Help Alabama
Shine!
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint research project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its purpose is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not in order to aid in the development and assessment of programs designed to identify high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. New mothers are randomly chosen from the state birth registry to participate in PRAMS. Surveys may be returned by mail or completed over the phone. Let your voice be heard!
“Happy to be part of this survey.”
“Thank you for checking on us!”
Actual comments from survey responses.
Moms who complete the PRAMS survey receive their choice of a cooler bag, diapers, or manicure set! Responses are kept confidential to the extent of the law. For more information, please call us at 334-206-2923 or go to alabamapublichealth.gov/PRAMS ADPH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, genetic information, and other federal, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding 1 nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Civil Rights Coordinator: ADPH CRC, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1010, Montgomery, AL www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents 36104, Tel. 334-206-5226, or email crcomplaints@adph.state.al.us.
1
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
River Region Parents I October 2020
2
www.riverregionparents.com
11180
Telehealth brings the doctor to you.
See a primary care physician or specialist on your tablet, laptop or smartphone.
With our Telehealth service, The Jackson Clinic makes it simple and convenient to see a physician from the comfort of your home – or wherever you go. It’s available to the whole community, from Greenville to Prattville. And new and current patients are welcome. Just visit us online and schedule your appointment to talk with a doctor on your video device. Primary care physicians as well as a full range of specialists are available. Whether you prefer to visit us virtually or in person, we’re here to help you and your family stay healthy. To learn more about Telehealth, visit JacksonClinic.org.
3
om
111800_JACK_RebuildAmerica_7_75x10c.indd 1
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
7/24/20 10:29 AM
O
4
K w
Ea
O ar pl
River Region Parents I October 2020
4
www.riverregionparents.com
om
October2020
Columns
50
46
Volume 25 Number 10
8 Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
14 Montgomery Education Matters by Dr. Ann Roy Moore, Interim Superintendent
Keeping in Touch with Grandparents
Easy ways to stay connected.
COVID-Friendly Halloween
Celebrate with these fun ideas!
52 24
58
AND
35 Pike Road Education Matters by Superintendent Charles Ledbetter, Ed.D.
40 Elmore Education Matters by Superintendent Richard Dennis
48 Dinner’s Ready by Kimberley Carter Spivey
Our guide shares what’s going on around town and nearby. Make plans now to enjoy these events!
Helping Kids Make Good Decisions Celebrate
56 Parenting, Media & Everything in Between Common Sense Media
Departments On The Cover Olivia Massey (age 6) is a Kindergartner at Redland Elementary School in Wetumpka. Her proud parents are Brent and Beth Massey and she is expecting a baby brother next year. Olivia enjoys dancing, twirling and doing gymnastics at Dance Generation in Montgomery. She also loves to sing and her favorite color is purple!
5
12 Teacher of the Month 16 School Bits 67 Movie Reviews 68 Mom to Mom
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Editor’sNote
Parents
As we continue to move through a very difficult year, I’ve found it helps my attitude to look for daily blessings, large or small, and express thankfulness. It’s all too easy to focus on the negative as we continue to deal with COVID-19, social unrest in our nation, adjustments in schooling for our children, and the list could go on. If we aren’t purposely mindful of what we have to be grateful for, we may spiral down and find ourselves living most days in sadness and frustration. Taking time to see and appreciate the good can make all the difference in how we feel and, in turn, how well we love our families and friends. As we head into October, I’m grateful that our homeschooling adventure with Grace is going quite well. While it is a challenging undertaking, especially with Jason and I both trying to work full time, we are working as a team and Grace is thriving in her education. I’m also thankful that we are headed into a beautiful (and cooler) time of year. Fall has finally arrived, and even though it may look different this year, as has pretty much EVERYTHING, kids and parents are still excited to enjoy all that the season brings. In this month’s issue, be sure to check out COVID-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Halloween, where Sandi Schwartz shares creative ways to ensure a safe, but super fun, Halloween night! We have also included our Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun Guide, which although smaller than years past, still offers many activities and events your family can enjoy here in the River Region and nearby. If you and your kids have been missing their grandparents due to COVID and having to social distance, flip to page 46 where Tanni Haas shares 6 easy and meaningful ways to connect in, Keeping In Touch With Grandparents During the Pandemic. Consider choosing one idea per week to put into practice. It is bound to keep their relationship strong until things get back to normal. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we can (and must) think outside the box and find ways to stay optimistic, stay connected and make the best of a very unique set of circumstances. Hey, we have made it this far! Our kids have watched us weather many difficulties since March, and that will have a positive impact on them. See there...that’s another blessing for which we can be grateful (wink!). Have a wonderful October! May it be filled with fall fun and family memories with those you love most!
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 Tanni Haas, Ph.D Christa Melnyk Hines Dr. Charles Ledbetter Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Dr. Ann Roy Moore Sandi Schwartz Kimberley Carter Spivey
Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com
Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com
Advertising Accounts Manager Savannah Bowden (334) 213-7940 ext. 704 adservices@keepsharing.com Digital Manager Scott Davis Advertising Opportunities (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 ads@riverregionparents.com
DeAnne
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.
River Region Parents I October 2020
6
M
www.riverregionparents.com
1
s
rinciple d signifigazine is process.
MEDICARE Open Enrollment October 15, 2020 – December 7, 2020
Have Questions?
1.800.243.5463 What is SHIP? SHIP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Through SHIP, certified counselors and volunteers are available to help you make informed choices about health benefits. Counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not attempt to sell insurance. SHIP Can Help You: ◼ Understand your Medicare ◼ Determine which Part D Plan best fits your needs ◼ Enroll in a plan of your choice ◼ File a Medicare claim or appeal ◼ Answer questions about your health insurance
g LLC, nts is ction in ssed in necesement
om
7
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Riding the Waves of Parenting I was at the beach recently, soaking in one last weekend of summer. As I sat in that sand taking in the vast ocean scene before me, I couldn’t help but watch a group of three girls attempting to navigate the intricacies of a paddleboard in Atlantic Ocean waves. Overall, they were incredibly successful when the waves were calm, however the problem entered in when a large wave would come and one of them would inevitably fall off. Because I can do nothing in this life without viewing everything through the lens of a social worker, I was impressed with their problem-solving ability. Most notable was the way they would shift positions and attempt to counterbalance their collective weight, in an effort to keep their craft afloat. At one point, the one that was solidly and securely navigating the board with her paddle decided to jump off, in an effort to better allow everyone else to readjust their position and approach. Though on the surface, her behavior and actions didn’t make any logical
River Region Parents I October 2020
sense, it ended up being the key to their eventual success and stabilization. That’s because as they tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed, it turned out that a major adjustment was needed in order to move forward. The “leader” of the three eventually realized that and she took action to bring about a better end result. I think this is such a perfect picture of parenting. It might be all smooth sailing for awhile, everyone safe and grounded in their current roles and responsibilities. However, when a rogue wave comes, it can necessitate some alteration in your navigation and approach. I say this to encourage you that when you feel like you are operating out of your depth, don’t be afraid to make some adjustments. Have the clarity to recognize those deep waters and understand that you can gain some success, but it is going to necessitate some parental adjustment and flexibility. And here’s the good news: That’s okay!
8
If you’ve ever watched a young toddler begin to learn to walk, you know that he doesn’t get it right the first try. He falls and gets back up. And he falls, and he gets back up. This process stays on repeat until he figures out the rhythm and cadence required to, literally, put one foot in front of the other. Very few toddlers that age get frustrated when they {inevitably} fall down 72 times a day. They just keep getting back up and getting back up and, eventually, they have solidified a skill set wherein they now have capacity and ability to walk successfully. The same is true for you and your parenting process. The waves will come, it will be scary and uncertain, but hang in. Stay the course while making some necessary adjustments, and just watch what can happen. 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.
www.riverregionparents.com
w e d
nd oot hat } p nd, et bil-
e,
r’s n he
tor
and
om
9
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
2020 Alabama Cotton Festival
Saturday, October 10 * 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 145 W Main St, Eclectic Hosted by the Town of Eclectic, this is a family event held every year on the second Saturday in October. Browse the wares and unique items offered by more than 100 vendors! Also check out or participate in the art and photo contest, dog show, chicken race, 5K Cotton Run and Fun Run, Cotton Queen pageant, antique car show, antique tractor show, military vehicle display and Cotton Museum! For more info, find us on Facebook.
AUM Offers ACT Test Prep Classes
October 5-22 Learn ways to decrease test anxiety and increase your skills with the Reading/ Language, Science, and Math sections of the exam. *Students can choose to attend class in-person or online using the Zoom web application. Masks are required for attending in-class sessions.* Classes will meet Mondays through Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. Books will be provided at the first class meeting. Students may take the complete review ($309) to learn all subjects, or take a specific subject ($119). Call (334) 244-3804 or visit www.aum.edu/coned. Complete Review: October 5-22 ACT Language Review: October 5-8 ACT Math Review: October 12-15 ACT Science Review: October 19-22
MPAC Shows Alabama & Auburn Football Games
Saturdays through December 5 With restricted attendance at SEC games this season, Montgomery Performing Arts Centre will show University of Alabama and Auburn University football games on its giant, 30-foot screen.Times vary depending on weekly game schedules. Chefs at the Renaissance Montgomery will cater a public tailgate before each game. No reservations needed, and admission is free. All COVID-19 protocols will be followed, including face masks and social distancing. Visit http://www.mpaconline. org/events/ for details. River Region Parents I October 2020
9th Annual Pike Road Plein Air Paint Out
October 16-17 Dozens of artists from across Alabama and beyond will visit the Town of Pike Road to record scenic views and local character on canvas. Throughout the day on Friday, October 16, artists will disperse around Town in search of scenes that catch their eyes. The community is welcome to observe these artists as they bring their paintings to life. Artists will continue painting throughout the day on October 17, and all paintings will be turned in to the Pike Road Arts Center (944 Wallahatchie Rd) by 5 p.m. for display and sale. Due to current health precautions, the Plein Air Paint Out Art Show & Sale will be available to the community virtually beginning Sunday, October 18, via the Pike Road Arts Council’s Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/PikeRoadArtsCouncil/) and www.pikeroad.us. As the event approaches, the Town of Pike Road and Pike Road Arts Council will continue to monitor health and safety guidelines, and plans for the Paint Out will be adjusted as necessary. “Like” the Pike Road Arts Council on Facebook for updates of this fall-favorite event!
10
Share Veterans’ Stories for Pike Road Collection
This year, as we seek to provide new and meaningful ways of showing our appreciation for the military population in the Town of Pike Road and beyond, we invite you to participate in the collection and preservation of veterans’ stories. Our intention is to build a virtual library of memories and stories that can be shared with the community in honor and remembrance. From service-related memories to special times shared at home, we hope you will consider sharing with us. Follow this link to access a Veterans’ Story Collection Interview Guide, which can be utilized by everyone, especially those who are trying to capture someone else’s story: https://bit.ly/2DMuWBs. Stories submitted to info@pikeroad.us by October 30 will be shared as a part of our 2020 Veterans Appreciation celebrations. Submit written narratives, photos, videos, or audio recordings in the following formats: written stories in a Word document or PDF; pictures in .PNG or .JPG; videos in .mov or.mp4; audio files in .mp3 or .wav. Please feel encouraged to connect with us if you need any assistance collecting your story.
Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads
October 31 * 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Not only will you find a working blacksmith and a grist mill, but you’ll be treated to a Pumpkin Patch, wagon and pony rides, scavenger hunt, a much larger petting zoo, festival food items, and of course our Blue Ribbon Pie and Cake Baking Contest (with cash prizes), plus LOTS more. Alabama Department of Public Health Guidelines will be followed for the protection of all. For more info, visit https://www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com/. www.riverregionparents.com
a th a o in G c o s d
o w ra a o g re C o
re th in fe T S
jo o
n
e
Discover Girl Scouts!
COVID-19 has school-aged children across the state and country confined to their homes and limiting their activities and social engagement. But Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) is bringing the exploration, fun and learning of Girl Scouts to your family even when circumstances are holding you back from other activities. After all, Girl Scouts is not somewhere girls go or something they do—it is who they are. The inclusive, all-female environment of a Girl Scout troop creates a safe space where girls can try new things, develop a range of skills, take on leadership roles, and just be themselves. “As the expert on girls, GSSA is uniquely poised to help girls and their families adapt to our new reality,” says Karlyn Edmonds, GSSA CEO. “This year, we will even have the option for girls to join Virtual Troops!” GSSA is hosting weekly virtual registration sessions via Facebook Live through October 15. Parents can tune in and hear more about Girl Scouting, different troop options, and how to register. To find a full list of all of the Discover Girl Scouts events, visit their Facebook page! Not a Girl Scout yet? No problem! To join or volunteer, visit www.girlscoutssa. org/join or call 1-800-239-6636.
Alabama National Fair
October 9-18, 2020 Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive The Alabama National Fair is back with its many activities, exhibits and midway amusement rides. They will ensure guests enjoy all these opportunities safely and have provided safety plans for you to view online. Unsure of when a certain event is happening and don’t want to miss it? Check out the daily schedules at www.alnationalfair.org!
Hay, Look at Us! Hay Bale Decorating Contest
r
-
Webtackular Spider Hike @ Alabama Nature Center October 31 * 10 a.m. Join one of our ANC naturalists as we explore some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails looking for cool spiders and their webs. General admission applies and includes this awesome program! For more info, visit www. alabamawildlife.org/ or call (334) 285-4550.
Each fall, dozens of neighborhoods, businesses and organizations participate in this Pike Road community-favorite tradition by decorating hay bales in themes like Halloween, harvest and in support of the Pike Road Schools Patriots! Coworkers, neighbors and organizations spend quality time with each other creating their entries. Then, everyone can enjoy these masterpieces with a driving tour around town. Creations will be completed and ready for viewing by October 22, and a driving map will be available at www.pikeroad.us. You may also view a photo gallery on Facebook and vote for the coveted “People’s Choice Award:” www.facebook.com/townofpikeroad.
h
o, e h
or -
om
11
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
William Brock Floyd Middle Magnet School
artwork depicting all of my sayings, mannerisms, and funny things that happened that year. When I opened it I was confronted with myself. It was the only time I’ve ever cried in front of students.” Diana Young, who nominated Brock for Teacher of the Month, wrote that she has been impressed with his dedication to his students, especially during this time of virtual learning. “He sends out a video update weekly and never seems to stop caring for his students. He pushes them to do their best while also being supportive and encouraging. He admits that he doesn’t know it all about this virtual learning thing and is learning along with the kids, which I think is super important for children to hear and know.” “It’s very important to me that the parents are happy with what I do in the classroom, so it’s a wonderful feeling to be recognized for your efforts,” said Brock of being named Teacher of the Month.
This month’s featured teacher didn’t set out to become an educator. In fact, William Brock was on the road to becoming a doctor and was enrolled in pre-med classes when he started hearing from fellow classmates in a math course. “I had gone back to college as a Pre-Med student and was leading a study group in Calculus. One day another student said, “If you were teaching this class, I’d be making an A.” It was a real compliment because our instructor was, of course, a full-tenured professor. I didn’t change majors immediately, but that moment planted the seed. After a lot of soul searching, I realized where my interest and talent lay, and I changed course.” It’s that change in course that has landed the Floyd Middle School Math teacher at the top of his field, garnering county teaching awards, as well as many praises for his teaching style from his students and their parents. Now in his 23rd year of teaching at Floyd, Brock said that one of his favorite teaching moments happened when his students presented him with a special gift that highlighted his ability to make his students excited about learning. “A couple of years ago my students presented me with the Book of Brock at the end of the year. It was a leather-bound book of their
River Region Parents I October 2020
William Brock teaches Geometry, Algebra, and Mathematics 8 at Floyd Middle Magnet in Montgomery. He holds his undergraduate degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and his master’s degree from Alabama State University. Prior to teaching, the Montgomery native served in the Army after graduating from Lee High School in 1986. He was the 2016 Montgomery PTSA Teacher of the Year award winner for middle school. He is also a licensed pilot and former owner of a Taekwondo school in Eufaula.
12
www.riverregionparents.com
om
Our Next Episode:
How to Establish, Utilize and Maintain Credit. A lunchtime webinar serving up bite-sized financial advice. October 15th, 12:30pm MyGuardianCU.com/Lunch-Money
13
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
So Pl Let’s Put a Stop to Cyberbullying If COVID-19 has taught us anything over the past several months, it’s the power of technology. Many of us are hosting video-conference birthday parties, Zooming with family reunions, and helping our students learn virtually. Because our students are online most of the school day, it’s imperative we monitor their online activity. October is designated as Cyberbullying Awareness Month. As educators, parents, and grandparents, it’s important to monitor our children’s technology habits and watch for warning signs of cyberbullying. According to www.StopBullying.gov, cyberbullying is defined as bullying that takes place over digital devices such as cell phones, computers and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, text, apps, social
River Region Parents I October 2020
media, forums or gaming platforms where people can view, participate in or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful, false or cruel content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else, causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. National research provided by www. StompOutBullying.org shows that 18% of students in grades 6 to 8 said they were cyberbullied at least once over the past two months. In addition, 17% of 6- to 11-yearolds and 36% of 12- to 17-year-olds shared that someone said threatening things to them by email, text messages or in chat rooms. These bad behaviors are happening when children are connected to their devices and may go unnoticed by parents. I’m encouraging parents and loved ones to have open conversations with children about any forms of bullying. Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) has a strict bullying policy in place and does not tolerate any forms of bullying. If students feel that they
14
are a victim or would like to report any known act of bullying, we encourage them to follow the steps listed in the MPS Code of Student Conduct manual. Parents, you can help prevent or stop your children from being a part of cyberbullying. Here are a few tips: • Have conversations with your children about what’s going on in their social lives. • Set screen time limits to reduce the number of hours your child spends on their devices. • Plan engaging family activities where there are no cell phones or other electronics. A good family game night may do the trick. • Lastly, report any known bullying to the proper authorities. As we continue to move forward together, let’s also work to end cyberbullying together. For more than four decades, Dr. Moore has educated the children of Alabama. From her first post as a pre-school teacher, to her administrative work as a principal, central office curriculum specialist, superintendent, and her mentoring the next generation of teachers as an adjunct professor at colleges and universities, teaching is her passion.
www.riverregionparents.com
Soccer Player
Math Whiz
of
Loyal Friend
Dyslexic
l-
Creative
en
ms. e cs. .
the ol
nd
ng
om
Does Your Bright Child Struggle with Reading, Writing, and Spelling?
Parent Consultations
Dyslexia Testing
Customized Intervention
Check out warning signs of dyslexia at readwritelearningcenter.com 15 251.625.4020
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Montgomery County Schools
ACA Football Team Elects New Season Captains
Every year the Alabama Christian Academy football team votes on its team captains. This year these young men were voted football captains by their peers: seniors Miller McCarthy, Will Wright and Jalen Clark; and juniors Trey Schlemmer and Jack Thomas.
Dalraida Teachers Display Spirit of Teamwork
Teachers throughout the Montgomery Public Schools district have been using creativity and teamwork to make the best online learning environment possible. Fifth-grade math teachers Donna Miller and Lashonda Haigler have a setup that provides the most benefit for their students. In this photo, Miller is teaching the class on camera while Haigler monitors the Zoom meeting to ensure students are entering, staying muted when necessary, staying on task, and doing everything else they need to do. Meanwhile, there is a second camera that is recording the lesson so they can upload it to YouTube for students who missed it the first time. These dedicated teachers and others do this every morning to ensure students continue to receive a quality education.
Macon East Varsity & Junior Varsity Cheerleaders Hold UCA Cheer Camp
Macon East Academy held its annual cheer camp recently and was able to work on team skills for the season such as stunts, jumps and routines. The UCA staff worked one-on-one with each team to help them learn and improve their overall skills. The girls learned the material that they will work on to perform at competition later this fall. They were able to perform their routines on Facebook Live for their friends and family thanks to the Macon East Sports Network. Eight team members were honored as UCA All-American cheerleaders, an honor given to select individuals who have exemplified showmanship, poise and technique. Seniors Mary Hunter Wright, Mary Lawson Norton, Alyssa Clark, Georgia Blaze and Junior Rachel Major were among the cheerleaders selected from the varsity squad. Freshman Kaiden Byrom and 8th-graders Katie Kitchens and Alexis Davis were chosen from the JV squad. Pin It Forward Recipients were Blaze, Kitchens, Major and Byrom. Pin It Forward is an award that recognizes athletes for being a leader by setting a good example for their peers, having great spirit, and having a positive attitude. Major and Kitchens were the Jump Off Winners during the cheer camp competition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp was held at Macon East Academy and included social distancing measures, rules about face coverings and cleaning practices. Front row from left are Head Cheer Coach Kindall Bishop, Hannah Kate Hodges, Ryann Moseley, Rachel Major, Georgia Blaze, Mary Lawson Norton, Lexi Eversole, Payton Underwood, Katie Kitchens, Jaden Rossell and Cheer Coach Summer Kyser. Back row: UCA Staff Julianna, Mikalah Belser, Austin Gorman, Hendley Culpepper, Ar’monni Payne, Breann Morrison, Alyssa Clark, Mary Hunter Wright, Kaiden Byrom, Kacy Rutland, Shamaiah Thomas, Alexis Davis, Jordan Rossell and UCA Staff Taylor Smith. River Region Parents I October 2020
16
Eastwood Congratulates National Contest Winner
Eastwood Christian School student Amelia Jean Freeman is a State Grade-Level Winner in the 29th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting contest. Participation in this contest promotes legible handwriting and helps students develop literacy skills. Approximately 280,000 students participated in last year’s contest. Freeman is pictured with Wendy Patterson, her handwriting teacher last year. www.riverregionparents.com
y
y
-
s
e co s
s
s
a
n
n
om
17
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Montgomery County Schools
TEA Academy Making School Work in the Midst of COVID-19 Leaders and school administrative officials have had to make decisions to ensure that the safety and well-being of teachers and students are not compromised. However, closing schools completely has never been an option. At the onset of the pandemic, alternative solutions had to be put in place and implemented expediently; the simulated or virtual platform was the way to go. So, what are schools doing to make it work in the midst of COVID-19? The reality is that most students were already using technology socially, so using this technology was easy for most students to adapt. Educators had to bridge the gap to incorporate the phones, tablets and computers as a means of communication more effectively. With this teaching method becoming increasingly popular, the students at TEA Academy are adapting well to this new normal. The students were already acclimated to using various forms of technology for research, subject-matter applications, and reinforcements. So, when the schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
educators had to rely solely on technology and become more creative in their teaching methods. The Schoology app is one resource many public and private schools are utilizing as their virtual classroom platform. To become proficient using this program, training was essential. TEA Academy also uses the ABEKA curriculum, Khan Academy, and a few other applications to teach and interact with the students. This also gives the staff the opportunity to diversify using a variety of formative tools to ensure the students are learning the material. As the students grow more comfortable with this platform, the teachers are observing that they are more engaged and are more willing to interact. Educators are passionate about their chosen profession, and while the students’ academics take center stage, TEA’s faculty continues to attend webinars and workshops to be further equipped to teach in this evolving virtual environment. So, yes, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with purposeful and strategic planning, innovative methodology,
and creative thinking, this school term will be a success. TEA Academy highlights Bonnie Robinson, a graduate from Alabama State University, with a degree in science, although she took a detour to work with the Montgomery Police Department for more than 30 years working in various capacities, to include serving as the administrative assistant to the Chief of Police until retiring. Robinson has been a part of the TEA Academy staff for four years teaching science, English and effective communication skills; she is a key team player at her church where she usually coordinates programs and activities and is a Sunday School teacher.
B L
p d p ta c R
to th a la r ti th
M F C
M r r ( t a d s a 4 River Region Parents I October 2020
18
www.riverregionparents.com
s m-
s
om
Bear Offers Curbside Library Pickup
Bear Exploration Center has been putting books into the hands of its students with its Curbside Library Pickup program. Librarian Laurie Houlditch has taught students how to use the online catalog and how to take Accelerated Reader tests. Students are able to reserve five to 10 books in their reading range using the online catalog to keep at home for a month. Parents drive through the bus lane to pick up the books their students reserved. Bear designates different pickup times throughout the day to accommodate the schedules of all their parents.
GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR ME
Evangel Christian Academy Encouraging each child to achieve their God-given potential
AISA Blue Ribbon School “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord... Jeremiah 29:11
3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36106 ecalions.org 334-272-3882
Accredited: ACTS, AISA, SACS, Advanced ED, NCPSA
Montgomery Academy Fourth-Graders Enjoy Cross-Curricular Study
Montgomery Academy fourth-graders read Avi’s Poppy as part of their summer reading. The story follows a heroic mouse (Poppy) who bravely outsmarts the dastardly owl, Mr. Ocax, to save her family and friends. Over the last few weeks, students have engaged in a cross-curricular study that included owl pellet dissection, a birds of prey class through the Alabama 4-H Science School and more! 19
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Montgomery County Schools
Montgomery Catholic Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
On September 9, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School proudly announces senior Harrison Skala as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Skala will have the opportunity to compete for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. More than 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. A member of the Montgomery Catholic Cross Country team, Skala has attended Catholic five years. He is the son of Ben (Montgomery Catholic Class of 1992) and Julie Skala of Wetumpka, and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Montgomery Academy Holds UCA Cheer Camp at Home
Montgomery Academy Cheer held an “at home” Universal Cheerleaders Association camp recently. Eight cheerleaders were named UCA All Americans including all six seniors: Elisabeth Spencer, Raines Miller, Maddie Sinco, Laine Martin, Jordan Hosp and Ana Slack and eighth-graders An Wilkes Cavanaugh and Anna Stevenson. Four cheerleaders were named “Pin It Forward” recipients and were recognized for their leadership, kindness and encouragement throughout the week: Slack, Martin, Cavanaugh and Lucie Parker.
River Region Parents I October 2020
20
www.riverregionparents.com
M S
S A d s
om
ACA 5th Grade Spends Week at STARBASE
MEA Fourth-Graders Enjoy Summer Reading Students in Marjorie Johnson’s fourth-grade class at Macon East Academy completed their study of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White by doing character studies of Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig. Each student was rewarded by taking home their very own Charlotte to enjoy.
21
The Alabama Christian Academy fifth-grade classes had an amazing opportunity to participate in STARBASE Maxwell. This is a premier educational program that focuses on motivating students to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as they continue their education. Each day the students had hands-on experience like working on computer aided design and exploring the metric system. The ACA students wrapped up their week at STARBASE by applying what they had learned about the engineering design pro-cess by designing and programming robots for a Mission to Mars, along with designing a rocket for launch.
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
L N
Montgomery County Schools
A m th s C O W
SUA’s Brown Elected AISA SGA Representative
Success Unlimited Academy senior Amiracus Brown was selected as the 2020-2021 Alabama Independent School Association District 5 Student Government Association representative. Brown is the daughter of Felecia and Jeffrey Brown. In her two years at SUA, she has been the SUA Mustang cheerleader captain, as well as a member of the yearbook staff and math team. Currently, Brown serves as the SUA SGA president, a Mustang football water girl and P.E.A.R.L.S. Community Service chairman. Drama and music are her passion, and you will find her as an active performer in multiple performances on campus. Brown plans to pursue a double major in theater and pre-pharmacy and is considering attending either Auburn University or UCLA.
Montgomery Academy Students Engage in Morning Meetings
Lower School students at Montgomery Academy participate in Morning Meetings every day. During their meetings, the students practice speaking and listening, making eye contact, building camaraderie, and discussing their learning.
Please send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.
River Region Parents I October 2020
22
www.riverregionparents.com
LAMP High Names 13 National Merit Semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Program has announced that Loveless Academic Magnet Program has 13 National Merit Semifinalists. That is more semifinalists than any other school in Montgomery County and more than many schools in the state that are two or three times larger. LAMP’s semifinalists are Jaehee Ashley, Jenny Baek, Minkyung Cho, Claiborne Davis, Alexis Dryjanski, Vishnu Gunda, Shannon Kim, Odeth Leal, Hayoung Lee, Eli Nutt, Daniel Park, Josiah Wong and Woojeong Yang.
Baek
Cho
New Head of School Shares at ACA Chapel
Ashley
Dryjanski
Davis
ECA Receives Blue Ribbon Award Again
,
om
Alabama Christian Academy’s Head of School Greg Glenn shared with the senior class on the importance of dreaming big dreams. “You can have the greatest year of your life but you have to win your day! Winning each day will help you win your week, and that leads to winning your month. Then with God’s help, you can make your big dreams a reality and have a winning life.”
Gunda
Kim
Leal
Nutt
Park
Wong
Lee
Yang
Evangel Christian Academy was recently named an AISA Blue Ribbon School. The Alabama Independent School Association awards this top honor to schools that excel in instruction, staff development, academic performance, student life, leadership and community interaction. ECA excelled in all areas. The school hosted community service and outreach programs. The students were also given the opportunity to compete in many extracurricular activities and academic competitions. ECA has received the blue ribbon award for several years and looks forward to continuing to excel both inside and outside of the classroom.
BACK TO SCHOOL NEUROFEEDBACK SPECIAL! Schedule your FREE initial consultation today!
Help for :
ADHD / Learning Disorders Anxiety / Stress / Migraines Depression / Mood Migraines / Much More!
SAVE 1,500 $
www.herbshopwellness.com 23
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Montgomery Montgomery County Schools
Eastwood Honors School Board Chairman for His Years of Service
The Eastwood Christian School Board recently honored Jeff Dunn, who joined the ECS Board in 2012 and recently stepped down as chairman after seven years. Dunn was presented with a wooden chair engraved with the Eastwood crest to express the school’s appreciation for his servant leadership and commitment while serving the families, faculty and staff of Eastwood Christian School.
MEA Juniors Participate In Virtual HOBY Seminar
River Region Parents I October 2020
E p D
Churchill Welcomes New Teacher
Churchill Academy is delighted to welcome Mrs. Angie Simmons to the Churchill Academy family! Angie is an Orton Gillingham certified dyslexia specialist with over 27 years in education. She graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Special Education/Specific Learning Disabilities. With the firm belief that all students have the ability to learn, Mrs. Simmons approaches her daily classroom efforts with individual learning styles in mind. Having coached cheerleading teams to national titles and soccer teams to victory in schools statewide, Mrs. Simmons is committed to the whole student learning experience and a healthy school community. She is a tremendous asset to Churchill Academy. Welcome to Churchill Academy, Mrs. Simmons!
Macon East Academy juniors McKinnon Hammonds and Luke Noffsinger recently participated in the Hugh O’ Brian Youth (HOBY) Virtual Leadership Seminar. They heard from a diverse group of speakers and learned how to contribute more effectively to a group. Hammonds and Noffsinger were selected by their teachers based on their current leadership on and off the campus.
24
L B
www.riverregionparents.com
1 b o p to in s to fo 2 a h
o ed
l
s
o
om
Saint James Announces National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists
LAMP Student Rebuilds Butterfly Habitat at Bear
Butterflies will be back at Bear Exploration Center this spring thanks to a project by LAMP High senior Claiborne Davis. Davis, a member of Boy Scout Troop 15, decided to give back to his old school by rebuilding its butterfly habitat as part of his Eagle Scout project. Eagle Scout projects allow Scouts the opportunity to develop leadership skills by organizing and directing volunteers to assist in seeing a project through from conception to completion. This project was personal for Davis because he attended Bear from 2008 to 2014. Now current Bear students and teachers can look forward to filling the habitat with butterflies this spring.
Saint James seniors Paige Hemmer and Zach Ohliger have been named 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists, a prestigious honor awarded to approximately 16,000 students nationwide, from 1,500,000 entrants. Identifying these academically talented high school seniors across the nation provides them the opportunity to continue in the scholarship competition vying for one of 7,600 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in the spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. More than 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the title Merit Scholar. Paige Hemmer, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Chris Hemmer of Millbrook, plans to pursue a career in the theatrical world, with a focus on classical acting and costuming. In pursuit of this goal, her next step includes a preference for a small liberal arts college environment. Her top school choices currently are Furman, Rhodes College and The University of the South (Sewanee). Zach Ohliger, son of Col. and Mrs. Charlie Ohliger of Montgomery, joined Saint James in middle school as his family moved to Montgomery so his father could attend an Air Force education program at Maxwell Air Force Base. Ohliger touts the Saint James Band program as his most influential extracurricular activity. He is considering colleges that have an excellent engineering program.
25
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
E C
Montgomery Montgomery County Schools
Dalraida Teacher Receives WSFA Class Act Award
Misty Trussell recently received the WSFA Class Act Award, after she was nominated by one of her students and his family. She teaches third- through figth-grade gifted students at Dalraida Elementary School.
Montgomery Academy Varsity Volleyball Team Wins MAC Attack Volleyball Tournament Please send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.
River Region Parents I October 2020
26
www.riverregionparents.com
C e f s b o t o D ( T p in w b n g E T p t S L
a m D s C s D n S M O W a l S
om
Eastwood Christian Holds School Clay Shoot/Family Event
Eastwood Christian School families gathered at Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club on September 11 for a time of patriotic and solemn remembrance. The school families enjoyed a time of fellowship while sharing a picnic-style barbecue supper outdoors. Under the supervision of Coach Woody Dozier, the ECTST (Eastwood Clay and Trap Shooting Team) presented a shooting demonstration which was followed by an opportunity for registered guests to shoot. The Eastwood Clay and Trap Shooting Team placed second in the Alabama High School Clay Target League last year. Pictured are the team members: Cole Dozier, Hudson Mathews, Claude Newsome, Gus Dozier, Bennett Bozeman, Steadman Meadows, Olivia Gross, William Givens and Jack Whatley (not pictured, Sophia Conoly).
27
SUA Students Adapt To Remote Learning
Many Success Unlimited Academy students are adapting seamlessly to remote learning in light of the COVID19 pandemic. Numerous SUA parents chose the remote learning option for their student for the 2020-2021 academic year instead of the traditional onsite model. Remote students work independently at home as SUA faculty provides lesson plans and supervises their curriculum and learning. Carol Batiste, a kindergarten teacher at SUA, has continued to challenge her remote students with activities and projects. For Cathe Pouncey, the science project was to create an eruption similar to volcanic activity. She used warm water, baking soda, vinegar and red food coloring to replicate the eruption. Pouncey was caught by surprise at the experiment’s outcome as evidenced in this photo.
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
(Still) Serving Children Safely
Macon East Welcomes Students Home in Red, White and Blue Fashion!
Macon East Academy teachers, staff and parent volunteers worked hard this summer to come together for a fun welcome back theme for the students.
S B
h g p B
ChildrensAL.org
It has always been our priority to ensure the safety and well-being of each child in our care — and that remains our commitment as we continue our mission during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continuing with the theme and coordinating lesson plans, second-graders researched and reported on some important United States presidents. The students then shared the unique facts that they learned with their classmates.
q q q q
All visitors are screened immediately for signs of illness and fever. We follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities. Our staff practices safe hand hygiene. We are wearing masks for your safety. Thank you for wearing your face covering. All visitors to campus are required to wear masks. Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing guidelines.
River Region Parents I October 2020
28
g e
a
Here’s how we have redesigned our operations to keep our patients and their families as safe as possible: q q
e a c
The third-grade class learned how to draw the Statue of Liberty. Students watched a “directed drawing” lesson. The students had to pay close attention and follow along to create their own drawing. Even our youngest Knights participated by going to the polls! They learned about voting and casted their votes on which pet our President needs – a dog or a cat. The winner was a dog.
www.riverregionparents.com
Be ha
!
s
t
om
Saint James School Peewee Girls’ Basketball Program Underway
The Saint James School Peewee Girls’ Basketball Program had a wonderful opening day on September 20. With thirty-nine girls in grades 2-6 participating, they practice once a week and play one game per week. The program is led by Head Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Katie Barton. Fundamentals of basketball, teamwork and sportsmanship are emphasized throughout the 7-week program. The girls also form a connection with the varsity and junior varsity players who help coach and mentor them during this time. Above, the 2nd- and 3rd-graders are shown after their first game of the season with three of their high school student coaches, KK Hall, Katie Irving and Hope McCain. Below, 4th- and 5th-graders are all smiles behind the masks after their season opener.
Below, 6th-graders had a great first game after putting in a lot of hard work.
29
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Montgomery Montgomery County Schools
TEA Academy Completes First Nine Weeks
Since the beginning of the 2020-21 school term, TEA Christian Academy’s faculty has continued to attend weekly professional development training. TEA is grateful for the agencies facilitating these virtual workshops because the invaluable information has allowed the faculty to become more proactive and better prepared for the new normal way of teaching. We are working in all areas to make certain students follow scope and sequences to help bridge learning gaps, as well as conduct (parent, student and teacher intervention meetings). TEA Academy’s staff has observed more student engagement in the virtual learning platform while using various learning techniques. More frequent formative assessments of the subject matter have also proven to be very effective, which allows the students to better understand and retain what they have been taught, thereby making discussions more interactive. Their enthusiasm toward learning has created a more desirable virtual experience in the teaching arena. While it is still a work in progress, whether in the physical classroom or the virtual classroom, the optimal goals are to assure the students are learning the material, applying it correctly, and developing critical thinking skills. St. Jerome said it best, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.” TEA Academy will continue to “Take an Extra Step towards Educational Excellence!”
Montgomery Academy Wins Mayor’s Cup Volleyball Tournament
Montgomery Academy’s Middle School volleyball team won the Mayor’s Cup Tournament.
River Region Parents I October 2020
30
www.riverregionparents.com
C h fe th li h to h to h
le fi y S v C D
ro B S K S
a h a H F
e
om
Alabama Christian Academy Honors Hometown Heroes on 9/11 Alabama Christian Academy had an incredible few moments under the Friday night lights September 11 honoring our Hometown Heroes. We had the opportunity to honor some local heroes: John Bailey has been a firefighter for 28 years, is a United States Air Force veteran and currently, he serves as a Fire Crew Chief at Maxwell Air Force Base Fire Department. Dr. Kristi Witcher is an emergency room physician and also the chair at Baptist East Emergency Department. She is the Chief of Staff at Baptist East. Kristi also served during 9/11 in the United States Air Force. Brandon Deason is an ACA alumni and graduated in the class of 2001. He has been a fireman for the Air Force, then a firefighter for the City of Montgomery. He served our nation as a part of Iraqi Freedom and spent years in Kuwait.
hospice patients and their families in their homes. Lieutenant James Powers is a Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic. He spent two years as a firefighter in Heavy Rescue, three years as a fire sergeant in The HazMat unit and is currently stationed on Norman Bridge Road. Dana Wingard is a 1996 alumni of Alabama Christian Academy who went on to graduate from AUM’s Nursing School and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree in 2002. She has held various positions in both Labor and Delivery and Pediatrics and now serves as ACA’s campus nurse.
Chris Faulk has served as an executive security officer at the Governor’s Mansion and attended the Trooper Academy. Currently he serves as a State Trooper Corporal with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in the Capitol Patrol Unit under the Protective Services Division. He is also assigned to the Auburn University football detail where he is assigned to the security and escort of all visiting football teams. Emily Henry has been an RN for 17 years and has worked in critical care and surgical recovery units. She is currently a hospice case manager RN caring for
SAVE $100 ON AN ACADEMIC EVALUATION* (VALUED AT $195)
STOP LEARNING LOSS WITH HUNTINGTON ADVANTAGE! IN-CENTER OR ONLINE TUTORING • Reading • Writing • Spelling • Phonics
• Math
K-8, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus
• Sciences
• Study Skills • Subject Specific • Homework Help • ADHD Program
3251 Malcolm Drive, Montgomery, AL 36116
TEST PREP • SAT/ACT • PSAT/NMSQT
334-277-9200
• Advanced • State Tests Placement (AP)
www.HuntingtonHelps.com
©2020 Huntington Mark, LLC. Independently Owned and Operated. SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) are registered trademarks of the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. None of these entities were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this program. *Offer valid on Academic Evaluation. Not valid with any other offers. HLC3889.1
31
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
A A
Montgomery Montgomery County Schools
Eastwood Names Nat’l Merit Semifinalist
Eastwood Christian School senior Preston Hamilton has been named a Semifinalist in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. He now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represent less that one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are among the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The qualifying test for the National Merit competition is the PSAT/NMSQT, which is given to high school juniors each fall. To help them prepare for this test, students at Eastwood also take the PSAT in 10th grade and the PSAT 8/9 in the 8th and 9th grades.
Two MA Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
Montgomery Academy seniors Abby Baird and Gradyn Holbrook have been named Semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program! These academically talented high school seniors will continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), approximately 1.5 million entrants from more than 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Roughly 16,000 students qualified as semifinalists. To qualify as a semifinalist, a student must exhibit an exemplary academic record, submit a scholarship application and earn a qualifying score on the SAT.
Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@riverregionparents.com.
Call 334-549-8955
32
ce a g
p tiv th st S o A a to K
fo th p o in sk st
d h
A great program for K-1st repeaters
River Region Parents I October 2020
a d sc
www.riverregionparents.com
l
Alabama School of Math and Science Opens Admissions Application for 2021-22 School Year
The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) has opened its admissions application for the 2021-2022 school year. ASMS is Alabama’s only fully public and residential high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science and the humanities. ASMS draws students from all 67 counties in Alabama and gives students greater access to quality education, academic opportunities and leadership development. Therefore, applying to ASMS is FREE, and tuition, room and board are FREE! Current 9th- and 10thgraders in the state of Alabama are eligible to apply for this admissions cycle. “Being accepted to ASMS is a prestigious honor. We have a competitive application process that considers the whole student. At the same time, any student who is interested should apply. Students enter ASMS with varying levels of academic foundations, but they leave ASMS excelling on every level, inside and outside the classroom,” says Director of ASMS Admissions and Outreach Ken Robinson. ASMS is for students who are ready for an accelerated learning environment that challenges them to maximize their potential. ASMS is set apart by its academic rigor, residential learning environment, leadership opportunities, and research focus for students. Through experiential learning in laboratories, innovation spaces and the community, ASMS students grow to a higher level of knowledge and skill compared to their peers. ASMS has a transformative effect on student success and pushes students to be the very best version of themselves. This fall ASMS is hosting webinar information sessions for interested prospective students and families. More information is available on our website. Apply now or learn more at https://www.asms.net/ and https://www.asms.net/admissions.
MEA Football Player Carlos Carter Recognized Macon East Academy student-athlete Carlos Carter was recently announced as the Montgomery Quarterback Club’s Private School Player of the Week. Carter is a senior running back who rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns in Macon East’s 42-38 win over Southwest Georgia Academy.
m t rs
5
om
33
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Pa bra
ACA Senior Named Quarterback Club Player of the Week
Alabama Christian Academy senior Jalen Clark was named The Montgomery Quarterback Club Player of the Week for Week 2 of the high school football season. Special thanks to Kendell Leverette and Allen Farr for coming to our campus and presenting Clark with this award.
MEA’s Straw Attends 2020 Montgomery Youth Tour
Macon East Academy student Kerry Anne Straw was selected by Dixie Electric Cooperative to attend the Montgomery Youth Tour. The three-day event was held in downtown Montgomery, and she was able to tour historic sites, meet with state legislators and learn about co-ops, leadership skills and make connections with other delegates. River Region Parents I October 2020
34
www.riverregionparents.com
Ho de the the the gri Ho the to
n k
om
The 2020-21 school year is well underway, and numerous events and activities are taking place across our district. Our students have participated in National Literacy Day, started a social distancing Pen Pal program, and created a 9/11 remembrance visual, to mention a few. Pike Road High School hosted a fun Homecoming week, where all PRS students were encouraged to dress up for the theme days. The week concluded with the Pike Road Patriots facing off against the Charles Henderson Trojans on the gridiron and the crowning of the PRS 2020 Homecoming queen and presentation of the Homecoming court. It has been a good but different start to the school year. Our teachers and ad-
ministrators have done a phenomenal job getting school restarted amidst a health pandemic. We have over 2,400 learners in grades pre-K through 12th grade. To meet our learners and their families’ needs this year, Pike Road Schools offered three different learning modes, traditional, virtual, and blended. District-wide, 20% of our learners chose the virtual or blended mode of learning. From what we can tell, mask-wearing in class for our traditional learners is working to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The few positive cases we have had have not resulted in classroom transmission to others. To help ease the burden of the economic effects our families are experiencing from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pike Road Schools is pleased to be able to provide all of our students’ free breakfast and lunch. Funding for these free meals was made available through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended
waiver program. This funding is currently available through December 2020. Excellent teaching and learning are taking place in our classrooms and through our virtual platform. We are continuing to learn and make adjustments to improve virtual instruction. Our fall athletics teams are performing well, with cheerleading, cross country, football, and volleyball. All teams are making Pike Road Schools and our community proud. Playoffs will be upon us soon, as will the beginning of winter sports. The future of Pike Road Schools is bright. Keep an eye on us as we continue to lead the way in education and make our district the best it can be. 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.
Help Them Learn and Grow
To: 227744444488
ABRPIGTHVT w! Sign up no
A free service featuring activities, games, and resources for people who care for young children. tailored to your child’s age from pregnancy to 5 tips cover developmental milestones, brain development, social-emotional behavior, nutrition, and more messages from trusted sources like:
ply. data rates ap Message and p. 274448 to sto to OP ST xt Te lp. 274448 for he Text HELP to
PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS Logo are registered trademarks of PBS. Used with permission. The contents of this ad were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A150003, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
35
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
P P L Pike Road High School Students Remember 9/11
na on T lif
Nineteen years ago, a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks were made by the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda on the United States of America. These attacks happened on the morning of September 11, 2011, and are often referred to as 9/11. A total of 2,977 people lost their lives in the attacks. 2,977 is a large number to visualize. Precalculus and AP Calculus students at Pike Road High School (PRHS) created a visual to help conceptualize just how many lives were lost. Students numbered sticky notes one to 2,977 and placed them down the hallways of Pike Road High School. Each sticky note represented one person who lost their lives in the attacks. Students discussed the fact that each sticky note represented much more than one person. It represents a family, a community, and a support system. All classes at PRHS were invited to view and discuss the 9/11 visual. Students certainly gained a deeper understanding of the vast number of people that were negatively affected by the attacks.
Pike Road School Provides Free Meals
All students at Pike Road Schools can now receive meals free of charge, whether they are on campus or learning remotely. Funding for no-cost meals was made available through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended waiver program. This extended waiver allows PRS to offer all students breakfast and lunch at no cost. The PRS Child Nutrition Program had to apply for acceptance to the program through the State Department of Education. However, there was no paperwork or registration required of the parents or students. Meals are served in the dining room at each campus during the students’ regularly scheduled breakfast and lunchtime. Virtual learners are given a specific time each day to pick up their meals. At this time, the program only extends through the end of December. When we return to school after the winter break, Pike Road Schools will transition back to our regular dining program.
River Region Parents I October 2020
36
D pa fu co
PRES Students Start Pen Pal Program
Pike Road Elementary (PRES) learners get a little spring in their step every time they head to the mailbox. Due to COVID-19, Mrs. Creel’s learners are with her all day, so they thought it would be fun to send other classes at PRES letters. The pen pal program that Creel’s class started has taken off! Students love getting mail from their peers. The act of letter writing has tremendous benefits for both the writer and the recipient. The program has even fostered lasting friendships. The pen pals have paraded by the other classes to meet their new friends.
www.riverregionparents.com
fu te tim
e
PRES Students Participate in Literacy Day
September 8 is recognized as International Literacy Day. The day focuses on the importance and value of literacy. The theme highlights literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective. In celebration of International Literacy Day, Pike Road Elementary learners participated in numerous activities that are fundamental to literacy. Learners enjoyed completing word sorts, creating sound patterns and participating in readalongs. International Literacy Day gives us reason to pause and be thankful for the parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and others who invested their time to help us learn to read and write.
Pike Road Patriots Remain Undefeated
The Pike Road Patriots varsity football team is midway through the season and is undefeated with a 5-0 record. Players have done a great job adjusting to the challenges of moving up two classifications from 3A to 5A. Every week is approached as a new season, trying to go 1-0 for that week. We will continue to take the same approach in the playoffs as we hope to build off of making the second round last year. We thank the community for all of their support and hope the Patriots continue to make you proud both on and off the field.
-
r
om
37
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Autauga County Schools
Prattville Jr. High Holds Motivational Moment
During our inservice days, community members around Prattville provided a few minutes of encouragement to our faculty and staff. It was a phenomenal way to welcome Prattville Junior High teachers back to school and keep a positive mindset in the middle of a pandemic. Shown is Duwan Walker (Walker Enterprises), who pumped us up and got us ready to tackle the year head on! Other awesome leaders were: Paul Bonner (ALSDE), Dr. Jason Wingate (Troy University), Tara Chambliss (Chambliss Engineering), Katy Nolette (72- year-old college grad), Quincy Minor (Uniti Fiber/Wing it On), Jeremy Arther (CEO Chamber of Commerce Assoc), Justin Hall (First Baptist Church), Dr. Tammy Starnes (AFLAC) and Diane Thomas (Asst. Chief, Prattville Police Dept).
P S V
V (a P sc le w
PCA Volleyball Team Wins Weekend Tournament
Prattville Christian Academy’s Lady Panthers volleyball team are Trojan Invitational Champions! PCA didn’t drop a single volleyball set during the weekend defeating Charles Henderson, Straughn, Luverne and Greenville in pool play as the team improved to 14-3 on the season.
Send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.
P
W b o ID a in
PJHS Kicks Off New Year
Prior to school starting, Prattville Junior High had students help with school tours, video productions, virtual tours, online orientations, etc. We also had previous Cats return during professional development days to talk about the strategies and activities that helped them learn effectively and that meant the most to them during their time in Cat Country. It was a great way to connect with students “old and new.” River Region Parents I October 2020
Bring on 2020 - Cat Style!
When students arrived back on campus at Prattville Junior High, four young men wanted to make certain they were safe. Our mascot welcomed them back in style. 38
www.riverregionparents.com
c
om
Pine Level Teacher Receives Grant from ESPN
Pine Level Elementary first-grade teacher Jessica Shavers received a grant for $1,000 to be used in her classroom from the ESPN Extra Yard For Teachers. Shavers was interviewed by sports analyst Dari Nowkhah and featured on the September 15 episode of ESPN’s SEC Now.
Prattville Primary Starts Traditional and Virtual Programs
Virtual (below) and traditional students (above) had a great first week at Prattville Primary School. It was great to be back at school, share our experiences and start our learning process. Students and teachers were very excited and happy to be back.
PJHS Holds Holds Educator Breakfast
Autauga County Board of Education is thankful for Alabama Education Association’s support of educators across the district and the state. Allison King served Prattville Junior High biscuits and donuts to kick off a new year.
PCA Spotlights Nurse
Whether it’s caring for minor bumps and bruises or managing the medical portion of Prattville Christian Academy’s COVID19 plan, Nurse Brackins is a passionate and skilled medical professional working diligently to keep students safe and healthy. As PCA closes out the fourth week of school, it is clear that the new student and health protocols are working to keep the campus open!
PES Offers Learning Options
Prattville Elementary School is starting our second month of a blended approach to learning. We have 34% of our students learning virtually (below), and the other 66% are on campus learning in a modified traditional environment (above). We are so proud of how well our students, parents and teachers have adapted to the new expectations and guidelines as we navigate through these unchartered waters. 39
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
This past spring was a particularly challenging time for educators everywhere. With little time to plan, districts statewide were forced to close school in mid-March for the remainder of the school year. Elmore County administrators and teachers quickly crafted a virtual learning plan for our students. Teachers worked diligently to create online lessons, interact with students virtually to provide academic help as needed, and monitor students’ progress in their virtual instruction. We finished the school year with many lessons learned. Our experiences during the school closure revealed the benefits of a blended attendance policy, which our Board adopted in June. Our blended attendance policy allows students to be marked present at school by virtue of their engagement on their gradeappropriate virtual platform as indicated by their progress on class assignments in the program.
Our blended attendance policy also allowed us to offer parents an in-person or virtual option for their children to start school on August 10. The policy provides flexibility for families in that a student requiring isolation due to COVID-19 exposure could keep up in school and maintain attendance while at home. It even allows students to travel with their family, with prior approval of the principal, and stay current with assignments and attendance. The new policy has provided additional alternatives as we navigate the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual instruction can be challenging for parents. We continue to offer support from the school and district levels to increase parents’ understanding of the virtual platforms and to communicate expectations for their children in virtual instruction. While virtual instruction is not without its challenges, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Feedback from our principals has been very encouraging. Gigi Hankins, Wetumpka Elementary Principal, said, “The (full) virtual teachers’ effort and creativity has been outstanding… on-campus teachers have utilized technology as more than games or review.” Sean Kreauter, Millbrook
Middle School Principal, stated, “Every week at MMS, I feel like the road is smoothing out more and more for virtual and blended.” Holtville High School Principal Kyle Futral said, “Teachers already have (virtual learning) plans in place…Everyone knows exactly what they need to do. That part has been great!” Loukisha Brooks, Wetumpka Middle School principal, observed, “(Students) are being taught to adjust and flow. They are being shown they have the potential to succeed no matter the platform. The challenge for all of us is adjusting to the constant changes, but this builds resilience and character. Students are benefitting academically, and teachers are benefitting professionally. We are all growing and learning.” In Elmore County, we are indeed growing and learning! Our goal remains: Every Student Empowered. Every Student Succeeds. Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
N O W E N R O L L I N G F O R 2020 2011
TH E LEARNING TREE C H I L D D E V E L O P M E N T C E N T E R S , I N C . Your children deserve the best, why not give it to them. We pride ourselves at The Learning Tree in having the best child care program for ages 6 wks. to 12 yrs. We are D.H.R. Licensed and provide transportation to and from public school. Full Day Care and Half day (morning or afternoon).
ENROLL NOW, CALL TODAY!
3 Convenient Locations:
1816 Glynwood Dr. Prattville - 365-1451
I
6wks-12yrs available at all locations but Carmichael Rd.
3335 Woodley Rd. - 284-5560 I 4120 Carmichael Rd. - 271-4733
SPECIAL OFFER
FREE REGISTRATION With this coupon and new enrollment only. Up to $85 Value!
River Region Parents I October 2020
40
www.riverregionparents.com
k
.”
ng) at ”
no f t s are ng
e l at ille ons
om
41
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Elmore County Schools
Tallassee City Schools Names Nolin Superintendent
Dr. Joshua “Brock” Nolin, a native of Eufaula, has been named the new superintendent of Tallassee City Schools, effective September 1. He had been serving in the role of acting superintendent since July, but has served the Tallassee school system in a variety of roles over the past two decades prior to his new appointment. Nolin has been the assistant superintendent the past year and a half, as well as federal programs and special education coordinator for the past four years at the central office level. Prior to that time, he was the assistant principal at Southside Middle School. He began his career as an agriscience teacher at Wetumpka High School for two years before a nine-year tenure at Tallassee High School. Nolin also currently serves as an adjunct professor for Auburn University in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, a position he has held since 2014. An avid outdoorsman, Nolin is a falconer (flying Redtail Hawks) and enjoys riding horses with his family. He and his family are active members of East Tallassee Baptist Church, where he plays piano for the church praise team. His wife, Courtney, is a Tallassee High School alum, and works as a pharmacist at East Tallassee Pharmacy. Their children Avery, Gaines and Campbell are students within the Tallassee City Schools system.
Millbrook Middle Teacher Receives State Award
Millbrook Middle School 7th-grade math and ACCESS Spanish facilitator Veronica Montgomery was awarded the ACCESS Facilitator of the Year Award for the 2019-2020 school year. Steve Blair, State of Alabama Department of Education ACCESS Program administrator, was in attendance at MMS September 18 to present Montgomery with her award. She was an integral part of the Spanish I class at MMS by helping guide her students to success.
River Region Parents I October 2020
42
i e w i R l
l 3 a a c g a f (
Wetumpka Middle Starts ‘Girls Who Code 2.0’
Wetumpka Middle School (WMS) has some exciting initiatives to start the year incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) based opportunities for students. In conjunction with STARBASE Maxwell, WMS has begun “Girls Who CODE” (GWC) for 6th- through 8th-grade girls. GWC is an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology. This is a free program where girls are provided a safe and supportive environment to learn and to see themselves as computer scientists. Principal Loukisha Brooks welcomed the chance for her students. “Historically speaking, STEM has been and continues to be a male-dominated field. We will take advantage of any opportunity to expose our students to new and exciting possibilities,” she said. Wetumpka Middle’s Girls Who CODE club is sponsored by STARBASE Maxwell, a Department of Defense Youth Program, and is headed by Shirley Nance, STARBASE Maxwell 2.0 Coordinator. STARBASE Maxwell 2.0 is a continuation of the STEM program offered to Elmore County School fifth-graders at Maxwell Air Force Base. The students participate in challenging “hands-on, mindson” activities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. They interact with military personnel to explore careers and observe STEM applications in the “real world.” STARBASE Maxwell 2.0 combines STEM activities with a relationship-rich, afterschool environment to provide the missing link for at-risk youth making the transition from elementary to middle and on to high school. It extends the positive impact of STARBASE through an afterschool STEM mentoring approach which solidifies students’ attachment to and engagement with school. WMS sponsors are Gifted and Talented Education teacher Ardrinnia Strum and 8th-grade advanced science teacher Laconya Warwick. WMS is also working with STARBASE Maxwell to offer fifth-grade students an opportunity to enhance their STEM knowledge base. It is a five-day academic program in which students engage in hands-on activities taught by certified teachers on Maxwell’s Air Force Base. WMS will also have a Robotics Club to further expose students to STEM initiatives. Additionally, the school’s schedule has time built into the fifth- and sixth-grade schedules for STEM activities.
E R
E p r s
Rep. Will Dismukes Presents Check to Elmore County
On September 3, State Rep. Will Dismukes presented a check to Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis for $30,000. Dennis said it will go to muchneeded instruments for arts programs and help fund STEM student projects.
A V
M v M s to e www.riverregionparents.com
r
n nt
BASKETBALL
Elmore County Breaks Ground for Redland Middle School
Created at the Y
Elmore County Public Schools held its third significant event in three weeks when school board members and community leaders broke ground at the end of August for Redland Middle School, which is expected to cost approximately $26.6 million and open in time for the 2022 school year. The event included 12 current Redland Elementary School students, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. Elmore County resident Rodney Griffith donated 50 acres of land for the project. The 111,052-square-foot complex will include 32 classrooms, three storm shelters, a gym with locker rooms, a weight room, science rooms, a food court-type cafeteria and a media center. The new school will also feature multi-purpose classrooms which can be used for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects. Enough room is allowed for the creation of a running track, softball, baseball and football fields. Architectural firm Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood (GMC) designed the school. This project is part of a $50 million bond issue floated by the Elmore County Board of Education. The bond will cover multiple projects throughout the county, including a $1.65 million band room/music complex at Stanhope Elmore and a $7 million expansion of the Elmore County Technical Center.
Played at the Y
Partnering Together for a Stronger Community Register at the Bradford Branch
(334)358-YMCA
es
d
om
Alabama News Network Visits Victory Christian Academy
Meteorologist Ryan Stinnett from the Alabama News Network visited the third-grade class of Victory Christian Academy in Millbrook. Students have just begun studying about the weather in science, and the meteorologist visit gave the class the opportunity to ask questions. His knowledge of the weather piqued their interest in meteorology. 43
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Elmore County Schools
SEHS Grad Becomes Certified EMT
Holtville Graduate Hired by Surveyor
Trevor Britt, a 2020 graduate from Holtville High School and a student at Elmore County Technical Center, completed two years of the PreEngineering, Drafting & Design program at ECTC and has received employment with Ron Burke Surveying.
Jarod Bush, a 2019 Stanhope Elmore High School graduate from Elmore County Technical Center’s Public Safety & Law program, has passed his National Registry test to become certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as he progresses through his employment with Montgomery Fire & Rescue.
State Rep. Mike Holmes Presents Check to Elmore County State Representative Mike Holmes presented a check to Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis recently for $27,195 that will be used to help fund live streaming for athletic events, arts program needs and STEM.
Leo Club Makes First Aid Packages for Tallassee Teachers
Leo Club members from Tallassee High School helped put together First Aid packages for Tallassee City Schools teachers and students returning to classrooms. The sponsor of the Leo Club is Shannon DuBose.
ECTC Aviation Students Learn on Real Fuselage
Elmore County Technical Center’s Aviation Technology students practiced using safety skills and various hand tools they’ve learned about in the classroom by removing passenger seats from the Airbus A321 fuselage section we have on campus. It’s so helpful to have access to real-life equipment as a training tool to prepare students for potential tasks of jobs in their industry. Even though COVID-19 has changed our normal, ECTC is still teaching students through hands-on learning—we’re now just masked, six feet apart, and with extra hand sanitizer and hand washing. River Region Parents I October 2020
44
www.riverregionparents.com
y
y
-
om
45
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
so the gra the to
da inv no gra co
pa if t
em en do kn ing an sm
the tal em wh
fro an do let gra
The pandemic is taking a toll on all of us, especially grandparents who, due to their age, are particularly vulnerable. Many grandparents haven’t visited their grandkids
vis ev Yo yo sa
for months. But grandkids are important to grandparents, and vice versa!
Here are 6 ways you can help the kids stay in contact with your parents – their grandparents:
lea AN tin
Tan and
River Region Parents I October 2020
46
www.riverregionparents.com
om
Video Calls
Whether your family prefers FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or some other video-based technology, use that technology to make the grandparents an integral part of their grandkids’ lives. Most grandparents wake up early anyway, so consider having them be the grandkids’ alarm clocks in the morning. It’s comforting to kids to be woken up by familiar, smiley faces. The kids can’t and shouldn’t focus on their school work all day; they need frequent breaks to relax and recharge. Why not invite the grandparents to join the kids for some virtual, mid-afternoon stretching? Both may need some physical exercise. If the grandparents play an instrument or enjoy arts and crafts, they could give the kids some virtual lessons. In the evening, before the kids go to sleep, invite the grandparents to read them a bed time story, chat a bit about their day or, if the kids are older, play an online game like Words With Friends.
Email or Text
Grandparents and grandkids can also keep in contact via email or text. Have the kids write about their activities; grandparents love hearing about all the exciting things their grandkids are doing. If the grandparents don’t have an email account or don’t know how to text, use it as an opportunity for some extra bonding. Encourage the kids to create an email account for grandma and grandpa or teach them how to text. Kids love to show how smart they are, and grandparents love to learn new things.
Social Media
Encourage the kids to invite their grandparents to “follow” them on social media like Instagram and Snapchat, today’s digital version of the photo album. Another option is to have the kids email, text, or mail their grandparents a weekly batch of photos, which will make them feel really close to each other.
Postcards/Letters
When was the last time you received a postcard or a letter from a loved one? I thought so! Few people write letters anymore, and most people only send postcards from vacation locations. It doesn’t have to be this way. Have the kids write a postcard or a letter, maybe with some beautiful drawings. I have yet to meet a grandparent who didn’t enjoy receiving mail from the grandkids!
Drive By / Meet Up
If the grandparents don’t live too far away, consider a “car visit” drive-by where you can wave to each other from the car or, even better, sit down in a driveway at a safe distance and talk. You could meet up at the local park or playground, as long as you keep a safe distance. This ways you’ll keep the grandparents safe, but let them enjoy the kids - and you - up close.
Running Errands
You and the kids could also run errands for them, and then leave the groceries outside their door. You get to see each other AND do something helpful for the people who’ve done, and continue to do, so much for you and the kids. rrp
Connect With Us f bcprattville.org
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.
@fbcprattville
47
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
by Kimberley Carter Spivey
So long, summer, and hello fall. As we bid summer farewell, there’s a lot of excitement and change that comes with the refreshing new season. Although some may mourn summer, fall is now in full swing with pumpkin-spice everything, fall decor, cooler mornings, football, and warm and savory meals to enjoy. Since this time of year may bring you to stay cozy inside more, why not discover some new hot meals to prepare for the family. Dr. Clarissa Chavez, who is a resident of Pike Road, gave us the inside scoop on one of the popular meals she prepares for her family. Clarissa is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Psychology Department at AUM. She is married to Erik Chavez, who also holds a position at AUM as the Senior Users Technician (IT) for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. They have two children: Parker, age 16, who attends Pike Road High School, and Natty, who is six years old and attends Pike Road Elementary School. Dr. Chavez candidly admits, “As a scientist, I find that I get frustrated with the often vague or inexact cooking instructions that I would get from family. My mind doesn’t process instructions like “just add a little oil to the pan.” I want to know what one means by “a little.” That being said, I have recently taken the time (and patience) to try and learn easy recipes on my own that my family will be sure to enjoy. So, now that I’ve achieved all of my professional goals and been married for 16 years, I am now 40 years River Region Parents I October 2020
old, finally taking the time to conquer more domestic tasks in my household. I’m also a very independent soul. So, I’m working to be more independent in my cooking as well.” Sitting around the table and having dinner with her family is something that Clarissa highly values. “We always eat our meals together at home. Family dinner together at the table every night is a must. That’s our time to catch up with everyone’s days and just talk to each other. We find that this is the best time to touch base with my teen son. While my daughter will follow me around all day, my son loves to hide in his room. Dinner is a good bribe to get him to come out and talk to all of us. It’s the one thing that never changes every day, and it’s precious.” In the Chavez household, quick and simple meals are a winner. “The ones my kids will eat without a huge negotiation process are winners! They love Corn & Macaroni Casserole. My aunt shared this recipe with my mother. Then, my mother, Geri, shared it with me. 48
Though I’m slowly catching up and still learning—I’m not as good as my husband yet, but I’ll get there.” Here is a simple recipe to put together. It’s kid-pleasing, and at the same time, tasty enough for adults. If you’re looking for a delicious and wholesome simply made meal, look no further!
Corn & Macaroni Casserole Ingredients
1 pound cooked hamburger meat (drain) 1 can whole kernel corn with juice 1 can creamed corn 1 cup uncooked macaroni 1 cup diced Velveeta cheese 1/2 cup margarine (melted) 2 tablespoons dry minced onion 2 tablespoons sugar Salt and pepper to taste Optional: Add corn chips on top
Directions: Mix all ingre-
dients in a mixing bowl. Transfer all of the ingredients from the mixing bowl to a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Stir halfway through baking.
Kimberley Carter Spivey is a freelance writer, blogger, author, and entrepreneur. When she’s not working as an Instructional Systems Designer and copy-editor on Maxwell AFB, she’s busy freelancing, blogging, or toiling away at her next book. Her debut book Bloom: How to Get from Good Enough to a Life You Love can be purchased on Amazon and girlyouwrite.com.
www.riverregionparents.com
Check Us Out!
e
r
maconeast.net Come visit the best deal in town! You are always welcome, so please get in touch with our Admissions Office and schedule a campus tour. We would love to show you around! Dual enrollment and financial aid are available.
15396 Vaughn Road Cecil, Alabama 36013 334.277.6566 Located a few minutes east of Chantilly Parkway, just minutes from Montgomery l
l
e
e-
nts a at r. g.
er,
om
49
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
sta fam dis tou so de an ev
da in sh pa ha na Th cre as yo an ide on co an
ma mo bir dis the ing All sta fro thr do
Fall has arrived, which means Halloween will be here before we know it. Of course, it will not look or feel exactly as it has in the past due to Covid. But with a little bit of creative, out-of-the-box thinking, we can still make this holiday extra special for our kids. Now is the perfect time to start planning your safe—yet still super fun—Halloween celebration that your family will look back on in a few years and smile. River Region Parents I October 2020
50
www.riverregionparents.com
om
Here are a few ideas to get you started on your Halloween plans for your family. The goal is to keep kids socially distanced and prevent them from all touching the same candy, which seemed so normal just last year. It is also a wonderful chance to start new family traditions and try celebrating in a way you never even considered.
Say Boo on Zoom. When my daughter’s eighth birthday rolled around in April, we had to think fast to make sure she did not miss out on an enjoyable party with her friends. We had planned to have an animal-themed birthday at a local nature center, so we took the party online. The kids absolutely loved seeing all the creatures on their computer screens and asked tons of questions. For Halloween, you can set up an online party with family and friends and play lots of games. Some ideas include trying to guess who everyone is in their costumes, having a costume contest, doing a quiz like Name That Tune, and playing Halloween Bingo. Parade Safely. We have seen many families over the past several months celebrate special occasions like birthdays and graduations with a socially distanced parade either on foot or from their cars. My neighborhood held a meaningful parade for all the graduates in May. All the kids wore matching grad shirts and stayed the recommended six feet apart from one another as they made their way through the community. This can easily be done for Halloween as well. A car of golf
cart parade would also be a hit since they could be decorated in a spooky way.
Dig into Some DIY. Take the focus off your kids missing the trick-ortreating by working on several creative projects together as a family. Let this be the year you plan ahead and make all of your costumes from scratch. This will be such a rewarding experience for your kids as they get to choose exactly who they want to be and wear what they worked so hard on. You can also fill the day with many enjoyable arts and crafts projects that you typically do not have time for if you are running around your neighborhood and off to Halloween parties. Have Your Own Haunted House at Home. Many kids look forward to walking through a haunted house at school or in their neighborhood. With social distancing being an issue, this just will not be possible this year. A great project for your kids is to set up their own haunted house. Not only will this be a creative endeavor, it will also take up lots of time and keep them very busy for a while. Depending on your own family’s Covid rules, maybe you can invite grandparents or cousins over for a fright night.
Focus on Fall Foods. We can so easily get sucked into all the sugary sweets during Halloween. In my house, that candy ends up sitting in the pantry for months anyway. Plus, so many kids these days have bad reactions to junk food. This
51
can be the year we focus more on all the wonderful fall foods that go along with Halloween time. Stock up on apples, pumpkins, and different types of squash and turn them into tasty dishes. We always love toasting our own fresh pumpkin seeds after we finish carving our jack-o’-lanterns. If you feel comfortable and live in an area near an apple orchard or farm with pumpkins, you can head over and pick your own.
Make it a Movie Night. Another wonderful way to distract your kids from missing out on typical activities like trick-or-treating is to set up the big screen to scare them silly. Well, we don’t really want to scare our kids too much. Look for age-appropriate movies for Halloween that they will love, such as The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, Hotel Transylvania, Beetlejuice, and of course It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Go Against the Grain. With so much upside down in 2020, this might just be the best year to go contrarian and ditch all the sugar and spook. Why not make it a healthy family night by putting together colorful, delicious treats out of fruits and veggies? Just hop on Pinterest for endless ideas to turn fresh produce into incredible creations that your kids will love. I know this year feels different, but there are so many ways to make it even better than before. Take advantage of this opportunity to spark some creativity for your family and you all may be thrilled with the memories you make that you will cherish forever. rrp Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer.
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Pio
Oc
7:0 bisc tha con sing her
(33
AND
Sp Ar
Oc
390 Exh the dor and Doo sho Rac mo
ww
30 Ma
Oc
Fall Festivals and Arts & Crafts 57th Annual Bluff Park Art Show October 3 Bluff Park Community Center,
517 Cloudland Dr. Hoover, AL 9:00am-5:00pm. Sponsored by the Bluff Park Art Association and includes more than 130 local and national artists displaying fine art for sale. Bring the kids to enjoy some hands on art fun. Free admission, parking and shuttles
(334) 822.0078 bpaashowchair@gmail.com bluffparkartassociation.org
64th Annual Central Alabama Fair October 6-10 Lion’s Fair Park,
2401 W. Dallas Ave Selma, AL October 6-10. Fun-filled event offering a midway with rides, entertainment, beauty pageant, agricultural exhibits, livestock judging and a competition for local arts, crafts, canning, sewing, and more! (334) 872.6717 www.centralalabamafair.com
66th Annual Cullman County Fair October 8-17
1501 Sportsman Lake Road NW Cullman, AL Thrilling rides, amazing exhibits, and the best in local and regional entertainment. (256) 734.0661
www.cullmanfair.org
Pioneer Days at Pioneer Museum of Alabama October 9-10 Pioneer Museum of Alabama,
248 Highway 231 N Troy, AL 9:00am-5:00pm. Horse and wagon rides, trips on the Pioneer Express, Native American camps with demonstrations of candle making, spinning, weaving, quilt making, blacksmithing, drum, dance, etc. Friday is School Day. Also, October 31 is Nightmare at the Museum. (334) 887.3007 www.pioneer-museum.org
67th Alabama National Fair
October 9-18 Garret Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL Midway rides, main stage entertainment, food, information and commercial booths, kids area, River Region Parents I October 2020
livestock and other competition, family faith day, and more! (334) 272.6831 anf@alnationalfair.org www.alnationalfair.org
28th Annual Alabama Cotton Festival
October 10 Main Street Eclectic, AL
8:00am-2:00pm. Eclectic, Al. ; Arts and crafts, flea market items, concession- booth spaces are free. 5K Cotton Run, Alabama Rook Tournament, local talent contest, children’s activities, antique cars and tractors, performances and more.
(334) 541.3581
townofeclectic.com
40th Annual Oktoberfest
October 10 Charles E. Bailey, Sr. Sportplex,
1842 Sportplex Blvd. Alexander City, AL Day-long celebration features local arts and crafts, great food, entertainment, Kid-Fest children’s activities, sports programs, antique car show and much more. A Native American Artifact show is our newest showcase.
(256) 329.6736 alexandercityonline.com
49th Annual Harvest Day Festival
October 10 City Square, Headland, AL
9am-3pm. This fun-filled event takes place downtown in and around the beautiful city square. The day features arts and crafts, a car show, children’s games and rides, a variety of food vendors, and live entertainment throughout the day.
(33) 693.3303
headlandal.org
Harvest Hoe Down
October 10 Downtown City Park,
3636 Whitehouse Parkway Warm Springs, GA Enjoy this fall celebration with arts, crafts, good food, entertainment and more! (706) 655.3322 www.warmspringsga.us
42nd Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival Presented by ArtsRevive
October 15 Arts Revive Carneal Building,
3 Church St. Selma, AL The performers this year are Salaam Green, Sean Dietrich and MC Paul Garner, Art show, Street Fest, Ballet, Market Day, Pilgrimage and more!
(334) 410.2302 artsrevive.com
52
Alabama Gourd Festival
October 16-17 Sparkman Civic Center, 405 Nance Ford Road Harstelle, AL Annual festival features gourd arts and crafts, such as birdhouses, musical instruments and decorated gourds. gourdzilla@aol.com alabamagourdsociety.org
Fall Farm Day & Festival
October 17 Landmark Park, 430 Landmark Dr.
Dothan, AL October 17. Learn how peanuts were harvested in the Wiregrass a half-century ago. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, basket weaving, soap making and other traditional farm activities. Plus, food, music and antique tractors and farm equipment.
(334) 794.3452 parkinfo@landmarkpark.dothan.com www.landmarkparkdothan.com
Alabama Safari Park Fall Festival
October 17, 18, 24, and 25 Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Way Hope Hull, AL t’s Fall y’all and the best way to celebrate the season is by joining us October 17, 18, 24, and 25 for Alabama Safari Park’s annual Fall Festival. In pure celebration of fall, every child admission can pick a pumpkin out of our pumpkin patch, go on a guided wagon ride through a portion of our safari park, play a variety of fall games and wash it all down with delicious cider! (334) 288.2105 alabamasafaripark.com
Sweet Creek Pumpkin Festival
October 17-18 and 24-25 85 Meriwether Road Pike Road, AL Entry into the 2020 SweetCreek Pumpkin Festival will be FREE!! *** Stay tuned for BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS*** Many, many surprises! (334) 280.3276
Boll Weevil Festival October 24 Enterprise, AL
Arts and crafts vendors, variety of music, food, children’s costume contest and activities, farmers market, car show, family entertainment.
www.enterprisedowntown.org
www.riverregionparents.com
Cen Am gou and ma tha glas fun
(70
Al
Oc
17 Join ac tes
ww
Pe
Oc
The But gam Kid foo
(33
Ru
Oc
Ale 10 for ride
(25
Ch Ho
No
410 On priz Sho wel
(33
Ru
No
Ale 9a with Nov pat
r.
d
, s. m
om
l
e
d mph
s
ad
val
ers
om
Pioneer Day
October 24 6500 Stage Road Loachapoka, AL
7:00am-4:00pm. The same great sausage, biscuits, syrup, music, mules, arts, crafts, etc. that has been offered for the last 40 years will continue to be the same. The Plantation Heirs will sing at noon. Creek Indians demonstrations in heritage crafts and good food.
(334) 887-3007
www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org
Spinners “Pumpkin Patch” Arts & Crafts Show
October 24-25 Spinners Park, 390 West Sixth Street Prattville, AL Exhibitors of original art and crafts from throughout the southeast will display their wares. Food vendors, live entertainment, games, a coloring contest and many other activities for children and youth. Door prizes will be given at intervals during the show. Other events include The Great Pumpkin Race, a 5K/8K Race and a one mile Run/Walk, a motorcycle show, jack-o-lantern contest and more. www.spinnersprattville.com
30th Annual Christmas Made in the South
October 29-31 Columbus Convention & Trade
Center, 801 Front Avenue Columbus, GA Amazing craftspeople, outstanding art, unique gourmet food, and diverse entertainment to whet and satisfy every demanding appetite. Handmade, one-of-a-kind designs populate the booths that fill the festival: silk wearables to fabric bags, glass jewelry to close-up photography of nature’s funniest and fiercest creatures all await and more! (704) 847.9480 madeinthesouthshows.com
Alexander City Fall Festival October 31 Russell Crossroads,
17 Russell Farms Road Alexander City, AL Join friends and neighbors for pumpkin painting, a costume contest, wagon rides and more, courtesy of Russell Lands on Lake Martin.
www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com
Peanut Butter Festival
October 31 475 Dickert Circle Brundidge, AL The free for all festival features a 5-K Peanut Butter Run, non-stop entertainment, contests, games, exhibits, recipe contest, Peanut Butter Kids Contest and the Nutter Butter Parade and food galore including everything peanut butter.
(334) 344.9601 www.piddle.org
Russell Lands Fall Family Festival October 31 Russell Crossroads,
Alexander City, AL 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Join friends and neighbors for pumpkin painting, a costume contest, wagon rides and more. (256) 397.1019 russelllandsonlakemartin.com
Charis Crafters “Home for the Holiday” Craft Show
November 12-14 Wetumpka Civic Center,
410 South Main Street Wetumpka, AL One ticket is good for all three-show days! Door prizes will be given away every hour. The Craft Show features a variety of handmade items as well as homemade delight available for purchase. ! (334) 201.1817 delm713@wowway.com
Russell Lands Holiday Bazaar
November 27 Russell Crossroads, Alexander City, AL 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Holiday Bazaar, in conjunction with Christmas at Crossroads, will be held Friday, November 27th on the Town Green. Artisans and patrons from all over gather for this vast annual
display of handmade goods. Artisans feature everything from jewelry, soaps, paintings, pottery, woodwork, lotions, furniture, and much more! (256) 397.1019 russelllandsonlakemartin.com
River Walk Wine Festival
TBD Riverfront Park, Montgomery, AL
Includes wine tasting from 10 different distributors representing over 100 wineries. Admission is $30 per person and will include: Etched commemorative wine glass, discounted wine purchases from participating local wine shoppes, food vendors, live music, picnic baskets and coolers welcome! (334) 625.2100 funinmontgomery.com
Church Events St. Michael and All Angels Church Boston Butt Sale October 24 St. Michael and All angels Church,
5941 Main Street Millbrook, AL 9 a.m. until noon. Boston Butt sale. Tickets available for purchase $30 or $35 at day of sale.
(334) 285.3905
stmichaelsandallangels.com
Dalraida Baptist Church Drive Thru Fall Festival October 25 3838 Wares Ferry Road
Montgomery, AL 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. Drive Thru fall festival. Bagged chips, hotdog and drink. Candy and booths.
(334) 272-2412 thedalraidadifference.org
Eastmont Baptist Church Drive Thru Trunk or Treat October 25 4505 Atlanta Highway
Montgomery, AL Time to be announced. Begins in the front parking lot of Eastmont Baptist Church. Bring your little super heroes, princesses, pirates and cowgirls for a FREE, fun and safe alternative to trick-or-treating.
(334) 277-6300 www.eastmont.org
East Memorial Baptist Church Family Fun Fall Festival
October 31 1320 Old Ridge Road Prattville, AL
5-7 p.m. Free admission! Car trunks and Truck bed will be decorated with various themes/stories and filled with lots of candy and treats. Children of all ages are welcome.
(334) 365.7500
www.eastmemorial.org
Fall Farms Penton Farms
ad on page 43 September 26-October 31
3595 County Road 59, Verbena, AL 36091 Enjoy wagon rides, corn maze, animal barn, cow train, playground, concessions, super slides and much more. Open to the public Monday through Friday from 12-6 and Saturdays 9-6. www.pentonfarms.com
Cornfield County Farms Pumpkin Patch
September 26-November 1 Elmore County community of Redland at the intersection of Redland Road & Willow Springs Road Wetumpka, AL Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Sunflower Maze and 53
more. Also booking Bonfires and Birthday Parties. Church groups welcome! Open September 26-November 1, Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays 1 pm to 5 pm. Weekdays and groups by appointment only. (334) 850.7084 cornfieldcountyfarms@gmail.com cornfieldcountyfarms.com
Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch September 27- 29 and October 3-31
Lee County Road 61 Auburn, AL Located 6 miles west of Toomer’s Corner off of Hwy 14 near Loachapoka School. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, child-sized hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides and more. (334) 750.3792 info@auburnpumpkinpatch.com auburnpumpkinpatch.com
Corn Dodgers Farm
September 28 - October 27
168 Sweetwater Drive Headland, AL Corn field maze, pumpkin barn (pick your own), cow train ride, corn cannon, pony rides, corn box, sunflower path, hay rides, pipe maze, farm-sized tic-tac-toe, and more (334) 726.1485 www.corndodgersfarm.com
Jack-O-Lantern Lane at The Oaks L.L.C
September 28-October 31 18151 Veterans Memorial Parkway Lafayette, AL Pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable park, train rides, gem mining, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, face painting, and more. Open September 26October 31. Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm; Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm. Also available by reservation Monday-Friday for school, church, daycare field trips and more. (334) 869.0554 www.jackolanternlane.com
Backyard Orchards
October 1-31 6585 Hwy 431 North Eufaula, AL U-Pick It Farm with fresh fruits, veggies and pumpkins! Fall Festival Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. (334) 695.5875 backyardorchards.com
Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkin Patch
October 1-31 11546 Lee Road 54 Auburn, AL
Saturdays in October; 10:00am-6:00pm. Open during the week for field trips. Hayrides, pick a pumpkin/cotton, corn maze, corn crib, pony rides, country store and more. Call to schedule your group, schools, daycare (334) 321.7946 www.lazenbyfarm.com
The Red Oak Farm
October 1-31 6268 County Road 83 Lafayette, AL October weekends. Come out to The Red Oak Farm this fall to explore our large corn maze, take a hayride around the farm, or experience some of our many family fun activities. Conveniently located just NE of Auburn, AL. (334) 750.0894 www.theredoakfarm.com
Scarecrow Junction at Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
October 1-31 Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, 1919 9th Street Calera, AL October Saturday and Sunday. Bring your family to Scarecrow Junction at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera every weekend in October. It’s a NEW family-fun, fall festival event that you don’t want to miss! Enjoy food trucks, safe, family-friendly games and activities, the www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
AND
huge Great Pumpkin, and more! Put on your costumes, bring your cameras, and come have some fun at the NEW Scarecrow Junction this Fall at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum. Seek out the hidden scarecrows displayed throughout the museum grounds and get your tickets to ride not just one - but two - different train experiences. Ride behind the full-size, diesel C&S locomotive and, while you’re visiting, be sure to buy a ticket to ride the newly restored Shelby & Southern Narrow Gauge Steam Railroad and get your very own souvenir Golden Spike! (205) 757.8383 www.hodrrm.org
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Farm October 1-31 929 Lee County Road 14
Auburn, AL Friday and Saturdays in October. The farm features a haunted house, haunted hayride and haunted maze. A free petting zoo is available nightly for family enjoyment. Tickets and additional information are available online. (334) 750.2591 www.sleepyhollowauburn.com
Paradise Pumpkin Patch
October 3-31 910 County Road 79 South Eufaula, AL Corn maze, pumpkin patch, sunflower and cotton fields, giant inflatable park, petting zoo, playground, cow train, hay rides, pony rides, covered wagon rides pulled by a team of mules, giant corn box and hay bale mazes, concessions, and gift shop. Opens October 3, Saturdays 9:00am6:00pm, Sundays 11:00am-6:00pm. Special event dates and field trips available MondayFriday. Teacher Day- October 3. All teachers with school ID are free! Free Paradise for Special Children-October 5, 8am-3pm. Free field trip for special needs children. Home School Day- October 12, 8am-3pm. (334) 695.3600 www.paradisepumpkinpatch.com
The Pumpkin Patch at Barber Berry Farm
2362 Alabama River Parkway Millbrook, AL Weekends in October. Hayride, pumpkin patch, pick your own pesticide-free fruit and veggies. (334) 332.4306 BBFpumpkinpatch@yahoo.com www.barberberryfarm.com
Pumpkin Patch at The Farmhouse
469 Farmhouse Road Ellerslie, GA Hayrides, bonfires, s’mores, crafts, scarecrow contests, music, and more. Jump on the tractor and take a ride to pick out the perfect pumpkin for your family to carve. (706) 561.3435 thefarmhouseellerslie@hotmail.com www.thefarmhousega.com
Halloween Events United Gymstar and Cheer Halloween Parents Night Out ad on page 11 October 30
6100 Brewbaker Blvd Montgomery, AL 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Parents Night Out. Wear costumes if you would like. Pizza and drink included. $25 for the first child and $20 for each additional child. (334) 284.2244
www.unitedgymstarandcheer.com
River Region Parents I October 2020
Haunted Auburn Walking Tour
October 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 102 South College
Street Auburn, AL Every Friday and Saturday in October. Join your hosts Stoker and Poe as they lead you around to Auburns most haunted locations. Hear the tales, urban ledges, first hand accounts and true life facts about these locations. Two tours each night first at 6pm the other at 8pm weather permitting. Dress accordingly. Fun for all (may not be suitable for children under 12). Meet at the 2 Eagles by the Toomer Oaks. Admission is FREE!! (334) 444.1422
Montgomery Junior League Holiday Market
October 7-11 The Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall Street Montgomery, AL Start the Winter Holiday Season off right with shopping the Jr. League’s Market, Virtual Show. Each year, holiday themed booths set up for a great, one-stop-shop for all your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years items. (334) 288.8816 www.jlmontgomery.com
Halloween Drive-Through Trick or Treat Event- Sheriff of Montgomery October 13 113 South Perry Street
Montgomery, AL 4-7 p.m. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office would like to invite children between the ages of 1-13 years old to come out on Halloween, Saturday, October 13st, from 4pm-7pm. Please remember to wear your protective mask at all times as well as bring a tote bag for your candy.
The Shoppes at Eastchase Fall Harvest Jam October 24 Shoppes at Eastchase,
7274 EastChase Parkway Montgomery, AL 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Harvest Jam returns to The Shoppes at EastChase this fall! This {free} festive fall event is for music fans, farmers market shoppers, craft beer lovers, and families from the river region! Harvest Jam delivers a unique and robust experience filled with live music featuring live music by The Red Clay Strays, farmers + makers, delicious local food and a craft beer tasting presented by Pies & Pints. Donations for the craft beer tasting will benefit Child Protect, Children’s Advocacy Center. Masks will be required.
(334) 279-6046 www.theshoppesateastchase.com
Fright Night Movie Night & Festival
Riverfront Park, 355 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL More information to follow.
Out of Town Fun Annual Pumpkin Festival September 19-November 1
Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain Park, GA Play by day as you enjoy family-friendly park at-
54
tractions and special fall entertainment featuring our NEW Magic Show and some of your favorite classic storybook characters! Then, after the sun goes down, you’ll glow by night in a whole new light with the all NEW Dino Glow Experience and plenty of other not-so-spooky outdoor experiences! (800) 401.2407 www.stonemountainpark.com
Tour of Southern Ghosts
October Antebellum Plantation, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain Park, GA Atlanta’s favorite family Halloween event will be presented for the 35th year by ART Station…virtually. Southern Ghosts Storytelling Festival is a production that showcases six master storytellers who have performed the best ghost stories from the South for over 25 years. The production features fun and spooky ghost stories from the South; great fun for young and old. It’s for those who believe and for those who don’t and for those who just want to have a good time. Here you’ll meet six professional storytellers as they spin tales of Southern ghosts. Enjoy this Atlanta family tradition. It’s only here that you will experience the authentic Southern Boo! A Link will be available on our web site for ticket purchase on October 12th. (800) 401.2407 www.stonemountainpark.com
Pope’s Haunted Farm
October 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31
450 Lee Rd 724 Salem, AL October weekends. Pope’s Haunted Farm has three different events to experience and scare you. The Haunted Barn: Taken, the Haunted Hayride that many have claimed to see the infamous evil specter Jasper, and lastly you can experience the Haunted Forest that’s an unguided tour that includes a graveyard deep in the woods. (706) 566-7766 www.popeshayride.com
29th Annual Halloween Fairyland
October 31 Tannehill State Park,
12632 Confederate Parkway McCalla, AL The Tannehill Halloween Festival, a nonscary fun-filled holiday event focused on the campgrounds, annually attracts over 6,000 visitors, most of them children. Begun in 1992, the event features park-sponsored programs during the afternoon and traditional Halloween candy “trick or treat” stops at more than 200 campsites during the evening. Park events include a moon walk, clowns, face painting, pony rides and sand art. A special tradition is the festival’s annual Halloween Festival tee shirt. Campground site decorations and lights are extensive, creative and surreal.
(205) 477.5711 www.tannehill.org
Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date. www.riverregionparents.com
g e un
nd
E.
Find Hope.
e u-
on
e
a rie n
s e
Now more than ever, we need an encounter with God’s presence.
in
ent
ck
on nd
e
es ch o ll
om
Worship with Frazer virtually
Worship with Frazer in person
•
• 11:00am Contemporary Worship • 9:30am Traditional Worship • 8:00am Special service with added precautions for those who consider themselves at high risk
• • •
WFRZ-TV: Channel 13 (cable) or Channel 33 (antenna) Frazer Channel for Roku, AppleTV or FireTV Livestreaming at frazer.church/live Facebook Live at facebook.com/frazerchurch
D OW N LOAD OU R AP P | 60 0 0 AT L A N TA HWY | 334 . 2 7 2 . 86 2 2 | WWW. F R A Z ER . C HUR C H | F O L LOW US 55 www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
5 Signs of Screen Overload. . . and How to Handle Them
minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Help them strengthen their distance vision by getting outdoors. And then set some time limits on screens to help them get more balance. If these don’t help, see an eye doctor. Trouble sleeping. If your kid isn’t sleeping, there’s a chance devices are one of the culprits. Kids may be overstimulated from their devices’ blue light, tired from checking their phones throughout the night, staying up late watching television, distressed by bad news, or having troubling online interactions. Whatever the cause, a good night’s sleep is an essential foundation for many things, including mental well-being, a healthy lifestyle, and keeping kids’ minds alert for learning. What to do. Make sleep a priority. Collect devices at night, turn off the Wi-Fi, and enable screen limits on devices so that they can’t get online. Help kids wind down about an hour before bedtime -- meaning no screens. Try meditation (with or without an app), soothing music, and bedtime stories to help kids settle. And if kids are still having trouble, there may be something deeper going on, so you should see your pediatrician.
Gymnasts know that there’s a fraction of an inch between a flawless routine -- and total disaster. Parents, too, know that managing screen time can be a balancing act. Sure, movies, games, television, and online activities can be lifesavers when you’re juggling caregiving, homeschooling, and working. But even when you’re on your game -- choosing high-quality, age-appropriate content, getting outside, talking to kids about their games and shows -- your kid can have a complete meltdown after three (or was it four?) episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Recognizing the moment between “all good” and “my bad!” isn’t always obvious. We’ve identified five common warning signs that your kid’s screen balance is tipping into the trouble zone, and effective strategies for getting back on solid ground. Inappropriate outsized reactions. We’ve all seen the extreme behaviors -- meltdowns, defiance, irritation, or just bouncing off the walls -that kids exhibit at times after screen use. Some parents blame fast-action games like Fortnite, but really anything could trigger this behavior. Kids simply don’t always have the language -or the patience -- to explain what’s happening to them, so they tell you by acting out. What to do. While there’s no magic number of “good” screen-time hours, you can figure out what your kid’s personal limit is by noting their reactions and making changes. Two hours of Xbox = dinner-time meltdown? Next time cut them off at one hour and see if things change. Identify “good stopping points” before kids go online (at the end of an episode or match), which gives kids more agency. Also help them develop self-soothing skills. Establish a more regular schedule so that they can pace themselves throughout the day. Substitute screen-free games like chess or 20 Questions with family to help your kid work on waiting their turn, delaying gratification, and practicing communication skills. Apps that help kids manage their emotions, which you can download onto your own phone, may also help.
Isolation, sadness, crying. If your kid is exhibiting these symptoms, negative online experiences could add to their despair. Combined with what some kids are readily exposed to on social media -- bullying, hate speech, scary news, and brutal videos -- it’s completely natural for them to feel this way. What to do. Some social media may provide a supportive environment for your kid, so while you may be tempted to make them feel better by forcing a total break from screens, take it slow. Talk to them about how they’re feeling, what they do on social media, how they’re treated, and whether their online interactions are mostly positive. Help them cut back on their online time and stick to social media that’s positive and supportive. You can use parental controls to restrict access to sites and apps that may be triggering. When they do go online, it may provide some relief to use social media more as an outlet for creative expression rather than an endless slog through other people’s lives. Keep an eye on your kid, and if things don’t turn around, call your pediatrician. Loss of focus and energy. You know the look: glazed zombie eyes, wishy-washy replies, flitting from thing to thing. While there’s ongoing research exploring whether devices can cause inattention -- and even ADHD -- it’s more likely that your kid is just, well, acting like kids do when they don’t know what to do with themselves. What to do. Change things up -- starting with your expectations. You may need to rely on screens more than usual right now, but that doesn’t give your kid permission to opt out of meaningful participation in family life. If your kid has a bad case of the blahs, let them know that they need to interact and engage with folks at home as much as they do with, say, Animal Crossing. Aside from screen time, provide offline activities that require focused attention, including puzzles, audio stories and podcasts, and reading. Ask them questions to encourage deeper thinking, comprehension, and making connections.
Headaches. Has your kid complained of headaches or trouble seeing? It could be their eyes. Vision problems, eye fatigue, and eye strain can cause real pain -- and could be a sign that kids are doing too much “near work,” such as reading or overdoing the screens. Check for watery eyes, squinting, or kids rubbing their eyes a lot. What to do. You don’t want to waste time on this one. With your kid’s help, figure out the point at which the symptoms crop up; doctors say it’s usually at about the two-hour mark. Reduce screen time by half to see if the issue resolves. Also, make screen time dependent on your kid maintaining healthy screen “hygiene”: good posture, positioning the screen at least 18 inches away, not leaning in and squinting. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Move away from the screen every 20 River Region Parents I October 2020
56
www.riverregionparents.com
C
Th Sa M su M
0
M 3
G an w
m
s es’
ng ep
off nno hd g n.
ay al -
tps e
ye
Closet Cleanout The Guild Mortgage branches of Montgomery and Prattville are partnering up with the Salvation Army - Montgomery location, Heart to Heart of Montgomery and Hope Inspired Ministries for a huge closet cleanout donation drive. Cash and check donations to the supported organizations will be accepted the day of event. Find our event page — Guild Mortgage Closet Clean Out — on Facebook for more information.
OCT
09
Guild Mortgage: Montgomery Branch 1943 Berry Chase Place 9:00am - 4:00pm | Food will be served RSVP: pyoung@guildmortgage.net
Montgomery Branch 334.513.8113 Jimmy Parsons
Alex Castanza
Branch Manager NMLS #415554
Loan Officer NMLS #1999335
Ansley Apperson
Josh Apperson
Originating Loan Officer Assistant NMLS #1553675
Christy Cronier
, g en
Originating Loan Officer Assistant NMLS #1743232
s.
Rusty Russell
on
Prattville Branch 334.380.4315
Loan Officer NMLS #2009013
Shelley Faulkner Sales Manager NMLS #470443
Kylee Hogan
Loan Officer NMLS #1710918
Illiana Byrd
Loan Officer NMLS #1071506
Loan Officer NMLS #459590
s
ur-
om
Guild Mortgage Company, Montgomery Branch 6719 Taylor Circle | Montgomery, AL 36117, Prattville Branch 705 McQueen Smith Road South Prattville, AL 36066. Guild Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender; NMLS #3274 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/). Montgomery Branch 57 NMLS #1566723. Prattville Branch NMLS #1570020. Guild Mortgage Company is not affiliated www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents with Salvation Army - Montgomery location, Heart to Heart of Montgomery and Hope Inspired Ministries. Photo by sheri silver on Unsplash.
we ind
G
be sim “W the ba
he sio co als it, La
O
ch de era ch ac typ
sio
Blame biology. “Understand that your kids aren’t just
Ever looked at your child in bewilderment and asked:
being stupid and emotional about things. The adolescent brain is very uneven. Some parts of the brain are very adult in their structure and function while other parts are very immature,” says pediatric psychologist Stephen Lassen, Ph.D. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which handles decision-making, isn’t fully developed until around the age of 25. Given the number of decisions kids must make as they move into early adulthood—college, career, relationships—this “makes for a challenging environment for parents,” Lassen says.
“What were you thinking?!” Then you know that kids, especially teens, can make some profoundly poor decisions. Luckily, we can help them learn smart decision-making skills and manage mistakes— without helicoptering their every move.
River Region Parents I October 2020
58
www.riverregionparents.com
om
While we can’t manipulate biology, we can take steps to nurture thoughtful, independent decision-making.
Give choices from an early age. Prime the decision-making pump beginning in toddlerhood. Offer your child simple choices that you can live with like: “Would you like to wear the red shirt or the yellow shirt?” “Would you like to take a bath before or after dinner?” “Giving options like that not only helps them start to think through decisions, make decisions and accept consequences of those decisions, but it also sends the message that kids can do it, which tends to build self-confidence,” Lassen says.
Offer age-appropriate decisions. You know best what decisions your child is ready for based on past history, development and personality. But in general, experts say that teens are ready to choose their own friends, their after-school activities, clothing and hairstyles, and the type of summer job they’d like to get. “Those are totally appropriate decisions for teens to make that don’t have an
impact on their safety or potential for a significant long-term consequences,” says pediatric psychologist Christina Low Kapalu, Ph.D. “When decisions do involve their safety or potential for significant long-term consequences, that’s when we want to involve parents’ input.” Low Kapalu also recommends involving teens in their healthcare decision-making. They should be part of the conversation with their healthcare providers, like participating with you in scheduling their appointments and asking questions about treatment options and side effects. “If they can’t do that by the time they’re 18, they’re going to really struggle to access medical care,” Low Kapalu says.
Create a supportive framework. Think of how scaffolding supports buildings that are under construction. As the building becomes more secure and able to stand on its own, we remove pieces of the scaffolding. In the same vein, “scaffolding is gradually removed as kids demonstrate
59
mastery of different skills and the decisionmaking process,” Lassen says. “We’re not directly making all of the decisions for them, but the scaffolding— the structure—is around them to help them grow into this skill of making decisions in a safe, monitored way.”
Establish ground rules. With each new freedom, clearly explain your expectations with the understanding that privileges can be pulled back again. “It’s a process. The research really shows that authoritative parenting style, which is just setting limits and enforcing clear limits with lots of warmth and engagement serves us well in the teenage
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Decision Reflections What are/were my options? Pros/Cons? Do/did I need additional information? Which option did I choose? Why? Given another chance, would I choose differently?
years,” says therapist Julie Gettings, MSW-LSCSW. “If they make a poor decision or if we’ve given them too much freedom, then sometimes we have to pull the rope back a little bit.”
Offer permission with parameters. “Kids will come to us with
a request, and we immediately want to say, ‘no, you can’t do that.’ But take a step back, pause and think about ‘what can I be okay with within that request?’” Gettings advises. For example, maybe your 14-year-old wants to go to the mall with friends. Instead of dismissing the idea, determine who they plan to go with and which adults will handle pick up and drop off. Set expectations like:
“I expect you to answer your phone when I call you while you’re there.” or “I expect you to check in with me periodically while you are there.” And, reinforce the positive by consistently praising the wise choices your child makes.
Build confidence. For kids who experience anxiety around decision-making, give them multiple opportunities to make small decisions and praise them for simply making a choice even if you aren’t a fan of the decision. Avoid causing them to second-guess by saying things like, “Are you sure you want to do that?” which can further breed uncertainty. “The more decisions you make, the more comfortable you are with things maybe not working out perfectly, maybe even failing,” Lassen says. “But life goes on and as kids repeat that, they come to see that making a bad decision is not the end of the world. And, in fact, it can really teach us a lot.” Wait to be needed. Resist swooping in and rescuing your child from the consequences of their poor decision. For example, if they forgot their science homework, they’ll have to face the consequence.
“Rushing in too quickly sends the message to kids that they can’t do it, and it tends to push kids away from parents. It promotes dependence, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to as parents,” Lassen says. “We want our kids to be happy and do well, but so much of being a healthy, well-functioning adult is learning from difficult experiences where decisions didn’t go well.”
N
Sc mu
Reflect on decisions. We all make
decisions that we later regret. “Stress to your child that you love them even if you don’t like their decision,” Low Kapalu says. Rather than harshly interrogating or criticizing your child, facilitate a thoughtful, logical discussion, which will help them feel safe coming to you when they make mistakes. “Unfortunately, we can’t always see our blind spots and teens are no different,” Low Kapalu says. “They may not be aware of their inability to see the long-term consequences or be able to identify all of the possible outcomes because they don’t have the life experience that their parents do.” rrp
Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published writer. She has two adolescent sons, whose decisions sometimes leave her scratching her head.
an Ar se Co Cl Pa ar Ru El Pr An gi Ar Th ou ing in for he er to sa
wi ma da sit Ba
Em in we me
Ph River Region Parents I October 2020
60
www.riverregionparents.com
t
g s
s.
ul,
ur w
she
-
om
Newtopia Rewards Students’ Hard Work with Their School Champions Program
At Newtopia, we acknowledge your child’s hard work and dedication. September’s School Champion program was a blast for excellent students in the Montgomery community! Students were rewarded for their good grades and good behavior with a night of safe fun. In this difficult circumstance, we are taking every precaution to ensure that our School Champions and their families are safe. Our next School Champion will be on November 17th from 4-6 pm. Winners will receive FREE admission, FREE pizza and drinks, an awards ceremony, and a chance to win our yearly scholarship! Our event is sponsored by CBS 8, ABC 32, Montgomery The CW, MeTV Montgomery, Bahakel Digital, Alabama News Network, River Region Parents, Papa Johns, and Coca-Cola.
Alabama Dance Theatre Announces 2020-2021 Company, Performance Plans and Staff Updates
The Alabama Dance Theatre, formed in 1986, recently carried on an exciting annual tradition, holding Company auditions August 16 at the Armory Learning Arts Center. Thirty-four dancers will form the upcoming season’s pre-professional company, ranging in age from 11 to 17. Senior Company Members are Jane Abbie Alford, Camilla Ohme, Ryan Tucker, Clover Hardin, Shannon McGaughey, Ja’Niya Kennedy, Lilla Kate Parkman, Celeste Herod and Emily Efferson. Junior Company Members are Amelia Kate Skala, Cameron Crawford, Molly Selman, Kathryn Ruth Parsons, Samantha Bell, Lauren Babcock, Hayes Chapman, Ella Mae Parsons, Alexandria Brooks, Emanuel Wood, Margie Ann Prescott, Miracle Grace Williams, Chandler Davis, Morgan Calhoun, Anna Little, Caroline MacLeod and Lily Givens. Apprentices are Georgia Vance, Caroline Ohme, Cecilia Hamell, Cara Barranco, Martha Armstrong, Addison May, Tempe Grinstead and Chloe Anderson. These students from area schools and homeschool will continue their rigorous training in ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop, and have multiple performing opportunities throughout the year. “We are planning to perform Mistletoe in November at the Davis Theatre, carrying on our holiday tradition in a new format,” says Artistic Director Kate Seale Smith. “All of our classes and rehearsals have been redesigned for social distancing and safety. The dancers and teachers are wearing masks at all times. It’s important for dancers to continue their classes for strength and conditioning for their physical safety, and having an artistic outlet is important now more than ever.” In addition to performing several times a year, the Company works with choreographers and guest artists, serves as community ambassadors, maintains routine class schedules, and encourages high academic standards. 2020’s graduating seniors have earned scholarships at the University of Alabama, Brenau, or gone on to dance professionally at Alabama Ballet. Joining the Alabama Dance Theatre’s staff as director of development and public relations is former ADT student and Company member Emily Dauber Flowers. “It’s exciting to be coming back to the Alabama Dance Theatre. As a serious dance student at ADT years ago, I grew up in a nurturing, creative second family. This place means so much to so many people. I’m honored to have the chance to work with this team as we plan for the future.” Coming from Troy University as its university media development coordinator, Flowers is the former director of development at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the former managing director of the Cloverdale Playhouse. For more info on classes and performances at ADT, please visit the newly designed site www.alabamadancetheatre.com or call (334) 625-2590. Photo credit by David Robertson, Jr. 61
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Tonya Speed Dance Connection Holds Facebook Disco Party
Tonya Speed and four of her dance students (Amy Treloar, Lydia, Chanelle and Chloee Woods) went LIVE on Facebook with a fun family dance party on a Friday Night in August. This was meant to encourage families to get off the sofa and engage in an activity together. Since the pandemic began, so many places are closed or have stipulations for groups, so we decided to just offer a little fun! We plan to do this again and use different themes. Brain overload? Just dance!
Alabama Academy of Honor Announces Class of 2020; Fall Induction Ceremony Postponed
The Alabama Academy of Honor has elected three new members to its class of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy’s annual October induction ceremony has been postponed until 2021. Plans for the event will be announced at a later date. This year’s honorees are Jo Bonner, Major General J. Gary Cooper and Bryan Stevenson. Bonner represented Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms. He devoted a significant part of his tenure in Congress to reviving south Alabama’s economy, securing several significant economic development projects that continue to benefit the state today. From 2013 to 2018, Bonner served as vice chancellor for economic development at The University of Alabama System. He is currently chief of staff to Gov. Kay Ivey. Cooper is a decorated Vietnam veteran and the first black officer in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry company into combat. He earned many recognitions for heroism including the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. In 1974, Cooper was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and later served as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. In 1994, he was appointed ambassador to Jamaica by Pres. Bill Clinton. Cooper held this position until 1997. Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization in Montgomery. He is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Stevenson led the creation of the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which opened in Montgomery in 2018. These national landmark institutions chronicle the legacies of slavery, lynching and racial segregation, as well as their connections to mass incarceration and contemporary issues of racial bias. For more about the Alabama Academy of Honor’s Class of 2020, please visit www.alabamaacademyofhonor.org.
SAFER AT HOME
SUNDAY PUZZLES Each week we are sharing a new puzzle featuring an artwork from the Museum’s collection. Whether a solo personal challenge or joint family effort, we make it easy for you to get solving—simply play on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Play now at mmfa.org/blog. Leonard Koscianski (American, born 1952), Red Fish, 1990, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Purchase, 1991.17
Blount Cultural Park One Museum Drive, Montgomery, AL mmfa.org | @MontgomeryMFA
River Region Parents I October 2020
62
www.riverregionparents.com
ed
om
Right now, staying healthy—both physically and emotionally—is a goal for us all. So Baptist Health has created a video series titled “Coping During COVID” that brings you helpful information from local experts in a variety of specialties, with information on maintaining and improving your health during the pandemic. Some specialties that are covered in this series include:
“Palliative Care Practices During the Pandemic” Dr. Anna Affan Internal Medicine Baptist Palliative Care Services
“Managing COPD & Asthma During COVID-19” Dr. Lisa Williams Pulmonologist Montgomery Pulmonary Consultants
“Helping Adolescents Cope During the Pandemic”
“How to Manage Urologic Conditions During the Pandemic” Dr. Travis W. Dum Urologist UAB Medicine Multispecialty Clinic at Baptist Medical Center South
“Depression & Managing Stress During the Pandemic” Dr. Joe Lucas Psychiatrist Medical Director Crossbridge Behavioral Health
“Managing Hypertension & Heart Disease During COVID-19” Dr. Paul Moore Cardiologist Montgomery Cardiovascular Associates
“Breast Health & Mammography During COVID-19” Dr. Lauren Thorington Radiologist Baptist Breast Health Centers
Dr. Griffin F. Gibson, II Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Baptist Behavioral Health
Visit BAPTISTFIRST.ORG to view our informative video series.
63
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
FamilyCalendar Thursday, October 1
Downtown Wetumpka Merchants Market 5:30-8:30 p.m. Merchants Alley, downtown Wetumpka. Red Door Theatre in Union Springs Presents Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End -- Through October 4 Dream Field Farms, 6376 US Hwy. 82, Fitzpatrick. Written by Alison Engel & Margaret Engel; directed by Jeff Langham and starring Kristy Meanor. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the location of Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End has been moved to Dream Field Farms to allow us to more safely accommodate our patrons, volunteers, cast and crew. Discover the story behind America’s beloved humorist who championed women’s lives with wit that sprang from the most unexpected place of all – the truth. Dinner will be catered by Amber Anderson of the FPH Bakery. The dinner will also be held at Dream Field Farms; reservations are required. Play tickets are $20 per person; dinner is also $20 per person. For tickets or more info, call (334) 738-8687 or visit www.reddoortheatre.org. Faulkner University’s 2020 Annual Benefit Dinner featuring Trey Gowdy Both the venue and Faulkner University will be following COVID-19 safety protocol, including reduced capacity. Tickets will go quickly, so get yours now! Order online at www.faulkner.edu/events/benefitdinner-featuring-trey-gowdy/ or call (334) 386-7257. Show Team Spirit at the Montgomery Zoo Through October 31 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wear your favorite school apparel during your next visit to the Montgomery Zoo and receive ONE (1) FREE TRAIN RIDE with every regular paid admission for guest(s) wearing their school and/ or favorite team colors (jersey, shirt, etc.). For more info, please call (334) 625-4900 or visit https://www. montgomeryzoo.com/.
Saturday, October 3
U.S. Kids Golf Montgomery Local Tour: Cottonwood Golf Course U.S. Kids Golf Local Tours provide boys and girls, ages 5 to 18, the opportunity to advance their golf experience in age-appropriate competition. The top five finishers in each age group will receive Priority Status, granting them invitations to Championship Events. Registration deadline for this event is Sept. 28. For more info, call (334) 721-4536 or visit www. uskidsgolf.com. MPAC Shows Alabama and Auburn Football Games This Season -- Saturdays through Dec. 5 Times vary depending on game schedules. With restricted attendance at SEC games, Montgomery Performing Arts Centre wants to help fans celebrate the Tide and Tigers this season. University of Alabama and Auburn University football games will be shown on the giant, 30-foot screen. Chefs at the Renaissance Montgomery will cater a public tailgate before each game. No reservations are needed, and admission is free. All COVID-19 protocols will be followed, including face masks and social distancing. Tickets are available at the MPAC Box Office either in person or by phone (334) 481-5100. Visit http://www.mpaconline.org/ events/ for the schedule. Cornfield County Farms Opens -- Saturdays and Sundays through October 31 Family owned agritainment business that includes a corn maze, sunflower maze, pumpkin patch, hayride and more family activities. Open weekends through the month of October. Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Admission is $10 per person ages 2 and up, under 2 is free. Cash and checks only, no cards. We are located at the corner of Redland Road and Willow
River Region Parents I October 2020
Sa
Springs Road in Wetumpka. For more info, visit www. cornfieldcountyfarms.com/ or call (334) 850-7084.
Sunday, October 4
The Prattauga Art Guild Annual Fall Art Show 1-4 p.m. Prattville Creative Arts Center, 342 South Chestnut St., downtown Prattville. Categories include opaque painting; transparent painting; drawing and printmaking; mixed media and collage; photography; and sculpture, 3-D, and fiber arts. For more info, call (334) 595-0850.
Monday, October 5
ACT Test Prep Classes at AUM -Through October 22 Prepare for the ACT exam and improve your test scores! Learn ways to decrease test anxiety and increase your skills with the Reading/Language, Science, and Math sections of the exam. * Students can choose to attend class in-person or online using the Zoom web application. Masks are required for attending inclass sessions. * Classes will meet Mondays through Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. Books will be provided at the first class meeting. Students may take the complete review ($309) to learn all subjects, or take a specific subject ($119). Call (334) 244-3804 or visit www.aum.edu/ coned.
Thursday, October 8
Dinner on Dexter 6-9 p.m. An evening of music, food and entertainment to support all of the amazing programs offered by your Montgomery City-County Public Library. The evening kicks off with a cocktail hour of live music, followed by a multi-course meal prepared by local top chefs and ends with dancing under the stars on the historic Dexter Avenue. Tickets are live at www. dinnerondexter.com or on Eventbrite. Individual tickets are $100. Couple’s tickets are $150. For more info, call (334) 240-4300.
Friday, October 9
Alabama National Fair -- Through October 18 Hours vary daily. Midway rides, livestock competitions, outdoor entertainment, food and more. Special Covid precautions include social distancing, face masks required, limited crowds and sanitizer stations. For details and daily specials, visit https:// alnationalfair.org/ or call (334) 272-6831. Newsboys United Presents the Love One Another Tour 7 p.m. Lake Martin Amphitheater. With special guest Adam Agee. One of the biggest bands in Christian music history, seating is being sold in “pods” and there is a limited number of them. Get your tickets now, there may not be any available on the day of the show. For more info, visit www.TheAmpOnLakeMartin.com or call (501) 514-1717.
Saturday, October 10
U.S. Kids Golf Montgomery Local Tour: Prattville Country Club Registration deadline for this event is Oct. 5. For more info, see October 3 listing.
64
2020 Alabama Cotton Festival 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 145 W Main St., Eclectic. Hosted by the Town of Eclectic, this is a family event held every year on the second Saturday in October. Browse the wares and unique items offered by more than 100 vendors! Also check out or participate in the art and photo contest, dog show, chicken race, 5K Cotton Run and Fun Run, Cotton Queen pageant, antique car show, antique tractor show, military vehicle display and Cotton Museum! For more info, find us on Facebook.
Monday, October 12
Montgomery Zoo Open for Columbus Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum are OPEN. We look forward to seeing you and your family enjoy this holiday exploring the great outdoors and the continents of the world while visiting the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning
Cam Cen 10 typ tas RSV or c
Th
The Mo 11: Ben ap RSV con 972 all com sha tha wit
Fr
De Pik Our and in h me you acc wh wh http pike our
November 1 Museum. For more info, please call (334) 625-4900 or visit https://www.montgomeryzoo.com/.
Thursday, October 15
Friends and Newcomers Club of Prattville/ Millbrook 9:30 a.m. at the Bon Appetit Catering Hall, 5090 Main Street, Millbrook. General meeting every third Thursday. This month’s guest speaker will be from the Prattville Fire Department. All ladies welcome; you do not have to be new to the area. We will social distance and wear masks. For more info, contact Nancy at (334) 414-8185 or nschrull@knology.net.
Friday, October 16
9th Annual Pike Road Plein Air Paint Out – Also October 17 Throughout the day on Oct. 16, artists will disperse around town in search of scenes that catch their eyes. The community is welcome to observe these artists as they bring their paintings to life. Artists will continue painting throughout the day on Oct. 17, and all paintings will be turned in to the Pike Road Arts Center (944 Wallahatchie Rd) by 5 p.m. for display & sale! Due to current health and safety precautions, the Plein Air Paint Out Art Show & Sale will be available to the community virtually beginning Sunday, Oct. 18, via the Pike Road Arts Council’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PikeRoadArtsCouncil/) and www.pikeroad.us.
Sa
We Na 10 as w loo adm pro org
Fal 10 bla to t sca fes our (wi Dep con pro rus
Sa
Gu 10 our som Lea thro Gen pro org
Thursday, October 22
Hay, Look at Us! Hay Bale Decorating Contest Pike Road community. A driving map will be available at www.pikeroad.us. If you can’t make it out to see the hay bales in person, a photo gallery will be available on our Facebook page for browsing and voting for the coveted “People’s Choice Award:” www. facebook.com/townofpikeroad.
www.riverregionparents.com
Bec to pri inf to
ery he
nd
s
0
he o ce 34)
e
will and s y& , il-
)
st ble e ailg
om
Saturday, October 24
Campfire Cooking Class at Alabama Nature Center 10 a.m. Guests will learn how to prepare various types of food over a campfire as well as enjoy some tasty foods. We are providing the food, so please RSVP. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (334) 285-4550.
Thursday, October 29
The Newcomers Club of Montgomery Inc. Monthly Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Outdoor covered seating at Itta Bena Restaurant in Wind Creek Montgomery. This is a plated luncheon and not a buffet. Cost is $19 and RSVPs are necessary as seating is limited. Please contact our Membership Co-Chair Irene Wetzel (661) 972-1334 for further details. Our group is open to all women in the Montgomery area and outlying communities looking for opportunities to meet and share fun and friendship. We have 10 activity groups that meet regularly in addition to luncheon meetings with guest speakers.
Friday, October 30
Deadline to Share Veterans’ Stories for Pike Road Digital Library Our intention is to build a virtual library of memories and stories that can be shared with the community in honor and remembrance. From service-related memories to special times shared at home, we hope you will consider sharing with us. Follow this link to access a Veterans’ Story Collection Interview Guide, which can be utilized by everyone, especially those who are trying to capture someone else’s story: https://bit.ly/2DMuWBs. Stories submitted to info@ pikeroad.us by October 30 will be shared as a part of our 2020 Veterans Appreciation celebrations.
Saturday, October 31
Webtackular Spider Hike at Alabama Nature Center 10 a.m. Join one of our experienced ANC Naturalists as we explore some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails looking for cool spiders and their webs. General admission applies and includes this awesome program! For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife. org/ or call (334) 285-4550. Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Not only will you find a working blacksmith and a grist mill, but you’ll be treated to the Pumpkin Patch, wagon and pony rides, scavenger hunt, a much larger petting zoo, festival food items, and more, and of course our Blue Ribbon Pie and Cake Baking Contest (with cash prizes), plus LOTS more. Alabama Department of Public Health Guidelines concerning COVID-19 will be followed for the protection of all. For more info, visit https://www. russelllandsonlakemartin.com/.
Saturday, November 7
Guided Nature Hike at Alabama Nature Center 10 a.m. 3050 Lanark Road, Millbrook. Join one of our experienced ANC Naturalists as we explore some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails and boardwalks. Learn how to bird or ID plants and animals, splash through the creek, or catch insects in the meadow! General admission applies and includes this awesome program! For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife. org/ or call (334) 285-4550.
Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.
65
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
Wetumpka Scout Earns Eagle Rank
Ryan Rouse, a junior at Wetumpka High School and a member of Wetumpka Boy Scout Troop 13, has achieved Eagle rank. Rouse has completed 41 merit badges and has earned two Bronze, one Gold and one Silver palm for earning 20 merit badges beyond the required number of 21. He was a founding member of Cub Scout Pack 429, where he earned the God and Me Award, God and Family Award and Arrow of Light, the highest level of achievement in Cub Scouts. Since crossing over to Boy Scout Troop 13, he has held a variety of leadership positions within the unit, including senior patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader and instructor. He has also served as a den chief for Pack 429 and Pack 50. He is a Brotherhood member of Order of the Arrow (National Scouting Honor Society), and he participated in the BSA Explorer program in Broadcasting, hosted by WSFA. In 2019, Rouse traveled with members of his troop to Florida Sea Base near Key West, where he completed a weeklong deep-sea fishing adventure in the waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Later that summer, he completed National Youth Leadership training at Camp Tukabatchee. At the end of 2019, Rouse received the Troop 13 Scout of the Year Award named in memory of Troop 13 Eagle Scout Bryan Valliere. For his Eagle project, Rouse and members of his troop planted four juvenile Chinese pistache trees near the Wetumpka Depot. Family members, friends and Wetumpka Depot supporters contributed funding, while area landscaper John Carter donated time and expertise to advise and operate the necessary heavy machinery. At school, Rouse is an honor student, a writer for the school news team, a technician for the school’s theatre guild and a member of Beta and Key clubs. He is also a member of Frazer United Methodist Church, where he participates in youth activities and assists the technical team. Rouse is shown with his father, Assistant Scoutmaster Scott Rouse. River Region Parents I October 2020
66
www.riverregionparents.com
S
R
Grading Family Movies: Streaming, Digital Rentals, and DVDs Enola Holmes
Secret Society of Second Born Royals
om
Violence
Sex
Profanity
Alcohol/Drugs
PG-13
B+
C+
A-
B+
B+
Disney +
Rating
Overall
Violence
Sex
Profanity
Alcohol/Drugs
TV-PG
B+
B
A-
A
A
Princess Samantha is sick of being the “spare to the heir”. Cutting ribbons, smiling graciously, and following behind her perfect sister hold no appeal to the young rebel who would rather sing protest songs on street corners. Then she learns that as a second born royal she has a unique genetic anomaly that gives her superpowers. Now all she needs to do is identify her power, hone her skills, and save the world. This movie won’t charm adults but it comes with lots of positive themes for kids. Photo © Disney +
Misbehaviour
Digital on Demand
Rating
Overall
Violence
Sex
Profanity
Alcohol/Drugs
Not Rated
B+
B
B
D+
C+
It’s 1970 and a group of women in London have finally had it with the casual sexism that permeates their culture. So they decide to make a statement by disrupting the Miss World competition. Based on a true story, this thoughtful film examines their perspective as well as the experiences of the contestants who are impacted by the demonstrations. With profanity being the movie’s only major downside, it can be a useful catalyst for family discussions about gender roles and cultural expectations.
-
,
Overall
Photo ©Netflix
p
r
Rating
Enola Holmes has had an unconventional upbringing with a mother who has eschewed traditional Victorian pastimes for martial arts, code breaking, and reading feminist tomes. When Enola wakes up on her 16th birthday to find her mother gone, she is distraught. Her brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes soon appear to find their mother and “tame” Enola. Running away, Enola finds herself involved with a missing viscount, a murderous plot, and looming political reform. This entertaining family film is a great choice for family movie night with tweens and teens.
r
a
Netflix
Photo © Shout! Factory
Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs
Digital on Demand
Rating
Overall
Violence
Sex
Profanity
Alcohol/Drugs
PG
A-
B+
A
A
A
Seven heroic princes have traveled the land, coming to the aid of those in need until they are cursed by a fairy who turns them into dwarves. Their only hope is to be kissed by a beautiful princess. Meanwhile, Princess Snow White comes across a pair of red shoes that transform her into a slender, conventionally beautiful princess. Filled with messages of body positivity and kindness, this film is suitable for kids – and their parents might even laugh at the jokes. Photo ©Lionsgate Photo © Lionsgate
Grades range from: A= absence of content concerns to D= excess of content concerns Detailed reviews available 67 at www.parentpreviews.com
www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents
nurses maybe who would be comfortable caring for not only special needs children, but also their siblings. We are blessed to have family local who will keep our children and give us a break every now and then, but not everyone has that available. We have looked before to find a sitter who would be comfortable and experienced enough to care for Rachel, who would also keep our other two children. It has proven to be a difficult task! RRP: What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself before you had kids? Casey: To travel more and not be so serious all the time. Worry less and have fun!
Casey Daniel
RRP: What tips do you have for new parents? Casey: Listen to your instincts when it comes to your children. Ask for help and accept help when it is offered. Do what you think is right for your family and don’t get caught up in others who portray parenthood as being perfect.
Today we visit with Casey Daniel, mom to Ava, Rachel, and Henry.
RRP: If you could outsource any chore, what would it be? Why? Casey: This is the easiest question, and the answer is LAUNDRY! It never ends. We have a house of five members and three of them are five year olds. There is always so much laundry!
RRP: You are a mom of multiples. How does parenting three children the same age challenge you?
RRP: Tell us what is one habit of each child that you admire. Casey: Our daughter Rachel is such a joy. She is non-verbal and wheelchair bound, but she is the happiest child you will come across. She finds joy and happiness in the most simple things and is rarely without a smile or laugh on her face. Henry is our only boy, and we laugh and say he is such a lover. He always wants to hug and snuggle, and has been known to give kisses to his favorite ladies. Ava is our other daughter, and she is the organizer of the three. She makes sure everyone knows what to do and where to be. If she thinks you are not doing something right, she will be the first to point it out and let you know what you need to fix.
Casey: The biggest challenge in raising triplets for me would be trying to spread myself between all three of my children to make sure their individual needs are met. My daughter Rachel has cerebral palsy, among other health issues and needs, and she usually requires more of my time and attention than my other two children. It can be easy at times to lump all three of them together because they are all experiencing the same things at the same time, but I have to remind myself they are all individuals and all have their own set of wants and needs.
RRP: COVID-19 has changed our daily routines. What is one way that your family has coped during this time?
RRP: How has parenting a child with special needs blessed you? Casey: We learned quickly that our kids need socialization and some type of routine. We have done playdates with cousins whenever we can. We also started doing pizza and movie nights. We let the kids make their own pizzas and all watch a movie together. They will now ask us when the next pizza and movie night is.
Casey: Having a child with special needs is not something most parents plan for. We learned very quickly that our road is not a straight and easy road, but one full of bumps and unexpected turns and forks in the road. This has taught us to celebrate the victories and not get too upset if things don’t turn out the way we hoped. We have also learned not to take anything for granted with our other two children. Every milestone met and goal achieved is a little more special than the last.
RRP: What do you want your kids to remember from childhood?
RRP: What is a need in our community for parents with a special needs child?
Casey: I hope they remember fun summers spent playing in the backyard with friends, and days at the lake with their cousins. I hope they also remember holiday traditions like looking at Christmas lights and cooking for big family meals.
Casey: I think parents of special needs children can become so wrapped up in caring for their child, they can forget to care for themselves. I think it would be great to have a group of sitters or
Casey is married to Allen Daniel. The Pike Road couple has been married for ten years and are the parents to 5-year-old triplets: Ava, Rachel, and Henry. Casey enjoys playing tennis and baking.
River Region Parents I October 2020
68
www.riverregionparents.com
River Region
MEDICAL · COSMETIC · LASER
DERMATOLOGY & LASER
Love
the skin you’re in. Dr. Porcia Love
Brittany Boylan, CRNP Jo Shuford-Guice, MSN, FNP-BC
PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE TO OUR PATIENTS IN A COMPASSIONATE AND PERSONALIZED MANNER. ACNE · DISCOLORATION · HAIR LOSS · SKIN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT · BOTOX CHEMICAL PEELS · FILLER · FACIAL REJUVENATION · LASER SERVICES MICRONEEDLING · COOLSCULPTING
River Region Dermatology & Laser 2060 Berryhill Road · Montgomery, AL 36117 1 (334) 676-3366 · RRDermatologyLaser.com www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents
TA K E S H O N O R S E R I O U S LY A N D B E I N G F I R S T I N L I N E AT L U N C H . [ PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE—THE FORMATIVE YEARS ]
What do MA graduates look like? Diverse in every way, yet they share surprisingly similar qualities. Our idea of excellence? It’s instilling the kinds of qualities a young adult needs to succeed. At MA, our programs are structured, and experiences are designed around creating lifelong learners who challenge themselves. Co-curricular involvement is planned to champion honor, ethics, diversity and service. We do all this—but if you ask our middle schoolers, they may tell you about the importance of signing the honor code pledge. Or that the MA lunchroom spaghetti is the best!
Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y The Pursuit of Excellence in K-12 Education Contact Rachael Gallagher, admissions@montgomeryacademy.org | 334.272.8210 | montgomeryacademy.org 1
MA05-43295-Parents Back Cover-Nov.indd 1
www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents
10/24/18 11:17 AM