FREE! North Shore Children Families www.northshorefamilies.com The largest distribution parenting publication on the North Shore – since 2007! IN THIS ISSUE & WINTER ISSUE: DECEMBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015 Hope Love Helping Blessings Peace Goodwill Sharing Thankful Giving Friends Cheer Volunteer Charity Caring Gratitude FAMILY From Our North Shore Family to Yours ~ May Your Holidays Be Filled With Family, Friends, & Love Celebrating Our 7th Year & the Holiday Season! Celebrating Holidays with Moderation & Gratitude Ask Dr. Kate's Q&A: Sharing on Social Media Healthy Ways to Start Your Days: Hot Cereals Working with IEP Teams Aaron's Presents: Spotlight on Holly's Costume Project Children's Book Review: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Education Feature: Brookwood School Community Calendar
Transcript
FREE!North Shore
Children Families
www.northshorefamilies.com
The largest distribution parenting publication on the North Shore – since 2007!
IN THIS ISSUE
&
WINTER ISSUE: DECEMBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015
Hope LoveHelping
Blessings
Peace
Goodwill
Sharing
ThankfulGiving
Friends
Cheer
Volunteer
Charity
Caring
Gratitude
FAMILYFrom Our North Shore Family to Yours ~
May Your Holidays Be Filled With Family, Friends, & Love
Celebrating Our 7th Year& the Holiday Season!Celebrating Holidays withModeration & GratitudeAsk Dr. Kate's Q&A:Sharing on Social MediaHealthy Ways to StartYour Days: Hot CerealsWorking with IEP TeamsAaron's Presents:Spotlight on Holly'sCostume ProjectChildren's Book Review:Stopping by Woods on a Snowy EveningEducation Feature:Brookwood SchoolCommunity Calendar
Family & Friends
by Suzanne Provencher, Publisher/Editor
Another year older – another year of sharingimportant tools, tips, ideas, resources and helpfulinformation with local, North Shore families! Weare SEVEN – and entering our 8th year of being apart of your family. So thank you, dear readers andadvertisers, for your continued interest and valuedsupport. We are here for you – and because of you.
North Shore Children & Families is theLARGEST distribution free parenting and familypublication on the North Shore! We offer ouradvertisers a cost-effective and efficient way toreach moms, dads and families throughout theentire North Shore region – in print and online.We deliver custom, unique and vital informationwhich parents “need to know”, rather than justshare fluff that is “nice to know”. And we deliverresults for our advertisers, most of whom havebeen with us for many, many years. Whenever youcan, please thank our advertisers for making this
Celebrating the Season & Our 7th Year as THE LARGESTDistribution Free Parenting Publication on the North Shore!
2 North Shore Children & Families
publication available to you and your family.
As we reach our 7th birthday and enter our 8th year– and as we celebrate the holiday season – I sendyou the very best wishes, blessings and holidaycheer as you decorate your trees, light yourmenorahs and Kwanzaa Kinara – or however youchoose to celebrate the season and welcome theNew Year. Please remember those who are lessfortunate – and come up with a way for your familyto make a positive difference this holiday seasonand on a regular basis. Older kids can shovel snowfor elderly neighbors, you can make an extrahelping of a meal to share, you can volunteer atyour local shelter or visit your local nursing homeand collect winter coats and mittens for those whoneed them. The greatest gift we can give is to giveof ourselves, because it is in giving that we receivewhat matters most. Leave a larger tip for yourfavorite server, put an extra dollar in the donationbucket, drop off a toy or warm jacket at the many
drives in the area and involve your children so theycan understand that not every little girl and boy isas lucky as they are. Resist the urge to overindulgeyour children with material things and they willappreciate the simple things more: making cookieswith mom to give to the neighbors, creatinggreeting cards for the patients at your localchildren’s hospital or spending some time with afamily member or friend who would otherwise bealone. Teach your children that there is alwaysroom for one more at your table.
May 2015 be filled with wonderful blessings andpeace on earth for all – and may we be filled to ourbrims with gratitude. Count your blessings – notyour burdens – and you will always come up richand full.
From Our North Shore family to yours – may yourholidays be wrapped in family, friends, love & gratitude.
Until Next Year – Suzanne
An independent middle schoollocated 20 miles from Newburyport!
APPLICATION DEADLINEJAN. 15, 2015
356 Exeter RoadHampton Fallls, NH 03844
www.heronfieldacademy.org
Cape AnnSKATING CLUB
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Please see our Calendar in this issue for our upcoming deadlines.
Published and distributed monthly throughout the North Shore, 10x per year, and always online.
Information contained in NSC&F is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.
Individual readers are responsible for their use of any information provided. NSC&F is not liable or responsible for the effects of use of information contained in NSC&F.
Established 2007.
www.northshorefamilies.comP.O. Box 150
Nahant, MA 01908-0150781.584.4569
St. Pius V SchoolEstablished 1945
Pre-Kindergarten - 8th
OPEN HOUSESUN., JAN. 25, 201512:30 - 2:30 PM
28 Bowler St., Lynn781-593-8292
www.stpiusvschool.orgAccredited by
New England Association of Schools & Colleges
COMPREHENSIVE QUALITYCATHOLIC EDUCATION
DO YOUR BEST … BE KIND TO OTHERS
The Reason For The Season
Celebrating The Holidays With Family: Moderation & Gratitudeby Dr. Kate Roberts
For many people, the closer it gets to the holidays, the more their stress increases.The holidays are supposed to be joyful and yet, so often in our culture, the focus is onwhat we are going to get instead of what we can give to others. Holidays such asChristmas should be an opportunity to exercise limits with children instead ofoverindulging them with possessions they don’t need. It is a time to teach them thevalue of family and to show gratitude and appreciation.
When it comes to gift giving, it’s normal and natural for children to requesteverything and the moon – it’s part of their development. In our consumerismculture, it is also “normal” for parents to believe that they have to oblige. Parentsare often conflicted about limiting spending on children, especially when they canafford to overindulge their children. However, it’s not good for kids to haveexcess material items – even at Christmas – as it promotes focus on “things”instead of people and relationships.
Resisting excessive materialism is especially difficult today, when children have somuch exposure to media messages. Parents must use their judgment and reasonto exercise control over their desires to overspend on their children. It’s stilldifficult, I know. But it’s also true that problems can arise when parents give toomuch or do too much for their children without discretion.
Parents worry that if they do not buy everything on their children’s wish list, theywill be disappointed on Christmas morning. It’s true that children may appear
4 North Shore Children & Families
Celebrating the HolidaysContinued from page 3
momentarily let down when they do not receive every new gadget they requested,but this is typical and fleeting. Once they absorb what they have received, they willenjoy their gifts and their time with the family on Christmas Day.
Many parents tend to struggle when setting limits, yet most children thrive withlimits and moderation. Parents can establish appropriate expectations by askingtheir children for a list of their top three big-ticket items and three to five smalleritems. Parents can let them know they will receive some of what is on their list,but not everything. Keep gently reminding them of these guidelines as the listgrows and Christmas nears.
Parents can benefit from those reminders, too, and refuse to give in to their desireto buy “just a few more things” when you feel that last-minute panic about nothaving bought “enough” for your children.
During the holiday season, parents can set a tone before Christmas day thatpromotes the values of gratitude, family, giving back and the importance ofmoderation. Parents can frame Christmas as a time for giving, a way of showinggratitude for all that you have as a family, including everything your children already have.
It’s important to teach children to appreciate all they have and to be grateful everyday. Studies have shown that people who are grateful are 25% more happy thanthose that are not grateful. This fact alone inspires me to teach an attitude ofgratitude to my children. The concept of gratitude can be abstract for manychildren and teens. The challenge for parents is making gratitude a concrete,everyday experience.
Here are some ways to instill an attitude of gratitude in your children during thisholiday season:
• Make the practice of gratitude a habit. For example, try to have a regulartime, such as during dinner, when your family members share something in
their lives for which they are grateful. Expressing gratitude as part of the routine can be habit forming, as it reinforces the message in a continuousway.
• Emphasize the use of “thank you” as an example of how to demonstrategratitude. Communicate to your children that part of saying “thank you”extends beyond manners and etiquette to appreciation.
• Try to find ways to expose your children to diverse cultures and life experiences.One of the greatest benefits of children seeing how other people live is that itgives them perspective and a sense of how their lives compare to others,allowing a natural appreciation to develop.
• Acknowledge our veterans and other people who have committed their lives toservice for the greater good. Do this by sending cards or thank you notes, aswell as honoring them on days of remembrance. Sending them gratitude cardsduring the upcoming holidays is one way children can do this.
• Donate time and money during the holidays as a way of acknowledging thosewho don’t have as much – and try to find a way to incorporate the value ofgiving back into tradition.
• Whenever possible, offer to help those in need around you. Examples areholding the door for others, helping someone manage packages and being patientwhen the cashier makes an error in the checkout line. By acting in these ways,you are role modeling random acts of kindness as a way of giving back.
• Tell your spouse often and in vocal ways that you appreciate them and aregrateful for what they do. This communication between parents, in front ofchildren, demonstrates that parents appreciate each other and don’t take eachother for granted.
Wishing you all wonderful holidays and a very Happy New Year!
Dr. Kate Roberts is a licensed child and school psychologist and family therapist with offices in
Salem and Hamilton. She welcomes newcomers to her private practice. She specializes in
cognitive-behavior therapy, family therapy, anxiety and learning disabilities. She can be reached at
Ask Dr. Kate Roberts: Q&A for North Shore ParentsQuestion: I see so many pictures ofkids today on Facebook. I want toshare, but I’m afraid to post my kidspictures on social media. Is this reallysafe and how much is too much?
Answer: It’s true that more than62% of moms today use Facebook –and of those who post, 96% postpictures of their children. It’s apersonal choice, however parents may want to review the followingconsiderations before posting toomuch about their children:
• Your child’s life is not your life.When you post about your child,recognize that you are sharing aboutanother individual’s life, not yours.
• It’s imperative to role modeldiscretion, privacy and sensitivitywhenever posting. This is especially
privacy settings are only so secureon the internet and therefore don’tpost anything you don’t want theentire world to see. Posts can comeback to haunt your kids. A post mayseem “cute” at the time, but couldbe embarrassing for your child lateron. Posts can be found forever andtherefore they could be used forpurposes that parents did not
true when you post about yourchildren, who may not have anoutgoing personality or who maynot want to share on social media.As they get older, they may want todevelop their own personality,separate from their parent’spersonality.
• Don’t view your child’s life like youwould your own. You may want toshow every detail of your wedding,but your child is not you andtherefore don’t blur the boundaries.Treat them as individuals.
• Children are not trophies to displayto the world and too much sharingmay result in them feeling that way.
• Consider safety. Always checkprivacy settings before posting andalways know who will see what youpost. That being said, we know that
intend, such as by a peer, by a bullyor even a predator. Parents need tobe cautious and protect their child’semotional and physical safety.
• Children need time to develop theirown internal sense of self-worth.Their sense of value and how theyfeel about themselves needs tocome from within and not fromFacebook “likes”. Therefore, parents
need to be cautious aboutpromoting the importance ofoutside validation when whatreally matters is how peoplefeel inside.
If you want to post aboutyour children on Facebook,that’s okay. But parents needto think carefully about theseconsiderations beforedeciding to click “share”.
If you have a question for Dr. Kate, please email her at
in a future issue – along with Dr. Kate’s response.
This feature is brought to you, courtesy of Dr. Kate and
North Shore Children & Families.
Education Feature
North Shore Children & Families 7
What starts here? In a word, everything.At Brookwood, we develop academic excellence, and we do so using themeans and methodologies we know to be best suited to that end: We are“warm” and “child-centered” because it is educationally sound to be both; weare mindful of the relationships we offer and those we nurture and supervisebecause we know that vigilance to be an educational imperative. Very simplyput, we know that how kids feel determines in large measure whether kidslearn, and that is a powerful bottom line.
A passion for learning and the courage to break new ground.Brookwood School is much more than a place where learning happens. It is astate of mind, a willingness to take risks, the inspiration to reimagine whatteaching and learning can be. Our Strategic Plan aims to fan these flames ofcreativity, identifying our newly opened Lower School as a key component insupporting our rich and vibrant academic program.
Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 comprise the widest developmental rangein a child’s life. Our new Lower School facility is designed to support thevarying stages that take place during these formative years, providing awelcoming entrance, an inviting community space, and a learning environmentthat accommodates the innovative, child-centered program Brookwood’stalented teachers offer in PreK through Grade 3.
Dedicated to Academic InnovationOur children will inherit a complex world and preparing them requires aprogram of both balance and breadth. In a time when many schools are cuttingprogramming and trimming staff, Brookwood has continued its tradition ofacademic innovation. Brookwood’s curriculum employs the most currentmethodologies, focusing on inquiry, experience and collaboration rather thansimply rote memorization –and it introduces age-appropriate challenges witheach subsequent grade level. Whether it’s expanding coursework in the“outdoor classroom” in science, building upon social curriculum in the LowerSchool, beginning the study of French, Spanish and Mandarin in Grade One, orpartnering with MIT’s D-Lab in Upper School Science, teachers andadministrators continuously analyze, improve and strengthen the programoffered to our students.
Guiding Brookwood students is a top-notch staff of teachers who havegraduated from many of the country’s finest colleges and universities; four outof five of them hold advanced degrees. Brookwood teachers love teaching kidsand are keenly aware that superior learning springs from their ability to build
The information contained in this education feature was submitted by Brookwood School, and published in partnership with
North Shore Children & Families; www.northshorefamilies.com.
and sustain meaningful relationships with their students. For full curriculardescriptions by department visit brookwood.edu. Click the “Academics” taband go to “Curriculum at Brookwood.”
Fostering Artistic ExpressionKids are full of creativity, and at Brookwood that is something to celebrate andempower. Brookwood students have many opportunities to expressthemselves artistically as well as musically, with all grade levels receiving artand music instruction several times each week.
Nourishing the Developing AthleteThrough a carefully sequenced program focusing on skill development,individual and team play, and of course, sportsmanship, we encourage healthycompetition and the pure joy of physical activity. The decision to install tworegulation turf fields is in keeping with Brookwood’s tradition of always strivingto enhance the experience of its students and prepare them for athletics atthe secondary school level.
Moving to Secondary SchoolBrookwood students matriculate to the finest independent day and boardingschools in the country as well as regional public and parochial schools. Themajority of the Class of 2014 was accepted to their first or second choicesecondary school.
LOCATION & BEFORE- and AFTER-SCHOOL CARELocated on Boston’s North Shore, Brookwood’s 30 acre campus is minutesfrom Route 128 on the Beverly/Manchester line. To meet the needs of familiesduring the school week, Brookwood provides extensive before- and after-school programs. Early Birds: supervised coverage for students of all agesbeginning at 7:15 a.m. daily. Early Childhood After-School Program: active andquiet indoor and outdoor activities for Pre-K and Kindergarten students.REACH (Recreation, Enrichment and Arts for Children), for students inGrades 1 -3. Homework Club: supervised daily study for Grades 4-8 students.Care is available for all ages until 6 p.m. Monday – Thursday, until 5 p.m. Fridays.After-school enrichment classes are offered in the fall, winter and spring. Pastofferings include Yoga, Chess, Legos, Martial Arts, Boston Children’s Theater,and Multisport. Private music lessons offered for voice, piano, strings, bandinstruments, guitar and drums.
ADMISSIONS
The best way to get to know Brookwood is to visit.
Open Houses will be held on:Thursday, December 4, from 8:45 – 10:45 a.m.Saturday, January 24, from 1 - 3 p.m.
Affordability Nights will be held on:Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m.Wednesday, January 28, at 7 p.m.
For more information, please call 978-526-4500 or visitwww.brookwood.edu.
One Brookwood Road, Manchester, MA 01944
Brookwood’s new Lower School, designed to facilitate small group work and collaborativeexploration, opened September 2014.
Brookwood School – It starts here.
8 North Shore Children & Families
Healthy Ways to Start Your Days
by Mary Higgins
Most of us are familiar with the littlefair-haired maiden who visited thehouse where the Bear family lived.She took her time evaluating thecomfort of their chairs, the springs oftheir mattresses and taste of theporridge left on their kitchen table.Oh those bears knew the benefits ofeating a hot cereal before heading outthe door. As a children’s book writer,my curiosity about the origins ofporridge simply had to be satisfied, soI did a bit of research.
Porridge, I found out, is simply a graincooked in either milk or water. Asbreakfast is the most important mealof the day, let’s explore this topic forthe cold winter months. Breakfast
Start Your Morning withHot Cereal
literally means “break the fast” – thefirst meal that most of us eat after“fasting” overnight during sleep. Forsome, no food has been eaten fromsupper the night before. For children,this means 12 or more hours mayhave elapsed since getting any foodinto the stomach. Eating, besidesbeing a pleasant activity, is a way tofuel the body, especially our musclesand brains. Whatever food is eaten issubsequently broken down intoglucose, the form of sugar our bodiesneed.
While we sleep, our blood sugarbecomes quite low. On waking, weneed to refuel our engines. After 12-16 hours of being without food, ourbodies, desperate for glucose, start ascary cannibal-like process of breaking
down muscle tissue to provide foodfor the brain. The blood pH movesinto the acidic range. Have you everwaited too long to eat, finding yourhunger disappeared? The body’smetabolism has now shifted into
acidosis. You may want to share thisinformation with your teenagedaughter who goes out the doorwithout breakfast. When the aromaof cinnamon wafting from your hotbreakfast cereal reaches herbedroom, she may soon start her daywith a high energy breakfast cereal.
Maybe your porridge is oatmeal everymorning and you’re looking to changeit up. The aim is to choose wholegrains over refined, at least most ofthe time. Whole grains lowertriglyceride levels and act like abroom to sweep the intestines. Andbecause they take a while to bedigested, they provide energy to fuelthe entire morning. Watching yourweight? Whole grains, with their branintact, will help you to slim down.Whole grain cereals are differentfrom refined cereals as the vitaminsand minerals remain untouched inwhole grains. Refined grains havebeen bleached, crushed and flattened
Photo: Montessori students are capable of great effort and long periods of concentration.
This student completes a map of North America using a Montessori puzzle map as a reference.
North Shore Children & Families 9and a dash of cinnamon. While nothigh in fiber, you can increase the fibercontent of the meal by serving gritswith frozen blueberries, heated withsome honey or unprocessed agave ortry canned peaches. Grits provide 2grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving.
Millet: This is one of the most easilydigested grains, owing to its alkalinity.Since it requires a six to one ratio offluid to grain to cook into a smoothcereal, you may wish to get this oneready the night before and then heat itin the morning. Millet cooked in milk isgreat with dried cranberries, choppeddates and cinnamon. Millet provides 5grams of fiber per 1/4 cup serving.
Buckwheat: This stalwart whole graincooks to a chewy texture. You areprobably familiar with it in pancakes,pilafs and kasha. When roasted, it willbe referred to as “groats”. You simplyadd a two to one ratio of fluid tobuckwheat groats and cook on mediumheat. I enjoy adding a tablespoon ofpeanut butter to my bowl of hotbuckwheat, with a drizzle of honey ormaple syrup. Buckwheat provides 4grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving.
Oatmeal: This whole grain isavailable in many different forms:rolled, flaked and steel cut. Besidesmaking the most delicious and healthycookies, oatmeal lowers cholesterolwith its soluble fiber. If you findoatmeal too mushy, you may wish tosample steel cut oats that retain amore chewy texture. Choose Irish orScottish oatmeal, often soakedovernight to shorten the cooking timeto 10 minutes.Serve with milk,coconut flakes,pieces of appleand a dash ofcinnamon.Oatmealprovides 4grams of fiberper 1/2 cupserving.
into sheets so they can be shaped intolittle balls, rings and letters of thealphabet – processed so heavily thatthe fiber disappears, vitamins leachout and synthetic vitamins need to beadded back in at the end ofprocessing.
Whether you like a smooth cereal orone with some chewiness, you will findsomething listed here to satisfy yourtaste buds and hopefully get the wholefamily started on a hot cereal habit.
Quinoa Flakes & Quinoa: Quinoa(Keen-wah) is an ancient grain datingback to the time of the Incas. Thishigh protein grain can be found inflakes at the supermarket. They lookmuch like instant potato flakes. Evenwithout the use of a microwave, theseonly take 90 seconds to cook in water.Quinoa is a gluten-free grain. I like toswirl orange marmalade into my hotquinoa. Each 1/3 cup serving of flakesprovides 2.4 grams of dietary fiber. Ifyou have the time, purchase quinoaseeds, which need to be rinsed beforecooking. Cook these in a ratio of twoparts milk to one part grain for afluffy, light cereal topped with berriesand a drizzle of honey.
Grape Nuts: Thisready to eat cerealis a combination oftwo grains: wheatand barley.Delicious cold, ittakes on adifferentdimension whenheated in the
microwave oven,with milk, for only one minute. Itprovides 7 grams of fiber per 1/2 cupserving.
Grits: This cereal originates in thecorn fields of the deep South. Buythem organic since the majority ofcorn in this country is geneticallymodified but not labeled as such.Gluten-free, whole grain grits aretasty with a teaspoon of real butter
Mary Higgins is a nutrition educator who writes about food for several websites. She graduated
from Simmons College with a Bachelor’s degree in both Nutrition and Education. She studied
Exercise Science and received her Master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst. She has worked as a Sports Nutritionist and personal trainer at YMCA’s in the Greater
Boston area and is certified by both the American Council on Exercise and the American Academy
of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists. She is the author of a children’s picture book, Daddy Trains
for the Marathon, a family-friendly story about a young father’s journey to lose weight, which was
first published in 2011.
Continued on page 12
10 North Shore Children & Families Individualized Education Programs
How to Work with Your Child’sIEP Teamby Lisa Rau Staff
As a 15 year veteran of the IEP wars, I am often asked how I have managed tosurvive my son’s IEP meetings without having an attorney or an advocatepresent. The answer is a simple one. I always remember that I am his bestadvocate, and that I bring an insight to the table that is invaluable because noone knows him as well as I do. Also, I assume that the team has my son’s bestinterests in mind (at least most of the time) and will collaborate to meet hisneeds. I worked in a high school for two years as a mental health intern, andobserved that the majority of the teachers cared for their students andwanted them to make progress. I remember this when I am preparing for ameeting.
What can you do to develop a special education team that is easy to workwith?
Get Organized: Being as organized as you can makes it easier for you towork with the team because you will have the information about your child atyour fingertips. When a question comes up, you can refer to your binder orcommunication book to prove a point, dispute a statement or find an answer.You will feel more confident and less anxious. Purchase a large, 3-ring binderand paste a photo of your child on the front (until your child no longer allowsit). Occasionally, you may be in a meeting with someone who has not metyour child and you will be able to show his or her photo. Using dividers, fillthe binder with any information about your child that you feel is pertinent.This may include medical reports, school evaluations, IEPs and communicationsfrom the school. Take this binder to each team meeting and to any othermeetings that might be appropriate.
When writing your child’s IEP, add “communication book” and request that thisbe written in every day and sent home. By the time you have your next teammeeting, you will have a wealth of knowledge about your child’s days at schooland can refer to it when writing goals and objectives or discussing progress.
I have always prepared an agenda for each meeting with the team, and sent itto the Team Leader prior to the meeting. Copies are usually made and handedout to each team member, but I always take extra copies to the meeting, just incase. I have often found that with the agenda, the leader will contact me aheadof time and we will resolve some of the issues beforehand. I keep my notesfrom the meeting on the agenda and file it in my binder.
Continued on page 12
Raising Compassionate Children
Teaching Kids to Give Brings Happiness, Healing and Purpose
North Shore Children & Families 11
by Leah Okimoto
Holly first heard about Aaron’s Presentswhen I presented my program at herelementary school’s assembly inSeptember. Shortly after, she told herparents that she would like to applyfor a grant to provide Halloweencostumes for homeless children. Thisidea was completely hers, and herparents supported her initiative. Shecompleted the application on her own
and wrote, “I would like to find ahomeless shelter that [has] children…so a homeless child will be able to trickor treat.”
Holly’s project is the first to becompleted in the 2014-15 school year,and it perfectly captures what theAaron’s Presents program is all about.Holly, at 8 years old, noticed a need inthe world – the fact that she and herbrother and friends are able to enjoy
a fun childhood holiday experiencewhile other children cannot – and sheasked herself what she might doabout it. Acting as a true leader, shewent ahead and filled out theapplication, putting together a planand a budget, got her parents’permission and submitted it.
Editor’s Note: Last month, we told you about Aaron’s Presents, a non-profit organizationthat offers grants to local kids who want to help others. This month (and in future issues), wefeature a recent grant recipient and her project.
Spotlight on Aaron’s Presents Grant Recipient: Holly, 3rd grader from AndoverCostume Collection Project
We then connected with FINA Housein Lawrence, MA, which houses andprovides services for womensurvivors of domestic violence, andthe staff was thrilled at the prospectof being able to give the 21 childrenliving there Halloween costumes in
Individualized Education ProgramsContinued from page 10
12 North Shore Children & Families
Aaron’s PresentsContinued from page 11
time for their Halloween party. Theygave Holly a list of the children’s ages,genders and their requestedcostumes.
When we told them about Holly’sproject, Spirit Halloween generouslyagreed to give us a significant discounton the costumes, and because of theirhuge selection, Holly was able to findmost of the requested costumes! Shethen took them home and packagedthem in Halloween bags and createdcards for each child, with personalizedmessages and jokes, depending ontheir age and interest. In addition, shedevised a sticker coding system tohelp the staff identify two groups ofchildren and more easily distributethe packages.
Lastly, she and her family delivered thepackages and met with the staff tolearn more about the house and thechildren living there. Everyone in theroom could not help but be moved bythe joy that these children were going
to experience, simply because Hollyhad thought about how she mighthelp other people and had chosen tomake the effort to put herthoughtfulness into action.
Holly’s project received a total grantof $375.99, which was made possibleby The Dr. Alan Metwally Presents Fund,a fund started by Dr. Metwally’s lovedones to continue his legacy ofgenerosity and love towards children.100% of Presents Funds contributionsare used solely for project expenses.
Please visit www.aaronspresents.orgto learn more about how a child youknow can apply for a grant or tosupport our work in some way. Wewould love to hear from you!
WaringschoolWaringschool
35 Standley Street, Beverly, MA(978) 927-8793
www.waringschool.org
35 Standley Street, Beverly, MA(978) 927-8793
www.waringschool.org
Open School Date
- Friday, January 9
Open School Date
- Friday, January 9
Leah Okimoto is a North Shoremother who lives in Andover with herhusband and 6 year old daughter.Her son, Aaron, lives on in her heartand through her work with theamazing Aaron’s Presents grantrecipients who bring her and othersjoy and inspiration every day.
Be proactive in asking for information prior to the meeting, including therough draft of the IEP, what is on the school’s agenda and any evaluations orreports that were done.
Get Personal: The most important information that I can give you is todevelop a positive, professional relationship with one or more members ofyour child’s team. You will feel that you have an ally and it will be easier foryou to feel supported in the meeting. Volunteer at your child’s school or in theclassroom, as often as you can. It will be eye-opening to see what ishappening, both negatively and positively. In addition, when you are avolunteer, it is easier to develop relationships with those professionals who areworking with your child because you are in front of them more often. Theserelationships can be invaluable in many ways.
The greatest reward that can come out of working with your child’s specialeducation team is to see your child receive the services that he or she needs,to have a wonderful school year and to progress. This is best achieved whenyou are feeling organized, confident and strong when working with your child’steam. It is important that the team communicates, is open to other opinions,builds trust and works towards a goal. There will be adversity in most cases,and if you are prepared, you will be able to face it and move forward.Developing organizational skills and fostering relationships with as manyprofessionals as you can will be to your best advantage. The reward will comewith your child’s progress.
Lisa Rau Staff, a mother from North Andover, has graduate degrees in clinicalmental health and business administration. She is working on a handbook forparents of children with special needs, and consulting to a Hollywood film.
North Shore Children & Families 13
Written by Robert Frost and Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Dutton Children’s Books, $16.99, Ages 3 and up
by Cathy Ballou Mealey
For many of us on the North Shore, earlyNovember brought the first snowfall of the season.A wind-whipped, blustery Nor’easter broughtdown power lines and whipped dry autumn leavesinto frenzied, frosted piles, providing just a briefpreview of the weather headed our way! For agentler, wonder-filled exploration of winter delights,pick up this beautifully illustrated excerpt from theclassic poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
A farmer, bearded and wearing heavy cold-weathergarb, greets his barn animals and loads his sleigh.
Through the snowy countryside he glides, passing foxes, owls and rabbits. Pausingto “watch his woods fill up with snow”, he spontaneously flops down and createsa snow angel, much to the animals’ surprise, before leaving a gift of seeds and hayin the midst of the forest.
Delicately etched downy snowflakes begin to fall, turning the woods “…lovely,dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep…”The grateful animals, hidden among the snow-covered boughs, watch him
Children’s Book Review
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Preschool and Kindergarten
Open House: January15, 9:30-11:30a.m.173 Washington Street, Boxford, MA
cover his horse with a cozy blanket. He sleds away to a New Englandfarmhouse where eager children await.
Author Robert Frost, four time Pulitzer Prize winner and Poet Laureate, wasonce a farmer in Derry, NH. By capturing images of rural New England inplainspoken verse, he became one of the most popular 20th century poets.Rare is the graduation speech that does not reference his most famous work,The Road Not Taken (“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one lesstraveled by”). This poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, was firstpublished in 1923.
Illustrator Susan Jeffers brings Frost’s memorable words to life for children byincluding an abundance of creatures throughout the book’s pages. Bright popsof rich red, yellow, blue and green add warmth and dimension to the snowy,serene landscapes done in pencil, pen and ink. She masterfully captures awintry scene in grey, white and brown tones, and shows the gusty movementsof wind, the twirling dance of falling snowflakes and the soft, deep hush of athick forest. Tucked into the snow are squirrels and deer, a silent audience forthe narrator and his horse.
This is a short book to read slowly and savor while snuggled inside on a snowyday. It is a lovely way to introduce young readers to a snippet of classicAmerican poetry, and children will enjoy counting and naming all the animals.Also take note of the wide variety of native New England trees, plants andbirds that are depicted with elegant but simple detail. This is an enchantingstory that will surely grow richer with repeated readings!
Cathy Ballou Mealey is a picture book writer and mom to two great kids. She lives in Lynnfield, MA
and shares book reviews through Twitter via @CatBallouMealey. Cathy borrowed Stopping by Woods
on a Snowy Evening from her local library, where she discovers wonderful new stories every week.
14 North Shore Children & Families
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For complete listing accuracy, werecommend that you call ahead orcheck the websites listed. Featuredlistings do not constitute anendorsement from this Publisherand we encourage our readers toalways do their own research.
MONDAYS:
Musical Storytime Jam, atHamilton-Wenham Public Library, So.Hamilton; for parents w/children 0-5.Two sessions each Mon.: 10:15-11am& 11:15am-noon.
TUESDAYS:
Pajamas and Books, at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, So. Hamilton;for parents w/children 0-5. Meetsevery Tuesday evening through Dec.23.
WEDNESDAYS:
Fall Lego Club, at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, S. Hamilton;meets every Wednesday at 7pm.
START SAVING TODAY:
Open a MEFA U.Fund CollegeInvesting Plan account withFidelity Investments today!See ad on page 5!
REGISTER TODAY:
Cape Ann Figure Skating Cluboffers private lessons, grouplessons and Learn to Skate inGloucester and Hamilton.See ad on page 2; www.cafsc.org.
DECEMBER is the month for:Bingo, Writing to Friends
DECEMBER 1:
Happy 7th Birthday to North ShoreChildren & Families – now enteringour 8th year!
DECEMBER 4:
Admissions Open House atBrookwood School, Manchester,8:45-10:45am. See pages 4 and 7.
Open House at Odyssey DaySchool, Wakefield, 6:30-8pm. See ad on page 13.
DECEMBER 5-21:
Bill Hanney’s North Shore MusicTheatre presents A ChristmasCarol; www.nsmt.org.
DECEMBER 8:
PJ Library Hanukkah Story Hour,4pm, Lynnfield Public Library.
DECEMBER 10:
Affordability Night atBrookwood School, Manchester,7pm. See pages 4 and 7.
Human Rights Day
DECEMBER 13:
Informational Gathering atDevereux School, Marblehead,10am. See ad on page 12.
Winter Festival & Ice SkatingExhibition presented by CapeAnn Figure Skating Club atDorothy Talbot Rink, Gloucester;free. 11am-noon Skating Exhibition;12noon-1pm Arts & Crafts, UsedSkate & Dress Sale, Bake Sale; 1-2pmOpen Skate/$5/family. www.cafsc.org
DECEMBER 14:
International Children’s Day
DECEMBER 16:
Hanukkah begins at sunset.
DECEMBER 20:
Holiday Community Sing-Along,6pm, at Shalin Liu PerformanceCenter, Rockport; free.
Holiday Storytime at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 11am; free forages 2+ w/caregiver.
DECEMBER 22:
Thinking of Nanna Roderick on her birthday.
DECEMBER 23:
Remembering Mrs. Chelsea.
DECEMBER 25:
Merry Christmas!
DECEMBER 31:
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Remembering Aunt Jean and Tami.
JANUARY is the month for: Bath Safety, Blood Donors, BrailleLiteracy, Hobbies, Hot Tea,Oatmeal, Soup
JANUARY 1:
Happy New Year!
JANUARY 8:
Admission Open House at Pike School, Andover, 9am.See ad on page 10.
JANUARY 9:
Open School at Waring School,Beverly. See ad on page 12.
JANUARY 10:
Informational Gathering atDevereux School, Marblehead,10am. See ad on page 12.
JANUARY 13:
Happy Birthday to Stephen & Veronica!
Make Your Dream Come True Day
JANUARY 14 (NOON):
AD DEADLINE: If you need toadvertise in our FEBRUARYissue, and if you need any adproduction assistance, pleaseconfirm your ad size and submityour ad materials by NOONTODAY! You can see our display adrates, sizes, available discounts & moreat www.northshorefamilies.com/advertiseor [email protected].
JANUARY 15:
Application deadline forHeronfield Academy, HamptonFalls, NH; see ad on page 2.
Open House at The VillageSchool, Boxford, 9:30am.See ad on page 13.
North Shore Children & Families 15JANUARY 16 (NOON):
AD DEADLINE: FINALAdvertising Space ReservationDEADLINE at NOON for ALLCOMPLETED ADS (that doNOT require any ad productionassistance) for our FEBRUARYissue! To advertise, [email protected]!If you need any ad productionassistance, please confirm your adsize and submit your ad materialsby noon, Wed., Jan. 14! You can seeour regular display ad rates, sizes,available discounts & more atwww.northshorefamilies.com/advertise.
JANUARY 21:
National Hugging Day
JANUARY 22:
Open House at Glen UrquhartSchool, Beverly, 9am.See ad on page 11.
JANUARY 24:
Admissions Open House atBrookwood School, Manchester,1-3pm. See pages 4 and 7.
JANUARY 25:
Open House at Shore CountryDay School, Beverly, 11am-1:30pm. See ad on page 9.
Open House at St. Pius V School,Lynn, 12:30-2:30pm. See ad on page 3.
JANUARY 28:
Remembering Madison on his birthday.
Affordability Night atBrookwood School, Manchester,7pm. See pages 4 and 7.
JANUARY 29:
Open House at Odyssey DaySchool, Wakefield, 6:30-8pm. See ad on page 13.
Please visit us online atwww.northshorefamilies.com/eventsfor more calendar listings forNorth Shore parents, children &families!
From Our North Shore Family to Yours –We Wish You the Happiest of Holidays!
Peace & Goodwill to All from North Shore Children & Families
