2 | Family Living at Its Best At Laurel, girls are leaders in the classroom, on the field and on the stage. Through a demanding academic curriculum informed by our Center for Research on Girls, our unparalleled public- speaking coursework and our beyond- the- classroom experiences, girls at Laurel lead every day. Come see how Laurel girls lead. K- Grade 12 Open House October 6 , 5: 00 - 7: 00 pm R SVP today! Call 216.464.0946 or visit LaurelSchool.org /OpenHouse JOIN US FOR OUR Dream. Dare. Do.SHA K ER HE I GHTS I RUSSELL TOW NS HI P I est. 1 8 96 Laurel girls today. Leaders tomorrow.
4 | Family Living at Its Best 06 EDITOR’S NOTE Getting Closer 08 WORTH NOTING Learn about social emotional learning and back to school lunch tips from a pediatric dietitian. Plus, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month coverage preview and more! 10 EDUCATION We talk about how to make plans to invest in your child’s education. 12 OPEN HOUSES Looking for a school? Find times to visit this fall. 12 SPECIAL NEEDS Find some sensoryfriendly events for kids. 53 FAMILY CALENDAR Kid-friendly things to do this September including storytimes, after school and weekend events. 58 DAD MATTERS Jason Lea, our Dad columnist, explains why parents should give to themselves once in a while. departments 14 FAMILY NIGHT AT THE THEATER Some advice on how to manage your child’s first live performance outing. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDE Get your kids ready for reading, book suggestions, choosing a school and more! Plus, Elementary Guide school listings on pg. 38 NortheastOhioParent.comSeptember insiDE ON THE COVER: #School Life means getting back to learning, lunches and after school fun. We were at Hawken School in Lyndhurst with siblings Austin, 6, and Chloe, 11. PHOTO BY KIM KIMSTAHNKEPHOTOGRAPHY.COMPHOTOGRAPHYSTAHNKE features STARTINGAFTERPAGE31 19 COMMUNITYAURORAFOCUS Find out why people love to live and play in this town nestled in Portage County. 25 SEASONAL SLICE Fall brings cravings for apples and pumpkins, try these family treats. Plus, check out our Fall Fun Calendar on page 28. n 46 SCHOOL PROFILES Learn about these schoolsdifferentintheirownwords.
6 | Family Living at Its Best Editor's NOTE
OFFICE
Proud member of ParentingAssociationMedia 20212021 2021
back-to-school
Janyse Heidy, janyse@northeastohioparent.com330-671-3886 Michelle Vacha, michelle@northeastohioparent.com440-463-0146 Sherrie Kantarovich, sherriek@northeastohioparent.com216-299-5455
CONSULTANT
It’s that time of year, our social media pages are filled with first day of school pictures. No matter where you are in parenthood, most likely, you will see various ages, from kindergarten to senior year of high school.Ican’t help thinking of the beginning of the end, as one parent put it. With each passing year of our kids, we start to see it— they get taller, less childlike and then soon, driving off in our cars.
• ISSUE NO. 8
september 2022
PUBLISHER - Brad Mitchell brad@northeastohioparent.com330-714-7712
ART DIRECTOR - Sherry Lundberg sherry@northeastohioparent.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR - Georgia Lattas georgia@northeastohioparent.com
Northeast Ohio Parent is a property of PO Box 1088 Hudson, OH 44236
PHOTOGRAPHYPRELUDEBYPHOTO
That’s why, when we decided to do these four education guides — our next ones will be October (Middle School) and November (High School) — we wanted to focus on each of those stages. This month is elementary school, and one of the biggest milestones for your child is reading, we cover its importance. Also, there’s a lot of decisions on where you want your kids to start their educational journey. We provide the ins and outs of private vs. public school. I currently have one in each, a middle schooler who just started at a private academy and a high schooler who is working his way through public school. Honestly, the choice wasn’t easy, but we did it based on our sons’ learning styles and needs. So, don’t listen to the naysayers in your life, do what’s best for you and your family. There is something else in the air — fall season. I will likely complain in November about the colder temperatures, but I am itching to put on my warm sweaters and scarfs. I’m sick of my air conditioned life, and want to get outside in the cool air. If you are the same — and want to relish in the seasonal treats and festivities, we have something for everyone.
Getting Closer
I also want to let you know about our social media platforms. We welcomed Shana O’Malley-Smith, the new digital/managing editor this summer. While our goal has always been to connect with you digitally, we want to make sure to expand our offerings visual ly, from more videos, photos and highlighting places you, readers, love to go. Follow our Instagram (@neohioparent) and Facebook (Facebook.com/NEOhioParent) for everything we cover all month long. Finally, I have some word-of-advice, for those who are in the beginning, elementary school, it goes fast. Take every opportunity that arises, and teach your kids the same — whether it’s learning, volunteering, or participating in new adventures. Especially now, as some kids and parents have missed out on a few things due to the pandemic. And, while it’s season, I think it’s also back-to-fun for families in these special milestones.
MANAGING/DIGITAL EDITORShana O’Malley-Smith shana@northeastohioparent.com
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DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST/ SALES - Samantha Olp, 330-636-6127, northeastohioparent.comsam@ MANAGER: Kathleen Mitchell, kathleen@northeastohioparent.com440-533-1208 Lipps, 440-724-0559 info@northeastohioparent.comVOL.NO.9
Yvonne Pelino, yvonne@northeastohioparent.com440-971-0595
Every grade is special, but for parents of middle schoolers and high schoolers, it feels like we are getting closer to our empty nests.
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EVENTS MANAGER: Lilia
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
L earning to work together, manage emotions, and make good choices are just as important for students’ success as academic skills. That’s why many schools incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into their curriculum.
Connecting for Kids offers education and support to families in Northeast Ohio with concerns about their child. Fitch suggests checking out podcasts on their website that cover topics like growth mindset, anxiety, and positive play.
By Lydia Mockensturm Worth NOTING
SEL AT HOME Stencil adds that parents and caregivers can reinforce SEL at home by modeling and expecting good social-emotional skills. “We want to build relational trust,” he says. “That’s so important. We want to build in cooperative problem solving — that we don’t do things to people or for them, we do it with them. Model what you expect, choose good attitudes, and be present when people are talking.”Butteaching SEL to your children doesn’t need to be all business. “Celebrate good things,” Stencil says. “An important aspect of social-emotional learning that people don’t al ways look at is just having fun with each other.”
“SEL is the process where both children and adults develop fundamental social and emo tional competencies,” says Bill Stencil, executive director of the Humanware/SEL department in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. According to Stencil, these competencies help us to manage our emotions, achieve goals, empathize with others, maintain positive rela tionships, and make responsible choices.
OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
He adds Cleveland schools base their SEL curriculum around the five core competen cies from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.“Allofthosethings combined really are the underpinnings of what you want to have happen through social-emotional learning,” Stencil says. In Cleveland, classroom teachers model and promote empathy along with teaching formal SEL curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade. Stencil says that this can help to counter bullying and reduce instances of violence.Aschool shooting in 2007 led to increased safety measures in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, including metal detectors, additional security, and an SEL initiative they call“ToHumanware.reallymake a difference, we need to change attitudes,” Stencil says. “To make our schools safe, we have both hardware and ‘humanware.’”Butremote learning during the pandemic made it difficult to incorporate SEL at a time when students needed it. “When we were out for remote learning, that was a big empty spot,” Stencil says. “Social skills are just like academic skills — if they’re not used, practiced, or observed, they weaken.”
The Avon Lake Public Library and the Avon and Domonkas branches of the Lorain Public Library System offer SEL kits for families with young children. The libraries began offering these kits in 2021, a year into the pandemic and remote learning for some students.“Thekits include picture books to read aloud, info sheets with local support resources, and games or toys focused on topics like anger, grief, fear, anxiety, mindfulness, and empathy,” says Sybil Wendling, public services manager at Avon Lake Public Library. But Wendling says that SEL has always been a part of the library’s programs for children.“Our storytime programs are often the first social experience that a very young child has,” she says. “They learn self-management and social awareness all while listening to stories together.”KarlaFitch, creative director at Connecting for Kids, encourages parents and caregivers to take advantage of these local resources for families.“You’ve probably heard that parents and other primary caregivers are their children’s first teachers,” Fitch says. “Teaching social-emo tional learning can be as easy as teaching the ABCs when you have the right resources.”
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is September
“You want to make sure you’re getting all the different food groups for lunch,” says Evelyn Benden, pediatric registered dietitian for Cleveland Clinic Children’s.
— Georgia Lattas and Angela Gartner
According to the American Cancer Society, “About 10,470 children in the U.S. 15 and younger will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades. After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. About 1,050 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2022.”
STAHNKEKIMBYPHOTO
Currently, 343,490 children are enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, which means 48% of eligible children between birth to age 5 years old are enrolled in the program, according to the State of Ohio new release. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio was established in 2019, and became available to all families—regardless of the zip code—for free in November 2020.” Visit ohioimaginationlibrary.com for more information.
Dolly Parton, the famed country musician, was in Ohio last month to celebrate the “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.” The book gifting program mails free books to children from birth to age 5 in participating areas. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available in Cleveland, University Heights, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Avon Lake, Rocky River, and Hudson, among many other Northeast OhioPartoncities.created the library in 1995 in Tennes see, as she was inspired by her father who was illiterate.
“So packing fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy. A lot of times we’re just packing a sandwich and chips or something like that,” she says adding, what your child eats really does matter, especially since it can affect their energy and ability to concentrate.
Check NortheastOhioParent.com this month as we provide resources, talk about childhood cancer awareness and share stories of families in the region.
So how can you make something that’s quick and easy, but also nutritious?
“So maybe the foods that are harder, have home at dinner or on the weekends and pick things that you know they’re able to eat.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Their lunches don’t have to be elaborate. She said simple things like whole wheat crackers, deli meat, low-fat cheese and yo gurt are all good options. You could also give them chicken, hard boiled eggs, hummus, beans, mixed nuts, carrots, apple slices or a peeled clementine. When it comes to cafeteria lunches, she said schools normally have to follow certain nutritional guidelines, which is good. But, it doesn’t hurt to look at meals ahead of time, so you can tell your child what foods to pick and what to avoid. “You don’t want to put things in their lunch that they really don’t like because they’re defi nitely not going to eat them,” Benden says.
Lunchtime: Pack it Up
#
— my.clevelandclinic.org
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 9
The new school year has finally arrived and that means it’s time for parents to start pack ing lunches again, which can feel like a chore. Especially this school year, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) national program for free school lunches ended for the 2022-23 school year, which means only eligible students who qualify will receive free or reduced-price meals.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE While it is important to do independent research by looking at tuition prices on the school’s website, do not get discouraged or eliminate a school based on what is displayed online. Talk to the admissions team and see what tuition assistance is available and what payment options are viable. “But just like any high school or college around, the tuition is just one piece,” says Patti Walcutt, incoming CFO for St. Igna tius High School. “Sometimes usually there are merit scholarships. If you live in the city of Cleveland, there’s a voucher program that you can use to attend a private school. There’s also a program called EdChoice that families can utilize.” Be sure to research different programs that can help pay for your child’s education. The Cleveland Scholarship Program and The EdChoice Program provides students from designated public schools the opportunity to aving for Your Child’s
10 | Family Living at Its Best E stablishing financial literacy skills such as how to effectively budget and plan for your child’s schooling is important in ensuring your child re ceives the best education possible. Research ing different payment options that best fit your financial situation can allow for your child to attend an institution that is both an environmental fit and can help your family budget for other school-related necessities.
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10 | Family Living at Its Best
TAKE NOTE OF WHAT TUITION DOESN’T COVER Along with tuition prices, other outside fees such as sports, activities and technol ogy, that may impact a family’s decision as to whether or not they can afford to enroll their child in a potential school. Be sure to research and determine what outside fees are necessary and what the school provides for their“Findstudents.outif the school provides all school supplies, if lunch is included, if a uniform is required, if technology and devices are pro vided, if transportation is provided, etc,” Haffke says. “Really dive into the details of what exactly is included in tuition and what is not included in tuition. In the research phase, knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you can plan for and the more that won’t be a surprise.” By shadowing at a school, potential stu dents can learn more information from cur rently-enrolled students about what outside expenses are not covered within tuition. “One of the benefits of shadowing at a school is it gives a connection between the student and the school that’s informal,” says Aundria Hawkins, vice president of re cruitment & admissions at Saint Martin de Porres High School. “A really good question parents should be asking is what is their fi nancial investment in materials and supplies that their student is going to need on a dayto-day basis? If that student has a connec tion to a student that attends that school, that student can tell them in ninth grade, we needed this, in 10th grade we needed this, etc. So that shadow day is going to be really important.”
PLAN TO SAVE “Budgeting for school is important be cause making an investment in your child’s education is really essential,” says Julie Haffke, director of admissions and enroll ment management at Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights.“It really pays off and makes a wonderful impact.” Saving up for your child’s education is al ways important, whether you are enrolling them in middle school, high school, or col lege.There are options available, such as an Ohio’s 529 saving plan, which is an invest ment account that offers tax benefits when used to pay for education expenses for a spe cific beneficiary. A plan can be used to pay for kindergarten all the way through college. “Another option that helps families save up for school is setting aside a lump sum of money,” Haffke says. “Anytime there is per haps a lump sum that they receive, whether it’s a tax refund or a bonus from work, it’s helpful for families to set aside that lump sum and not count on it to pay for their daily expenses. Use that lump sum to start build ing up equity or building up savings for a po tential school.”
FUTURE INVESTING AND BUDGETING TIPS FOR ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION
“Start with your child and their specif ic needs because just going to a school for namesake doesn’t always meet the needs of the individual student,” Hawkins says. “So it starts with thinking through what your child is interested in and what their personality type is. If your student is coming from a very small middle school, and is an introverted student, they may want to look for a smaller high school. Some schools may not have the resources and all of the support services that a child may need. If a child has an Individu al Education Plan, or if they have a special learning need, that should be considered.”
Before enrolling your child in an institu tion, it is important to understand the differ ence among private schools, public schools, and independent schools and the costs as sociated with each so families can make the appropriate choice for their child. “With public schools, you are able to register and enroll into whatever the local public school district is without paying a tui tion, but know that you are paying with your property taxes,” Haffke says. “In Cleveland, we have our public schools, parochial schools and independent schools. We do have some faith-based schools that are independent but are not what we would call parochial because the parochial schools have a diocese connec tion.”Charter schools are schools that receive government funding but operate inde pendently of the state school system. A pri vate school does not receive public funding from its state government whereas an in dependent school is overseen by a board of governors or trustees. A parochial school is run by a church, is private, but not indepen dent. Just as funding varies among schools, so does“Wecost.encourage our families to support their students in that GPA requirement be cause getting an academic scholarship not only helps pay for tuition, but it also helps pay for uniforms, for more college experi ences, and for their college expenses once they’re accepted to college,” Hawkins says.
Having a checklist of questions prepared before meeting with an admissions team can be very helpful. Asking friends, family, coaches, pediatricians and other community members for recommendations on where to enroll their child can also help parents decide what is the best fit for their child.
Haffke highlights that ultimately the en rollment team at any school is there to help families make the best decision for their child.“There are so many wonderful school op tions here in Cleveland,” Haffke says. “We’re investing in your child and the family is in vesting in us. We are really just here to help and make sure your child receives the best education possible.”
❝One of the benefits of shadowing at a school is it gives a connection between the student and the school that’s informal.❞ — Aundria Hawkins, vice president of recruitment & admissions at Saint Martin de Porres High School
PRIVATE, PUBLIC OR CHARTER SCHOOL?
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 11 attend participating private schools. Research what options are available for your family. “I would encourage families to start early,” says Richard Klingshirn, CFO for St. Igna tius High School. “So if families are looking at a private high school for ninth grade, start to research when your child is in sixth or seventh grade. Start discussions about the financial aid process with potential schools.” Deciding which school is the best fit for your child is challenging and can be stressful. Be sure to consider all factors of the school before deciding, and not simply because it meets your financial means.
Open house events are an ideal way for parents and students to ask questions, meet faculty and see if a particular school is the right fit. Private and other schools across Northeast Ohio offer families many opportunities to visit their campuses. Check the following schools in the Greater Cleveland area for open houses and private tours during the 2022-23 school year. Before attending an open house, please check the school’s website for event registration or RSVP requirements and to verify times and dates of in-person open houses. Also, any health guidelines for visitors.
12 | Family Living at Its Best
HIGHBENEDICTINESCHOOL 2900 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Cleveland, cbhs.net Oct. 5: 5 p.m. Nov. 13: 11 a.m. GLOBAL (GALA)LANGUAGEAMBASSADORSACADEMY
MONTESSORIRUFFING SCHOOL 3380 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, ruffingmontessori.net216-321-7571, Nov. 12 SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 6923 Stow Road, Hudson setoncatholicschool.org330-342-4200, Nov. 13: 2-4 p.m. SAINT IGNATIUS High School 1911 West 30th St., Cleveland 216-651-0222, ignatius.edu Sept. 25: Noon-4 p.m. ST.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL Hunting Valley Campus (Grades 9-12) 2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting 216-831-2200,Valleyus.edu Oct. 18: 8:30-11 a.m. Nov. 6: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Shaker Heights Campus (Junior Kindergarten-Grade 8) 20701 Brantley Road, Shaker 216-321-8260,Heightsus.edu Nov. 6: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. VILLA ANGELA-ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL 18491 Lakeshore Blvd., Cleveland 216-481-8414, vasj.com Oct. 9 & Nov. 3
13442 Lorain Ave., Cleveland 216-315-7942, gala-prek8.org Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12: 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 15: 5-6:30 p.m.
HAWKEN SCHOOL Lower & Middle Schools 5000 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 440-423-4446, hawken.edu Nov. 20: 1 p.m. Upper School 12465 County Line Road, Gates 440-423-4446,Mills hawken.edu Nov. 6: 1 p.m. Birchwood School of Hawken 4400 W. 140th St., Cleveland 216-251-2321, birchwoodschool.org Oct. 23: 2 p.m. Mastery School 11025 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland 440-423-4446, hawken.edu Nov. 13: 1 p.m. HERSHEY MONTESSORI Upper SchoolHuntsburg Campus 11530 Madison Road, Huntsburg Twp., hershey-montessori.org440-636-6290, Oct. 10, Nov. 14: 9-11 a.m. (Visitors’ Day) Nov. 16: 7-8 p.m. (Virtual Info Session) Lower School - Concord Campus 10229 Prouty Road, Concord Twp. hershey-montessori.org440-357-0918, Sept. 17: 1-2:15 or 2:30-3:15 p.m. (Info Session/Tour) Oct. 12, Nov. 9: 9-11 a.m. (Open House) iSTEM 1800 Mentor Ave., Painesville 440-898-3283, istemghs.org Oct. 23: Noon-2 p.m. (grades 6-12)
JULIE BILLIART SCHOOLS Akron 380 Mineola Ave., Akron 330-333-5280,juliebilliartschool.org Sept. 1: 6 p.m. & Nov. 10: 9 a.m. Lyndhurst 4982 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 216-381-1191, juliebilliartschool.org Oct.13: 9:00 a.m. & Dec. 12: 6 p.m. Westlake Campus 3600 Crocker Road, Westlake juliebilliartschool.org440-471-4150, Sept. 8: 9 a.m. & Nov. 8: 6 p.m.
500 Mull Avenue, West Akron stsebastian.org/school330-836-9107, Nov. 18: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Kindergarten Explorer Day)
FALL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES
DayPARISHSEBASTIANSCHOOLSchool(K-8)
Submit your open house to us openhouse@northeastohioparent.comat:
PADUA FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL 6740 State Road, Parma paduafranciscan.com440-845-2444, Oct 16: 1-4 p.m. Oct. 17: 6-8 p.m.
PICK-A-DAY
MONDAY-THURSDAY Flight. Preschool alternative that focuses on social skills, fine motor, sensory, and more. 9:30 a.m.noon. Reaching New Heights, 6960 South Edgerton Road, Brecksville, reachingnewhts.com TUESDAYS Special Sport. Ice skating for those with disabilities. 5:30-6:15 p.m. 9/13-10/25. Mentor Ice Area, 8600 Munson Road, mentoricearena.comMentor, FRIDAYS Friendship Fridays. Ages 3-8 learn to play and make friends. 9-11 a.m. Above All Therapy, 5425 Warner Road, Suite 3A, Valley View, abovealltherapy.com DAY-BY-DAY 9/10 Special Needs Fishing Derby. Exclusively for individuals with special needs. 10 a.m.-1 pm. Sippo Lake Marina, 5300 Tyner St., Canton, starkparks.com 9/11 Learn Sign Language. No ex perience needed. Children are welcome. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Great Northern Mall, 4954 Great Northern Mall, North greatnorthernohio.comOlmsted, 9/16-18 Rotary Camp Respite Weekend. A great way for a first-time camper to gain a short overnight experience. 6 p.m.-10 a.m. 4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, gotcamp.org 9/26 Deaf Gathering. Open social hour for deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing people. 6:30 p.m. Cov entry Village Branch Library, 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org 10/11 Adapted Plant Planet. Ages 5+ come for a fun fall program. 5-6:30 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, lakemetroparks.comKirtland, 10/22 Family Fun Fair and Exceptionalities Expo. Trunk or treat, food, goodie bags and more. Noon-3 p.m. The Church at Silver Lake, 2951 Kent Road, Silver Lake, mcbdd.org
Special Needs Events
MONDAY & TUESDAY Funday Group. Designed to help 8-11 year olds manage their social skills. Times vary. The Center for LifeSkills, 6325 Cochran Road, Solon, center4lifeskills.com
Adapted Dance. Designed for ages 13+ with disabilities. 4-4:45 p.m. 9/12-10/17. The Fine Arts As sociation, 38660 Mentor Ave., Wil loughby, fineartsassociation.org
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THROUGH 10/26 ReelAbilities Film Festival. Promotes awareness of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. 6:30 p.m. Locations vary. summitdd.org
MONDAYS Management for Independent Living Enrichment Program. For teens transitioning into indepen dent living. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Peak Potential Therapy, 7689 Sag amore Hills Blvd., peakpotentialtherapy.comNorthfield,
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com
&MONDAYWEDNESDAY Swimming with Autism. Learn water safety, water entry and exit, breath control and more. 6, 6:30, 7 or 7:30 p.m. Kohl Family YMCA, 477 E. Market St., autismakron.orgAkron,
14 | Family Living at Its Best
Taking your child to the theater: Tips to attend a liveByperformanceShanaO’Malley-Smith Raise the September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 15
PICK AN AGE-APPROPRIATE SHOW W hen picking the first live performance for your child to attend, look for shows that are age and developmentally appropriate.“Thesewill be shows where they may best understand
Watch a movie together and treat it like a live show with dimmed lights, snacks if that will be done in the theater... “ the plot, follow the story or, at the very least, be engaged by all that is occurring on stage,” says Ed Gallagher, director of education at Beck Center for the Arts. “Of course, show length matters and finding a pro duction with a duration and content that holds a child’s attention span will be Someimportant.”showshave age range recommendations on their descriptions and some shows may not allow children under a certain age to attend. “Start your kids with a show aimed specifically at children - particu larly something that has one or more child actors or familiar characters - and then work up from there,” suggests Drew Rothman, actor and digital media volunteer at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Children’s shows are produced to keep the younger audience’s atten tion and may be shorter in length, allow for more breaks or even be interactive with singing or dancing in your seat. Children may also be encouraged to dress up or wear a t-shirt with a character from the show.
16 | Family Living at Its Best 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 T h e a t r e s e a s o n 38660 Mentor Avenue Willoughby OH fineartsassociation org C a l l 4 4 0 - 9 5 1 - 7 5 0 0 x 2 o r f i n e a r t s a s s o c i a t i o n . o r g For tickets
PREPARE FOR THE SHOW AT HOME
G et your child excited for the big performance by talking about the show beforehand and practicing how to behave in the “Gettheater.toknow the show,” Gallagher says. “Learn as much as possible, read about it and talk about it. If it’s a musical, listen to the music ahead of time. Find some video clips that may be available to set the stage.”
The lights. The music. The action. Taking in a live theatrical performance with your child will create a cherished memory and lay the foundation for a life-long love of live performances. Like most outings with children, it’s good to know what to expect and plan ahead before you attend your first show. Here’s a few tips to help make sure your first trip to the theater is a positive one.
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 17
children.“Youmay
MY CHILD LOVED IT! NOW WHAT? I
“The other thing to mention - possibly one of the most import ant is that theater is for everyone, Rothman adds. “I started acting when I was in kindergarten and I made lots of great friends through theater in my life. I even met my wife that way! So, when kids are watching a show, they should know that they can do it too. Storytelling is in our nature as humans, and there will always be a place on the stage for those who want to get in on the act.”
“ It's worth reminding kids that, unlike TV, the actors can see and hear the audience too, so clapping appreciatively with the rest of the audience is just as important as not distracting the performers.”
“Parents can emphasize that, like school, you'll be surrounded by other people who are also trying to watch and listen, so being quiet and still is kind and helpful,” Rothman adds. “It's also worth reminding kids that, unlike TV, the actors can see and hear the audience too, so clapping appreciatively with the rest of the audience is just as import ant as not distracting the performers.”
here’s a lot of hustle and bustle before the show starts — from parking to getting your tickets and snacks, browsing merchandise, using the restroom and finding your seat. “The kids should be told about all that happens pre-show as it can be overwhelming for a small child and it can be a lot to navi gate for some adults, too,” Gallagher says. Before the show starts, remind children that others will be enjoying the show too so conversations, using the restroom and walking around need to happen during intermission.
18 | Family Living at Its Best
f you think you have a future thespian on your hands, you can encour age your child to take center stage.
T
Let you child know it will be dark and there could be loud sounds, smoke or other theatrical special effects.
For parents, it’s a good idea to check out the venue’s website to see photos of the space, get parking info, see what type of concessions are offered and if booster seats are available. You can also contact customer service to ask about bringing your own snacks or sippy cups for small also want to know what times the doors open to the main lobby and when the doors open to the theater. That may help you to best prepare if you want to arrive early or just prior to the posted curtain time,” Gallagher adds. He also suggests finding a night at home to “practice” going to the theater.“Watch a movie together and treat it like a live show with dimmed lights, snacks if that will be done in the theater, and sitting quietly, applauding and staying seated until the intermission or end of the per formance,” he says. “Prepare as much as possible – this is an exciting adventure, make it a full experience in preparation, during the experi ence, and afterwards to reflect about what took place.”
ATTENDING THE BIG SHOW
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 19 AURORA Why residents stay in this family-friendly town in Portage County SWEET LIFE Why Families Love It ADVENTURES IN TOWN Here’s 25 Things-to-Do NURTURING ROOTS Schools Share Vision C OMMU N I T Y FOCU S Aurora
Megan loves to cook, and she enjoys making dishes such as Cornflake chicken and Greek pasta salad, which was mastered from a family recipe. On the weekends, The Sweets spend time with family, and they appreciate any opportunity to get together.
“It’s comfortable here and we’ve always felt at home,” she says. “We know everybody, and it’s just great. We have a lot of cookouts at our house.” FAMILY THEIR LOVE By Ginny McCabe
The family attends Parkside Church.
TheLifeSweetin Aurora THE SWEET
A s natives of Aurora, Megan and Hobie Sweet chose to stay where they have decades of roots to raise their young family. In the commu nity, they feel comfortable and at home, they know everybody by name and with extended family close by, they have built a foundation for years to come.
“I’ve taken our girls to the library for story time, where they read them stories, “ she says. “Aurora Farms Premium Outlets is always fun. You can make a whole day out of shopping. Then, there’s Aurora’s Sunny Lake Park, which is awesome, especially with kids. The dog park and the Aurora Splash Pad are really fun. “ “There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, all over, which is really nice, and a lot of them are more upscale, which is more my speed,” she adds. “I enjoy being able to go out to a nice dinner, and it is not too expensive.”
Community Focus : Aurora PhotocourtesyoftheSweetfamily .
SHARES
Two big things that have kept the family in Aurora are the schools and immediate family, Megan adds. They moved to a neighborhood that consists of young families and there are two parks nearby. They live close to shopping and dining at a variety of restaurants. “What’s cool about the housing over here, too, is they were all vacation homes for the Geauga Lake amusement park itself, years ago, so they are older style homes, which is great,” Megan says. Founded in 1799, Aurora’s rich history mixes rural charm with modern-day ame nities. The line-up of upcoming communi ty-wide events, from a concert and a classic car show to the fall festival and trunk-or-treat, keep families active and engaged with what’s happening in the area. The whole family enjoys golf, and they spend some of their free time golfing at local clubs like Club Walden, which is one of their favorites.Asacouple in their early 30’s, the Sweets spend the majority of their time raising their three young children – Mia, 8, who plays soccer and participates in gymnastics, Madison, 2, and the family recently welcomed a newborn son, also named Hobie. “I think I’m most proud that Hobie and I have learned where our strengths and weak nesses are as a team, together, so we’ve been able to figure out who should be in charge of what,” she says. “Our daily lives are sometimes stressful, but we have a good grasp on who does what part, each day, to get through the day, which I’m very grateful for.”
Megan’s mom, Pam Mehallis, (who is married to Gus,) serves as the president of the Aurora City Schools Board of Education, and Hobie’s mom, Jennifer Sweet (who is married to Craig,) works at Aurora Police Department.“Whatpeople love most about Aurora in general is the school systems are excellent,” Megan Sweet says. “It’s probably the main attraction for people who like to live here in the first place, it’s definitely what’s kept us here, because we both went to Aurora schools. So, we wanted all our children to come here as well. We’ve known each other since I was about eight years old.”
According to Megan, a few of the things that have kept the family in Aurora include the library system, and local parks, to name a few. Megan says Aurora has a “small town feel,” and that it’s a “tight knit community,” which they love. Of course, the family is complete with a dog, Mona, and three cats, Charlie, Myrah and Gizmo, which have all been adopted or rescued.
Megan, who grew up attending the church, says she recently volunteered at Vacation Bible Camp, where she was able to minister to some of the kids.
OF THE CITY
Megan’s grandparents have lived in Aurora for decades. Additionally, both of their moms graduated from Aurora City School District.
“We both grew up in Aurora, and we’ve lived in our current home for about a year,” Megan Sweet says. Megan and Hobie both graduated from Aurora High School. They had their first date and got engaged at one of the town’s local restaurants, 1815 Tavern.
MAYOR’S LETTER – Aurora: The Hometown Place To Be “
OF CITY OF AURORA AND AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
landscape.Historic
— Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin H Aurora Cover: Photos From Top: Aurora Schools students during the Fourth of July parade; Moebius Nature Center; the newest addition to Aurora, the Splash Pad at Kiwanis-Moore Park; Fall Festival tractor PHOTOSfun.COURTESY
AbeauisOhiourora,a tiful and historic city in the Western Reserve. Founded in 1799, our community combines rural charm with the comforts of the 21st century, offer ing residents and visitors many amenities in cluding parks, recreational options, shopping districts and some of the finest residential neighborhoods in the region. Seven minutes away from major highways, the city has easy transportation access but is distant enough to avoid the traffic and congestion such thoroughfares can produce. Whether a business looking to succeed or a family seek ing a great hometown, Aurora provides the best in services, schools, and opportunities which have continued to keep Aurora one of Northeast Ohio’s most desirable suburbs. Marketed by the Connecticut Land Company in the late 1700s, much of the land in present-day Aurora was sold to a group of New England residents from and around Suffield, Connecticut. Since those early days of wilderness settlers, Aurora has slowly grown to a city of 17,000 residents inhabiting 25 square miles, with rolling hills, abundant trees, lakes and a branch of the Chagrin River creating its beautiful homes line Aurora’s town center Historic District along State Route 306, with many beautiful residential areas spread throughout the community. Among them are the renowned Barrington with newer homes along the Jack Nicklaus-designed Barrington Golf Course, together with more established neighborhoods. Walden, a resi dential community with a private golf club, offers condos and homes situated among its trees and golf vistas. The eastern part of the city has larger lots and some farming areas as the city ebbs into the country to the east. Newer developments include Beljon Farms, Hawthorn, and Renaissance Park where townhomes, condos and ranch-style homes are being built on the north side of the city as part of the redevelopment of the former SeaWorld and Geauga Lake parks in WithAurora.a strong commercial and industrial base, Aurora has the financial wherewith al to upgrade infrastructure, traffic flow, residential services, and safety and provide amenities like sidewalks, parks, a splash pad, ball fields and trails. The city owns more than 1700 acres of parkland and in the last eight years has acquired more than 200 acres of land to preserve greenspace, connect its parks, and manage development. Retail areas throughout Aurora offer easy shopping and everyday conveniences, including the popular Aurora Premium Outlets outdoor shopping center. Din ing options include Mario’s International Restaurant and Spa, the fabled Aurora Inn, ThornCreek Winery, Bertram Inn, 1815 Tavern, and others. Cultural opportunities include the Aurora Community Theatre and the well-known Aurora School of Music with outstanding music teachers and per formances. Grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, auto and tire repair shops, and yoga studios and gyms help create a commu nity with all your needs close by. The outstanding Aurora schools, consis tently ranked high by U.S. News and World Report, help to attract many new residents to town who seek the hometown atmo sphere Aurora provides while securing one of the best educations in the region for their children. Couple that with a city adminis tration that has worked hard to preserve the small-town charm of Aurora while cultivat ing suburban conveniences, and you have a great location for families and businesses to prosper.”
115 East Pioneer Trail, portagelibrary.org
The ACT, located on Pioneer Trail, presents four shows per year, once in the spring, summer, fall and winter. For the 2022-2023 season, ACT will start with a side-splitting comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Next up they will present a story of a family that is forced to confront its past and present in “August: Osage County.” Their spring offering will be “Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical” and more. If you’re a theater fanatic or on the lookout for local entertainment, consider watching a show at the ACT.
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2. Bond with your dog at Tails n’ Trail Dog Park. Aurora even has your best friend covered. Located at 841 Page Road, Tails n’ Trails has separate areas for large and small dogs to socialize and run off-leash and enjoy social izing with other dogs. You will find benches to sit while your pup plays, play features, and a water pump. 841 Page Road, auroraoh.com
6. Get Lost in a good book at the Aurora Memorial Library. The original library opened in 1966. Aurora Memorial Library is a great place to meet other parents and children at story time, participate in reading challenges, and access computers and internet free of charge.
Splash Pad at Kiwanis-Moore Park
If you are looking to spend time in Aurora, there are plenty of family-friendly places to visit. Here are 25 destinations to try.
Touted as Aurora’s best kept secret, Moebius Nature Center is located on 44 beautiful acres and has hiking trails, a pond where you can see beavers and you can also fish (catch and release). Eat in the picnic pavilion which has a lovely western view, a pollinator garden and a rain garden, a turtle enclosure and a deer exclosure. Mobius hosts many nature-inspired events and programs. Visit and explore the beauty. 929 E. Mennonite Road, Aurora, 216-402-4361, mymnc.org
7. Enjoy a show at Aurora Community Theatre.
By Miriam Conner and Georgia Lattas
115 E. Pioneer Trail, auroracommunitytheatre.comAurora,
Places to Go in Aurora! :
3. Cool off at the splash pad and enjoy Kiwanis-Moore Park. Splash the heat away at the splash pad, play on the playground, have lunch under the pavilion, grab a snack at the snack shack, and show off your skills at the two-level skate park that allows beginners and advanced users to utilize the park together. 35 West Pioneer Trail, auroraoh.com
8. Support local and shop small. Aurora is home to several local, quaint shops where you can support local business owners. Some of Aurora’s local shops include: Schell Bell Boutique ( 334 East Garfield Rd.) where you will find the latest fashions and accessories for women and girls.
Family-Friendly Community Focus
1. Spend the day at Sunny Lake Park. At Aurora’s Sunny Lake Park, you can enjoy boating, hiking and picnicking, or can play volleyball, paddleboat and more. Go around the paved multipurpose exercise trail that goes around the lake and is perfect for walking the dog or taking a stroll with your family. Kids can enjoy the large playground. Check out the disc golf course “Aurora Gold,” which boasts a 9-hole amateur/begin ner course, 18-hole intermediate course, and an 18-hole professional course. You can find the map and scorecard on the website. Also, you can head to the trail that connects to the Moebius Nature Center. 885 E. Mennonite Road, Aurora, 330-562-6910
Sunny Lake Park
Aurora
4. Get in touch with nature at Moebius Nature Center.
5. Shop til you drop at Aurora Farms Premium Outlets. Aurora Farms Premium Outlets is conve niently located off State Route 43, minutes from Cleveland and Akron. Shop more than 50 designer and name brand outlet stores including Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Aerie, American Eagle Outfitters, Crocs, Nike Factory Store and the North Face. Enjoy exceptional brands at extraordi nary savings. 549 S. Chillicothe Road, premiumoutlets.com/outlet/aurora-farms.Aurora,
The Mantua Grain and Supply ( 526 S Chill icothe Rd.) sells a wide variety of items from outdoor decor, furniture, plants all the way to sports items.
15. Learn about Aurora history at the Aurora Historical Society. Learn anything and everything there is to know about Aurora and visit the museum to see the latest exhibits and collections. You can even purchase special gift items and become a member. aurorahistorical.org
Papous Tap & Grill is a sustainable, new American restaurant serving delicious dishes 7 days a week. 360 Aurora Commons Cir, papoustapgrille.com
Fourth of July Parade PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF AURORA
21. Enjoy fresh produce and more from Beck’s Farm & Market. Farm fresh produce picked fresh daily. Open May - October 7 days a week from spring flowers to fall favorites everything has a season and they have the best picks. 1199 E Garfield Road, becksfarmandmarket.business.site 22. Have an extra helping of mashed potatoes after you run the annual Turkey Trot. People from around Northeast Ohio descend upon Aurora Thanksgiving morning for this 5k run. auroraoh.com 23. Enjoy the sounds of summer at the Aurora Concert Series at Veterans Park. The concerts are Thursdays throughout the summer and are free of charge. auroraoh.com
Forage and Feather (311 East Garfield Rd.) specializing in handcrafted local goods.
16. Find out if the fish are biting at Spring Hill Park. The park consists of 65 acres including a nature trail and fishing dock. 1113 East Pioneer Trail. auroraoh.com
20. Show your patriotism at Aurora’s Fourth of July parade and events. A hometown favorite, the 4th of July parade is one to remember and then stay for hometown activities. auroraoh.com
170 S Chillicothe Road, 1815tavern.com Mad Jacks Grill & Pub has a relaxed vibe & charming patio for American fare, cocktails & many craft beers.
302 Aurora Commons Circle, mazzulos.com 1815 Tavern is located in the heart of historic Aurora, and features modern American fare.
Mazzulos, prepares a daily variety of home made dishes that are deliciously convenient for heat & serve meals.
9. Pamper yourself at Spa Walden & Inn Walden. Luxury accommodations, relaxation, and tranquility await. 1119 Aurora Hudson Road, yourwalden.com
12. Go for a run at Hartman Park. Hartman Park is a 125-acre parcel on Townline Road. Enjoy all the athletic field complex has to offer: 4 ballfields, 5 full-size soccer fields, playground and a 24x36 pavilion with picnic tables and charcoal grill. Get your running shoes and run the cross-country trail: a mulched loop trail that begins in a meadow and winds through wooded areas. Enjoy Tree Museum: unique half-mile walking trail intro duces visitors to over 500 live trees. 305 Townline Road, auroraoh.com 13. Honor National Wetlands Day while walking along the grass trails at the Aurora Wetlands on West Garfield Road. 14. Take a hike at Paddock River Preserve. If you are looking for a beautiful place to walk or cross country ski, look no further than Paddock River Reserve 129 Trails End. The former Aurora Golf Course land includes rolling hills and steep ravines, woodlands, meadows, floodplain pools and creeks. A trail guide can be found on the website. 129 Trails End, auroraoh.com
46 S Aurora Road, evexiacafe.com
17. Remember those who served. Visit Veterans Memorial Park. You can even donate a brick to the Memorial. 40 West Garfield Road. auroraoh.com
18. Smell autumn in the air at the Fall Festival at Sunny Lake Park where you can enjoy Free hay rides, an inflat able corn maze, inflatable games,a petting zoo, face painting,visit Flower the Clown for a free balloon creation,see Jungle Terry’s free & fan tastic animal show, and meet local businesses. auroraoh.com
19. Get festive at the annual tree lighting. Straight out of your favorite Hallmark movie, this is an event not to be missed. 115 E. Pioneer Trail Aurora, auroraoh.com
Annual Tree Lighting
Secret Garden Antique Mall (196 S Chillicothe Rd.) that boasts 3000 square feet of antiques and collectibles. Abigails (178 S Chillicothe Rd.) for jewelry, accessories, bags, and more.
204 S Chillicothe Road, madjackspub.com Evexia Cafe offers an extensive menu of quick, healthy, and flavorful café fare. Cafe Tuscano’s Italian dishes are the perfect blend of inspired recipes and fresh ingredients.
11. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Fantasy Delight. Fantasy Delight has been owned by the same family for over 30 years. With a huge selection, there is something for everyone. 21 N Aurora Rd, fantasydelighticecream.com
10. Eat locally. After a day of shopping, you are sure to be hungry and Aurora has many restaurants to choose from.
24. Spend time birdwatching at Blanche Katherine Novak Wildlife Sanctuary and State Nature Preserve. The sanctuary is a rich habitat for nesting birds with at least 56 species on the Aurora side and 41 species on the Mantua side. The area has been part of the spring bird walks of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleve land since 1993. An observation blind in the wetlands area was completed in 2002, further enhancing their educational potential. 382 Townline Road, clevelandaudubon.org
25. ThornCreek Winery & Gardens Nestled among eight acres of nationally awarded gardens, ThornCreek Winery & Gardens is a magical and authentic winery and venue. They host local musicians, farm to table dinners, painting classes and a variety of events year round. Join them for weekly live music or a delicious culinary event. 155 Treat Road, thorncreekwinery.comAurora,
FROM
TOP: Aurora Schools’ Goodyear STEM Day; Interact Habitat for Humanity, and ASF Book Grant Craddock. PHOTOS COURTESY OF AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
Here’s what people and stakeholders in our community have stated are important for young people to develop in grades preschool through 12th.
The definition of learner can mean different things to different people, so we wanted to be clear that the term “learner” for the Aurora City School District carries with it some key characteristics including the importance of continual growth. Learning, through the lens of this vision, is less about gaining knowledge through curriculum transfer and more about being able to build on that knowledge and apply it so a young person is better prepared for life. Although developing learners is the main focus of our strategic vision, we are also targeting six competencies to nurture within young people attending the Aurora City Schools.
grades by helping
‘nurture the roots’ for students in
2. CRITICAL THINKING
develop
By Michael ofSuperintendentRoberto,AuroraCitySchools
6. INNOVATIVE To be innovative doesn’t necessarily require cutting-edge technology, but instead it means looking at things in a different way. As all people, both young and adult, begin to bend what they know, break from what is typically done, and blend ideas from different perspectives, they become more innovative in their approach. With this strategic vision, the great young people and supportive families in our district , and the people who work and learn in each of our school buildings at all grade levels PK-12, we are confident the ACSD will be able to design and support learning environments that meet the needs of all young people even during and what we hope this year will be on the other side of a pandemic. Visit the six competencies in the strategic vision on aurora-schools.org
vision
In an ever-changing and complex world, one has to be able to take in information, analyze it, and decide what to do with it. One of the hallmarks of a critical thinker is the ability to stay objective.
T he Aurora City School District works off of a set belief statements with the first being, “Kids Come First.” The im plementation of these beliefs are dis played on a daily basis ranging from making decisions in the classroom to those that impact the district as a whole. Using this simple ap proach of keeping what is best for kids on the forefront. The school district then developed a new strategic vision in 2020-2021, which was the first year of the pandemic. You might think that rolling out a strategic vision in the middle of a pandemic would be a terrible idea. However, we couldn’t think of a more important time to make the shift to focus on the whole child and to emphasize the importance of what we call “nurturing the roots” of young people. It all starts with building relationships in order to have a better understanding of what young people know and are able to do.
Preparing Learners to be Future Ready
4. RESILIENT Just as balance equates to perspective, resilience is analogous to persistence. When all people can be put in situations that cause productive struggle, they begin to de velop the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. This leads to being more resilient rather than giving up when one doesn’t know the right thing to do, but instead starts to think of what is the next best thing to do.
5. COLLABORATIVE We all understand the power of collaboration and learning from each other’s experiences. The importance of collaboration can be summed up by the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
3. BALANCED Being objective also means keeping things in perspective. As all people develop the social-emotional ability to form positive relationships while being self-aware, they walk that balance and lay the groundwork to be lifelong learners.
Aurora City Schools has a to all them these
1. EMPATHY We all know relationships matter and the first step in building relationships is em pathy. As one becomes more empathetic, an awareness of others begins to develop which helps to make those relationships stronger.
six competencies.
Community Focus :
Aurora
My family and I go to the apple orchard every year and there we pick tons of apples and a few pumpkins. At the apple orchard we browse for perfect apples. My family and I compare varieties and ask each other which one is our favorite and why.
don’t know about you, but fall is one of my favorite sea sons. I don’t know if it’s the boots, cozy sweaters, leaves changing, pumpkin spiced lattes, or the apple orchards but I love fall. Fall is also a great time to enjoy two of my favorite items: apples and pumpkins.
Slice
Seasons
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 25 Fall is Celebratehere!withrecipesyourfamilywilllove
By Aisha Taylor
Here are some delicious ways we use the apples and pumpkins that we get at the apple orchard. My hope is that you and your family can find a few recipes that you love and make them a part of your fall tradition.
In addition to picking apples and pumpkins, we love to go through the corn mazes, on the wagon rides, eat the apple cinnamon donuts and drink apple cider. It is so much fun and delicious. When we are done picking apples, we stroll through the pumpkin patch to pick out the best pumpkins. Usually, we get three – one big one that we carve and two smaller pumpkins (one for each twin) that we bake with. This is a tradition that my twins and I really look forward to. Once we finish our day we have multiple bags of apples and a few pump kins, so what do we do with all of this?
I September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 25
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease bak ing sheets. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Beat sugar and 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in a large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit FOR THE CRUST Prepare as directed on the package*
26 | Family Living at Its Best
1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
FOR THE APPLE PIE FILLING In a large mixing bowl toss sliced apples with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter and lemon juice. Add sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinna mon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Toss mixture to evenly coat.
Pumpkins Apples
DIRECTIONS:
Adapted from Very Best Baking
1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened 1 cup pumpkin purée 1 large egg 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
INGREDIENTS: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
CRUSTINGREDIENTS: 1 store bought crust CRUMB TOPPING 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp vanilla extract
TO ASSEMBLE PIE Pour ap ple mixture into the pie dish, spreading and pressing into an even layer and turning slices to ensure all of them fit in. Remove crumble from refrigerator, break into small clumps and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pie. Place the pie on a rimmed bak ing sheet and bake in preheated oven until apples are almost fully tender when poked with a toothpick (they should have a just little give as they will continue carryover cooking as the pie cools), about 45 - 55 minutes. Check pie a few times throughout baking to ensure the topping or crust isn't overly browning, if needed tent with foil. If it's not browning enough you can move oven rack up one level. Remove pie from oven and let cool on a wire rack (it will take about 2 hours of cooling). Serve just warm or with ice cream if desired. Adapted from Cooking Classy. **I use whatever apples I have on hand
Pumpkin Cookies
APPLE FILLING
2.5 pounds (about 8 small) apples peeled cored and thinly sliced* 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp all-purposeunbleachedflour 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp ground nutmeg 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Dutch Apple Pie &
FOR THE CRUMB TOPPING Add brown sugar to a medi um mixing bowl and break up with fingertips. Add 3/4 cup flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt and whisk. Stir vanilla into 6 tablespoons melted butter. Pour into the flour mixture and toss until evenly moistened. Transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare filling.
1 teaspoon baking soda
I used to feel bad about throwing away the seeds after I prepped the pumpkins for roasting or carving, so I started roasting them. Pumpkin seeds are good as a snack or in a salad. It is important to clean the seeds off before you roast them to remove the pumpkin. I get as much of the pumpkin off of the seeds before I put the seeds in a bowl of water. Rinse the seeds off and then put them on a paper towel to dry them.
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 27
DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit Place pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet. Toss the seeds in olive oil. Sprinkle salt and any other seasoning (I add pepper, garlic too) that you like on the seeds and ensure there is a good coating of oil and seasoning. Arrange the seeds on a baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Check on your seeds about every 10 minutes so they don’t overcook Adapted from All Recipes.
Northeast Ohio Parent Blogger Melissa Koski Carney of I Crashed The Web also has some fall family recipes to share, just in time for the season.
Head online to view a recipe for healthyish pumpkin banana white bean muffinskid tested, blogger approved!
Aisha Taylor is a single mother of twins who helps corporate moms create the financial foundations to support turning their idea to income so they can exit their full-time job, walk in purpose, and spend more time with their children. Aisha has been featured in Black Enterprise, Jet Magazine, ESSENCE, Go Banking Rates, and The Detroit Free Press. To connect with Aisha, visit myideatoincome.com. She is also a Northeast Ohio Blogger of “FNPhenomenal”.
PumpkinRoasted Seeds
One of the things my grandmother was known for was her homemade applesauce. After she passed away, my dad started making her recipe and it is now a favorite of my kids. While my dad (and grandma) use a food mill, I use a blender as a shortcut. As a result, my applesauce is less chunky, but still a family favorite. 3 pounds of Macintosh apples (you can use other baking apples, but Macs are our favorite for this recipe) ¼ cup of (optional)sugar 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
Grandma's Applesauce Blogger FavoritesFamily
HERE’S WHAT YOU DO: Put a saucepan on the stove top and fill with just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Wash, peel and quarter apples. Place apples in a pot and sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon. We’ve made this with less sugar or even without sugar before and it’s still good. Cook over medium heat until the apples are soft. When soft, let cool slightly (most blenders cannot handle boiling water or extremely hot food) and pour in a blender or food processor. Blend until it meets your desired consistency. Recipe makes about 5 ½ cups of applesauce.
Want another?
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:
Norton Cider Festival. Apple decorating, train rides, inflat ables, fireworks and more. Columbia Woods Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive, nortonciderfestival.comNorton, 10/1-2
Harvest Festival at Hale Farm & Village. Experience the sea sonal work of a 19th century farm. 10/1-2 and 10/8-9. 10-5 p.m. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, wrhs.org 9/11-10/30DAY-BY-DAY Pumpkin Days at Nickajack Farms. Pumpkin bowling, paintball, and a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 2955 Manchester Ave., Canal nickajackfarms.comFulton, 9/16-18
28 | Family Living at Its Best FALL FUN
U-Pick Apples & Fun Farm Activities. U-pick, maze and other activities. Weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 50336 Telegraph Road. hillcrestfunfarm.comAmherst,
Elyria Apple Festival. Three days of family fun, food, entertainment, corn hole, children’s activities, and more. Ely Square, Broad Street & Middle Avenue, elyriaapplefestival.comElyria, 9/17
Apple Tasting. Join Farmer Bart of Eddy’s Fruit Farm for apple tasting. 10 a.m. Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, divi.geaugalibrary.netChesterland, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1
Fall Festival. U-pick apples, live music, farm animals, pony rides and more. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Bauman Orchards, 161 Rittman Ave., baumanorchards.comRittman, 9/19-10/31
MidThroughONGOINGOctober
&SATURDAYPICK-A-DAYSUNDAY
Pick Your Own Apples. Pick some great Ohio apples and take a wagon ride.10 a.m.-5 p.m. Patterson Farms, 8765 Mulberry Road, pattersonfarm.comChesterland, Corn Maze. Winding paths that steer you to intersections where you must decide where to go. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Char don Road., lakemetroparks.comKirtland, Through 10/30
Super Science Saturday: Fall Foliage. Take a deeper look at the science behind fall foliage. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Akron Fossils & Science Center, 2080 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Copley, akronfossils.com
Family Scarecrow Contest. Gather the family for this fun and exciting contest. Wild wood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, cityofmentor.com 9/22 Early Fall Fun. Make a silly, scary or glam scarecrow. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sterling Branch Library, 2200 East 30th St., Cleveland, cpl.org 9/24-25 Stow Harvest Festival. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Silver Springs Park, 5238 Young Road, Stow, stowohio.org 9/24-10/23 Pumpkin Pandemonium. Scavenger hunt, Harvest Maze, hayride and more. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, heritagefarms.com 9/25 Fallfest: 18th Century Festival. Celebrate the pioneers of the Western Reserve at this fun, free, family-oriented event. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Brecksville Reservation, Meadows Picnic Area off Chippewa Creek Drive, clevelandmetroparks.comBrecksville, 9/30, 10/1-2
Apple Butter & Cider Week end. Sample apples and help grind them and press cider. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., lakemetroparks.comKirtland,
Halloween Fair returns to LCMP’s Carlisle Reservation in LaGrange. Bring the family to enjoy a spooktacular event with haunted trail, train rides, food, games, and more! This event will be held October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 with a special sensory-friendly, All Ability Day on Oct 20. Tickets go on-sale on September 27. Admission is $5 per person and available through presale only—NO ONSITE TICKET SALES. loraincountymetroparks.com.
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 29
Pumpkin Pandemonium at Heritage Farms
Patterson Fruit Farm
NickaJack Farms
Pumpkin Days at NickaJack Farms is open every day 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. from September 10 through October 31. Purchase your tickets online or at the door. Activities include hayrides, corn maze, pony rides, animals, corn crib, peddle carts, and much more.
Interested in only pumpkins and decor? The perfect non-admission area is full of fall fun. The farm grows 75 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Mums, large and small straw bales, corn and corn stalk bundles available for sale. nickajackfarms.com
Halloween Fair
Experience the fall harvest season at Patterson Farms in Chesterland, where families are welcomed seven days a week to pick their own apples, enjoy the produce-filled farm market and play at the Family Fun Fest geared toward children in preschool through sixth grade. Follow Patterson Fruit Farm on Facebook for details. pattersonfarm.com
FEATURED FALL FUN DESTINATIONS:
Starting September 24 bring the family to go on a scavenger hunt, get lost in the Harvest Maze and take a relaxing hayride around the farm. They have pumpkins, gourds, corn shocks & straw bales for sale along with a variety of seasonal refreshments. Pumpkin Pandemonium is open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday 2-6 p.m. at Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, your farm for all seasons, heritagefarms.com
Lorain County Metro Parks
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 31 ELEMENTARYGUIDESCHOOLSeptemberNortheastOhioParent.com2022 Fall EDUCATION FOCUS Make Your Child a Reader &BooksLearningKick-Startwith,GamesMore! ChoicesSchool Find the Best Fit for FamilyYour Sponsored by:
“You need to learn how to read to just be able to function,” says Beth Smith, center director at Sylvan Learning Center in Westlake. “If you buy something new, you have to be able to put it together by reading the instructions.
Get Your Elementary Student
There are plenty of ways to encourage reading at home. Even having block letters and putting them together to build words is a great way to encourage early literacy skills.
L earning how to read is one of the most important life skills to master. Knowing how to read is essential for job applica tions, driving, going to the grocery store – just about everything in life. Opening up an old textbook filled with dull language and bland content is no one’s cup of tea – that’s why it is important to find fun ways to help your child love reading. Below are some fun tips on how to make reading a hobby rather than a chore.
“If today is the letter ‘K,’ how many things can you find around the house that have a ‘k’ sound at the beginning? That way, they’re getting that concept of their letter and sound recognition. Just looking at print, such as looking at what’s on the cereal box or, when you’re driving, looking at what the signs say, are great ways to practice reading. It’s a real-world use of reading and it’s fun. Maybe in their playroom or in different areas of the house, label things like refrigerator or door or chair, and then they’re seeing ‘okay, this is a chair,’ so they’re seeing that connection.”Titasadds a lot of research shows that kids learn through play and that is why play is so important.“Playing is really one of the best ways for children to learn language skills,” Titas says.
Shannon Titas, youth services manager at Shaker Heights Public Library, says learning how to read is an essential skill and is one of the most important things a parent can help teach to their child. “We know from research that kids start learning the skill that they need to learn how to read at birth, that it starts right away,” Titas says. “So as soon as they’re born, we can do things to get them prepared.”
“Another program that we have is our play and learn station. It’s a playroom that’s open certain hours for literacy-based play. There’s toys and a little corner where they can play house and things like that. Practicing cooperative skills and talking to other people, engaging with others, helps support literacy.” Games such as Scrabble Junior are great to play with your little one; if your child is just learning to spell, one side of the board has
By Georgia Lattas
Reading is important if you’re learning in school or learning in everyday life. You’re reading if you’re driving — there’s traffic signs that you’re reading so that you know what to do and know where to go. So reading is basically part of your wholeEncouragelife.” fun, interactive ways of learning how to read with your child. Parents are kids’ first role models, and children learn almost everything they know from watching them. The parents should engaged with reading and show their child how important it is to learn how to “Childrenread. look up to their parents,” Smith says. “As a par ent, you’re teaching these kids life skills and things they need to know and are shaping them.
Children learn so much from a parent; they learn vocabulary, they learn to talk from their parents. When the parent is interacting with the child and doing fun games, they’re seeing that reading is fun. The child is not sitting and having a strict reading lesson, but rather having fun and enjoying what they are learning. They’re just learning naturally from (you).”
Smith emphasizes to start at an appropriate reading level for the child, rather than a reading level too high, so the child doesn’t feel defeated.
It is important that the child has a positive experience while learning.
“Maybe have a letter of the day,” Smith says.
Reading
- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3432 | Family Living at Its Best
“So we’re really walking them through using their senses and not just looking at the book and reading it,” Smith says. “We use iPads with our instruction as well. We have video games and learning games to apply what they’ve learned. So, if they’re looking at different letters, we might match the letter to a picture that starts with that letter or the capital letter to the lowercase letter, depending on what they’re doing. So we do different games that engage them in practicing what they’ve learned.”
The program caters specifically towards babies and preschool-aged children.
“When you introduce them to differ ent approaches to learning, such as using technology, it does get them ready for when they see it in different areas and it also helps them find out what works best for them,” Smith says. “When a child is really trying to learn, sometimes hearing it or seeing it in a different way can help them.”
“One of the biggest ways that parents can encourage their kids in reading is to allow them to pick what they like to read,” Titas says. “Bring the kids to the library. Let them look around, see what sparks their interest.
CONNECT FOUR Use word stickers on your Connect Four game pieces. Then, pick one of the word stickers, read the word correctly, and place it into the game. Four in a row wins!
THE FIFTH ANNUAL EVENT ON SATURDAY, SEPT 24 WILL BE AT THE GREAT LAKE SCIENCE CENTER AS PART OF A DAY-LONG CELEBRATION OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. REGISTER OR LEARN MORE NORTHEASTOHIOPARENT.COMAT
EDUCATION & STEM EXPO presents: 2022
It’s okay if it’s something that maybe is below their reading level or something that they want to read over and over again. That’s how they learn. The more we can give kids that autonomy to choose what they read, the more excited they’re going to get about it.”
Write letters on the top of styrofoam cups. Say the letter sound and stomp the cup.
34 | Family Living at Its Best picture clues and color-coded words to help your child match letters to build words. To further build reading skills, at the end of the day during dinner time, have your child retell their day as a story. As they’re watching TV, ask your child what they think will happen next and any other questions that will engage them. Comprehending what they are reading and watching is just as important as reading and sounding out words. Being able to incorporate digital ways of learning how to read can be helpful too.
Use foam letters and make a word search.
The library incorporates these practices through their early literacy programming, mostly in the form of storytime.
GO FISH Make your own Go Fish game using sight words or vocabulary words.
REGISTER FOR 2022
“Those five practices are talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing,” Titas says. “All of these practices will help kids get ready to read through just very simple everyday activi ties that most parents probably do anyway.”
Nowadays, many schools are providing students with laptops or requiring them for schoolwork. Some students learn better dig itally, while other students may need handson approaches to learning how to read.
Parents should choose fun, interactive ways to engage their child in reading. Reading is much more than opening a book and reading words on a page – children should understand what they are reading, ask questions, and enjoy what they are discov ering.“If anyone’s going to become a reader for a lifetime, it has to be something that you enjoy,” Titas says. “Having reading be just a natural part of our lives and a positive part of our lives sets that tone for a lifetime.”
Shaker Heights Public Library approaches the concept of reading through a format that is based on research from the American Li brary Association called Every Child Ready to Read. This format identifies five practices that parents can do with kids to help them prepare to read.
FUN GAMES & ACTIVITIES TO HELP WITH READING: SAY AND STOMP
Read a story in a silly voice and have fun with it!
EDUCATION & STEM EXPO
Many parents may feel pressured to have their young child learn their alphabet and letters as soon as possible and practice early literacy skills as much as possible before entering preschool or kindergarten. Parents should not worry if their child does not de velop early literacy skills as fast as others, and should rather encourage reading and learning within their child.
TitasTitassays.emphasizes that it is important for kids to learn to love reading, rather than feel as if it is something they have to do..
“In the younger years, we’re really laying the foundation and parents shouldn’t be worried if their kids don’t know how to write their names by the time they get to kinder garten,” Titas says. “The best thing parents can do is to read with their kids all the time from a very early age, and to make reading a part of everyday life. Kids also learn from what they see. So if a parent is reading for fun, they notice that.”
READ IN A SILLY VOICE
WORD SEARCH
“For instance, we sing songs as a group in our storytimes and those songs are selected strategically to reinforce some of the concepts that kids need as they’re learning to read,”
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 35
“When considering a school, attend
There are primarily three different types of public schools that parents will notice when looking for potential schools for their child. Most public schools are closed enrollment, in which the school will only enroll people who live within their district. There are districts that of fer open enrollment. In addition, there are charter schools, which don’t receive local dollars, but they are state funded and are open enrollment. With many types of private schools, parents can find traditional private schools, nonreligious; boarding schools, where students live at the school full-time during the school year; or language-immersion schools, where schools have instruction in both English and a second language through out the day. Montessori schools allow children to develop natural interests and activities rather than use formal teach ing methods. Private special education schools work with students with special needs. Religious schools are also an op tion and can vary from Catholic schools to Jewish schools to Seventh-Day Ad ventist schools. Lastly, Waldorf education focuses on learning through the arts and creativity. The arts are utilized in their formal teaching methods. Some schools require an entrance exam to help schools select prospective students for admission. Not every student who applies for K-12 admission at certain schools are guaran teed“Publicadmission.schools serve students in a par ticular district and need to adhere to lo cal, state, and federal requirements,” says Elissa Hyatt, admissions coordinator at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls. “Private schools general ly have more leeway and can make deci sionsMostindependently.”parentsbelieve that the main difference between private schools and public schools is the tuition piece. Public education provides a free option, close to home, oftentimes, with free transporta tion back-and-forth to school. Be sure to have a conversation sur rounding tuition and other expenses and determine what is the best fit for your family.
36 | Family Living at Its Best Choosing whether to send your child to public school or pri vate school is a challenge for any parent – how much tui tion money am I expected to pay? Which school is my child zoned for? What is the student-teacher ratio? Below are some tips on how to know which school is the best fit for your child. “The number one difference between private schools, whether it is indepen dent, parochial, or other types of private schools, and public schools, whether they’re traditional district or charter schools, is obviously tuition,” says Carol Ryan, director of enrollment & advance ment at Menlo Park Academy in Cleve land. “At the end of the day, what it really comes down to for any given family is: what are your options, and within your options, what is the community culture and approach to education and success that a school has? There is no perfect school. There is simply the best fit. I think for a lot of parents, the first piece is to fig ure out what is it that their student needs in terms of an educational community? What is their learning style and how do you find a fit for that?”
MAKING A DECISION Before choosing to enroll your child in a particular school, be sure to check in with the admissions team and ask any and all questions you have about the school.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD
CHOICES VARY
Public School? Private School?nvso
By: Georgia Lattas
“The first thing that parents should do is check out the website,” says Jay Fowler, director of the lower school and Montes sori programs at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills. “You can get a good feel for what you’re looking for, and they typical ly give you some important facts on that website. Then, I would call the school’s main office or admissions officer. That al lows you to set up a tour and I think that is probably the best first step for any par ent who is interested in a school. Come see the school in person and get a chance to see the facilities, get a chance to see the teachers in action, and get a chance to see the students working. Just get an overall vibe of what the culture is like.”
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 37 an open house or set up a “shadow” day for your student to experience a typical school day,” Hyatt says. “Start the process early since space is often limited and ap plying early is in your best interest.” It is important to take note of all that you are looking for in a school before en rolling your child. Is your family looking for a school with a religious affiliation? Are you look ing for a single sex school? Are you look ing for a school with smaller class sizes? Are you looking for a school that services students with special needs? Addressing these questions can help determine what is the best fit for your child. “What are the things that I’m look ing for in a school and how do I prior itize those?” Ryan says. “What is it that you’re looking for and think is going to best suit your child? What’s good for this year, what’s good for the next couple of years? I think looking at how schools have performed over the last five to 10 years is important, but not looking at how they’ve performed over 30 years and not looking at how they’ve performed over the last three. What you’re really trying to get a sense of is with their current leadership, how are they doing? The school could have been fantastic, but they started with a new leader the previous year. How is that going to change the direction that the school is moving?” “I would say take a look at your child,” says Kristin Kuhn, primary school admis sion director at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights. “What are they like? What are they interested in? What type of learner is your child? Have you noticed your child is someone who’s really active and needs to be hands on or is your child a little bit more quiet and reserved and needs more one on one? The more you understand a little bit about who your child is, I think it then can help dictate what you’re going to be looking for in a school setting. Do you want a big school? Do you want a small school? Do you want a religious affiliation? Do you want a sin gle sex environment? Do you not? Do you need the school location to be near your work? Do you need transportation? So I think having a couple of those answers in the back of your mind is a great starting point.”Consider all aspects of the school be fore applying. What extracurriculars are offered? What money will be spent on extracurricular activities and supplies? What classes are offered that sparks an interest in my child? All of these ques tions are important to consider. “For example, I’ll meet with families and in their local school districts they’ve had to cut their music program,” Kuhn says. “So now, the only way to receive music is the family has to pay an extra cost after school or on their weekends so their child can learn how to play the flute, for example. I think, for some families, understanding that some of those extra curricular activities that you’re currently maybe paying for, you might find part of your child’s regular school day in another school. That’s a great thing to ask when looking at schools and say ‘will my child learn to play a musical instrument?’ ‘Will my child learn how to play soccer or do I have to sign them up for a soccer league?’
“What will prepare your child most for the future he or she is pursuing?” says Hyatt. “What kind of community would your student thrive in? What sorts of teachers and administrators will help guide your student? Knowing your end goals will help you make decisions now.”
“I think there is incredible value in building a solid foundation and a love of learning and that starts at a young age,” Kuhn says. “So whether that be in a public school, parochial school or private school, it’s about finding a solid foundation in which their social and emotional needs are being responded to and appreciated. Just creating that level of learning and feeling comfortable with who they are as a learner is incredibly valuable. Those early years, those primary school years are so valuable in building a foundation. You’re trying to build this foundation, the social, emotional, the academics, the love of learning and figuring out where your child can get that from.” ❝ At the end of the day, what it really comes down to for any given family is: what are your options, and within your options, what is the community culture and approach to education and success that a school has? There is no perfect school. There is simply the best fit. ❞ — Carol Ryan, director of enrollment & advancement at Menlo Park Academy in Cleveland
“I truly believe that all schools and all teachers and all colleges have amazing opportunities and can provide such great roadmaps for success,” Fowler says. “So much of it comes down to the child and their own individual willingness to take advantage of what is provided for them.”
‘Will they get a chance to dance or have art?’ ‘What do you offer and what don’t you offer?’ ‘What is going to cost me ex tra?’”Once a parent has looked at the school’s website, has conducted a tour with the admissions team and has spent some time getting to know the school and what it offers, parents can then be gin to apply to the school. When a parent fills out an application form, it does not necessarily mean they are locked into the school – don’t hesitate to fill out the form and ask any questions that may come up while completing the form.
“We recommend filling out the ap plication; there’s no harm in doing that,” Fowler says. “It gives you a chance for us to look a little bit closer and to see if the child is the best fit because we want to make sure that every child is going to succeed and be on their best education al journey. Typically, when some families have more specific questions, we ask them to fill out the application because once we know the child and the family and the situation a little bit better, then we might be able to answer their questions a little bitSomebetter.”parents may feel that sending their child to a private school might help increase their chances of getting into a prestigious university. Whether your child gets accepted or rejected from a university is not so much dependent on where your child went to high school, but rather their individual academic success.
Parents may struggle with choosing where to send their child to school. Ulti mately, consider your child’s social, emo tional, mental and academic needs when choosing the best fit for your child.
HATHAWAY BROWN
For nearly 150 Hathawayyears, Brown School has educated and empow ered girls. The K-12 day school in Shaker Heights, Ohio is regionally and nationally recognized as a top girls’ school for their Learn for Life Signature Approach. Their model for education integrates distin guished academics, empowered girls, knowledge in action, and a celebrated community of students, alums, and faculty and parents. Learn more at HB.edu/edu
GILMOUR ACADEMY
HAWKEN reflectsprogramLowerHawken’sSchoolthe school’s dual commitment to academic and social curricula and focuses on building a strong foundation in basic academic skills with an increasing emphasis on personal responsibility. Recent renovations support not only Hawken’s commitment to truly knowing each student as a learner and individual, but also the school’s evolving personalized learning model. Every set of grade-level classrooms has access to an adjacent learning commons to support differentiated learning groups as well as collaborative and project-based approaches to learning. hawken.edu
learn.childrenprogramsPreschoolToddlerMontessoriGilmour’sandteachhowtoStudents then move seamlessly into Grades K-6, where they are provided endless possibilities to grow, with opportunities ranging from robotics to learning a new instrument each year, to service and nature-based learning. Students then progress to the Middle and Upper Schools to expand on this foundation. As an independent, Catholic school, Gilmour is rooted in its mission to educate the mind and empower the heart of every student. gilmour.org
38 | Family Living at Its Best Elementary School GUIDE LISTINGS H $B
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 39
Lake Ridge Academy is an independent kindergarten through 12th college preparatory school. Strong academic programs, engaging faculty, and an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio creates an educational environment that fuels a student’s passion for learning. Lower School students learn to think critically through a rich, hands-on curriculum that connects them to the natural world. Special emphasis is placed on social-emotional learning and cultural appreciation through world language classes. Their fall K-12 preview day will be Mon. Oct. 24. Register online lakeridgeacademy.org
Laurel School is a nationally recognized independent day school for girls, Kinder garten through 12th, with a co-ed Early Childhood School. Laurel students come from over 70 communities in Northeast Ohio. Laurel has two campuses, the 11-acre Lyman Campus is in Shaker Heights and the 150-acre Butler Campus is in Russell Township. The Butler Campus is home to competitive athletics, full-time outdoor experiential learning for Grades 3-5, and Northeast Ohio’s first out door prekindergarten. Learn more about Laurel at its K-Grade 12 open house on October 6. Visit laurelschool.org/openhouse for more information and to RSVP.
OSLS has been joyfully serving the community for four decades. They have a highly-educated and caring staff that engages students with innovative programs and hands-on learning while remain ing dedicated to the faith formation of students in a loving, Christ-centered environment. They are a kindergarten through eighth grade Christian school housed in the Zion Lutheran Church campus and have a low teacher-student ratio resulting in a greater focus on individual student’s needs. oslpainesville.org
MENLO PARK ACADEMY
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Hershey Montessori School prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Their Montessori approach to education is scientifically geared toward the student’s stages of natural child development. This allows students to discover their individual strengths and master challenging concepts based on personal growth and interests. Hershey’s Concord Campus educates children from birth through sixth grade and their Huntsburg Campus educates adolescents from seventh through 12th. Tuition assistance and transportation are available. hershey-montessori.org
LAUREL SCHOOL
OUT OF THE BOX ACADEMY/ THE GILDERSLEEVE SCHOOL
The first Gildersleeve School is in the North Hill neighborhood of Akron, Ohio. For generations, this neighborhood has welcomed waves of immigrants, and today’s residents come from Nepal, Myanmar, Congo and Afghanistan. After a lengthy discovery process to thoroughly understand the needs of the community, a Gildersleeve preschool was formed. The English as a Second Language (ESL) school builds on community strengths and nurtures student mental health with activities like yoga, meditation, music & sports. 1011 Gorge Blvd, Akron, 330-571-8878
Julie Billiart Schools, a private, Catholic network of K-8 schools in Akron, Lyndhurst, and Westlake, educate and empower children with mild to moderate autism, ADD/ ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning and social differences. JB celebrates potential, nurtures curiosity, and customizes teaching to their students’ unique learning styles. Students are surrounded by strategically designed classrooms, small student-to-teacher ratios, onsite therapies, and state-ofthe-art technology. JB students are supported by onsite therapists and certified intervention specialists. juliebilliartschool.org
40 | Family Living at Its Best Elementary School GUIDE LISTINGS H $B
HERSHEY
OUR SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Menlo Park Academy is the state’s only tuition-free school for gifted children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school offers an innova tive, accelerated curriculum, including nine high-school-credit classes, the opportunity to learn alongside like-minded peers, and a faculty dedicated to meeting the unique needs of gifted children. Students can explore their passions, build friendships, and find belonging as well as academic and social emotional success. Menlo Park Academy is the #1 charter elementary, #1 charter middle school, ranked #13 of all K through 5th grade Ohio public schools (niche.com). menloparkacademy.com
JULIE BILLIART SCHOOLS
LAKE RIDGE ACADEMY
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 41 - SPONSORED CONTENT -
focus, their STEM designation from the state of Ohio puts the school at the forefront of education. Students participate in hands-on problem-based learning that is cross-curricular and features collaboration and critical thinking. They have the opportunity to learn about coding and 3D printing in the Technology Learning Lab and the 1:1 Chromebook program provides technology that personalizes the learning environment. The school continues to build its Catholic identity through faith education, celebration of Mass and the Sacraments and through the service of others. stsebastian.org
St. Barnabas Catholic School is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence ranging from preschool through eighth grade. St. Barnabas is a family, fostering lifelong relationships and a spirit of loyalty and pride. They are dedicated to the spiritual, academic, social, physical and emotional development of all students. St. Barnabas offers STEM giving students valuable experiences in critical thinking, problem solving, engineering processes, creative design, and collaboration in a technology-rich environment. They offer extra-curricular activities such as athletic teams, a student-run TV station, academic teams, community service opportunities and leadership develop ment programs. sbcatholicschool.com
42 | Family Living at Its Best Elementary School GUIDE LISTINGS H $B
The Future Begins Here. St. Hilary School in Fairlawn serves students in grades K-8 in a environmentfaith-basedwith a curriculum that challenges accommodatesand diverse learning abilities. The average student-teacher ratio is 19:1. Special offerings include Spanish, French, Chinese, religion, art, music, physical education, technology, advanced math, and enrichment opportunities. Many extracurricular activities, as well as auxiliary, remedial, clinic, lunch, and extended care services, are available. Chromebooks, a makerspace and science lab put the school at the forefront of STEM learning. 330-867-8720, ext. 343, st-hilaryschool.org
St. approachChrist-centeredChrist.commitmenteducationexcellencefocusesParishSebastianSchooloninandtoWhileitsisits
ST. HILARY SCHOOL
ST. BARNABAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
ST. PARISHSEBASTIANSCHOOL
By Rebecca Elliott
Making a (nonfictionDifferencechildren’s book series Young Change Makers)
Former NASA scientist Aurora Lipper leads an exciting journey through space, begin ning with a tour of the planets and moons in our solar system. Next, kids visit the constellations and then zoom through the far reaches of the Milky Way galaxy. Along the way, they’ll find amazing facts about the starry skies and get to color and draw, connect dots, find hidden objects, and have fun with word puzzles while improving math and reading skills.
The Day You Begin By Jacqueline Woodson’s and illustrated by Rafael López
When it comes to learning, there are multiple studies regarding hands-on experiences. In the elementary years, early readers might need some help, but it’s a good idea for families to have a healthy space at-home to discover and explore books and activities. We provide some ideas on how to fill your child’s library.
Get off on an exciting trip to the zoo that teaches reading, writing, and math! This kindergarten activity book is bursting with dot-to-dots, picture hunts, color-by-num bers, and more that little learners can take anywhere for hours of animal fun.
By Aurora Lipper and illustrated by, Victoria Stebleva
Elementary Kids Bookshelf
This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow. 2022 -
Wonder By R.J. Palacio August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Beginning from Auggie’s point of view and expanding to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others, the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
Positive Behavior Activities for Kids: 50 Fun and Engaging Exercises to Help Kids Make Good Choices at Home, at School, and Beyond By Stacy Spensley
When children struggle with behavior, it’s because they lack the tools to understand their strong feelings and react constructive ly. A positive approach to behavior books for kids, this activity book helps children build a stronger emotional vocabulary, improve their self-regulation, and develop empathy for others. They’ll build up their cooperation skills through drawing and writing prompts, physical exercises, arts and crafts projects, and other creative exercises.
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 43
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
By Angela Gartner
It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded “the halo” - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he’s finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated.
By Stacy C. Bauer and illustrated by Emanuela Ntamack
By Jerry Spinelli George, aka “Suds,” has just entered third grade, and he’s heard the rhyme about “first grade babies/second grade cats/ third grade angels/fourth grade rats,” but what does this mean for his school year?
Third Grade Angels
It is filled with stories of kids who are making the world a better place by following their hearts and chasing their dreams. Whether planting a billion trees, bringing joy to others through music, fundraising for sick children or starting an inclusive dance team, these determined youth are using their talents to do amazing things.
By Lauren Thompson
Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation. She has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Prob lems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad... and Grand-mama. Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise?
One Word from Sophia By Jim Averbeck and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail
Kindergarten Activity Book: Zoo Animals: 75 Games to Practice Early Reading, Writing, and Math Skills
The Missing Magic: A Branches Book (Unicorn Diaries #7)
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing
HOW TO ENTER This This year we honor the courage and spirit of activists of the Civil Rights Movement whose legacy is explored in the Maltz Museum’s special exhibition, This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement. In spired by lyrics to the African American folk anthem, “This Little Light of Mine,” sung as an expression of unity in the fight for equality and justice for all, we invite you to share how you shine your light as an agent of positive change in your community. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
TOUR!
For the essay contest: In 500 words or less:
Take a Stop the Hate Digital Tour with optional activities Book a Classroom Workshop with Roots of American Music (songwriting) or Lake Erie Ink (essay writing) Enter the Stop the Hate contest as a class (Youth Sing Out) or as an individual (Youth Speak Out)
For the song writing contest: You must be part of an organized group of 15 or more students. Resources, tips, a complete list of rules, important dates, and prizes are available online at www.maltzmuseum.org/sth
1. Write about a personal experience of injustice, bias, discrimination, or exclusion: something you witnessed or experienced, or a moment when you learned about an unjust situation or event that affected you or others.
BOOK GROUP Stop the Hate guided tours available for 10 or more. To secure a date, please email tours@mmjh.org or call 216.593.0595
A
LEARN.MALTZMUSEUM.ORG
2. How did this moment impact you and others?
The 15th Annual Stop the Hate:® Youth Speak Out essay contest and Youth Sing Out song writing contest cele brates students committed to creating a more accepting, inclusive society. Each year, through the generosity of a donor, the Maltz Museum awards $100,000 in scholarships and anti-bias education grants in recognition of 6–12th grade upstanders.
NOW OPEN FOR 6-12 $100,000GRADERSINPRIZESANDAWARDSFORSTUDENTS,TEACHERS,ANDSCHOOLS SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST - SPONSORED CONTENT -
3. Reflect on the idea of “light” as a metaphor. Where can we find “light” in this situation? How have you or will you shine your light as an agent of positive change in your community? How does shining a light (standing up or telling your story) help you and others?
ELIGIBILITY Northeast Ohio public, private, religious, charter-school, homeschooled, or online students in grades 6–12 in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne counties (excluding past scholarship winners and immediate family members of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage staff and its Board of Trust ees, The Malrite Company, or The Maltz Family Foundation).
Learn more on our new Stop the Hate Learning Portal plus access free anti-bias education tools
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 45 ABOUT THE CONTEST
46 | Family Living at Its Best SCHOOL Profiles
The Signature Approach, facilitated by an incredibly impressive and engaged faculty, empowers girls to rise boldly to the challenges of the times, achieve their goals and reach their utmost potential.
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 47
H athaway Brown is an all girls K-12 day school in Shaker Heights. Since 1876, HB has educated and empowered girls with the Learn for Life Signature Approach that integrates distinguished academics, empowered girls, knowledge in action, and a celebrated community of students, alums, and faculty and parents.TheSignature Approach allows students to take ownership of their education with outstanding experiential learning opportunities such as the Storyline model in the Primary School, the Academies in Middle School, and the Fellowships for the Applied Studies in the Upper School.
When girls graduate from Hathaway Brown School, they join an alumnae network of more than 4,000 women who live in 49 states and 27 foreign countries. Ranging in age from 17 to 105, HB alumnae are a celebrated community of civically engaged, trailblazing women who hold positions in every professional industry there is. Many were the first women to complete particular college degree programs or to earn executive-level positions in their respective organizations. For more information, visit HB.edu or contact the Admission office at (216) 320-8767.
OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION: Parent previews are held monthly starting in October. More information at HB.edu/Admission Enrollment: 860 | Grades served: Toddler-12th | Average Class size: 14 | Tuition: $19,700-$37,000 ❞ ❝ “HB’s motto is to “learn not for school, but for life.” From kindergarten to senior year, students are immersed in opportunities that apply concepts learned in the classroom to the real world — uniting learning by thinking with learning by doing. HB gives students the tools they need to succeed in the world beyond our walls.” — Head of School Dr. Fran Bisselle - SPONSORED CONTENTAll-girls K-12, Coed Infant & Toddler Center and Early Childhood Program
The school’s distinguished academics are nationally recognized and are valued by families, top colleges and universities, and employers. Seventy-one percent of HB teachers hold advanced degrees. And each faculty and staff member participates in deep and profound racial equity training. HB’s beautiful 16-acre Shaker Heights campus houses a fourstory glass-paneled atrium, visual and performing arts spaces, an IDEA Lab and Upper School learning commons. Furthermore, there’s an onsite adventure learning course, various dynamic classroom configurations, a working television studio, an aquatics center, tennis courts, and turf playing Hathawayfields.Brown is home to 12 varsity athletics teams, along with the first e-sports team in the country established at an all-girls school. It also has a large and consistently excellent speech and debate team, an award-winning robotics program and several performing arts opportunities.
19600 North Park Boulevard, Shaker Heights HB.edu
Mission integrity think critically creatively joy of lifelong learning.
48 | Family Living at Its Best N estled on a beautiful 93-acre campus in North Ridgeville, Lake Ridge Academy is the only K-12 private school on Cleveland’s west side. Students travel from over 40 communities and 11 countries to receive an outstanding education lead by relationships, where wellness and belonging areApriorities.commitment to small classes led by exceptional teachers who know their students well results in a deeply personal and challenging educational experience. Their unique K-12 community offers consistent cross-grade and cross-divisional interactions, building opportunities for leadership and collaborative learning. At Lake Ridge Academy, students thrive in an environment of intellectual inquiry and academic challenge. Families with high standards purposefully seek them out to provide an engaging and appropriately challenging educational experience. They believe each student is an individual, with unique abilities, strengths, and interests that, when leveraged, lead to optimal learning outcomes. Students learn through experiences that intersect with their curiosity and interests, so that learning is authentic, relevant, and important to them beyond graduation. Supported by the serenity of the 93-acre campus, they weave cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellness into all aspects of the Lake Ridge experience. They recognize that feelings of belonging and practices of inclusivity must be a part of all that they do. A community where every individual feels a strong sense of belonging is one where the joy of teaching and learning thrives. Enrollment: 400 Grades served: K-12 Student to teacher ratio: 8:1 Tuition: $8,720- $33,800 Power Points: • 93-acres of outdoor learning space, including a 3-acre pond, sugar shack, chicken coop, barn and silo, pollinator and prairie garden, rain cistern, and a storybook trail with nine parkour stations. • Authentic learning that extends beyond our campus, with student trips to the Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory, Camp Asbury, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthplace in Boston, as well as voyages abroad to places like Berlin, Budapest, and Thailand. • Four advanced certificate programs in Scientific Research, Engineering and Innovation, Fine Arts, and Global Scholars. • 75% of graduates accepted to their first-choice school, and last year’s graduating class earned over $3 million in scholarships. - SPONSORED CONTENT37501 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville lakeridgeacademy.org440-327-1175
K-12 Preview Days: Monday, October 24 Monday, January 23 Monday, April 24
Statement To send into a changing world confident young people of
and
who
while embracing the
773-681-1692 330-571-8878[Nepalese][English] himalayan-arts-language-cultural-academy-halca.business.site ❝❞ Best Academy to learn about arts, cultures, language, music and dances not only in North Hill akron but also all over US. - Gajmer P
1011 Gorge Blvd,
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 49 - SPONSORED CONTENT -
F or generations, the North Hill neighborhood has welcomed waves of immigrants, and today’s residents come from Nepal, Myanmar, Congo and Afghanistan. After a lengthy discovery process to thoroughly understand the needs of the community, a Gildersleeve preschool was formed. The English as a Second Language (ESL) school builds on community strengths, keeps students connected to their roots, and nurtures student mental health by incorporating activities like yoga, meditation, and traditional music & sports. Gildersleeve’s discovery process identified community members who had been teachers, counselors and other professionals in their home countries and brought them on as faculty and staff. As part of its methodology, Gildersleeve School assists community members through the teacher certification process, tapping into a uniquely appropriate pool of talent. This focus on the wholeness and health of the community organically creates a productive learning environment where students, community and school are connected in a web of affirming bonds that nurture development and achievement. Gildersleeve School empowers the community to create exactly the school it needs for its children. Akron 330-571-8878
50 | Family Living at Its Best 34001 Cedar Road Gates Mills 440-473-8000gilmour.org
A s an independent and Catholic school, Gilmour Academy is uniquely able to develop both the minds and hearts of its students. Gilmour’s identity as an independent school reflects a commitment to rigorous academic programming, smaller class sizes and a variety of real-world learning opportunities. This personalized education allows students to tailor their experience to their interests. They have opportunities such as AP courses; electives ranging from molecular genetics to web development, and set design to digital music; semester-long internships in research labs; or the chance to develop their own concentrated set of experiences and coursework around one of five VECTOR opportunitieslearningGilmour’sthemes.nature-basedprogramincludesforstudentsin all three divisions. The school’s 144-acre campus now features a chicken coop, greenhouse, an apiary, Giving Gardens and an outdoor learning pavilion, and environmental science coursework and sustainability initiatives have been added to the curriculum. The Lorraine and Bill Dodero Center for Performing Arts, which opened in March 2020, features a main stage theater, studio theater, practice rooms and exhibition spaces. This state-of-the-art facility is utilized to advance student engagement and expression through the arts. Gilmour’s unique combination of offerings allows each student to discover their passions within a rigorous academic setting that calls for students to write more, articulate better and develop their ideasGilmour’sfurther.Catholic identity means students are learning in an environment that is inclusive, thought-provoking and rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. Gilmour empowers students of all faiths and all ages to ask tough questions, think critically and grow spiritually. This gives them the strength to see how they can make a difference in the world. Through its comprehensive curriculum, faith-based tradition, commitment to service and emphasis on leadership, Gilmour educates the whole person. A Gilmour graduate emerges with an understanding that they have both the talent and the responsibility to make the world a better place. At Gilmour, students from 18 months to 18 years do more than succeed - they thrive.
- SPONSORED CONTENTGrades served: Montessori preschool (18 Gradesmonths-PreK)K-12 Enrollment: 750 Annual tuition: $5,980-$30,520 Average class size: 15 Student to teacher ratio: 9:1 Mission Statement To develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more humane and just society. To schedule a personal tour, go to gilmour.org/visit
52 | Family Living at Its Best S t. Barnabas School is a family, fostering lifelong relationships and a spirit of loyalty and pride. It is dedicated to the spiritual, academic, social, physical and emotional development of all students. Its staff believes that children learn through experiences, and the earlier they create STEMbased learning experiences, the better. In the “Dream Den,” students from pre-k through eighth grade engage in projects gaining valuable experiences in critical thinking, problem solving, engineering processes, creative design, and collaboration in a technology-rich environment. Its robust science program and state-of-the art science lab enable students across the grades to learn in a hands-on environment. Its staff values the importance and need for additional activities beyond the classroom. St. Barnabas has something for everyone with a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, athletic teams and pep rallies, a student-run TV station, academic competition teams, spirit days, school-wide retreats, community service opportunities and leadership development programs, all intended to foster social development and make lasting memories and friendships. St. Barnabas School is a special place! Come experience the “Saint Barnabas Difference.” 9200 Olde Eight Road • Northfield 330-467-7921 • sbcatholicschool.com Follow us on: OPEN HOUSES: Fall Open House - October 7: time TBD Catholic Schools Week Open House - January 29, 2023: 12:00 - 1:30 PM Contact admissions for a tour: admissions@barnabasohio.org ❞ ❝ The St. Barnabas community has been a stabilizing force for us during this year of uncertainty and incredible stress. We are grateful for the principal, teachers, and staff for their unwavering commitment to our son’s education and well being despite so many challenges. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to enroll our child at St. Barnabas. - Parent of Kindergarten student Grades served: Preschool-grade 8 Enrollment: 480 Student to teacher ratio: 12:1 Tuition: preschool 3s $1,350; preschool 4s $1,750; pre-k firstkindergarten$4,725;$4,000;-eighthgrade$4,530 (new and multi-student discounts) Power Points: • Catholic/Christian traditions and values are cultivated and celebrated • National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence • Commitment to Academic Excellence • Technology enhancedcurriculum (STEM) • Extended Care (K-8th) • Extended Care for preschool and Pre-K • Auxiliary staff and full-time teacher aides • 1:1 Chromebooks; 3D Printers, Raspberry, Pi, Sphero and Lego Robotics, Kodable and numerous other software programs • Small class sizes MISSION STATEMENT: Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in partnership with our parish community, we nurture the seeds of faith and learning, cultivate the tree of knowledge and follow the path of Christ while serving others. - SPONSORED CONTENT -
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com more events
| 53 SEPTEMBER CA lenDAR Find
NortheastOhioParent.comat
pickFeatherswithFun&Wings-a-day
After School Cartooning. Ages 6-10 will learn to draw in their own individual cartooning style. 9/1210/24. 4:15-5:15 p.m. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, beckcenter.org Sing and Swing: Rhythm Kids. Drumming, games, rhythm patterns and singing for ages 4-8. 9/12-11/14. 4-4:45 p.m. The Music Settlement, 2610 Detroit Ave., Ohio City, themusicsettlement.org TUESDAYS Kids Kitchen. The Greater Cleveland Foodbank teaches kids about delicious, healthy snacks. 2:30-3:15 p.m. Rice Branch Library, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, cpl.org GED-Project Learn. Assistance for those wishing to earn their Ohio High School Equivalency Diploma. 5 p.m. Cuyahoga Falls Library, 2015 Third St., cuyahogafallslibrary.org
Grand Times. Celebrating grand parents and creating memories. Noon-4 p.m. Eton, 28867 Chagrin Blvd., etonchagrinblvd.comWoodmere, Grandparents Festival. Celebrate with your grandparents and grand-friends all day. Parma-Powers Branch Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., cuyahogalibrary.orgParma, 9/10
MONDAYS Paint Like the Masters. Ages 9-12 learn to paint in the style of famous artists like Van Gogh and Picasso. 9/19-10/24. 4:30-6 p.m. Bay Arts, 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, bayarts.net
Birds of a Feather. Discover how raptors and songbirds soar through the skies, learn how feathers work and more. 10:30 a.m. West Creek Reservation, 2277 W. Ridge wood Drive, clevelandmetroparks.comParma, 9/17-18 Butterfly Release. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Beech Creek Botanical Garden, 11929 Beech St. NE, beechcreekgardens.orgAlliance, 10/2 Migrating Monarchs: Butterfly Tag and Release Event. 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:301:30 p.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org
TUESDAY THURSDAY& After School Teen Program, Have a meal and play some games. 2:45-5 p.m. That Place for Teens, 1480 Pearl Road, thatplace4teens.comBrunswick, day - by - day 9/2-5 & 9/9-10 Cleveland Oktoberfest. An exciting menu of activities and entertainment. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Rd., Middleburg clevelandoktoberfest.comHts., 9/6 Student Advocacy Team. Stu dents are invited to discuss teen issues related to community and library. 3:30 p.m. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Rd., rrpl.org 9/8 CLE-Connect for Kids. Learn about fire, civic and personal safety while having fun. 2-4:30 p.m. Rice Branch Library, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, cpl.org Family Engineering Night. Friendly engineering competi tion to challenge your STEM skills. 6:30 p.m. North Ridgeville Branch Library, 37500 Bainbridge Road, lorainpubliclibrary.org 9/10
SUNDAYS Family FUNday. Family-friendly games, movement-based activi ties, art, and more. First Sunday of the month. 1-4 p.m. Community Arts Center, West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org
STEAM Lab:Hot Air Balloon Art. Explore science, technology, engineering, art and math. 6 p.m. Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna, reedlibrary.org 9/22 Girl Scouts Information Night. Hosted by Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. 6-7:30 p.m. Amherst Public Library, 221 Spring St., amherst.lib.oh.us Teen Paint Along. Teens are invit ed to celebrate the first day of fall with autumn-themed paintings. 7 p.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org 9/23 Promises in the Park. Free out door wedding and vow renewal. 11 a.m.-Noon. Cascade Valley Metro Park, Valley View Area, 1212 Cuyahoga St., summitmetroparks.orgAkron, 9/24 Education & STEM Expo. Daylong celebration of education, science and technology. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., northeastohioparent.comCleveland,
World’s Largest Ghost Hunt. When the world comes together for one purpose. 3:30-7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. North, cantonpalacetheatre.orgCanton, CVSR: Family Loop. Half-loop experience to learn about the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Cuyahoga Valley Nation al Park. 1:55 p.m. Peninsula Station, cvsr.org Aurora Horse Tale Day. Children K-5 are invited to read to therapy horses. 1 p.m. Aurora Memorial Library, 115 E. Pioneer portagecounty.lib.oh.usTrail, Family Yoga. Join this fun family yoga class. 2 p.m. North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St., ncantonlibrary.com 9/25 Family Hike. Investigate what’s migrating this fall. 2 p.m. Mentor Marsh, 5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, cmnh.org Be Who You Are Day. Participate in author/illustrator Todd Parr themed activities about being you. 3-5 p.m. Hudson Library, 96 Library St., hudsonlibrary.org 9/29 Cooking Class for Kids. Learn to make a mini apple pie. Willowick Public Library, 263 E. 305th St., we247.org CALENDAR
Pirate Fest. Dress like a pirate, learn to talk like a pirate and more. 11 a.m.3 p.m. Kenmore Branch Library, 969 Kenmore Blvd., akronlibrary.orgAkron, 9/10-11
American Mariachi. Heartwarm ing story of family, memory and the power of song. Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1407 Euclid Ave, playhousesquare.orgCleveland, 9/18 Kids Maker Fest. Calling all childhood creatives and their grown-ups! 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High akronartmuseum.orgSt., Art Smarts. Explore works of a well-known artist and create your own piece. Grades 4-6. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org 9/20
Kent’s Art in the Park. Featuring artists who express their creative tal ents.. Fred Fuller Park, 497 Middlebury Rd., kentbiz.com 9/13 Fungi for Families. Hike with a naturalist to pick and ID mushrooms. 10-11:30 a.m. Plum Creek Park North, 2390 Plum Creek Pkwy., Brunswick Hills, medinacountyparks.com 9/15 Spy School Science. Learn how to extract DNA, crack a secret code and more. 6:30 p.m. Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., mcdl.info 9/16 Curious Day. Celebrate the be loved character Curious George with fun games and activities. Noon. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., mentorpl.org Kindergarten Readiness. Spike’s Place wants to help your 4- or 5-year-old child prepare for kindergarten. 11 a.m. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Road, smfpl.org 9/17 Cleveland Pickle Fest. Noon-7 p.m. Mall B, 300 St. Clair Ave. NE, clevelandpicklefest.comCleveland, International Red Panda Day at the Akron Zoo. Celebrate the return of our red pandas with fun educational activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org Dino Roar! Tour. Exciting, educa tional and fun show for families. 1-2:30 p.m. Great Northern Mall, 4954 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, greatnorthernohio.com Polliwog Paddle Family Canoe. Ages 5+ with an adult come for an easy-paced float. 1-3 p.m. Eldon Russell Park, 16315 Rapids Road, Troy geaugaparkdistrict.orgTwp., Big Fun with Big Rigs. Hands-on exploration of firetrucks, cement mixers and more. 11 a.m. Key stone-LaGrange Branch Library, 101 West St., elyrialibrary.orgLaGrange, 9/17-10/9
September
54 | Family Living at Its Best
PICK-A-DAY
Family Story Time. Fingerplays, music and crafts. 9/19-11/30. 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org &MONDAYTHURSDAY Preschool Story Time. Stories, songs, dance and more. 10 a.m. Through 11/14. Peninsula Library, 6105 Riverview Road, peninsulalibrary.org TUESDAYS Family Storytime. Stories, mu sic and fun for ages 0 to 6. 11 a.m. Administrative Center Branch Library, 12701 Ravenwood Dr., Chardon, divi. geaugalibrary.net Toddler Tales. Songs, fingerplays and books for ages 2-3 with an adult. 10:30 a.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org Cuentos en español-Stories in Spanish. Hear stories, dance and play with friends. 6:30 p.m. 9/13-12/6. Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Paines ville, morleylibrary.org Stories and More! Enjoy books, rhymes, and songs with your child. 10:15 a.m. North Hill Branch Library, 183 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, akronlibrary.org
Family Fun Storytime. Toe-tapping, hand-clapping good time of stories, songs and rhymes. 11:30 a.m., 6 & 7 p.m. Euclid Public Library, 631 E. 222nd St., euclidlibrary.org
THURSDAYS Wee Read and Play. Stories, active songs, rhymes and time to play. 1111:30 a.m. Union Branch Library, 3463 E. 93rd St., Cleveland, cpl.org
56 | Family Living at Its Best
Baby & Me Story Time. Interac tive session using songs, rhymes, puppets and musical instruments. 10 a.m. Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., wadsworthlibrary.com Storytime Stars. Stories, songs and a craft for ages 5 and under. Through 11/14. 10:30 a.m. West River Branch Library, 1194 W. River Road N., Elyria, elyrialibrary.org
Stroller Strides at Crocker Park. A functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Westlake, crockerpark.com
SELECT WEDNESDAYS & SATURDAYS Seiberling Explorers. Kids, ages 3-6, with an adult enjoy interactive adventures. 10:30 a.m. Through 10/29. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org
MONDAYS
&MONDAYWEDNESDAY
My Family Storytime. Introduce books, bouncy rhymes, and musical beats. 10:30 a.m. Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Rd., mcdl.info
PARENT & CHILD Activities
FRIDAYS Story Stop. Story, songs, and dancing. 10:30-11 a.m. Noble Neigh borhood Library, 2800 Noble Rd., Cleveland Heights, heightslibrary.org Finger Paint Fridays. Bring your little one to explore their creativity. 10 a.m.-noon. Mentor Headlands Branch Library, 4669 Corduroy Road, Mentor, mentorpl.org DAY-BY-DAY 9/7 Preschool Park Pals. Preschool ers with an adult learn about seed dispersal. 10 a.m. Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road, loraincountymetroparks.comLagrange, 9/9 Family Weekend Wonders. Drop in to the Library’s special weekend story time. 7 p.m. Lakewood Library, Main Branch, 15425 Detroit lakewoodpubliclibrary.orgAve., 9/21 Story Time in the Park: Countdown to Fall. Explore the wonders of falls with a book. 10 a.m. Hidden Lake South, 7024 Kniffen Road, Leroy Twp., lakemetroparks.com 9/24 Chemistry Science for Preschoolers. Ages 3-5 will learn about basic chemistry through hands-on activities. 2 p.m. South Lorain Branch Library, 2121 Homewood Drive, lorainpubliclibrary.org
AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER CreationONGOINGEducation Museum. Com paring and contrasting scientific models like evolution and intelligent design on the origin of the universe, and catastrophism and uniformi tarianism models on the geologic record. 2080 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com
THE MUSEUMCLEVELANDOFART THROUGH 3/5/23
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 57 AKRON ZOO LegendsONGOINGof the Wild. How did the jaguar get its spots? How does the Andean condor carry the sun into the sky? Learn the answers to the leg ends of these animals and more. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org
MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE COMING FALL 2022 This Light of Ours. Features works by nine activist photographers who documented the clash between in stitutionalized discrimination and de termined resistance by activists and volunteers. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org
Text and Image of Southern Asia. A collection of illuminated Buddhist and Jain manuscript pages, many of which were identified and dated by Phyllis Granoff, Lex Hixon Professor Emerita of World Religions at Yale University. 1150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org GREAT SCIENCELAKESCENTER YouthONGOINGExhibits. Feed young sci entists’ curiosity with special youth exhibits like the Polymer Funhouse, Port Polymer, and early childhood workshops. 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, greatscience.com GREATER AQUARIUMCLEVELAND SharkONGOINGGallery & Sea Tube. With 230,000 gallons of water, this impres sive space features three species of sharks, stingrays, eels and many other species of fish. 2000 Sycamore St., greaterclevelandaquarium.comCleveland, HOLDEN ARBORETUM MurchONGOINGCanopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. A 500-foot-long elevated walkway that’s 65 feet above the forest floor and a tower 12 stories tall provide a breathtaking view. 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org
METROPARKSCLEVELAND ZOO AustralianONGOING Adventure. Visit koalas year-round at Gumleaf Hideout. See kangaroos and wallabies in Wallaby Walkabout, and visit Kookaburra Sta tion for up-close animal encounters. 3900 Wildlife futureforwildlife.orgWay,
FRIDAYS Home School Skate. Exciting and beneficial form of recreation for home school children. 10/4-12/16. 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Mentor Ice Area, 8600 Munson Road, mentoricearena.com DAY-BY-DAY 9/7-9
HOMESCHOOL Happenings
Homeschool Science. Children will enjoy a variety of learning experiences. Ages 6-12. 3 p.m. Willough by Public Library, 30 Public Square, we247.org
MUSEUMCHILDREN’SCLEVELAND AdventureONGOING City. This multi-level en vironment, consisting of cozy corners and tall overlooks, encourages pre tend play and limitless imagination. 3813 Euclid Ave., cmccleveland.orgCleveland, BOTANICALCLEVELANDGARDEN CostaONGOINGRica Glasshouse. Experience the year-round exuberance you can find only in a Central American rainforest with towering trees, ev er-blooming shrubs, and more. 11030 East Blvd., University Circle, cbgarden.org
Creative Writing for Homeschoolers. Nature will serve as your inspiration. Ages 8-12. 2-3:15 p.m. Oenslager Nature Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Ctr., medinacountyparks.com 9/10-25
AKRON ART MUSEUM THROUGH Reflections9/11on Perception. What makes visuals like the reflection of clouds in water so compelling? This exhibit explores how artists working in realism employ such surfaces to create engaging compositions. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org
tember 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com
Home School Days at Sauder Village. Connect your child to local history. 10-3:30 p.m. 22611 State Route 2, Archbold, saudervillage.org 9/8 Homeschoolers: Potato Bugs. Ages 7-14 dig into the fascinating world of these land-dwelling crus taceans. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, summitmetroparks.orgTwinsburg, Homeschool Day:Climbing and Fitness. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. High Point Climbing and Fitness, 2499 Keith St. NW, Cleveland, highpointclimbing.com 9/8 & 10/13
ONGOING ATTRACTIONS
PICK-A-DAY WEDNESDAYS Community Connections Homeschool Program. Create and connect with other homeschoolers. 9/7-10/19. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Novelty, fairmountcenter.org Chagrin River Homeschool. Students will be im mersed in hands-on learning and exploration. 9/21, 10/19 and 11/16. 10 a.m.-Noon. North Chagrin Res ervation Nature Center, 401 Buttermilk Falls Pkwy., Mayfield Village, clevelandmetroparks.com
STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS Entertaining:ONGOING You’re Invited. Show casing how the estate was used as an event space, with a deep dive into the types of parties and events that were held there, and who attended. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org
Colonial Williamsburg Homeschool Days. Homes choolers and their families discover history brought to life. 101 Visitor Center Dr., Williamsburg, VA, colonialwilliamsburg.org 9/22, 10/20 & 11/17
If one of us bled out or a tornado razed the neighborhood, we knew that we weren’t allowed to bother her until the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation. (My mom liked Deep Space Nine too, but she couldn’t spare two hours in the same week.)
58 | Family Living at Its Best Give To Yourself Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree is a classic of children’s literature about a little boy, the tree who loved him, and the tree’s complete inability to establish boundaries.Forthose who haven’t read it, a little boy has a favorite climbing tree. He eats its apples, scurries along its boughs, and makes crowns from its laurel leaves. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. But then the boy ages, and his requests become more demanding. He sells the tree’s apples for money, slices its branches for a house, and cuts down the trunk for a boat. (I’m guessing it’s some sort of dugout canoe.)
By Jason Lea Jason Lea has a son, a daughter and a full-time job at the Mentor Public Library. He also blogs for Northeast Ohio Parent in his nonexistent free time. You can find this East-sider on Twitter
Ultimately, the tree has nothing left but its stump. When the boy — now a withered old man — returns for the last time, the tree can only offer its stub as a seat. But the tree isn’t sad that it lost everything from the roots up. After all, it can still serve its beloved boy by giving him a place to “Andsit. the tree was happy,” Shel Silver stein promises at the conclusion of this horror story. Of course, I’m not synopsizing this 50-year-old picture book for fun. I do it as a warning.Because you — oh, reader of Northeast Ohio Parent — are probably a parent. And you probably make sacrifices every day for your child. You give those kids your probablyleavesmetaphoricalandfruitandserveasalit eral climbing tree occasionally. You love your children — stained walls, wrecked cars, and all — and you would give whatever you could to make sure your children are OK. But I beg you, plead with you… don’t Giving Tree yourself. You are a whole person — not the raw re sources for your child’s happiness. It’s OK to give them your apples and leaves, or whatever you want that to mean metaphorically, but don’t turn yourself into a stump. Perhaps, you need an hour in the morning for exercise or some Netflix time at night. Maybe you need your kids to stop eating the cupcake that was clearly marked “For Mom or Dad.” Whatever it is, you need some corner of the universe that is yours alone and some aspect of your life that is not “parent.”
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As an example, I offer my mother. Now, Mrs. Lea both was and is a giver. To this day, she’d probably turn herself into a dugout canoe for the sake of her grandkids. But, even she sanctified an hour each week for herself.
Dad
PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON LEA
If you don’t have it already, find your Star Trek. Find that thing which is inviolable, even by your children Of course, some of you don’t need to read this. Maybe you’ve already figured out the alchemy of caring for your children without impoverishing yourself. That’s great, but every family is different. Do it for yourself. Do it for your sanity. Heck, do it for your kids. Because they need to learn that “no” is a valid answer, and noth ing brings happiness unless you’re content with it. And when is the person who gets everything they ask for ever content? After all, the tree might have been happy at the end of The Giving Tree, but the boy still looked pretty miserable. MATTERS
60 | Family Living at Its Best Lyndhurst Cleveland–West Gates Mills University Circle COEDUCATIONAL, TODDLER – GRADE 12 Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle School Wednesday, 9/28/22, Parent Visit Thursday, 10/20/22, Parent Visit Toddler – Grade 8 | Lyndhurst Campus Upper School Tuesday, 9/20/22, Parent Visit Tuesday, 10/18/22, Parent Visit Grades 9–12 | Gates Mills Campus Mastery School Thursday, 9/22/22, Parent Visit Tuesday, 10/4/22, Parent Visit Grades 9–12 | University Circle Campus Plan your visit today: To RSVP and for more information, call 440.423.2950 (Lower & Middle School), 440.423.2955 (Upper School), 440.423.8801 (Mastery School), or visit hawken.edu/admissions. : SCHOOL REDEFINED Get ready to do school differently!
