River Region Parents June 2020 Issue by KeepSharing

I thought this was the place where we came to clean up? - Trystin, 6th grade

For more information visit AlabamaHealthyTeens.com

EDUCATION is more than YO U K N OW

Preparing our students for life is the foundation of our mission. “...We are committed to challenging

self-confidence they need to pursue their dreams, make positive contributions in their communities, and reach for the goals they have set for themselves.

and assisting students in realizing their individual potential and preparing them for lives of responsibility, service, and achievement.”

As we send them off one by one, we congratulate our newly-minted alumni and look forward to the day when we can all gather together and throw our hats in the air in celebration! Congratulations to

As each senior walks the graduation platform and moves their tassel from right to left, they cross into an exciting new chapter of life with the skills and

Pre-K3−12th Grade

Saint James School

the Saint James School Class of 2020!

334-273-3021 or STJweb.org

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

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Congratulations, Graduates! We congratulate the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Class of 2020! Our 145th graduating class includes 80 members who earned $6.4 million in scholarship offers from 23 colleges and universities. The top 20 percent of the class achieved an ACT composite score average of 31 and an average GPA of 4.28. Meet the Class of 2020: A National Merit Scholarship Winner · An AP Scholar with Distinction · An AP Scholar with Honor · 30 members of National Honor Society · 7 collegiate athletes · A future member of the Armed Forces and a future Firefighter · A State Champion Wrestler · Members of the VEX Robotics World Championship Team · 3 Football Players of the Year · Volleyball Player of the Year · Male Basketball Player of the Year · Wrestler of the Year · Members of the All-District and All-State Bands We are so proud of our graduates who exemplify what it means to be built by Catholic.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

Grades K4-12 www.montgomerycatholic.org

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June2020 46

Volume 25 Number 6

Columns

8 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

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

Suddenly Working From Home With Kids

Tips from a mom whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been there.

Common Sense Media Easy tips to manage TikTok and keep your kids safe.

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

41 Elmore Education Matters

by Superintendent Richard Dennis

48 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media

Dads Are Different

Appreciating the uniqueness of dads and what they give to kids.

Adventures in Giving Warm weather ideas for instilling compassion in your children.

52 Get This! Gerry Paige Smith

58 A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

On The Cover Amara Brielle Spivey (age 4) is the daughter of Kimberley and Brian Spivey. She attends Kindercare preschool. Amara enjoys gymnastics, soccer, swimming lessons and playing

Departments 12 Teacher of the Month 16 School Bits 60 Mom to Mom

in the sand!

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Editor’sNote When someone asks how you are doing lately, do you find your answer changes from day to day? Some days I’m feeling hopeful and positive, but others I find myself irritable, frustrated or even anxious about what the next year might hold. Worries about our family’s health, finances, the current tensions in our nation and what the economy might look like in coming months can weigh us all down...naturally. Lately, I’ve had to be more intentional about focusing on all the good in life and expressing thankfulness in my heart and from my lips. We all still have so much for which we can be grateful, and hope always remains. Nothing stays the same. Life constantly changes. So we know that this too shall pass. And maybe, hopefully, we will be better community members and friends and parents because of it. At River Region Parents, we hope to be a respite for you, as you peruse through our June issue! You’ll be reminded of all that’s good as you see achievements by local students, teachers and schools during what has been a most challenging time. Our schools really stepped up, students shined and, yes, even we parents didn’t do too bad a job, as many of us home schooled for the first time. Check out our School Bits pages for highlights, and let’s all be proud of what we ALL accomplished! Now that summer is here, many of us have a little more time on our hands. It’s not hard to see needs all around us...in our community, and even among our family or friends. Christina Katz shares a timely article, Adventures in Giving, where she offers 25 warm-weather ideas your family can do together to serve others this summer. Instilling compassion in our children is so important, and we’ve certainly been presented with a good time to start teaching them. Father’s Day is June 21! Let’s make sure to remember all the fathers and important male figures in our lives. Sarah Lyons’ article, 4 Ways Dads Are Different, does just that by sharing the special way fathers encourage, play, show affection and more. We honor you, Dads! You are uniquely wonderful, and the different dynamic you bring to your childrens’ lives is invaluable. Here’s to Summer 2020! We’ve made it through some difficult months and we can and will meet any challenges that lie ahead. Let’s all take a couple minutes each day, and even right now, to acknowledge the things for which and those for whom we are thankful. And when certain people come to mind, be sure to tell them. We can all use a little encouragement right now...and that’s something we can freely give to each other!

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 Richard Dennis Christina Katz Dr. Charles Ledbetter Janeen Lewis Sarah Lyons Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Dr. Ann Roy Moore Gerry Paige Smith

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

Member

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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while you stay safe at home. To protect yourself and others during this pandemic, The Jackson Clinic encourages the use of telehealth visits. Telehealth is a face-to-face or by phone visit with your healthcare provider through digital technology. Call for an appointment today!

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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

Mr. Rogers Had It Right It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...and it was a beautiful day sitting on my couch, snuggled up with my kids, watching what feels like movie number 2,074 during this quarantine. And that’s when I heard those wise words come straight from the mouth of Mr. Rogers – “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.” And there it was. Such a profound way to ground us in this time when we are all feeling all the feelings about our current reality. “When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary,” he said. Yes, Mr. Rogers. Yes. If he ever needed a career other than children’s reality show host and master of all puppets in the fictional kingdom of The Neighborhood of Make Believe, then he absolutely could have been in the world of psychology. You see, he gets it. Mr. Rogers understood that internalizing stress and worry and anxiety and uncertainty breeds stress and worry and anxiety and

River Region Parents I June 2020

uncertainty. But mentioning them – which essentially means communicating them – breeds management – it breeds problem solving and eases concern. It brings about a sense of burden sharing with those around us. And as great as that feels as adults – this effect is even more magnified in our children. But in our own parental humanity, we often tend to negate the feelings of our children. Even in love we can be quick to just give a quick pat on the head and say, “Don’t worry, it will be fine,” without actually ever stopping and stooping and leaning in to hear what their little hearts are saying. Think of it this way – have you ever been upset about something and someone near you almost immediately says, “Calm down!” Does that, in any way, make you want to be calm in that moment? I’m guessing no. Instead, what helps you feel calm is when someone stops what they are doing, makes eye contact with you,

sits near you and really hears your heart. They listen. They lean in. They understand that you are struggling, and because they care for you, they take time to invest in you in that moment. It doesn’t actually matter whether they have the answer to your problem, they were present. This is the difference. This is the way we move away from a culture of pith and trite remarks, empty of any value to us, and toward authentic, deep, relational engagement. As Mr. Rogers would sing to all of us at the end of every show, he understood that, “…You’ll have things you want to talk about…I will too.” So grab your cardigan from the closet by the front door, change your shoes, and be intentional to hear what your little (and big) ones are saying around you. It will make for a beautiful day in your own neighborhood. 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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INTRODUCING ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES As the only mental health center in Central Alabama, Crossbridge Behavioral Health now offers specialized in-patient care for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. We understand how chaotic life can feel for families when a child is struggling with behavioral health issues. Our staff of expert physicians, licensed therapists, licensed social workers, registered nurses and mental health technicians offer a program of therapies and services that help return the young patient to emotional well-being. We treat adolescent behavioral health illness such as: Anxiety | Bipolar | Depression | Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Schizophrenia | Mood Disorders | Psychosis

Now is the time to begin the healing journey. Please call 334-286-3116 for more information.

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Prattville Opens Farmers’ Market June 6

Wetumpka Scouts Plan Flag Day

7 a.m.-noon * Doster Road in the Grove across from Pratt Park Prattville’s Farmers’ Market will feature fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with local honey, grassfed beef, homemade baked goods, jams, jellies, eggs, handmade bath and body products, plants and more! Bama Country Radio will join us with a live remote and there will be free shopping bags and other special giveaways while supplies last. Proper social distancing and other safety measures will be taken by our vendors and staff and we encourage all visitors to wear personal protection items when visiting. Throughout the season, there will be live music by local and regional musicians, surprise giveaways, artists painting on site, guest speakers, and more. Follow us on Facebook to find out what will be happening each week! The Prattville Farmers Market will be held every Saturday June 6 through August 29. For more info, call (334) 5950850 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov.

Wetumpka Boy Scout Troop 50, Cub Scout Pack 50 and VFW Post 4572 will hold their annual Flag Day ceremony 5:30 p.m. on June 14 at Gold Star Park. Schools, businesses or individuals who want to dispose of unserviceable flags are encouraged to attend the ceremony or bring them to the City of Wetumpka’s administrative building prior to the ceremony. For more info, call (334) 567-5147.

If you have purchased a ticket at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre to an event that has been moved, please hold on to your ticket as it will be good for the new rescheduled show. Currently, the first rescheduled event is Bert Kreischer on June 26, followed by Leanne Morgan July 24. August events include Price is Right Live! August 12, KC & The Sunshine Band August 14 and Newsboys August 18. For more info, visit mpaconline.org or call (334) 481-5100. River Region Parents I June 2020

State Archives Documents Alabama During CoVid-19

The CoVid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of every Alabamian. From public health to the economy, it has transformed everyday life in our state. The Archives is seeking to document this unprecedented time in our history by acquiring a variety of materials that tell the story of Alabamians’ experiences. We are asking the public to contribute materials including photographs, audio recordings, video, journals, blogs, social media posts, three-dimensional items and more. If you are interested in donating materials, please visit www.archives.alabama. gov, or contact ADAH Registrar Haley Aaron at (334) 353-4726 or haley.aaron@ archives.alabama.gov.

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Watch Distinguished Young Women Online

MPAC Concerts Rescheduled

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The Distinguished Young Women National Finals are going digital. The program will still honor the top high school representative from each state—as it has since 1958—and award more than $100,000 in scholarships during its culminating events, June 25-27. Traditionally, participants arrive in Mobile two weeks before the preliminaries and Saturday finale, where they compete in categories that measure scholastics, self-expression, physical fitness, talent and interviewing skills, but this year the young women will submit videos for each National Finals category. The DYW will broadcast the threenight virtual showcase on its website free of charge.Visit distinguishedyw.org.

Free Concert Series Begins in Millbrook

A free summer concert series is coming to Millbrook’s Village Green Park beginning June 4. This is the second year of “Tunes on the Green,” hosted by the City of Millbrook’s Parks and Recreation Department. Concerts will be held June 4 and 18 and July 2 and 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Events may include food vendors. Coolers are welcome, but no alcohol is allowed. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Local bands will perform for the event. The first band to play will be H20, a group that performs everything from Motown hits such as “Just My Imagination” to ‘80s hits such as “Purple Rain.” Additional performers include Brandon Elder, Kay & Tommy, and Trey Gothard. For more info, call (334) 290-2047. www.riverregionparents.com

AUM Offers ACT Prep Classes Online

AUM’s ACT Test Preparation classes help students prepare for the exam and helps improve test scores. Even if your ACT score is high enough for college admission, a few more points may put you in the running for more scholarship dollars. Our ACT Test Prep classes can make a difference in your choice of college and the cost of your education. To ensure the safety of our students during this time, we have moved all of our summer ACT Review classes online. We are using the ZOOM web application to host our classes. Below is the schedule of classes that are still open for registration. All of these sessions meet online, Mondays through Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. We will contact students for book pick-up times before each session. ACT Language Review: June 1-4; ACT Science Review: June 8-11; ACT Complete Review: June 22-July 16; ACT Math Review: June 22-25; ACT Science Review: July 6-9; and ACT Language Review: July 13-16. Contact Brittany Thomasson at (334) 244-3804 or bthomass@aum.edu. Visit http:// outreach.aum.edu/act-review-courses.

World Giraffe Day at the Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo. World Giraffe Day is an exciting annual event initiated by Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to celebrate the longestnecked animal at the Montgomery Zoo (and on the planet), Saturday, June 20. Learn about the plight of giraffes in the wild and steps to increase their numbers. This is also a conservation fundraiser to raise support, create awareness, and shed light on the challenges giraffe face in the wild, with proceeds going back to the Global Giraffe Foundation. By supporting World Giraffe Day, you directly help save giraffes in the wild, in Africa. With only approximately only 111,000 giraffes remaining in the wild, the time is right to act NOW! It is our goal that this year, we will be able to contribute over $2,000 to this very worthwhile cause. All World Giraffe Day events will take place at the Giraffe Encounter and Overlook Café areas. Giraffe Encounter open 9am – 4:30pm; Encounter admission price $4 per person (everyone entering the giraffe deck area must pay admission); Artifact table, open 10am – 3pm; “Giraffe Marketplace” featuring totes, paintings, magnets, etc, open 10am – 3pm; Craft area, open 10am – 3pm; Photo booth, open 10am – 3pm, $5 per photo; Zookeeper talks, 10am and 1:30pm; Education program @ 11:30am at Overlook Stage. Visit www.montgomeryzoo.com for more info.

EastChase Farmers’ Market Returns

The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers’ Market has returned for its 16th year on Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to noon. Since opening in 2004, the EastChase Farmers’ Market has grown every year, and is now one of the top five largest markets in Alabama. Several popular farms are scheduled to make their return with locally grown products, including Aplin Farms, Penton Farms, M&M Farms, Leatherwood Nursery and more! For more info, call Suzanna Wasserman at (334) 279-6046.

Alabama Dance Theatre

Kitty Seale, Founding Artistic Director

Kate Seale Smith, Artistic Director

SUMMER CLASSES, Age 3 to Professional Level

June 8 - July 9

Tutus & Tiaras! Ages 3 - 8

June 1 - 5

Stars on the Riverfront

July 26 & 27

Summer Dance Seminar

July 13 - July 25

at the Armory Learning Arts Center 1018 Madison Avenue

www.alabamadancetheatre.com

(334) 625-2590 Photo by David Robertson, Jr.

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Brooke Delk Redland Elementary School

students long after the year ends. “Not only do I want my students to leave me being a better reader or more fluent in math facts, but also understanding the importance of our mindset. Our mindset controls our outcome. That is why we begin each day reciting our promise, setting goals for the day, discussing how we can be a better me for that day, etc. If we can have a growth mindset that is positive and willing to pivot when needed, it sets us up for success!” Success is something that Delk has continued to strive for, even in the midst of the pandemic, causing teachers to readjust to keep their students on track. “In addition to doing coursework and helping students stay on track, we also met once a week virtually to continue that class community. We had Show and Tell and we had an End of the Year Awards program. Just seeing their sweet faces weekly helped all of us get through this hard time.” And though the traditional school year has come to an end, Delk offers up encouragement for parents who find themselves ending the year at home, instead of school. “Embrace this time at home with your child. Enjoy the down time in our schedules. Get outside. This too will pass and we will come out stronger and better because of it.”

Brooke Delk always knew she wanted to be a teacher. Today she is living her dream, teaching second grade at Redland Elementary School in Wetumpka, Alabama. “Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. So much that when I was eight years old, I asked Santa for a classroom. I got just that! A spare bedroom with four student desks, a teacher desk, bulletin boards, a chalkboard, and a projector. It was the perfect classroom for all of my stuffed animals,” says Delk, who has been teaching for 10 years. “I knew that by becoming a teacher I could help children learn and grow as an individual. The thought of having a hand in that was so rewarding and something I couldn’t pass up.” Delk, who holds a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University, says that her students keep her motivated. “Seeing their love for learning keeps me going, even on the hard days.” Motivating her students is something that Delk takes to heart. “We start each day reciting our class promise and setting daily goals which then keep us motivated. Beginning the day with a growth mindset allows for motivation within the classroom. I truly believe how you begin your day determines how the rest of the day will go.” Mindset is a big focus in Delk’s classroom, and it is something that she hopes to pass to her

River Region Parents I June 2020

Brooke Delk and her husband Matthew live in Wetumpka and have two sons: Casen (5) and Cole (2). She feels honored to have been nominated and chosen as this month’s featured teacher.

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Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Doing A Great Job, Parents.

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Making the Most of Summer Break During COVID-19 This year’s summer break will look slightly different from summers of the past. For many of us, summer breaks include vacations, visiting distanced relatives, or having fun at a favorite amusement park. Although some of these things are still doable, the threat of COVID-19 has altered many summer expectations. These changes may be harder for children to accept. They have experienced a new way of learning this past spring semester and are probably a bit fatigued from academics. Now is the time to become creative and create fun summer plans for your little ones. There are several activities you can incorporate into your summer plans right in your own backyard.

Create scavenger hunts. Plan a trip around town. Try creating a map to help aid your hunt. You and your children will enjoy history lessons and get a great workout in while learning new things. Once your finish, have your children write in their journal about the day’s activities. This is a great way to remember some of the things they learned, and they can share these memories with their new teachers and friends when school returns. Learn about new cultures. Allow your children to learn more about a new culture. They can research cuisines from different countries and try the recipes at home. Visit your local grocery store and have your children select the ingredients. Once home, they can help you prepare the meal. This is a great way to reinforce math and reading skills, as your child will read the recipe and measure the ingredients. Take a picture of the finished project and share the end result with family and friends. Check out Capital City Connection TV. Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) has partnered with the City of Montgomery to

use the city’s television station to broadcast academic lessons on its station. Students will have the opportunity to study Korean lessons from our partners at Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership (A-KEEP), learn cursive writing, or have a story read to them. Students can access the station by visiting Charter station 181, WOW Cable on channel 96, visiting YouTube at https://www. youtube.com/user/MontgomeryCCC/featured or https://www.youtube.com/MontgomeryPublicSchoolsAlabama, or by visiting https:// www.montgomeryal.gov/live/capital-cityconnection. Whatever your summer plans include this year, make sure everyone is having fun. These are unprecedented times but the joy of being around family and creating memories is worth the adjustments in all of our daily schedules. For more than four decades, Dr. Moore has educated the children of Alabama. From her first post as a pre-school teacher, to her administrative work as a principal, central office curriculum specialist, superintendent, and her mentoring the next generation of teachers as an adjunct professor at colleges and universities, teaching is her passion.

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Extraordinary Academics. Extraordinary Arts. Extraordinary Athletics. Extraordinary Faculty. Accredited K3 through 12th Grade Independent College-Preparatory School Trinity School is Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost educational institution providing students the highest quality college-preparatory education, training them in the biblical world and life view, enabling them to serve God in spirit, mind, and body. Trinity offers a rigorous academic program, award-winning fine arts program, committed educators, outstanding athletics, and a nurturing family environment. The Trinity Experience is extraordinary in every wayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an education that is as unique as your child. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Director of Admission Jenny McClinton at 334.213.2213 or jmcclinton@trinitywildcats.com. Tuition assistance is available. Discount offered to our military families.

Trinitywildcats.com

AT TRINITY, WE... Discover the brilliance within each child. Surround him/her with a strong family atmosphere. Show him/her how to excel in more than one area. Encourage students to strive for excellence. Emphasize Christ-like character above all else. Build leaders who possess mental, physical, and spiritual strength.

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Montgomery County Schools

MPS Students, Teachers Win Several Reflections Awards

MPS students and educators won a number of notable honors in the Alabama PTA Reflections Awards. Crystal Nichols of LAMP High won both a statewide award and a National PTA Reflections Award in the Dance Choreography category. Another LAMP student, J. Harrison Scott, won the Alabama PTA Yvonne Ballentine Memorial Reflections Scholarship. Two educators also received recognition. Shonda Tolliver of Lanier High was named Alabama PTA Outstanding Secondary Teacher, and Sabe Williams of Floyd Middle Magnet was named Alabama PTA Outstanding Middle/Junior High Support Staff. Pictured here are LAMP students who won awards. They are, from left, Minkyung Cho, J. Harrison Scott, Crystal Nichols and Minjae Eum. Below is a list of the student winners, their schools, the titles of their pieces, their award and category: Amelia Johnson, Bear Exploration Center, “We Can Have Fun,” Award of Merit, music composition Brayden E. White, Bear Exploration Center, “Your True Spirit,” Award of Merit, music composition Rhea Rastogi, Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet, “Mellifluence in Me,” Award of Excellence, music composition Minjae Eum, LAMP, “Blind and Beloved,” Award of Excellence, music composition Michael-Christopher Reese, Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet, “When All Else Fails,” Award of Merit, film composition Jun Kim, Forest Avenue Academic Magnet, “Flying with My Dream,” Award of Merit, literature Devin Harper, Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet, “The True Me,” Award of Excellence, visual arts Minkyung Cho, LAMP High, “Break Free,” Award of Excellence, visual arts Crystal Nichols, LAMP, “Traces of You,” Award of Excellence, dance choreography

Cornerstone Classical Seventh-Graders Earn Latin Honors

The National Latin Exam recently announced that seven students from Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy earned awards for their efforts on the National Latin Exam. Caleb Beeker, Annabella Butler and Emma Pratt received Maxima Cum Laude Honors and Riley Carroll, Caroline Lynn, Lily McFarland and Sophie Woody were awarded Cum Laude Honors. All just finished seventh grade at Cornerstone Classical. As a classical Christian school, Latin holds an important place in the classical curriculum. Learning Latin has been shown to have practical benefits, such as higher standardized test scores and college grade point averages, but also enables students to appreciate ancient history and culture and engage with the wisdom of classical authors in unique ways. The National Latin Exam is offered annually to Latin students from across the United States and around the world. The NLE serves an opportunity for students to receive reinforcement and recognition for their accomplishments in the classroom. River Region Parents I June 2020

ACA Fifth-Graders Take Kindness Challenge

The Alabama Christian Academy 5th grade participated in a Kindness Challenge for their Bible class during this season of virtual learning. The lesson and challenge was based on I Corinthians 13 and Matthew 6:1-4. The 5th-graders were challenged to have fun and share kindness to glorify HIM! Kindness was expressed by creating a care package for a mail carrier, planting flowers without being asked, helping with yard work, encouraging others with driveway art, helping parents by doing dishes, and making a “God Loves You” sign. ACA 5th-grade students, thank you for inspiring us all to show kindness during this unique time.

Eastwood Student Named Furman Scholar

Furman University in South Carolina has named Eastwood Christian School student Preston Hamilton a “Furman Scholar” based on his strong academic potential, leadership and commitment to extracurricular activities and community service. Should Hamilton choose to apply to Furman for Fall 2021, he is eligible for at least $20,000 per year ($80,000 over four years) in scholarships upon acceptance to Furman University. Additionally, Furman Scholars are eligible for a fee waiver for their Common Application or Coalition Application. www.riverregionparents.com

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Montgomery County Schools

STJ Student Receives Prudential Spirit of Community Award Alabama’s top two youth volunteers of 2020, Lindsey Wood, 17, of Thorsby and Brooke Bennett, 12, of Montgomery, were recognized for their outstanding volunteer service during the 25th annual, and first-ever virtual, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards national recognition celebration. In recognition of the spirit of service that they have demonstrated in their communities, both girls – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – were also each given $2,500 to donate toward the local COVID-19 response efforts of a nonprofit organization of their choice. These funds come in addition to the $1,000 scholarship and engraved silver medallion they earned as Alabama’s top youth volunteers of 2020.

As State Honorees, both students also earned an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the program’s annual national recognition events; the trip, however, was canceled due to COVID-19 and changed to a three-day online celebration. In addition to remarks and congratulations from actress Kristen Bell, honorees had opportunities to connect with each other through online project-sharing sessions, learn about service and advocacy from accomplished past Spirit of Community honorees, and more. Bennett, a seventh-grader at Saint James School, has worked with her twin, Breanna, and a team of volunteers to assemble and distribute approximately 200 bags of feminine hygiene products and toiletries every month to girls who otherwise might have to miss school during their periods because they can’t afford personal care products. Their mother used to work at a school in a low-income area, and often took personal care items to school because many girls there couldn’t buy their own. From research, Bennett learned that “period poverty” keeps 20 percent of girls out of school during

their monthly cycle because they don’t have the proper protection. “People often think this is a problem that affects only poor girls in Africa, Asia and South America,” said Brooke. “However, girls right here in Alabama and throughout the United States suffer, too.” Last July, on their 12th birthday, the Bennetts asked for donations instead of gifts, and convinced friends to do the same. After recruiting a group of volunteers and filing for nonprofit status for their charity, “Women In Training, Inc. (WIT),” the sisters began collecting donations through Facebook, a GoFundMe page and media interviews. Every month, the sisters and a team of volunteers assemble “WITKITS” that include sanitary napkins, tampons, wet wipes, lotion, deodorant and other toiletries, which are then distributed to girls in need. An important component of their project is education, so they published a brochure for young women about the menstrual cycle, and recruited an OB-GYN to conduct menstrual education workshops. For more info about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

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Montgomery Catholic Senior Wins National Merit Scholarship

Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation have named Montgomery Catholic student Sofia Izer as a National Merit Scholarship Winner. She is one of 2,500 high school students from around the country and one of two students from the River Region who received this scholarship. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, students must fulfill several requirements and advance to the finalist level of the competition. The preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test serves as an initial screening of program entrants. In addition to the PSAT test scores, the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic record, community involvement, leadership ability and personal essay are considered when determining semifinalists. About 90 percent of the semifinalists, who were announced in September 2019, attained finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the title of Merit Scholar. Izer was recently named Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ideal Graduate. Not only is she a top scholar, but she is also very active in a variety of school activities. She is a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. She is a varsity cheerleader and holds a black belt in Taekwondo. She is active in her parish, Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Montgomery, and volunteers her time during Vacation Bible School. Izer is an aspiring architect who enjoys the merging of her favorite things: art, math and design. She will attend Syracuse University in the fall. Senior Clare Wilson was recognized in September 2019 for being a National Merit Commended Scholar. While she will not have an opportunity to participate in the National Merit Scholarship competition, she ranks in the top 3% of all high school students nationwide who took the PSAT/NMSQT. 19

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Montgomery Catholic Seniors Get Celebrated in Their Own Homes A train of cars led by a big yellow bus and a small white bus filled with Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School faculty recently rolled through neighborhoods throughout the River Region, delivering yard signs to recognize each of the 80 members of the senior class. The students, who have been at home for distance learning since March, have missed out on several spring events that recognize seniors and their achievements in academics, sports and clubs. While yards signs have been popping up for seniors from schools all around the area, the faculty at Montgomery Catholic felt that their students deserved a little bit more than just having a sign planted in the yard— the Class of 2020 needed to know that they are each individually loved and missed by their teachers and administrators. While handshakes and hugs are not permitted during this time of social distancing, the enthusiastic teachers brought cowbells, air horns and even vuvuzelas to make lots of noise and cheer for their students. Amid the commotion, there were plenty of

tears shed from happiness and surprise at the sweet gesture. “We went out to honor and celebrate these seniors whose traditional senior experiences have been so dramatically altered by Covid-19,” said English teacher Sinead Turner. “I think we were surprised by how many happy tears were shed by students and teachers alike. This has been a special group of seniors.” The students and their families shared in the excitement, and parents were especially grateful for the added fanfare in this unusually difficult coda to their students’ high school careers. And while this was not the typical sendoff that the students would have had during their Senior Day festivities, the effect on each student was similar. “This was the most surreal experience,” said senior Anna Sadie. “The teachers

went above and beyond any expectations to make this day so special for us. I could not hold back my happy tears from seeing everyone!” Montgomery Catholic will hold commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m. at the PICE Knights Arena in our new athletics center with special guest Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile.

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Eastwood Christian School Congratulates Distinguished Scholar

Josie Powe was named “Distinguished Scholar” by the Classic Learning Test based on her scores from the most recent CLT-10, given to all tenth-graders at Eastwood Christian School. The CLT is a standardized test designed to better assess students of classical education. This test, which was developed just a few years ago, is being accepted for admissions and scholarships by a growing number of colleges and universities.

GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR ME

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

AISA Blue Ribbon School Resurrection Catholic Named Blue Cross Healthy School

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you Resurrection Catholic School has been selected as a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Be Healthy School in our commitment to help prevent childhood obesity. Your school has been awarded a grant for the upcoming school year in the amount of $10,000. This grant is for the implementation of school-based health and wellness programs, emphasizing increased exercise, nutrition education and parental involvement during the school year.

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Macon East’s Pettway Signs to Play Basketball at Spring Hill

Macon East Academy senior Jaylan Pettway signed his letter of intent to continue a basketball career at Spring Hill College in Mobile. As point guard for Macon East, Pettway was named to the All-State Tournament team, the AISA All-Star team, and honored as the Knights’ offensive player of the year in 2019. He led his team to the 3A Area championship and AISA State Tournament at the Montgomery Multiplex, where they fell to Tuscaloosa Academy in the Final Four game. In the AISA All-Star game, Pettway finished with 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals earning himself the title of East team MVP. He signed with coaches Lincoln Glass (Macon East Academy) and Rod Henry (Millbrook Elite AAU Basketball) looking on and sharing a few words about his outstanding ability and effort on the court. Coach Henry said the 5’5” point guard has always lived up to his motto “heart over height.”

River Region Parents I June 2020

M W H Churchill Academy held its annual closing ceremonies to wrap up the school year, and this year it was done with a twist. All ceremonies were held by homeroom classrooms on Zoom with parents, students, administrators and teachers in attendance. Lower School to high school students were honored for their hard work and dedication in a year unlike any other. Many awards were given, and the school continued the tradition of the Winston Churchill Awards also. Churchill Academy’s Distance Learning Campus has given students an option to continue with the moments that make Churchill unique, be it online or in person. Congratulations to all students for the successful completion of the 2019-2020 school year!

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Resurrection Catholic School Virtual Science Fair and Solar Systems Projects

Montgomery Academy’s William Robertson Named Hitchcock Winner

Congratulations to William Robertson, the 2020 Male Recipient of the Jimmy Hitchcock Award! William is the 14th overall Hitchcock winner from MA. Robertson, who plays football, tennis and basketball is headed to Duke University in the fall as a preferred walk-on to the football team. He carries a 4.4 GPA and holds a bevy of school receiving records (receptions, receiving yards, and singleseason marks in both) for the Eagles. He was named All-Metro in football his junior and senior year and was a state champion in tennis in 2019 in No. 1 doubles and No. 6 singles.

The Science Fair at Resurrection Catholic School was originally scheduled for April 8, 2020, but was cancelled due to COVID-19. As we know, “honor is given where honor is due.” Therefore, RCA’s Science teacher, Ms. Saundra Stewart setup the student’s science exhibits for display. Based on the Science Project rubric, these projects were selected as winners. Congratulations to Lily Molake, Joliam Golson, Kayla Griffin, Grayson Maxwell, and Johnathan Molake. The 6th grade science students also completed at home projects of the Solar System. Kudos to all, as learning is still taking place.

Evangel’ s First-Graders Hatch Butterflies

Even though Evangel Christian Academy’s firstgraders could not meet in the classroom, the students enjoyed learning about insects and the life cycle of a butterfly through distance learning. The students stayed connected through online instruction and meetings. As a culminating activity, their teacher Miss Allison decided to hatch butterflies. She videoed the progress of the butterflies for the students and posted the videos on YouTube. The students were excited to watch the butterflies grow and develop. When the beautiful creatures reached maturity, the students were overjoyed to watch them fly away.

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Montgomery Montgomery County Schools

Eastwood Christian School Names 2020 Jimmy Hitchcock Award Nominees

The YMCA-sponsored Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award Program was established to recognize Christian leadership in athletics. Each year coaches of the senior high schools of Montgomery County nominate the athlete who has displayed outstanding qualities of Christian leadership in sports. These qualities are strong personal character, dependability, one hundred percent effort, team leadership, church leadership, school activity leadership and scholastic leadership. Eastwood Christian Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s athlete nominees for the 2020 Jimmy Hitchcock Award are seniors Elizabeth Cowden and Asa Button. Eastwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ninth-grade nominees are Gracie Phillips and Grant English, and the eighth-grade nominees are Sophia Conoly and Ben Duggar. Cowden, top right, is the daughter of Brett and Julie Cowden. She is a member of Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, where she is on the youth leadership team and is a small group Bible study leader. She is also a member of the youth praise team and a VBS counselor. During her athletic career at Eastwood, Cowden served as the captain of the volleyball and tennis teams and played on the basketball team. She was selected AISA All-Metro Volleyball Team Honorable Mention and was named to the AISA Volleyball All-Star Team. She won the Volleyball Team Peer Award. She was first-seed singles and doubles on the tennis team and was named MVP last season. She holds a 4.46 GPA and is the president of the Student Government Association, and a member of the Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. She plans to study health sciences on the occupational therapy track at Samford University in the fall. Button, bottom right, is the son of Jason and Tiffany Button. He is a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, where he participates in the youth choir. During his athletic career at Eastwood, Button served as captain of the basketball and cross country teams. He was named MVP of his basketball team and broke a record by scoring 50 points in a game versus Chambers Academy. He was also a member of the 2019 Cross Country State Championship Team. Button currently serves as treasurer of the Student Government Association and is a member of the Beta Club and Math Club. He is the recipient of a Congressional nomination to the Air Force Academy. He plans to study business and economics at the University of Alabama in the fall.

Forest Avenue Teacher Keeps Lessons Fun for Kids At Home

Teachers have had to be creative in the age of coronavirus, and one teacher decided to enlist the help of some stuffed animals to keep students engaged. Forest Avenue Academic Magnet second-grade teacher Elizabeth Crittenden decided to do something a little silly to keep their video lessons fun. For one lesson, she asked her students to gather stuffed animals to watch the lesson with them. Crittenden had her stuffed Easter bunny collection with her as she taught. Pictured here is her student Olivia, who brought along a few friends of her own. River Region Parents I June 2020

Cornerstone Classical Students Excel at Classic Learning Test

Despite a transition to the remote educational delivery, Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy 7th-, 8th- and 10th-grade students were able to take the CLT-8 and CLT-10 as a proctored exam from their homes. Similar to the PSAT, the CLT-8 and CLT-10 is a preparatory assessment mirroring a standardized college admissions test. Cornerstone Classical Students scored above the national average for both the CLT-8 and CLT-10, and 10thgrader Isabella Horne was named a CLT Distinguished Scholar for her score on the exam. The CLT was begun in 2015 as an alternative standardized test for college admissions. The CLT is rooted in tradition and features passages selected from great works across a variety of disciplines. The CLT-10 is the official preparatory exam for the CLT. It is designed for high school freshmen and sophomores. The CLT-8 is an end-of-year assessment designed for 7th- and 8th-graders. While the exam is primarily taken as an alternative to the SAT and ACT by classical school students and homeschool students, that is changing. As the SAT and ACT canceled summer tests, CLT, with its ability to offer a proctored exam remotely, has seen a record number of exam takers. As an alternate standardized college admissions test, the CLT is accepted at more than 170, primarily Christian, colleges and universities.

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WSFA Sketch the Sky Winners from Resurrection Catholic School

Kudos to Ms. Erma Carterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd grade art class at Resurrection Catholic School. Her students submitted articles to WSFA Sketch the Sky and listed below are the recipients:

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ACA 4th-Graders Earn Extra Credit with Family Fourth-grade students at Alabama Christian Academy earned extra credit points for game time with their parents! It was really fun as the students turned in different photos of game time with their families. Although we hate the situation and circumstances of this time, we love that everyone is capturing these special moments together and sending them in! Even in this unique season, we can be grateful for the family time it has given us.

Eastwood Christian School Presents Newsies

Before schools closed, Eastwood Christian School produced its 17th spring musical, Disney’s Newsies. More than 80 students participated, ranging in age from 1st through12th grades. The show featured a very talented cast of actors who danced more choreographed numbers than ever and sang songs including “Sante Fe,” “King of New York,” “Watch What Happens,” “Carrying the Banner” and more. More than 1,500 people attended the two-night run.

N O W E N R O L L I N G F O R 2020 2011

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MPS Shows Teachers Some Appreciation

Schools throughout the district went out of their way to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and express to teachers how important they are. Seth Johnson Elementary Principal Tiffany Scissum and Assistant Principal April Scott visited the school’s teachers at their homes to bring them gifts to reward them for their hard work. Davis Elementary teachers were treated to a Grab and Go luncheon. Metropolitan Methodist Church provided and served the food, and Faulkner University provided Chick-fil-A gift cards. Students also posted photos and videos to show their appreciation for their teachers.

ACA Virtual Kindergarten Graduation

The Alabama Christian Academy Kindergarten Class of 2020 was celebrated this year in a very special way. Individual families picked up their caps and gowns in a drive-by parade style. Teachers had bubbles, music, balloons and their gowns ready for pick up. Families decorated their cars as they drove through the parking lot honking and cheering on their graduate. The virtual ceremony was filled with songs, poems and as each child’s name was called, each parent handed his child his diploma. We have never, in the 77 years of ACA, done Kindergarten graduation quite like this but this special class deserved our best.

Churchill Surprises Valedictorian

Churchill Academy’s Class of 2020 valedictorian, Thomas Rutherford, has been a Churchill Academy student for 13 years—from kindergarten through 12th grade! With a 4.0 GPA and an impressive list of leadership and volunteer activities, he received the Marion Military Institute Leadership Scholarship, James A. Mitchell Scholarship (Marion Military Institute Foundation), Maxwell Area Military Officers, and the Alabama Wing Academic Scholarship. Rutherford plans to attend Marion Military Institute starting in August nd hopes to pursue a career in aviation with the ultimate goal of serving his country in the United States Air Force. The school was distance learning during the time of this announcement due to COVID-19; however, team members made a special socially distanced trip to Rutherford’s house just to celebrate this major milestone. Congratulatory “air high fives” were all around! 27

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Cornerstone Makes Interim Headmaster Permanent

After serving for just over a year as Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy’s interim headmaster, John Bradley was permanently appointed to the position by the school’s board of directors at its May meeting. Board chairman Robert McFarland made the announcement public at a virtual end-of-the-year parents’ meeting. Bradley has fully embraced the classical Christian educational model and has spearheaded several new initiatives during his interim tenure at Cornerstone Classical. He introduced a “House System” to the school whereby all logic and rhetoric students (grades 7-12) are assigned to one of four houses. The houses provide opportunities for leadership, mentorship, Bible study and friendly interschool competition. He also established an after-school program and oversaw the first year of Cornerstone Classical’s K-4 class. Additionally, under his leadership the school partnered with the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to offer seventh-, eighth- and tenth-grade students the ability to take a remotely proctored standardized college admissions test even after the school had to pivot to a remotely delivered curriculum in response to Coronavirus. Prior to serving at Cornerstone Classical, Bradley was the assistant dean of admissions at Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law. He has a graduate degree in history from Appalachian State University and a law degree from Jones School of Law. Bradley is a member of the Alabama State Bar and also served for five years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He, his wife Sarah Joy and their newborn son live in Wetumpka and are members of Redland Hills Church. River Region Parents I June 2020

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Churchill Honors Class of 2020

Churchill Academy honored the Class of 2020 with the River Region’s first-ever graduation parade on Tuesday, May 19. Cars were decorated in advance of the event and lined up at Grace Pointe Church to make their way to the class of six graduates at Thorington Road Baptist Church on Ray Thorington Road. Less than a mile from Churchill Academy, the graduates lined up socially distanced with their family groups in front of TRBC at personalized tables. Each table had individualized signage, photos of their academic journey, and a surprise box of treats just for the graduate. Led by the Pike Road Fire Department and directed by the Montgomery Police Department, the parade circled through the church parking lot honking and cheering for graduates, and honoring their journeys. Laughter, tears and moments of reflection were plenty among the graduates and their families as they took in the sights and sounds of this unique graduation celebration. What a global pandemic sought to take from them in experiences was simply taken to the next level and celebrated on an even larger level. Churchill Academy’s Class of 2020 departed on a truly historic note! And while the class and Churchill Academy celebrated this step in the direction of new traditions, the school very carefully honored longstanding traditions, as well. The surprise boxes on each graduate’s table held a Reception in a Box so that the graduates were able to take home a personalized graduation cake and sides to celebrate with their families in socially distanced celebrations at home. The graduates also received a flash drive with their complete pre-recorded graduation ceremony. Tradition holds that each graduate at Churchill Academy is honored with a speech from a member of the High School leadership team annually. Those speeches, along with Thomas Rutherford’s valedictorian speech and Jamie Farquhar’s keynote speech, were included on the drives and posted to social networking. Each family enjoyed the traditional ceremony experience in person and simultaneously with the entire River Region that evening through the power of technology. The graduating Class of 2020 at Churchill Academy includes valedictorian Thomas Rutherford, Tanner Collier, Daniel Jones, Taylor Jones, Joeleigh Lucido and Justin Mackall. This year’s graduation was different on every level, but the Class of 2020 was so receptive to taking the unexpected and creating the exceptional.

$40.4M in Scholarships over the past 5 years

Numerous Ministries

supported worldwide, from the River Region to Guatemala and Uganda 2 Jimmy Hitchcock Award Winners

for Christian leadership in athletics in the past 3 years

36 All-State Honor Band Members

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

1 World Robotics Competition Team,

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

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Montgomery County Schools

Eastwood Holds Inaugural Warrior Run

Evangel Teacher Offers Online Art Lessons

When Evangel Christian Academy’s students switched to distant learning, Mrs. LeMaster, ECA’s art teacher, provided several activities centered around children’s books. Two of the students’ favorite lessons included artwork based on dinosaurs and the beach. Several students participated in the lessons and posted pictures of themselves with their artwork.

Eastwood Christian School’s inaugural Warrior 5K and Fun Run was to be held April 18 in Old Cloverdale. Not letting the stay-at-home/social distancing guidelines stop their fun, runners completed the race in their own neighborhoods! Event organizers were able to transition the actual race to a virtual race allowing more than 120 participants to run when, and where, they were able. Overall female winner was Eastwood student Nettie Cantey, shown at right, and overall male winner was Blake Rosenfeld. ECS extends a special thank you to the event sponsors Jackson Imaging, the Birchfield Family, Alabama Sweet Tea, Alpha Lumber & Supply Company, Inc., BDGM, LLC Properties, Brendle Sprinkler Co. Inc., Chick-fil-A Troy, Jackson Thornton, and RF Pruett Construction for making the event a great success. Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

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ACA Appreciates Teachers

The administration at Alabama Christian Academy encouraged the ACA family to take extra good care of its staff and teachers during this virtual distancing season. The most amazing families poured out their appreciation onto ACA staff by delivering meals, treats and gifts on a regular basis. Social distancing cannot keep us from connecting to each other through intentional acts of kindness. We were designed for community and we need the connection now more than ever.

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Eastwood Christian School Kindergarten Graduation

Eastwood Christian School’s kindergarten class had a unique end of the year program. A socially distanced program on the playground was attended by parents who were treated to songs and character awards given to the students by Mrs. Givens. Each student sent in pre-recorded songs and poems from the traditional program, which were compiled into a year-end video to be watched by the students in their homes. The class was thankful to be together one last time for the short playground program.

Christian Faith Instruction Specialized Extracurriculars

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MA’s Alisha Singh Selected for Alabama Girls State

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

Montgomery Academy junior Alisha Singh has been selected to attend Alabama Girls State. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event has been postponed until summer 2021. Alabama Girls State is a weeklong, fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), Alabama Girls State is a premier youth leadership program which offers a one-of-a-kind experience to its delegates. The American Legion Auxiliary’s marquee Girls State program is one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States. During the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State program, delegates will have the opportunity to learn about local and state government through a variety of speakers, workshops, and sessions.

Over 30 Athletic Teams with

foundational skills taught at the elementary level

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Montgomery County Schools

Montgomery Academy’s Easton Strickler Selected for Alabama Boys State

LAMP High Senior Wins Hitchcock Award

Montgomery Academy junior Easton Strickler has been selected to attend Alabama Boys State. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event has been postponed until summer 2021. Alabama Boys State is one of the highest honors granted to Alabama students. Students from across the state are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals, and motivation in school and community activities. Boys State week is a full and active week held on the campus of The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. At Boys State, student delegates will find the opportunity to build new friendships, participate in a mock government, and hear from and meet a diverse array of Alabama leaders such as Congressmen, state elected officials, business leaders, civic leaders, and others. Delegates will have the opportunity to join interest groups that focus on their individual areas of interest such as law school, fire college, law enforcement academy, aerospace academy, lobbyists, city government, county government, constitutional convention, engineer/computer academy, and environmental interest group.

LAMP High swimmer and track athlete Kathy Hammond is the female winner of the 2020 Jimmy Hitchcock Award. The YMCA gives the Jimmy Hitchcock Award each year to one male and one female student athlete who embody the attributes of Christian leadership in sports. Criteria for the award include leadership abilities, strong personal character, dependability and giving 100% effort. Hammond has signed with Mississippi College to run track and cross country. She plans to study biochemistry.

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River Region Parents I June 2020

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Montgomery Catholic Announces Interim Principal and Vice Principal of Academic Affairs for Middle & High School Campus Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School announces that Eileen Aaron, below, will serve as interim principal for the Middle and High School Campus for the 20202021 academic year. She will be joined by Laura Reilly as vice principal of academic affairs. Together, they will serve as the Middle and High School Campus leadership team that includes current Middle School Assistant Principal Julie Wood. Aaron is a familiar face to Montgomery Catholic. She is mother to three graduates and two current students, resource teacher at the middle and high school, and loving wife to math department faculty member Rick Aaron. “To say the Aaron family is dedicated to Montgomery Catholic is an understatement,” said incoming Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President Justin Castanza. “I am thrilled that Eileen will be leading our school. She brings incredible professionalism, unwavering passion and inspiring faith.” Aaron received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in English from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a graduate degree in school psychology from the University of Akron. Throughout her career, she has served as a licensed specialist in school psychology and counselor at Montgomery’s COPE Pregnancy Center. Aaron has worked as a resource

teacher at Montgomery Catholic since 2016. “My husband and I love the culture and mission of Montgomery Catholic and I am honored to serve in this capacity,” said Aaron. “I’m excited about the leadership team we have established and the faculty and staff we have in place. I am confident that if we continue to seek the will of God we will continue to do great things at Montgomery Catholic.” New to the faculty and administration, but not new to the Montgomery Catholic family, is vice principal for academic affairs Laura Reilly, at right. A Montgomery native and Montgomery Catholic graduate, Reilly will be returning home after spending more than ten years living abroad, where she served as a teacher and administrator in international schools worldwide. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be named Middle and High School vice principal,” said Reilly. “I look forward to coming home to Montgomery and joining a school community infused with faith and values.” Reilly received undergraduate degrees in history and secondary education at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. She has completed graduate work at The Citadel, Charleston Southern University, Clemson University, and Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. In addition to earning teaching certifications in history, AP US history, and IB psychology, Reilly is also a National Board-certified social studies instructor for grades 6 through 12 and holds a Leadership Certificate from Harvard EdX - Leaders in Learning. Reilly’s career has taken her from the Charleston County School of the Arts in South Carolina to international schools in Malaysia, Israel, Turkey,

and Uganda, where she served in a variety of roles, including classroom instructor, principal, school director and head of school. Her most recent position has been as high school principal at the American Institute of Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. “Laura will be a tremendous addition to our vibrant community of educators,” Castanza said. “Her vivacious personality will be contagious for our faculty and students, and she brings a level of professional experience that will propel our program to even greater heights.” Reilly said, “I look forward to serving the Montgomery Catholic community, getting to know each of you, and joining such a dynamic and welcoming team. The purpose of education is to develop greatness in human beings, and together, we will guide our students and allow them the opportunities to reach their individual potential.” Aaron and Reilly will assume their roles as interim principal and vice principal of academic affairs following the transition of Castanza, who is currently the Middle and High School principal, into the role of Montgomery Catholic president. Castanza will succeed Anne Ceasar, who is retiring in July after serving the school for 16 years.

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June marks the completion of the fifth school year for Pike Road Schools (PRS.) PRS opened the doors for learners in August of 2015 as a Kindergarten through eighth grade school system. This year those eighth grade learners that began with us became part of the inaugural graduating class at Pike Road High School. This is a momentous occasion in the life of our school system. Although this school year did not end as planned we are still committed to providing our FIRST graduating class with a meaningful graduation ceremony that will take place outside on our new football and soccer stadium. Dr. Eric Mackey, the State Superintendent of Education, has been confirmed as a guest speaker. Each

River Region Parents I June 2020

graduate will receive four guest tickets. The ceremony will be livestreamed for those that cannot attend as well as recorded and hosted on the Pike Road Schools website: http://www.pikeroadschools.org/ for later viewing. This will be a memorable event! We are proud of our 99% graduation rate. Our FIRST graduates have received $4.6 million in scholarships so far. We project that amount to reach $5.5 million when numbers are finalized at the end of June. In addition to graduation there are many other events that mark the end of the school year such as, field days, transition visits for rising students, end of the year performances, sports tryouts, and end of the year parties. All of which looked very different this year. I am extremely proud of how our district has transitioned, preserved, and thrived during these unexpected times. Our lead learners did a remarkable job

teaching virtual lessons, providing virtual tutoring sessions, scheduling assessments, even hosting end of the year ZOOM parties. Our CNP staff worked exceedingly hard to provide a much needed curbside meal program, that of as of May 20, 2020 has served 95,373 meals. Our administrators have cheerfully sustained all the aforementioned activities, while working on closing out the 2020 school year and planning for next year. COVID-19 may have disrupted many aspects of our lives but Pike Road Schools has thrived by staying true to our mission: Think, Innovate, Create!

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 Students Help in the Fight Against COVID-19 Pike Road students are contributing to the battle against COVID-19 by using 3D printers to make face shields, chin straps, ear relief straps and replacement pieces for the face shields. School staff delivered printers to students who began work at home creating the protective equipment for health care workers.

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Students are printing, sanitizing and delivering the items on a weekly basis. This effort is being conducted in conjunction with TechMGM, a division of the Montgomery

Area Chamber of Commerce, and Montgomery Fighting COVID-19. 3D printing is a process for making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many successive thin layers of a material. Charisse Stokes, executive director of TechMGM, reached out to area schools about supporting the response to COVID. To help supply schools with the materials needed to build facial shields, Stokes partnered with MGMWERX, a Montgomery-based organization that helps bring Air Force innovations to the marketplace and communities. Stokes asked school leaders if they had access to 3D printers and if their students would be interested in volunteering their time and skills to produce protective wear. Catherine Kenny, a PRS robotics instructor, contacted several of her students who were experienced with 3D printers. Two students already had printers and PRS loaned an additional three new printers to other students who offered to participate. Kenny set up each printer and guided students through the registration process to

participate with the Montgomery Fighting COVID program. She delivered the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3D printers to the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes where students and their parents are working to create the equipment. The Pike Road System and our students are delighted for the opportunity to serve the community. As a project-based learning school system, this provides our learners with an authentic learning opportunity for a real audience. The students are able to apply their skill set to practical outcomes. This requires them to run several trials, adjusting their heat settings and alignments until they reach the correct settings. When the items are printed correctly they are then sanitized and delivered to a designated drop-off location. Pike Road students have been making the items for several weeks now and will continue as long as there is a need. The production of the much-needed equipment is a prime example of what we at Pike Road Schools call the Pike Road Way, a real-life project, for real audiences that involves authentic learning!

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Pike Road Announces 8th- and 9th-Grade Hitchcock Certificate Winners

Congratulations to the Pike Road Schools 8th- and 9th-grade Jimmy Hitchcock certificate winners, shown in order of their names listed: Hinds Duncan, Delaney Hawthorne, Jazlyn Johnson, Vysen Lang, Allie Lovrich, Brent Painter and Aden Strickland.

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COVID-19 Doesn’t Stop Pike Road from Teacher Appreciation

Pike Road Schools celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8. Pike Road Schools (PRS) recognizes the important role each of our teachers plays in the lives of our learners. PRS teachers work tirelessly to ensure that their learners receive a well-rounded education in a fun, safe, caring environment. PRS teachers were showered with appreciation from their students, parents, and the community. Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone and the Town Council members sent teachers a letter of appreciation and arranged for all PRS employees to receive a free cookie from SweetCreek Farm Market. Our PTSA members delivered yard signs and lovely mixed potted plants to each teacher’s home. Students and parents sent numerous words of affirmation via social media, email and snail mail. Pike Road Schools is a truly special place to teach and learn. We are extremely thankful for and are proud of the work our teachers do!

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Pike Road Schools Announces Co-Athletic Directors

The Pike Road School System announces the appointment of co-directors of athletics. Patrick Browning and Joi Washington will serve as co-directors, creating a strong leadership team to lead and support our programs. They will succeed Charlie Boren, who served as athletics director this year. Browning and Washington have years of experience in successful programs as assistant coaches, and each of them have four years of head coaching experience, Browning in football and Washington in volleyball. They are outstanding organizers and program builders, and by working as a team they will both be able to continue coaching as well. As we move into athletic competition in AHSAA class 5A, Browning and Washington’s leadership will help us to continue to have success in building strong athletics that compete well and build the character, drive and discipline of our athletes that will contribute to their success in life.

Pike Road Extends Free Curbside Meal Program

To help meet the needs of our community during COVID-19, Pike Road Schools (PRS) started a free curbside meal pick-up program for children 18 and under. The program that began on March 25 was originally set to run through May. There is still a great need for the curbside meal program in our community; therefore, PRS has extended the program through the month of June. The curbside meal pick-up is every Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at Pike Road Middle School located at 4710 Pike Road. Participants can pick up seven days of lunch meals and breakfast meals and a gallon of milk. Meals typically include Pop Tarts, cereal, fruit, Hot Pockets, pizzas and fruit juice. To date, PRS has served 85,252 meals and counting. River Region Parents I June 2020

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Pike Road Expands, Hires New Principal

Pike Road Students Will Return to Upgraded Facilities

This fall Pike Road High School students will return to a newly completed softball and baseball field, a new football stadium press box, renovations to existing facilities that include: a fully renovated cafeteria, renovated classrooms, renovated locker-rooms, and state-of-the-art workout facilities. The new press box at the Pike Road High School football stadium will hold 12 people with room for camera crews on the rooftop. The facility also has high speed internet and the latest sound and video equipment. The completed athletic facilities will make a big impact on all students, not just the student athletes. Our student athletes have not had practice facilities or home fields. Having a home field advantage will increase the already strong sense of community in Pike Road and lead to more PRS students attending athletic events. Increased enrollment has prompted us to renovate and add classroom space. Twelve classrooms are being added at Pike Road Middle School. The older wing of Pike Road High School (our Georgia Washington campus) is being completely renovated with new entry doors, new windows, new flooring, new lighting, and new HAVAC systems.

The Pike Road School System welcomes Dr. Jason Hadden to the Pike Road family as the new principal of Pike Road Junior High School. Hadden comes to us from Coffee County Schools. He is an experienced principal with proven success in improving his school academically while also building a culture that was safe and supportive for his students. Pike Road Junior High School will consist of grades 7-9, and be housed on the Georgia Washington campus. It will operate as a separate school from Pike Road High School, yet share certain facilities like the cafeteria, the gym, and the P.E. fields. This next phase in our growth will allow our students to learn and grow with similarly aged peers.

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Autauga County Schools

YMCA Names Prattville Senior Christian Leadership Award Winners

Eight Autauga County seniors won the YMCA-FCA’s Annual Christian Leadership Awards with the overall program awards going to two Prattville High School students. “These awards are selected annually by a committee of volunteers who honor young athletes for Christian leadership,” said Committee Chairman Mike Lamar. “These students are nominated by their coaches and administrators for setting a Christian example in their athletic development.” The top award is the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award. PHS defensive lineman and senior Will McQuiston, above left, won that award and a $1,000 scholarship. McQuiston has one of the highest ACT scores at his school and a 4.7 grade-point average. He plans to attend Harvard University and major in either chemical engineering or computer science. PHS senior Madeline Lewis, above right, won the 2020 T.O. McDowell Leadership Award. Lewis was captain of the majorettes for the PHS Marching Band and served in Junior Civitan. She was a tennis team member and attends Prattville’s First United Methodist Church. She played integral roles in Youth Leadership Autauga County and the YMCA Leaders Club. Students from each of the seven high schools in Prattville and Autauga County are honored with a YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Award. These students are then placed in the pool of nominees for the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award and scholarship. Here are the winners for each school: East Memorial Christian Academy winner Keelan Bowers is a basketball player at his school and runs track. Bowers was selected as the MVP for 2019-20, was defensive player of the year and served as team captain. He attends United Christian Church and plans to attend college for physical therapy and play basketball overseas. Prattville Christian Academy senior Ben Miers played football and served as captain for the varsity soccer team. He was a member of the Math and Spanish clubs as well as the National Honor Society. He also led his peers this year as president of the Student Government Association. He is a member of Prattville’s First Baptist Church and plans to attend Auburn Montgomery.

River Region Parents I June 2020

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Billingsley High School senior Tripp Glass played basketball, football and baseball. He served as captain of the baseball team for two years and as captain of the football team for two years. Glass maintained a 4.2 GPA while actively involved with the Beta, Math and Science clubs. He is an active member of Indian Grave Baptist Church and plans to major in engineering. Spencer Goss served as captain of the Marbury High School soccer team for two years and maintained a 4.09 GPA while also involved in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish Club. He is a member of Boones Chapel Baptist Church and is actively involved in the student ministry. He will attend UAB iwhere he plans to major in software engineering. Emma Wendland is the kicker for Autauga Academy’s football team and played soccer for several years. Wendland had a 4.05 GPA and is a leader in her school, church, team and family. She is actively involved in Church Street United Methodist Church and will attend Samford University in Birmingham, where she will major in nursing. Dontrell Wilson is the class valedictorian of Autaugaville High School and was an asset to the school’s basketball program. He is active in the student ministry at Little Elam Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson will attend Troy University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing. Information for this article came from Elmore Autauga News.

PCA Receives National Engineering Distinction

Prattville Christian Academy was recognized as a 2019-2020 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for its Engineering Academy—the only PLTW-certified program in Alabama, in a private school setting. PCA’s Engineering Academy was one of 11 schools recognized in Alabama and the state’s only Distinguished High School honoree for this year. “Your school is one of 143 PLTW high school programs across the country to receive recognition this year,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “The PLTW recognition program is designed to honor districts and schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. These districts and schools are empowering students to thrive in an evolving world and have achieved exemplary results from their PLTW programs.” Since 2013, PCA’s Engineering Academy has grown from 13 students to more than 60 students. This four-year program teaches critical thinking and reasoning skills as well as the opportunity for students to work with their hands in a technologically advanced setting. PCA’s Engineering Academy, along with similar programs, offers students the chance to learn more about the profession they possible want to pursue after graduation. These courses allow students exposure to the industry while learning valuable skills that will assist them in furthering their interests beyond high school. Engineering Academy courses include: Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Civil Engineering and Architecture and Engineering Capstone. “It is a great honor and privilege to be a part of PCA’s Engineering Academy,” said David Dean, Engineering Academy instructor. “I’ve watched it grow from the beginning with students who are dedicated to achieving maximum success in the program and in life.” To learn more about PCA’s Engineering Academy, visit 4pca.org/engineeringacademy.

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Prattville Senior Gets Surprise Visit from Brother at Graduation When Mason Taylor walked across the stage during his Prattville High School graduation in May, he got a bigger surprise than expected—a visit from his big brother. Mason’s older brother Malik Taylor, 23, recently graduated from Air Force basic training and security classes. He won the top award in his class. He has been stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for the past six

months. Mother Ramona Taylor said he told her he had to report immediately to his new base in Warner Robbins, Ga., where he would be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival at the new base. “I just felt like he wouldn’t be here,” she said. But she said Malik then started asking questions about graduation and she wondered if it was because he planned to be there. “I really had no clue, though,” she said. Mason, 18, said he got very emotional when he saw his brother. He said he and Malik are not only brothers, but also close friends. Before the graduation ceremony, he had not seen his brother in three months. “I miss him a whole lot,” Malik said.

Mason won’t be much farther away from his brother in the fall or whenever schools open back up. He plans to attend Miles College in Fairfield and major in sports marketing. He was a linebacker for the Prattville Lions and a senior captain. He was also one of two Buffalo Rock/Pepsi Co-Players of the Year. His grandmother Delando Taylor said Malik’s surprise appearance at graduation tested her in a different way. “I know today that I have a very strong heart,” she said. “I don’t have to get a physical to know this. Malik tested it for me!” Malik could only stay in town for a day before he had to move on to Warner Robbins. The family bumped up its celebration plans so that Malik could take part in the festivities. When asked what they planned to do, both young men said they wanted to eat. Grandma Delando said there would be lots of food involved with the celebration, but not at any local restaurant. “I am the restaurant,” Delando said with a smile. Information for this article came from Elmore Autauga News.

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The 2019-2020 school year has ended, and 749 graduates have received diplomas signaling the end of their K-12 academic careers. This year’s graduation ceremonies were vastly different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school’s ceremony was held on its football field, graduates were limited to a few guests each, and social distancing practices were enforced. I appreciate the understanding of the seniors and their families, and the flexibility of our high school administrators in providing their graduates a ceremony to remember. I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments of these students! The Elmore County High School senior class of 120 students was awarded $2.67 million in scholarships. Thirteen graduates will enter military service, and 68 students are college-bound. Hayden Holton was named the Overall State Winner of the Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award and the first student in our district to receive this prestigious award.

The Valedictorian was Pierson Lett, and the Salutatorian was Taylor Atkinson. The Holtville High School senior class of 100 students has earned $1.5 million in scholarships. Two members of this class will enter military service, and nearly half will pursue post-secondary education. The Valedictorian was Jackson Hand, and the Salutatorian was Blakley White. Stanhope Elmore High School’s senior class of 251 students has been awarded $1.7 million in scholarships. Twenty-three graduates will enter the military, and 69 students will attend college. The Valedictorian was Mildred Dukes, and the Salutatorian was Connor Matthews. Lastly, the 278 students in Wetumpka High School’s senior class have earned over $5 million in scholarships. Nineteen students will enter military service, and 168 students will pursue post-secondary education. The Valedictorian was Isaac Stubbs, and the Salutatorian was Jon Tessier. Our students have taken advantage of a wide variety of course offerings, including Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, and/or Career-Technical Education courses and are well prepared to enter college or the work

force. They have collectively earned scholarship offers totaling over $11 million! Congratulations to our graduates and we wish you well in your new endeavors! In other news, I am pleased to introduce Mrs. Gigi Hankins as the new Wetumpka Elementary School Principal. Mrs. Hankins, a native of Wetumpka, has spent 24 years with Elmore County Schools, the last 12 of which were at WES. One of my favorite aspects of the K-12 education profession is that end of each school year provides an opportunity to reflect, to identify areas for improvement, and make a fresh start at the beginning of the next year. We intend to take full advantage of this time to reflect and fine-tune to ensure that we provide our students with the best possible opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve their maximum potential in the upcoming school year! 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

WHS Valedictorian Named Presidential Scholar

Wetumpka High School valedictorian Isaac Stubbs was recently named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. He is one of only three Alabama students and one of 161 students nationwide chosen to receive this honor. He was nominated by State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. Stubbs was also selected by the Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete Committee as the 6A Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Stubbs plans to begin a two-year mission trip in the Ukraine this summer for the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints. Afterward, he will attend Brigham Young University on scholarship and double major in neuroscience and computer science. The other Alabama students selected as Presidential Scholars are Kittson Hamill from Huntsville High School and Lawrence Zhang from James Clemens High School.

Stanhope Elmore Senior Signs To Play Softball

Elmore County Tech Education Highlight

Unfortunately, Stanhope Elmore High School senior Megan Leigh Smith’s signing day was canceled due to the pandemic, but that didn’t stop the celebration! Smith signed her commitment letter to play softball with Chattahoochee Valley Community College.

Wetumpka High School senior Caleb Harper completed both years of the Medical Sciences program at Elmore County Technical Center and earned the Patient Care Technician CRI (career readiness indicator) prior to graduation. He started working June 1 at Baptist Medical Center East as a Patient Care Technician.

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Redland Teachers Donate Supplies to Help Medical Providers

Wetumpka nurse and parent of two Elmore County students Kathy Grate works at a doctors’ office in Montgomery. When her office started running short on antibacterial wipes and sanitizer, she called one of her daughter’s teachers, Redland Elementary School sixth-grade teacher Lisa West, asking if perhaps she had any extra supplies in her classroom that could be donated. “She said they were cutting one wipe at her facility into four and were almost out of supplies!” West said. “At that time, there were none available to purchase. She was thinking if we had some at school, we could possibly donate a few.” Grate wanted to see if enough supplies were available to help as many first responders and essential workers as possible. “I immediately put the word out in our teacher group,” West said. “Eight teachers agreed and had supplies. They told me where to look and I raided their classrooms before the shelter at home began.” After West got the supplies to Grate, Grate then began a delivery service of supplies to police and fire departments and medical facilities. “She said she couldn’t even remember where all she took them,” West said. “It felt amazing to help in some way! Now I’m collecting again for my best friend who has a brother who works in a lab running the tests for COVID-19. I’m hoping to get a few more teachers involved that may have missed the first round.” If you are a teacher with extra supplies and would like to help, or maybe start your own group, you can contact West on Facebook under Lisa Roberts West, or send a text message to 334-312-6763 if you want to help. The plan is to continue gathering supplies to provide for those who are most in need during this crisis. 43

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Elmore County Schools

Wetumpka Senior Signs with Troy University

Wetumpka High School senior Amelia Nettles recently made a public decision to continue her academic and athletic journey at Troy University under the supervision of Coach Michelle Clayton. Nettles has been a member of the WHS track and field program for five years (starting in middle school) as a thrower. Under the leadership of WHS Head Coach Warren Brown, Nettles has been a state finalist in both indoor and outdoor track and field. She is the Wetumpka High School record holder in both shot put and discus, the discus record holder in the AHSAA 6A Region 2, and a two-time AHSAA state finalist and medalist. Nettles also is the USATF Alabama Junior Olympic discus and hammer medalist. While at Wetumpka, Nettles was also a member of the Wetumpka High School Pride of the Tribe marching band and the Wetumpka High Theatre Guild. Nettles, third from left, is shown with past and present coaches Rob Weighall, Warren Brown and Rashawn Blassingame.

River Region Parents I June 2020

Holtville Graduate Continues Family Legacy

Holtville High School graduate Miles Broom is the fourth generation of his family to graduate from Holtville High School! Broom was a candidate for the Joe Sewell Memorial Award, a recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award, and a recipient of the John C. Whatley Citizenship Award. He has been offered a scholarship to attend Troy University this fall. His mother, Jean Broom, teaches third grade at Holtville Elementary, and his father, Robert Broom, teaches history at Holtville High School.

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Suddenly You're Working at Home with Kids:

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from a Mom Who's Been There by Janeen Lewis When my children were small, I was a freelance writer and homeschooling mom. When they were older, I went back to teaching and they went to school. Now that we’re on an indefinite hiatus, it feels like slipping into a familiar pair of worn jeans.

Here’s some wisdom I gleaned from my stint as a work-from-home parent.

River Region Parents I June 2020

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1. Designate a quiet work zone. Once you envision your work space, it will help you fill in the blanks. Create a work area with access to electronics and a door you can shut so you can concentrate for a specified, uninterrupted amount of time while your spouse is in charge or kids are napping. This space is for work that needs your most focused attention. Do not feel guilty about shutting the door. These are unprecedented times. A tip for parents of babies through five-year-olds: You’re an exception to the closed door. Your children may have to play next to your desk. Still, keep a designated quiet zone for those times when you can work alone.

2. Move around with a laptop desk.

Kids are suckers for routine.

7. Reward them.

4. Work at weird hours. Get up as early as you can, but tiptoe because, no lie, kids hear every creak and cough and they will get up with you even if it’s 4:30 a.m..! Stay up late if you’re a night owl. If your spouse can care for kids in the afternoon, make those your new office hours. When I’ve done this, it allowed me to separate work time and kid time and they got to have all of me instead of me on a computer.

Purchase a lap desk online and have it delivered. This has been crucial in allowing me to work in any room in the house. When my kids were little I answered emails, made work to-do lists, researched on the web and jotted notes while they played on the living room floor or watched “Sesame Street.” I wrote on my laptop at the kitchen table while they ate.

5. Create busy bags or boxes.

3. Plan realistic schedules.

6. Pull out that old fridge box.

Make a schedule that is different than it would’ve been two weeks ago. If you’ve limited screen time in the past, give more now. Make time for reading, physical exercise, unstructured play and chores. Don’t introduce any activity that you can’t live with indefinitely or that is too rowdy while you work. Give the schedule time.

If your kids let you work for a specified amount of time during the week, reward them with a special activity like a game night or cooking or baking lesson.

Every evening make sure your children have bags or boxes with items for them to keep them busy the next day. Include books, coloring books, crayons, markers, colored pencils, worksheets, educational games, arts and crafts. Include kids in choosing, so they have lots of items they’re interested in.

Grab empty Amazon boxes, or if you saved that refrigerator box, now’s the time to reveal it to your kids. When my son Andrew was six and my daughter Gracie was 3, they built an elaborate “cave” system from old moving boxes in our den. It kept them busy for hours, and I got lots of work done.

8. Admit you need help. There is no shame in saying “I can’t do this alone.” But how can you get help with social distancing? Why not let a relative or friend Face Time or Skype with your kids for chunks of time while you work? It might be the next best thing to an in-person nanny.

9. Be kind to yourself. At some point everything will derail while you’re on an important conference call. Keep doing the best you can. That’s all you can do.

10. Embrace the positive. None of us were expecting to work and parent at home indefinitely, but there is a bright side. I’m getting to enjoy more time with my kids. My 13-year-old and I played a kiddie board game one day and laughed the entire time. Keep positive and use this unexpected time to make memories. rrp

Janeen Lewis is a mom, writer and teacher. She has been published in several parenting magazines across the country.

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TikTok Safety Tips

Make sure tweens use their real age to create an account.

Manage TikTok with These Easy Settings

If you’re going to allow your tweens to join TikTok, insist that they register with their actual birth date. The app offers a limited experience for users under 13 where they can watch videos and create their own clips for private viewing, free from the data tracking the company collects on users over 13. However, access to that area of the app only requires the user to enter a birth date -- and there’s nothing to prevent older users from joining as an under-13-year-old.

The wild-and-wacky short videos of TikTok continue to gain popularity among kids, adults, and even celebrities. But the app has had some problems, such as illegally collecting data on users under 13, notoriously inappropriate comments, and awkward settings that can leave you with unwanted followers. Still, its viral “challenges,” creative tools, and just-plain-fun features mean your kids are probably going to want it. Tik Tok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, Facebook, or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports), and hashtags to find videos. Or you can use your phone contacts or social media followers to find friends already on the app. Many kids on Tik Tok like to create videos, but plenty of people don’t post themselves -- they just use the app to find and follow content creators. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless, creative fun, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you have to use privacy settings to limit how much information you and your kids are sharing. Kids can post stuff without reviewing or editing it first. There have even been reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. And in 2019, TikTok paid millions to settle with federal regulators who charged it violated children’s privacy law. Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the app. Anyone under the age of 18 must have approval of a parent or guardian -- but there are plenty of young tween users. If your younger kid or tween wants to use the app, the account should belong to an adult who can monitor what younger users are browsing and sharing. There’s also the section of the app mentioned above that’s meant for kids under 13 that restricts access to mature content and comments, but since entering a false birthdate is easy, it’s still best for older teens. That being said, here are some tips to keep your younger kids safe if they are on TikTok: River Region Parents I June 2020

Have fun using the app together with younger kids.

It’s a great way to spend quality media time together. Plus you can supervise them and advise them on responsible use so they have good habits when they get older. The following settings are located in the Privacy and Settings section. To get there, go to your kid’s profile page and click the three-dot icon (“...”) on the top right.

Make your kid’s account private. TikTok accounts are public by default, meaning anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and post comments. Help kids turn on privacy settings so only people they know can interact with their videos or message them on the app. Select Privacy and Safety. There, toggle the switch for “Private Account.” Limit comments. TikTok comments can be inappropriate. Restrict the audience that can post comments on kids’ videos to Friends only -- or turn them off entirely. Again, select Privacy and Safety. Review the settings, including: Who can send you direct messages; Who can comment on your videos; and Comment filters. Limit time and inappropriate content. TikTok offers features to help limit kids’ time on the app as well as videos that may be inappropriate. You can protect these settings with a passcode so kids can’t change them back. Alternatively, you can download the TikTok app and use the Family Pairing feature to manage your kid’s account from your phone. Select Digital Wellbeing next to the icon of an umbrella. There you’ll see settings for Screen Time Management, Restricted Mode, and Family Pairing. 48

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Y O U R H E A LT H OUR MISSION

“The birthplace of higher expectations.”

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River Region Parents I June 2020

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There is no denying that there are differences between how moms and dads parent their kids. Just because dads may do things differently than moms doesn’t mean their parenting style is less beneficial to kids. A different perspective on how to handle challenges, how to have fun, and how to show affection is great for kids.

Here are some great ways dads are different. Dads play differently When I watch my husband interact with our kids, I notice one major difference, how they play together. My husband will often hide and when the kids start looking for him, he will jump out and scare them. He fills water balloons for an hour to have a water fight that lasts five minutes. He spends time building Legos and helping the kids learn how to follow the instructions. He wrestles with, laughs with, and good-naturedly teases the kids. They love it. Most of these things I would rarely do, some I would avoid if possible. Dads have a way of bringing silliness and fun into our kids lives, usually in the form of a game. The kids love it, the dads love it, and it strengthens the bond between them.

Dads are more flexible This may not apply to all dads but many are a little more flexible than moms. When I was a little girl my mom had a weekly night out with her friends and my dad was in charge. This often meant fried

egg and ketchup sandwiches and staying up late watching TV. I remember one day dad let us have ice cream for dinner. We walked to the ice cream shop and my brother and I ordered bubble gum ice cream cones. By the time we had walked home, we were covered in a sticky mess. Instead of a bath dad sprayed us down with a hose, took us inside and changed us right into our pajamas and called it a night. We all laughed the whole time, including my dad, and I remember thinking how mom would never have allowed that. The next night we went back to our normal routine but those little moments of silliness and flexibility taught me that sometimes it’s okay to set aside the rules and routine and have fun.

Dads show affection differently Kids enjoy snuggling up with both mom and dad but, in addition to sitting together reading a book or watching a movie, dads have a way of showing affection

that is different from mom. They wrestle, tickle, and roughhouse. They lift kids up on their shoulders and carry them around and often spend time roughhousing and showing affection in a totally different way than women typically do. They carry kids to their beds and throw them onto a pile of pillows, which is usually rewarded with giggles and a shout of “Do it again!” Dads have a knack for showing affection and having fun at the same time.

Dads encourage kids to try new things I love how my husband encourages the kids to try new things. It is usually easier for me to just order food for the kids when we are at a restaurant, but my husband lets them speak to the waitress themselves and order their own food. This teaches them independence and how to be comfortable speaking to other adults. If they are too shy to do so, he pushes them out of their comfort zone and tells them they can do it, gently encouraging them to try something new. There are so many situations like this. Dads often will push kids to try new things, learn to do things themselves, or tell them to follow the directions on their own. There may be differences between how moms and dads parent their kids, but neither is right or wrong. Each parent has something unique to teach their kids and different ways of showing love. rrp Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer for numerous parenting publications.

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Paper Play Turns a New Page

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

With an abundance of paper in most households, from packaging and grocery bags to junk mail and printer errors, this plentiful medium is ideal for children’s crafty explorations. Paper absorbs colors, cuts and tears with ease, and becomes three-dimensional with just a few folds. Handcrafts and textile arts are wonderful academic companions to traditional learning, honing abilities that emphasize planning, spatial awareness and attention to detail. Boosting self-esteem and manual dexterity along the way, the following craft projects let kids follow paper trails toward new avenues of creativity and learning.

by Gerry Paige Smith

Recycled Paper Beads Kit

Paper Flying Dragons (Klutz)

(4M)

Imagination takes flight with Paper Flying Dragons from Klutz! For young fans of fantasy and flight this kit includes everything a dragon master needs to build his own magnificent menagerie. Complete with ten cardstock sheets of vibrant graphics, each sheet features punch-out dragon parts to craft a unique beast. There are also additional sheets for building hatchlings and a robo-dragon of your own design. The 48-page instructional book offers excellent guidance and troubleshooting tips for budding crafters. While the aerodynamic performance is limited, the outstanding visual outcomes are perfect for display or even hanging as a mobile for maximum impact. Paper Flying Dragons soars as an ideal combination for crafty hands and fanciful minds.

Random Acts of Flowers

Gamenote Origami

The Recycled Paper Beads Kit transforms paper strips into versatile, colorful, recycled works of art. Simply insert strips of recycled paper from newspapers, comic books or magazines into the bottle-mounted beading tool and turn the handle. The spindle winds the paper into a tight, compact coil that seals with just a dab of glue. Once the bead is ready to remove, the spindle space offers the channel to thread them together. Using elastic string (included), fishing line, or embroidery floss, these easy, homemade beads are perfect for jewelry projects, ornaments, wall art and more. A brilliant combination of green recycling and industrious crafting, the Recycled Paper Beads Kit from 4M cranks out limitless creative options!

(Gamenote)

Introducing the art of paper folding to a new generation of artisans, Gamenote Origami includes everything needed to turn flat paper into three-dimensional marvels. Starting with ten sheets of practice paper, basic folding skills (rhombus, triangle, double diamond, and square folds) are introduced through the instruction guide. With the basics mastered, the kit offers fifty-four coated tear-resistant sheets in colors and graphic styles that enhance new origami projects. Additionally, the sheets feature numbers and names that correspond with the instruction book, easily pairing guidance with each project. An example of guided learning through repeated actions, origami offers subtle introduction to mathematical concepts, geometry, symmetry, and fractions, all within the surrounds of artistic crafting. Perfect for building skills and self-confidence at the same time, Gamenote Origami brings new skills into the fold.

(Renegade Made)

Tissue paper flowers with their soft edges and translucent color are perfect for little hands just learning to craft. With no sharp edges, messy glues or rigid shapes, the Random Acts of Flowers kit has everything needed for a child to build flower power. With tissue paper squares in colors and prints, floral stem wires, leaf gift tags, chevron ribbon, a bandit mask for secret delivery, and a ‘Take One’ vase, young florists only need a pair of scissors to blossom. The guidance for this kit is based on crafting flowers for gifting to others anonymously. The leaf tags encourage recipients to create their own random gifts while the hanging vase offers free flowers when hung in a public space. While there are other tissue flower kits available, this particular pairing of crafting with altruism is irresistible, offering both satisfaction of creativity and the comfort that generosity shares with the giver.

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

River Region Parents I June 2020

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Studies show that children are born compassionate. But studies also show increasing rates of narcissism among college students. So somehow the empathy children are born with is getting worn thin by the rock tumbler of life and being replaced with self-centeredness by the age of eighteen. How can concerned parents reinforce traits like empathy, compassion, and citizenship from a young age, and continue to model them as a family for children? Even though the media tends to emphasize generosity during the colder months of the year, and especially leading up to the holiday season, summer is the perfect opportunity to model neighborliness, community service, and giving to worthwhile causes. Kids of all ages will want to participate in giving adventures, since there are so many fun ways to contribute. Even if kids are initially reluctant, they will get hooked once they see how generosity benefits other. Kids often get bored during summer, and adventures in giving offer much-needed outlets for kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; considerable energy. These activities fit well in the nooks and crannies between summer school, camps and family vacations. Go ahead and celebrate kind acts with a sweet treat like an ice cream cone or a smoothie afterwards. Giving is its own reward, but it never hurts to reinforce generosity of spirit from a young age. Here is a list of ideas to help your family get giving.

1. Volunteer Outdoors. Help clean up your city parks, drive meals to shut-in seniors, clean out vet kennels or participate in a city-wide rummage sale. Your townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online calendar is a good place to get more information on community service events. 2. Capture Gratitude. Create colorful postcard to mail to teachers, coaches and instructors who have helped kids blossom in the past year. Keep the message short and sweet infuse the message with creativity.

3. Encourage Bookishness. Sign up for a summer reading program. Purchase new or used books. Then go through your shelves and remove books you no longer treasure. Donate them to your local library or resale shop.

4. Plant Ahead. When planting summer vegetable gardens, plant an extra row or two for the local food bank. Look online to check their policies before you plant.

5. Clean Out Cabinets. Search your kitchen for food items that have not expired. Stop at the store on the way to the local food bank if you need a few more items. Charities are usually flooded with donations around the holidays and need support during the rest of the year.

6. Delight Someone. Painting rocks is a fun summer activity that can be done indoors or out, alone or with family and friends. Taking your painted stones on the road and hiding them for unsuspecting new friends to find turns this craft activity into an adventure. For inspiration, check out paintedrocklife.com. A great program for K-1st repeaters

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won’t melt in summer’s heat are: granola bars, meats in a pop-top can, foods in pouches, applesauce cups, nuts, dried fruit, beef jerky, mints, hard candies and gum. Don’t forget plastic silverware and napkins.

7. Let Go Of Large Items. The sunny weather is your chance to move larger items without damaging them. See if you can fill your trunk or borrow a truck to deliver items to your local resale shop without a scratch.

11. Sweat For A Cause. Visit active.com to find local walking, running or cycling races in your area and then participate as a family.

8. Transform A Plot Of Dirt. Know a particularly dingy intersection with a median that is full of litter and weeds? Pull together a renegade seed posse to quickly pick up that trash, yank those weeds, rake the dirt, and lay down a combination of annual and perennial seeds. Give the patch a good watering, then watch it blossom over the course of the next year. You’ll be able to say, “We did that,” every time you drive by. (Be sure to check with local authorities beforehand.)

12. Spread The Fun. Declutter the attic, basement, garage, shop or shed. Dig out that outgrown outdoor gear, sporting goods and outdoor toys and donate them to a local family shelter.

every item in their rooms. Consider the best ways to donate or store little-used items. Create a memory bin where each child can stash prized possessions, but don’t go beyond one bin per child.

10. Create Blessings. Here are some good ideas for summer blessing bags to give to homeless folks in your area: bottled water, glasses wipes, hand sanitizer, lip balm, sunscreen, a sturdy comb, toothpaste, travel-size shampoo and conditioner, band aids and large Ziploc bags. Some sturdy foods that

River Region Parents I June 2020

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eligible. This is a great opportunity to teach citizenship in a memorable way, and you just might save a life.

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14. Ship Some Love. Send playful care packages to elderly relatives who live far away. Draw a picture, write a poem, or make a handmade card. Include little things that surprise and delight them. If you are not sure what to send, maybe it’s time for a video chat.

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13. Bare Arms. Donate blood with teens, once they are

9. Banish Bedroom Clutter. Ask your kids to touch and sort

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15. Build Small Sanctuaries. Make baths for birds and butter-

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often prey on butterflies. Tuck both types of baths into areas with easily accessible shelter.

mitments. Then let them do that. Everyone will feel refreshed afterwards.

16. Encourage Relaxation. Make homemade spa gifts for friends and neighbors. Bath salts, face masks and hand scrubs are fun to craft and will be cheerfully received. Search for natural-based recipes online that utilize what you grow in your garden.

21. Support A Hobby. If your middle-schooler is into baking, why not take those fresh out-of-the-oven cookies and make a plate for a family dealing with some bad news. There is no better feeling than seeing someone joyfully receive something you created.

17. Dump It Good. Find a safe place to store garbage unsuit-

22. Sell For A Cause. Set up a weekend lemonade stand and con-

able for local trash pick-up throughout the year. Then gather the family to load up the car for an annual dump pilgrimage. Children need to visit dumps to understand the importance of recycling.

tribute half or all of the proceeds to a charity of your family’s choice.

23. Help The Earth Breathe. Plant a tree to help support clean air for future generations. Join the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org and they will send you ten trees to plant where you live.

18. Rise And Shop. Purchasing fresh food from your local farmer’s market makes a fun morning outing and supports local small businesses. Don’t just shop, chat with the vendors as you sample their wares and share photos of goodies on social media to help spread the word.

24. Pull Together. You don’t have to be the Von Trapp family to put on a backyard concert. Whether you are a family of readers, musicians or poets, come up with a summery way for the whole family to share what you enjoy doing.

19. Share Your Bounty. When new neighbors move in, dig up a sampler of flowers or veggies from your garden to help them start theirs. For the rest of your neighbors, gather seedlings, flowering plants or bouquets of flowers and drop them by the front door with a kind note.

25. Chill It Forward. Give the kids money to pay for the ice cream cone or smoothie of the next customer after you and make someone’s day. rrp Author, journalist and writing coach, Christina Katz is a big believer in the power of everyday kindness to create healthy connections and transform the future of the planet.

20. Take A Day Off. Declare a slow day! Ask your children what they would do with a full day at home with zero com-

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A Page in a Book It’s About Time Every parent knows that a child’s sense of time is very different from that of an adult. Our reminders that the playdate ends in ‘five more minutes’, the car ride will only take an hour, or vacation is still two weeks away - these measures mean little to most kids under the age of five. Our concrete concepts of time are still unfathomable abstracts to most young children. Children, especially pre-clock-readers, exist in the present, their sense of time still evolving. The following titles celebrate time from a child’s perspective with reassuring messages that remember the past, acknowledge the present and offer inspiration for the future.

Here and Now by Julia Denos, Illustrated by E. B. Goodale (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Before they understand the past or the future, children are steeped in their world of ‘now’. They are hungry now, sleepy now, and ready to go now. This title takes a meditative turn on how to fully experience the present moment. From its mindful start in the reader’s time and space, the story slowly expands outward, touching on things that are also experiencing their own ‘here and now’. Multimedia images lead the reader toward a blade of grass pushing up through cement, a future friend waiting in a café, and a cut that is healing - all at the same time. The peaceful guided meditation in Here and Now explores the vitality in present moments, offering an ideal start for kids just learning to mark time in their day-to-day lives. (Age range 4 - 8 years)

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Almost Time by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, Illustrated by G. Brian Kass (Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Ethan knows that maple syrup is the perfect partner with pancakes. So when his pancakes arrive one morning topped with applesauce (because the maple syrup has run out), he knows that sugaring time is on approach. But how long will it take for the sap to run and the maple syrup harvest to begin. Ethan’s dad offers various ways to measure the time until maple syrup is back on the menu. ‘When the days get warmer’, ‘When the nights are shorter’ are some of his father’s benchmarks for when to tap the maple trees. Even Ethan’s loose tooth becomes a measure of patience as it works toward its own release. Building anticipation toward a seasonal event with measures a child will understand, Almost Time serves up a calendar-free countdown to a delicious ending. (Age range 4 - 8 years)

The Magical Yet y Angela DiTerlizzi, Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez (Disney / Hyperion) Even though the child feels ready to ride a bike, the setbacks that come with mastering the skill make them want to quit. Each tumble and stumble seems to confirm they’ll never master the task. But just when they’re ready to quit, a magical ‘Yet’ appears. The Yet’s magic reminds the child of the other times, times when they couldn’t walk (yet), and talk (yet), past milestones they mastered with patience and perseverance. Approaching their bike with new inspiration, the young rider takes the reader on an unexpected journey toward success. With rhythmic text that acknowledges the challenges of trying something new (and clever endpapers that deserve extra attention), The Magical Yet celebrates the rewards that come with faith in the future and forward motion. (Age range 4-8 years)

Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.

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has prepared them for their next ones. It seems time goes by more quickly with each passing year; I haven’t been able to grasp it in at least 10. It’s a cliche, but try to allow yourself to be in the moment. Celebrate how far you and they have come. In a way, “raising children” doesn’t adequately describe our jobs as parents. We are raising adults, hopefully upstanding citizens who are dedicated to their families and their communities. Enjoy watching them develop into themselves. It’s not about you. RRP: You have other children who are quickly approaching their senior years. Is there anything you will do differently with them than you did with Brasher?

Christina Miller

Christina: I can’t really think of much we’ll do differently with the other three. For the most part, we let them select their own course of study in high school. We’ll let them lead the way on what colleges they’d like to visit, too. I think I’ll be a little more relaxed during the application process. Everything is scarier with the first child. I’m not a huge fan of the unknown. Seeing it work out well for Brasher helps ease my anxiety about the others. It gives me such joy that he is getting to attend his first-choice school. I don’t really take much credit for that, however. Hopefully the others will be as fortunate.

RRP: What advice do you have for moms who are about to have their first child move away from home? Christina: I am so excited for Brasher. I think he is going to absolutely love college. My advice is to let them go. Don’t make them feel like they have to worry about you. Don’t make them feel guilty for leaving. Show them you trust them to make good decisions, and that you’ll be there when they make bad ones. My parents set a great example for me. They didn’t seem to worry about me moving away. At the same time, I always knew I could go to them for help when needed. They instilled me with the confidence to forge my own path. I hope we have done the same for Brasher.

RRP: In this time of the COVID19 pandemic, how has parenting your children changed? Do you find that you are relaxing rules a bit more, or have you had to enforce new rules? Christina: I am not “living my best life” during the pandemic. I am extremely extroverted, and I miss people! Parenting has been harder, I think. I like schedules and rules, and I have sometimes found it difficult to know which rules to follow and when to enforce or let go of the schedule. I guess I am relaxing rules a bit. We have no set bedtimes or mealtimes. I’m letting the kids sleep in (unless there is a Zoom meeting, of course). We’re all having a lot more outside time, which is a welcomed change. I’m grateful we live in a neighborhood where they have the freedom and luxury to walk and ride their bikes. And the weather has just been fantastic, almost perfect! Oh yeah, and we just got a puppy, a big one. I don’t think that would have happened under normal circumstances. We’re taking advantage of our time at home. As always, we’re just trying to focus on the important things and let go of the rest. That said, I am grateful for “new mercies” each morning. I try to offer my children and myself a lot of grace. I certainly need it.

RRP: What is one lesson you are glad your graduating senior has learned from you? Christina: Brasher has a great group of friends, a diverse group of friends. I think he learned the importance of deep friendship from his father and me. I pray he is able to maintain those friendships well into adulthood. There’s nothing like growing up with people and having friendships that last a lifetime. RRP: What is the most important piece of advice you have for mothers who are entering into those last “Firsts”? (Last first day of school, last back to school night, etc.) Christina: Soak it all in as much as possible. Trust the work you’ve done over the last 18 years. So often, I have found myself rushing through life to get to the next big milestone. Whoever said, “The days are long, but the years are short,” summed up my experience of raising children. Hopefully, each step they’ve taken

River Region Parents I June 2020

Christina Miller has been married to Brian for nearly 24 years. They have 4 children. Christina is passionate about public education and serves on the PTA at her childrens’ schools. She cherishes the “framily” she has found here in Montgomery.