NW Kids Magazine August 2014

L I V E • PLAY • DO

magazine

BIKE TO SCHOOL | PLAYWORKS SECOND-HAND WONDERLAND | KIDS RESALE RESOURCE GUIDE IMPROVING YOUR SCHOOL | BACK TO SCHOOL GEAR

nwkidsmagazine.com

Aug 2014

2 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 3

EDITORS’

Corner

It seems like just yesterday that I (Kelley) was struggling to master the Moby wrap in preparation for a day of simple adventure with my daughter. Fast-forward five years and here we are, a few months shy of her 6th birthday and Kindergarten right around the corner.

Back to school up to this point has meant prepping a change of clothes to be kept in her preschool cubby, new slippers, sewing resting pillows and bringing in a blanket for naptime. But this year heading to school marks the beginning of what will become many years of “back to school.” My baby is growing up—and while it’s a little scary to think about her finding her way amidst the big kids at the “big school,” she is ready, and I couldn’t be more excited for her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m dreading drop off on the first day, and am extremely grateful that I live a short block from our school, so I can go home and cry, but am also so happy for her and for our family to have arrived at this place called Kindergarten.

This month we have compiled some fantastic editorial on all things, well, back to school. If you’ve been curious about how to bike commute to school this year, don’t miss our piece on page 14 about doing just that. Within it you’ll find some resources on how to get started. In this issue, we also feature a nonprofit that is close to our hearts, Playworks. If you’re not familiar with this great organization, take some time to read up on how they’re transforming recess in Portland schools. And if you’re in need of some back to school duds, don’t miss out on where you can find some great resale deals around town.

August also brings endless opportunities for music festivals, street fairs, movies in the park and packing in a sweet spur-of-themoment trek to the river. If you’re in need of a few suggestions our online calendar is brimming over with summer goodies or be sure to check out page 28 for our top picks of the month.

Can you believe it? In a few shorts weeks, our kiddos will be back in school, but right now our car is packed with swim gear, floaties, sunscreen and snacks. We’re ready to go and we hope you are, too!

Kelley & Beth Cover and Contents Photography courtesy of BEN MCLEOD Twitter: @bentonmcleod 4 | NW Kids Magazine

Contents AUGUST 2014

8 Found Around Town: Back to School Gear 10 Second-Hand Wonderland 13 Kids Resale and Consignment Shops 14 Back to School? Bike to School 18 The Changing Face of Play During the School Day 22 Back to School Book Reviews For Kids 24 14 Ways to Improve Your School 28 Best of Portland and Beyond: Our Top Picks for Getting Out This Month 34 Notes from a Coach: Exercise Turns Your Child into a Superhero

NW Kids Magazine | 5

Listings Aadland Dental..........................................................27 Aim High Martial Arts...............................................17 Bada’s Place................................................................27 Barre3...........................................................................7 Beanstalk....................................................................15 Bella Organic Farm.....................................................32 Bella Stella.................................................................11 Bennett Suzuki...........................................................27 Black Wagon..............................................................15 Clackamas Speech.....................................................32 College Nannies.........................................................17 Cornerstone Montessori.............................................27 Do Jump.....................................................................32 Dr. Pike Dentistry for Children......................................7 Eb and Bean...............................................................32 Eco Maids.....................................................................9 German American School............................................2 Glendoveer Tennis......................................................17 GoodTime Chinese School...........................................9 Just Between Friends.................................................11 Laurelwood Public House & Brewery........................17 Legacy Health..............................................................3 Little Fruit Farm Montessori.........................................9 Little Linguists...........................................................27 My MasterPiece Art Studio..........................................9 North Portland Orthodontics.......................................9 Omega Gymnastics....................................................19 Once Upon a Child.....................................................11 Oregon Children’s Theatre............................................2 Oregon Episcopal School...........................................23 Oregon Hope Chinese School....................................27 Pass it on Sales...........................................................11 Pipsqueak Resale.......................................................15 Pizazz Baking Camp...................................................27 Portland Children’s Dentistry.....................................19 Portland Language Arts..............................................9 Portland Rock Gym....................................................33 Portland Trampolines.................................................25 Rasmussen Farms......................................................19 Rising Star Chinese School........................................32 Rox in Sox...................................................................29 School of Autism........................................................23 Scuola Italiana di Portland........................................32 Shwop........................................................................15 Soccer Shots...............................................................36 Spielwerk...................................................................33 SunGarden Montessori Children’s House..................19 Sunshine Montessori School.....................................33 Sweet Peas Kidzone...................................................15 The Kids’ Backyard Store............................................25 The Vintage Pearl.......................................................27 Thrift Mouse...............................................................15 Trinity Lutheran School/Portland Lutheran School..21 Tualatin Valley Preschool...........................................27 Vibe of Portland.........................................................33 Westside Montesori International.............................23 Whole Foods Market..................................................35 World Forestry Center................................................21 World of Smiles..........................................................32 6 | NW Kids Magazine

magazine Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Account Manager Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator Brenna Burke brenna@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@folkloremedia.com Client Ad Design Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies.

Printed locally; Please recycle.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

NW Kids Magazine | 7

Puppies & Kitties Tee

by Slow Factory on etsy.com, $14

Crocodile Creek Double Decker Lunch Box at Kids At Heart, $20

Reusable Sandwich Bag by Sav-Ur-Sac! at etsy.com, $9.50

FOUND Lego Notebook at The Lego Store, $15

Pencil Roll by Non Perishable Goods at Spielwerk Toys, $28

Horse Backpack by SoYoung at Black Wagon, $48 8 | NW Kids Magazine

around Town

Silver Wings by Schwings at Powell’s Books, $9

Cat Pencil Pouch at Paper Source, $5

Youth Ninja

by Sock it to Me at sockittome.com, $9.50

Lego Black Flag Tee by hatchforkids.com, $24

NW Kids Magazine | 9

SECOND-HAND WONDERLAND Article and Photographs by LAURA JOST

More times than not, when someone compliments me or my kids on a piece of our wardrobe, I get to tell them I picked it up second-hand; the same is true of most of our furniture and housewares. I play a game with my husband when I bring home new finds.

After he expresses how exceptional the item is, I ask “Guess how much I paid?!” He used to respond with a realistic number and then I’d proudly tell him how much less I’d spent. Now he consistently answers, “Ninety-nine cents” like he’s on a game show and doesn’t want to lose by guessing too high.

Growing up, the idea of clothing that was not new would illicit winces because you never knew what to expect from the neighbor up the street or someone who worked with a parent.

Garments were typically out-of-date and well worn (if they fit at all), but how could you not be grateful for people who cared enough about your family to hand them over? Once, my sister and I were given an outgrown, giant dollhouse complete with working electricity, flocked wallpaper, and shag carpeting. That house was the hard proof that pre-owned could be awesome. Later, worn flannels and boots had a moment in the 90s sun, but depending on where you lived, it wasn’t necessarily easy to find a decent second-hand 10 | NW Kids Magazine

shop. When given the opportunity, I would always give thrift a chance, but sometimes it was less work to cut corners by raiding my mother’s college 501s and cropped sweatpants.

Nowadays, it seems that Americans purchase far more than we need in general. I know plenty of folks (guilty) who make buys that are a size-off, amazing on the hanger, or too good of a deal to pass up and we hope that it will miraculously fit AND look incredible once we get home. The same goes for gorgeous vases that never manage to see a flower, board games that are perpetually stuffed in the back of the closet, generous gifts that aren’t quite our style, and that vintage buffet that was never milk-painted to magazine perfection. It is the existence of these unneeded objects, and the fact that we live in a metropolitan area with a plethora of venues in which to purchase those pre-loved items, that makes for a win-win scenario. Buying used doesn’t just save you money; there are several benefits.

You can: • A chieve uniqueness by purchasing something that seven of your friends don’t already own.

• Actively reduce, reuse, and recycle. continued on p. 12

NW Kids Magazine | 11

PICCOLINA Maternity and Children’s clothing, accessories and gear 2700 SE 26th Ave and 4416 SE Woodstock Blvd piccolinaresale.com

• C onsign your own unwanted items as credit toward something that you really do want or need.

• D ecorate and dress from a bygone era because they really don’t make ‘em like they used to.

• F ind a collection of choices in one location instead of making several shopping trips.

This also gives you the opportunity to figure out what styles you truly love that are not limited to what’s available via mass market retailers.

RERUN Furniture, housewares, and clothing 707 NE Fremont St portlandrerun.com BELLA STELLA Maternity and children’s clothing and accessories 2751 NE Broadway St bellastellaresale.com GIVE & TAKE Furniture, housewares, clothing, you name it 8128 N Denver Ave giveandtakeresale.com

• S ee how something that’s already been a touch life-worn or laundered will truly look and feel.

REVIVA Furniture, housewares, jewelry, and accessories 6720 NE Martin Luther King Blvd yesrevivapdx.com

• P lan ahead with larger sizes for your littles and have seasonal pieces ready before you need them, saving you cash and sanity when kids grow three inches overnight.

CONSIGN COUTURE Women’s clothing and accessories 7400 N Lombard consign-couture.com

The good news is that resale shops have changed the face of thrifting. Not to say that there aren’t truly marvelous buys in thrift stores, but resale shops specifically provide a carefully edited inventory of (mostly) total bargains that require less effort to unearth. A gem IS waiting to come home with you! An internet or map search for the words resale, consignment, vintage, or thrift will reveal choices no matter where you live, but to get you going, here’s a list of favorite resale shops that my friends and I recommend:

BOMBSHELL VINTAGE Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories 811 E Burnside bombshellvintageclothing.com

BUTTON Women and children’s clothing 6517 N Interstate Ave buttonpdx.com ALEXSANDRA’S VINTAGE EMPORIUM Vintage clothing and accessories 6726 N Interstate Ave alexsandras.com 12 | NW Kids Magazine

HAWTHORNE VINTAGE Furniture and housewares 4722 SE Hawthorne hawthornevintagepdx.com VILLAGE MERCHANTS Furniture, housewares, clothing, you name it 4035 SE Division St villagemerchants.net Laura Jost has always been a thrifty saver, and pretty A-type. She’s still learning about her personal style, what she really wants in life, and how not to overdo everything. She loves these words by William Morris: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

ALL ABOUT KIDS 121 Main, Gresham allaboutkidsgresham.com BABY & ME 13815 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard 3207 NW Glencoe Road, Hillsboro 12640 NW Cornell Road, Cedar Mill babyandmepdx.com BABY TO BABY 8685 SW Canyon Road babytobabyresale.com BACK ON THE RACK 2900 SW Cornelius Pass Road, Suite 220 shopbackontherack.com BEANSTALK 3527 NE 15th beanstalkpdx.com BELLA STELLA 2751 NE Broadway bellastellaresale.com HAPPY BEE’S 2270 NW Thurman Street 503.522.7204 HOOT-N-ANNIE 7850 SW Barbur Boulevard hoot-n-annie.com JUST 4 KIDS 1925 NE 42nd Avenue #F 503.249.7556 KATELYN’S CLOSET 7429 SW Capital Highway katelynscloset.com MILAGROS 5433 NE 30th Avenue milagrosboutique.com MISSISSIPPI TREEHOUSE 3954 N Williams misstreehouse.com ONCE UPON A CHILD 11505 NE Fourth Plains Road, Vancouver onceuponachildvancouverwa.com PICCOLINA 2700 SE 26th Avenue, 4416 SE Woodstock piccolinaresale.com

RESOURCE GUIDE:

Kids Resale & Consignment Shops PIPSQUEAK RESALE BOUTIQUE 14602 NE Fourth Plain Road, Vancouver pipsqueakresale.com QUEENS MAB 1920 N Kilpatrick 503.285.5277 READY SET GROW 10325 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver 360.448.7644 SHWOP 2419 SE Powell shwoppdx.com SPANKY’S 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Suite 114, Vancouver shopspankys.com SWEET PEAS 8235 SE 13th, Suite 1 sweetpearesale.com TINY HINYS 10910 NE Fourth Plain Road, Vancouver 360.885.2786 ZANZIBAR 4107 NE Tillamook zanzibarresale.com

Upcoming Sales JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS September 4-6, Salem September 19-21, Portland Expo Center portlandjbfsale.com PASS IT ON October 9-12 (check Facebook for location) passitonsales.com THRIFT MOUSE October 24-26 Washington County Fairgrounds thriftmouse.com NW Kids Magazine | 13

BACK TO SCHOOL?

BIKE

TO SCHOOL Article and Photographs by BEN MCLEOD

In 1970, 89% of kids who lived a mile-or-less from school walked or rode their bikes to school. By 2009, that number was down to 13%. Along the same timeline, we’ve seen childhood obesity skyrocket. Many parents cite “traffic-related danger” as a reason they won’t allow their children to walk or ride their bike to school, which leads to more traffic, and thus, fulfills their fears of a more dangerous street. Recent traffic studies have estimated that a quarter of morning rush hour traffic is comprised of parents bringing their children to school!

Let’s change that. If everyone who lives within a mile of their school decided to walk or ride bikes with their kids to school, we could dramatically cut back on traffic and immediately make our roads safer. Even if people do it half the time, they’ll be making an impact. The long-term effect will be safer streets and healthier kids.

WHERE TO START Riding bikes with your children has so many rewards, but you need to go into it prepared.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind.

• Bikes. The right bike will make all the difference in the world. An uncomfortable bike is really no fun, and let’s face it; you want this to be fun. Your bike should make you happy. Do yourself a favor and head to your local bike shop. Talk to the folks there.

They will help make sure that you and yours are properly fit. We are very lucky to have some amazing bike shops in this city. We have several that specialize in family biking and commuting, and we even have one that specializes in kids’ bikes; Isla Bikes on SE 7th has everything from balance bikes to bikes for teens.

• Helmets. This is a given, but make sure the helmet actually fits your child! I see a lot of kids riding around with droopy, ill fitting helmets that won’t provide protection if needed. And while you’re at it, pop one on your noggin. It sets a good example.

• Bike accessories. We live in a rainy city and the school year falls right into the rainy season. Your bikes should have fenders.

Lights, too. I have a rear rack on my bike, to which, I hang two Ortliebs (waterproof bags) stuffed with the kids’ school stuff. continued on p. 16

14 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 15

CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE There’s a really good chance that there’s a Safe Routes to School map for your school. Head to the PBOT website to see: portlandoregon.gov/transportation/49335

• Gear. Along those rainy city lines, make sure that you all have decent rain gear. A rain jacket, rain pants and boots makes all the difference between a child showing up to school happy and ready for the day, or wet and miserable.

SAFETY As a parent, safety is always going to be your top concern. You’re always going to be thinking about the worst-case scenario. The secret to urban biking with your kids is being able to let go of your deepest fears and just concentrate on practical safety. Before you head out on the road with your kids, make sure that they have a solid understanding of the basic rules of the road. Knowing which side of the road to ride on is pretty helpful!

The next step is clear communication, both with your child, as well as with traffic around you. My children and I use hand signals to indicate when we are turning, stopping, slowing, or when there is debris in the road.

We also shout out “car back” when there’s, well, a car behind us, or “slowing” when we’re, you know, slowing down. You get the picture.

The point is, make sure everyone is always aware of your intentions.

There is safety in numbers. Find out if there are any organized bike trains to your kids’ school. If there are not, organize your own and encourage your neighbors to join you. biketrainpdx.org is a good resource.

In general, when riding with kids, your best bet will be to stick with what Portland calls a “Neighborhood Greenway” which is a residential street that sees a low-volume of vehicular traffic and has been marked with “sharrows” (a large bike symbol with two arrows). The speed limit on these Greenways is 20 MPH. For more on Neighborhood Greenways, go to: portlandoregon.gov/transportation/50518 Another way to find a bike-friendly route is to use GoogleMaps. Just turn on the “Bicycling” layer. Potential routes show up in green.

Greenways are dashed, while bike lanes are solid (so are bike paths, which is one of the disadvantages to this approach, as there is a big difference between the two).

Try to stay off of sidewalks. The only time you really want to be on a sidewalk is when you need to make a connection and the only route is an arterial, such as Powell or 82nd.

Sidewalks are generally far more hazardous places to ride than streets.

While riding on a Greenway, or any other residential street, ride two abreast and take the lane (adult to the left, child to the right). The most dangerous thing you can do is ride single file on the far right of the road. Don’t be a gutter bunny! This only encourages cars to pass when it’s unsafe. If there is a car behind, and it is safe for them to pass (i.e. no oncoming cars), push over to the right a bit and signal the driver to pass. If it is not safe to pass, hold the lane until it becomes safe. Not only is this the safest way to ride, but it is the legal way to ride.

In Oregon (and many other states), cyclists have the right to the full lane and motorists may only pass when it is safe to do so.

Ben McLeod lives in Sellwood with his family. Most days, during the school year, he and his boys ride their bikes to the boys’ school in Lair Hill. You can find him on Twitter @bentonmcleod.

16 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 17

THE CHANGING FACE OF PLAY DURING THE SCHOOL DAY by KELLEY SCHAEFER-LEVI

As Mom to a kid entering Kindergarten next month, I have concerns about whether she will succeed in school. Will she engage with teachers and students? Will she listen and sit quietly for extended periods of time? Will she excel? After all, this is a girl who starts and ends her day with heavy play. Not one for a lot of quiet time, she is usually running, riding, jumping or climbing during most of her waking hours, and struggles if she doesn’t have ample time to do so. I also worry about recess, how little time kids actually get to play outside during the school day, what happens on the playground, and how this will affect her ability to engage, learn and find a place of comfort and belonging at school.

Portland Public Schools recess time average is about 30-45 minutes per day and that is higher than the national average, which has been whittled down to about 15 minutes.

According to principals and teachers locally and beyond the playground has become a chaotic place where kids are spending less time playing and more time in conflict.

Adults are closely monitoring play and quelling disagreements that happen on the playground, and these conflicts are moving

Photographs courtesy of PLAYWORKS PACIFIC NORTHWEST

into the classroom, impacting the school day on the whole. I feel compelled to wonder, why do these conflicts arise, how can schools improve recess to make play fun and beneficial, and ultimately, how do we make the playground a safe environment for kids?

Enter national nonprofit Playworks.

Playworks provides trained, full-time coaches focused on recess to low-income schools in major urban areas. They also offer training and technical assistance to any school, district and youth organization that wants to ensure every kid plays safely, inclusively and with joy. The results have been evident in that kids feel safer on the playground and empowered in the classroom. In a nationwide survey of nearly 4400 principals and teachers in schools that partnered with Playworks in the 2012-13 school year, respondents reported they reclaimed an average of 20 hours of teaching time because there are fewer behavioral problems on the playground and in the classroom. Playworks has been present in Portland area schools since 2009 with more principals and parents interested in adopting the program every year. continued on p. 20

18 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 19

So what does a Playworks recess look like?

According to Pacific Northwest Executive Director Jonathan Blasher, “A Playworks recess is high-energy, inclusive and kiddriven.” There are lots of different games and activities with kids from all different backgrounds and skill sets playing together.

Not only are kids playing together, but the way they are playing is respectful, inclusive and healthy. Kids take turns, handle conflict on their own and promote positivity through high-fives and encouragement, while competing and cooperating at maximum levels. “A Playworks recess looks, feels and sounds like a safe and engaging environment where everyone is learning through play and having fun,” says Blasher.

While Playworks got its start by serving low-income elementary schools with a fulltime Playworks coach onsite running all day every day, Blasher says the nonprofit’s vision is that someday every kid in America will get to play at school every day, “Playworks is for every kid and play works for every kid.”

Beyond direct service schools can partner with Playworks Training for professional development workshops and consultation.

In the 2014-15 school year, Playworks will also pilot test several new service models, including a 4:1 TeamUp model where a fulltime Playworks coach splits their time among four schools; rather than the traditional 1:1 model. The new TeamUp model will focus on leading, teaching and inspiring play at partner

20 | NW Kids Magazine

schools to help build capacity among existing school staff and volunteers to maximize the resources of recess and play. This means that more kids can benefit from the Playworks model of inclusive play, and that’s a good thing.

Currently, Playworks directly serves 15 Portland area schools and has provided training to dozens of schools and organizations around the city. If successful the new TeamUp model will serve more schools and ultimately bring play back to the school day across the metropolitan area.

Want to help kids succeed and support play in schools? Playworks.org is a great resource for tips, tools, playbooks of games and research to leverage the power of play at school, especially during recess. And guess what? Play isn’t just for kids! Adults can get involved by applying for jobs, internships and volunteering. Playworks also encourages folks to learn more about the issues surrounding recess play and to get involved in their communities, whether directly with Playworks or through their local school communities. Upcoming Playworks events you don’t want to miss include the Playworks FootGolf Open on August 16th; Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon on August 30-31; and Keep Portland Playful on September 26th. For more information visit, playworks.org/communities/pacificnw

NW Kids Magazine | 21

BACK TO SCHOOL BOOK REVIEWS FOR KIDS By CAT WIESE OF GREEN BEAN BOOKS

PLANET KINDERGARTEN

by Sue Ganz-Schmitt (Hardback $16.99) Are you ready for blast off ?! We’re off to explore Planet Kindergarten. Adjusting to a new planet can be challenging.

You’re expected to stay in your seat even though gravity says otherwise. And space food? Surprisingly delicious. Kids and parents alike can relate to the mysteries and wonders of a new planet. Planet Kindergarten will help make the transition to kindergarten seem easy, and fun!

THE INVISIBLE BOY

by Trudy Ludwig (Hardback $16.99)

Have you ever felt left out at school?

Sometimes it’s awfully hard making friends.

Brian knows the feeling too well. But when he gets partnered up with a new student, Brian discovers a new friend as well. School suddenly doesn’t seem like such a lonely place. The Invisible Boy is a beautiful story about fitting in and how a little bit of kindness can go a long way.

EDDA

by Adam Auerbach (Hardback $16.99) Edda is a new student, but she’s not your average student, Edda comes from a magical land called Asgard! She has to learn things she’s not used to, such as sitting still and waiting in line. What’s a lone Valkyrie to do? But being different is not a bad thing, Edda discovers that her differences make her special. Celebrate your uniqueness with Edda.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA?

by Kobi Yamada (Hardback $16.95)

I have an idea!

But I don’t think it’s a very good one.

What would other people think? Maybe I should forget about it. . . Have you ever had an idea? What Do You Do With an Idea? follows a young boy and his idea.

At first he doesn’t like his idea. The idea seemed too strange. But as the story goes on, he quickly discovers what happens with ideas when you let them grow! Take care of your wildest ideas with What Do You Do With an Idea?!

1600 NE Alberta Street 503-954-2354 greenbeanbookspdx.com 22 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 23

by JACQUELINE JANNOTTA ROTHENBERG AND KATY MAYO-HUDSON

14

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL

Sending your kids to your neighborhood school is an appealing option for a lot of families. Who doesn’t love the idea of walking their kids down the street with neighbors, building community, and reaping the benefits of whatever cultural diversity your neighborhood has to offer? In many ways this is an iconic image of America. But it doesn’t always play out that way here in Portland.

Sometimes the draw of a language immersion, focus or charter schools are hard to resist.

And other times, parents don’t like the buzz they hear about their neighborhood school.

Maybe it has underwhelming test scores, known behavioral problems in the classroom, lack of enrichment or other attractive features. Whatever it is, parents will fall into two camps—they either flee, or come hell or high water, they make it work.

We spoke with a group of impressive parents who fall into that latter camp. Their eastside elementary schools had a great need for improvement; and today, due to their efforts, most are in turnaround mode, steadily and vastly improving. Because some of them wanted to remain anonymous, we opted to leave out all names, but still bring you their insightful tips, tips that are useful for any parent involved at any school: 24 | NW Kids Magazine

ORGANIZE A GROUP OF INVOLVED PARENTS

1

Get as many other parents on board as possible. That may take going door to door and leaving notes, even with parents of toddlers not yet of school age. One mom we know networked via email, put up flyers, and started coffee chats long before her daughter entered kindergarten.

2

Stay connected and keep up the momentum. Start a Google or Facebook group to maintain easy, regular communication. As you gather email addresses or contact info from parents curious about getting involved, reach out to them within a week of initial contact. Don’t lose momentum.

3

Aim to create a group representative of your school population. If your school is ethnically diverse, get parents from those various ethnicities on your team. And if language barrier requires an interpreter, make sure your interpreter engages the parents and doesn’t just sum up what’s being said at meetings.

4

Take advantage of your group’s diverse interests and skill sets. One party may continued on p. 26

NW Kids Magazine | 25

be great at networking and getting local businesses involved in your efforts. Another may have solid writing skills needed to apply for grants. Yet another may be a whiz at keeping the group organized, which can be helpful in tracking incidents at school for future reports, as an example.

5

Don’t get discouraged if putting together a large, diverse group is too difficult. A small, unified and committed team can be just as powerful as a larger one.

Eventually your group will find its rhythm.

It may evolve and grow organically, or it may need structure and direction. Either way works, it’s all about staying the course!

GET TO KNOW YOUR SCHOOL’S FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION

6

10

If your needs aren’t being met, despite repeated, earnest attempts at being heard, you’ll need to go above your school principal. At that point don’t be afraid to make contact with PPS. Your tax dollars are paying for the school infrastructure and they’ll want to know what’s happening at your school.

MANAGE YOUR TIMING & EXPECTATIONS

11

Start early. Go to PTO/PTA meetings even if your kid isn’t enrolled yet (and consider enrolling your child in pre-K if your school has one). Don’t be intimidated by the PTA, since chances are at least one in your group will be welcome to run for eventual office, putting your group in a better position to effect change.

In order to make improvements and change happen, teacher support is key.

Find a way to gain at least one ally, hopefully more. For example, if someone in your group is an educator. That alone can be an easy avenue to building a bridge with the faculty.

Have patience. Don’t have a coup d’état mentality, which will come off as a threat to your principal’s efforts.

Remember it’s not an “us vs. them” situation even though sometimes it may feel that way.

7

13

When you do communicate with the powers that be, speak as the diverse and representative group you [hopefully] are.

And remember to keep strong personalities in check. “High drama” communication styles are a turnoff and defeat the purpose of building trust.

8

Consider the school leadership. If the principal has been there for 20 years you might be dealing with a fossilized culture resistant to change. A principal who is open to change is crucial for your efforts to be realized.

9

A basic rule of thumb in dealing with classroom issues is to talk with the teacher first (and listen with an open mind).

If nothing improves, go to the principal.

12

Be relentless and vigilant for your kid. You can be vigilant without being threatening, and relentless while being patient. (Developing these skills will benefit you in other aspects of your life too!)

14

Be realistic. Big changes won’t happen overnight. You will likely see smaller changes over a few years. So be prepared to get enrichment and extras elsewhere if your school is lacking them in the mean time. Also, we have heard efforts don’t always pan out.

A principal may not be receptive to change, and the time horizon for replacing new leadership may not happen quickly enough for everyone’s satisfaction…

These tips only scratch the surface of possibilities, so if you have any that you’d like to add, please have at it!

Jacqueline Jannotta Rothenberg and Katy Mayo-Hudson have a collective obsession with finding Portland schools where their children would thrive. They are no longer updating their website, but for guidance and a wealth of information, visit, work.scooponschools.com 26 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 27

Best of Portland and beyond OUR TOP PICKS FOR GETTING OUT THIS MONTH

AUGUST

1

August 2nd ROX IN SOX

Rox in Sox is back and we can’t wait! If you didn’t get a chance to attend last year, don’t miss the awesome line-up of children’s music, author readings and fun festivities this year. Admission is free with a donation of new shoes, socks or books for kiddos in need.

Bring your favorite party animals, big and small, and shake and shimmy to the sounds of The Not Its, Red Yarn, 23 Skidoo and more! 10am to 4pm at the West End Building in Lake Oswego. roxinsox.org

3 2

August 5, 6 & 7 MISTER G

Don’t miss awardwinning, musical mastermind, Mister G as he rocks out his new album, The Bossy E. He will be performing 4 shows over the next three days at various library locations. multcolib.org/events/bossy-e

August 6, 13, 20 & 27 SUMMER ARTS ON MAIN STREET

Need some weekday fun?

Portland’5 Centers for the Arts presents Summer Arts on Main Street and Noontime Showcase (live music and performances) every Wednesday from 11am-2pm through the month of August. Come check out the free music, fun children’s activities and stay for the Portland Farmers Market. It’s a winwin! Located on SW Main Street, between SW Broadway and Park. portland5.com

Please confirm calendar events and performances as scheduling changes may occur.

28 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 29

4

August 8-15 WASHINGTON PARK SUMMER FESTIVAL

Pack an evening picnic and head out for a magical night of live music and entertainment in an absolutely beautiful setting. Introduce the kiddos to opera, taiko, Pete Seeger covers and the original Wizard of Oz. Performances begin at 6pm in the Rose Garden Amphitheater. If you’re worried about parking; check out the free Washington Park bus #83. For more details, please visit: portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/489145

5

August 9 PUPPET PALOOZA & ALBERTA STREET FAIR

Green Bean Books is celebrating the Alberta Street Fair by hosting A Puppet Palooza from 12-5pm on their deck. Make puppets out of recycled material and have a grand performance on the magnificent Green Bean Puppet Theater! The Alberta Street Fair runs from 11am-6pm and is chock-full of fun!

Live entertainment by Olive & Dingo, Oregon Children’s Theater, The Ouch Experience and more. Don’t miss the 4th annual children’s parade, which begins promptly at 11am. greenbeanbookspdx.com, albertamainst.org

6

August 9 NORTHWEST FOSSIL FEST

Participate in a fossil hunt, learn how the professionals make fossils look cool, find out about recent finds in the Pacific NW and tour the world famous Rice collection of minerals. Kiddos of all ages will have the chance to bring home a free fossil. 10am-4pm, Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro; free. narg-online.com/nwfossilfest.html Remember to check the NW Kids online calendar for dozens more outings and activities each day.

Share with friends, subscribe to the RSS, add directly to your calendar, and more features. There’s something going on you don’t want to miss!! nwkidsmagazine.com/events/month 30 | NW Kids Magazine

7

August 10 KIDS PEDAL

Part of the Providence Bridge Pedal, this 3-mile ride is designed just for the kids. Pre-registration is required, but the event is free!

Start at SW Naito/Morrison at 10am. blog.bridgepedal.com

8

August 22 FROZEN (SING-ALONG VERSION) - MOVIES IN THE PARK Can you imagine a park full of kiddos singing “Let It Go”? For all the crazed Frozen fanatics out there, the time has come for the epic summer sing-along at Laurelhurst Park. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30pm. Free! portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/489142

10 9

August 24 SUNDAY PARKWAYS

Take over the streets! Get out and enjoy this beloved community event that celebrates biking, rolling and walking through some of Portland’s favorite neighborhoods. Ride the 7 mile route through Southeast Portland, stopping along the way for music, fun, and food; 11am-4pm. portlandoregon.gov/ transportation/58929

August 22 - September 1 OREGON STATE FAIR

It’s the official fair of Oregon and we’re feeling a bit nostalgic. It’s time for sticky cotton candy hands, carnival rides, 4H exhibits, competitions, tons of small animals and more! Check the website for coupons and deals. oregonstatefair.org NW Kids Magazine | 31

32 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 33

Notes from a Coach: Healthy Tips & Ideas for Keeping Kids Active

By JOEL NEWMAN

Exercise Turns Your Child into a Superhero The direct lines connecting children’s regular exercise with long term physical health, higher academic performance and increased mental health should appear to be bold, think lines.

They are well known now in academic, medical and policy circles. Despite this knowledge, the Center for Disease Control reported in 2012 that almost half of American children were being granted little or no gym time. The biggest reasons cited are dwindling budgets in schools and shifting time from physical activity to more traditional academic subjects like math or language.

Meanwhile, the results of this downward trend in activity can be seen on a macro level. The Center on Education Policy reports that nearly one of every three U.S. children is overweight or obese, a rate that has tripled in the past three decades. Students are less likely to walk to school or play outside before dinner, and they are more likely to spend hours in front of a television or computer screen.

Why all the fuss about exercise and physical education?

• Fit Children Score Better on Tests: The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness reported that the fittest middle 34 | NW Kids Magazine

school students received better grades and higher scores on standardized tests than their less fit counterparts. Similarly, the director of the Neurocognitive Kinesiology Laboratory at Illinois, suggests that physical activity may increase students’ cognitive control, or ability to pay attention, and also result in better performance on academic achievement tests.

• Children are Whole, Real People, Not Disembodied Brains,: “Principals know that students’ academic development is inextricably connected to their physical, social, and emotional well-being, and they support recess as a crucial element of learning that sustains the whole child,” said National Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director Gail Connelly.

So what can we do to ensure we’re giving our children the best chances to set themselves up for academic success followed by long, healthy lives? Since children spend so much time in schools, they must be part of the solution.

If you don’t know how much activity your child is getting in school, I recommend some investigation. Let your school administrator know how much you value exercise. If it’s at or above 60 minutes a day, your teachers and principals deserve some high-5s! If it’s not, begin advocating for increases in activity at school in these 4 key areas: 1. Physical education 2. Recess time and frequency 3. Classroom based activity (teachers incorporate movement into lessons) 4. Extracurricular sports and physical activities After investigating your school, consider how well your family supports exercise habits? If there are opportunities for improvement or new habits, who will be the leader in your family to make them happen?

Joel Newman coaches and runs Soccer Shots of Portland, a fun, noncompetitive soccer program for kids ages 2-8. Joel holds a BA in Religious Studies and an MBA from OSU. For more information, email joel@soccershots.org.

NW Kids Magazine | 35

! e r e H s i l l Fa ith

w t i k S T c i O K SH

R E C SOCupport &s

Soccer Shots will donate $1 for every Fall player to AC Portland. Join us as we bring soccer to local underserved communities.

Register Now for Fall!

soccershots.org/pdx