter once the election results came in that night. I’m proud of our community for putting our students first and understanding change is needed. Now that the tax is passed, MPS can start to lay the groundwork for future projects and plans. The plan includes beginning to tackle the $250 million in deferred maintenance on our buildings. Our children are forced to learn in buildings with leaky roofs, outdated windows, worn tracks, and so much more. We are prioritizing

our maintenance projects to quickly and efficiently address the most critical needs so our problems do not continue to grow out of hand. In addition to tackling maintenance needs, we are going to add more resources to our classrooms. At the beginning of the pandemic, MPS immediately placed a purchase order for technology devices with the goal of providing every student in the district with a device. However, much more is needed to support the teachers and students in our classrooms. Students need technology, but they also need access to more courses, including Advanced Placement and career technical education opportunities. We will also add more wraparound services in our school buildings to meet our students’ needs. Our commitment to our students, employees, and the community is that we are going to do everything we can to ensure our students are prepared for the next chapters of their lives. We want more community involvement, and we want the community to hold us accountable. The ad

valorem bill, HB 500, requires that we provide our local delegation an annual report that details our progress. We are confident our legislators will believe in our strategic goals and continue to support our efforts. As we prepare for the future, we are thankful to the community for supporting our students. Voting for this tax referendum meant providing more resources for our school system. Together we’ll continue to build upon our foundation. Together we’ll continue to inspire our students. We’ll continue to support the teachers we have and recruit the best educators we can find. We will create the best possible learning environments for our students. And through it all, we will continue to move forward together.

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.

Sylvan of Montgomery

4240 Lomac St Montgomery, AL 36106

334-262-0043

cd@montgomerysylvan.com

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Thanksgiving at ECA

Nature on Wheels Visits ACA

Alabama Christian Academy second-graders usually go on a field trip to Lanark at Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Lanark sent Nature on Wheels to ACA. Staff members brought animals like a hawk, a frog, a salamander, a turtle and a snake. They educated the students on the land and water habitats of these animals and also discussed how habitats provide what the plants and animals need to survive. Nature on Wheels helped wrap the second graders’ science unit on habitats.

The kindergarten class at Evangel Christian Academy had been learning about the first Thanksgiving. To celebrate, the students made Native American outfits and chose Native American names. They also learned several fun Thanksgiving songs and dances.

Montgomery Catholic Holy Spirit Campus Spelling Bee Winners

Macon East JV Lady Knights Named State Champs Macon East Academy’s junior varsity volleyball team won the AISA JV Volleyball State tournament October 17 at Glenwood School. The team played hard all day and beat Lee-Scott Academy for the championship. The team has had an amazing season, and the players have grown tremendously in their knowledge of the game. Coaches are Codi Moon and Kambria Darby.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Holy Spirit elementary campus held its schoolwide spelling bee for grades 4-6 on November 17. Participants from the fourth grade were Claire Blanks and Landon Widmer. From fifth grade were Claire Aaron, Liz Bromen, Lily Logsdon and Carlos Medina. From sixth grade were Anna Rose Schwarz and Lailah Stovall. Schwarz was the winner with Aaron as runner-up. From left are Aaron and Schwarz.

BTW Dance Student Wins CACF Scholarship Award

Booker T. Washington Magnet High sophomore Cadance Thrasher is the 2020 recipient of the Mickey Ingalls Scholarship from the Central Alabama Community Foundation. She excels in her magnet discipline of dance at BTW and is a student with the Montgomery Ballet. Thrasher’s holiday season schedule includes several performances of The Nutcracker in Montgomery, Tallassee and Greenville. She is passionate about dance and hopes to dance professionally. River Region Parents I December 2020

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MPS School Board Pays Tribute to Pioneering Member

The November 10 Montgomery County Board of Education meeting marked the end of an era. It was the last meeting for Mary Briers, who decided to retire rather than seek another term. She had served on the board since 2004. Briers was one of the first two African American women to serve on the board, and she went on to become the first African American woman to be board president. Between her service on the board and her 25 years of teaching and counseling, Briers dedicated more than four decades to education in Montgomery. The board and Superintendent Ann Roy Moore paid tribute to Briers with a proclamation in her honor and a bouquet of pink roses. The board members and Dr. Moore all wore white for the occasion. In fact, each board member took some time during the meeting to talk about all the ways Briers had impacted their lives.

Trinity Senior Signs with Belmont Abbey College

Trinity Presbyterian School senior Jackie Miller signed a Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Belmont Abbey College in a ceremony on campus with her family, classmates and teammates in attendance. Miller was the libero on Trinityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 3A State Championship volleyball team. During her junior and senior seasons, she had 1,274 digs, passed a 2.2 serve receive rating, and had 78 aces. Miller is shown above with her parents as she signs to play volleyball with Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina.

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World Dyslexia Day Founded by Churchill Academy Senior

Churchill Academy senior Beau Terry founded World Dyslexia Day in 2013, and the annual event continued on this year through students and educators at the school. The school celebrated the worldwide awareness day by wearing “dyslexia red” in honor of the 1 in 5 students who have dyslexia determinations. Terry’s efforts have spurred groups worldwide to adopt the #RedeemingRed mission to celebrate the stories behind the statistics and to redeem the red ink often found on the papers of students with dyslexia. As with every year since 2013, the RSA Towers in Montgomery and Mobile were lit in red to celebrate. Churchill Academy has been part of World Dyslexia Day and the Redeeming Red campaign since its inception and continues to celebrate students with dyslexia each and every day.

Macon East Revives Knight Tradition

Macon East Academy revived an old tradition this 2020 football season. The Knight mascot came to life and charged the field in a dynamic pregame show. The crowd rose to its feet with excitement as the armored Knight brought magic to the field. The fight song played, and the Macon East flag waved while all were reminded of how truly special it is to be a part of the Knight family. The Knight mascot personifies pride, loyalty, unity and kinship. Students, teachers and parents from all walks of life are UNITED by love and dedication to their school. 19

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Montgomery County Schools

STJ Senior Wins Cross Country State Championship Title in 4A

For the third consecutive season, Saint James student Presley Miles cruised to another AHSAA Cross Country State title on November 14. Coming off the heels of National Signing Day, where she announced that she will continue her running career at Duke University, Miles finished the week by winning the AHSAA 4A Cross Country State Championship, in a time of 19:11.75 and competing against a field of more than 140 talented athletes. The nationally ranked senior, and past Gatorade Player of the Year, capped her final cross country race as a Saint James Trojan by winning with a margin of more than 15 seconds, leading the race from start to finish. This season was definitely a roller coaster for Miles; she dealt with injuries, major changes to her training, and the possibility of not having a season at all because of COVID. But through all the hurdles, she stayed the course and ran her race.

Stuart Little Visits Eastwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Second-Grade Class

The Eastwood Christian School second-graders recently enjoyed reading Stuart Little by E. B White. After students concluded reading the book, they received a surprise visit from Stuart!

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Decorated BrewTech Track Athlete Signs with University of Alabama

Brewbaker Technology Magnet High senior Chanice Spicer has signed a track and field scholarship with the University of Alabama. Spicer is one of the most decorated athletes in BrewTech history. She was the 2019-2020 Gatorade Alabama Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Spicer has also won several state championships and has even broken several state records during her time at BrewTech. She won two silver medals and a bronze medal at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando in 2019. Earlier this year, Spicer was named National Girls Performer of the Week by MileSplit USA. “She is a blessing, a true gift from God, and a hard worker,” said BrewTech Track and Field Coach Derrick Evans.

ECA’s Kindergarten Celebrates Career Day

The five-year-old kindergarten class at Evangel Christian Academy recently celebrated Career Day. The class had been learning about community helpers and how each one is important to a community. To culminate the unit of study, each child came to school dressed in a costume to represent the job he or she wants as an adult. Each student had an opportunity to tell about his/ her future career and then participated in a parade down the hallway and by the office. 21

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Montgomery County Schools

Churchill Boy Scouts Hold Virtual Campout

What do you do when 2020 cancels your camping trip? You take it virtual and make it one of the most unique camping memories ever! Churchill Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BSA Troop 20 took the lemons of a cancellation and made lemonade with the troopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-ever virtual campout. Scouts camped in their own backyards and connected virtually to keep their scouting adventures alive. The troop learned a lot individually and collectively, and they had a great time doing it. Great job, Troop 20!

ACA Welcomes Dalraida Students Back to School

Dalraida Elementary students were welcomed back to school on October 13 by the Alabama Christian Academy student-athletes and band. They were pleasantly surprised and felt extra special by the warm welcome.

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Saint James Celebrates Special Veterans Day

On November 10, Saint James School celebrated Veterans Day with a special ceremony that honors the military service men and women and their families who are a part of the Saint James community. Saint James holds this celebration each year with special performances by the Marching Trojans, combined choirs, and remarks from Head of Dchool, Dr. Larry McLemore. This year’s keynote speaker was Col. Todd Taylor, retired. Saint James is proud of its connection to the military and the families that serve our country. Saint James was among the first college preparatory schools in the area to open doors to military families and demonstrate a desire to serve them. This emphasis on service is deeply rooted in the Saint James history. The school has been led by numerous military leaders throughout its history. For instance, former head of school, Lt. General Raymond B. Furlong, for whom Furlong Hall is named, was commander of Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, before becoming head of school at Saint James. His outstanding military career began with the Air Force in 1948. Further, Colonel Don Brewer, who taught at Saint James for almost 20 years, was an outstanding member of our faculty who encouraged students to further their education. We give a mathematics award each year in his memory. Many of his students became engineers and several also served in the military. The speaker of the Veterans’ Day celebration, Col. Taylor, is the National Program Development Director for Air Force Junior ROTC. He oversees outreach and engagement, the Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy, and cadet leadership and development requirements. He is responsible for program development at approximately 900 high schools and 125,000 students worldwide. He is married to Saint James Middle School Principal Shelaine Taylor, and they have two children who attend Saint James. Prior to his retirement from the Air Force, Col. Taylor was the registrar, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp. He entered commissioned service as a 1990 Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds a Master’s Degree from Troy University in international relations and a certificate in financial planning from Georgetown University. He was awarded many major awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Through this special celebration, Saint James hopes to honor and thank those who serve this country through our Armed Services. Shown, active duty and veteran service men and women in attendance with Col. Todd Taylor, keynote speaker, and Dr. Larry McLemore, head of school. Included are members of the Saint James board of trustees, Col. Sherry Stearns-Boles, retired, (far right), and Lt. Col. Dex McCain, retired, board chairman (third from right). Photo courtesy of Esther Malmberg.

Cornerstone Holds Veterans Day Chapel

Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy held a special chapel the week of Veterans Day. An annual tradition, this year held in lieu of the regular Monday morning chapel service, the Veterans Day Chapel provides students an opportunity to honor those who have served our nation, especially those parents, grandparents, faculty and alumni who are part of the Cornerstone Classical family. United States Air Force Chaplain, Captain John Richardson, whose son Elijah attends Cornerstone, was the guest speaker. Chaplain Richardson spoke about joining an Air Force special operations group for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy and the opportunity he had to jump out of an airplane as part of the ceremonies. Just as many young men were called to sacrifice their lives on D-Day, Chaplain Richardson reminded Cornerstone’s students that as Christians we may sometimes be called to sacrifice, but we are always called to be faithful. Cornerstone Classical Headmaster John Bradley reminded students and staff that in the Veterans Day stories of sacrifice and suffering they see a glimpse of a holy and perfect savior who, laying his glory aside, came to give his life so they may never die.

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Garrett Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Has Special Bond with Student, Family

Garrett Elementary kindergarten teacher Tracey HeardKendrick submitted this success story about her student Murray Jenkins in hopes of raising spirits during a difficult time. “Murray Jenkins started pre-K at Garrett Elementary. His classroom was only a couple of doors from my kindergarten classroom. As I would pass him in the hallway, he would speak and began to call me ‘Auntie.’ I guess I reminded him of someone. I met his mom and dad and we established a great rapport. I was truly surprised when he and his mom delivered a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift. “Long story short, Murray ended up in my kindergarten class this year. Murray has been a virtual student in my class, and I have only seen Murray in person when his parents brought him to the ‘Drive-by Popsicle Parade.’ “Although teaching virtually and face-to-face simultaneously can be challenging, I have seen tremendous progress and academic growth in this kindergarten student. I must share credit and showcase the type of parental support that really makes the difference. Murray’s parents make sure he is up, fed, dressed, and ‘ready to learn’ every morning via Zoom. Murray’s mom frequently shares her creative ideas and ways she helps him master learning sight words with Froot Loops and blending CVC words. “I am proud to say it is only the second nine weeks of school and Murray can count to 100 and has benchmarked in Letter Naming and Phoneme Segmentation. It is success stories such as this that make it worth the challenges that we face teaching/learning during this turbulent time. MPS educators, we will get through this pandemic together! Hang in there!”

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ACA Seniors Buddy with Kindergarten Students One event that Alabama Christian Academy seniors, K4 and K5 students look forward to every year is being paired up with each other. The seniors mentor their little friends throughout the year, spending time with each other when possible.

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Montgomery Catholic Celebrates All Saints Day

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory school turned a typical Friday into a celebration for its students! All Saints Day was celebrated on November 1, followed by All Souls Day on November 2. MCPS celebrates all holy feast days but wanted to make this one extra special for its students. The goal of this celebration was to bring liveliness to the faith so that the students may feel inspired to live out their lives in Christ. The initiative was developed by Montgomery Catholic’s Vice Principal Laura Reilly and Director of Faith Formation Tom Riello. Reilly has lived all over the world, serving the international school community as both a teacher and a school leader. She drew inspiration from her travels, specifically the many Mexican feast day celebrations. The students at MCPS kicked off the week by choosing one patron saint per classroom during their second-period class. The students designed a saint name card and displayed them in the hallways outside each classroom. Throughout the week, teachers presented lessons about their patron saint. History teachers provided lessons about their room saint in a historical and geographical context. English teachers taught lessons using a piece of literature or film written about or by their classroom saint. In theology class, teachers taught about the lives of their chosen saint. On Friday the marching band performed “When the Saints Go Marching In” and the choir performed “He Never Failed Me Yet” for the Middle School students. Middle School Assistant Principal Julie Wood and Middle School Counselor Mary Kelly served the refreshments provided by MCPS PTC mothers. Pope Gregory III established All Saints Day as an official holy day of obligation after dedicating a chapel to all of the saints in Saint Peter’s in Rome on November 1 (731-741). After the chapel was dedicated, November 1 became the official All Saints Day. This day honors all saints, known and unknown. Although many canonized saints have their feast day, All Saints Day seeks to honor ALL saints, both canonized and not.

Eastwood Builds Up Through Mentoring

The sixth year of Eastwood Christian School’s Big Sis/Little Sis and Mighty Warriors mentoring groups began meeting this year. The purpose of these programs is to build relationships, memorize Scripture, and develop Godly character for the glory of God.

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Macon East PTO Enters Pike Road Contest

The Town of Pike Roadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual hay bale decorating contest is a much-anticipated community event. This year, the Macon East Academy PTO participated in the fun with the creation of a Knights football player hay bale. The Knight has been enjoyed by students of all ages as he greets everyone standing at the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance. Many families have been seen taking photos with him. The PTO was excited to be awarded an Honorable Mention for its entry in the contest.

ACA Golf Tournament Raises Money for Athletics Alabama Christian Academy held its annual golf tournament at the Arrowhead Country Club and not only were participants blessed with the perfect golf weather, but they were also successful in raising funds for the athletic department. Among the 22 teams who participated, there were 16 ACA alumni who took the time out of their busy schedules to raise money for their alma mater.

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Saint James Celebrates Academic Success On November 19, Saint James administration and high school came together to celebrate the incredible achievements of several high school students. The students honored in the Saint James Fall Recognition Assembly achieved extraordinary excellence on national tests and exams in the year between November 2019 and the end of October 2020. From National Merit recognition to perfect scores on Advanced Placement exams and sections of the ACT, these students demonstrate what talent, effort and perseverance can accomplish. In September 2020, Saint James seniors Paige Hemmer and Zach Ohliger were named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists. This designation places Hemmer and Ohliger in the top 1% of the 1.6 million students nationally who took the qualifying exam last fall, the PSAT/NMSQT. They will now participate in a process to advance semifinalists to finalist status and subsequently compete for college scholarships that are announced in the spring. Scoring a perfect score of 36 on a section of the ACT (ie: English, Reading, Math or Science) were Saint James seniors Paige Hemmer and Ella Taylor. Hemmer scored a perfect 36 on both the English and Reading tests; Taylor scored a perfect 36 on the Reading section of the ACT. Eleven students scored a perfect 5 on an Advanced Placement exam. These scholars included Selina Sun for AP World History; Barr Armistead and Haley Brightwell for AP European History; Sidnee Beavers, Paige Hemmer, Taylor Penney and Ella Taylor for AP U.S. History; Sidnee Beavers and Paige Hemmer for AP Language and Composition; Isabelle Goulet for AB Calculus; Virginia Braswell

and Kendall Hardaway for AP Computer Science Principles; and Maddie Shields for AP Drawing. Five students were honored by the College Board as AP Scholars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which means they earned an average grade of three or higher on three or more Advanced Placement exams. The AP Scholar designation was awarded to these five students who are still in high school: Barrett Hammond, Paige Hemmer, Zach Ohliger, Christopher Shiffer and Ella Taylor. Saint James senior Isabelle Goulet was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. In order to be designated an AP Scholar with Distinction, a student must score 3 or higher on at least 5 AP exams and have an overall average of 3.5. And, after taking the AP exams in May 2020, eleven 2020 Saint James alumni were also designated AP Scholars, three 2020 alumni were named AP Scholars with Honor, and two 2020 alumni were named AP Scholars with Distinction. Additionally, two members of the Class of 2020 were named as National AP Scholars. Trevor Otis and Najla Ibrahim were designated as National AP Scholars, which is the highest honor given by the College Board. In order to be given this designation, a student must have

an overall average on all exams taken of 4, and score 4 or above on at least 8 exams. In total, 25 Saint James students were named AP Scholars for 2020. Annually, Saint James School hosts an Awards Day assembly in the spring to recognize a multitude of student achievements ranging from individual college

scholarship announcements to the Yale Book Award to the highest average in a subject. Each fall, school administration honors each student individually who has achieved national recognition for extraordinary academic excellence. Front row from left are: Kendall Hardaway, Haley Brightwell, Maddie Shields, Selina Sun, Ella Taylor and Barrett Hammond; back row: Sidnee Beavers, Zach Ohliger, Taylor Penney, Barr Armistead, Christopher Shiffer and Virginia Braswell.

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TEA Christian Academy’s Virtual 2020 Pink Out

On November 5, TEA Christian Academy paused to acknowledge eight breast cancer survivors, whom they call TEA’s Angels. The school has been hosting this event for the past eight years, and COVID-19 did not stop the celebration. The event was held virtually, with special guest speakers, Ron and Val McCarden, founders of “His Hands, Our Touch, Cancer Care Ministries.” Val is a five-year breast cancer survivor; she and Ron started this ministry three years ago to be of assistance to families when their loved ones are diagnosed with this disease. The Pink Out Celebration is TEA’s opportunity to recognize local breast cancer survivors and celebrate life, health and love with them. The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer awareness, and it is usually worn to honor those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The ribbon is also associated with kindness, faith and the tremendous scientific progress being made in cancer research. The pink ribbon puts the mindset in an optimistic, “can-do” attitude, encouraging individuals to focus on the passionate vision of a cure for breast cancer. Many of us have family members battling this disease, fighting to live on, and there are many who have succumbed. However, the fight was not lost, nor was the battle, because the battle belongs to God. To TEA’S Angels and so many others, we say, “Stay strong! Be encouraged! Be empowered!” Always know, in the words of the legendary Michael Jackson, “You are Not Alone.”

Churchill Senior Class Cornhole Tournament

Churchill Academy hosted its first-ever cornhole tournament for the senior class during October. The socially distanced event at the Ray Thorington Road Campus allowed students time to socialize and compete in person within a safe environment. Churchill Academy’s tradition of senior gatherings throughout the year has taken a unique turn with 2020’s masking and social distancing requirements, but this senior class is not deterred. Students are creative and making memories at every turn! Fun was had by all and the tournament winner was Jade Hayes.

ECA Pumpkin Patch

The students at Evangel Christian Academy recently participated in an on sight pumpkin patch. The students enjoyed a hayride to a field full of pumpkins. Each student was given the opportunity to choose a pumpkin to take home. After the hayride, the students played carnival-style games.

Moms with Shields Bless Macon East

Moms with Shields is a group of moms who meet for a monthly prayer walk at Macon East Academy. Together they provide spiritual support and bless the students, teachers, staff and campus at Macon East. They placed Prayer Boxes in the lower and upper school halls for the students and staff to place their anonymous pray requests. This is such a blessing and will bring transformation, togetherness and love to the MEA family.

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Montgomery Catholic Names Bradley Director of Communications

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has named Brittany Bradley as the new director of communications and marketing. “I am so excited for Brittany and for Montgomery Catholic,” said Justin Castanza, school president. “She brings an exemplary level of experience and professionalism to a position that will continue to propel Montgomery Catholic into a bright future. As an alum, a current parent, an experienced graphic designer, and a devout Catholic, Montgomery Catholic could not ask for a better person to lead our marketing and communications efforts.” A native of Montgomery, Bradley is a 2003 Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School alumna. She holds a BFA from Auburn University and joins Montgomery Catholic with fourteen years of advertising and marketing experience. Bradley and her husband, Josh, have been married for 12 years and have three daughters, Ella, Kate and Nora. They are active members of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Montgomery. “I am honored to accept the position of director of marketing and communications at Montgomery Catholic” said Bradley. “I look forward to working with the rest of the advancement team to inspire our students and to share all that MCPS has to offer with the greater Montgomery community.” Bradley begins her role as director of communications and marketing on December 1.

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STJ’s Presley Miles Signs with Duke

over the past 5 years

Saint James senior Presley Miles signed with Duke University to run cross country and track. Miles was joined by her family in person, as well as virtually, including one of her coaches, Kevin Madden, who now resides in Korea. Though only 18 years old, Miles has amassed quite a list of accomplishments during her lifetime. She was recruited by many Division 1 schools who noticed her talents early. She first fell in love with Duke University at running camp as she mentioned in her acceptance speech. Her accomplishments include the following: leader of a state championship team for four consecutive years; 16 individual state titles entering into her senior year; more than 175 podium finishes (100 as overall victories); Alabama Gatorade XC Runner of the Year; national championship title; multiple national level podium finishes; multiple state records, all-time course records, and meet records; and first Alabama athlete in history, male or female, to win the 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 state championship in a single season (achieved three times consecutively). In her acceptance speech, Miles thanked many people, including family, Saint James School, her coaches, friends and opponents for helping her excel in the sport she loves. From left are Landry Miles, Kelly Kay Lynn Miles, Presley, Greg Miles, and Head of School Dr. Larry McLemore.

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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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SUA’s Class of 2021 Celebrates Senior Spirit Day

Even with COVID-19 still making headline news, Success Unlimited Academy could not contain the excited spirit of the Class of 2021. Recently these students enjoyed the annual “Senior Spirit Day.” The diverse group was encouraged to wear official Class of 2021 spirit shirts. The annual Fall Senior Day is the first opportunity to be photographed together. Seniors, your class will not forget the memories made this special school year which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other memorable moments. Your SUA family and the Montgomery community are looking forward to seeing what paths you all take following graduation next May. Students are encouraged to continue to grow spiritually and intellectually as they complete their studies at Success Unlimited Academy.

S S S ACA Competes in YMCA Swim Meet

The Montgomery East YMCA held a swim meet in November and Alabama Christian Academy student Jalen McDade placed first in the 200-yard freestyle with a new personal best and second in the 100-yard freestyle. The ACA team won fifth place overall.

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STJ Middle School Students Win Humane Society Card Contest

On October 28, Saint James Middle School art students were presented with awards in the Montgomery Humane Society’s Annual Howl-i-day Card Contest. Mary Hughes of the Montgomery Humane Society visited the students and their teacher, Bethany Davis, at Saint James to present the award certificates and medals. Seventh-grader Emilee Alexander, above, won first place. Sixth-grader Yuha Shin was awarded third place, and Honorable Mention went to sixth-grader Anne Kingsley Saul. They are shown below. The Grand Prize winner each year has his/her artwork featured on the Montgomery Humane Society’s Christmas Card which is sold to raise funds.

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ECA’s 4K Class Helps Hide Turkeys

The four-year-old kindergarten class at Evangel Christian Academy recently participated in the “Disguise a Turkey” project. Each student helped a turkey avoid Thanksgiving dinner by creating a costume to help his or her turkey hide. There were several creative costumes including disguising the turkeys as a ballerina, Superman, Frozen characters, and even a bag of popcorn. 31

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Trinity’s K4 Students Kick Off Busy Year

ACA Kindergarten Class Holds Elections

Mrs. Kachelman’s class at Alabama Christian Academy learned about Election Day in a way students would understand. They voted for their favorite cookie, Oreo or chocolate chip. There was even one absentee ballot. The next day they found out the results and Oreo cookies won by one vote. To celebrate, that’s the cookie they had for snack.

Trinity Presbyterian School’s K4 class has been very busy! Students have learned about the letter R, which they reinforced through hands-on activities such as making rockets and robots. They also accepted a challenge from “Dr. Science” to use prisms to create rainbows and to grow rock candy. While performing experiments in the STEAM Studio, they enjoyed looking at reptiles and examining rocks. Students have also been learning about helpers in our community. They made a special visit to the Trinity cafeteria and were given a tour by wonderful staff. They loved having the opportunity to meet all the kind people who make and deliver their lunches every day. Mrs. Bethea and Mrs. Waddell set up their very own K4 construction site where they practiced hammering nails and using a screwdriver. They also had an area full of sand to experiment with earth moving machines. An extra bonus was a visit by Froggy Bottom and seeing the skid steer mover at work!

Resurrection Catholic Students Visit Newtopia

Resurrection Catholic School students participated in the Newtopia Fun Park School Champion Event. These students were nominated by their teachers for outstanding academic and leadership skills in the classroom.

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Pink and Pearls for Girls Make Inspirational Posters

Pink and Pearls for Girls made colorful breast cancer awareness messages that were posted at the Breast Cancer Imaging Center to inspire patients. River Region Parents I December 2020

SUA Collects Food for Montgomery Food Bank

Success Unlimited Academy’s annual food drive is a time for students and faculty to give back to the community. Students on both the lower and upper campuses participated in the project this year. Spirit Day was a part of this collection of food, and it allowed students to dress in their favorite teams’ colors, along with a little competition of which team donated the most items. Pictured here are students showing their spirit and turning in their donations. Community service is an important part of campus life, as well as an opportunity for our school family to reach outside the walls of the school and bless the community. The food was donated to the Montgomery Area Food Bank for distribution during the holiday season. www.riverregionparents.com

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Success Unlimited Announces Annual Spelling Bee Winners

Success Unlimited Academy held its annual spelling bee competition for the Lower School on November 17. The annual event challenges students in third through eighth grades to learn the spelling of more than 250 words prior to the bee. Seventeen eager students participated in the bee which was held in the school gym. Representing the top three spellers in each grade level were: Lindsey Jordan, Braylee Walker, Kymbrianna Hall, Isaiah Iverson, Ava Brinkley, Ethan Morgan, Jason Davis, Ivey Brinkley, Jordan McCord, Jay’Shawn Austin, Aiden Bailey, Ellie Wright, Kaden Womack, Ra’kell Oliver, Jomarion Miles, Morgan Kohn and Aiden Yoder. All participants received medals for their participation. After several rounds, the top speller for each grade level competed against winners in their respective division to be named Spelling Bee Champ for that age group. The top spellers for grades 3-5 were Kymbrianna Hall, 3rd; Ethan Morgan, 4th; and Ivey Brinkley, 5th. The top spellers for grades 6-8 were Jay’Shawn Austin, 6th; Ellie Wright, 7th; and Morgan Kohn, 8th. Morgan captured the overall winner title for Elementary, and Wright was the overall winner for the Middle School division. Overall winners received a trophy and a $25 Amazon gift card. Grade-level winners received a certificate and a $10 monetary gift. SUA Headmaster Susan Alred presented the awards. A special thanks to Bonnie Nail, our guest judge, and our Spelling Bee coordinators, Pam Watson, Samantha Wright and Bethany Odle.

MEA Senior Softball Standout Signs

Macon East Academy senior Taylor McKinney signed to play softball next year with Troy University in Troy. She has played varsity softball at Macon East for four years and also plays for the Birmingham Thunderbolts travel ball club. McKinney helped lead the Lady Knights to a 3A State Championship in 2018 and was selected as the state tournament MVP. She was the first to blast four home runs in the state tournament and holds the school’s single-season home run record with 16. McKinney was also named 2018 AISA Player of the Year and All State Player of the Year. She has a career batting average over .500 and batted .605 this past season for the Knights! Macon East softball coaches are Codi Moon and Glynn Lott. McKinney is shown with her senior class as she signs a letter of intent to play softball at Troy University.

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Montgomery County Schools

Montgomery Catholic Honors All Veterans in November Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored veterans on each campus with special tributes both November 9 and 10 before being out of school on November 11 in observance of this special day of remembrance for all those who have served our country. On November 9, the Holy Spirit Campus invited parents, along with retired and active duty military and first responder family members, to drive through a very special “parade.” Students from preschool through sixth grade lined the carpool lane with handmade signs honoring all of their parents, grandparents and extended family members who have served our country and said thank you as each car passed. Ninety names were included and flags were waved to honor these special members of the Knight Nation. On November 10, the St. Bede elementary campus read America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven. Mary Pears’s 6th-grade students took turns setting items on the table while she read the book. Through the story of a family setting a table with an empty chair, the students learned about the symbolism behind a deeply important American military tradition: The Missing Man Table. A table with one setting represents the isolation of the lost or captured soldier. The empty chair represents those who cannot be present. The white tablecloth represents the purity of the soldier’s call to serve his/her country. The inverted glass

represents the inability of the lost soldier to partake in the gathering. The folded black napkin represents the sorrow of captivity. A single, red rose with a ribbon represents the blood shed in defense of our country and of the family who wait for the soldier’s safe return. The slice of lemon and plate of salt represent the lost soldier’s bitter tears. The lit candle is a light of hope from our hearts, and hopefully a beacon for lost soldiers to find their way back home. Also on the 10th, grades 7-12 were surprised by a special guest speaker, one of Montgomery Catholic’s own who is currently deployed. The Fleet family joined students for Mass where the entire student body was surprised by a live Facetime call with Lieutenant Colonel John Fleet, U.S. Army after Mass. LTC Fleet is the father of three Montgomery Catholic students, Alex (10th), Aidan (7th) and Kate (5th) and husband to Montgomery Catholic parent volunteer Erin Fleet. When asked about the importance of Veterans Day, Fleet said, “Essential to mission accomplishment are military families, whose shared sacrifice, dedication and

support enable service members to focus on their mission. Military families deserve the same appreciation we bestow on our service members and veterans.” Montgomery Catholic 7-12 Principal Eileen Aaron asked Fleet why he served, and his answer brought tears to the eyes of his family, the students and staff. “Above all, the military embodies service above self. Being part of something larger than yourself is one of the truly remarkable benefits of military service,” said Fleet. “I appreciated Lieutenant Colonel Fleet’s remarks to the students about why he serves. As a Catholic school, we teach our students that sacrifice and service beyond self are essential to loving others, just as Christ died on the cross,” said Aaron. This Veterans Day MCPS prayed for the men and women who have made a commitment to defend us and our way of life, and to pray for those who have given their lives in our defense along with their families. The Fleet Family is shown below.

SUA Achievers Students Use Creativity and Artistic Abilities for Class Projects

Pam Watson’s middle school Achievers class at Success Unlimited Academy used its understanding of adjectives in an artistic point of view recently. Watson challenged each student to use his or her name as an acrostic to share adjectives that best described themselves. Students were to design a visual presentation board and to share the selected descriptive words using each letter in their name. Every presentation was bright, creative and unique. Autumn colors and decorated pumpkins cheered the transition to fall for the students in Kay Smith’s Achievers class. A recent assignment/project challenged her on-campus and remote students. Not only did Smith’s students decorate the pumpkins, they were to create a fun-filled story that included their pumpkin projects.

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SUA’s Footlights Drama Team Presents The Rented Christmas

As the Christmas holidays quickly approach, Success Unlimited Academy’s Footlights Drama Team will present the holiday themed play The Rented Christmas. Performances will be on Thursday, December 3, and Friday, December 4, both at 6:30 p.m., in Hawkins Hall at the Vaughn Road campus. Seating will be limited at both performances due to COVID-19 protocol. Tickets should be purchased online at this link: http:// suacademy.com/upcoming-events. SUA award-winning seniors Kiya Williams, Amiracus Brown and David Powell will take center stage in this 60-minute romp. The holidays always bring the blues for John Dale, who has not enjoyed a “real Christmas” for years. At the last minute, he turns to a local rental shop to help him find his Yuletide spirit! See how a tree with presents, Christmas carols, a wife and five children not only bring everyone a little Christmas, but a new life! Join us for a hot cup of cider, a heart-warming performance, and the magic of holiday.

Career Day at Resurrection Catholic School

Resurrection Catholic celebrated Career Day. Students chose various professions as their futures.

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STJ’s 8th-Grade Career Week Continues Despite Pandemic

MPS School Libraries Receive $6,000 Grant

School libraries will be better stocked with books about careers thanks to a $6,000 grant from the Louis Collins Foundation to Montgomery Public Schools. The money will be used to buy curated titles for MPS school libraries that will help students learn about a wide range of careers. The Louis Collins Foundation has consistently supported MPS libraries since 2017. Past grants have provided funds for materials on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); a general update of library standards; and coding resources for school library media specialists. Attorney Stuart Memory, second from left, manages the foundation and showed up at the MPS Central Office to present the check. He is shown here with, from left, Education Specialist Allison Blakeney, Chief Academic Officer Bernard Mitchell, and school librarian Deedee Fairley.

ACA Holds Book Character Dress-up Day

Students, faculty and staff in Alabama Christian Academy’s lower school had tons of fun dressing up as their favorite book characters. From Dr. Seuss books to the Bible, all were represented. River Region Parents I December 2020

As with most events this year, Saint James School’s weeklong tradition of Career Week had to be adjusted to accommodate for social distancing and other Covid restrictions. However, thanks to some ingenuity and technology, the program has been able to take place. In a non-Covid year, Saint James 8th-graders research different career options and choose a person in that career to shadow. This year’s challenges opened up new and different opportunities. Students completed a professional career assessment tool which gave the student a list of potential career options. From the top five options, the students were assigned a career to research. As part of the research, the students were to plan an interview for a person in this particular field. Normally, the interview would be of the person that would be shadowed. But, with shadowing not allowed due to Covid restrictions, the students were able to interview local or non-local professionals by telephone, Zoom, or in-person. During the week of November 17, each student did a presentation of the findings about his/her chosen career. In this way, all the students learned about the different careers. Also new this year was a set of Zoom Career Seminars for students to attend. These were set up in various classrooms on November 18 and 19. Students had four to choose from each day. Each professional talked about his or her career and answered questions. This was a unique opportunity to get professionals from all over the state and nation. On November 18, students chose from the following options. Gavin McGee (Brighton, MI), senior engineer, Vehicle Dynamics with Ford Motor Company; works on the new Bronco, Mustang, Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. He spoke to students interested in engineering, automotive careers. Sue Bell Cobb (Pike Road, AL; STJ alum parent), attorney, former chief justice for the State of Alabama, former gubernatorial candidate. She spoke to students interested in law, public service, and public office. Jane Soloman (Dothan, AL / Santa Rosa Beach, FL), president, Barlovento Construction. She spoke with students interested in building/civil engineering, construction, and/or girls interested in being in maledominated careers. Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards (Ret.) (Montgomery; STJ parent), currently working for the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; retired USAF Brigadier General. He was speaking to students interested in military careers. On November 19, the following professionals were available for students to speak with over Zoom: Stephanie Carter Campbell (Troy, AL / Santa Rosa Beach, FL), owner and designer of Judith March clothing line. She spoke to students interested in entrepreneurship and fashion. Christy Samotowka (Montgomery; parent of STJ senior Sumner Brown), registered nurse who has worked as a trauma nurse and is now a same-day vascular surgery nurse. She spoke to students interested in any medical profession. Branden Greenberg (Montgomery; STJ alum, Class of 2012), attorney, NFL agent. He spoke to students interested in law, sports management and professional sports. A presentation by a special agent for the FBI also spoke to students interested in law enforcement, criminology,and government careers. This longstanding program for the Saint James 8th grade is a wonderful way to help students find their passion and connect with their studies. Shown, students engage with Jane Soloman, who serves as the president of Barlovento Construction. 36

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Macon East SGA Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

During the month of October, the Macon East Academy Student Government Association sponsored “Wear Pink Wednesdays” in support of breast cancer awareness. Students could dress down in pink for a $1 donation. All funds raised were donated to the Joy to Life Foundation which provides free mammograms and other breast cancer screenings when necessary to medically underserved women in Alabama, provides limited grants when needed, builds and supports breast cancer awareness among all Alabamians, and promotes overall health, well-being, and education throughout the state.

Trinity Celebrates 2020 Homecoming

Trinity Presbyterian School recently celebrated Homecoming with a week of events that observed the school’s 50th year. From dress-up days that took students back to the ‘70s when the school was founded, to “what will you be in 50 years,” the dress-up days were full of fun and homecoming spirit. Covid-19 didn’t dampen plans, as many events were moved outside instead of forcing cancellations, including the senior pep rally where the Homecoming Court was announced. Homecoming Day was full of Wildcat spirit including the annual parade. That evening, the Homecoming Court was presented at halftime The 2019 queen, Ellie Slawson, returned to campus to crown the 2020 Homecoming Queen Mary Davis Bricken. The football team beat Reeltown 42-14 to cap off a wonderful homecoming week! The 2020 Homecoming Court from left, 8th-grade attendant Maddie Smith, 10th-grade attendant Marley Smith, 12th-grade attendant Cate Stewart, Homecoming Queen Mary Davis Bricken, 12th-grade attendant Mary Elizabeth Hill, 11th-grade attendant Haley Waddell, 9th-grade attendant Cate Scott Brendle and 7thgrade attendant Hart Johnston.

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As December is the season of giving, it is the perfect time to express our gratitude to our community. As a district, we are grateful to serve wonderfully diverse and creative students. We are grateful to partner with our families, PTSA members, community organizations, and town leaders. We are grateful to be part of a community that supports our schools and our students. With a few short weeks until the end of the first semester, our focus is on what our students need from us to have the best possible experience when they return in January. To that end, we are focused on our district goals in our strategic plan, as well as the priorities and organizational infrastructures required to achieve these goals on behalf of every student. At the November Board meeting, each of our principals presented academic data that provided input into our progress and identified areas of focus.

River Region Parents I December 2020

One central area of focus is preparing for our continued growth in student enrollment. The Pike Road School board recently approved the hire of additional teachers for the second semester due to increased student enrollment and teachers’ expanded role due to COVID. Additionally, our board and leadership are planning for the continued growth for next school year. It has been an excellent first half to the 2020-2021 school year, with outstanding students receiving recognition for their academic, athletic, and community achievements and PRS teachers being recognized as leaders in their profession by state and national education organizations. I am incredibly proud of our district and what we accomplish every day. We had forty-seven students earn the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. Pike Road High School teacher Ms. Kathryn Woddail was named Alabama’s A+ College and Career Ready’s Outstanding AP Government Teacher of the Year. Pike Road High School band director Patrick Darby has been chosen as a clinician that will present at the state music educator’s conference. He has also been selected

to oversee the Young Composers Competition for the state of Alabama. Pike Road High School has had a very successful athletic season this fall, with cross country, volleyball, and football all representing our school well! Our cross country team had four boys, and all ten girls qualify to run at the state meet. Unfortunately on four of the girls were able to participate due to COVID quarantine. All our boys ran times under 20 minutes. Our Varsity Volleyball team earned their way to the Regional Tournament, and the Varsity Football team won the region and won the first round playoff game. We at Pike Road Schools are so blessed to be part of this exciting endeavor of building a world class school system in our world class community! As we anticipate the holidays with excitement and joy, I wish you and your families a happy and healthy holiday season! 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 Cross Country Breaks Records

The Pike Road cross country team coached by Patrick Cleveland had a very successful season. The team consists of 10 girls and 25 boys in grades 8-12. Chris Mackey and Patrick Quinn became Pike Road cross country record holders with 5K times of 17:57 and 18:13. Marley Helmer and Naomi Valentine became female record holders with times of 22:13 and 22:29. Each of our runners progressed steadily throughout the year with their best race being the Trinity CoEd Championship at Gateway Park in Montgomery. Our team would return to Gateway for sectionals where our girls qualified for state being a top 4 team at sectionals. Our boys were nine points off from making state; however, four boys qualified individually. Unfortunately, several girls were quarantined leading up to state which left us with only four out of 10 girls to attend the state meet state in Moulton. Our boys all ran times under 20 minutes with Chris Mackey leading the way with a time of 18:43 placing 51st out of 165 runners. Naomi Valentine placed 29th with a time of 22:24 beating her personal record.

Pike Road Elementary Library Gets New Furniture

Although last year did not end the way we wanted, we were very excited to have our library up and running for all of our learners during most of the school year of 2019-2020. There have been many positive changes since the library was a concept dreamed up by the Pike Road Elementary School (PRES) library committee. Book capacity went from around 2,000 at the beginning of last school year to 8,000 at the beginning of this school year! This makes our book circulation around 8 books per learner. We are still working to increase our book numbers to 10 per learner, so we are also running out of shelf space. The library committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new project is to change the furniture in the library space. Along with adding shelves, we also want to revamp the space to look like an elementary library that is welcoming for our learners. The library committee has been working with a school furniture company to come up with a furniture plan that will showcase PRES spirit and our love of reading. We believe that this will be a special place for our learners to visit as well as inhabiting the idea of our library being the center of learning at PRES. We will be working in phases to purchase different furniture items. We started with the circulation desk, which we were able to purchase from a generous donation from PTSA.

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Pike Road Varsity Cheerleaders Place Second in AHSAA Competition

Pike Road Varsity Cheerleading competed in the AHSAA South Super Regionals on November 5 in Mobile. This team consists of 25 girls ranging from 9th-12th grade. Going up against five other teams, the girls brought home the second-place title and a bid to compete at the State level. To receive a bid, or invitation, to state-level competitions, teams must score a 70/100. Pike Road varsity scored a 90.5/100 and had zero deductions. Due to COVID-19 regulations in the competition arena, we saw significantly fewer people in attendance than we usually would. With this in mind, we elected to host a showcase in our hometown that allowed parents and other cheer teams to watch the girls perform their routine before leaving. The showcase also allowed girls that have never competed before to execute the performance in front of a crowd. When diving into the logistics of school cheer competitions, there are two different categories. Schools can compete traditional or game day. This year, Pike Road varsity competed in the game day division. In this category, you are judged on a cheer, chant, band dance, and fight song. The varsity cheer team spends about four hours a week practicing routines until the week before the competition. At that point, the girls spend about 10 hours a week practicing. Because we are competing in the game day division, we are able to use competition practices as our game day practices as well. Additionally, these girls spend about 3-5 hours a week painting signs, serving at Pike Road Elementary School, and preparing for Friday Nights Lights outside of practice. The Pike Road varsity cheerleaders then went on to Southeast Regionals in Birmingham. Following that, they will compete at the state level on December 12 at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

Montgomery Rotary Club Donates Dictionaries To PRES Students

Pike Road Elementary School receives dictionaries from The Montgomery Rotary Club each year. Third-graders are working to strengthen their knowledge of word meanings and spelling. Thumbing through the real book pages of a dictionary hones spelling skills and knowledge of letter patterns. You see illustrations that you might not see in an online dictionary, and while you scan the page you are exposed to so many other new words. The Montgomery Rotary Club has always made sure that each C3 learner gets his or her very own dictionary to use and keep. Learners are always excited to receive these dictionaries because they contain a wealth of additional resources, including state and continent maps, The Periodic Table of Elements, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, presidential bios and information about the planets.

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PRS Hires Mental Health Coordinator

Pike Road Students Participate in Mock Trial

While covering Alabama Standards in social studies, Pike Road Intermediate fifthgraders had to demonstrate knowledge gained about the Boston Massacre event by participating in a Mock Court Trial. Learners took on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, judges, clerks and jury members to simulate the court trial in 1770. The Prosecution began building its case to prove the British soldiers were guilty, while the Defense built its case proving the British Soldiers only acted in self-defense. The jury listened very closely to each witness that testified. After all witnesses had been questioned and cross examined, the jury deliberated, and the results were in. The jury found the British Soldiers not guilty and believed they were only acting in self-defense during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

Pike Road Schools Celebrates Military Families

Tasha Ruppert has been hired as the mental health coordinator of Pike Road Schools. Prior to moving to Pike Road, Ruppert served as a social worker in West Virginia, where she was responsible for implementing initiatives such as “Handle with Care” and “Whole Child.” Ruppert comes with a wealth of knowledge and is going to be a wonderful asset for our school system. She is ready to provide support and resources for our learners, lead learners, and families.

Pike Road Students Create Amusement Park

Pike Road Intermediate sixth-graders recently completed projects to demonstrate mastery of solving mathematical and realworld problems by solving all four points on a coordinate plane. Each child created his own amusement park and plotted these points on four coordinate planes. Learners were required to include the names of the rides and the coordinates for each. Amusement rides had to be reflected over the X and Y axis, measure distance between rides and plot rides on the X and Y axis. A ten-question quiz about the amusement park had to be created and then shared with other learners for completion. The parks were unique to each learner as he gave theme names to the park and the rides according to his own interest. The culminating activity was for students to exchange information regarding the newly created parks to answer questions specific to each park.

Military Family Appreciation Month is celebrated throughout the month of November. The Pike Road School (PRS) district values the many families that live in our community who have ties to the military. Approximately 9% of our student body has military ties. As a district, we understand the sacrifices our military families make to serve our country. During November, PRS Superintendent Dr. Ledbetter read military-themed books to first- and fourth-graders. He followed the reading by discussing the importance of our uniformed services and the sacrifices those that serve have to make. Fourththrough sixth-graders wrote thank-you letters to those currently serving our country and sevenththrough twelfthgraders created a Veterans Day appreciation video that was posted on the Pike Road Schools Facebook page. 41

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P Autauga County Schools

Prattville Christian Academy’s McAnnally And Sweeney Sign Softball Scholarships

Prattville Primary Pumpkin Math

Mrs. Cook’s class at Prattville Primary School used pumpkins during a math lesson. Students weighed and measured the pumpkin, estimated, and counted seeds and then carved the pumpkin.

Farm Day Fun at Prattville Kindergarten

On November 6, the faculty, staff and students of Prattville Kindregarten School came together to celebrate Fun on the Farm. During the month of October, students engaged in a projectbased learning unit about the farm that involved learning across the curriculum. Students participated in reading, writing, math, STEM, art and music to learn all about the farm and how it impacts our community. As a culminating activity, our school had a farm day that brought much fun, learning and involvement from our community. The City of Prattville displayed a tractor for the students. Publix came to talk to students about produce and food from the farm. Dr. Dee Jones and friends brought many farm animals and taught the students all about animals that live on the farm. Students came dressed in their farm attire. The day started with a farm parade led by the Prattville Police Department. Students then spent the day in learning stations, games and enjoyed a special Bruster’s snack. River Region Parents I December 2020

During a dual ceremony at Prattville Christian Academy, senior softball player Landyn McAnnally signed with Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., and Riley Sweeney signed to play softball with Lurleen B. Wallace Junior College in Andalusia, Ala. McAnnally is an integral piece of the school’s program, anchoring the mound since transferring to PCA her eighth-grade year. When not on the pitching mound, she rotates between first and second base. McAnnally, a member of the 2020 North-South All-Star softball team, is joining the Chipola Indians, the defending National Junior College Champions. She was named 3A All-State in 2018 and 2019, and the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s State Tournament MVP in 2018 when the Lady Panthers clenched the program’s first-ever state championship title. “I chose Chipola because they can make me better. They have a great program that will take me to the next level,” said McAnnally. “Landyn has steadily improved each season,” said Randy Stough, PCA’s head softball coach. “A huge part of our success during the last three years has been due to her strong pitching. I believe she will continue to improve, and I’m hopeful she has an outstanding year that helps lead us to another run at a state championship.” Sweeney transferred to PCA this year – her senior year – from Louisiana. As a member of the Bell Chasse Lady Cardinals and the New Orleans Nightmares – a Louisiana-based travel ball team, Sweeney came in during the summer ready to work. Since joining the team, she has been working to make a name for herself on the pitching mound and anchoring the outfield as it rebuilds from the loss of several graduates. “I chose to join the Saints program because I fell in love with the LBW campus and the softball program,” said Sweeney. “Riley came into our program this summer and worked hard,” said Coach Stough. “I saw her potential right away. She has a strong bat which will help give us a shot of added power in our lineup. Riley promises to be a strong defensive addition in the outfield and can shift to also be a great option for a relief pitcher this season.”

Pine Level Participates in Red Ribbon Week

Pine Level Elementary students wore red to “Say No to Drugs” during National Red Ribbon Week. The school participated in a variety of activities and dressed up for each day of the week. Through the process, students were reminded to “Say No to Drugs.”

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PCA’s Cross Country Team Meets Success Despite the hardships COVID-19 has presented this season, Prattville Christian Academy’s cross country teams ran hard and suffered minimal damage from the virus, ultimately enabling every runner to qualify for the state meet at Oakville Indian Mounds Park. The boys, placing third at sectionals, traveled together as a team, and the three girls, freshmen Sarah Birchmeier and Avery Rogers and seventh-grader Anna Lantz, all qualified as individuals. Sophomores Cohen Palmore and Carson Roberson, the top two runners on the boys’ team, are getting steadily closer to beating the school record for the fastest 5K. As of this meet, the boys ran at 18:26.54 and 19:15.31, respectively, earning them 33rd and 53rd place out of 155 runners. Close behind them, Charlie Sikes achieved a personal record at the meet with a time of 20:11.33, and senior and team captain Alex Holt made it within the top 100 with the placement of 99th. His excellent time of 20:25.34 wraps up his final meet with a tremendous leap of over 15 minutes since his freshman debut. Next year, current juniors Chase Gay and Austin Jeffery, both with personal records around 21:25, will have a large gap to fill. Though short on runners to make an official team, which requires five run-

ners, the girls’ team also saw phenomenal results for all of their hard work! Avery Rogers, a new teammate as of this season, is currently the fastest on the girls’ team with her outstanding personal record now set at 20:56.91. “Avery was only 17 seconds slower than our school record! That is an amazing accomplishment for a first-year freshman runner who has also been playing volleyball and basketball this year,” said Ken Lantz, the team’s coach. Such a quick time even placed her within the top runners in the state, allowing her to walk away with a medal for 13th place out of 144 competitors. Moreover, Sarah Birchmeier earned a strong time of 24:22.83, and Anna Lantz, another new

runner this year, was just 15 seconds away from a personal best of 25:14.19. “I felt like this was one of our strongest teams that we have ever had,” Coach Lantz said. “Our boys’ combined time at the section meet was faster than the combined PCA boys’ time from last year’s state meet.” PCA junior journalism student Maddie Jeffery contributed to this article.

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Autauga County Schools

Prattville Primary Participates in Monster Mash

Prattville Primary School students participated in a Monster Mash at school. Students had the opportunity to be outside, walk the track and trick or treat from teachers at the school. The students enjoyed the fresh air and the treats from the teachers.

Pine Level Holds Fall Fun Day

Every year Pine Level Elementary School holds a special celebration called Fall Fun Day. Students and staff dress up, play outdoor games, trick or treat down the hallways, and more. Students and staff compete in a costume contest. The grade-level and departmental staff go to great lengths to be creative and innovative with their costumes. Prizes are awarded to the top staff winners and the top student winners in each grade-level. The costume contest uses teamwork to build community and morale among staff and students.

PCA’S Volleyball Program Makes School History Bouncing off last year’s AHSAA 3A Elite Eight elimination, Prattville Christian Academy’s Lady Panthers volleyball team took the early lead against Pleasant Valley High School and never looked back, defeating the Raiders in three sets (25-21, 25-19 and 25-19). Wednesday marked the first time in PCA’s history with AHSAA that the volleyball team advanced into the Final Four bracket and only the second time the team has played for a chance at a state title. In addition to the historic game, the Lady Panthers set a new record earlier this season, finishing regional play undefeated before continuing into Super Regional play. The victory against Pleasant Valley sparked a higher ambition for the team. “We’re really excited, but we’re not satisfied,” said Kaylon Cantrell, the team’s head coach, after the first match. “We didn’t celebrate for long. We’re focused on getting to work on what we need [to win] this next game.” The Lady Panthers then faced off against rival team Trinity Presbyterian School in the Final Four match. In regular season play, the Panthers defeated Trinity twice before but fell to them in their last match during 3A Area play. The Lady Panthers knew they would have to fight to the last set if they River Region Parents I December 2020

wanted a chance to be crowned 3A State Champions. While the Lady Panthers gave it everything they had, they fell to Trinity in three sets (21-25, 16-25 and 22-25). The team’s record season (36-10) came to an unfortunate end but not before giving PCA players a taste of accomplishment. “I hope it fires them up [and] the success we had this season gives them a little taste of what could be. We have a really good group returning and some good girls moving up into varsity,” Cantrell said. “Getting to the Final Four, it was still one step further than we’d ever done, but I hope that we’re not satisfied with that. I hope that getting [to the Final Four] makes us want to go to that championship game even more.” Between their undefeated regular season play, several tournament wins, and 44

their fight in the Final Four, the Lady Panthers finished 16th in the state overall and second in 3A rankings. “[This season] was really special just because of who this group was, because of these seniors, because they’ve been a part of this program for so long. I would not have wanted [this] for any other group;

this group deserved it, and it was really exciting.” PCA senior journalism student Jenna Stilling contributed to this article. www.riverregionparents.com

Autauga County Schools

Prattville Kindergarten Holds Pumpkin Contest

Pine Level Canned Food Drive Supports Liberty Church

On October 26, Prattville Kindergarten School hosted its annual pumpkin contest. There were more than 100 entries in either the decorated or carved category. The participation and creativity were overwhelming and made judging nearly impossible. Thanks to our parents, students and community members for their support. After the contest, all pumpkins were sent downtown to the Prattville Parade of Pumpkins for display.

Pine Level Elementary students participated in a canned food drive to give back to their community. Students were challenged to bring in cans to support their favorite team, Alabama or Auburn. The food will be donated to a community partner, Liberty Church.

Pine Level is Grateful For Electric Company

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Christmas

Pine Level Elementary has been learning about the character word grateful during the month of November. The faculty and students are very grateful for the hard work and dedication of Central Alabama Electric when Hurricane Zeta left many residents in our area without power. All students signed a card to say thank you!

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Sundays 9:30 & 11:00 AM

December 12 & 13 5:00 PM

December 24 3:00 & 5:00 PM

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I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the 1,300 people that make up the faculty and staff of Elmore County Public Schools. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this past March required significant changes in operations and adjustments in job responsibilities for employees. All campuses had to immediately shift to school-based virtual instruction to finish the school year. Teachers worked diligently to develop lessons and provide support to students. The option for students to attend in person or participate in school-based virtual instruction when school opened in August allowed parents to make the best decision for their child(ren). A blended instruction model is challenging for administrators and teachers; however, the physical, social, and emotional well-being of students is

paramount, and they continuously strive to help students succeed academically. Child nutrition staff shifted to summerfeeding mode and provided the first of many meal pickups within just a few days of the March school closure. The summerfeeding program continued through the end of the school year in May and throughout the summer without interruption. Many employees volunteered to assist with meal pickup beginning in March and only stopped when school started in August. Campus CNP staffs have had to make significant adjustments in food preparation and serving practices. They now prepackage and deliver breakfast and lunch meals to classrooms daily, and they prepare weekend meal bags for students to take home. Our nurses have worked tirelessly to follow ADPH protocols and adapt as new guidelines are periodically released. They are handling all their normal responsibilities regarding care for students, and they have managed the additional responsibilities related to COVID-19 protocols with the utmost professionalism and skill.

Our technology staff has had a tremendous responsibility in managing the influx and setup of new devices. Their hard work and diligence have been instrumental in our district reaching a 1-to-1 status – we now have enough devices for every student to be issued a device to use at school and/or take home. Transportation and maintenance employees have had to adopt new and increased cleaning and sanitation practices on buses and in buildings. Their efforts to deep clean and sanitize continue to be essential in keeping our students and staff healthy. John F. Kennedy once said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” Thank you, Elmore County family, for the difference you make in the lives of our students every day.

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Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.

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Elmore County Schools

Holtville First-Graders Meet Goals

Every student in Mrs. Wright’s first-grade class at Holtville Elementary achieved 100% of their AR points and goals. To meet their goals, they must read AR books and test to earn points toward their goals.

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ECTC Graduates Hired by Montgomery Fire Department

Three Elmore County Technical Center 2020 seniors from Public Safety & Law—Will Allen, Drew Carter and Katie Reeves— started their careers with the Montgomery Fire Department in October. Each student completed training at ECTC that prepared them to enter the field of firefighting.

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WHS Robotics Students Adapt Toy Car for Toddler with Disabilities Led by instructor Dr. Virginia Vilardi, five robotics students at Wetumpka High School worked to modify a motorized toy car to fit the needs of 2-year-old Stella Kirkpatrick who has limited mobility. Stella was born four weeks early due to a placental abruption. Stella was without oxygen and a heartbeat for about 17 minutes and suffered a brain injury known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). “The doctors were pretty sure she wouldn’t make it,” said. Stella’s mother, Sarah Kirkpatrick. “The fact that she’s here is a miracle.” She was later diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, which Kirkpatrick said was caused by her brain injury. Stella is also epileptic. Her diagnosis means her mobility is limited because of difficulty controlling her arms and legs, and the core of her body is unable to perform its typical function. Having a car modified to Stella’s abilities will not only be fun for the toddler, but it will be therapeutic by helping to improve her fine motor skills and furthering her understanding of cause and effect, Kirkpatrick said. It will also be a good first step toward her learning how to operate a motorized wheelchair, Kirkpatrick said.

To help the car work well for Stella, the students consulted with Go Baby Go, a nonprofit organization that modifies toy cars for children with mobility disabilities so they can have a chance to play and socialize with their peers more easily. Senior Avery Pyles, head of engineering for the robotics team, said Stella’s car is equipped with buttons that control acceleration and various modes on the car. Pyles said the car came equipped with a rocking feature and Bluetooth capabilities that could be used to help soothe Stella. For added safety, Kirkpatrick also has an override remote control. “Most people see STEM careers as a way to make a lot of money, but it can also be used to help improve the lives of other people,” Pyles said. “You can really just see the joy in Stella and her mother’s face.” Wetumpka Principal Dr. Robbie Slater said when he found out about the opportunity to help the Kirkpatricks, he thought it would be a great opportunity for the students to apply the hands-on skills they’ve learned in the classroom to a reallife situation to help a child. 47

Vilardi said what touches her the most is seeing her students making a difference in someone’s life. “The goal is to help them grow into adults who will make a difference in the future, but they’re bringing the future to the present,” Vilardi said. In addition to Pyles, the students involved with the project included Michael Fulmer, Alan Estrada, Serena Ward and Bailey Worrell. To follow along with Stella’s journey, like her Stella’s Steps Facebook page. Information for this article came from the Wetumpka Herald. www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

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Elmore County Schools

Holtville Runners Headed to State

Holtville High students Ellie Nixon and Bella Rhodes both qualified for State at cross country sectionals.

Zeigler Named ECTC Teacher of the Year

Coosada’s STEM Day Success

Elmore County Technical Center’s 20202021 Teacher of the Year is Construction Technology instructor Curtis Zeigler, who has been employed in Elmore County Schools for 29 years. He’s patient, caring and makes every student feel welcome in his classroom and lab.

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Coosada Elementary students enjoyed their recent STEM Day. They were able to work in groups, problem solve and practice their engineering skills. Mrs. Yarnell’s class said it was the best day ever.

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Prattville/Millbrook Rotary Club Donates to Millbrook Middle

GIVE YOURSELF THE

Millbrook Middle School thanks the Prattville/Millbrook Sunrise Rotary Club on their donation to our school. We will use the donation to purchase a display banner for our awards day, school spotlights, and broadcasting classes.

GIFT OF HEALTH

PRATTVILLE YMCA

PERSONAL TRAINERS

Airport Road Intermediate Gives Back Airport Road Intermediate has already collected 2,507 canned good items for the Elmore County Welcome Center. The school plans to continue collecting canned goods until December 4.

Call or stop by today to schedule a session with one of our personal trainers. Child watch is available.

prattvilleymca.org â&#x20AC;˘ (334) 361-0268

Tech Center Creative Construction

ECTC Names October Student Of the Month

At left, Elmore County Technical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Technology students are putting their training into action by building benches, and some students have added impressive artwork features to their craftsmanship. This beautiful wolf design was traced on and hand-routed by a student!

Elmore County Technical Center October Student of the Month Noah from Holtville High School is shown with Welding instructor Slade Holley and Director of Career Tech Education Emilie Johnson. 49

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This year the holiday season may look different. Masks and social distancing have put a damper on the usual gatherings at schools and in our communities. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need to be filled with despair. After all, it is still the most wonderful time of the year! Why not take this opportunity to rediscover the joy of slowing down and savoring the season right where you spend most of your time?

Here are 7 sweet and simple ways to celebrate the holidays at home. River Region Parents I December 2020

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1. Send cards in the mail. Now is a

great time to rediscover the tradition of sending Christmas cards. There are tons of online photo sites that allow you to personalize photo cards. Or simply ask your kids to draw or paint handmade greetings. No matter how fancy the cards may be, just imagine how much joy they will bring the recipients, especially Grandmas and Grandpas who love getting good old-fashioned mail!

2. Bake. Spend time together cutting

out sugar cookies, rolling rugelach, or making a special recipe that your family treasures. Tell your kids about the relatives who wrote the recipes in cursive on those cards passed down from generation to generation. Maybe you can drop off your homemade treats to essential workers, homebound seniors or veterans in your neighborhood.

3. Make music.

The usual school holiday concert may look different this year, if it can be held at all, but that doesn’t mean you can’t host one in your own home. Have your child play a solo in front of the family. Or be like the Partridge Family and

encourage everyone to pick up an instrument for a holiday jam session. Sing your favorite hymns or holiday classics. Most lyrics can be found online.

4. Read together. Be like Clark Griswald

and his clan in Christmas Vacation and gather round to read The Night Before Christmas. There are also classic audio books your family could listen to as you wrap gifts or unwind after work or school. Books are the perfect way to learn about different holiday traditions, too. Ask your local librarian for recommendations of books about Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or celebrations such as Lucia Day or Three Kings Day.

5. Watch holiday movies. Going to the

movies may not be feasible this year, but that only inspires me to create a cozy movie night in my own living room. My family likes to don holiday pajamas, snuggle up in throw blankets with snacks and hot cocoa, and laugh away at Elf and A Christmas Story. There are so many great shows and movies celebrating the season that your family is sure to find one that inspires festive spirit in everyone!

6. Celebrate outside. No matter the

temperature it’s always an excellent idea to head outside. Go for a walk and listen to the wind whistling through bare trees or whipping around buildings. Notice the birds that winter in your area. Decorate a tree outside, whether in your backyard or on your balcony. Get warm by a backyard bonfire or stargaze on a frosty evening. Maybe the best outdoor activity of all is piling into the car to see the holiday lights and outdoor decorations in your neighborhood.

7. Go Virtual. Whether it’s Facebook

Messenger, Zoom, or Skype, there are a myriad of ways to extend season’s greetings to friends and families. So plan that video chat with Aunt Susie or hang out online with your best friend. Reaching out and connecting, even in a virtual format, benefits everyone, especially during the holidays. rrp

Katy M. Clark is a writer and mom of two whose work has appeared on Scary Mommy, Today’s Parent, and Your Teen for Parents. She embraces her imperfections on her blog, Experiencedbadmom.com.

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by Kimberley Carter Spivey

As we approach the Christmas holiday and move towards bidding farewell to 2020, we hope you’ve enjoyed all of the featured families and recipes from Montgomery and the surrounding areas thus far. We’re excited to continue sharing simple and quick meals from local moms and dads in our communities. And since it’s the most wonderful time of the year to celebrate with family and friends, what better way than preparing yet another new dish that everyone can enjoy and remember. This month a local mom from Wetumpka, Laqwanda Haygood, invited us into her kitchen and shares one of her favorite meals to cook for her family. Though Laqwanda lives in Wetumpka, she spent her childhood growing up in Tallassee with a large family. She’s been married to Daron Haygood for 16 years and they have a beautiful daughter, Donica, and precious granddaughter, Jada, whom they love and adore. “My family enjoys my cooking, and I prefer a home-cooked meal instead of eating out in a restaurant. I love to entertain, so I spend most of my time with family and friends and cooking for them. I can’t recall a weekend that has passed without preparing a dish or snacks.” She credits her love for cooking and skills in the kitchen to her mother, Mary. River Region Parents I December 2020

At a tender age, unlike most kids playing outside, Laqwanda would much rather be inside helping her mother prepare meals for the rest of the family. “My mother had a tin can that included several recipes, and I’ve always assumed the recipes were passed down from my grandmother and previous generations. I loved reading the recipes and pretending with my toys that I was cooking.” In the Haygood household, when it comes to cooking traditions, Laqwanda enjoys cooking every other day during the work week, and Sundays are a must. Their home is considered the gathering spot for family, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. “During the holidays, I cook the majority of the food with the help of my mother, sisters, cousins, and mother-in-law.” One of her favorite dishes to make for her family is Classic Chicken Pot Pie. This dish is perfect during the brisk holiday season. It’s warm, savory, and a comforting meal to enjoy.

Classic Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients: 1 box Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts (softened as directed on the box) 1/3 cup butter or margarine 1/3 cup chopped onion 52

1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 3/4 cups Progresso chicken broth (from 32 oz carton) 1/2 cup milk 2 1/2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables

Directions: 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Prepare pie crusts as directed on box for two-crust pies using a 9-inch glass pie pan. 2. In a 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook for two minutes (stirring frequently) until tender. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until well blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened. 3. Stir in chicken and mixed vegetables. Remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places on top of the crust. 4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. During the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover crust edge with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Let stand for five minutes before serving. This delectable dish is the perfect addition to add to your Christmas menu. Take advantage and enjoy it during the holiday season! Kimberley Carter Spivey is a freelance writer, blogger, author, and entrepreneur. When she’s not working as an Instructional Systems Designer and copy-editor on Maxwell AFB, she’s busy freelancing, blogging, or toiling away at her next book. Her debut book Bloom: How to Get from Good Enough to a Life You Love can be purchased on Amazon and girlyouwrite.com.

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River Region Parents I December 2020

www.riverregionparents.com

Want to experience a more joyful holiday season this year that doesn’t leave you depleted, miserable and broke? Here are 10 ways to shift your perspective and take command of this “hap-happiest” time of the year!

10- Thou shall quit worshipping perfection. Nothing burns holes into the

fantasy holiday like real life. Maybe the tree is a lopsided, the dog ate your sevenyear-old’s gingerbread house, or you were so focused on creating the best holiday ever that you ended up too sick to enjoy it when the big day finally arrived. “Decide to do things differently this year. Strive for the good and be satisfied with the good. Too often the focus is on the result, and we tend to lose focus on the beautiful process of getting to the result,” says therapist Julia Flynn, LCPC, CRADC.

9- Thou shall not overcommit.

Decide ahead of time which activities won’t work this year. Instead of committing to five parties and multiple gift exchanges, choose a few that you’re enthusiastic about attending. “Be firm, decisive and assertive, always coming from a place of love for everyone and keeping the focus on the origin of the holidays,” Flynn says, who

specializes in helping women manage anxiety, depression and holiday overwhelm. “Graciously decline and send a nice card or note.”

Simple ways to recharge include a warm bath, watching a favorite TV show, a walk outside, curling up with a juicy novel, a nap or a massage.

8- Thou shall rediscover “the why.” Take time to reevaluate your priori-

6- Thou shall honor thy family.

ties. How do you want the season to feel? What do you want your kids to remember most? “Sometimes we need to take a step back and ask ourselves why this time of year is important to us because I think ‘the why’ gets lost. It just becomes an expectation of self and family—or whoever— to have it look a certain way,” says Maki Moussavi, a transformational coach, speaker and author of The High Achievers Guide: Transform your Success Mindset and Begin the Quest to Fulfillment. “Take a step back to assess, from an intangible, emotional perspective, why the holidays are important.”

7- Thou shall rest. Self-care is es-

sential all year long, but especially during the extra busy holidays when you’re stress level is more likely to sky-rocket. Pare down your list to what reasonably makes sense for your health, time and emotional wellbeing. And practice restorative techniques that relax and re-energize you.

Attempts to please others by saying yes to everyone else’s holiday gatherings without taking into account you and your family’s desires can cause undue anxiety, frustration and resentment. “The holidays are about family time, appreciating one another and caring for each other. If the focus is switched to the less important gift exchanges and gatherings, all planned at the same time, you can’t enjoy the experience and the original meaning is lost,” Flynn says. For those events that you’d like to attend, but can’t, firmly communicate to your extended family or friends that you value time spent with them and would like to discuss alternative ideas for getting together. And, don’t feel guilty about standing by your decisions. “You have every right in the world to establish what you want your holiday tradition to be. You are not obligated to participate in somebody else’s version of the season,” Moussavi says.

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5- Thou shall invite thy partner’s participation. If

you feel overwhelmed and stressed because you’re trying to manage the bulk of holiday prep on top of working and taking care of your family, ask your spouse for help. Discuss what you’d both like the season to look and feel like. “Sometimes it’s not that men don’t want to be involved. It’s that they are never invited to be, and they don’t ask,” Moussavi says. Maybe your husband can mail the packages for out of town family, purchase tickets to the holiday play your family wants to see, or take charge of a few of the gifts.

4- Thou shall not allow others to steal thy happiness. Plan ahead for

those individuals who love to bait you into an upsetting conversation at annual gatherings. Since you know how the person is likely to behave, rehearse how you will respond when they pounce.

“The only thing you can do is get better at making it clear what you will and won’t tolerate,” Moussavi says. “You have to shut it down. You standing up for yourself is normal, empowered adult behavior.” Arm yourself with responses like: “I’m here to enjoy myself. I don’t want to talk about that right now.” Or, “Let’s agree to disagree.” Also, physically exit from the situation by saying: “I’m going to go refresh my drink.” Or, “I have to make a call.”

3- Thou shall simplify. “The holiday

can be manageable and simple if we allow it to be,” Flynn says. “What makes the holiday so difficult is our own thinking about it. We make it difficult for ourselves.” Experiment with small changes that can relieve your stress. Hire a caterer for your party. Forgo Christmas cards this year. For the relative who has everything, send flowers or make a donation in their name to an organization that is important to them.

2- Thou shall not compete with thy neighbors. As Theodore Roosevelt

once quipped: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Some people enjoy casting their home in a professionally-created holiday glow while others prefer to hang a festive wreath on their door and call it good. Do what brings you pleasure and makes sense for your budget.

1- Thou shall give from thy heart.

Rather than twisting yourself in knots seeking the perfect present for everyone on your list, take a more light-hearted approach to gift-giving. For example, give a t-shirt with a meaningful quote, a digital photo album commemorating a fun getaway, or an experience like tickets to the zoo or a concert. Volunteering your time is also a fulfilling way to give. “If you are intentional, you can make the holidays about the ideas of love, caring for one another, understanding, enjoying quality time together and treating each other as the precious beings each of us are,” Flynn says. rrp Freelance writer Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two sons and a menagerie of pets. Her intention this holiday is to slow down and focus more on the magic of the season and less on lopsided Christmas trees.

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Montgomery Alabama Dance Theater Virtual “Mistletoe” ad on page 8

December 6 @ The Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts 251 Montgomery Street Montgomery, AL 36104 The Alabama Dance Theatre will open its 34th season with a virtual production of Mistletoe. This year’s production will feature Miss Kitty’s Favorite Dances of Christmas. (334) 625.2800 alabamadancetheatre.com

Frazer Memorial UMC “Candlelight Worship” ad on page 53

December 23 and December 24 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL 36117 Wednesday, December 23 at 5:30 or Thursday, December 24 at 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. (334) 272.8622 frazerumc.org

First UMC Montgomery Christmas

First United Methodist Church, 2416 W Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106 Sunday, November 29 Advent 1 - Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 6 Advent 2 – Holy Communion Sunday, December 13 Advent 3 – Lessons and Carols December 20 Advent 4 – Poinsettia Sunday Christmas Eve Services, Thursday, December 24 Times, service details and location TBD (334) 834.8990

www.fumcmontgomery.org

Planetarium presents: “Tis the Season!”

December 1-18 @ Planetarium 1010 Forrest Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 This great traces the development of many of the world’s endearing holiday customs, and how they involve lighting up the winter season, from the burning Yule log and sparkling Christmas tree lights, to the lighting of the Menorah and luminaries. It also recounts the historical

religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice. Not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Pagan, Nordic, Roman, Egyptian and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords a-leaping, and ladies dancing. And the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles. St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus all drop by as well.

Howliday Gift Shop

(334) 241.4799 montgomery.troy.edu/planetarium

December 3-24 @ Eastdale Mall 1000 Eastdale Mall Montgomery, AL Monday-Sunday, 11a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Come have your photo made with Santa!

Planetarium presents: Season of Light and The Alien Who Stole Christmas December 1-18 @ Planetarium 1010 Forrest Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 The Alien Who Stole Christmas--Ride along with Santa as he is abducted by a flying saucer on Christmas Eve. The UFO takes Santa on a tour of the solar system and shows him some unearthly children who were left off his list. Season of Light--This traditional Christmas offering is narrated by NPR’s Noah Adams. This show covers the various celebrations around the world which occur on or around the Winter Solstice. Extensive time devoted to the traditional Christmas story. (334) 241.4799 m01planet@troy.edu montgomery.troy.edu/planetarium

#SantaatEastchase

December 1-23 @ The Shoppes at EastChase 7274 Eastchase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117 Santa’s Whimsical Wonderland is located near the fountain and appointments are encouraged, although walk up appointments are welcome! While visits will look a little different this year, the magic of the Santa experience will remain the same! To accommodate social distancing measures and CDC guidelines, we ask that a mask be worn at all times while waiting in line and inside Santa’s home until time for the for the photo. Only one family at a time will be inside Santa’s home and check-out will take place outside to allow time in between each appointment for cleaning and sanitizing. All appointments require a $25 reservation fee that can be used towards your photo package. (334) 279.6046 suzanna@crawfordsq.com theshoppesateastchase.com

December 1-24 @ The Shoppes at EastChase 7274 Eastchase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117 The Montgomery Humane Society will be offering gift wrap for donations all December long! Located near Petsmart. Monday-Saturday 9 AM – 7 PM. Sundays 1 PM-5 PM. Christmas Eve 9 AM-1 PM (334) 279.6046 suzanna@crawfordsq.com theshoppesateastchase.com

Eastdale Mall - Photos with Santa

(334) 277.7380 richard@shopeastdale.com eastdale-mall.com

Annual Holiday Light Festival The Montgomery Zoo

December 3-25 @ Montgomery Zoo 2301 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36110 5:30- 9:30 p.m. each night. See the Montgomery Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland displaying thousands of sparkling and twinkling lights and festive decorations at Christmas Lights Festival. Take a leisurely stroll, a brisk train ride, or see the lights from atop the Zoofari Skylift Adventure Ride. Visit Santa, enjoy the live nightly entertainment at the Overlook Cafe, and no winter’s night would be complete without some warming hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies. Your Santa visit will be a fun and safe experience following all of the Federal and State COVID-19 compliance guidelines. (334) 240.4900

montgomeryzoo.com

2020 Capital City Governors Tree Lighting

December 4 @ Capital 1142 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Come enjoy the National Guard Band 30 minutes prior to tree lighting. (334) 834.3022 ext. 2 montgomeryal.gov

Santa’s Magical Arrival on Ice

December 4 @ Eastdale Mall 1000 Eastdale Mall, Montgomery, AL 36117 6 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive in his magical sleigh during a spectacular ice show at the Eastdale Mall Ice Palace. Ice Palace skaters will

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perform whimsical vignettes featuring traditional Holiday tunes that will delight children of all ages. The Eastdale Express will be up and running, so make sure and catch a ride! (334) 277.7380 richard@shopeastdale.com eastdale-mall.com

Aldersgate UMC Christmas Carol Service: Symbols of Christmas

December 6 6610 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 Will be presented on Facebook Live and Live streamed on Aldersgateumc.org at 6 p.m. The Christmas Song Musical by the Aldersgate Chancel Choir, Orchestra and Drama Team. (334) 272.6152 office@aldersgateumc.org aldersgateumc.org

Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Tour Open House

December 7, 14, 21 1142 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 4:30 -7:30 P.M. The 1907 Governor’s Mansion will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. (334) 834.3022, ext. 4

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

(334) 272.6152 office@aldersgateumc.org aldersgateumc.org

F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Mask-erade Ball

December 31 919 Felder Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 Come celebrate Scott’s birthday with a Masked Ball on the lawn of the Fitzgerald Home. (334) 264.4222 thefitzgeraldmuseum.org

15th Annual Light the World: Virtual Interfaith Christmas Nativity Exhibit

@ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 3460 Carter Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36111 Date and time to be announced on our website. Help your family keep the true meaning of Christmas in your heart from the start by attending this Community Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ. This spectacular event features nativities from around the world and special music by local performers. This magnificent display is sure to warm the hearts of young and old alike. Open to all. FREE Admission. MontgomeryNativity.com

governor.alabama.gov

22nd Annual Lights of Love, Virtual

December 10 @ Jackson Hospital 1725 Pine St Montgomery, AL 36106 Virtual Event. Tree will be lit on December 10th and will shine brightly through the month of December. For a contribution of $15 or more to the Jackson Hospital Foundation, a light will be placed on the Lights of Love tree inside of Jackson Hospital in front lobby in honor, or in memory, of someone special to you. For contributions of $100 or more Moravian stars will be placed on the tree. For contributions of $500 or more a decorative angel will be placed on the tree. (334) 293.6940 jackson.org

First Baptist presents The Living Christmas Tree

December 10-13 @ First Baptist Church 305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 December 10-11 at 7 p.m. and December 1213 at 4 p.m. Come joins us for the “Living Christmas Tree”. Performers will delight you atop the 40 ft. set resembling a Christmas tree on stage. (334) 241.5156 montgomeryfbc.org

Holiday Pops Concert

December 18 @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, AL 4 p.m. and 8p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Join the MSO for an evening of everyone’s seasonal favorites. (334) 240.4004

Dalraida UMC Christmas

December 20 & 24 3817 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL 36109 Christmas Cantata, December 20, 10 a.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight, Thursday, December 24 at 5:45 in Rear Parking lot. (334) 272.2190 dalraidaumc.com

Aldersgate UMC: Christmas Musical and Christmas Eve Services December 24 6610 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 Thursday, December 24, at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.

River Region Parents I December 2020

Christ Church presents Candlelit Service of Lessons and Carols

@ Christchurch 8800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery, AL 36116 Dates and details to be announced. 6:30 p.m. Candlelit Service of Lessons and Carols featuring Madrigal Voices of Montgomery, Montgomery Brassworks, and conductor Thomas Hinds. (334) 387.0566 info@christchurchmgm.net christchurchxp.net

Millbrook Christmas Music and Tree Lighting

December 3 @ Millbrook Village Green Stage Millbrook, AL 36054 6:00 p.m. on the Village Green. There will be caroling, a live Nativity, refreshments for sale, the Tree Lighting and the Christmas Lights and Music show. (334) 285.6428 cityofmillbrook.org

Millbrook Spirit of Christmas Parade, “A Musical Millbrook Christmas”

December 5 @ Sports Complex behind Smokehouse Bar-B-Q and will end at the intersection at City Hall Millbrook, AL 36054 Parade is at 2 p.m. Millbrook’s Annual Christmas Parade will begin at the Sports Complex behind Smokehouse Bar-B-Q and will end at the intersection at City Hall. Vendors will be set up at Village Green Park from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; there will be arts, crafts, and food. This is one of the great things about living in a small community - family fun, not too crowded and loads of excitement for everyone. No admission fee. (334) 285.7232 cityofmillbrook.org

Pike Road

tics and Ballet. Shoppes at Eastchase Sugar Plum Event. (334) 782.9200 pikeroaddance.com

Prattville First Baptist Prattville Christmas Events ad on page 45

First Baptist Church, 138 S. Washington Street, Prattville, AL 36067 The Songs of Christmas: A Night of Worship, December 12 & 13, 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 3 and 5 p.m. Advent Series every Sunday in December, 9:30 and 11 a.m. (334) 365.0606 fbcprattville.org/christmas

The Prattville Ballet’s “The Polar Express and Pas de Quatre Ballet”

December 13 @ The Legends at Capital Hill at the Marriott, Prattville, AL 6 p.m. $15 General Admission. (334) 467.8603 ballerinasrule@msn.com cjsdancefactory.com

City of Prattville Christmas

December 15 @ Downtown Prattville 5 – 7:30 pm. Enjoy the lights and decorations, visit with Santa, and have fun while you shop Downtown Prattville for gifts for all the special people on your Christmas list. There will be caroling, children’s projects, hot chocolate, and more. Participate in the Chamber of Commerce Cash Mob for prizes when you shop downtown. Bring your family and friends and stroll through the lights of downtown and enjoy the dancing lights on the spillway and the 30’ Christmas Tree. (334) 595.0854

prattvilleal.gov

City of Prattville Holiday Art Workshops @ Prattville Creative Arts Center and Gallery 342 South Chestnut Street Prattville, AL 36067 Dates to be announced. 10 am – 1:30 pm The Prattville Creative Arts Center will host a free holiday art workshop for children to create handmade Christmas cards with a printmaking technique. Children can drop in between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and create holiday cards. The workshop is free and all supplies are furnished. (334) 595.0854

prattvilleal.gov

Wetumpka City of Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa ad on page 22

December 12 Wetumpka, AL 36092 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Christmas extravaganza with Breakfast with Santa, arts & crafts, car show, parade, food, classic car show, entertainment and activities on the Coosa River culminating with a spectacular fireworks exhibition at dusk. (334) 567.4811 wetumpkachamber.com

Pike Road Dance Academy:

Performance at The Shoppes at Eastchase December 12 @ The Shoppes at Eastchase Montgomery, AL 36117 2 p.m. Performances in HipHop, Jazz, Gymnas-

Downtown Dickens Christmas and Tree Lighting

December 4-5 @ Downtown Wetumpka 5-8 p.m. Join the Wetumpka Chamber, Main

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Street Wetumpka, and the City of Wetumpka for a two-night community event as we celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting and enjoy a Victorian Christmas in historic downtown Wetumpka! A Downtown Dickens Christmas will be held on December 4th and 5th from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm, where you’ll be transported back to scenes from “A Christmas Carol” with period costumes, Christmas Carols sung by the Wetumpka High School Chorus, Father Christmas on-site for photos, authentic vendors, The Kelly Holiday Artist Market, live nativity, and decorated downtown businesses. This is the perfect time to walk around our whimsical historic business district and complete your holiday shopping. (In an effort to ensure the safety of our community, we will be practicing social distancing with Father Christmas. We will also keep aware of ever-changing trends and will adjust our event as needed. We appreciate your understanding). (334) 567.5147 wetumpkachamber.com

City of Wetumpka Christmas Decoration Contest

December 10 Wetumpka, AL 36092 6:00 p.m. Businesses and residential. There will be judging to those who have submitted applications. Prizes will be awarded. (334) 567.5147 cityofwetumpka.com

Calera Christmas at the Station

December 4-5, 11-12,18-19 @ The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum 1919 9th Street, Calera, AL 35040 Bring your family and friends to celebrate the holiday season together amidst hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights blanketing the trains, Museum buildings and grounds. Your Christmas Experience ticket includes a ride on the Calera & Shelby train, a ride on the Shelby & Southern train, access to the Merry Maze of Lights, and the ability to safely take your annual family photos with Santa Claus! Enjoy an evening of family games and activities, drink some hot chocolate, visit a food truck, and be sure to write (and deliver!) your letter of Christmas wishes to jolly old St. Nick! (205) 757.8383

hodrrm.org

Local makers setting up tables to sell, but also educate on the science of their skill. Admission is required. (205) 714.8300 mcwane.org

McWane Science The Grinch in IMAX

December 5-6 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 Newly renovated IMAX. Benedict Cumberbatch Grinch movie. Showings at 1:30pm & 4:00pm both days. (205) 714.8300

mcwane.org

McWane Science Center Polar Express in IMAX

December 12-13 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 Newly renovated IMAX Showings at 1:30pm & 4:00pm both days (205) 714.8300 mcwane.org

Alabama Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

December 17-20 and 22-23 @ BJCC Concert Hall 1 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 Alabama Ballet is proud to present George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® as one of only eight companies in the world licensed by The Balanchine Trust to perform this holiday masterpiece. Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies transport the young and young at heart to a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets. (205) 322.4300 alabamaballet.org

Eufaula Eufaula Christmas Tour of Homes

December 5 Eufaula, AL 36027 Stroll through history and witness the magnificence of Eufaula’s finest homes all aglow in holiday splendor. Enjoy a seated luncheon or an elegant dinner at the grand historical Shorter Mansion. (334) 687.3793 eufaulapilgrimage.com

Birmingham McWane Science Center Magic of Model Trains

November 21-January 3 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 Magic of Model Trains will return to spread some holiday cheer and amaze guests. Discover trains of every shape and size inside this popular exhibit of train displays. Every set in the exhibit is designed to scale with the size of the trains. The meticulous detail of the scenery includes covered bridges, downtown storefronts and, of course, several train stations that will keep your family entertained for hours. Sponsored by Royal Cup (205) 714.8300

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McWane Science Center Makers Market

December 5 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Located in the lobby café.

Victorian Christmas

December 13 @ Landmark Park 430 Landmark Drive Dothan, AL 36303 1:00-4:00p.m., Sample turn-of-the-century desserts, sip hot chocolate or mulled cider and try your hand at making traditional Christmas decorations. Free. (334) 794.3452 landmarkparkdothan.com

Georgia Lanier Islands Snow Island

November 6-December 31 @ Lake Lanier 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Buford, GA 30518 Take the crew snow tubing, get your skates on and practice your figure eights at the ice rink, hop on the carnival rides, make snow angels, warm up with s’ mores and hot cocoa, and shop in Santa’s Workshop. Don’t forget to stop in and let the little ones tell Jolly Ole St. Nick what they hope to find under the tree. (470) 323.3440 lakelanierislands.com

Stone Mountain Christmas

November 14 - January 3 @ Stone Mountain Park 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Within the glow of more than two million twinkling lights, you can watch live entertainment, engage in fun attractions and reconnect with friends and family during this special time of year. Make a Stone Mountain Christmas a part of your holiday tradition. Events include Wonderland Walkway, Snow Angel Castle, Holly Jolly Cabaret, The Polar Express 4D Experience, Snow Angel Fireworks and Snowfall Celebration, Sleigh Ride, Simply Christmas, Christmas Parade, Visit with Santa Claus, storytelling and live shows, great food and holiday shopping! (800) 401.2407 stonemountainpark.com

Annual Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens

November 20- January 4 @ Callaway Gardens 17800 US Hwy 27 Pine Mountain, GA 31822 Nestled amidst wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens, Fantasy In Lights is the Southeast’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show with more than eight million twinkling lights celebrating the holiday season. Drive your car or ride the Jolly Trolley to experience scenes like March of the Toy Soldiers and Snowflake Valley. At Robin Lake Beach, enjoy ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ and ‘The Nativity’, light and sound shows enticing passers-by to stop, reflect and enjoy. (844) 512.3826 callawaygardens.com

Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier

November 21 – December 31 @ Lake Lanier 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Buford, GA 30518 Nightly 5:00-8:00pm. Rekindle an old tradition or create a new one at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s Magical Nights of Lights holiday celebration. A seven-mile drive through tour of animated, festive, holiday light displays. At the end of your tour, the Holiday Village awaits you with carnival rides and games, pony rides and numerous holiday treats. Warm up with a hot cup of cocoa or step inside Santa’s Workshop for some holiday shopping and a visit with Santa. And nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a visit to Legacy Lodge & Conference Center for a delectable Magical Nights of Lights dinner buffet, or stay the night so the kids can enjoy the time honored tradition of having Breakfast with Santa. (470) 323.3440 lakelanierislands.com

“Winter Wonderettes”

December 10-22 @ Springer Theatre 103 Tenth Street Columbus, GA 31901 The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party. Featuring great 60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday production is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. (706) 327.3688 springeroperahouse.org

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Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19 and Hurricane Sally, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

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How to Tell Who Your Kid Is Talking to Online

What a spot check reveals. You should be able to see all of your kids’ contacts from their account profile page. On Instagram and TikTok, you can read chats by tapping on a contact name and viewing the history. You can also follow your kids on those platforms to see what they post publicly. But Snapchat automatically deletes chats and public posts (stories) after they’re viewed.

The fact that kids can stay in touch with friends and family by texting, video-chatting, and gaming has been a lifesaver for many families in 2020. There’s just a little problem: Who the heck are they talking to? And how do you make sure they stay safe? Below, we’ll break down exactly whom kids can talk to on different platforms, what you can determine from a routine spot check of their devices, and settings you can use to limit their circle.

What to watch out for. Cyberbullying, drama, and time spent are all hazards of social media chatting. Unwanted contact, such as predatory behavior or inappropriate requests, is a risk⁠—and it can come from strangers or kids they know. Useful settings. Most platforms offer privacy settings that allow kids to keep their accounts private, prevent contact from strangers, and limit comments. Some apps go further: Instagram offers an array of settings for kids to manage their circle of friends, and TikTok offers a small suite of parental controls, including the ability to disable direct messaging.

Basic phone texting

Who kids are talking to. Texting is mostly limited to people kids know in real life, but anyone with your kid’s number can call, text, and even video-chat with them. What a spot check reveals. A lot (unless kids delete their call logs). Phones log every call and text and may add the sender to your kid’s contact list automatically.

Games

Who kids are talking to. Kids play with friends they know in real life, but competing against new people is a huge part of the fun. So most gamers have lots of casual online pals they’ve made just from playing certain games or playing on a certain platform, such as Steam or Roblox.

What to watch out for. Group texting is huge with kids who have their own devices. It also opens them up to being contactable by anyone on the chain⁠—and some people may be strangers. Contacts can be hidden and texts can be deleted, so looking at your kid’s phone may not show you everyone they’re talking to. Also, watch out for spam bots⁠—texts that look like they’re from real people but are actually ads; if kids don’t recognize the number, they shouldn’t respond.

What a spot check reveals. It depends. In most games, you can see a list of your kids’ contacts, and you might be able to read your kids’ chats and private message history. But some game chat is done by voice⁠—so you might be able to only hear what your kid is saying when they’re gaming, which is possible if you keep their console or computer in a family room instead of a bedroom.

Useful settings. iPhones allow you to manage kids’ contacts (go to Settings/Screen Time/Communication Limits). Both iPhones and Android phones allow you to restrict third-party apps from automatically adding all of your contacts, which helps kids keep their circle smaller.

What to watch out for. Game chat⁠—whether voice, video, or written⁠—can run the gamut from edgy (with really graphic language) to cruel (including hate speech and homophobic slurs) to kind (since gamers can forge friendships through gaming). Game chat can be totally off topic, too. Be aware that not all game chat occurs on the platform kids play on. Some gamers prefer to use the chat app Discord to talk with their teammates, so you’ll want to find out whether your kid uses it (it has the same visibility as other social media).Useful settings. Games usually offer privacy settings that allow players to keep a tightly curated list of contacts. You’ll want to go through the game settings to enable the protections you’re comfortable with, from limiting all contact to just friends to moderated chat, which is available on some platforms.

Social Media

Who kids are talking to. Kids usually chat or send pics back and forth with only friends, as well as friends of friends, but they can pretty much chat with anyone they want. For example, on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, unless kids enable privacy settings to prevent contact with strangers, they can direct-message (DM) anyone who follows them and anyone they follow. The platforms also make it super easy to extend your network by recommending new accounts to follow, allowing you to sync all your social media contacts, and offering QR codes that let you add people with your camera. River Region Parents I December 2020

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“Mom please stop interrogating me.” My daughter says this to me more often than I care to admit. I ask a lot of questions because she does not give me much information. So I’m left wondering, how could I change? River Region Parents I December 2020

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Turn off “the parent alarm”. Parents may react emotionally when their teen tells them something upsetting. “When your teen comes to you saying something like, ‘Tom asked me out,’ a parent’s first reaction might be, ‘My daughter’s too young to date’ but instead, try to use this opportunity to navigate conversations about how to have a healthy relationship,” says Dr. Miller.

As a mother of twin 15-year-olds, I often struggle to find ways to effectively communicate with them. A recent research study done at CHOP explored ways for parents to improve communication with their teens. Dr. Victoria Miller, psychologist, and author of the study explained some of the prompts used in the study that helped parents and their teens promote reciprocal communication instead of one way. She also discussed common mistakes parents of teens make when trying to talk to them.

Don’t over-empathize. Dr. Miller says it may seem counter-intuitive to not over-empathize with your teen. But it can backfire. She offers the example that if your child comes to you and says they got in a fight with their best friend, you might want to jump to the rescue and say, “Good riddance! I didn’t like them anyway, you’re better off without them.” But if they make up the next day, your child may be too embarrassed to come to you and say they resolved their differences.

Common Parenting Communication Mistakes Focusing only on problems. “One of the biggest mistakes parents make is that they tend to focus only on problems like when our teens make a mistake or don’t live up to our expectations rather than also communicating with them about their teens’ strengths and what is going well. We can sometimes forget to do that in the busyness of daily life,” says Dr. Miller.

Ways to Improve Communication According to Dr. Miller, one reason parents make these mistakes is because there is a lot of negative portrayals of teens in the media and in our culture. “You get the eye roll ‘oh well she’s a teenager.’ Which can cause parents to really worry about the teenage years and focus on the problems because they worry about their teens and they want them to do well and succeed,” says Dr. Miller. It is important to remember that it is normal for parents to have some challenges communicating with their teen.

Asking too many questions or offering unsolicited advice. Dr. Miller explains that another mistake parents

make is giving advice and lecturing which can backfire and cause teens to shut down especially when they didn’t ask for advice. It can teach them that they can’t handle problems on their own, which can get in the way of their confidence. It is better to wait until they ask for advice. Teens can feel that parents are too controlling when they ask too many questions. They can also feel as if they are being interrogated instead of having a conversation causing them to shut down.

Focus on how teens years are an exciting time.

Most teens are well-adjusted, and they have good relationships with their families, peers, and they contribute to their communities. “I think shifting the focus on how well adjusted most teens are and remembering that adolescents is a positive time in development and very exciting is a good thing that will help to improve communication with your teen,” says Dr. Miller.

Letting emotions get out of control. Dr. Miller says

that when your teen comes to talk to you about a problem, it can be difficult to hide your emotions. She suggests trying not to get angry or upset, but instead, focus on the fact that they were willing to talk with you. This will help to keep those lines of communication open by listening and offering guidance when asked.

Focus on strengths. “It is important to notice and talk with your teen about his or her strengths” says Dr. Miller.

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She explains that strengths don’t mean what they are good at or what they have achieved, but rather the qualities about your teen that will contribute to becoming a healthy productive adult. For example, if your daughter is a star soccer player think about what it is that makes her good at it like her work ethic or being a good team player. “It feels good to notice what is going well for our kids instead of worrying about that test that didn’t go well or that she is upset with something with a friend,” says Dr. Miller.

Allow for independence. Dr. Miller

A great program for K-1st repeaters

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explains that during adolescents teens are trying to separate themselves from their parents, so they might do those things like walk away when you are trying to have a conversation or keep 10 feet behind you at the mall or focus on their phone when you are trying to have a conversation. “This is really because teens need to see themselves as different and separate from their parents in order to figure out who they are and to become more independent. This can make parents feel like they don’t matter, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she says.

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Use conversation prompts. In Dr.

Miller’s research study she used conversation prompts to help the parent and teen facilitate conversations that focused on strengths. The parent/teen pair were instructed to take 10 minutes together and look at examples of strengths and then come back together and talk about it. Dr. Miller explains that prompts included things like:

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• Why did you choose these strengths for you and the other person? • Give examples of ways the other person demonstrates these strengths you choose. • Did the other person choose strengths that you didn’t expect? “They both gave strengths for each other which was the reciprocal aspect of the intervention that was really interesting and unique” says Dr. Miller. She explains that by shifting to the positive it can help parents and kids feel better. It doesn’t mean your teen doesn’t have weaknesses, but the key is to support your teen and use their strengths to address those limitations. She also stresses that it is important to shift your thinking of strength from achievement and what you are good at to who you are as a person. rrp Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. She is a professional member of ASJA. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05.

River Region Parents I December 2020

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FamilyCalendar Thursday, December 3

Wetumpka Depot Players Present It’s a Wonderful Life - Radio Play -- Also December 6 6 p.m. Dec. 3; 5 p.m. Dec. 6. Written by Joe Landry and directed by Kristy Meanor. Due to COVID19 numbers soaring in our community, we are reducing the number of live performances to two and those will be performed in our parking lot! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, masks and we will provide the coffee and hot chocolate! For those that don’t want to venture outdoors, we will offer a video production that you may purchase a ticket to and watch in the comfort of your own home! The show is only 45 minutes and is appropriate for the entire family ages 6 and over! Visit www.wetumpkadepot.com/ or call (334) 868-1440. Millbrook Community Theater Presents Tuna Christmas -- Through December 13 Show contains adult language and is not recommended for ages 12 and under. CDC Guidelines will be followed by all plays. For more info, visit https://www.millbrooktheater.com/ or call (334) 782-7317. City of Prattville Christmas Market -- Through December 20 5-9 p.m. Are you an artist, a baker, or have other handmade or unique homemade gift or holiday items? The Christmas Market will be set up at Heritage Park by the Christmas Tree on Thursdays through Sundays. We currently are accepting vendor applications, and space is limited. For more info, call (334) 595-0580. Montgomery Zoo Christmas Lights Festival -Through December 25 5:30-9:30 p.m. See the Montgomery Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland displaying thousands of sparkling and twinkling lights and festive decorations at Christmas Lights Festival. Take a leisurely stroll, a brisk train ride, or see the lights from atop the Zoofari Skylift Adventure Ride. For more info, call (334) 6254900 or visit www.montgomeryzoo.com/.

Friday, December 4

First Friday Street Dining on Dexter 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Come out to downtown Montgomery and enjoy great tastes from local restaurants on Dexter Avenue. There will be additional outdoor seating by the Historic Court Square Fountain, live music, art vendors and a cruise-in. Join a coworker for lunch or bring your family and enjoy a lovely afternoon in Montgomery’s Historic Downtown. For more info, visit facebook.com/ dbamgm. 2020 Wetumpka Christmas Tree Lighting 6 p.m. Downtown Wetumpka Prattville Christmas Parade 7 p.m. Parade will begin at the corner of N. Court St. and W. 4th St. and end at Stanley-Jensen Stadium. We are making some adjustments to try to minimize the risk to our community, while maintaining a fun, family-friendly event. Masks are required. For more info, call (334) 595-0850 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov/. Pike Road Christmas Spectacular Santa Claus will be at Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Rd) from 5-7 p.m., so drive by to drop off Letters to Santa and Season of Giving donations! From 6-7 p.m., we’ll talk all things Christmas during a live radio special - tune in on the MAX Round Table, 107.5 FM / 1210 AM! Then, at 7 p.m., don’t miss the premiere of our virtual Christmas Tree Lighting on our Facebook page. The video event will feature special holiday performances from the The Pike Road Dance Academy and Pike Road Schools Show Choir, a Christmas story read by Mayor Stone, and details about our Season of Giving Holiday Collections Drive. For more info, find us on Facebook.

River Region Parents I December 2020

Wetumpka’s Downtown Dickens Christmas -Also December 5 5-8 p.m. Join the Wetumpka Chamber, Main Street Wetumpka, and the City of Wetumpka for a two-night community event celebrating the annual Christmas tree lighting and enjoying a Victorian Christmas in historic downtown Wetumpka! Get transported back to scenes from A Christmas Carol with period costumes, Christmas carols sung by the Wetumpka High School Chorus, Father Christmas on-site for photos, authentic vendors, The Kelly Holiday Artist Market, live nativity, and decorated downtown businesses. (In an effort to ensure safety, we will practice social distancing with Father Christmas. We will also adjust our event as needed. We appreciate your understanding). For more info, visit https://business.wetumpkachamber.org/ or call (334) 567-4811. The 50th Annual Montgomery Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show -- Through December 6 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri & Sat.; 9 am.-4 p.m. Sun. Garrett Coliseum. Adults $2 or $3 weekend pass; 18 and under free with student ID and paid adult. Free parking and door prizes. For more info, visit http:// montgomerygemandmineralsociety.com. Sensory Santa at EastChase -- Through December 24 The Shoppes at EastChase is making sure every child gets time with Santa by providing a Sensory Santa experience for those families with special needs children. The Sensory Santa Experience will be open during regular photo hours and will offer families the opportunity to take photos with no lines and additional time with Santa. Places are limited and booking is essential. Visit www. theshoppesateastchase.com/event/sensory-santa/ or call (334) 279-6046.

Saturday, December 5

City of Millbrook’s Spirit of Christmas Festival & Parade 9 a.m. Festival features vendors, arts and crafts, entertainment and more. The Parade will roll at 2 p.m. from the Smokehouse Barbecue down to the old City Hall and Village Green. Entry into the parade is free, and applications can be found on the City of Millbrook website. Paid vendor booths are available. Applications for the parade or as a vendor can be found at cityofmillbrook.org.

Sunday, December 6

Alabama Dance Theatre Presents Mistletoe at Home Virtually 2 p.m. The Alabama Dance Theatre will open its 34th season with a virtual production of Mistletoe, which will feature “Miss Kitty’s Favorite Dances of Christmas.” For viewing options, visit https://www. alabamadancetheatre.com/ or call (334) 625-2590. Komodo Dragon Corn Hole Toss 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Montgomery Zoo. One good toss away from saving a species! Buy a ticket. Test your skills. Have a little fun and see if you walk away a big winner. This inaugural event allows participants to have an opportunity to flex their tossing skills, perhaps win big, and help animal conservation efforts at the zoo. For more info, call (334) 625-4900 or visit www.montgomeryzoo.com/.

Friday, December 11

Pike Road School Bands Christmas Concert 7 p.m. St. James United Methodist Church. Free admission, but donations will be accepted. In-person audience must wear masks and sit socially distanced. Livestream will be available as well. Prattville Christmas Variety Show 7 p.m. Doster Community Center. This show will be fun

for the entire family with songs, dance, skits and more, showcasing local performers. It is free, but reservations are required in order to allow for social distancing. For more info or to make a reservation, please call (334) 595-0850 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov.

Saturday, December 12

Wetumpka’s Christmas on the Coosa 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Food, arts and crafts in downtown Wetumpka. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Car show. 11 a.m. Pawtumpka on the Coosa pet costume contest. 2 p.m. Street parade through downtown. 6 p.m. Fireworks/ wakeboarding Santa. For more info, call (334) 567-5147 or visit hwww.cityofwetumpka.com/. Eclectic’s Holiday Whobilation 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Eclectic’s Holiday Whobilation will be a great time whether you are a Grinch or a Cindy Lou Who! Vendors will sell an assortment of wares from jewelry and crafts to baked goods and clothing! And stick around for the parade at 6 p.m. Drive around town and check out the decorations as there will be a home and business decorating contest as well! Holtville Slapout Fire & Rescue Holiday Craft Market 7 a.m.-until. Holtville/Slapout Fire and Rescue Auxiliary. Vendor booth rentals are available for $25. Vendors can set up at 6 a.m. Booth size is 10 X 10, bring your table and tent. Electricity for booths is limited and will be provided upon request. For pricing, contact Pat Wiltshire at (334) 318-1798 or Angela Hitchcock at (334) 318-9701. Kid’s Christmas Canvas Workshop with Abrakadoodle 10:30 a.m.-noon. Shoppes at EastChase. Tickets will include one canvas, all of the tools needed for the painting, and light refreshments. You will have the choice between painting a Christmas tree or a snowman. Families are welcome to share a canvas if they would like.The workshop will be located near the fountain, under the covered patio. This is an outdoor event but there will be heaters provided, if needed. Kindly wear a mask entering the workshop. Kids 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. No more than 2 guardians per child. Visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/ or call (334) 279-6046.

Sunday, December 13

Party Palace Pop-Up 6-7:30 p.m. Shoppes at EastChase. Come meet your favorite princess and superhero at The Shoppes! Stick around for a meet + greet with characters like Elsa and Spider-Man! Please wear a magical mask during the meet + greet! This free performance will be held in front of H+M. Visit www.theshoppesateastchase.com/events/ or call (334) 279-6046.

Tuesday, December 15

Prattville’s Main Street Christmas 5-7:30 p.m. Downtown Main Street. There will be caroling, children’s projects, hot chocolate, prizes and more. Bring your family and friends and stroll through the lights of downtown and enjoy the dancing lights on the spillway and the 30’ Christmas Tree. Masks are required when social distancing cannot be maintained. For more info, call (334) 595-0854 or visit www. prattvilleal.gov/. Trans-Siberian Orchestra Announces Special Livestream Event -- Thru December 20 To keep its rock holiday tradition alive, Tran-Siberian Orchestra will bring a performance right into fans’ homes with the world premiere of its first-ever livestream event, “Christmas Eve and Other Stories Live In Concert.” In addition to the full album concert, fans will view special pre-show content

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FamilyCalendar including behind-the-scenes footage and classic interview segments. In addition to purchasing the stream, fans will have the option to purchase gift packages, including T-shirts, ornaments, and masks, plus livestream tickets can be sent digitally to friends and family as presents. For more details and to purchase tickets and packages, visit www.transsiberian.com.

Saturday, December 19

Vida Community Christmas Parade 2 p.m. from the Vida Community Center in Autauga County. Often called the “Biggest Small-Town Parade Anywhere,” it draws people from all over to enjoy a traditional, down-home event with surprises every year.

Wednesday, December 23

The Montgomery Bowl 6 p.m. Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall Street, Montgomery. Will also be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2. Ticket information is to be announced. For more info, visit https://visitingmontgomery.com/.

Friday, December 25

Camellia Bowl 2020 1:30 p.m. Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall Street, Montgomery. A postseason college football game matching up the Sun Belt Conference against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in December. The game will also be televised nationally on ESPN. Follow us on Facebook or visit www.camelliabowl.com.

Support Groups Parent Support

Century Church Strong Moms 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays. Different host homes in Pike Road’s The Waters community. The focus of this group is to build relationships between moms through Bible study, play dates, prayer and encouragement. Childcare provided for ages 2-5 years old and babies are welcome! For more info, visit https://centurychurch.churchcenter.com/groups/general-ministries/ strong-moms. La Leche League of Montgomery Area has served local mothers since 1984. Women who are pregnant, interested in breastfeeding and nursing mothers are invited to attend our free mother-to-mother support meetings or e-mail with breastfeeding questions. Join us with your babies. Children of all ages are welcome. We currently have morning and evening meetings. For more info, e-mail LLL.Montgomery. AL@gmail.com or visit http://www.llli.org/groups/@ llli*group*montgomery or “like” us on Facebook. Mom2Mom is a Bible study community for moms of preschoolers. It is a Frazer United Methodist Churchsupported ministry to reach moms of the community through encouragment and prayer during these early years of raising our kids. Join us for weekly Bible studies focusing on parenting, marriage, women’s studies and more. Childcare provided for newbornK5. For more info, e-mail Mom2mom@frazerumc.org. The Montgomery Multiples Club is a non-profit organization offering support to the mothers and families of twins, triplets, and more in the Central Alabama region. They have a mom’s night out with dinner once a month. They also have a yard sale twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall. For more info, visit https:// sites.google.com/site/montgomerymultiples/home. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St., Montgomery. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Moms, need a little break? We have educational

speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Visit www.montgomeryfbc.org/ MOPS or contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.

Pregnancy Loss/Infertility

First Choice Women’s Medical Center conducts a HOPE GROUP for women who have experienced the emotional aftermath of an abortion. Groups meet for one weeknight over eight consecutive weeks and are facilitated by women who have experienced abortion. Confidientiality is assured. Please contact Kathy at (334) 260-8010 or kkay@firstchoicewmc.com for more details and information about upcoming groups. Post-Abortion Support Group, Saint James United Methodist Church. Do you have a secret you have promised yourself “you are taking to the grave?” Come and listen to stories of others who were scared to surrender their secret. Come and find healing and peace that you never even knew you needed. Come and learn about the One who came to set you free. Join us in a study of “Surrendering the Secret” by Pat Layton and know that you are not alone! (Learner guide and digital download sessions.) For more info, e-mail annpemberton@charter.net.

Special Needs Support

Central Alabama Autism Support Team (C.A.A.S.T.), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Hwy. 31 in Prattville from 6-8 p.m. 3rd Thursdays quarterly (Feb., May, Aug., Nov.). Visit www.easysite.com/caast or e-mail casst50@yahoo.com for more info. D.A.T.S. M.O.M. (Disability as an Ability Toward Success: Moms on the Move), a non-profit parent empowerment organization for parents of children on the autism spectrum (or with related special needs challenges) that focuses on inspiring, equipping and motivating parents to move their child’s disability to an ability. Follow DATS MOM on Facebook, Twitter and Periscope for live sessions and discussion. E-mail datsmom@yahoo.com for more information. Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach, Vaughn Park Church of Christ, 2nd Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare provided. Visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome. com or visit our Facebook page (MADSOG) for more information. Contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com for more info. Montgomery Area Hearing Loss Support Group meets monthly at the Wesley Building of the First Methodist Church in Montgomery on 2nd Thursdays at 4 p.m. It is affiliated with the nationally recognized non-profit advocacy group, For more info, contact HearingInfo@earthlink.net. Traumatic Brain Injury Support, cafeteria at HealthSouth on Narrow Lane in Montgomery. 2nd Thursdays at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Alabama Head Injury Foundation for anyone with a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or related disability. For more info, contact Holli at (334) 290-0646 or e-mail: ahif_ montgomery_auburn@yahoo.com. Visit www.ahif.org.

Teens/Families Support

Call Family Guidance Center of Alabama at 2704100 for information about current classes. Support Group for Teens with difficulties communicating with parents and friends. Contact Felicia Pressley at Pressley Counseling by leaving a message at (334) 625-0159. Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

RRP: What special holiday traditions do you have as a family? Heather: We enjoy spending time with both my husband’s side of the family and my side of the family, but we make sure to be home sleeping in our own beds on Christmas Eve. It’s a big deal for our kids to wake up at home on Christmas morning. I enjoy baking and our children have inherited the love for being in the kitchen as well, so another Christmas tradition is for us to prepare all kinds of yummy treats for those we love the most. Going through the season of advent with our church family is always a special time. Reading the Scriptures together and taking time to reflect on the reason why we celebrate is always a favorite tradition as well.

Heather Talley

RRP: If our readers could visit your kitchen over Christmas, what dish would they always find being served at your table? RRP: Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us today. You are a mom to three children at various stages in life. How would you describe your parenting style now compared to when you were a brand new mom?

Heather: Hands down, my Nanny’s Chicken and Dressing! It is a fan favorite and a crowd pleaser for sure. Her mother, my great-grandmother, made it for years and now my Nanny prepares it for our family. There is something very special about a grandmother’s dish. Nothing compares! It’s good for the soul! RRP: What is something that you hope that your children will learn from you? Heather: It has been my prayer since Evan was very little, that my children would grow up knowing two things: how important the family circle is and that Jesus should be your guiding post that leads your steps. You may have a lot of things in this lifetime, but nothing compares to the feeling of knowing you are loved by the ones God chose to be part of your life. Family should be there to encourage, lift you up, put you in your place and remind you just how special you are. I pray that when I am long gone they will always remember to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. My prayer is that when my children look back over my life and legacy, that they will be able to say they saw me lead a life that was pleasing to the Lord and that I taught them to always trust in Him. It is guaranteed that tough times will hit, and when they do, the Lord is there to guide us each step of the way.

Heather: Much more relaxed! As a new mom, I did not give Evan much of a chance to really learn from his mistakes. I protected him as much as I could from any hurt or frustration that he may endure. Over time, I have learned that children need to make those mistakes in order to grow and learn how to best handle themselves in tough situations. Evan is 12 now, and even though he was much more sheltered than his two siblings, I feel like he has turned out just fine. As a new mom, you pour all of your love and support into this one tiny human who is solely depending on you and they soak it all up! As you add more children to the mix, you are spread a little more thin. It’s not that you no longer pay attention or that you do not want to protect your children, you just learn not to sweat the small stuff and that it is okay for them to learn from disappointment.

RRP: What are some tips you have for balancing mom life and still making time with your spouse a priority? Heather: Balancing being a mom and making time with James is tough some days. I am not even going to lie! Being in the throes of motherhood, some days I feel like I am just trying to survive and keep all of my tiny humans alive. I think most can relate to that. Evan is 12, Emie is 7 and Euan is 4. They are at very different stages with very different needs. Trying to figure it all out and make James feel like he is getting his fair share of me is hard. When the kids are in bed that is time for us to catch up on things about our day, what’s coming up and sometimes squeeze in a foot rub!

RRP: If you could go back to when you first found out you were expecting your oldest son, what advice would you give yourself? Heather: Prepare to walk around with your heart on the outside of your body! When this little guy hurts, you are going to hurt. I would tell myself to get ready to love another being in no way that I have ever experienced before and brace myself for my life to change for the better. There is something so special about holding that little being and knowing that they know the sound of your heartbeat. How intimate is that? The bond that is shared, especially with your first, is remarkable. Oh...and when he is an infant, sleep when he sleeps!

River Region Parents I December 2020

Heather is married to James Talley and they are parents to three children: Evan, 12; Emie, 7; and Euan, 4. The family resides in Wetumpka, Alabama and attends First Baptist Church Wetumpka. Heather is the owner of Heather Talley Photography and Events and also serves as a Plexus Ambassador. She and James have been married for 15 years.

www.riverregionparents.com

River Region

MEDICAL · COSMETIC · LASER

DERMATOLOGY & LASER

Love

the skin you’re in. Dr. Porcia Love

Brittany Boylan, CRNP Jo Shuford-Guice, MSN, FNP-BC

PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE TO OUR PATIENTS IN A COMPASSIONATE AND PERSONALIZED MANNER. ACNE · DISCOLORATION · HAIR LOSS · SKIN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT · BOTOX CHEMICAL PEELS · FILLER · FACIAL REJUVENATION · LASER SERVICES MICRONEEDLING · COOLSCULPTING

River Region Dermatology & Laser 2060 Berryhill Road · Montgomery, AL 36117 1 www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents (334) 676-3366 · RRDermatologyLaser.com

’S

M E RY A C AD EM

GO T N

You don’t have to wait for a special day to learn about our

Kindergarten experience. MA’s K-View allows you to schedule a

personal tour on a day and time that’s convenient for you. Come

visit our campus, meet our teachers and students—and see us in action!

W H AT PA RENTS A RE SAYING “The staff and teachers are so warm, friendly and approachable.” “When I was trying to decide between MA and another school, K-View is what I kept referring back to.” “The students were enthusiastic, confident and obviously immersed in the activities.” “Loved it! Immersive, informative, well done, and comfortable.”

Call Rachael Gallagher, Director of Admissions at 334.272.8210 or visit MontgomeryAcademy.org/K-View to schedule your personal K-View experience.

Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y 1