SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 | 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. | ALL AGES
Our open house community event is a time for families who may not know much about Avow Kids to have a warm introduction to our no-cost services. This event brings holiday rituals back for the kids to enjoy and express times when they may have baked holiday cookies, made holiday ornaments, played dreidel or enjoyed holiday songs with a loved one who is now absent. In addition, we will have games, Santa and other fun treats and activities.
Valentin Lugones-Aguirre. Valentin is 2 years, 9 months and lives with his family in Cape Coral. He loves traveling, riding his balance bike, playing with his motorcycles, reading books at the library, and swimming with his sister Martina. His Santa list contains: an orange motorcycle, a big Ice cream, going back to Morocco, and riding a camel again.
Thanks to Santa Mark for being on our December cover. Learn more about him at www.mrclaus.net.
Cover photo by Monica Alvarez monicaalvarezphotography.com 305-815-3495 info@monicaalvarezphotography.com
12 From Vision To Reality
A first-of-its-kind school in Collier County designed to help students with autism. by
Andrea Stetson
16 Holiday Gift Guide
Find the perfect gift for the kiddos.
by Elena Epstein
18 Books to Celebrate the Season
The 10 best books to put your family in the spirit for Christmas and Hanukkah.
20 Wintery Wonderlands and Holiday Lights
Glimpse twinkling lights and magical winter wonderlands with these picks from our travel editor.
by Karen T. Bartlett
22 Foster Parenting
The second installment in one family's journey to become foster parents by Anna Snyder
26 Stop Holiday Drinking from Becoming a Problem
How to keep teens and other family members from over-indulging during the holidays.
by Phara Lafortune-Morame
Co-Publisher
Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com
Co-Publisher Jane MacNealy jmacnealy@neafamily.com
For procrastinators like me, having Thanksgiving occur one week later this year has been a blessing. There was a little more time to get our magazine to press, plan holiday travel to see family, and shop before the holiday frenzy begins.
Our family celebrates Hanukkah. Some years, the holiday starts just a few days after Thanksgiving, and we have little time to prepare. In those years, we must fit in our celebrations and traditions while school is bustling with projects, sports, and performances. Most years, the eight days of Hanukkah overlap with my youngest's December 15th birthday, and she feels the other festivities overshadow her special day.
This year, our Festival of Lights starts on December 25th after sundown, so we have a bit more time to get ready. Instead of going to a Chinese or sushi restaurant and attending the movies (a tradition I actually love), we will be able to celebrate our holiday on the same day that most of the world seems to stand still for a moment, without the distraction of work and school.
Our December issue includes holiday events and ideas to help you plan a special celebration that best suits your family. There are tree lightings and menorah lightings, theater and concerts, Santa sightings, and holiday lights to get out and experience the season. We also have children's book recommendations and you can find holiday recipes on our website for cozy nights spent at home with loved ones.
Proud Member of
Editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for return of any unsolicited materials. Articles and advertisements in Neapolitan Family do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher nor does the publisher assume responsibility for statements made by our advertisers or editorial contributors. Acceptance of advertising by Neapolitan Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Neapolitan Family is available free of charge at distribution points throughout Collier County, as well as digitally at neafamily.com.
In this issue, you'll find a guide to the best new toys in our centerfold and a pull-out Holiday Savings Passport loaded with unique offers to help you support local small businesses in our community.
If you want to give your child the gift that will last a lifetime, consider giving the gift of summer camp. On page 27, read how camp can build life-long skills, memories, and friendships in a tech-free, healthy environment in just one summer.
Be sure to check neafamily.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram throughout the month for holiday lights, dining, and new events unavailable at press time.
Happy Holidays!
Fall Festival Raises $30,000 to Rebuild at empowerment Farm
More than $30,000 was raised—through sponsorships, ticket sales, and sales of market goodies—at the inaugural Fall Festival at Empowerment Farm last month. These funds will be used to support programs and help to build a barn to house animals, replacing several out-building structures that suffered extensive damage during Tropical Storm Debby.
Nearly 300 people enjoyed the pumpkin patch, themed pumpkin character display, farm animal encounters, photo stations, hayrides, and other activities. Neapolitan Family was a media sponsor for the festival.
Empowerment Farm is a non-profit organization established in November 2022. A five-acre campus was acquired in mid 2023. Visit www.EmpowermentFarm.org.
Baby Basics 17th Annual Fashion Show Was a Success
Baby Basics of Collier County held its 17th Annual Fashion Show on Thursday, November 7 with over 280 women in attendance. The fundraising luncheon has grown into one of the season’s favorites for many of the organization’s supporters. The goal was to raise enough funds to secure an entire tractor trailer load of diapers; that goal was met with over $100,000 raised.
One of the most important ways Baby Basics raises money is through the annual fashion show and funds raised will help fund the monthly diaper distribution to babies in Collier County. With the help of donors, sponsors and event attendees, Baby Basics has been steadfast in its mission to supply diapers and kindness to over 600 babies and 2500 family members each month. Since 2002, Baby Basics has distributed over 13 million diapers to babies of nearly 50,000 hard-working family members.
Baby Basics of Collier County supplies free diapers monthly to low-income, working families in Collier County. Visit www. babybasicscollier.org for information.
Collier County High School Students Pack Over 40K meals For Local Families
Last month, a group of high school students from Aubrey Rogers High School spent their day off packing meals at the Meals of Hope headquarters in North Naples.
Darren Nieves, a junior at Aubrey Rogers, organized the event with a school community service club that he created. The event was entirely organized and run by students, and 140 volunteers came to help out.
Meals of Hope is a nonprofit committed to bringing people together to fight the hunger epidemic. Founded in 2007, Meals of Hope has packed over 80 million meals that have been donated to communities in need across the nation and around the world. Learn more at www.mealsofhope.org.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 COVER KIDS WINNERS!
SWFL is not short on kids with dazzling smiles, bright personalities, and kind hearts!
We received many terrific submissions for the Neapolitan Family Cover Kids Contest. It was difficult to choose the winners. Thanks to all the parents who entered this year.
We look forward to working with the winners and seeing them on the cover of Neapolitan Family!
Nicholas, Olivia & Jacob
Orlando & Santiago
Emersyn
Mason & Madison
Riley, Brayden & Madison
Daniella
Phoenix
Langston
Sam & Sophie
V e T e RANS DAY IN COLLI e R COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Teaching Gratitude, Patriotism, and the Legacy of Service
Each year, Collier County Public Schools is open for business on Veterans Day. While some in the community have questioned why, the day provides an opportunity for us to teach our students the importance of our veterans and the service they provided to our country. Many of our schools also plan special events and ceremonies—complete with patriotic musical performances—to honor our local veterans.
Melissa Williams is a fifth-grade teacher at Lake Park Elementary. Her dad, Larry Ray, is a veteran who attends the school’s celebration each year. “He always puts it on the calendar and ends up in the front row.”
“I felt very proud to honor all the veterans that were here today,” shared LPE fifthgrader Braelynn Bratcher.
Principal Kelly Zwack at Corkscrew Elementary opened her school’s ceremony with the following words: “Today, we honor generations of patriots who have earned the title American veteran—a badge of courage that unites the finest group of former service members that the world has ever known.”
Next door at Corkscrew Middle, Principal Rania Pierre-Peacock explained that the
mance. “We’re so proud of them! It was a fantastic opportunity for our middle school students to praise their veteran grandparents, their veteran moms and dads, and even those who, unfortunately, have passed on.”
It’s a family affair at Manatee Elementary. Also included in the festivities were the Manatee Middle School band as well as Lely High School’s JROTC. “It was kind of a coming together of all our schools,” said Kelsey Papworth, a resource teacher at MES. “We find Veterans Day is a wonderful day to show our thankfulness and how grateful we are for their service.”
MES music teacher Rhonda Vincent ensures the students understand the importance of the words they sing. “The biggest part about it is for them to understand what they’re singing and why they are singing it. It helps them to sing it with pride. They did an amazing job. I’m very proud of them.”
“This event here at the school [MES] is so uplifting,” explained Chris Walters, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served almost 25 years. “It’s nice to see that the school is promoting patriotism.”
When asked what a veteran means to her, LPE fourth grader Lily Bouchard explained that veterans served our country to protect our rights. “They sacrificed
Member of the United States Submarine Veterans overlooking the Veterans Day parade at Mike Davis Elementary.
their lives for our country.”
These important lessons and experiences demonstrate the value of students attending school on Veterans Day. We continue to thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice. Their dedication and courage have made a lasting impact on our country, and we are deeply grateful.
1
2
3
From Vision to Reality A First-of-Its-Kind Collier County School Designed to Help Students with Autism
By Andrea Stetson
Julia Maloney is homeschooling her daughter who has autism and needs personalized instruction, but she would like her child to return to a classroom. Melodie Beaver would love to go back to work, but public schools don’t have after care for her three children who have significant needs due to autism. Steve Hartz wants his son to have access to the same clubs and sports as children who are not on the spectrum. They dream of a school with staff trained specifically for children with autism and programs geared just for their child in a room with a low student-to-teacher ratio.
Their wishes are about to come true. The new Autism Collier Charter School was recently approved and will open in August 2025. The school is a dream for Stephanie Nordin whose twin sons have bounced from public school to private and back to public, as she seeks the right environment for them.
“Collier County Public Schools has come so far, but we have a lot of kids with a lot of different needs,” Nordin said. Starting Autism Collier Charter School “is what we can do where everyone wins.”
Locally, public schools offer programs for children with special needs, but there is not a program specifically for youngsters with autism who do not have significant behaviors. Most public schools also don’t offer before and after care for students who have significant needs and there are
few clubs and activities for them. The new school will have all of this and much more. Best of all, it will be tuition free.
“Families are going to be so excited to have an option,” said Jen Mitchell, president of the board of the new charter school. “It has to be tuition free because cost is a barrier for so many families.”
“Here, everything will be with the autistic learner in mind, from the furniture and the lighting to the staffing,” explained Emily Kafle, the school’s new principal. “And we are making sure we are true to the 3-1 student-to-teacher ratio.”
Plans are for nine children with a teacher and two aides in each room.
“The 3-1 teacher-student ratio will help to keep [my daughter] on task,” Maloney said. “She has trouble focusing and retaining. Having that kind of attention for each student will make a difference in retention.”
PLeTHORA OF PROGRAmS
Nordin said one of the biggest benefits of the new school is the wide range of after-school programs that will be offered – drama, dance, music, sports, and more. Plus, students will have the freedom to create clubs aligned with their interests. ACCS also will offer an extended school year program and summer camp, which is enthusiastically supported by local families, given the limited summer camp options for children with special needs.
A DReAm ReALIZeD
Nordin worked tirelessly to bring the dream of this school to fruition. In February 2022, one of her twins almost died when he jumped through a glass window on the second story of his private school. Nordin vowed to find a better place for her children’s education.
“The concept of the school was my idea,” Nordin explained. “I started looking into what other options were available for students.” Charter schools for children with autism are taking root around the nation. An internet search led her to South Florida Autism Charter School in Hialeah. “I called them and asked about a tour.”
She corralled Mitchell, who had just completed her term on the CCPS school board, to join the mission to bring a similar school here.
“Jen [Mitchell] said yes and we had a big group go over to Hialeah. That is where the vision took root,” Nordin said.
PLeASeD PAReNTS
Parents of children with autism are beyond excited about a school created just for their children. They feel secure knowing that staff will be trained to handle their child’s specific needs, and they are happy that their children will have access to the same things as students in traditional classes.
“Gavin loves music,” Nordin said about one of her twins. “Last year he didn’t even have a music class.”
Maloney drives her 16-year-old daughter to Starability, Special Olympics, and the Naples Players. “To get kids to all the different activities is tough, so it would be great [to do] all this under one roof,” she said.
Maloney has been homeschooling her daughter due to some bullying and the larger class sizes in public schools, so she looks forward to having her child return to the classroom.
“I am ecstatic,” she exclaimed. “This is a dream of mine. We have needed this in Collier for her whole life.”
“I am super excited about this,” added Melodie Beaver, who adopted three children ages 5, 6, and 9, all of whom have autism. The public school system “is great for some [children with autism] … but not for others. It does not work well for my children. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this. There is such a need in Collier County.”
Beaver is especially pleased about finally having after-school care. She had to quit her job when the after-school program at her children’s school refused to let them attend. “That is a game changer,” she exclaimed.
Steve Hartz’s 13-year-old son loves technology, so Hartz is looking forward to his child joining a club focusing on tech. He also is happy that his son will have some traditional school experiences.
“They have talked about having Homecoming,” Hartz noted. “As a parent, these are the things you think [your kid] will never have an opportunity to do.”
Olivia Narizzano’s son will start kindergarten next fall. Until she heard about the new autism school, she was worried about her his future. “There are so many options [for school], but none of them really work,” she said. “This is such a relief. There will be some place in town where my son will be embraced and accepted.”
WINNING THe LOTTeRY
These parents are hoping their children will be in the inaugural class next August. But not everyone will be able to attend right away. The first year the K-12 school will have space for only 65 students. That will double to 130 the following year and then increase to 260 the next, and eventu-
ally to 300. Students will be chosen using a lottery system. More than 215 applications already have been filed.
“It is heartbreaking that we don’t have room for them all,” Mitchell said. “There is so much interest.”
There are about 1,500 CCPS students who are on the autism spectrum.
Mitchell said the school has to start small to ensure success, which means hiring the most highly qualified, well-trained staff.
All classes will be taught by certified teachers. Kafle has been working in special education for 20 years. She worked at a charter school for autism in Minnesota and was most recently director of special education for CCPS. Kafle, Mitchell, and Nordin are also co-founders of the school.
The school is being embraced by Collier County education officials.
ACCS “highlights that, while Collier County boasts excellent schools and strong support for students with disabilities, ACCS will provide another choice for parents specifically tailored to the needs of students with significant autism and their families,” said Leslie Ricciardelli, CCPS superintendent. She noted that the school is open to students from any Florida county.
FUNDING FUNDAmeNTALS
Funding for ACCS is from the same source as other public schools – the state – and is based on the number of students. The
operating budget for the first year will be $2.8 million. The Autism Collier Resource Center was recently created to pay for all the extras, like the before and after care, clubs, and sports. “ACRC is seeking grants and fundraising to [pay for these extra programs]. If you are looking to help, reach out,” Mitchell said.
GeTTING ReADY
The site for the new school will be announced soon. Applications are available online for future students and staff. Now parents are hoping their children can secure a place through the lottery.
“I am excited about a school that will have everything,” Maloney said. “It is needed here in Collier.”
“I am so excited to have a school that is dedicated to these kids,” Beaver added. Nordin’s life changed the day her son jumped out the school window. It set her on a path to champion for a better life for children with autism and their parents. She has fought for laws to be changed in Tallahassee and won that battle, and now she is winning her quest for a better education for her twins and so many others in the community.
“The day of the tragedy, I turned it into something positive,” Nordin concluded.
Visit www.autismcolliercharter.org for information about an upcoming virtual open house and student interest form.
Stephanie Nordin’s twin sons Gavin and Logan were the inspiration for her quest to start a charter school specifically for students with autism. Nordin also has two younger sons, Titus and Eli. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Nordin.
FAMILY HOLIDAY FUN IN SWFL
MULTI DATE EVENTS
A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL
Nov. 20-Dec. 22. A musical based on the classic Christmas movie.
Kizzie Theater, Naples. www.naplesplayers.org
MAGIC OF LIGHTS
Nov. 22-Jan. 4, 2025. A dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience.
Dec. 1-23 & Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2025. Thousands of lights, hundreds of historic decorations, and one unique nightly experience.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Naples. www.edisonfordwinterestates.org
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Dec. 1-25. Ebenezer Scrooge and his infamous “Bah, Humbug” take the stage in this beloved musical. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Naples. www.broadwaypalm.com
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK
Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 2025. The park sparkles even more this year with extra lights and holiday decorations. Riverside Park, Bonita Springs. www.cityofbonitasprings.org
EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)
Dec.4-22.Three actors perform every Christmas story ever told — plus Christmas traditions from around the world and carols.
Marco Island Center for the Arts, Marco Island. www. marcoislandart.org
6TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT FARMER MIKES
Dec. 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21. Santa, food and treats, sled mound, and more.
Farmer Mikes U Pick, Bonita Springs. www. farmermikesevents.ticketspice.com
2024 ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXPRESS TRAIN Dec. 13-31 Magical fun for the entire family. Lakes Park, Fort Myers. www.rrmsf.org
A PIONEER CHRISTMAS: HOLIDAY CRAFTS Dec. 27-28 & 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn how the pioneers on Marco Island created decorations and celebrated this time of year.
Marco Island Historical Museum, Marco Island. www.colliermuseums.com
1 SUNDAY
AVE MARIA HOLIDAY ART & CRAFT SHOW
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Discover treasures from talented locals. Ave Maria Town Center, Ave Maria. www.avemaria.com
HOLIDAY NIGHTS ON THE LAWN
4-8 p.m. A free event featuring Santa, local food trucks, a trackless train, ice skating, vendors, and more. Cape Coral City Hall, Cape Coral. www.capecoral.gov
3 TUESDAY
CHRISTMAS PARADE
6-8 p.m. Parade begins on Broad Street South and
finishes on 8th Street South, City of Naples. Downtown Naples. www.fifthavenuesouth.com
CHRISTMAS TALES
5-5:45 p.m. Free story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Bass Pro Shops, Fort Myers. www.bookings-us.qudini.com
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
11:30 a.m. A troupe of elves help restore a poor cobbler to prosperity by making a pair of the most fantastic and magical shoes ever seen.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Fort Myers. www.broadwaypalm.com
4 WEDNESDAY
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY & HOLIDAY CIRQUE EXPERIENCE
5:30-8 p.m. Festive fun, including live music, cirque, and dance performances, and the lighting of the largest real tree in SWFL. Mercato, Naples. www.experiencemercato.com
5 THURSDAY
TREE LIGHTING: IMMOKALEE
6-9 p.m. Bring your camera for pictures with Santa. South Park, Immokalee. www.collierparks.com
6 FRIDAY
51ST ANNUAL 5TH AVENUE CHRISTMAS WALK AND TREE LIGHTING
5-10 p.m. Christmas tree lighting, living nativity, skating rink, live music, and Santa Claus. Sugden Plaza, Naples. www.fifthavenuesouth.com
BELL TOWER TREE LIGHTING EXTRAVAGANZA
6-9 p.m. Photos with Santa, bounce house, face painting, balloon artists, holiday games, and activities. Bell Tower, Fort Myers. www.belltowerfl.com
GRINCH FAMILY NIGHT
6:30-8:30 p.m. It just isn't the holidays without some Grinch cheer.
Golden Gate Community Park, Naples. www.collierpark.com
HOLIDAY LIGHTS
6-9:30 p.m. Holiday music, hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows, and a walk on the Pint Loop Trail. Calusa Nature Center, Fort Myers. www.calusanature.org
JINGLE BELL BASH 2024
5:30 p.m. An evening at CMON with winter fun, photos with Santa, and tasty treats. Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, Naples. www.cmon.org
MOVIE IN THE PARK: SANTA CLAUSE
5 p.m. Free holiday movie screening at dusk. Riverside Park, Bonita Springs. www.cityofbonitasprings.org
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
5 p.m. Free pictures with Santa when you bring a new, unwrapped toy. Promenade at Bonita Bay, Bonita Springs. www.promenadeshops.com
7 SATURDAY
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: IMMOKALEE
9-11 a.m. Breakfast and photos with Santa, cookie decorating, sweet treats, and crafts. Immokalee Community Park, Immokalee. www.collierparks.com
WINTER FEST
4-8 p.m. Photos with Santa, live performances, raffles, food vendors, games, and more. Gateway Soccer Complex, Fort Myers. www. gatewaydistrict.org
MARCO ISLAND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING 6-9 p.m. Annual tree lighting. Veterans Community Park, Marco Island. www.cityofmarcoisland.com
MEET SANTA & HIS ELF
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Take photos with Santa and his elf. Headquarters Library, Naples. www.collierlibrary.org
PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA
1-3 p.m. Santa Paws is making a special stop in the courtyard. Gulf Coast Town Center, Fort Myers. gulfcoasttowncenter.com
SNOWFEST
3-9 p.m. Holiday and snow festivities throughout the day. Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Naples. www.collierparks.com
TROPICAL HOLIDAY PARADE & TREE LIGHTING 11 a.m. Tropical fun and festive cheer. Coconut Point Mall, Estero. www.simon.com/mall/coconut-point
8 SUNDAY
DECK THE HALLS
7 p.m. Celebrate the season with this holiday tradition. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center, Fort Myers. www.bbmannpah.com
HOLIDAY MARKET & 70TH CELEBRATION
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sleigh rides, shopping, children’s activities, photo booth, raffle, and more. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples. www.corkscrew.audubon.org
JINGLE JOG 5K & SANTA STRUT 5K
7:30 a.m. Welcome the magic of the holiday season for a day of festive fun.
Coconut Point Mall, Estero. www.simon.com/mall/coconut-point
MR. GLEN'S HOLIDAY WORKSHOP
1-3 p.m. Join Mr. Glen for a fun-filled afternoon. Riptide Bonita Springs Event Space, Bonita Springs. www.supersciencefl.com
PJ LIBRARY FOAM-TASTIC HANUKKAH PARTY
2:45-4:30 p.m. Dive into bubbles, enjoy snacks, and gather around for a special Hanukkah-themed story. Lakes Regional Park, Pavilion B2, Fort Myers. www.jewishfederationlcc.org
10 TUESDAY
BONE HOOK'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TROLLEY RIDE THROUGH VICTORIA PARK
7:30-9 p.m. View the holiday lights. Bone Hook, Naples. www.bonehookbrewing.com
HANUKKAH CELEBRATION
5:30-6:30 p.m. Celebrate and learn about the Festival of Lights.
Events featuring Santa are indicated with the Santa icon . We have done our best to ensure the accuracy of the information, but it is always a good idea to verify the details before you attend.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Owners and their canine companions compete for the most festive attire CJ's on the Bay, Marco Island. cityofmarcoisland.com
MERRY & MODERN: HOW THE MID-CENTURY SHAPED CHRISTMAS
2-3 p.m. Before the turn of the mid-century, Christmas was a celebration steeped in ancient traditions. Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples. www,colliermuseums.com
12 THURSDAY
TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY STROLL ON THIRD
5-8 p.m. Traditional Christmas carolers, sparkling lights and decorations, and more. Third Street South, Naples. www.thirdstreetsouth.com
13 FRIDAY
HOLIDAY EATS KIDS COOKING: GRINCHMAS POPCORN
6-7 p.m. Ages 6-12. Learn how to cook basic recipes with adult supervision. Everything is provided. Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, Naples. www.collierparks.com
NAPLES JINGLE BELLS BASH
6-8 p.m. Music, games, inflatables, photo opportunities, vendors, and more.
Golden Gate Community Center, Naples. www.collierparks .com
TUBA CHRISTMAS
6:30-7:30 p.m. A holiday-themed brass concert put on by local and national musicians. Sugden Plaza, Naples. www.naplesgov.com
6:15-8:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Christmas Carnival.” Naples City Dock, Naples. blacklabelmarinegroup.com
CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
5-8 p.m. Santa, shopping, live music. Shoppes at Vanderbilt, Naples. www.shopvanderbilt.com
COOKIES AND MILK WITH SANTA 9-11 a.m. Enjoy cookies and milk with Santa. Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples. www.collierparks.com
COWBOY CHRISTMAS
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Why did the cowboy decorate his Christmas tree with spurs?
Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch, Immokalee. www.colliermuseums.com
GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP
2-4 p.m. Build your own gingerbread house. One house per participant; all supplies provided. Immokalee Branch Library, Immokalee. www.collierlibrary.org
HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE & SUNSET CRUISE
5-8 p.m. Watch the MIACC Holiday Boat Parade and enjoy a gorgeous Naples sunset.
Pure Florida, Naples. www.purefl.com
MARCO ISLAND CHRISTMAS STREET PARADE
6:30-8:30 p.m. Floats, marching bands, music, costumes, candy, and Santa. San Marco Rd, Marco Island. www.cityofmarcoisland.com
SANTA MEET AND GREET
2-3 p.m. Photos with Santa, crafts, hot chocolate, cookies.
COOKIES AROUND THE WORLD WITH SANTA 10-11 a.m. Learn how kids around the world welcome Santa into their homes. Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples. colliermuseums.com
19 THURSDAY
HOLIDAY POPS WITH THE NAPLES PHILHARMONIC
7:30 p.m. Get in the holiday spirit and join the merriment. Artis—Naples, Naples. artisnaples.org
SANTA PAWS AT ROCK THE BLOCK
6:30-8:30 p.m. A special holiday edition of Rock the Block. Mercato, Naples. www.experiencemercato.com
21 SATURDAY
36TH ANNUAL MARCO ISLAND
CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE
6-9 p.m. Countless lights and garland grace vessels that travel up and down Marco River.
Marco Island Esplanade, Marco Island www.cityofmarcoisland.com
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy a delicious holiday-themed breakfast buffet featuring seasonal treats. YMCA of Collier County, Naples. www.ymcacollier.org
DECORATE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
6-9 p.m. Decorate cookies and enjoy the Holiday Nights lights.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers. www.edisonfordwinterestates.org
HOLIDAY BOAT-A-LONG & CHRISTMAS MOVIE
4-9 p.m. Live entertainment, food trucks, crafts, Santa Claus, and the boat parade. Four Freedoms Park, Cape Coral. www.capecoral.gov
HOLIDAY ON THE BAY 2024
3-7 p.m. Photos with Santa, Dickens Period Carolers, a festive snow show, shopping, and dining. The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples. www.venetianvillage.com
COOKIES AND MILK WITH SANTA
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Santa will fly in via helicopter at Mackle Park. Bring your Christmas list and enjoy cookies and milk. Mackle Park, Marco Island. www.cityofmarcoisland.com
MR. GLEN'S HOLIDAY SCIENCE SHOW
7-8:30 p.m. Humor, action, and high-quality educational content.
Norris Center, Naples. www.supersciencefl.com
26 THURSDAY
COMMUNITY CHANUKAH CELEBRATION
5-6 p.m. Experience a Menorah lighting ceremony, live entertainment, donuts, gelt, and more. Mercato, Naples. www.experiencemercato.com
29 SUNDAY
THE GREAT CHANUKAH STREET FAIR
3:30-6 p.m. The Chanukah fair includes rides, music, food, street performers and more. Cambier Park, Naples. www.naplespreschoolofthearts. com/chanuka-street-fair
MARCO ISLAND COMMUNITY CHANUKAH CELEBRATION
5:30-8:30 p.m. Candle lighting ceremony and Chanukah music and treats.
Jewish Congregation of Marco Island, Marco Island. www.marcojcmi.com
31 TUESDAY
NEW YEAR’S EVE COUNTDOWN SPECTACULAR 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy a fun dance party countdown and craft for all ages. Headquarters Library, Naples. www.collierlibrary.org
NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS
6-6:30 p.m. A fabulous display of fireworks off the Naples beaches. Naples Pier, Naples. www.fifthavenuesouth.com
NUMBERBLOCKS FIVE’S MUSICAL
SUPERSTAR STAGE
Join the lead singer of the band to count and sing along. This set comes with interactive lights, sounds and a spinning dance floor. $49.99, ages 2+, hand2mind.com
FIRST CRAFTS PETS CARNIVAL COLLAGE SENSORY CRAFT BOX
Bring creative fun to playtime with this unique set packed with beautifully illustrated crafts, colorful tactile materials to cut, paste and collage. Everything you need for endless creative projects—perfect for animal lovers. $34.99, ages 3+, barnesandnoble.com
KIDIZOOM
SMARTWATCH DX4
Features two cameras, highresolution screen, splashproof metal body, and fashionable watchband in a full-function smartwatch. Find AR monsters in the real world, compose music using instruments and sound effects, and play exciting movement games. $39.99, ages 4+, amazon.com
By
LEGO GRAVITY DROP
A fun mix of science, building, and creativity. Features 168 LEGO elements, a footand-a-half tall chipboard tower, and an engaging STEM instruction book. $28.52, ages 8+, amazon.com
OH MY PIGEONS!
A hilarious party game of fowl play where players fill their benches with adorable pigeon miniatures to prove you rule the roost. $19.99, ages 8+, amazon.com
SKY VIPER NOVA FX LIGHT DISPLAY DRONE
Features one-touch stunts, advance software, and 24 bright and color-changing RGB LED lights to illuminate the night sky. $49.99, ages 12+, amazon.com
Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards
Wintery Wonderlands and Holiday Lights
By Karen T. Bartlett
Most people have their own vision of a perfect winter wonderland. Mine, as a child of the subtropical South, was a snowy night in a tiny New England village as pictured on my grandmother’s glitter-sprinkled Christmas cards: cozy-lighted homes with frost on the windows and lighthouses twinkling with holiday lights. I saw this magical scene in person in my early twenties along the southern coast of Maine, and the cards did not lie. Two decades later, I found myself smack in the center of a different snowy landscape; this one fringed by ancient spruce, birch, and pine trees. As night fell, the greatest lightshow on Earth began, filling the vast sky with the swirling greens and purple lights of the aurora borealis. The place was Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, which now shares space with Maine in my winter wonderland dreams.
WHERE SANTA REALLY LIVES
Rovaniemi isn’t the scientific North Pole, but as true elves know, it’s the hometown of joulupukki (Santa Claus) 1,650 miles to the south in the center of the Arctic Circle. When he’s not sleighing around the globe in search of cookies and milk, the twinkly eyed old elf with the seriously long curly beard is a common sight there, trekking in the forest, zooming across the tundra on a bright red snowmobile, tending his reindeer at Santa’s Village, or reading his mail in his office in town. Among the coolest (literally) family activities are husky and reindeer safaris by sleigh and dogsled—with or without Santa, kid-friendly ice fishing tours, reindeer farm visits, and overnights in actual ice hotels and glass igloos. The spectacular light shows of the aurora borealis occur about 200 days a year, November to May. visitrovaniemi.fi
Rides and trees at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. Photo: hersheypark.com
Santa & Reindeer courtesy of visitromaniemi.com
FLORIDA’S VERY OWN ARCTIC
If a 5,000-mile flight to the North Pole isn’t yet in the cards, no worries. It’s just a three-hour drive to the 11th annual ICE! Experience at Florida’s very own Arctic, the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. It’s a freeeezing 9 degrees up there, so warm winter parkas are provided, but you’ll want to bring your own hat and gloves for the thrilling ice slides and tunnels. This year’s theme is the movie Elf, with up to 30-foot-high scenes carved from two million pounds of ice, depicting Buddy’s epic journey from the North Pole to New York City. Guests can sit beside Buddy in the Elf School classroom, see the Spirit of Christmas Cirque show with high-flying stunts and acrobats, decorate gingerbread cookies, sneak into Santa’s office to get your name off the naughty list in the Naughty and Nice Escape Room, lob snowballs from your own bucket of snow, and enjoy other experiences. christmasatgaylordpalms.marriott.com
TOP OF THE ROCK
For those lucky enough to be spending the holidays in New York City, the ice rink beneath the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a must-do, whether on skates or spectating. This year’s tree is 74 feet tall and wider than the length of a school bus. The 70th floor observation deck at the Top of the Rock offers spectacular views of Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more. The brand new Skylift rises like an elevator three stories above that, for a skin-tingling 360-degree revolving glass platform ride that takes only 14 people at a time. Lighted in gold most of the year, it’s a holiday spectacle of changing colors. rockefellercenter.com
LOBSTER TRAP TREES AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
As if Hallmark card perfection weren’t compelling enough, many clear, cold nights along Maine’s southern coast make ideal conditions for the aurora borealis. This lobster-rich coastline also has a time-honored tradition of lobster trap Christmas trees decorated with tinsel and colorful buoys. The world’s largest one (Guinness-certified) on Beals Island stands 60 feet tall and consists of 1,365 lobster traps plucked from the sea. The ones on Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport) and Rockland are topped with giant red lobsters. The Rockland lobster clutches a star in its claw. In Maine they come down the first week in January, but in quirky Provincetown, Massachusetts, its lobster trap tree, topped with a sparkling star made of buoys, hangs around until the first week in February.
HERSHEYPARK: THE SWEETEST PLACE ON EARTH
To many kids, the greatest winter wonderland happens when Pennsylvania’s largest amusement park lights up like a Christmas tree. Actually, a whole psychedelic forest of them. It’s currently up to five million lights, illuminating its nine roller coasters, Ferris wheel, and the 50-foot KISSmas Tree. An ooh-and ahh-worthy two-mile driving trail showcases 600 lighted, animated displays. Real live Hershey Kiss, Reese’s, Jolly Rancher and other candy characters stroll around decked out in their holiday best, and the whole park smells like cinnamon and chocolate. hersheypark.com
Are your kids passionate about being on stage?
At the Conservatory at Gulfshore Playhouse, we offer pre-professional training through exciting theatre productions, engaging classes, and funfilled camps for students of all ages.
Spots fill up quickly—register today! Visit GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG call 239-261-7529 for more information.
Gaylord Palms ICE! experience. Photo by Jared Porter
The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree dazzles. It's 74 feet tall and wider than the length of a school bus.
Wooden lobster trap tree at the Nubble Lighthouse, Cape Neddick, ME
Fostering Resilience
Navigating the Challenges of Welcoming Children in Need
By Anna Snyder
After years of wanting to grow our family, my husband and I prayerfully decided to open our home to vulnerable children in need of care through the foster system. Fortunately, our 10-year-old was on board and thrilled to open our home to as many children as possible! Interestingly, we’re almost six weeks into being officially approved by all organizations involved in the foster care licensing process and we have yet to welcome any children into our home. Much of this is circumstantial, certainly. We’ve gotten plenty of requests – phone calls, texts, and emails – about children in need of a safe home for a time. Here are a few key issues I didn’t really understand prior to becoming a foster family.
Complex and fluid situations. It is possible to say yes to a placement request and not actually welcome that child into our home. This happens for several reasons: a social worker may be able to find a foster family closer in proximity to where the child lives and attends daycare/school/etc. after they request placement from me. A social worker may find kinship or family
care for the child. A social worker may also be able to find a placement for an entire sibling group, and agencies rightly prioritize keeping sibling groups together.
An overworked and burdened system. Child welfare workers and social workers are extremely busy and may not be able to answer emails, phone
calls, or texts on my timeframe. This means I may not find out what happened in terms of a placement to whom we said “yes” initially.
Subsidized daycare constraints and difficult financial realities. The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) is yet another government-funded organization present in this process, which subsidizes daycare for foster children. Not every daycare facility accepts these funds. Additionally, there can be a two-week lag between applying for ELC funding and funding approval. During that time lag, foster families may need to provide private care for children not old enough for school.
Foster care placement regulations. If my family lives in a mandatory hurricane evacuation zone, and we have a foster child living in our home, we must evacuate.
A confusing web of many agencies. Our licensing agency (One More Child) does not place foster children. We receive requests for placement from a more centralized agency called Lutheran Services. It’s taken a bit of time to get a sense for the Lutheran Services team and how they process placements, and I’m still learning every day!
Impact on my child and managing disappointment and heartache. We now understand the difficult reality that we can’t necessarily tell our daughter about children who may be placed in our home until they show up at our door.
THE NEED IS GREAT
If these feel like reasons not to foster, please understand the need continues to grow. And the realities of life – of trauma – in a broken and hurting world demand our attention. There are at-risk and vulnerable children in need of compassion in our community. And even though we’ve experienced disappointment and frustration with the process, we’re still encouraged, still thrilled, still nervous to welcome children into our home. Our little family is learning and processing all these realities together,
praying and growing along the way.
Emanise Joseph, a placement specialist at Lutheran Services, encourages families to get involved in the system. “There is an urgent and growing need for foster homes in our community. Many children are waiting for loving families to welcome them, and the situation is becoming increasingly critical. These children are not just statistics; they are individuals who require care, support, and stability.” She challenges families in Southwest Florida: “Your home could provide the safe haven these children desperately need. The demand for foster families is rising, and we are in dire need of compassionate individuals who can make a real difference. If you can open your home to a child or sibling group, it could profoundly change their lives. Together, we could help these children find the love and support they deserve.”
A WAY FORWARD: FOSTER VILLAGE SWFL
Perhaps you – like me – are overwhelmed by logistics and schedules, work, and child care. The licensing process, placement system, and the realities of the ELC certainly contribute to the overwhelm, especially in the beginning stages of figuring out the child welfare system. There are people who want to help!
Heather Finocchiaro, a Southwest Floridian, started an organization designed to provide resources to foster families, alleviating burdens and enabling them to continue caring for “the least of these.” Foster Village SWFL’s mission is to come alongside children and families who are experiencing the foster care system to show them they are not alone. Finocchiaro points to burnout and lack of support: “Over 50% of foster parents will quit in their first year. We exist to bridge the gap between these families and the local community that wants to help. Having a village of support can be a sustaining factor for foster families. We provide for tangible needs, host fun family events, and offer
birthday parties for children in their care.”
I asked Heather what she might say to someone reticent to becoming a foster family because of the financial realities and tangible needs (diapers, car seats, food, beds, daycare application fees, etc.). “The tangible needs can be a large burden, and families are often not equipped and need tangible support to be able to care for these children. Foster Village SWFL is here to make sure you have everything you need once a child is placed in your care. We aim to remove as many barriers as possible to saying yes to kids who need a home.”
Finocchiaro’s passion for supporting foster families stems from her personal experience. “My husband and I were foster parents when our children were younger. We learned firsthand how isolating and lonely the journey can be. We felt like no one understood our family’s unique struggles or sacrifices. Amidst a cross-country move, our adoption of two teenagers fell apart. However, it was because of that move that we found Foster Village and wondered how different our experience would have been if we had the support of an organization like this.”
Finocchiaro’s story and insight reminds me that “foster” is both a verb and an
adjective. Yes, the word denotes an intentional relationship with non-related, vulnerable children in need of compassion and care. However, the verb “to foster” involves the development of something far greater than the sum of its parts. “Families who step up to foster children quickly learn their calling is to foster a family,” Finocchiaro shares. “These children are connected to a biological family of their own, and parents whose children enter the system often lack support. Seventy percent of child removal from homes is not due to abuse but from neglect. These biological parents are often struggling to navigate child rearing on their own, and foster families often bridge this gap, stepping in to help broaden the support available to struggling parents. It’s a beautiful thing when children can go home, which about half do, and not lose more people that love them, but gain an extended family. Everyone wins.”
I’d love for you to keep following along as I share about our first placement and stories from the child welfare system.
Neapolitan Family contributing writer Anna Snyder is sharing her family's foster parenting journey. To see the first intallment in this series, go to neafamily.com.
Foster Village warehouse where foster families can go and "shop."
Join the Neapolitan Family Baby Club
Are you expecting a baby, or are you the parent of a newborn through 24 months old? Our new Baby Club is for you! You’ll receive offers from local businesses and organizations when you join the baby club. Plus, you’ll receive monthly newsletter with important info for parents of babies.
FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OR VIEW THE JANUARY ISSUE FOR THE LINK TO SIGN UP neafamily.com
Keeping Holiday Toasts from Becoming Family Trouble
Many significant moments are often celebrated with a drink. But during the holidays, otherwise-celebratory toasts can be triggers for teenagers to try substances as well as for people who struggle with substance use disorder.
Some families and cultures have holiday traditions that lean heavily on alcohol consumption. Family recipes for festive cocktails and toasts before dinners reinforce the idea that consumption is part of connecting with loved ones and embracing holiday spirit.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States notes that a quarter of the $49-billion-a-year dis tilled spirits industry’s profits come from the month between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Another study notes that the average American drinks 27% more during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year.
As a result, the stress and anxiety associated with the holiday season can result in increased consumption or return to drug and alcohol use for those currently recovering. Many studies note that nearly half of individuals recovering will return to use during the holiday season.
The holiday season also presents an opportunity for teens and adolescents to venture into substance use. Some parents believe that allowing underage alco hol or substance use with supervision provides an element of safety. However, a teen’s undeveloped brain is a uniquely vulnerable environment. Research shows that allowing even a sip of alcohol for teens is related to poorer health outcomes and substance misuse later in life.
The prevalence of substances in celebrations often mixes badly with the elevated depression and stress the holidays can bring. Expectations for creating and experiencing holiday joy are at the center of potential substance use triggers.
When mixed with emotional turmoil, financial stress, loneliness, grief, nostalgia, and dysfunctional and complex family relation ships, this can create a desire to seek temporary escape from overwhelming feelings through substances.
One of the best ways for parents to protect children from devel oping substance use disorders is to model appropriate ways to cope with tough emotions besides turning to sub stances, including:
Using healthy outlets for stress and difficult emotions, such as exercise, talking with a friend, journaling, or meditation/prayer.
Communicating feelings and needs and listening to the needs of others, showing it is okay to have difficult feelings when you have a plan to manage those emotions.
By Phara Lafortune-Morame, LCSW, MCAP, EMDR cert., QS.
together, picking out a holiday tree, or driving around to enjoy holiday lights.
Prioritizing rest, movement, nourishment, hydration, and self-care.
Developing holiday traditions that do not involve substances, such as baking holiday cookies, watching holiday movies
Making sure your children know where you stand on underage drinking and that they can always call you if they need to be picked up from a situation where others are
During the holidays, the risk of substance use affects not only young people but also adults. In fact, substance use issues often ripple through the entire family, with parents and caregivers playing a critical role in modeling healthy coping mechanisms. Families affected by substance use disorder may face unique challenges during the holidays, as children of parents with substance use disorders are statistically more likely to develop these issues themselves.
For adults seeking support, Healthcare Network’s Primary Care Addiction Treatment program follows a supportive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental approach to encourage healing and lessen negative effects. The program treats every patient with respect and dignity, using empathetic language to reduce stigma and foster a supportive environment.
Healthcare Network offers medication for addiction treatment for opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and other substances within a primary care setting. Comprehensive care includes medication treatment along with behavioral therapy and counseling services to provide a whole-care approach to treating substance use disorders and support recovery.
In addition, our primary care programs for the whole family include integrated mental and behavioral health care to address some of the mental health challenges that are sometimes at the root of substance use
Help is available through the holidays and beyond. Supportive treatment can be the gift of a lifetime for you and your loved ones.
Phara Lafortune-Morame is associate clinical director of behavioral health at Healthcare Network. To learn more about substance use and behavioral and mental health support available at Healthcare Network, visit healthcareswfl.org or call 239-658-3000.
Give the Gift of Camp
If you’ve ever faced the whirlwind of Black Friday, unsure of how to outdo last year’s holiday gifts for your kids, you’re not alone. From chasing the latest games to keeping up with trends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But is there truly a perfect gift? Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life, reminds us that the best gifts are timeless: “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.”
As parents, we often feel the fleeting nature of time. With just 18 summers to cherish with our children, it’s no wonder I’m frequently asked as a camp director, “Is sending my child to sleepaway camp really necessary?” My answer is always a heartfelt, resounding YES! Sleepaway camp is the most valuable gift my parents gave me, and it’s one my husband and I are proud to give to our children. While this gift requires a personal sacrifice for us as parents, it’s an investment that fosters positive role models, personal growth, and priceless
By Melissa Fitzgerald
mersive, hands-on environment, where kids tackle challenges, experience joys, and navigate setbacks—away from parental oversight (but not without counselor oversight, which is much cooler. Sorry, Mom and Dad!). It’s a unique space for building self-reliance and learning to thrive in a supportive community. Campers return home not just with new memories and life skills but with pride in the confidence they’ve gained from doing life “on their own.”
In a high-tech world, camp stands out as a low-tech, high-impact experience. It’s an antidote to the distraction of smartphones, video games, and the pressure of social media, offering authentic friendships, laughter, and personal growth. Whether overcoming homesickness or mastering a ropes course, these moments forge lifelong confidence and character. These experiences help children understand that they are capable of growth and perseverance.
Camp isn’t just a gift for your children, it’s a gift for you as well. In today’s world, where young people are increasingly anxious, many
parents feel unprepared to navigate these challenges. As parents, camp equips us with a powerful tool to nurture confident, independent, and resilient kids.
Years from now, children won’t reminisce about the gadgets they had but about the experiences that shaped them. This year, when considering what to give the special children in your life, think of summer camp. It’s more than a gift—it’s a transformative experience that lasts a lifetime.
And remember: unlike toys, camp doesn’t break. It only gets better with time!
Melissa Fitzgerald is owner and director of Camp Highlander.
Photo courtesy of Camp Highlander
Bridging the Silence
Fifth Grader Embraces Sign Language to Help a Classmate
By Andrea Stetson
Dayla Velazquez Gongora quickly moves her hands and fingers as she asks her classmate Matthew Yescas about his favorite subjects in school. The fifth graders at Lavern Gaynor Elementary School in Golden Gate became close friends after Dayla began a personal mission to learn American Sign Language. Now, she often helps interpret for Matthew when the school interpreters are not there and helps him interact with others.
It all began last year when Lavern Gaynor became a cluster school for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“Dayla became very interested in how students were signing, and she learned there were apps where she could learn signing,” said Principal Susan Jordan. “She worked on it over the summer, and when she came back as a fifth grader, Dayla was able have actual conversations.”
The school currently has nine students who are deaf or hard of hearing. All around the hallways and classrooms, there are posters in sign language. Jordan said some students learned simple signs like thank you, but Dayla, who already spoke both English and Spanish, was the only student on a personal quest to learn ASL.
Dayla Velazquez Gongora learned sign language to better interact with her classmate Matthew Yescas, who is hard of hearing. Photos by Andrea Stetson.
“When I found out that we were going to have a hard-of-hearing student, I wanted to learn to communicate with people who can’t hear,” Dayla explained. “Matthew’s interpreter helped me start with some signs, and then she encouraged me to start using the app ASL Bloom.”
Now, she knows more than 200 words. One morning, Matthew’s aide was unavailable during a physical education class, so Dayla stepped in to assist.
“When the PE teacher was talking, I signed for Matthew and told him everything the teacher was saying and the rules of the games, and he understood,” Dayla said.
NOT SO SI m PL e
Learning ASL is not as simple as teaching words, according to Monica Lorenz, an exceptional student education resource teacher and team leader at Lavern Gaynor.
“American Sign Language is not just signed English,” Lorenz explained. “There is not a sign for each word. Their syntax is different. It is a completely different language with its rules and grammar.”
Lorenz is proud of Dayla’s success in learning the language, but she is even more impressed with her drive to help others.
“Dayla just has a really big heart,” Lorenz said. “She has gone through so much as a person, and I have seen her grow so much. She found that
Learning ASL is not as simple as teaching words, according to Monica Lorenz, an exceptional student education resource teacher and team leader at Lavern Gaynor.
this is something she could do that helped her interact with more people.”
Learning sign language has also expanded Dayla’s horizons.
“School can be hard for her, but she doesn’t have to be really good at reading or math to be good at this,” Lorenz explained. “Her own purpose has grown. It really warmed my heart because she did not know what she wanted to do when she grew up, and now she wants to be an ASL interpreter. Her natural ingrained desire to help people has come to fruition and she sees a future in it. She now has a drive that was not there before.”
Dayla hopes to one day be a sign language interpreter in a local school.
Matthew wants to be a math teacher. But for now, the two fifth graders are glad to have this special friendship.
Dayla and Matthew chat about everything from their favorite school subjects to their teachers to about whether a homework assignment is easy or difficult.
“We talk about his best friend who is in middle school and we play on the playground. I love when he laughs. He is so funny,” Dayla said.
“I like to chat with Dayla,” Matthew said through his interpreter. “She will ask me what a sign is, and I will teach her ASL and she learns from me. We talk about signs and we play in the playground.”
Matthew says Dayla is different from other hearing students who try to interact with him.
“Other students will try to finger spell some words, and a few students will try to sign, but Dayla signs and is able to chat with me,” he said. “She is really easy to teach. She learns very fast. She is a good signer.”
“When asked what prompted her to start this journey, Dayla shared that she wants to be the best friend possible for her deaf peers,” Principal Jordan explained. “Dayla has demonstrated both leadership and kindness here as a student at Lavern Gaynor Elementary School.”
