10 Tips to Get You and Your Kids Ready for the School Year

Writer / Shelly Bergman

With the first day of school lingering in the not-so-distant future, you’re probably feeling both excited and overwhelmed, especially with COVID-19 casting doubt on just what school will look like for most students and families this year. From creating healthy sleep habits and establishing a good morning routine to handling back-to-school anxiety and learning how to make communication more manageable, we’ve got 10 general back to school tips and tricks for parents to help make this school year a good one for your family!

1. MAKE A COUNTDOWN Using a calendar, paper chain or whiteboard, start a countdown a couple weeks before school. With this countdown ease into their school routine with bedtime, setting out their clothes for the next day and when they'll be waking up. It'll be hard to stick to those routines while wanting to get in as much fun as you can, but it will help the transition immensely for you and your kids if you start early.

2. POSITIVE ATTITUDE You know that your child will reap the benefits of going to school. Try to keep any anxiety or stress you may have from showing to your child.

3. VISIT THE SCHOOL (IF POSSIBLE) This is a great practice for young kids starting preschool or Kindergarten. It is equally great for children entering a new school. Map out their classes and let them try out their locker. Park where they will park and walk in, making their first day of school more familiar.

4. MORNING ROUTINE Routine is the key word here. It may take a few weeks or even months to figure out the perfect routine for your family, but once you've got it, stick with it. Write it out or discuss it with your kids to let them know how you'd like to see the morning go. Have them help you figure out what works best for them.

5. EVENING ROUTINE Although morning routines help with the ease into a new day, setting up an evening routine can make that morning routine breeze by. Again, see what works best for

your family. Maybe make a chart or an evening routine clock that shows what things they need to accomplish before lights out. Do as much as you can the night before so the next morning is simple (set out clothes, make lunches, look at the week ahead etc.)

6. GO SCHOOL SHOPPING Head to the store for their favorite foods in their packed lunch. Purchase the necessary school supplies or even a new First Day outfit. Get haircuts. Having a day with them to prepare for the new year ahead will let your kids know you want to make this as easy and as fun as possible for them.

7. MAKE A DROP ZONE Talk to your child about homework rules and where they should put papers that need to be looked at or signed. Have enough space for each child's backpack, shoes, water bottles or anything else they will be carrying home from school so there is no frustration in the morning to find these items. Make sure they know it's their space and their responsibility to keep their items there.

8. MAKE A CALENDAR Add all of the holidays and school info and hang it where your child can see it. If they join a club or sport, have them write in their games or practice dates and times to let them have a little responsibility over knowing when their time is scheduled. If you have a younger child, use stickers to let them know which days they have games or practices. Starting this habit of letting them schedule their time will help them decide what is too much on their plate.

9. BE PRESENT As tempting as it is to tell our kids they have nothing to worry about as a way to distract them, sometimes the best thing we can do as parents is to simply listen. If your child is finding school stressful, allow him or her to put their feelings into words so you can figure out exactly what is bothering them and (hopefully) find a solution to their worries. Spend 5 to 10 minutes connecting with each child in the morning or evening routine, with your phone put away. Talk about who they're excited to see or what they're going to do at recess. If they are nervous for the week ahead, brainstorm a family activity for the weekend.

10. OUTSOURCE YOUR TIME Know that it's okay to ask for help. Figure out what is taking up a lot of your time, therefore, keeping you from your family. Is there a way to pay to have it done by someone else? Hire a cleaning service, utilize grocery pick up or delivery, make crock-pot meals, carpool with other parents for practices. There are many ways to simplify if you are able to step back and see what needs to be adjusted.

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FISHERS HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS MANDATORY MASK ORDER BEGINNING JULY 24

Effective 8 a.m., Friday, July 24, every individual (outside of exceptions) in Fishers must properly wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth when in an indoor place other than a private residence or when outdoors in a situation where a distance of six feet from individuals outside of their household cannot be maintained.

The mandate requires Fishers residents to wear a cloth face-covering in all public indoor facilities including, but not limited to:

• Retail and Grocery Stores • Restaurants, Bars, and Entertainment Venues • Salons and Personal Care Facilities • Gyms and Fitness Centers • Office and Commercial Buildings • Government Buildings

Public indoor locations that refuse to enforce the mask mandate may experience enforcement actions by the Fishers Health Department. The primary purpose of this order is intended to educate, encourage, and persuade individuals to wear face-coverings. Individuals with concerns about compliance for the mask mandate should call the Fishers Health Department Coronavirus Hotline at 317-595-3211, submit the concern online at fishers.in.us/coronavirus or via the Fishers Connect smartphone app. distancing, hand washing and sanitizing, and masks.

The mask mandate does not apply to:

• Children who are less than 5 years of age; however, children attending childcare who are 2 years of age or older are strongly recommended to wear a face-covering; • Individuals who are hearing or speaking impaired and for whom a mask or face covering is an obstacle to communication (it may be important for individuals assisting/ working with people that are hearing impaired to wear a clear face shield rather than a mask); • Individuals who are unable to wear a mask or face-covering for a physical, medical, or health-related reasons; • Individuals who are alone in a room in a public building, such as in an office; • Individuals who are traveling in their own vehicles; • Individuals for whom wearing a face mask or covering would present a risk to their safety while at work, as determined by local, state, or federal workplace safety regulations; • Individuals who are engaged in a form of indoor exercise that is incompatible with wearing a mask or face covering, such as swimming; • Individuals who are seated at a restaurant, bar, or other establishment that serves food and/or drinks, while they are eating or drinking. However, individuals entering

and exiting restaurants or bars, going to the restroom, or congregating in common areas of restaurants or bars must wear masks or face coverings (this also applies to eating in a public place, such as an individual’s place of employment provided social distancing is possible); • Individuals whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face-covering; • Individuals who are engaged in outdoor physical exercise, including running, jogging, walking, or bicycling, if in groups of less than 25; • Individuals acting in their official capacity as a public safety employee or emergency responder when wearing a face covering would interfere with or limit their ability to carry out their official duties or functions.

These include police officers, firefighters, and other emergency medical personnel that support public safety functions; • Bonafide emergency situations in which a person lacks the time or the means to put on a face-covering before entering an indoor or outdoor public space; and • Individuals who are outdoors and are maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others who are not part of their household.

Read the full FAQ on the mask order here. For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions and other information, visit the Fishers Health Department’s COVID-19 information page at www.fishers.in.us/ coronavirus.

BRING YOUR APPETITE

HC TAVERN + KITCHEN OFFERS UP-SCALE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING AT THE FISHERS DISTRICT

Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Eli Beaverson

In February HC Tavern + Kitchen officially opened at The Yard at Fishers District, and Craig Huse, CEO of Huse Culinary, the company also responsible for St. Elmo’s Steakhouse and Harry & Izzy’s, says he and his team wanted to create an eatery in the spirit of Harry & Izzy’s, but with an aesthetic unique to the Fishers area.

“If we were planning Harry & Izzy’s today instead of 13 years ago, these are the menu items and the design that we would present to our guests,” Huse says. “I describe the HC as Harry & Izzy’s 2.0 - a classic American grill with a splash of sophisticated sexiness. It’s one-of-kind and truly Fishers’ own. HC in the name of the restaurant represents Hamilton County, but it’s also the initials of our organization.” Huse says his team felt the timing was ideal to provide a classic American grill concept for the Fishers area, with a menu that is upscale yet accessible.

“With Harry & Izzy’s only an eight-minute drive down the I-69, we needed to create a new concept specifically for Fishers,” Huse explains. “It’s a unique restaurant and menu created specifically for this location. There’s even a 71,000-piece mosaic tile of a roundabout on a feature wall above our main bar.”

The Huse Culinary team began negotiating with real estate development group Thompson Thrift in the summer of 2018, and after purchasing the land for the HC Tavern + Kitchen project, the company hired Capitol Construction to start the build-out process in early 2019. The building spans 10,000 square feet, and the eatery’s design layout was completed by Phanomen Design.

Huse says the reaction from local residents to both HC Tavern + Kitchen and 1933 Lounge, another Huse Culinary concept located at the Fishers District, has been positive since back when the projects were first announced.

“Mayor Scott Fadness and the city have welcomed this restaurant-centric development,” he says. “Between the two restaurants, 200 jobs were created, and we’re pleased with not only the quantity of our new Huse Culinary family members, but the professional quality as well. The community response to both the 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo and the HC Tavern + Kitchen have been tremendous. We are grateful to be serving Hamilton County.”

The Yard at Fishers District includes several other dining destinations such as 101 Beer Kitchen, Fishers Test Kitchen, Sangiovese and more. Fishers Test Kitchen, which features three fully equipped kitchens operated by separate chef entrepreneurs honing their craft, opened at The Yard inside Sun King Brewing Company this past winter.

According to Huse, HC Tavern + Kitchen seats 260 patrons and includes two levels, a four-season patio that seats 40, and two bars.

The eatery’s lunch and dinner menu features soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees like filet mignon, ribs, scallops and crab cakes. Saturday and Sunday brunch features castiron cinnamon roll bites, shrimp and grits, chicken biscuit minis, French press coffee, cocktails and more. Some of Huse’s own HC menu faves include the shaved Brussels sprouts salad, pimento cheese fritters, shrimp dumplings with ponzu and black vinegar, rainbow trout and salted honey cream pie.

Huse says former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is an investor in the HC Tavern project.

“Peyton Manning dined regularly at St.

Elmo Steak House, and he approached me about investing when he learned of our plans to open Harry & Izzy’s next door in 2007,” Huse says. “We now have three Harry & Izzy’s locations and the HC Tavern + Kitchen is included in Harry & Izzy’s Inc., so Peyton is financially involved in all four.”

Huse feels the diversity of the HC Tavern + Kitchen menu will appeal to a wide range of Central Indiana customers looking for a new culinary experience.

“This is a scratch kitchen, and the ingredients are chef-selected for superior quality with priority given to local and

regional sourcing,” Huse says, adding that HC Tavern includes a staff of 125. “However, menu selections remain approachable. We operate as a classic American grill appealing to both conservative and adventurous palates.”

HC Tavern + Kitchen, like many restaurants, weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders. The restaurant officially opened back up for dine-in on May 11.

HC Tavern + Kitchen is located at The Yard at Fishers District, at 9709 East 116th Street in Fishers. For additional information including menus, hours and a reservations page, call 317-530- 4242 and visit atthehc.com.

For more info on other dining and retail destinations at The Yard at Fishers District, explore fishersdistrict.com.

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Writer / Jon Shoulders . Photographer / BriAnna Seefeldt

o hear Brian Clarke tell it, D1 Training Finch Creek is more than just another gym - it provides a results-based, customized training experience.

“If you’re passionate and serious about athletic training, we’re here to help you with a customized plan in a positive, team-like setting,” says Clarke, who serves as general manager and head performance coach at the D1 Training facility, and formerly worked as head strength and conditioning coordinator at Noblesville High School.

In December of last year, D1 Training leaders secured space that had been empty for several years inside Finch Creek Fieldhouse on Boden Road in Noblesville. “We start by meeting with each client and discussing their goals, but we go deeper than that and ask you what your ‘why’ is,” says Clarke, who played baseball at Butler University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and exercise science, as well as a master’s degree in school administration. “We ask what you are really trying to do here. Also, we really want a family environment, and to have a community and fellowship within our walls.”

The facility welcomes kids and adults alike, and the staff continually meets with clients every couple of weeks to revisit and analyze physical and athletic goals each one might have. “Anybody who wants to compete and be held accountable, in a team atmosphere, is welcome to come in,” Clarke says.

The D1 Training Finch Creek team includes Coach Kray’Shawn Brewer, a former college football athlete and National Arena League signee, Coach Achzionna Riding, a Butler grad and Division 1 track and field athlete, and Recruiter Kiley McCollough, a Wittenberg University grad and certified personal trainer.

D1 Training was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, by Will Bartholomew, a former football player for the University of Tennessee who saw a need in the Nashville

area for a strength and conditioning concept akin to those found at Division 1 collegiate athletic programs. Bartholomew founded D1 Training to provide customized, sports-based training to help a wide range of ages groups achieve both sports and general fitness goals.

The D1 Training gym franchise now has locations throughout the country including two in Indiana.

“I was really impressed with what Will had built and their footprint,” Clarke says. “The D1 model recognizes that no matter what your training concept is, there’s a framework you have to use to be successful - that includes things like a proper dynamic warmup, proper movement prep, some strength component in there, lateral and athletic movements, and cool-downs. Then, how you plug that in, and with what movements, will be different for each person.”

D1 Training Finch Creek offers one-on-one training as well as group fitness options, and scholastic training is typically broken down by age group - rookie (ages 7 to 11), developmental (ages 12 to 14), prep (high school ages), and overtime (student-athletes who might have specific training goals). Overtime training is typically offered in groups of three or four and is geared toward each client’s sport - even toward specific positions within a sport. Adults can take advantage of the D1 bootcamp, which Clarke says typically burns 600 to 1,000 calories.

“We also have our adult strength program, for those adults who are saying, ‘I’m done running around, but I like to lift weights and I want to get some resistance training,’” Clarke says.

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, D1 Training Finch Creek leaders are taking a few key safety measures, including constant sanitation of surfaces, social distancing measures, as well as an ionization unit that is integrated into the facility’s HVAC system. The system is essentially set up to deactivate harmful airborne substances including viruses, mold, allergens and bacteria.

Leading up to D1 Training Finch Creek’s official August 9 opening, the staff has offered free seven-day trials for those interested. The first day of the trial includes a facility tour, discussion of fitness goals, and a basic physical assessment. D1 is also offering a money-back program, whereby members can break their contract and get refunded, as long as those members commit to eight sessions in one month.

“The reason we offer the money-back piece is that we want members to give it a little time, and see the results,” Clarke says. “It’s not a cookie-cutter way of doing things here. If you go to Subway and get a sub, you get a certain amount of meatballs - but maybe you want more. That’s kind of how we look at it - we can really customize and cater to our athletes’ needs.”

D1 Training Finch Creek is located at 16289 Boden Road in Noblesville. For more information including program details and a scheduling page, visit d1training.com and call 317-526-5146.

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