Parent
November 2013
metro east
FREE
VOL 2 Issue I MetroEastParent.com
SHOP HIGHLAND Pages 15-16
Secrets of Savvy Secondhand Shopping
Training the Brain with Brain Balance Pages 7-8
What is Hoyleton Ministries?
Military Appreciation Week Events In honor of our nation’s military, both present and past, McKendree University will be hosting several military appreciation week activities from Nov. 11-16, 2013. Monday, November 11: Veterans Day Service, Noon at Flagpole. In partnership with The Fight Continues, the “Reading of the Fallen” will be held to commemorate fallen soldiers from all U.S. conflicts. Volunteers are needed to read names. If interested, email khconnelly@mckendree.edu. Tuesday, November 12: Military Appreciation Game: Men’s Basketball, 7pm in Melvin Price Convocation Center. Wounded warriors will be honored. Free tickets available with a military ID. To reserve tickets, email leputbrese@mckendree.edu. Thursday, November 14: Red Cross Blood Drive, 1-6pm in Intramural Gym. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and enter “McKendree” for sponsor code. Veterans Education Benefits Workshop, 6pm in Bothwell Chapel. Roland Smith, 375th Force Support Squadron Education Center Manager, will facilitate the workshop. Friday, November 15: Military Appreciation Game: Women’s Volleyball, 7pm in Melvin Price Convocation Center. Military spouses will be honored. Free tickets available with a military ID. To reserve tickets, email askordelewski@mckendree.edu. Saturday, November 16: Military Appreciation Tailgate, 2-5pm in the Quad. Several military-related organizations and activities will be available, including the Veterans Administration Mobile Center from Springfield, Ill., the USO-Missouri Mobile Unit, The Mission Continues, VFW Post #805, American Legion Post #0283 and holiday card making for the troops. Military Appreciation Game: Football, 6pm at Leemon Field. All active-duty military, veterans and gold star families will be honored. Free tickets available with a military ID. To reserve tickets, email khconnelly@mckendree.edu.
1.800.BEARC AT • McKendree .edu/militar y M
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VOLUME 2, NUMBER I November 2013 PUBLISHER
Passionately Engaging Students Delivering Excellence Equipping Youth to Lead
ROBERT LUDWIG PUBLISHER@MetroEastParent.com
MANAGING EDITOR Cherie Washow
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGN Robert Ludwig
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Linda Jakel ADVERTISING@MetroEastParent.com 618-407-5281
ADVERTISING STAFF
Sue Hezel, Lisa Hunsche, Charlotte Fraser, Jennifer Brown
OFFICE STAFF Nov 2-3 10:00-4:00
618-656-0043 Nov 17 1:00-3:00 www.melhs.org Open House for prospective parents and students PAF’s FALL CRAFT FAIR
Engaging young adults in a Christ-centered Serving Christian environment, families fromacademic across excellence and spirithe Metro-East area tual growth to develop since 1977. Christian leaders.
Saturday, September 21 NIGHT OF KNIGHTS DINNER Sigmund Bohnet Memorial AUCTION • Nov. 8 • 5:00-?? Golf Tournament (scholarship fund raiser) Sundays—Jan. 27 & Feb. 10IL Doubletree HotelaCollinsville, Give a Student hole in one! 1-3 pm Arlington Greens Golf Courseday , Granite City for tickets go toeach www.melhs.org
Open Houses
6305 GroveRoad Road 6305Center Center Grove Edwardsville, IL Edwardsville, IL
Contact Uscan Today! Don’t think you afford it? Serving Christ and You! 618:656-0043 You might be surprised as tuition www.melhs.org assistance is available. Contact Us Today! Page 3
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Alex Jones
METRO EAST PARENT
618-407-5281
MetroEastParent.com 2913 Old Caseyville Rd Swansea, IL 62226
TO SUBMIT EVENTS TO OUR CALENDAR CALENDAR@MetroEastParent.com
METRO EAST PARENT MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CREED MEDIA GROUP. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OR AN INDICATION OF SUPPORT BY ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.
e d i s n I November
Vol. 2 Number 1
Features
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Training the Brain with BRAIN BALANCE Read about the amazing achievements Brain Balance has done with area children! Teen ‘Pharming’ is a Growing Concern Are your prescription pills safe in your house with your children and their friends?
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November is National Epilepsy Month We highlight the Epilepsy Foundation of Southern Illinois.
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Thanksgiving Books for Children Glen Carbon Centennial Library gives us the must reads of the month
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SHOP HIGHLAND! Check out savings from Beautiful Highland! What is Hoyleton Ministries? Learn about all the incredible work that an area ministry is doing Metro East Parent School of the Month: Waterloo Community Unit School District #5 Technology has changed the classroom, learn how Waterloo has become a leader in cutting edge technology for schools The Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: A Hidden Treasure Come listen to the area’s finest young musicians this month perform “The Nutcracker”
Events Calendar
31 33 38
Checking out the History Museum of Monroe County There are hidden gems in the Metro East Area, this is one of the best! Plato’s Closet: Secrets of Savvy Second Shopping Metro East Parent joins Plato’s Closet in showing you how to save money this holiday season! O’Fallon Garden Club Join an area Daisy Troop as they learn how to prepare the garden for the winter!
Columns
4 9 12 13 19 20 21 27 28 37 51 52
Letter from the Publisher - Robert Ludwig Voice of Generation “I” - Xavier Ludwig Coping with Stress during the Holiday Season Dr. Bruce McLaughlin Tooth Talk - Dr. Angie Tenholder Easy Steps to Stay Healthy… Dr. Colleen Stratton, C.A.C.C.P. Learn how to fight your fear with dogs Camp Bow Wow Hate your CPAP? - Dr. Anna Smith Let’s Play House Jessica Butcher, Kiddo’s Closet & Clips What if Einstein had been put on Ritalin? Vitalize Family Chiropractic Prudent Parenting - Cherie Washow, Editor The Perfect Present for your Player! Garrett Peek, Owner of Melodic Rhythms The Common Core State Standards Dr. Almeda Lahr-Well, Lahr-Well Academy
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Call 618-407-5281 Today to ADVERTISE in... metro east
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2931 Old Caseyville Rd. Swansea, IL 62226 advertising@metroeastparent.com Page 5
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letter from the publisher...
Robert Ludwig
Well, it has been exactly one year since we started this endeavor. Twelve issues of Metro East Parent Magazine have been delivered throughout the Metro East area to schools, businesses, and non-profits highlighting the very best of each. Together we have grown Metro East Parent Magazine to be the number one source for area families, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our dream come true. But we, with your help, can do better... We have had our bumps in the road in our first year, made some mistakes. I am sure there are typos throughout each and every magazine. That is the price you pay when you do the magazine in the wee hours of the morning. And we have sent people to events that were canceled, SORRY again! But throughout the year we have tried to give area families the best information we possibly could. SO please keep the information coming. We have made it our mission to give area families a choice. A choice to see the great things we have in our little corner of the Earth. A choice to travel to places within the Metro East area they may not have gone to before only because they read about the event or community in our area. A choice to see that there are so many family friendly businesses in the area, on both sides of the river. We promise that in the years to come we will work harder to keep the news coming. We will try and touch on subjects that may not be the more glamorous of topics, but is needed to help raise our children in a safe environment, free of the dangers they face on an every day basis. Dangers we could not imagine when we were growing up. So sit back and enjoy, for my friends, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Robert Ludwig, Publisher publisher@metroeastparent.com 618-407-5281
Check us out online at
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Training the Brain with Brain Balance
By Cherie Washow, Editor editor@metroeastparent.com
but rather expanding the child’s ability to think. They are based on the concept of brain plasticity, a fancy word for the ability of the brain to grow. The common theory is that after a certain age, a person can no longer make new connections in their brain to expand their thinking ability. This program blows that theory out the window. The parents I spoke to said their children went from academic failures to A-B students after taking the program. The sensory and motor skill exercises train the body to work with the mind in a coordinated effort. They work posture, strength, auditory and visual stimulation as well as timing and rhythm. The final aspect of the program requires some blood analysis to determine if there are any allergies that could be impacting brain function.
E
ver wonder what they sell at that store? After interviewing Michael Mooney, the Center Director and several parents, it seems they sell hope. Based on the works of Dr. Robert Melillo, Brain Balance is making a huge impact in the lives of the children who go through their program, and giving parents hope for a normal future for their children with special needs. The CDC conservatively reports that 10% of children in the USA are diagnosed with ADHD and 1 in 88 fall under the autism spectrum disorder. The programs at Brain Balance offer a treatment that is actually a solution, rather than the band-aid that medication provides. After a two-day assessment they will put together an individualized program that the child will follow for at least 12 weeks. Based on the level of need, the programs range from 12 weeks to 12 months. Not all children will be recommended for the program. The Brain Balance program primarily focuses on three aspects of the child: cognitive function; sensory and motor skills; and nutrition. The exercises for cognitive function are not teaching facts
Brenda spoke to me about her daughter Clair who went through the program for 12 weeks. Clair was taking her Freshman year of high school for the 2nd time and it didn’t look like she was going to pass. She had been diagnosed in the 5th grade with ADHD and was on medication. Her parents had tried tutors; spent hours studying with her and even explored some special diets. The Brain Balance program put it all together for her and five weeks into the program Clair quit taking her medication and is now an A-B student with several honors classes.
Brain Balance Center of Edwardsville 1063 South State Route 157 Suite 4 Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-659-0033
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Facebook.com/BrainBalanceIL
Lori in Waterloo spoke to me about her son Jack. Jack has been in the program for 5 months. He is 11 and was diagnosed while very young with ADHD, severe anxiety and autism spectrum disorder. His anxiety prevented him from partaking in the normal childhood activities of playing with friends, swimming, trick or treating and sitting on Santa’s lap. The initial assessment by the Brain Center put his mental age at 5. Five weeks into the program, Jack stopped taking the 2 medications he had been taking since he was 6 years old. He now has friends his own age for the first time in his life. The family has hope for Jack’s future.
The Center Director, Michael Mooney, is clearly passionate about the work they do. Contact him if you have a child who could benefit from this program. On November 12th and 13th Dr. Robert Melillo, founder of Brain Balance, is coming to Gateway Convention Center to give a series of lectures on the incredible work that the Brain Balance Program is achieving throughout the country with thousands of students. If you have a child, or know anyone who has a child with special needs, this event is a must. Please RSVP by November 7th by calling 618-806-1046.
Does your child struggle with fitting in? Keeping up in class? Paying attention? Sitting still? Being picked last? Come hear what cutting edge research has to say about how brain function can cause your child to act this way, and how you can help turn their life around .
We welcome Dr. Robert Melillo, founder of the Brain Balance Program, with a series of free lectures.
James has a unique challenge. It’s ADHD.
Tuesday, November 12th
Wednesday, November 13th
7pm - Parent Lecture Gateway Convention Center Collinsville, IL RSVP by November 7th for FREE ADMISSION
7pm - Education Professionals Lecture Gateway Convention Center Collinsville, IL RSVP by November 7th to receive FREE CPDU CREDITS
SEATINGIS LIMITED! RSVP TO(618)806-1046 BYNOVEMBER7TH! For families and professionals with children with ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Robert Melillo
MetroEastParent.com
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Voice of Generation “I” by Xavier Ludwig
“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”
~Brodi Ashton, Everneath
others without a second thought. They do not do it for glory or fame, nor do they do it for any accolades. They do it because it is their duty, their calling, and they would not know any other way. Last week my father and I were watching the American League Companionship Series when Boston Player Shane Victorino hit a grand slam to take the Red Sox to the World Series against the Cardinals (GO CARDS!) when the announcer said something that somehow really upset me! Not just that we now have to face the Red Sox, but the announcer proclaimed Victorino a hero for hitting a ball. The Online dictionary defines Hero as a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. I guess you can say that an over-paid ball player who makes millions for hitting a ball 450 feet could be considered a hero, or a basketball player who makes a winning shot. But doesn’t that take away from the real heroes? Heroes that place their lives in danger on a daily basis to ensure our safety. We are surrounded by heroes everyday, those who run willingly into fires, place themselves in harm’s way, fight for freedom. There are those who spend their whole lives caring and giving to Page 9
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We each have a hero in our lives, many who we do not thank quite enough. We each have enough heroes in our lives that we do not have to manufacture them out of ball players who might hit a grand slam to take his team to the next series. I have a few heroes in my life that I would like to point out. Heroes that I do not nearly give enough credit to for making me who I am. There are those in my life who give themselves unselfishly to make me a better person. Coaches and teachers who may go beyond their duty to help me out with the Algebra problem that I could not grasp the first time, or work with me after practice to get my shot right. This month we celebrate Veteran’s Day. We give thanks to those who have fought and sometimes died to make this country the greatest country in the world, or to give other people around the world the basic freedoms that we as Americans take for granted. We thank those who today are fighting
in wars around the world who do so not because they were forced to, but because they chose to. They chose to run into the firefight so that others would not have to. To them I give my deepest thanks and appreciation. But there is one man that I wish to point out above all others, the one man that is truly my Hero. My Uncle Don is the one true hero in my eyes. He just returned from his fifth tour from Afghanistan and Iraq, and is about to return within the year. He and thousands of other service men and women give themselves without question or the need of gratitude because that is just who they are. To Uncle Don, I just want to say thank you, and my prayers will always follow you no matter where you may go. You are my hero, and I love you. I hope that those who read this column will do exactly what I have done. Realize those in your life whom you consider to be your hero and tell them. Thank them, and keep on doing so. They may not do what they do for appreciation or accolades, but that does not mean they should get neither.
You may email Xavier with any questions to: xavier@metroeastparent.com
TEEN ‘PHARMING’ IS A GROWING CONCERN Submitted by: Gateway Foundation Drug & Alcohol Treatment
pupils, slurred speech, or flushed skin. Other signs and symptoms may vary, but parents should be alert to the following: personality changes, mood swings, irritability, excessive energy, sleepiness, avoiding sleep, sweating, loss of appetite, forgetfulness and clumsiness. Watch for signs at home such as missing pills, unfamiliar pills, or empty cough and cold medicine bottles or packages. If your teen has a prescription, keep control of the bottle. Be alert to your teen running out of pills quickly, losing pills or requesting refills. Real Answers for Lasting Recovery WHAT CAN YOU DO? – Think about your home. What prescription drugs do you have? Where are they kept? Would you know if some were missing? The good news is that you can take steps immediately to limit access to these drugs: 1. Safeguard all drugs at home, including over-the-counter medicines. Monitor quantities and control access. 2. Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider’s advice and dosages.
If you’re a parent and are not familiar with “pharming,” it should be on your radar as much as alcohol and illicit drug use. Though overall teen drug use is down significantly nationwide in recent years, one category is actually on the rise. Teens now abuse prescription drugs more than any illicit drug except marijuana; more than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012). If your teen gets in the habit of using medicines that are not medically intended for him or her, or taking higher than recommended doses just for fun, bad things can happen: dramatic increases in blood pressure and heart rate, organ damage, addiction, difficulty breathing, seizures and possibly death. The term “abuse” of prescription drugs is defined as use without medical supervision for the intentional purpose of getting high. Teens who first abuse prescription drugs before age 16 also have a greater risk of drug dependence later in life. OBTAINED FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY MORE THAN DRUG DEALERS – Free and easy to find, 70 percent of people age 12 and older who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from a friend or relative, often without their knowledge. Others may abuse their own prescription medicine. STOP THE MYTH – Since they are not illegal, teens believe abusing prescription drugs is safer than using illicit drugs, but these drugs often can be addictive and harmful to one’s health. Other reasons why teens substantiate prescription drug abuse are they believe less shame is associated with using them and that their parents “don’t care as much if you get caught.” RISK IN MIXING – Prescription drugs provide benefits when used correctly under the care of a health provider. But when abused, they can be just as dangerous as illicit drugs. The side-effects of them range from unpleasant to dangerous for the recreational teen user. But the affects, and the dangers, are intensified when these drugs are combined with each other, with alcohol or with illegal street drugs. Even when used at recommended doses to treat medical conditions, combining multiple medications can be dangerous. HOW CAN I TELL IF MY TEEN ABUSES THESE DRUGS? – Some signs your teen might be using prescription drugs include constricted
3. Be a good role model by following these same rules with your own medicines. 4. Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines. 5. Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well. 6. Talk to your teen about the dangers of abusing prescription and overthe-counter drugs. These are powerful drugs that, when misused, are just as dangerous as illegal street drugs. Tell your teen it’s not worth the risk. Work together to craft “no thanks” responses in case your teen is approached by friends to abuse prescription drugs. Teens say parents are not discussing these dangers with them, even though research shows that parental disapproval is a powerful way to keep teens from using drugs. For information about talking to your teen about alcohol and drug use, check out Gateway’s tool kit for parents at RecoverGateway.org. There is a lot to be aware of and actions to take when it comes to protecting your child from alcohol and drug abuse. If you have questions, Gateway Foundation Alcohol & Drug Treatment has expertise in helping teens overcome substance abuse and can provide the answers you need in complete confidentiality. Gateway also offers a free, in-depth, confidential consultation to determine the nature and extent of one’s alcohol or drug problem. Contact us today if someone you know may need help.
Popular Prescription Drugs Painkillers: Vicodin, Tylenol with Codeine, OxyContin, Percocet Depressants: Klonopin, Nembutal, Soma, Valium, Xanax Stimulants: Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin Over-the-Counter (OTC): Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold, Robitussun, Vicks Formula 44 Cough Relief MetroEastParent.com
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NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL
EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH The National Epilepsy Foundation has declared November National Epilepsy Awareness Month. In honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the National Epilepsy Foundation is running a month long video campaign in November entitled, “Now I Know.” “Now I know” highlights people’s experiences with epilepsy and seizures. To check out “Now I Know” videos go to www.Facebook.com/ EpilepsyFoundationOfAmerica . Epilepsy and seizures affect 2.2 million Americans and about 65 million people worldwide. In the U.S., it affects more than 300,000 children under the age of 15-more than 90,000 of whom have seizures that cannot be adequately treated. In honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois will have Epilepsy informational displays at public libraries as well as school libraries in the Illinois MetroEast area. We will be participating in “Now I Know” videos for the national campaign, and will have a Public Announcement on epilepsy awareness on the local Charter Communication Channel. The videos and public announcement will run for the entire month of November. In addition, The Epilepsy Foundation Page 11
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of Greater Southern IllinoisSouthern Region office located in Mt. Vernon will have Twitter discussions on Get Seizure Smart and Seizure First Aid; as well as other events throughout the month of November promoting seizure awareness at their local schools and Girl Scout Troop. For dates and times please contact the Mt. Vernon Office at (618) 2446680 or email at efsi@mvn.net. The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois was established in 1977 and provides a full spectrum of services for the entire lower third of the state of Illinois – 34 counties in all. We have two offices, four residential group homes, and 34 employees. We proudly served over 11,000 individuals during Fiscal Year 2012 through our offices in Belleville and Mount Vernon, Illinois. We offer a full continuum of services – seizure service coordination, information and referral on epilepsy/seizures and first aid, a children’s seizure clinic, emergency seizure medication assistance, epilepsy social support groups, children’s camp, intensive supports to keep individuals living in the community, and 24 hour residential services, if needed. For more information please visit our website, www.efgreatersil. org . Also feel free to call our Belleville office at (618)236-2181.
Coping with Stress during the Holiday Season Dr. Bruce McLaughlin has extensive experience as an educator. Over the past thirty years he has served as a classroom teacher for grade 6 through 8, public school administrator for grades Pre-Kdg through 8 and online high school administrator with Kaplan Virtual Education. He has also served as an educational consultant with Riverside Publishing and Edison Learning. Dr. McLaughlin has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter on educational and leadership issues across the U. S and in the Middle East. His educational background includes degrees in music, psychology, education and counseling from SIUE and a doctorate in educational Leadership from St. Louis University. He is currently on staff at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Troy, IL and operates a career coaching business from his private office. He may be reached via www.drbrucem.com or www.saintpaulstroy.org. It is pretty common knowledge that the Holiday Season starts early. Once we get past Halloween you can start expecting to hear Christmas tunes on the department store speaker system. Like it or not, the ‘Early Holidays’ have become a part of our lives. The Holidays can often be a stressful time – there is so much to do and it seems like there are more activities and things that others expect us to do every year. More, more, more, now, now, now! Are you getting tense, yet? Fortunately, there are things we can do to help cut down on the amount of stress we feel. And the first step we can take to decrease family stress is to make some conscious decisions ahead of time on how we are going to spend our time and resources during the Holiday Season.
Tips for Parents on Dealing with Holiday Stress: Set Expectations – Talking to your children about what your family will be doing can help them to cope with an increase in activities. Be open with them about what your family will be doing. Depending on your child’s age, this could be a good time to discuss the value of money, responsible spending and how your family deals with good stewardship and giving. Be realistic – Take small concrete steps to deal with holiday tasks instead of overwhelming yourself with goals that are too far reaching for a busy time. It is okay to respectfully say “No”. Establish routines – Children respond best when there is structure and interruptions are kept to a minimum. Maintaining regular arrival times, dismissal times, meal times and bed times can help children be healthier and happier. Give children advance notice of changes in routines. Interestingly many students get anxious when they are away from school for prolonged periods. School can be a fun and safe place to be and routines are very regular. Be aware that this change in routine may cause children to become anxious. Keep things in perspective – Try to consider stressful situations in a broader context. The Holidays are just one time of the year and
there IS a bigger picture. Our kids use the adults in their life as their main teachers and we (meaning adults) teach best by providing kids with positive & healthy examples. So if they see us stressed out about Christmas, they will learn from us that this is the way to deal with Christmas. If they see us regularly take peaceful time for prayer or reflection, this is the message they will learn. This time of year often makes it very noticeable that some people have more than others. Television commercials can bombard us with the “need to have”. This can place stress or fear in children. Use this time to talk to your children about what is most important. Make connections – Good relationships with family and friends are important. The Holidays can be a good time to reconnect. But, when your calendar gets full and you feel stressed about squeezing in one more event, try scheduling that event in January after the rush. Once you get it scheduled, you might find that you have fulfilled the desire to get together with your friends by getting it scheduled, but you have scheduled it during a time when you have more time. Take care of yourself – Be aware of your own personal needs and feelings during the holiday season. You will be able to take care of your family better if you are feeling well. Do activities that your family enjoys and finds relaxing. Consider cutting back on television and doing something instead that promotes physical activity and less sedentary time. Removing yourself and your kids from the constant influence of TV advertisements can also cut down on perceived stress. Remember what stress is – It is really nothing. There is no stress bug or bacteria that climbs in our ear and makes us anxious. Stress is nothing we can see or observe. Stress is only what we think it is. It has no power over us that we do not give it. Ask your self, “Is this the way I want to feel in this situation?” or “Is this the thing I really want to do in this situation?” If you don’t like your actions or your feelings, give yourself permission to change and then follow-up in a way that you like better. I wish you and your family a wonderful, relaxing holiday season.
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T o o t h T awith l kDr. Angie Ask DrAngie@yahoo.com
Dental Insurance: Use it or Lose it! Dental insurance can often be misunderstood, mainly because of the word “insurance”. People think that insurance will cover 100% of damages after the deductible is met. Dental benefits are different. Dental benefit reimbursement amounts were established in the mid 1960’s with average yearly maximum payment of $1500. In those days, this amount would provide the patient the ability to receive reimbursement for multiple dental procedures with a minimal copayment. In today’s world, the average yearly maximum paid is still, yes – you guessed it - $1500. And if you do not use it during your benefit period (which usually expires at the end of the year) you lose those benefits. It’s like throwing money away if you do not take advantage of those insurance dollars! Inflation has increased dental costs for procedures to the point where many patients can only get minimal treatment using the same “insurance” benefit. Fewer employers are offering dental insurance as a benefit and many employers that provide benefits for their employees offer a less expensive dental plan. In this plan the employee must choose from a list of dentists that agree to a fee schedule that pays the dentist a portion of their regular fees or pays a set amount to treat a group of patients, regardless of their needs. Use common sense when choosing your plan and ask the opinions of reputable locally owned dental offices about which plan is best for you and your family. Make sure that you choose a dentist who provides quality care for you and your family, not the least expensive option available. Remember: you usually get what you pay for. Here’s the reality: dental “insurance” is not something that pays all of your dental needs when you file a claim as other forms of insurance might. It provides more of a discount than a promise of reduction of risk. Depending on the plan you choose, you will have a deductible and copayments for most procedures. Often the premiums are more expensive than the benefits received from them. Employers will be making difficult decisions concerning benefits for their employees as the Affordable Healthcare Act is implemented and the amounts for dental benefits will be decreasing. Many employers offer a period of open enrollment so the employee can choose a dental plan based on in network or out of network dental providers. People often choose the least expensive option without understanding the consequences of that decision. Page 13
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Please keep these statements in mind when choosing the best dental care benefit plan for your family: •
If you have dental insurance, you are very fortunate to have these benefits. Over half of Americans do not have dental insurance and that number is rising.
•
Dental insurance is a business decision - not a health care decision. Dental insurance companies enjoy millions of dollars in profits each year. These dollars benefit them, not you or your dental office. Those who do not use their benefits this year will add to their profits.
•
The lack of proper dental care results in millions of dollars in preventable health care costs and time lost from work or school.
•
More than 50 percent of uninsured and 30 percent of insured Americans skipped necessary dental care visits during 2011 due to financial burdens, according to a 2009 Harris Interactive/HealthDay Poll.
•
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, dental insurance tops the list of benefits employers are looking to pare back.
Please remember to protect the smiles of you and your family while understanding the economic impact of decisions regarding your insurance and dental healthcare. Also keep in mind that those who have dental benefits that expire at the end of the year will lose them if not used. Put your money where your mouth is. The return on investment is priceless!
Thanksgiving Books for Children Compiled by Christina Walker, Youth Services Assistant at the Glen Carbon Libary
The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli The young narrator compares her own wacky family to Abigail Archer’s seemingly perfect one on Thanksgiving Day. The two families celebrate in very different ways but in the end the narrator finds that they both rate “ultra-perfect” at being loving, which is what really matters. Gus the Pilgrim Turkey by Teresa Bateman A funny, kid friendly look at Thanksgiving through the eyes of a turkey! Gus loves his life on the farm but when he finds out he’s on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner he hops on a boat and goes on his own journey across the ocean. One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy This rhyming, colorful book shows ten pilgrim children and ten Wampanoag children getting ready for the first Thanksgiving! The pictures are vibrant and fall themed and the text reads like a song. The book also includes some historical Q and A at the end. Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean Pete the cat just entered the children’s book scene and he is already a favorite! In his newest adventure Pete lands a role in his school’s play about the first Thanksgiving and guides the reader with a groovy story about why we celebrate today. This book is also a lift-the-flap story which adds to the fun. Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley Miguel receives a special present from his father for Thanksgiving, it’s a turkey! Miguel is supposed to fatten up the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner but instead he and the turkey become friends. The story has a happy ending for everyone. It also includes simple Spanish phrases and a Spanish/English glossary.
November Children’s Programs Preschool Story Time
Every other Monday and Tuesday at 10:00am and Wednesday at 6:30pm November 4, 5, & 6 – My Favorite Things November 18, 19, & 20 – Giving Thanks Join us for an hour of stories, songs, activities, snacks and of course FUN! No need to register…just drop in!
The Magic of Music and Movement
Nia Kidz with Liz Lane and Musician, Gary Markert Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00pm Music makes the world go ’round and makes moving fun. Find out how many different ways there are to make music and move with Nia Kidz. Registration is required and available online.
STEAM & Legos
Saturday, November 9th at 1:00pm Freaky Foods Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and LEGOS are the building blocks of a basic understanding of how our world fits together. Experience the mad science of LEGOS and hands on experiments this fall on the Registration is required and available online.
American Girl Mystery
Saturday, November 16th at 1:00pm Molly’s Mystery We have explored the history of the popular American Girl Dolls, now we’re going to go investigate the mysteries surrounding them. Join the Club and help us solve a series of American Girl Mysteries. Crafts and snacks will be part of the fun and entertainment. Registration is required and available online.
Once Upon an Art
Saturday, November 23rd at 1:00pm Art classes at the Library are a hands on experience that allow participants to engage in creative play while improving their motor skills. Children will also learn to be resourceful by creating something new from everyday materials. Registration is required and available online. For all programs requiring registration, call 288-1212, register at the Help Desk, or go online towww.glencarbonlibrary.org
Glen Carbon Centennial Library
98 S. Main, Glen Carbon, IL 62034 (618) 288-1212 www.glencarbonlibrary.org Mon-Thurs: 9-8 Fri-Sat: 9-5 Sun: 1-5 (Sep - May)
Kiwanis Holiday Program with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Animal Tales Saturday, December 7th
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus from 1:00 – 3:00 pm Animal Tales Holiday Safari at 3:00pm
Registration Required Join us in welcoming the winter holidays with our traditional Family Holiday event sponsored by the Glen Carbon Kiwanis and Glen Carbon Library. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, see our favorite Therapy Dogs, Socrates and Chouteau dressed up as Santa’s Helpers and enjoy family friendly refreshments, crafts, and lots of Holiday Cheer. Time slots to visit with our favorite North Pole couple are limited, so please register early. And stay after for our favorite animal experts, Animal Tales, and their Holiday Safari program at 3:00pm.
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What is Ho yle to n M in ist rie s? Hoyleton Ministries… “What is Hoyleton Ministries?” “What does Hoyleton Ministries do?” “How might my child or myself be impacted by what Hoyleton Ministries does?” These are questions that we plan to answer in this article. First a brief history, Hoyleton Ministries is a licensed and accredited not-for-profit organization offering assistance to children and families at seven locations throughout the Southern Illinois area. Founded as an orphanage in 1895, and although several more programs and services were added throughout the years, often times Hoyleton Ministries is still called the “Hoyleton Children’s Home.” Some of those services include programs like Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Counseling. In 2004 Puentes de Esperanza was formed, a program reaching out to Hispanic and Latino Americans. We can’t forget to mention Hoyleton’s residential program that focuses on children and young adults suffering from developmental disabilities at the Hoyleton and Highland locations and opening soon a new location in Belleville, IL. Here’s one thing I bet you didn’t know, Hoyleton Ministries can be found in schools too. With 2 unique programs such as Teen Pregnancy Prevention and The Substance Abuse Prevention, Hoyleton Ministries lives by their mission: Hoyleton Ministries seeks to enable all people, young & old alike, to realize the wholeness of life that God intends. This will be accomplished with the compassion of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit reaching out to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social needs of those with whom we journey. So far the questions of “what is Hoyleton Ministries” and “what do they do” have been answered. Let’s talk about how might my child or myself be impacted by what they do. For this answer we’ll revisit the programs that Hoyleton offers in schools, first, Teen Pregnancy Prevention.
throughout Illinois. The program staff in this program also coordinates an advisory board made up of representatives from each of the facilities they serve. Both of our Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs utilize an evidence based curriculum called “Making Proud Choices” The second program in which Hoyleton may impact you or your child is the Substance Abuse Prevention program. The Substance Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP) strives to bring prevention awareness to the students as well as the communities in Washington and Clinton Counties.
Hoyleton Ministries actually has two Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs one is, of course, the school-based program and the other is based in residential facilities.
Through partnerships with other agencies and representatives, Hoyleton has created a coalition to address community wide concerns for substance use and abuse. The coalition’s goal is to have representation from 12 different community sectors including students, parents, like yourselves, schools, law enforcement, businesses, youth serving organizations, civic organizations, and local government agencies.
At the moment the school-based program currently serves schools and after school centers located in St. Clair County such as, Belleville, Cahokia, East St. Louis, and Fairmont City and as well as other pending locations in Madison County. This program also has two youth groups that meet in Fairmont City on a weekly basis. Their program provider also serves on a local Teen Pregnancy Prevention coalition.
In addition to the coalition, the Substance Abuse Prevention Program is implementing the Life Skills Training program to students in 6th grade at six schools across the two counties. This program prepares a foundation for students to be more confident and able to succeed in abstaining from substance use and potential abuse. The program will continue with booster classes through 7th and 8th grades.
Hoyleton is currently implementing their Teen Pregnancy Prevention residential program in 6 residential facilities
This year SAPP is also able to assist schools with the implementation of the 2014 Illinois Youth Survey. The
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Here are a few tips Hoyleton suggests Parents useto keep kids on a healthy path: 1. Communicate to your children that you care about them 2. Get them involved in healthy activities that help them learn and grow 3. Talk with your children directly at the right age, early middle school at the latest, and make your expectations about sex and drug use clear and firm. 4. Get to know your children’s friends and their families well. 5. Know where your children are including teenagers. Do not let the complaining that teenagers will do stop you from doing this. 6. Know that the first use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drug is often in an unsupervised home. The same is true for early sexual activity. So minimize unsupervised time at home without an adult present. biannual survey collects information from students on their beliefs regarding substance use, bullying, nutrition and behavior, family support, and their thoughts on school life in general. Results are sent back to the schools so that information gathered can help address any specific concerns a school may have. In general Hoyleton’s prevention programs are designed to help young people develop the skills and abilities they need to make safe and healthy choices about sex and drugs.
7. Realize that these and other good parenting practices do not eliminate all risk for poor choices 8. If you suspect that something is not right, check it out and do not hesitate to get help from a counselor or other mental health or drug abuse professional.
Now that you know what Hoyleton Ministries does and that they are there to help you or your family, call them. Ask for help if needed or just ask them how you can get involved with one of their many community services or programs. 618-213-3170 • www.Hoyleton.org
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Easy Steps to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season Dr. Colleen Stratton C.A.C.C.P.
Dr. Stratton is a member of the Illinois Chiropractic Society, and the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. She holds a position on the Board of Directors of the Edwardsville Region Breastfeeding Task Force. Dr. Stratton spent 8 years as a birth doula in the St. Louis area providing natural labor support for families.
I
t’s that time of year again: the dreaded cold and flu season. Here are some basic steps you can take to increase the effectiveness of your immune system naturally and help stave off the multitude of viruses that are prevalent this time of year (not just the flu).
THE BASICS Everyone knows the basics of staying healthy during the winter months. We wash our hands abundantly. We eat fruits and vegetables (especially citrus fruits) for vitamin C and E, lean meat and poultry for zinc, pumpkin and squash for vitamin A, and green tea for its antioxidant and immune boosting abilities. Drink plenty of water - 60 ounces of water a day - more if you’re nursing, pregnant, exercising, or live in a dry or high altitude climate. We should get adequate sleep: 7-9 hours a night for adults, 8.5-9.5 hours for teens, and 10-11 hours for school age children. We should exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Again – these are the basics. So what else can we do to increase the effectiveness of our immune system?
THE ALTERNATIVES Take the sugar out of your diet The most common culprit of suppressing your immune system is SUGAR! The average adult consumes 88 grams of white refined sugar per day. The average child consumes 128 grams of sugar per day. One study showed that consuming 75-100 grams of sugar suppresses white blood cell’s ability to engulf bacteria. There was a 50% decrease in function at 1 hour and it was still decreased 5 hours later. Stay aligned Getting regular chiropractic adjustments can help to improve the function of the nervous system as well as the immune system. Misalignments of the spine can interfere with your Page 19
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body’s messages to your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. Take a reputable Multivitamin It would be great to think we could consume all of our vitamin and mineral necessities during this season through whole foods. However, it can be beneficial to supplement with a good multivitamin to ensure you’re not deficient. Take Vitamin D3 Many Americans are deficient in Vitamin D3 which we get from sunlight. During the winter months it is harder to absorb a good amount of vitamin D3 even if you’re in the sun, so adding an oral supplement of D3 can stave off deficiency at this time. Also, studies have shown D3 to actually kill the influenza A virus directly. Use a reputable Probiotic Many people don’t realize that 80% or their immune system is part of the mucosa of their digestive systems. When we take antibiotics often or make food choices that have hormones, additives, and antibiotics added to the food, it kills the good bacteria and allows proliferation of the bad bacteria. Adding good bacteria, through fermented vegetables or a probiotic supplement reinoculates your digestive system and restores the delicate balance, thereby making a better functioning immune system. A good probiotic will have 15-30 billion bacteria per day dosage, as well as multiple strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.
For more information, visit our website at www.drstratton.net Sources: National Sleep Foundation, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Nov 1973, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition May 2010, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition April 2011
Here are ways to get over your fear and avoid the bite. brought to you by Camp Bow Wow of Swansea
Keep the commotion to a minimum. Dogs really do not like a lot noise or a lot of people, especially new people, in their homes. During family gatherings, keep your furry friends in the quietest part of the house or send them to another house or doggy daycare. When being introduced to a dog, let him come to you. Put your hand out, slowly, and let him sniff it. If a dog starts growling, do not run away. Dogs love to chase. Instead of running, back away slowly. Dogs don’t like being chased either, so don’t run towards or after a dog. Many dogs don’t like being hugged or kissed. If a dog does like hugs, don’t squeeze too tight. Do not try to touch or take away the dog’s toys, food, or bones. Some dogs are territorial about their things and will snap at a hand trying to touch them. Hands OFF!!! That’s my ball!
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HATE YOUR CPAP?
Local Doctor Treats Sleep Apnea Without CPAP or Surgery Dr. Anna Smith is the owner dentist of the one-and-only Dentistry With TLC. As a general dentist she specializes in nothing and personally performs all types of complex and routine dentistry from her office in Godfrey, Illinois. She is interviewed monthly on Channel 4’s “Great Day St. Louis” and Channel 5’s “Show Me St. Louis” about advancements in dental technology. She was awarded “Top Doctor 2011-2012” of all Fastbraces dentists worldwide, and is one of only four dentists in the United States to achieved “Sapphire Partner” status for helping people treat sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy instead of a CPAP. Away from the office Dr. Smith enjoys baking, walking her dog Charley, practicing for weekly piano lessons, watching Real Housewives, redecorating her home and scrapbooking. Sleep apnea is a dangerous disease that causes people to stop breathing while they are sleeping. Most physicians recommend that patients who have sleep apnea use CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. CPAP therapy utilizes a mask that fits over the face and forces air through the nose and down the airway while sleeping. Most people don’t enjoy CPAP therapy and about half the people who are supposed to sleep with the mask cannot tolerate this treatment. It is common for sleep apnea patients who are intolerate to CPAP therapy to feel miserable. They typically are unable to sleep through the night, never feel like they get a good night’s sleep, have trouble concentrating during the day, may fall asleep during the day, frequently suffer with high blood pressure and obesity, commonly snore loud enough to disrupt others and generally feel exhausted. Some sleep apnea patients even develop a fear of sleeping and become insomniacs because they know they stop breathing while they are asleep and could die in their sleep. In many cases, patients who are told to use CPAP therapy can instead use a comfortable and affordable oral appliance. This appliance looks like a retainer and is only worn while sleeping. Most patients who use the appliance report sleeping better, feeling more rested, no longer snoring and getting up less frequently at night. Many have even lose weight, lower their blood pressure and have their doctor take them off of medications! In 2006 the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended that people who have mild or moderate
obstructive sleep apnea try an oral appliance before they try CPAP. It is shown that most patients are more compliant using an oral appliance than trying to use a CPAP. Traveling with a CPAP can also be a huge inconvenience due to the hassle of lugging around an extra suitcase and distilled water and searching for an electrical outlet. However, traveling with an oral appliance only requires packing a small container into your toiletry bag and needs no electricity. An oral appliance can only be made by a specially trained dentist. It is very uncommon for patients with sleep apnea to be aware of oral appliance therapy because most people with sleep apnea don’t talk to their dentist about the condition. Even if they think to mention it, most dentists are not trained to treat sleep apnea. It is more common for patients to talk with their physician and then be instructed to use a CPAP even if they can’t tolerate the device. Like many sleep apnea patients, Travis Smith was unable to tolerate the CPAP mask and the forced air pressure. His sleep study results showed he stopped breathing over 70 times each hour and suffered with severe obstructive sleep apnea. The only other treatment options given to him by his physician involved risky and sometimes unsuccessful surgery. However, he now sleeps comfortably every night with his oral appliance and his wife sleep better because he no longer snores. He no longer wakes with headaches, has lost weight and lowered his blood pressure. Travis is no longer sleepy during the day and has more energy to enjoy life. Travis’ story is very common among sleep apnea patients who use an oral appliance. Many patients are now turning to oral appliance therapy to obtain restful sleep.
Dr. Smith has a 99 percent success rate treating patients with oral appliance therapy. She is the only dentist in the St. Louis area to achieved “Platinum Partner” status from Somnomed, an oral appliance manufacturer, for her dedication to successfully helping patients use oral appliances. To learn more about oral appliance therapy, read real patient’s experiences, and watch Dr. Smith’s television interviews about sleep apnea, visit www.DentistryWithTLC.com. Call 618-466-9367 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith and discover if an oral appliance is an option for your unique situation. Page 21
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Flipping the Classroom in Waterloo! With all the educational changes taking place simultaneously across the country, who would dare to tackle yet another educational shift voluntarily? Some of Waterloo’s elite teachers, that’s who. Armed with the reasoning that the way we taught students in the past simply does not fully prepare them for the higher educational and technological demands of college and careers today and in the future, Waterloo Junior High School Math Teachers Amber Hensiek, Lindsay Moore, and Krista Adams began the journey of “flipping” their classroom lessons two years ago. In a “flipped classroom” model, instead of the students being assigned thirty math problems to practice for homework, students may be assigned a short video. Using their home computers or other mobile devices, students watch videos their teachers created that explain the content and model practice problems. Student stakes notes and practice the problems along with the video. The students then come having already been prepared with the background information so that they can get right to the in-class practice, problem solving, and higher order thinking activities. Voila! The lesson has been flipped. In the 7th grade math classrooms of Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Hensiek, the flipped approach allows teachers to spend less time lecturing and more time facilitating student learning. The videos are taken from online resources or created by the teachers. The teachers then have the benefit of the students knowing the basic knowledge of the topic for the day. The class can begin exploring higher level tasks associated with the topic. Sometimes, there is an online questionnaire for the students to complete after watching the video. Teachers are able to get results from the questionnaire instantly, giving them information about their students’ needs prior to class starting. Teachers can then plan accordingly in order to maximize student instruction. In the 8th Grade math classrooms of Mrs. Adams, three to four videos are integrated per unit, many of which are teacher created. Students are given a couple days to view the video, and they either have to take their own notes or fill out a video summary sheet. The video summary sheet requires students to address key points, questions, and a short summary. After watching the video, class time is spent addressing questions and answers as a class or in small groups. This is the time in which the instructor gauges student progress as well as misunderstandings. Finally, students are placed into groups based on their level of understanding. Usually the instructor works with one group of students to re-teach the skills. Other groups work together on practicing the skills or move to higher order thinking, thinking beyond the basic skills. The flipped classroom approach has allowed the teachers to enhance the lesson by facilitating more cooperative and exploratory learning within a math classroom. Waterloo Junior High School math students are more actively engaged than ever in discussions and applications to gain a deeper understanding of the math concepts, while at the same time learning the ins and outs of our technology driven world.
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A TEACHER’S APPLE! Apple’s introduction of the iPad three years ago has had a profound impact on the way we use computers, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the classrooms of our schools. The students in the Waterloo School District had quite a surprise when they returned from summer vacation this year to find that their classrooms were equipped with new iPads. In the Waterloo elementary classrooms, the iPad has had an immediate impact on student engagement. The iPad’s portability and its diversity makes it an intuitive tool for the classroom. Students can practice basic math facts or review spelling rules independently with many of the apps that are available for the device; however, the true advantage is the iPad’s ability to easily create multimedia projects. At Zahnow Elementary, kindergarten students are currently learning their letters and how to read. Once the teacher reviews the letter or word of the day the students then take their iPad and walk around their classroom and the school looking for the letters that they are learning. They use the camera feature to take pictures of the letters and then import those pictures into their own digital portfolio. At Rogers Elementary, third graders are using the device to create screencast of math lessons. The lessons are then archived and can be referenced later by the teacher and parents, or they
can be used as a resource for the students. The fifth graders at Gardner Elementary are using the video camera to record science experiments for future study. Once the experiment has been completed the teachers use the videos to reinforce the different aspects of the experiment. In the Waterloo School District the iPad has become an amazing tool for the teachers to enhance instruction and student engagement into the classroom. IPads in the classroom is still very new, and districts including Waterloo are working hard to figure out the best practices for integration in the curriculum. To help with this, the teachers in Waterloo will spend this year participating in professional development which will focus on creating innovative lesson plans incorporating the iPad and how best to implement this technology to meet the new Common Core State Standards Initiative .
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Welcome
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Waterloo Community Unit School District No. 5
CONSTANTLY
VARIED
Paperless, But Powerful by Krista Schoellhorn During the 2012 school year, the Waterloo Community Unit School District made a small change to its email system. The district decided to make the switch to Google. That decision started a revolution. By switching to Google as their mail host, the district was able to tap into the wealth of Google Apps for Education. Over the course of the first year, the teachers were able to become comfortable using Gmail and Google Drive, which allowed the district to take even bigger strides for the 2013 school year. Over the summer, the district purchased approximately 420 Google Chromebooks for integration in grades 4-12 and added a student domain to their Google apps, allowing each student to be assigned a school monitored Google account. With the Google Chromebooks and student accounts, the teachers and students are able to take their classrooms to the next level with a 24/7 learning environment, specifically in English Language Arts. Both teachers and students in grades 4-12 have received training on the collaborative features of various Google Apps. That training is paying off according to Cheryl Martens, Waterloo High School English teacher. She says, “Using Google Docs allows my students access to information anywhere they have an Internet connection, and most of my students use their Smartphones to send journals and post essays. Very few students have turned in any work after deadlines, and this is because Google Docs makes sharing work so easy. Best of all, using Google Docs means no heart-stopping piles of papers on my desk, no dragging around bulging bags filled with work, and no questions about late work. Every student entry is time stamped, and every document’s revision history is at my fingertips.” Moving to a paperless environment is not only helpful to the teachers, but WHS teacher Maggie Kline is seeing the benefits for her students as well. When I asked Ms. Kline about her experience with using Google to go paperless, she stated, “I am able to provide my students with more personal, specific, helpful, and at times, immediate feedback. The students love it; I love it. Everything seems to be easier, and this is only the beginning.” In just the first quarter of integration, we have been able to incorporate more student-to-teacher and student-to-student collaboration using Google Drive and other Google Apps, and the payoff has been a much more powerful and dynamic classroom for our students.
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Let’s Play House
by Jessica Butcher, Owner of
When I was a little girl, my siblings and I, along with our neighbor friends, would often spend our weekends using our imagination to make up games to play. We loved playing with art supplies and pretending to be artists. We loved playing store with fake money and fake groceries. We loved to pretend we were onstage by making up songs and plays to perform for our parents. We even required tickets to attend the show. We loved playing with dolls, and we loved to play house. Today, as a mother of three and an aunt to 23, it seems to me that electronics have taken the place of a good ole afternoon of playing house. Playing is serious business for children. The opportunity to play freely is important to a child’s development. Therefore, daycares and schools often set aside a certain amount of time each day for children to play. The experiences kids have during the early years of their life can enhance the development of their own creative self. Creative independence is necessary in helping children develop social skills, decision making, and self-confidence. When a child uses his/her imagination for creative play, the child is nurturing his mental, emotional and social growth. Playing creatively is one of the most important types of
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activity for young children. When children role play, or use familiar things in new or unusual ways they are fostering their imaginative side. Spending time engrossed in self-directed, spontaneous play reinforces the creative spirit and nourishes a child’s personality. It is important for us, as adults, to foster creativity in children, especially when society has so many constricting rules and pressures regarding children’s behavior. As the holiday’s near, and as shopping for gifts ensues, consider the benefits of creative play. Try to avoid the pressure to purchase electronics. Instead look for items that inspire makebelieve. Hands on items that encourage imaginative play can be found at Kiddo’s, a children’s specialty toy, clothing and gift shop located on the second floor of St. Clair mall or at Kiddo’s Closet & Clips located in both Fairview Heights and Edwardsville. Kiddo’s offers a wide variety of role play costumes, year round, that encourage a world of adventure. Kiddo’s also features everything a child might need for a make-believe kitchen, restaurant, or any other eatery that he or she can imagine. Shopping carts, lemonade stands, living sand, games, art supplies, crafts, puzzles, stickers, stamps, train sets, cars, and many other specialty items are available at Kiddo’s from quality toy companies such as Melissa and Doug, Ganz, Hape, Toy Vision, Janod, Stephen Joseph and others. Kiddo’s also offers layaway for your convenience. Next time your children complain that they have nothing to do, send them to their rooms and tell them to go play house.
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Let us throw your next kid’s birthday party! Page 27
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What if Albert Einstein had been put on Ritalin? Your child has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, you have tried EVERYTHING and nothing seems to work. You aren’t happy with putting your child on medications, but you don’t know another way. Frustration is something that you, your child and your child’s teacher feel a lot, but you can’t figure out what to do next for the child you love so much. What can you do when you’ve tried EVERYTHING? Well, for starters, you can do this! First of all, I want you to know you are not alone. We have helped hundreds of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, just like your child, to move past this challenge and flourish in school and at home. We understand the stress this can cause your entire family and our #1 Priority is to help children excel with ADD/ ADHD, without drugs or medication. Imagine, a child that can interact in social situations, with family and can actually prevail in school! We’ve been taught that ADD/ADHD is a disorder. We would like to offer you this- your child is FINE, this is NOT a disorder or DISEASE. As leading expert on ADD/ADHD, Dr. Ned Hallowell explains, “your child has a Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes.” The key is brain wiring and biology. Strengthening the brakes allows the brain to function properly. We do this in a multi faceted approach based on your child’s body and needs. We strengthen the brakes using neurology, nutrition and exercises for the body and the brain. The good news is that ADD/ADHD is treatable! We have been caring for adults and kids with ADD/ADHD for YEARS with great success getting to the root of the problem. And if cared for appropriately there is NO REASON your child should not soar like an eagle without medication!
sing. Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions. His teacher called him a hopeless composer. Were these geniuses Ritalin candidates also? There is a genius in all of us just trying to get out. Think about all the ideas, talent, strength and creativity we keep stored inside because we worry about what other people would say or think. Would they put us down, call us unruly and tell us to grow up? Would they put us on Ritalin to get us to conform to the norm? Is this what is happening to your child? To you? Our purpose and mission is to educate the people in our community about the decisions they make, so they make truly informed decisions. And truth be told, many of you are unaware of what exists out there! That is why we are inviting you to our free “Unwrapping the Gift of ADD/ADHD” workshop. This will introduce you to proven natural methods to help your child move past this challenge and excel in life and in school. Imagine your life with less frustration, your child with more success and more confidence. Call today to reserve your spot and let us share with you a new path that could help your child truly shine. What have you got to lose?
It’s your call but I think we should at least talk… Call us today! Drs. Leah and Troy Dukowitz to schedule an appointment and to attend our FREE Workshop November 21st at 6:15pm.
Today’s Solution: not treating the cause…. We’ve been conditioned in society that when something is wrong, we should medicate. And ADD/ADHD is no different. Parents are told to use Ritalin, Concerta and a smorgasboard of other drugs to help their children with this challenge. The issue is that we are not correcting the cause of the problem. Instead, we are pumping our children full of dangerous medications while the long term hazards of Ritalin are unknown. Read the fine print: Ritalin is a very dangerous and highly addictive drug. Under Federal Law, Ritalin is classified as a schedule II controlled substance, the same rating given to cocaine, opium and morphine. The side effects of Ritalin are numerous and severe. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the side effects include stunting of growth, depression, insomnia, nervousness, skin rash, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain, blood pressure and pulse changes, and Tourette’s Syndrome (body tics, spasms, screaming obscenities, and barking sounds). Think about this… What if Albert Einstein was on Ritalin? What if Albert Einstein had been put on Ritalin? Did you know that Einstein, one of the greatest geniuses of the last century, did not speak until he was 4 years old and did not read until he was seven. His teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable and adrift in his foolish dreams.” He was expelled and refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic Institute. Today he would have been put on Ritalin. Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was too stupid to learn anything. Isaac Newton did very poorly in grade school. Opera singer Ernrico Caruso’s teacher said he had no voice at all and could not
TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO MANAGING ADD & ADHD NATURALLY
Attend a FREE 1-hour Seminar RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! CALL 618-624-9080 Visit www.mychildshines.com for upcoming seminar dates. 4980 Benchmark Centre, Swansea, Il 62226 ~ www.VitalizeChiropractic.com ~ 618-624-9080
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The Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra A Community Treasure by Rosie Hartley Yes, Belleville does have a Philharmonic! For young musicians who have had three or more years of instrumental education, there is a youth orchestra for you! It all began in 1962 with George Tuerck and an inspiration to start a junior Philharmonic orchestra. The conductor’s baton was passed on to new hands until 1995 when Dr. Leon Burke III took over as the conductor. He is still inspiring new musicians to this day. Always supported by a group of committed and active parents, the youth orchestra still offers a place for young musicians to play from an array of music such as classical, international selections, epic movies and contemporary pop music. Additionally, the spring Concerto Competition offers talented musicians a chance to win an award and scholarship money. The winners of that competition are showcased in the season’s opening George N. Tuerck Memorial Concert. This year it will be on Sunday, December 8, 2013, 3 pm at Union United Methodist Church, 721 E. Main St., Belleville, followed by a light reception. The other two concerts are on Saturday, February 22, 2014, 2 pm at Signal Hill United Methodist Church, 47 Signal Hill Place, Belleville and on Saturday, April 25, 2014, 2 pm at First Christian Church, 5929 Old St. Louis Rd., Belleville. Concerts are open to the public and admission is $2. New members are always welcome and auditions are available by appointment. Regular rehearsals are held on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Philharmonic Hall, 116 N. Jackson in Belleville. For those who have music talent running in their family, a summer intergenerational orchestra program is offered during June and July. The music is easier and livelier so all have fun. It ends with a free concert and ice cream social. The Belleville Philharmonic Society (1866-2013, the second oldest continuously playing) also offers opportunities for adults to show their abilities by auditioning for either the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra or the Philharmonic Chorale, both conducted by Robert Howard. Their concerts, with the exception of the Nutcracker, are held at Lindenwood University in Belleville.
For more information check www.bellevillephilharmonic.org. We would love to see you at one of our concerts or have you in our membership!
DermaLuxe .
DermaLuxe is an exciting new medical practice, under the supervision of Gary J. Vicik, MD, a board certified dermatologist with 40 years of clinical experience. A wide variety of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed by board certified nurse practitioners are offered to improve your appearance. At DermaLuxe we evaluate each patient individually. At the initial cosmetic consultation, we address all the patient’s cosmetic concerns and outline a selection of recommended corrective actions and products. These may include non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures, prescription medications, and/or cosmeceuticals. Ultherapy® is a new non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that uses ultrasound and the body’s own healing process to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin on the face and neck. It is the only FDA-approved nonsurgical procedure to lift skin on the neck and face. Ultherapy® stimulates the deep structure of the skin to address these areas without disrupting the skin’s surface. The Ulthera® system delivers focused ultrasound energy through the skin, generating heat and stimulating new collagen formation. Results are long term and unfold over a period of 2-3 months. Some patients may benefit from more than one treatment. Results vary from patient to patient. Youthful skin contains ample collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, giving volume, support and suppleness. Over time these support structures deplete and facial lines, wrinkles and skin laxity become more apparent. We offer Botox® injections which relaxes certain muscles that create wrinkles about the eyes. The effects from a session of Botox® last for about 3 months. To add volume to the skin, we offer dermal fillers Juvederm® and Radiesse®. Juvederm® is a hyaluronic acid product that replaces the material lost over time. Radiesse® works by providing a scaffold under the skin, forming a structure and stimulating your own natural collagen to grow. The effects of the dermal fillers last a year or longer, and reevaluation and touch ups are best done at 6 months. IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light phototherapy, is used to lighten, fade, or remove sun damaged skin spots, excess redness, unwanted hair, and spider veins in a non-ablative manner. The IPL system utilizes optical filters to generate specific wavelengths of light for treatment of individual skin concerns to specifically target and minimize the appearance of each problem area. The Dermasweep® MD system is a non-invasive exfoliation and skin resurfacing system that offers superior flexibility, precision, and control for optimal benefits to a wide variety of skin types and conditions. The patented bristle and vacuum technology gently lifts the skin against the treatment tip (selected specifically for your skin type), sweeping away the topmost layer of dead skin cells. The vacuum wand stimulates blood flow, decongests pores, and removes skin debris. The Dermasweep® system also combines this precision exfoliation with the delivery of topical skin specific infusions to further address unique skincare needs such as acne, hyperpigmentation, hydration, and aging.
Call us today at 618-397-6605 to schedule your cosmetic consultation!
DermaLuxe Cosmetic Dermatology 3608 West Main Street Belleville, IL 62226 618-397-6605 www.dermassociatesltd.com
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Checking Out the History Museum of Monroe County The History Museum of Monroe County at 724 Elaine Drive in Waterloo offers a look at the past through a variety of permanent displays, periodically changing
exhibits, and unique antiques. The museum represents a broad span of eras and interests, anchored by the extensive gifted collection of Monroe County native and Western trail rider Col. Edd Kueker. The museum’s loaned and donated exhibits represent the settlement of the west, agriculture and local commerce, military life during several wars, and transportation. Visitors may view a brief video about the late Edd Kueker telling the stories of his and his wife, Violet’s, travels and the museum’s collection in the HTC Learning Center. Some of the special 2013 exhibits in the Kueker and Zimmer Galleries of The History Museum include the Civil War, a peak at some of Waterloo’s 125 years of memories - Schulmeister Bakery, Rex’s Corner, Municipal Band, Waterloo German Band, and other early businesses and organizations in Monroe County.
This Holiday Season..
The museum opened in 2008 and received an Illinois Governor’s Award in each of its first two years. The History Museum was distinguished in 2012 by hosting the Smithsonian’s “The Way We Worked” Traveling exhibit, which illustrated how the American workforce changed, over time and impacted U. S.
It all starts with the
Chamber’s Lighted Christmas Parade
Friday, Nov. 29th at 6:30 p.m. The parade starts at Highland Upper Elementary parking lot and makes it’s way down Lindenthal to Washington to the beautiful downtown plaza. Highland offers some of the areas most spectacular lighting displays. Area businesses participate in the season by adorning their store fronts and grounds with colorful lights to further add to the spirit filled atmosphere of the season. The Chamber Lighted Christmas Parade is designed to delight children of all ages. This is an old-fashioned Christmas parade with bands & floats passing through the streets of Swiss/German town of Highland. Almost every thing about the evening is a magical Christmas show for its visitors. The music of Madrigal Singers and Santa’s Band, horse drawn carriage rides, live reindeer, North Pole Village Display... Kettle corn & hot chocolate... Oh and SANTA! When he arrives he and the Mayor do the countdown and flip the switch and the entire square lights up!
Jami Jansen, Executive Director jami@highlandillinois.com • 618-654-3721
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In July 2014, the museum will be one of the first six sites in Illinois to host the newest Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit, “Hometown Teams” through the efforts of Museum on Main Street and the Illinois humanities Council. Information on presentations, events, exhibits and extended hours during the Smithsonian’s six week, July 26th through September 7th, visit will be available online at www. monroecountyhistorymuseum. com. The History Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 3:00 p.m. through December 16, 2013. School and adult group tours are available by request during the week or weekend, year round, however. To reserve your tour time, please call 618939-5008, visit our website or email mocohistmuseum@gmail. com. Interested individuals and educators are invited to visit
the History Museum prior to tours to alert docents of specific areas of interest to be addressed or activities to be included for student groups. The museum will resume weekend hours on April 5, 2014 featuring an exhibit on the “Forty Years War”. It’s catchy name often applied by historians for the period
that begins with the Revolutionary War in 1775, includes the Indian wars of the late 1780s and 1790’s, the 1804- 1806 Lewis and Clark era, the struggles of the U.S. based on English strangulation of our economy, and the reopening of warfare with Great Britain in 1812 which lasted until January of 1815. This exhibit is being offered through the courtesy of the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. Be sure to check the museum website for information on presentations and events. The goal of the museum is to keep our ancestors’ way of life alive to educate our children and provide opportunities for adults to remember and share the past with family and friends. Funding for the History Museum of Monroe County is through donations, honorariums, memorials, bequests, endowments, museum memberships and a yearly fundraiser.
The museum, a 501©3 Not For Profit organization, operates only through the dedication of its many volunteers. The museum is a member of the Illinois Association of Museums, Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, and received Illinois Governor’s Hometown Awards in 2008 and 2009.
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, Nov. 3 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BELIEVE IT. BECOME IT. There is something special about SLUH. Find out what that is for you.
YouAreSLUH.org/PME
A CATHOLIC, JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL MetroEastParent.com
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Plato’s Closet – Fairview Heights
10900D Lincoln Trail • Fairview Heights • IL • 62208
618-397-9986
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Secrets of Savvy Secondhand Shopping by Kate Holmes Have you ever wondered how your best friend and her children are always so well-dressed, even though she is on a limited budget? Do your next-door neighbors always have the most interesting decor, although their mortgage is as large as yours? Chances are they shop resale! You too can be an expert resaler and find treasures that will enrich your life without flattening your wallet. And you can do it without a huge investment in time or gas. Here are some Savvy Secondhander Tips: • Map out a route of the resale shops you want to visit. Include a variety of resale shops, from charitable thrift stores to elegant consignment boutiques. Each has its own special charms. • Shop frequently. The more often you visit, the better buys you'll find. Most resale shops have a rapid turnover of their most interesting items. • Be prepared. Some shops don't accept credit cards or checks, so tuck away a little mad money for that unexpected delight. • Know the sizes and colors you need. Bring swatches, measure your available space, bring a child's garment along for size comparison. • But be flexible. If you have your mind set on a specific item, you might pass over a trove of unexpected treasures. Page 35 MetroEastParent.com
• Look for the unlikely. If a shop specializing in one area receives something they're unfamiliar with, you might be able to pick up a treasure for a pittance. • Canvass every corner, poke through all sizes, explore all departments. Different brands are sized differently, and could be mismarked. Remember to check out what's on display! • Small accessories and related items can be some of the best bargains. Examine showcases, boxes of goodies, and ledges for some hidden finds. • Check out your selections carefully. While shopkeepers price items based on desirability and condition, be sure you can live with a small snag or scratch. • When you see something that calls out to you, grab it! Chances are it won't be there the next time you visit. Many's the treasure missed by too cautious a shopper. • Get to know the sales staff and let them know what you are interested in. They delight in matching up merchandise with a valued buyer. If the shop has a mailing list, sign up for their newsletter, notices on sales and special event invitations. • Each resale shop has its own personality and merchandise strengths. You'll soon find your favorites and, even sooner, you'll have people wondering "Where does she find all those great clothes?" and "How do they manage to always have such a wonderful home?"
Photos by: Dreamfield Photography – dreamfieldphoto.com
All Items Can Be Purchased at Plato’s Closet Fairview Heights
Many Thanks to Rama Seats and the Ladies of Vatterott School of Cosmetology for doing such a fantastic job at hair and make-up for the Plato’s Closet Photo Shoot!
T H E T W E LV E D AY S O F S T Y L E
Winter 2013
H A LF OU R LIN E IS
UNDER FIFTY D OLLA RS
STAR STYLIST
Cori Stanczyk 618-973-9060
misscori3@yahoo.com
oliday ling FIND MORE STYLES FOR A STEAL ONLINE STELLADOT.COM/CORIS
As seen in Vogue, Lucky, InStyle, & more!
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PRUDENT PARENTING
by Cherie Washow – Editor@metroeastparent.com
McAllister’s Deli - 3240 Green Mount Crossing Drive,
Shiloh, Illinois 62269 (618) 622-9310. Tuesdays 5-9 PM get one free kid’s meal with an adult meal purchase O’Charley’s - 1313 Central Park Dr., O'Fallon, Illinois 62269 (618) 622-0405 Monday - Thursday get 1 free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal. Schiappa’s - 1411 West HWY 50, O’Fallon, IL 62269 (618) 624-1900 - Kids 10 & under eat free of the kids menu every Saturday with an accompanied adult
IHOP - 601 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221 (618) 233-0911 Kids eat free everyday from 4-10. One with every paying adult.
To frugally feed my family, I have been a Sam’s Club member for many years. They offer top quality food in larger quantities than the grocery store. This requires some prep work to divide up the 10# packages of ground beef, but the savings are well worth the cost of the annual membership. The cafeteria has an inexpensive menu where you can feed the family for around $10 total. As a hidden bonus I make less trips to the grocery store. I don’t know about you but when I go into any store with my children I come out with a lot more than I expected to, so less trips mean less expense. Big Lots also has a great selection of reasonably-priced dry goods and some stores offer Sara Lee bread at a discounted rate. Watch the sale ads for Schnucks and Shop-n-Save as they both have some great loss-leaders. I have to confess to sometimes making more than one trip to Shop-nSave when they have their $10 off a $50 purchase day. If you are a couponer, Schnucks will always double your coupons under 40 cents and often run specials where they triple the value of coupons. The time spent on menu planning based around the sales ads pays off big when grocery shopping.
Steak-n-Shake - 4320 W Main St., Belleville, IL 62226 (618) 235-0770 Kids eat free all day Saturday and Sunday. One for every $8 spent by adults.
A special thanks to Kristen Palm for letting us know about the O’Charley’s and Schiappa’s meal deals! Please let us know if there are other great deals out their for area families!
This month, by popular demand we are covering places to feed kids for free or close to it and deals on groceries, if you prefer to feed your family home-cooked meals. Please call before you go to confirm as these offers are subject to change. There are a number of websites dedicated to this topic. Before your next outing search for “kids eat free” and add the zip code for a list of additional restaurants with great offers like these. Denny’s - 1130 S. Illinois St., Belleville, IL 62221 (618) 277-1360 Tuesdays and Saturdays 4-10 PM, kids eat free off the kids menu. Up to 2 per paying adult.
Parent e n i nl metro east
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Check out metroeastparent.com
to find many more incredible events in the Metro East Area!
Daises in the Garden By Liz Crabtree The O’Fallon Garden Club, a group dedicated to community beautification and sharing the love of gardening, hosted the Girl Scout Daisy Troop 383 from Hinchcliffe Elementary School at our community garden (the corner of State and Smiley St.) in O’Fallon. The girls arrived at the site enthusiastic and eager to play in the dirt. They ran to the rakes, shovels, and gloves as fast as they could. Bob Winkler and Sterling Garnto, our community garden chairmen, got them settled and straight to work. Bob took a group over to the vegetable garden. He showed the girls some tips on selecting
ripe veg and then passed out the boxes to the girls to collect their harvest. The delight the girls uttered as they found that “right one”, brought smiles to everyone’s face. Meanwhile, Sterling took another group over to the Iris beds and explained to the girls just how close to the surface an Iris root likes to be planted. “Dig a shallow hole, put the root in, and lightly cover it”, he told them. They took turns digging and covering the new Iris. “Don’t forget to give them a drink,” added a Daisy as she picked up the watering can. The Daisies picked 100 pounds of fresh produce for the O’Fallon Food Pantry, planted over 25
Iris, and had a memorable time in the garden. The club encourages everyone to stop by the community garden and have a walk around. The newly installed butterfly garden is gorgeous. Also, we invite any civic group to contact us for a guided site visit and demonstration during the growing season. The club is available, year round, to come out to your group’s facility to share our vision for beautifying the town. You can dig alittle deeper at www. ofallongardenclub.org or email theofallongardenclub@gmail. com. Be sure to check us out on facebook – O’Fallon IL Garden Club.
Plenty to do in the gardens!
It’s nearing the end of the growing season and time to start thinking about putting your gardens to bed. There are many great activities to do as a family in the yard. Little ones love collecting seeds, racing back from the compost bin, or digging holes. Big kids can help build the compost bin, rake, or mow. The O’Fallon Garden Club recommends including everyone in the garden. These tips to get your gardens tucked in can be applied to the veggie or flower garden bed: Collect seeds from veggies, herbs, and flowers. Plants like green beans, fennel, and marigolds are great seeds to collect and use in your garden next year. Spread the seeds out on the counter for a few days to dry out and store in an air-tight bag or container. Be sure to mark it with the seed name so next year you remember. Pull out dead or annual plants like tomato and impatient. Chop the plants up before you put them in the compost bin to help them break down quicker. Don’t have a compost bin – make one this Fall. For directions on making a simple bin check out: http://extension. missouri.edu/p/g6957 In your vegetable garden, plant a cover crop, such as alfalfa or clover. The club recommends even the home gardener cover the soil. It will add nutrients and protects it from harsh winter conditions. You can check out the University of IL Extension at http://urbanext.illinois. edu/gardenerscorner/issue_06/fall_05_09.cfm for more info on cover crops. In your flower gardens, plant bulbs. Now is the time to plant bulbs for Spring color. Bulbs are picky on their depth. Be sure to follow the instructions or you may be wondering where they are in the Spring. Most times, they have not been planted deep enough and will use energy to pull themselves to the depth they need. It will result in no bloom. Don’t forget to add some in pots, another great spot for bulbs. Make leaf mulch. The easiest way to make leaf mulch is to make a low pile leaves and run them over with your lawn mower to finely chop them (using your mowers bagger if you have one helps in getting them up, just be sure to empty it often). Pile the leaves in a corner of your yard or your compost bin to decompose!
Pull your pots close to the house. Bring in plants that can’t tolerate cold conditions like bananas and hibiscus. The O’Fallon Garden Club is a volunteer community group dedicated to our town’s beautification and to sharing the love of gardening. We invite you to come to our monthly program held on the first-Tuesday-of-the-month at 6:30 pm at the Katy Cavins Community Center in O’Fallon. You can dig deeper at www.ofallongardenclub.org or email theofallongardenclub@gmail.com.
2675 Northtown Way Highland, IL (618) 654-9421 MetroEastParent.com
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Calendar of Events
Have an event you would like to see in Metro East Parent Calendar?
Email us at calendar@metroeastparent.com
with the details and we will be happy to place it in there for you! Also, there are more events online at our new interactive website MetroEastParent.com!
Weekly Activities Every other Monday 9:30am & 10:45am Preschool Story Time @ O’Fallon Library
Every Monday 10am - 10:20am Fun for Ones @ Edwardsville Library 11am - 11:30am Time for Twos @ Edwardsville Library
Every Other Tuesday 2pm - 3pm After Baby @ Afterwords with Metamorphose Maternity
Every Tuesday 9:30am - 10:30am Tales for Tots @ Chick-Fil-A at Green Mount Commons 10am - 10:30am Story Time @ Afterwords Books 10am - 11am Story time @ Collinsville Memorial Library Center 10:15am - 11:15am Ballroom Dancing @ MSCC
11am - 11:30am Time for Twos @ Edwardsville Library 5pm - 6pm Family Night @ Chick-Fil-A Greenmount Commons 5pm - 8pm Family Night @ McAlister’s Deli McAlister’s Deli Shiloh & Fairview Heights 7pm - 7:45pm Preschool Story Time @ Edwardsville Library Every Wednesday 10am - 10:45am Preschool Story Time @ Edwardsville Library 4:15pm - 5pm Aspiring Artist Classes @ The Magic House
Every Thursday 9:30am - 10:15am Kids Art Programs @ The Magic House 10am & 1pm Preschool Story Time @ Edwardsville Library 10am - 1:30pm Used Book Sales @ St Josephs Hospital- Breese 10:30am - 11:30am Storyteller Gail Long @ O’Fallon Public Library 6pm - 8pm FREE Movie Night @ Collinsville Memorial Library
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Every Friday 11am - 1:30pm Free Lunch Friday @ Immanuel UMC Edwardsville 4pm - 8pm Troy VFW Fish fry 4:30pm - 7pm Chicken & Fish Dinner @ Carlyle K of C Hall 4:30pm - 7:30pm Chicken, Fish & Shrimp Fry @ Aviston American Legion 4:30pm - 7:30pm Edwardsville K of C Fish Fry
Every Saturday Wild Saturday @ St Louis Science Center 7:30am - 12pm Market @ Belleville
Old Town
10:30am - 11:30am Saturday Storytime @ Maryville Community Library 11am - 11:30am Story Time @ Afterwords Books 12:30pm - 3:30pm Creative Kids Art Class @ SWIC 1pm - 2pm Yoga @ Glen Carbon Library 1pm - 4pm Family Day @ St Louis Art Museum
Shows and Concerts Nov 1-4 Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST @ The Fabulous Fox The most beautiful love story ever told comes to life in this lush, romantic Broadway musical for all generations. Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to St. Louis! Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including Be Our Guest and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Nov 23- Nov 24 Nutcracker Ballet @ Belleville Philharmonic & Belleville School of Ballet Treat your family to The Nutcracker Ballet at Scottish Rite Cathedral in Belleville! This is the 30th annual presentation of “The Nutcracker” by The Belleville School of Ballet, accompanied by the Belleville
Philharmonic Orchestra. The stage at Scottish Rite Cathedral will come alive with Clara, Herr Drosselmeyer, the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and of course, the star of this beloved fairytale, the Nutcracker! Nov 19- Dec 2 SISTER ACT @ The Fabulous Fox SISTER ACT is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash! The New York Post calls it “Ridiculously Fun,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement! A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to Rejoice! Nov 23, 6:30pm - 7:30pm Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold @ Our Lady of the Snows Join us for a wonderful night of theater as we present this hilarious holiday mystery extravaganza. Come along with Sister as she takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages - whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? Retelling the story of the Nativity, assisted by a local choir and a gaggle of audience members, Sister creates a Nativity
unlike any you’ve ever seen. With gifts galore and bundles of laughs, Sister’s Christmas Catechism is sure to be a highlight of your holiday season. Nov 23, 8pm - 10pm University of Illinois’ The Other Guys with EHS AcaFellaz @ Wildey Theatre Known for their impeccable musicality and unique brand of humor, The Other Guys are the University of Illinois’ premiere men’s a cappella group. Think “Straight No Chaser” style! The opening act will be Edwardsville High School’s AcaFellaz men’s a cappella singers. Nov 24, 3pm - 6pm Saint Louis Wind Symphony @ Hettenhausen Center McKendree Saint Louis Wind Symphony is a versatile ensemble of St. Louis area music educators whose woodwind repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary. Holiday Happenings Nov 1-4 Winter Rendezvous @ Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher A winter gathering of French & Indian camping and
Ridiculously Adorable * Unbelievably Practical * Impossibly Affordable We Carry Many Items!
•All brands of clothing, sizes 0-16 in hard-to-tell-from-new condition! •Maternity Clothes •Kid Gear: Ride-on cars, Slides, Play Kitchens, “Melissa & Doug” toys, etc •Baby gear: Bumbos, Wagons, Pack and Plays, High Chairs, Strollers, Swings, etc Visit us online at www.wee-peatkids.com or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/weepeatkids
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competing in a team woodswalk musket competition.
SALE
Starts Fri., Nov. 22 at 6pm Ends Sun., Nov. 24 at 4pm
SAVE BIG!!!
ON SKATES & ACCESSORIES
Now Featuring...
$2 Tuesdays· 6-8pm Walk & Roll Saturdays 11am-1pm Session geared for kids 8 & under w/FREE skate lesson. All ages welcome! $6 admission
WE THROW GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTIES!!!
Public Skating Times Fri: 7pm-10pm Sat: 11am-1pm (Walk & Roll) Sat: 1pm-5pm Sat: 7pm - 10pm (Family Night)
Free pizza and pitcher of soda with 5 paid admissions.
Sun: 1pm-5pm Tues: 6pm-8pm
$2 admission & $2 skate rental
$6 admission $2 regular skate rental $3 roller blade rental 10 sessions for $40 value cards & gift certificates also available
284 Riggin Rd., Troy, IL
618-667-3218 618-667-3328
www.spincityskating.com Page 41 MetroEastParent.com
Nov 15-Jan 1 Winter Wonderland @ Lebanon This annual event is a step back in time. It is a trip to a much simpler time with scenes depicting several of the area’s attractions, wonderful childhood memories, and fantastic ideas. A trip through Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland is truly different from other attractions in area. We don’t pretend to be the biggest, brightest, nor most technically advanced. LWW is a view of the holiday that everyone remembers! See all the hand painted scenes and wonderful reminders of a much simpler time. Colorful lights and displays of all types are ready for your enjoyment. LWW includes a wide variety of illuminated venues and a life-size Nativity Scene. Free Nov 15 – Dec 6, 9am - 7pm 2nd Annual Holiday Tree Silent Auction @ Glen Carbon Library Stop by to view the trees. Silent auction is December 7th from 1-3pm. Auction bidding closes at 2:30pm. Proceeds benefit the library’s adult and children’s reading programs. Nov 22-Nov 25 Holiday Happenings @ Red Bud A full weekend of activity kicks off the holiday season. The parade is Friday night, Chili Cook-Off on Saturday and Home tour and Santa’s arrival on Sunday. Nov 22- Jan 4 Way of Lights @ Our Lady of the Snows Focusing on the birth of Jesus, this unique celebration of Christmas features a mile-and-a-half drive with over one million lights electro-
art displays and life-size biblical statue which take you on a scriptural Journey to Bethlehem. Nov 22, 6pm - 8pm Community Christmas Tree Lighting @ Alton Come enjoy an Alton tradition, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive at 6 p.m. for free photos with Santa, candy, and prizes for children. Free cookies and hot chocolate, caroling, and the blessing and lighting of the Christmas tree are sure to get you into the holiday spirit. Free admission. Nov 22- Nov 25 Holiday Happenings @ Red Bud A full weekend of activity kicks off the holiday season. The parade is Friday night, Chili Cook-Off on Saturday and Home tour and Santa’s arrival on Sunday. Nov 23- Nov 24 Holiday Cruise @ Columbia Take a leisurely cruise around Columbia and cross some things off of your holiday shopping list. Unique gifts available from fabulous local retailers. Chances to win some great prizes! Nov 23 Santa’s Holiday Avenue Parade & Chili Cook-Off @ Granite City Large holiday parade with over 100 entries followed by Chili Cook-Off. Free stuff for the kids as well as vendors and lots of fun for the family. Free Nov 23 – Nov 24 Old Cathedral Christmas Bazaar @ Alton Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Holiday shopping just got easier if you go to the Old Cathedral Bazaar at Ss. Peter & Paul Parish. More than 40 vendors will be on hand showcasing a wide variety of their wares. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Johnson’s Corner
will cater dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Back by popular demand are the basket raffle, $1,000 raffle, Bake Shoppe, kettle corn, apple butter, an peanut brittle. There will also be a Children’s Christmas area where children can shop for presents. This year, for the first time, Breakfast with Santa Claus will be held. Free Admission
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Nov 23, 10am - 4pm Green Gift Bazaar @ Alton Come to this free, unique and earth friendly event. The event will feature all kinds of hand-crafted items, environmentally-friendly gift ideas, and a variety of work by local artists. We will also provide shoppers with sale info from other downtown retailers a day of shopping dining with your friends on Small Business Saturday and pick up unique, thoughtful and eco- friendly gifts for everyone on your list! Other features of the event will be interactive crafts for kids and a holiday light recycle drive. Additional Details at AltonMainStreet.org
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Nov 24, 12pm - 3pm, December 6, 13, & 20, 6pm-8pm Santa Land 2013 @ Red Bud Please join us as Santa comes back to Santa. He will be available with horse and carriage rides at City Hall. Nov 27- Jan 3 Gingerbread Walk @ Belleville Stroll down Belleville’s Main Street to view awardwinning gingerbread creations displayed in downtown merchant windows. Nov 29- Dec 1 Christmas Candlelight Tours @ 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House Come experience Christmas at the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House. The customs of the 1820s will surround guests as Father Christmas, and his mischievous brother Rupert, entertain children and adults alike. Historically garbed docents will be throughout the house as guests take a selfguided tour through the festively adorned rooms. Admission: $10 Adults $5 Children
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Nov 29- Dec 2 Christmas Walk @ Waterloo Visit the quaint specialty shops in the historic area of Waterloo and register for cash drawings. Enjoy live music, visit with Santa and take a free carriage ride. This event includes an evening lighted parade! Nov 29 Community Lighting of Fountain @ Downtown Belleville
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Nov 29- Dec 2 Holiday Craft Show @ Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Nov 29 Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees Open @ Eckert’s Farms Come experience a crisp winter’s day enjoying the beauty of more than 40 acres of lush evergreen forest as you search for the perfect Christmas tree. We will provide the saw (you provide the elbow grease!)to cut your tree. Our full service Christmas tree farm will provide free shaking and baling of your tree. Pre-cut trees are also available .For more information call Eckert’s at (618) 233-0513. Nov 29 Santa Claus Parade @ Belleville This annual holiday parade culminates with the official lighting of the Downtown Square where musicians, Madrigal singers, carriage rides, hot chocolate, kettle corn and Santa himself await visitors. Nov 29-Dec 25 Santa on the Square @ Belleville Stop in and share with Santa what you want for Christmas. Nov 29, 6:30am - 8am Annual Lighted Christmas Parade @ Downtown Square Highland This annual holiday parade culminates with the official lighting of the downtown Square where musicians, madrigal singers, carriages rides, hot chocolate, kettle corn and Santa himself await visitors Nov 29- Nov 30, 11am - 6pm Holiday Magic @ America’s Center- St Louis Celebrate the holidays at Holiday Magic. This family-friendly weekend show offers a variety of entertainment and shopping options, including Page 43
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full-scale carnival rides, trackless train rides, and a vendor district full of exhibitors and gift ideas. There will also be hands-on art and crafts projects for kids, and photo opportunities with Santa along with live entertainment. Carnival rides, trackless train and all scheduled entertainment included in ticket price. Photos with Santa are additional.
displays throughout the park. Visitors are sure to be captivated by the holiday spirit A special walk-through night (no cars allowed) will be held the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Carriage rides will be available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on a first-come, first served available basis (weather permitting).
Nov 29- Nov 30, 12pm - 5pm 10th Annual Fall Indian Market @ Cahokia Mounds Purchase holiday gift items made by Native American artists and craftpersons; will have jewelry, painting, herbals, weaving, baskets, pottery, bronze work and more.
Nov 29, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Lighted Christmas Parade @ Highland After the parade, meet us at the Square to enjoy Christmas caroling, carriage rides and holiday refreshments. And this year, Santa will be bringing his reindeer for folks to pet!
Nov 29-Dec 26, 5pm - 8pm Horse Drawn Trolley Rides @ Belleville Take a free ride through downtown aboard our horse-drawn trolley. Enjoy Belleville’s historic Shopping & Entertainment District with extended shopping hours from a unique point of view.
Nov 30 “Come Home for Christmas” @ Greenville You don’t have to live here to enjoy our Christmas caroling, the Courthouse lighting ceremony, a visit from Santa Claus, Christmas tree decorating, demonstrations, train displays and children’s activities. Make us your home for a day.
November 29-30, December 1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-23, 26-30, 5:30pm - 8:30pm U.S. Bank Wild Lights @ Saint Louis Zoo Walk through the Zoo’s holiday wonderland of spectacular light displays. Nov 29- Jan 2, 6pm - 7pm Christmas Lights in the Park @ Carlyle City Park Get into the spirit of the season as you view the thousands of Christmas lights strung throughout the City Park. Nov 29- Jan 2, 6pm - 9pm Christmas Wonderland @ Alton Drive through Rock Spring Park to see more than 2.5 million lights adorning trees and lighting
Nov 30 Christmas Parade @ O’Fallon Nov 30 GLOW Lighted Holiday Parade @ Waterloo Come out to see all the wonderfully lit up Christmas themed parade floats! Nov 30 Santa Saturday @ Nashville Santa arrives with carriage rides and prizes for all! Free matinees at the historical State Theatre, window decorating contests, caroling and many sales! Nov 30, 8am - 12pm Breakfast With Santa@ Eckert’s Farms Join us for a meal with Santa on
the farm! Children can tell Santa their Christmas wishes. Santa has a special gift for each child. We will capture the moment in a photo of your child with Santa. Reservations are suggested. Nov 30, 9am - 3pm Holiday Storytime @ Eckert’s Garden Center Your children will sure to be entertained during our holiday story hour. The kids will be enjoy hearing the story of the gingerbread man. After the story is over, each child can make a gingerbread craft. Fun for kids of all ages. FREE. Story will be told at 9 am and 11 am in the Garden Center. For more information call Eckert’s at (618) 233-0513. Nov 30, 10am - 4pm Gingerbread House Workshop @ Eckert’s Country Store For those who have always longed to build a gingerbread house but were intimidated by the thought, here is your chance to create a beautiful display for the holidays. We provide all of the supplies and the guidance. You provide the creativity! Great for young and old. $12/Gingerbread House Nov 30, 6pm - 10pm Christmas Parade & Fireworks @ Breese The parade travels to the park where we will welcome Santa and he will light up the park!
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Fri Nov 1 All Saints Day Nov 1 –3 The Haunting of Hill House @ Alton Little Theater 6am - 10am St. Joseph-Breese Health Fair @ Breese 7:30am - 1pm Women’s Conference @ Troy 9am - 1pm Tri-Township Public Library Book Sale 11:30am - 1pm Coventry Crafters @ Edwardsville Library 4pm - 8pm Fitness Fun Friday @ The Magic House 6pm - 9pm “Leaps of Love” $10,000 Dinner Dance @ Highland Knights of Columbus Hall 7:30pm - 9:30pm Kaskaskia College & Friends Scrap Arts Music MetroEastParent.com
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1pm & 3pm Brownie Home Scientist @ The Children’s Museum 1pm - 5pm St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Fall Quilt & Cash Bingo @ Smithton 5pm - 6pm Safe Families for Children Info Meeting @ Maryville First Baptist Church
9am - 12pm Heartland Prairie Restoration Days @ The Nature Institute - Godfrey
7pm - 8pm St . Rose Quilt Bingo @ St. Rose
10:30am - 11:30am Family Workshop @ St Louis Art Museum 11am - 3pm Zonta Club of Mascoutah Fashion Show & Luncheon @ Mascoutah Sportsmen’s Club
5pm - 11pm Boot Scootin’ for the Saints @ Breese
Pre-School (age 3)/PK thru 8 Grade
7:30am - 12:30pm American Legion Post 439 Breakfast @ Highland
9am - 5pm Fall Into Scrapbooking @ Gateway Center
1pm - 3pm The Magic of Music @ Glen Carbon Library
Catholic Faith Community Smartboards in all the Classrooms Before & After School Programs Math & Speech Team Student Council & Junior Achievement Science Fair & Carnival Excellent Music Program: Band, Guitar, Piano Liturgical Celebrations Free After School Tutoring Sports & P.E. Everyday Honors Algebra & English Security Monitoring & Technology Lab Small Class Size & Dedicated Teachers Special Lunch with your Child Day Neighborhood Setting with Extensive Playground
Sun Nov 3
5pm - 7pm Glow Skate with Confluence Crush Roller Derby @ Spin City Troy 5pm - 11pm Madison County Child Advocacy Center Diamonds & Denim @ Maryville 6pm - 10pm Metro East Humane Society Fall Trivia Night @ Edwardsville Moose Lodge 6pm - 7pm Science School with the SIUE STEM Center @ The Children’s Museum
8pm - 9pm FOTAD Annual Dinner Theater @ SIUe
Mon Nov 4 7pm - 8:30pm Coventry Crafters @ Edwardsville Public Library 7pm - 9pm Organ and Tissue Donor Facts @ Morris Talbot Library 7pm - 10pm Science with the Symphony@ Saint Louis Science Center
Tue Nov 5 10am - 11:30am Home-School Art Sampler @ SWIC 6pm - 7pm Affordable Healthcare Act for Small Businesses Workshop @ Glen Carbon Library 6:30pm – 9pm Christmas Open House @ Cabinet Gallery Highland
6:30pm - 9pm Internet Gardening @ O’Fallon Garden Club
Open MOnday – Friday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Ages six weeks – 12 years old
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9am - 12:30pm Memorial Hospital will Paint the Town Pink @ Columbia
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9am - 12pm Veterans Job Fair @ SWIC 5:30pm - 8pm Family Game Night @ Belleville Public Library
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6:30pm - 9pm St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Fashion Show @ Highland - Michael’s Restaurant 7:30pm - 9pm The Higgs Boson and the Fate of the Universe @ St Louis Zoo
Thu Nov 7 Holiday Extravaganza @ Eckert’s 10am - 2pm Fall Craft Fair @ Maryville 6pm - 7pm Science School with the SIUE STEM Center @ The Children’s Museum-Edwardsville
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8am - 12pm Habitat Restoration Day @ Watershed Nature Center 9am - 12:30pm Memorial Hospital will Paint the Town Pink @ Columbia 9am - 4pm 21st Annual Edwardsville HS Tiger Band Art & Craft Fair 9am - 11am 2nd Annual Run for the Heroes 5k @ Fulton Jr High – O’fallon
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10am - 3pm Quilt and Art Show @ Troy 10am - 12pm Scott Credit Union Kids Club Event @ Edwardsville 11am - 2pm 4th Annual Riverbend Empty Bowls Project @ Jacoby Arts Center Sat and Sun: 11am, 1pm, & 3pm Fairy Tale Tea with Cinderella @ The Magic House 11am - 12pm The Amazing Science Demonstrator @ The Saint Louis Science Center 1pm - 3pm S.T.E.M. and Legos: Freaky Foods @ Glen Carbon Library 1pm - 2pm Mario Kart Kids’ Gaming Tournament @ Edwardsville Library 2pm - 3pm Raptor Awareness Show @ Cahokia Mounds
3pm - 5pm Trout Fishing in America Children’s Show @ Wildey Theatre 7pm - 10pm Planetarium Cheap Date Night: A Rare Eclipse @ Saint Louis Science Center
Sun Nov 10 USMC Day 10am - 3pm Pet & Family Portraits with Santa @ Eckert’s Garden Center 1pm - 2pm Troy Veteran’s Day Parade 2pm - 4pm “Coffee & Expressions” @ Alton Little Theater
Mon Nov 11 Veterans Day
Military Week @ Eckert’s Country Store Veteran’s Day Ceremony @ Downtown Belleville 11am - 12pm Veteran’s Day Ceremony @ Columbia American Legion 12pm - 2pm Collinsville Area Women’s Connection @ Gateway Center 12pm - 2pm Movie matinee @ Edwardsville Public Library 4pm - 5pm Fun and Furry Reading Program @ O’Fallon Public Library
Tue Nov 12 2pm - 3pm After Baby @ Afterwords with Metamorphose Maternity 7pm - 8:30pm Public Star Gazing @ SIUE
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Wed Nov 13 GIFTS FROM THE HEART @ Belle-Clair Fairgrounds 7:30pm - 9pm Ghosts in the Sand @ Saint Louis Zoo Calendar 7:30pm - 10:30pm Kal Penn speaks @ The Hettenhausen Center at McKendree University
Thu Nov 14 Christmas Tree Lots Opens @ Eckerts 4pm - 5pm Chess Club @ O’Fallon Public Library
7pm - 10pm Violence Prevention Center 5th Annual Ladies’ Night Out! @ Four Points Sheraton
Leu Civic Center 2013 Vendor and Craft Fair @ Mascoutah Sportsmens Club
Fri Nov 15
9am - 12pm Annual Maryville Turkey Trot 5K @ Drost Park
Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day 5pm - 12am Girl Scout Camp-In @ The Saint Louis Science Center 5:30pm - 9:30pm Free Family Night @ The Magic House 6pm - 9pm Love Me Leave Me @ Polish Hall Roof Fund BenefitMadison
5pm - 9pm Holiday Open House @ Belleville Eckerts 6pm - 7pm Natural Health Workshop @ Vitalize Family Chiropractic
Incarnate Word academy
Sat Nov 16 Have a Party with Your Bear Day
Nov 16- Nov17 9am - 4pm BELLEVILLE FLEA MARKET @ Belle-Clair Fairgrounds 9:30am - 4:30pm HealthFest 2013 @ Saint Louis Science Center 9:30am - 11:30am Willoughby Conservation Stewards @ Willoughby Farm 10am - 11am Guided Hike @ Pere Marquette Lodge 10am - 2pm Hands for Hospice 5K Run/Walk @ SIUe 10am - 6pm Holiday Open House @ Afterwords Books
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10:30am - 2:30pm Preparing for Winter @ Missouri Botanical Garden
6pm - 10pm Wolf Branch Middle School Band Boosters’ Trivia Night
1pm - 3pm American Girl Mystery @ Glen Carbon Library
Sun Nov 17
1pm - 3pm Get Ready For The Holidays @ Edwardsville Library 4pm - 5pm Welcoming Chef Clara Moore @ Afterwords Books
12pm - 3pm Late Harvest Tastin @ Eckert’s Country Store 1:30pm - 2:30pm Cabinet Gallery Cooking Class @ Highland
5pm - 8pm Autumn Open House @ The Nature Institute Godfrey
3pm - 6pm Doc Severinsen and His Big Band perform @ the Hettenhausen Center- McKendree
5:30pm - 8:30pm Murder Mystery Dinner: A Dickens of a Killing @ Belleville Eckerts
5pm - 9pm Art & Wine Walk Belleville Main Street
6pm - 9pm Parent’s Night Out @ The Children’s Museum Edwardsville 6pm - 9pm Troy Fire Dept Trivia Night @ Tri-Township Park
7pm - 9pm Moon Light Hike @ The Nature Institute Godfrey
Tue Nov 19 Have a “Bad Day” Day
6:30pm - 8pm Family Fun Night! @ Afterwords Books
Wed Nov 20 Great American Smokeout Day 1pm - 3pm Nia and Magic of Music @ Glen Carbon Library 6pm - 7pm BPL Coupon Club @ Belleville Main Library 7pm - 8pm Education for Alzheimer’s or Other Related Dementia Caregivers @ Columbia Rehab & Nursing
Thu Nov 21 Nov 21- Nov 22 Taste of Downtown @ Alton 4pm - 6pm Catching Fire Release Party @ Edwardsville Library
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5pm - 9pm Downtown Diva Night @ Downtown Belleville 6:15pm - 7:30pm Natural ADD & ADHD Management Workshop @ Vitalize Family Chiropractic 6:30pm - 7pm Chapter Chatter Book Club @ Afterwords Books
7pm - 8:30pm Public Star Gazing @ SIUE
10am - 12pm Discovery Days! - Who Eats Who? @ Watershed Nature Center
6pm - 7pm BPL Coupon Club @ Belleville Main Library
Wed Nov 27
Thu Nov 28
10am - 3pm Girl’s Day Out & Quarter Auction @ National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Sat Nov 23
Thanksgiving 8am – 11am Turkey Trot @ Downtown Belleville
1pm - 3pm Once Upon an Art @ Glen Carbon Library
Art & Wine Walk @ Belleville 8am - 12pm Dashing Divas 5K Run/Walk @ National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows 9am - 12:30pm Memorial Hospital will Paint the Town Pink @ St. Paul UCC
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9:30am - 11:30am Writers’ Group for Family History & Genealogy @ Belleville Main Library
6am - 8am Gobble Hobble 2k Fun Run @ Highland
1:30pm - 3:30pm Family Med School Basics @ The Saint Louis Science Center
Sat Nov 30
Tue Nov 26
10am - 4pm Great Train Expo @ Gateway Center
4pm - 4:45pm Lego Club @ Edwardsville Library
7pm - 9pm Jacoby Arts Center Concerts @ Alton
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The Perfect Present for your Player! by Garrett Peek
The Christmas season is upon us again. “What would make a great gift for the musician in my life?” That can be a difficult question to answer but hopefully this column will be of assistance to you. There are many gifts for musicians in many different price ranges. This guide is not by any means complete but can help give you ideas and steer you in the right direction. For the drummer: There are many different gift options for the drummer in your life. I’m going to make the assumption that the drummer already has a standard five piece entry level (or higher) set. • Drummers love accessories. There’s always another add-on just waiting to be added to a set. Cowbells, jam blocks, effect cymbals, chimes, tambourines, and ethnic percussion instruments are all great gift ideas that won’t break the budget. Auxiliary percussion instruments like these can be found for a range of $20-$100 and up. • Another idea would be to look at the level of set that they currently have and see if there’s anywhere to upgrade any of the hardware. Most sets are sold with standard bass drum pedals, cymbal stands, and thrones. Upgrading any of these to the next level up will be greatly appreciated by your drummer. This is especially true for the throne. Most “good” hardware can range in prices from $80-$150. • The next idea is to look at a possible snare drum upgrade. If the student is using a snare drum that has 8 lugs or less, upgrading to a 10 lug snare drum will make a great improvement in sound. 10 lug snare drums can start around $200 and can get as high as $1000. For the guitarist: Guitarist suffer from G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) much like drummers. Because of this, there are many gifts that will make Christmas very special for the guitarist on your list. • Guitar accessories like slides, tuners, straps and capos can make great gifts and generally sell for $20 or less. • Individual effects boxes like fuzz boxes, chorus pedals, delays, wah-wah pedals, and volume pedals can range in prices from $20$100. These pedals make great gifts as guitarists are always looking for ways to enhance their sound. • Hard-shell cases and gig bags are another possibility. These cases not only help protect guitar but also come in many shapes and designs
that can accentuate the unique qualities of the guitarist. Prices can range from $30 to several hundred. For the pianist: Pianists can be difficult to purchase for because whether they are using a piano or a keyboard, they generally have everything they “need” already. There are some ideas though to help add some cheer for the pianists this holiday season. • Sheet music can be the perfect gift for the piano enthusiasts. There are piano books and sheet music for almost every style of music and artist around. I’ve seen racks that have the music for piano parts from every artist imaginable (Abba through ZZTop). Prices for sheet music and books can go as low as $1 to as high as $35. • Most piano players and keyboardists do share one common trait, almost all of them sit the entire time. Because of this, a bench upgrade can really help take the load off of the pianists. Benches range from $50-$300. For the orchestra student: Orchestra students are a little harder to buy for since most of the students either rent their instruments or they have most of what they need already in their instrument. • Cleaning and maintenance kits are available for almost all brass and woodwind instruments. These kits contain greases, cleaning cloths and other supplies that all brass and woodwind students can always use. These kits can range from $15-$35. • Many companies now are selling unique colored instrument cases for woodwind and brass instruments. These cases can help make the student more stylish and allow them to proudly display their love for playing music. These cases can run from $125-$300.
Garrett Peek is the founder of Melodic Rhythms in Belleville and Breese Illinois. Melodic Rhythms is a lesson studio that offers private lessons for all instruments with professional teachers and tutoring for all grade/high school subjects. Go to www.MelodicRhythms.com for more information. Garrett will answer all questions emailed to him at Gpeek@hotmail.com
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The Common Core State Standards By Dr. Almeda Lahr-Well, Founder, President & Director of Lahr-Well Academy in Edwardsville, Illinois More and more we hear people like famed, filmmaker George Lucas commenting on U.S. education. Lucas is trying to stir educators into focusing more on a communicative approach to educational subjects. Lucas states that while English is presented as a communication subject, art and music are not generally approached as such. According to Lucas, the latter subjects are seen more as artistic and therapeutic; however, Lucas insists that these subjects must also be embraced as communication subjects. According to the Common Core Strategies for Learning (Grades K through 12), education will be focusing more on: comprehensive assessment, integrated studies, project-based learning, social and emotional learning, teacher development and technology integration. Is there a connection between the educational theories of George Lucas and those of Common Core Strategies for Learning? Lucas has suggested that education is the foundation of our democracy--the stepping-stones for our youth to reach their full potential. (Speaking of which, ask your child if the United States is a democracy or a republic. See what s/he has to say.) Lucas goes on to state that only occasionally did he have a teacher who engaged his curiosity and motivated him to learn...just as still happens in many schools today operating in isolation...as if they were separate from their communities. For many decades traditional K-12 educators have been very protective about whom they would allow into their classrooms. Certification was the “final” word...even though many classroom teachers often brought in (and still bring in) “exciting” people from the “outside” as motivational speakers. In project-based learning, student teams will work together, often connecting with passionate experts Common Core State Standards are supposed to help teachers provide clear goals for student learning...in order to helps students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. The Common Core State Standards are led by individual state efforts...not by the federal government. These “higher” standards will be consistent across states...aligning expectations in colleges and careers. Assessment tests in English language arts and mathematics will be available in the 2014-2015 school year. Teachers will be trained in these Common Core State Standards...along with training in the implementation of the standards. Technology will be integrated into the standards. (Many schools are working to provide each and every student with an individual computer.) The social and emotional learning components of the Common Core State Standards will teach students how to regulate their emotions, problem-solve, and disagree respectfully. These will be critical in teaching student to collaborate, to see others’ perspectives and to persevere in solving problems...(communication skills?). These efforts are
designed to create positive school environments, prevent bullying, disconnection and academic underachievement. How did the U.S. ever arrive at this juncture in education? At a time in our educational environment, when many students struggle to make change at their cash registers, and more graduate years behind in reading and science, and many more graduate without being able to locate the United States on a world map, or graduate without even an acquaintance with a foreign language, no classes in penmanship or critical thinking ...and some states considering not teaching world history...and art and music generally the first subjects to be cut in a financial “crunch,” will the common core strategies offer the answer that the U.S. so desperately seeks in education? What is it that our students will be able to communicate? What do you think? For questions or comments on education, please write to Dr. Almeda M. Lahr-Well at: alahrwell@metroeastparentmagazine.com
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How is Lahr-Well Academy different from the rest? Students taught in combined “levels” - not grades...Our students test 2-4 years beyond chronological age in math, reading and English
Students are unique in their learning. At Lahr-Well Academy, we individualize each lesson plan with each student, knowing they are not a carbon copy of another.
Want to learn more about Lahr-Well Academy?
Lahr-Well Academy maximizes your child’s educational future by empowering your child
Call 618-288-8024 to arrange for a free day’s attendance!
A unique, comprehensive curriculum combines instruction in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities and art: all grades. Daily: intensive math, intensive science (chemistry, biology, physics, earth science), hands-on science experiments, an IEP (individualized educational plan) for every child
LAHR-WELL ACADEMY 903 North Second Street
Weekly: hands-on art, and composition
Edwardsville, IL 62025
4 times weekly: four foreign languages for every child K412: Spanish/Italian/French/German…on a two-year rotation
618-288-8024 ph office@lahrwellacademy.org www.lahrwellacademy.org
MetroEastParent.com
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NOW REGISTERING FOR FALL II • Oct. 21st - Dec.21st We have 5 sessions per year. Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II and Summer Each session averages between 9-11 weeks. Parent/Tot Class & Gymnastics 3-4 yrs. • $11.25 per class All other classes $15 per class • 2nd class 20% off • 3rd class 30% off • 4th class 40% off
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MetroEastParent.com
We would like to invite you to our family dental office and give you a few more reasons to choose us to care for your dental needs. • We treat all patients... from 1 to 100! • We provide orthodontic services! • We offer custom mouthguards and Sports Dentistry! • We offer evening and weekend hours! • Convenient location with second location in Columbia! Dr. Angie has over 18 years of clinical experience along with additional training in orthodontic and craniofacial development, sleep disordered breathing, neurologic implications of altered facial growth as well as the dental related treatment of headaches and pain. Her PASSION is to ensure that the children/adults that she treats have the best possible opportunity to achieve proper dental and facial development to prevent future complications and to ensure beautiful healthy smiles for life.
Synergy Therapeutics NOW OPEN in Columbia
See “ASK DR. ANGIE” in this publication
Call Now
618/476-XRAY 15 N. JeffersoN • Millstadt
106 Veterans Parkway Columbia, illinois 62236
www.smileologydental.com
618/281-9729
ALTHOFF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Area’s PREMIER Catholic High School • A Safe, Nurturing Family Atmosphere • Student to Faculty Ratio of 9:1 • Higher Average ACT Scores than local, state & national averages • Advanced College Credit Program(1818) through St. Louis University & Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered • The Class of 2013 (108 students) garnered more than $6 million in college scholarships & enrolled in more than 50 different colleges • Endless academic, extra-curricular & athletic opportunities
8th Grade (Incoming Freshman) Placement Test Saturday, December 7, 2013 Incoming Freshman Registration (by appointment) Tuesday, February 4, 2014 Thursday, February 6, 2014
618-235-1100 5401 West Main Street Belleville, IL 62226
WWW.ALTHOFF.NET