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SEPTEMBER 2020 | VOL. 2 • ISSUE 9
CONTENTS
PUBLISHER Brian Rushing EDITORIAL Mary Ditch Editorial Director Bonnie Rushing Contributing Writer CREATIVE Amber Duplantis Senior Designer Lauren Pontiff Graphic Designer COVER PHOTO Misty McElroy ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff Director of Sales Beth Tabor DIGITAL MARKETING Keely Diebold DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego
DR. LOUQUE, DR. CRUSE, & DR. PELTIER
Back-to-School! Hip-Hip-Hurrah! Class is back in session! I know things look a little bit different this year and that can be kind of scary for some children. This year it’s super important to be patient and understanding with your child as they navigate school in a whole new way. Whether your child is back in the classroom or learning virtually at home, it can be helpful to fully explain why things are different. With Family First, we are dedicated to continuing to bring you fun and informative articles and games for your family to enjoy together. Our magazine will continue to be available in schools and on newsstands around the community. Be sure to find us on Facebook @FamilyFirstHouma for fun and unique content! I hope this school year is wonderful for everyone!
TABLE OF
CONTENTS 04 06 08 10 12 14
HOMEROOM HAPPENINGS
16 18
AT THE LIBRARY
FAMILYFIRSTHOUMA.COM
First Day of School
HEALTHY BITES WITH TGMC Healthy Lunch Boxes
KID ENERGY ALL-STARS Liam Fonseca
SYNERGY CENTS WITH PENNY Penny Explains How Banks Work
S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY Rainbow Coffee Filters
GET MOVING WITH THIBODAUX REGIONAL Keeping Kids Active Book reviews
FUN AND GAMES Test Your Brain
MARY DOWNER DITCH
SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 9
CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com
FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
RUSHING MEDIA P.O. Box 5013 Houma, LA 70361 • 985.868.7515 Family First Magazine is a free publication. The entire content of this publication is copyrighted by Rushing Media, with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Family First Magazine is published monthly by Rushing Media.
This is the age of a new Louisiana. We built Louisiana’s largest pediatric health network to care for any of the one million children in our state and deliver on the belief that your child can be part of a stronger, healthier tomorrow. From check-ups to complex medical and emergency care, your child’s care begins here. Visit ololchildrens.org/believe for more.
FAMILY FIRST
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Believe in me. SEPTEMBER 2020
homeroom happenings
HOMEROOM HAPPENINGS: BACK-TO-SCHOOL EDITION! Welcome back, students! Send your back-to-school pictures to mary@rushing-media.com
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SEPTEMBER 2020
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SEPTEMBER 2020
HEALTHY BITES WITH TGMC | BY MELISSA RILEY, MHA, RDN, LDN
BACK TO SCHOOL FUN HEALTHY LUNCH BOXES
INGREDIENTS PROTEIN: turkey, ham, pepperoni, eggs, peanut butter DAIRY: yogurt, cheese cubes or sticks
It is almost back to school time! As we gather school supplies, new uniforms, and stylish shoes let’s not forget about healthy lunches. A healthy lunch ensures students have the nutrition they need to learn throughout the day. It can help boost concentration and improve one’s attitude. First, you need the right packing accessories. When buying a lunch box, look for insulation and ensure easy access for your child. Size is also important. If you plan on using a certain thermos or packing bottled water you want to make sure it will fit. You also want to make sure it is an easy material to clean, as kids can be messy. Next, you want to make sure to keep foods fresh and safe. You want to make sure cold foods stay cold by using ice packs. Using a thermos can keep hot foods hot. To keep your thermos warm, fill it with boiling water, close the lid and let it sit for 5 minutes. Drain the water, wipe dry and immediately place hot food into the thermos. Now it’s time to decide on what to pack! Healthy suggestions include: fresh fruit; crunchy vegetables; proteins such as turkey, hardboiled eggs, or peanut butter; dairy such as milk, yogurt, or a cheese stick; and a starch like bread or crackers. You can also add fruit & veggie dips. Good beverage choices include water, 100% juice boxes, or milk. The key to success is planning ahead. Take some time on weekends to cut up fruits & vegetables. Utilize leftovers also. Remember to involve your child in the prepping and packing! TRY THESE IDEAS: • “Lunchable” on a stick: Place turkey, cheddar cubes and even pepperoni or salami on a toothpick. • Green Monster: Make everything in the box Green! Kiwis, grapes, avocado, pasta with pesto. • Taco Tuesday: wrap your favorites in a burrito! Turkey and cheese with guacamole is a favorite in our house. • Nachos: pack all the topping to make an easy DIY meal: ground turkey, lettuce, shredded cheese, avocado. • Chicken dippers: pack a favorite dip such as ranch or even a healthier pesto. Bonus points if the veggie you choose can be dipped as well! FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
FRUIT AND VEGGIES: carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, grapes, apples, fresh berries STARCH: crackers, bread, pitas, pretzel sticks SOMETHING FUN! M&M’s, chocolate chips, yogurt covered raisins or pretzels
DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Select an item (or two) from each ingredient section to be sure you have a balanced box! STEP 2 Make sure each item is bite-sized. STEP 3 Get creative! Include items your child is familiar with and enjoys eating.
TIPS: • Use fun cookie cutters to make shapes, such as stars. • Individual cupcake liners work great to hold smaller food items such as sweet treats or granola. • Use fun picks with dinosaurs or stars to hold items together.
GIVE YOUR CHILD THE LEADING EDGE
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SEPTEMBER 2020
KID ENERGY ALL-STARS
ALL-STAR OF THE MONTH LIAM FONSECA SOCCER • HTSA REC SOCCER
When did you start playing games making the cones ice cream soccer? or flowers to help them learn to 4 years old kick, pass, etc. He likes to race and get the ball to the goal. Why did you decide to give soccer a try? What is the best part of a game? His older sister plays travel soccer He just likes running and making so we are always at games and he goals. plays with her outside. I think this is what sparked his interest, but he What is one thing you do after a really loves to play any sport. good game? He enjoys nice cold water and How often do you practice? snacks. Practice was twice a week. We sat this Fall season out due to the Who is your favorite sports hero? pandemic and will start back in His sister Spring. Do you play any other sports? What have you learned about What sports would you like to teamwork? try? He has learned to follow rules and He does not play on any other to play with others. sports team as of now. He enjoys at home karate, baseball, football and How do you and your teammates frisbee. As he gets a little older he make practice fun? will try other sports out as well. They would do different little
FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
ALL-STAR ADVICE “It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.” – Evander Holyfield
TIP FROM BERNIE & EARL Have an adult call 811 before you dig!
Nominate your child to be a Kid Energy All-Star by emailing rhett@kidenergyusa.com.
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FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
SYNERGY BANK PRESENTS SYNERGY CENTS WITH PENNY D. PELICAN
PENNY EXPLAINS HOW BANKS WORK Welcome back to school! This is always an exciting time of the year for me because I get to teach a new group of students all about banking and the importance of saving money. One of the first things I discuss with my new students is how banks work. Did you know when you save your money at a bank, you can help someone else buy a car, build a house, or go to college? The bank takes your savings and combines it with its other customers’ savings to loan to people who want to purchase expensive things. When a person borrows money from the bank, he pays it back a little at a time along with a bit of extra money. That extra money is called interest. The bank takes some of that interest and gives it to its customers. So not only are you saving your money, keeping it safe at the bank, and helping people, but you are actually making money too!
COUNT THE MONEY
Penny is ready to make a deposit in her Synergy Bank savings account. Can you count how much money she has in each group? What will her total deposit be?
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Group 1 Total
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Group 2 Total Total Deposit Amount FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
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Group 3 Total Find game solutions at banksynergy.com/penny.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES WORD SEEK
Penny made of list of school supplies she’ll need to start school. Can you find the words hidden in the puzzle? Words can go across, up or down, and diagonally.
WORD LIST Backpack Binder Crayons Erasers Folders Highlighter Ink Pens Markers Notebook Paper Pencils Scissors
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MORTGAGE BANKING FOCUSED ON
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SEPTEMBER 2020
S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY
COFFEE FILTER RAINBOWS Rainbows are such a beautiful sight to behold in the sky! There are seven colors in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. A rainbow is formed when light passes through water droplets hanging in the atmosphere. The water droplets break white sunlight into the seven colors of the visible spectrum. You can only see a rainbow when the sun is behind you and the rain in front of you. Find out how coffee filters and washable markers from the Dollar Store transform into a magical rainbow craft.
WHAT TO DO: STEP 1 Flatten round coffee filters and draw colors in circles, in rainbow order with a washable marker. (You can truly use any colors you wish.) STEP 2 Place the colored coffee filters on a metal baking sheet pan and then mist with a water spray bottle. Watch the magic as the colors blend and swirl! Set aside to dry. STEP 3 Once dry, fold the coffee filters in half and then cut along the fold with scissors, creating two rainbow shapes from each filter. STEP 4 Cut out a cloud shape onto white craft paper with scissors. Attach a cloud to the rainbow with the glue sticks. STEP 5 Draw a silly face onto your cloud if you wish. You can even use googly eyes!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Coffee Filters
• Scissors
• Washable Markers
• Pencil
• White Craft Paper
• Water Spray Bottle
• Glue Sticks
• Permanent Marker
• Metal Baking Sheet Pan
• Google eyes (optional)
TIPS: • After spraying your rainbow, place on a paper towel to dry. • Experiment with different colors to make your own unique rainbow!
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Free expectant parent consult Routine/Wellness Care/Sports Physicals ADD/ADHD Screening/Management Immunizations • Same Day Appointments
Centered on what matters most to you
Dr. Meghan Louque
Dr. Henry Peltier
My roots are in Raceland and Hahnville, and I come from a very large extended family. My influences to become a Physician started at a very young age, as I learned about my Grandfather's passion for surgery and service to our local community. I believe that I've always known I wanted to be a Physician, but I didn't realize my calling to become a Pediatrician until I started participating in newborn nursery care as a medical student. I have a passion for treating newborns and helping parents navigate through the highs and lows of having a new baby. I also, enjoy working with families to improve the care of chronic diseases, like asthma. I completed my residency training in North Carolina and returned home to Louisiana to start my practice close to family. My husband and I live in Thibodaux, with our labradoodle, Millie. I am honored to join The Center for Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine and look forward to partnering with your family to help your children thrive and reach their goals.
As a pediatrician and a native of Thibodaux, it has been a pleasure to take care of so many local children over the past 25 years; children of people I already knew and so many more from families that I had never met. Being able to participate in the care of their newborns, then watching them grow and develop into young adults is incredibly rewarding; and I have been blessed to be part of it. The other benefit of practicing pediatrics for 25 years is to be part of the changes in medicine over that time. New technology, new medications, and new ideas on how to manage patients and their problems have transformed our practice. It is exciting to be part of this transformation, and I look forward to what is to come in the future.
Dr. Kenneth Cruse I have had the good fortune to care for patients from birth to adulthood for the last 25 years. I am deeply moved by the moments I have shared with my patients and their families, both the dramatic and the routine. Watching the transition of patients to parenthood, as well as, the transition of newborn infants to teenagers have been fulfilling experiences. This year is especially unique, as we stand with all our families and adjust to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its consequences on parenting, health care, and education are the next challenges to address with our patients and their families. I stand ready to work to find solutions to this epic event, and I look forward to building the relationships with my patients as we come to solutions.
Patient Centered Care for 25 years 604 N Acadia Rd, Suite 200 & 200B • Thibodaux, LA 70301 • 985-448-3700 5040 W Main St • Houma, LA 70360 • 985-851-2000 • www.centerfp.com — In network with most Commercial Insurance and Medicaid — FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
GET MOVING WITH THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
KEEPING KIDS ACTIVE Our traditional image of children on a playground is an image of natural physical play where children just love to run around. Combined with stressors of the modern day, we need to remember that climbing to the top of the slide and swinging from the monkey bars are natural stress relievers which help lead kids to a lifetime of being active! As they get older, it can be a challenge for kids to get enough daily activity. Contributing factors are often: • increasing demands at school • a feeling among some kids that they aren’t good at sports • a lack of active role models • busy working families Regular exercise provides the following benefits: • strong muscles and bones • healthy weight • decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes • better sleep • a better outlook on life Physically active kids also are more likely to be motivated, focused, and successful in school. And mastering physical skills builds confidence at every age!
HOW CAN YOU HELP ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD?
• Choose the right activities for a child’s age. A child may become bored if an activity is too easy or become frustrated if it is too difficult. Most recreational sports are age based to assist parents. • Give kids plenty of opportunity to be active. Kids need parents to make activity easier by providing equipment, signing them up for classes or sports teams, and taking them to playgrounds and other active spots. As a parent it can be daunting to add another activity to the calendar, but carpooling can be a great option! Check out your local park recreation calendar for budget and calendar friendly activities. Test the water and see if any one sport sparks a fire! • Keep the focus on fun. Kids will not do something they do not enjoy.
When kids enjoy an activity, they want to do more of it. Practicing a skill — whether it’s swimming or riding a bike, running or horseback riding — improves their abilities and helps them feel accomplished, especially when the effort is noticed and praised. These good feelings often make kids want to continue the activity and even try other things. Lastly, recognize that children have different fitness personalities: non-athlete, casual athlete, and athletes! Personality traits, genetics, and athletic ability combine to influence kids’ attitudes toward participation in sports and other physical activities, particularly as they get older. But it’s important to remember, without an opportunity to experience different sports, you may never find out! Ultimately, whatever their fitness personality, all kids can be physically fit. A parent’s positive attitude will always prevail! Be active yourself and support your kids’ interests. If you start this early in life, they will come to regard activity as a normal — and fun — part of your family’s everyday routine.
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SPONSORED BY
For more information contact the Thibodaux Regional Fitness Center, 985.493.4950. FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
at the library
BY NAOMI HURTIENNE MAGOLA, YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN
TALK LIKE A PIRATE What’s a pirate’s favorite thing to do? Rrrrreading, of course! And did you know that September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day? Be sure to sail down to the Terrebonne Parish Library to load up on great books about pirates. While you are at it, did you know that you can use Mango Languages to learn how to speak a different language? They have over 70 different languages to choose from, including pirate! Get your library card handy and point your browser to http://mytpl.org/reference/databases-name/. Click on Mango Languages to get started. In the meantime, check out one of these great pirate books. All three books and more are available through the Terrebonne Parish Library System, and you can reserve a copy today at www.mytpl.org.
K-3rd
Captain Raptor and the Space Pirates Written and Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley
Jurassica is under attack from space pirates. Shots have been fired, and they are being raided. The jewels have been stolen from the Imperial Palace. It is time now for Captain Raptor to save the day. He follows the pirates into space and leads a fast-paced, heart-pounding journey. As they chase each other across the galaxy will Captain Raptor be able rescue the jewels and prevent the pirates from coming back to Jurassica?
Preschool
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC Written by June Sobel Illustrated by Henry Cole
The letter “R” is long enough for the captain of the pirate ship. He wants all the letters of the alphabet. So off they sail to collect letters across the wide sea to find all 26 letters. Readers will search along with the pirates as they visit a deserted island on their quest. FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
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STUDY SKILLS
ACT PREP
HOMEWORK HELP
4th-6th
Lingtang and the Pirate Queen Written by Tamara Moss
Lingtang can’t wait to sail the high seas and have incredible adventures. When she gets the opportunity to join Captain Shafira’s crew she jumps at the chance. Little did Lingtang know, her best friend Bayani had stowed away on the ship. Now Lingtang is faced with the impossible choice of having to choose between keeping her friend safe and losing her new job or betraying her friend and continuing her adventures.
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Start the school year
STRONG
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SEPTEMBER 2020
FUN & Games
FAMILY FIRST
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SEPTEMBER 2020
HOW MANY OF EACH KIND?
OVERALL HEATH STARTS WITH GOOD
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SEPTEMBER 2020
FAMILY FIRST
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MARCH 2019