WASHINGTON washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 Parent-Teacher Confi dence Tips for a Successful Conference MATH + ADHD Common Struggles and How to Help Why Strong Writing Skills Matter PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY PICTURED: TEACHER AND STUDENTS AT OAKCREST SCHOOL 10 FALL FESTIVALS COME VISIT US FOR GREAT ICE SKATING AND FUN FAMILY TIMES! LEARN TO SKATE SESSION September 5th – October 21st Schedule available online Cost is $147 Buy One Get One Free Public Skate Expires 12/31/2018 Includes skate rental Check website for public skate schedules www.skatequest.com | 703-709-1010 1800 Michael Faraday Ct., Reston, VA 20190 Open Houses: Oct 8 and Nov 12 washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 3 OCTOBER TABLE OF contents ON THE COVER: Teacher and Students at akcrest School in ienna, A 10 14 Parent-Teacher Confidence: 4 Cs for a Successful Conference it o e a ic ti , co icati wit yo r c ild teac er ca e a e e cial ea to a cce l acade ic year or yo r c ild. 18 l lli p a d Michelle Blanchard Ardillo COLUMNS: The First Word p. 7 The Last Word p. 48 Lifelong Links: Connecting Girls and Minorities to Computer Science p Co ter cie ce i t t itti e i d a de k a d codi , it a o t i acti t e world. Alex Rychwalsk RESOURCES: 3 Math Struggles for Kids with ADHD and Strategies to Help p AD D a d at do t ee to e a at ral t, a d t ere are ario actor t at o i to w y at i o di c lt or kid wit AD D. Christine Rosenfeld Montessori Birthday/Parties Family Calendar assi eds GUIDES: QUICK READS 4 October 2018 The Unhealthy Truth Local Fall Festivals Writing Skills for College Success The Playground Workout Mom Review: Spirit Equestrian Fall Family Fitness washingtonFAMILY.com Specialized Learning p. 30 p. 40 p. 47 Private School Directory p. 33 8 1 y 0 a 2 d .C. , r D , 0 u n o Sat ctober 2 aza • Washingt O reedom Pl F 5K Run/Walk • Kids Dash • A Saturday Like No Other A 5K and 100-yard Kids Dash in the heart of the nation’s capital, the Race for Every Child is perfect for families, walking groups, runners, and all community members to join together for a celebration of pediatric health. Register today! RaceForEveryChild.org Use code WASHFAM18 for $5 off 5K Sign up today and you will help Children’s National provide world-class care for every child, regardless of ability to pay. Childrens.National @ChildrensHealth @ChildrensNational Ages 9+ Ben Gonzales / Theater Unspeakable LLC Young Audiences By Jason Reynolds Adapted for the Stage by Martine Green Rogers Directed by Timothy Douglas World premiere Kennedy Center commission Ages 12+ D.C.-area native Jason Reynolds’s New York Times best-selling book comes to the stage in a compelling and timely production. Oct. 27–Nov. 4 Family Theater Using only 7 actors and their bodies on a tiny stage, Theater Unspeakable recreates the entire American fight for independence in 50 minutes. Additional support is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; and the U.S. Department of Education. 6 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com (202) 467-4600 Groups call (202) 416-8400 Oct. 12–14 | Family Theater Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences. Kennedy-Center.org For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540 Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Major support for education programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. THE FIRST WORD The One Halloween I Want to Forget — But Can’t Every October 1st, I get fl ooded with childhood memories of Halloween; especially of the cute and “questionable” costumes I donned over the years. My costumes ranged from the typical precious pumpkin or princess to the weird Crayola crayon. best costume — or come close. But a word of advice: Try not to force a costume on your pre-teen. They don’t forget. Instead, check out our FAMILY calendar this month on pg. 50 to fi nd some Halloween-inspired events. Or go to washingtonFAMILY.com to see the full list. But there’s one costume I can’t seem to forget. We did remember that October is more than the one day of Halloween. In this issue, we have a list of fun, local fall festivals on pg. 26 to get you in the autumn spirit. If you’re searching for the right school for your child, check out our annual Private School Guide on pg. 33. Because it’s that time of year for parent-teacher conferences, we have some helpful tips on pg.10. Have a child with ADHD who struggles with math? There’s help offered on pg. 18. It’s a jam-packed educational (and fun) issue. I was 11 and it was the last year my friends and I would go trick-or- treating. It was also the fi rst time we were having a chaperoned co-ed “pre-party.” My Mom purchased my little sister and me matching Halloween costumes. We were to be Raggedy Ann Dolls; complete with decked out curly wigs and rosy-red face paint. I’m not sure why I agreed, but I remember thinking it could be OK. But then, my mother thought it would be cute to bring my 6-year-old Raggedy Ann Dolled up sister with me to the party as an accessory and for some good photo-ops. This was mortifying to this almost 12-year- old. It gets worse. My friends had decided that because boys would be there, this was the year your costume had to be “cool.” While I rocked my curly wig and bright red cheeks, my friends were Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Natalie, Dylan and Alex from the newly-released Charlie’s Angels movie. I stood out. Painfully. And so did my sister. Luckily, this didn’t ruin my October-loving spirit. Since the “Raggedy Ann” incident, I enjoy decorating for Halloween, buying the best candy (yes, whole bars) for trick-or-treaters and always try and rock the I hope you and your families make lots of happy memories this October. And I’ll try really hard to forget about Raggedy Ann. Britni Petersen Managing Editor Washington FAMILY Magazine bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 7 SYLVIA WITASCHEK | Associate Publisher 301-230-6698 | switaschek@midatlanticmedia.com ADVERTISING JULIE TURCO | Account Executive 917-647-8755 | jturco@midatlanticmedia.com KELL FLOOD | Account Executive 301-230-6687 | kflood@midatlanticmedia.com MARY RAMSDALE | Account Executive 301-230-6664 | mary@midatlanticmedia.com EDITORIAL BRITNI PETERSEN | Managing Editor 301-230-6696 | bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com Contributors: Michelle Blanchard Ardillo, Rachel Ornstein Packer, Beth Roessner Alex Rychwalski, Kathryn Streeter, Cynda Zurfluh CREATIVE CHEYENNE BASS | Art Director JAMES MESKUNAS | Digital Media Manager DAVID STUCK | Staff Photographer BUSINESS PATTIE-ANN LAMP | Accounting Coordinator 410-902-2311 | plamp@midatlanticmedia.com Mid-Atlantic Media CRAIG BURKE | CEO/Publisher cburke@midatlanticmedia.com JOSHUA RUNYAN | Senior Editorial Director jrunyan@midatlanticmedia.com LIZ SPIKOL | Editorial Director lspikol@midatlanticmedia.com JENI MANN | Director of Marketing & Custom Media jmann@midatlanticmedia.com JENNIFER PERKINS-FRANTZ | Director of Production jperkinsfrantz@midatlanticmedia.com BILL SIMS | Director of Circulation & Audience Development bsims@midatlanticmedia.com LSG is the private school designed to inspire and challenge advanced students in grades 6-12. Find out what makes us different at www.loudounschool.org/only-at-lsg. 8 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com © Washington Family. Washington Family is published 12 times a year by Mid-Atlantic Media, and is distributed free of charge throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Correspondence and editorial submissions from our readers are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment on all editorial and advertising material submitted. We are not responsible for the return of any unsolicited materials. The acceptance of advertising by Washington Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without expressed written permission. 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 300 | Rockville, MD 20852 | 301-230-2222 or 703-318-1385 | washingtonfamily.com PARENTS: Find that 'Just Right' private school for your children at the... Private School FAIR Come to the 201 8 fair to see private schools and enrichment activities from all over the DMV, plus: Find the perfect private school for your kids! SATURDAY, October 6 , 201 8 • 10 A.M.-3 P.M. PARENT-TEACHER CONFIDENCE 4 Cs FOR A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE BY MICHELLE BLANCHARD ARDILLO A round the same time that the pumpkin- avored coff ee drinks appear in your local coff ee shop, another annual event will take place that may send you reeling like a triple shot of espresso. Yes, it’s almost that time of the year: parent- teacher conferences. Your child means the world to you, so meeting face to face with the person who spends as many or more waking hours of the day as you do with your child can be daunting. Att ending a parent-teacher conference does not need to be stressful or confrontational. With some basic tips, communicating with your child’s teacher can be a fulfi lling and benefi cial means to a successful academic year for your child. ust remember the 4 Cs for a successful conference. 1. BE CIVIL: If today’s political climate in our country has taught us anything, it’s that we need to step back and remember how to be civil, even in the face of our diff erences. Your child’s teacher is a professional educator who wants the same thing as you for your child to have a successful year. Work as a team towards that goal. Be kind. Be positive. Be professional. If necessary, request the school counselor or an administrator to sit in on the conference. 2. ALWAYS COMMUNICATE: While email is effi cient and expedient, it’s also faceless and easily open to misinterpretation. When writing an email to your child’s teacher, be mindful that your words may be read by someone who taught all morning, had a fi ve-minute lunch break before going out for recess duty, and then taught again all afternoon. They’re most likely ending their day with a screen full of emails to answer, papers to grade, lessons to plan and bulletin boards to decorate. Start and end your emails with pleasant comments, and ask for a phone call or a short meeting to discuss anything serious. Don’t go over the teacher’s head with issues unless you have discussed them together fi rst. 3. CARING IS SHARING: Your child’s teacher needs to know when things at home may interfere with performance in the classroom. Is there a new baby on the way or already at home taking more of Mom’s att ention? Have fi nancial issues changed what after- school activities they can join? Did your child’s best friend change schools and now there is no one to hang out with at recess? Are there social ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/MANGPOR_2004 10 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/STEVE DEBENPORT issues at school such as bullying or being left off of a party invitation list? Communicating this to teachers will help them be on the lookout for your child and ease some of the tensions they’ re facing. Teachers can be your best advocates. R It’s important to be involved in your children’s work. This does not mean doing their math homework or writing their English essay. But do spend a few minutes daily talking about their school day. Avoid yes/no questions. Ask instead, Which problem was the most diffi cult on the math test? or What sport are you playing in PE this week? Once a week, go through their backpack and review returned graded work, look over their note-taking skills and read a chapter of a textbook together. You can discuss with your child’ s teacher other ways to be more involved at home. Most public school systems address parent-teacher conferences on their websites, off ering tips for parents to have more successful communications with the faculty. ontgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the largest public school district in Maryland, has a two-page yer on its website about preparing for parent-teacher conferences, along with a list of questions to ask teachers. MCPS advises, When parents and teachers talk with each other, each person can share important information about the child’s academic progress, talents and needs. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the largest public school district in Virginia, also devotes a page of its website to outlining various levels and methods of communication between parents and teachers. FCPS states, The purpose of a parent-teacher conference is to develop a mutual understanding of various aspects of the student’s progress and to encourage cooperative planning toward eff ective solutions of problems that may exist. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 11 After your parent- teacher conference, don’ t just file away the student work shared by the teacher or the notes you took during the meeting. The National Education Association (NEA) website, in its tips for parents on parent- teacher conferences, says, Start immediately on the action plan you and the teacher put together. Discuss the plan with your child and track his progress. Stay in touch with your child’s teacher throughout the year with regularly scheduled report card’ conferences that can keep the communication lines open. For more tips from the NEA on parent-teacher conferences, go to nea.org. Michelle Blanchard Ardillo is a freelance writer and middle school language arts teacher who e oy a ilie etti to k ow er t de t a d t eir etter t ro effecti e a d o iti e are t teac er co ere ce . ollow er ic ardillo o witter or STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE ET THE COOP ON PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE DIRECT FRO O R CHI D CHOO THE E AREA P IC CHOO OFFER PARENT O E HE PF ON INE RE O RCE DR EARCH A AT ACP OR CCE F PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE D D EARCH PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE CHEC DCP DC O R EARCH CO AT FCP ED NICATIN I T AT ITH T DENT AND PARENT D EARCH PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE AT CP OR R EARCH PREPARIN FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE AT ONT O ER CHOO D OR oodread , or ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/STEVE DEBENPORT at er we ite, www. ic elleardillo.co . 12 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Come visit our PUMPKIN PATCH! Fall is a great time at the farm! Fall Pumpkin Patch On Wednesdays we chop veggies for Martha’s Table. Register now for 2018/2019 School Year Classes, don’t miss out! HOW WILL YOU LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK? Come visit us on campus or at sidwell.edu to learn more about how a Quaker education prepares students to make a positive impact on the world. formerly HeartBeats Music & Dance ADMISSIONS SEASON OPENS SEPTEMBER 1 Sidwell Friends is a PK–12 independent day school with www.sidwell.edu campuses in Bethesda, MD, and | Washington, DC. WASHINGTON, DC, METRO AREA  h  hristma “One of those rare events that delight people of all ages.” –THE WASHINGTON POST  eves ® n lizaetan Celeration o te inter olstice in usic, ance  ram  eaturin Mark Jaster Sabrina Mandell wit 8  erormances December 8-16 atinees  venings The Center for Ballet Arts Register Now for Fall Ballet . Pointe . Modern . Jazz Tap . Pilates . Kinderballet Ages 3 thru Adults 3955 Pender Drive, Suite 105 Fairfax, VA 22030 • 703.273.5344 • thecenterballetarts.com Katrina Van Duyn as ueen lizabet   Piffaro Te enaissance Band  amiy  rida Register now for 2018/2019 School Year Classes, don’t miss out! December 14 25 % off youth tickets Celebrating 35 Years washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 13 Lifelong Links Connecting girls and minorities to computer science BY ALEX RYCHWALSKI In a computer lab at the niversity of aryland, College Park, more than m iddle school students donning culus virtual- reality headsets test out various games, killing robots and having a blast with their classmates. By the end of this two- week camp session, they will have made their own virtual- reality games. The students, girls and boys from groups underrepresented in computer science, are part of the Computer Science Connect program CompSciConnect) hosted by the aryland Center for Women in Computing at the university. The primary goal of the program is to introduce computer science to students who wouldn’ t otherwise have that opportunity by showing them how computer science aff ects the world, says an Plane, the program’ s founder and director. ne thing we see with women and minorities is they want computing that 14 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com fi xes the world, not computing for the sake of computing,” P lane says. nly p ercent of computer science degrees are completed by women nationally, according to the .S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the disparity is even greater for racial minorities. African- American women comprise only p ercent of the computing workforce, while Latinas make up ust p ercent. Plane pares down the discrepancy in diversity to three factors: t he knowledge among underrepresented groups that they are indeed underrepresented; s ocietal pressures steering children away from the fi eld and a misperception of what computer science really is. “It Never Gets a Chance” CompSciConnect is a three- year program that meets for two weeks during the summer and monthly during the school year, but for students not in the program, the opportunity is one that is hard to come by due to their current curriculum. I don’t think I would’ve gott en into computer science without CompSciConnect] ,” says Anushka Ganoo, a aryland student in her third year with the program. “I n our schools, we aren’ t introduced to it as a subj ect in middle school.” Last ovember, Gov. Larry ogan introduced the ACCESS initiative, allocating m illion to fund teacher training and professional development in computer science. espite this step in the right direction, the program fails to address the biggest obstacle preventing girls like Anushka from gett ing into computing: C omputer science courses are not required in public schools. Plane says many girls are turned away from computer science because of the lack of exposure to the subject. A lot of women don’ t go into computer science because they don’t experience it. It never gets a chance. “B ecause it’ s not required in schools, like biology is, there is a gap in exposure. If you look at the biological sciences, there is gender parity because of where biology falls in the timeline of school and everyone is ex posed to it.” ue to the lack of standardiz ed computer science education, Plane says the greatest indicator for a student entering the field is knowing someone who’ s already in it. For groups that lack representation, they often don’ t view computer science as an option. “It’s Not Like School” CompSciConnect is separated into three groups based on the students’ ex perience with computer science ellow, Red and Terp groups. ellow, the introductory group, is mostly comprised of students entering six th grade. The program introduces them to computing while teaching them things such as coding in Python and creating their own phone apps. In previous years, students worked heavily with robots, but the program has since been adapted to resonate better with students. Because most kids have a phone and are proficient at using apps, creating their own app as early as fifth grade has a greater impact on their interest in the discipline than programming robots. Second- year students in the Red group tap into their creative sides by learning how to build their own websites using TM L and avascript. They build anything from fashion blogs to shopping websites, although Plane adds they aren’ t allowed to sell anything on their sites. In the final year of the program, the Terp group uses a program called nity to build its own virtual- reality games. The more laid- back and interactive classroom environment is part of what keeps students coming back year after year. “I t’ s not like school,” s ays Sanika evare, another aryland resident who is part of the Terp group. “T hey make it more fun.” uring the school year, students collaborate on proj ects to present at a winter showcase and then again during aryland ay in the spring to recruit prospective students to the program. The curriculum is constantly evolving, so nex t year’ s students likely won’ t be learning the same things as this year’ s. Another interactive aspect of the program is the computer science- related field trips during the sessions. In the past, students have toured the International Spy useum, the Aviation useum, the ational Cryptologic useum, the FBI and ASA, as well as other labs on campus. The trips are a way for Plane to show students real- world applications of computer science. And Then, Robots After testing out several virtual- reality games and gathering information to build their own game, the Terp group gathers in the hallway and makes friendship bracelets to pass the time before heading outside for the final part of the day’ s session. The class heads ust up the street to the eutral Buoyancy Lab, where researchers use a foot deep pool of water to simulate a zer o- gravity environment and test how robots would hold up in space. Students gather around the top of the pool and fire off several questions about the function of nearby robotics and the use of computing in the lab. There they meet Ranger, a series of robotics designed to study satellite servicing that was initially intended to be sent on a shuttle mission in the early 2000s before finding its home in the buoyancy lab, following the S pace Shuttle Columbia accident. It never made it to space. baona/E+/Getty Images onetheless, operating Ranger, the tour guide emphasizes , would be impossible without computing. It’ s a good way to end the day for the tour and perfectly defines what CompSciConnect is about. Computer science isn’t just sitting behind a desk and coding, Plane says, it’ s about impacting the world. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 15 SAVE. PRECIOUS. TIME. 2nd Annual DCschoolHUB Preschool & Private School Fair Sunday, October 21  1 - 3 PM at Browne Academy in Alexandria, VA 50 of the top preschools & private schools will be in attendance. Learn about the different programs & have some fun along the way! To secure your tickets visit DCschoolHUB.com JOY AND MATH CAN BE USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE. Beauvoir offers an extraordinary education designed for early learners. Accepting applications for pre-kindergarten to third grade for the 2019-2020 school year. 16 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com FEAR: She won’t get quality care at an urgent care. FACT: We have 16x more pediatric training to make sure she does. We’re specially trained to care for your child. Now Open in Germantown! Annapolis, MD Rockville, MD Greenbelt, MD Springfi eld, VA PMPEDIATRICS.COM PMP481_FearFact_WashingtonFamily_Germantown_7x4.72_4C.indd 1 9/14/18 2:56 PM Discover Burgundy! Come explore our one-of-a-kind learning environment for students age 4 through grade 8. Open houses will be October 5, November 12, December 1, and January 13. Tours also available. Register at 703.329.6968 or burgundyfarm.org/visit! Burgundy Farm Country Day School Alexandria, VA • 703.329.6968 • burgundyfarm.org washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 17 STRUGGLES for Kids with ADHD and Strategies to Help R emember the common “m ad minute” ex ercise? It was a short quiz o f about m ultiplication problems that you had to try and complete in one minute. For most young minds, those s econds were seriously stressful. ow, imagine doing that ex ercise, but at the same time not being able to keep track of all these operations in your head, and constantly losing focus on the problem. This is what most AD children face when they look at a math problem. AD and math don’ t seem to be a natural fit, and there are various factors that go into why math is so difficult for kids with ADHD. So here is a break down of some of the struggles AD kids face in math class, along with ways to help make sure your child’ s math foundation is strong. ADHD and Math: The issue at hand Students who are affected by ADHD often have a hard time with math because their memory is not very strong and blocking out ex ternal stimuli is a struggle. emory, which is where information is stored for later use, is one of the many executive functions. Executive functions 18 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com BY CHRISTINE ROSENFELD refer to skills such as reasoning, task switching and planning. Kids with ADHD do not have strong executive function skills, which significantly affects their performance in school. This brings us to the first struggle: Struggle 1: Word problems are overwhelming Take this word problem, for example: A f oot ladder is leaning against a house and a hose is stretched from the base of the house to the garden and passes the ladder after 8 feet and you have to figure out the height of the house and the angle of the ladder to the house. Wait, what ust happened? If you read the problem above and got confused or oned out, you’ re like many people who dread word problems. For students with AD , the stumbling block with word problems lies in the combination of words and numbers that make it difficult to store the information in their memory as they progress through the problem. Even if the student is able to follow along with the problem, when it comes time to solve it, all of their energy and focus is already used up! word problem into chunks, allowing the student to place ust a small piece of information into his head. Adding a tactile and visual dimension to his learning by drawing part of the problem at a time only strengthens his memory. Check out the ex ample image. It shows what the picture might look like as your child is reading. By the end of reading the word problem, he will have completed the drawing, in the bottom right. Taking this piece- by- piece approach to reading and drawing might mean that your child might have to change the original drawing as he goes, but that’ s K. It’ s important to get something on the page before he finishes reading the whole problem. Solution? Tackle it piece by piece Struggle 2: Confusion with Order of Operations Have your student read the problem in small parts and draw a picture of the part he ust read. This breaks the Remember PEMDAS (Please Excuse y ear Aunt Sally) It’ s an acronym that stands for parentheses, ex ponents, Getty Images/selimaksan MATH Brain Exercises for Kids with ADHD These easy, fun brain ex ercises provided by child psychologist, r. Robert yers can help improve ex ecutive function in children with AD . Try them out during your child’ s focus breaks. 1. S tory Based Games. To play these games, all you need is a good story and a good imagination. There are two versions of the game that you can try: Read a short story and give the child a “pop quiz” on the content. Start off by reading a paragraph or two from a story. ex t, ask your child to come up with what he thinks might come nex t. Provide guidance to keep the content connected to the original story. Then, you can add your take on what happens after your child says what he thinks happens nex t. If possible, keep trading back and forth and see what happens. This helps with building working memory and concentration. It can also help in the development of logic and sense of humor. 2. Ma es. You can find ma es appropriate for the age of your child for free online, such as krazy dad. com/ma es. Start off with easy ones and move forward. Keep track of speed and errors. f course, don’ t forget to praise improving scores! This is great for concentration, planning, sequencing, processing speed and visual- motor integration. 3. ancing Sequence Games. There are various versions to select from, depending on your child’ s age and what he or she likes. These games can be played on various video game platforms, including box 360, Wii and Play Station 3. ou will also need to purchase the dance mat that goes with your system. These games can improve concentration, processing speed, planning, sequencing and motor integration. Added bonus: T hey can also be a good form of aerobic ex ercise. multiplication, division, addition and subtraction. It is supposed to help with recalling the order of operations in complex math problems. The struggle that students with AD have with math problems that require them to conj ure up the correct order of operations has to do with their working memory and ability to maintain focus throughout the multiple problem solving procedures. Solution? Make it visual ave your student highlight math signs and symbols. ake colored pens, markers and highlighters your kid’ s best friend by encouraging him or her to color or highlight the sign, –, +, =, , and o f each problem. AD itude agazi ne recommends highlighting math signs because it is a visual reminder to the student of the kind of math operation needed to solve the problem. It may also be helpful in downtime to allow use of mobile math apps that work on the topic with which your child is struggling. These tend to be effective because of the very high level of visual engagement kids have with video games and screen time. Struggle 3: Staying focused enough to finish the problem Aside from issues with working memory, issues with focus are why students with AD tend to struggle with math problems. Staying intently focused on a single task takes a ton of mental energy, which often con icts with the desire that many kids with AD have for constantly changing stimulation. This is why completing a mathematical proof, a complex word problem or a problem involving intricate problem solving procedures can seem out of reach for your child. Solution? Focus breaks ave your child take a focus break. Focus breaks are m inute breaks when the student steps away from his homework, even if it’ s in the middle of a long mathematical problem, and does something unrelated to his work. This might be spending a few minutes on the phone, playing fetch with the dog or better yet, a brain exercise to improve your child’ s focus. By using these strategies, children with ADHD can feel much more confident in their studies and strengthen their math foundation. For over nine years, Christine Rosenfeld tutored students from Pre- to college at Educational Connections utoring. it o ce i air a , VA a d et e da, MD, Educational Connections’ tutors travel to students’ homes to help improve t eir co de ce a d rade t ro 1- to- 1 tutoring and organiz ation/ time management coaching. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 19 GUIDES & RESOURCES SPECIALIZED LEARNING ACADEMY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION y c oolace.co Parkrid e l d., Ste. , Re to , VA A e yr . t rade The Academy of Christian Education provides a unique learning ex perience for Toddlers through Elementary aged students by combining a high- quality, academically accelerated program with a Biblical foundation. THE AUBURN SCHOOL t ea r c ool.or i o t ea r c ool.or Park ei families with special needs. Accommodations include ASL interpretation and assisted listening devices as well as Braille and large print programs to allow the performance to be accessible to all audiences. An ex clusive backstage tour will be provided for children to make meaningful connections with the story and to ex perience theatre in a new way. Interested patrons needing these accommodations must e- mail info@ encorestage.org in advance. ates for our accessibility matinee performances will be available online on our website. LITTLE BUDS PROGRAM t A e., alti ore, MD Co corde Pkwy., , C a tilly, VA The Auburn School grows the social and academic potential of bright students with social and communication challenges, supporting academic skills, social competency and pragmatic language. litt lelea e .or i o litt lelea e .or 202- 420- 8359 eor ia A e., Sil er S ri , MD A e A center- based ABA program for young children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder run in a preschool-like sett ing. It is designed for children up to age w ho have been recommended for intensive ABA services. BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN SAINT ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL eor ia A e., Sil er S ri , MD clea . a i i de e de t.co c ea ad i io a i de ede t.co o e ra c Dr., Mc ea , VA A e yr . rade Students, age grade 12, r eceive a well- rounded, liberal arts curriculum with a STEM focus. Part of the world- renowned network of BASIS Curriculum Schools, we prepare each child with a top- ranked education and spark a true love of learning. ta .or ta ta .or 703- 525- 7599 ort rederick St., Arli to , VA A e Saint Ann Catholic School is a close- knit community with s tudents per class. ur small size al lows us to focus on academic ex cellence and moral formation of our students. We are bound together by a dedication to BELIEV E, ACH IEV E and IN SPIRE! ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO THE SIENA SCHOOL e core ta e.or i o e core ta e.or t e ie a c ool.or i o t e ie a c ool.or orco ., Arli to , VA A e Encore Stage Studio provides accessibility services year- round. Encore is delighted to provide an accessibility matinee performance for selected productions. These matinee performances provide accommodations for children and ore t le Rd., Sil er S ri , MD A e Proudly celebrating our 13t h year, serving students in grades 4-12th with language-based learning diff erences. Schedule a tour to learn why Siena was named by Family agazi ne as the best special needs school for the third year in a row. 20 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com EVERY WEEK IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere . TM „ Find tools to keep your family safe from home fires at firepreventionweek.org „ Discover fun activities and free apps for kids at sparky.org FIRE PREVENTION WEEK ™ FPW 2018 PMA Ad_full page.indd 1 9/7/18 4:04 PM 20 18 WINNER The Area’s Leader in STEM Education Thank you for voting Feynman School as a Best for Families Winner for "Best STEM Program" in the Education Category. Visit us at our new location! 11810 Falls Road Potomac, MD Preschool-8th Grade Open Houses 2018: Nov. 7, 7-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 9, 3-5 p.m. 2019: Jan. 10, 7-8:30 p.m. 3 0 1 . 7 7 0 . 4 3 7 0 ww w . f e y n m a n s c h o o l . o r g 22 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Classes • Birthday Parties • Open Gym • Competitive Team • Camps Celebrate HAPPINESS// CHALLENGE// Unique Minds Encourage CURIOSITY// It’s Not Just Gymnastics, It’s Gymtastic! REGISTER NOW! Now Enrolling! Campuses in Fairfax VA, Silver Spring MD and Baltimore MD ▪ www.theauburnschool.org ▪ A school for academic and social success! NO SCHOOL! DAY CAMP • CLASSES FOR ALL AGES ONLINE AT WWW.GOSILVERSTARS.COM 10730 Connecticut Avenue Kensington, MD • 301.933.5666 Two Great Locations! 2701 Pittman Drive Silver Spring, MD 301-589-0938 Shop at the non-profi t thrift store that supports people with I/DD! 14201 Woodcliff Court Bowie, MD 301-352-5777 Montgomery County’s best kept secret! HALLOWEEN SALE! 9100 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 240-224-7766 ag.com www.castlelasert Arca Rope de & s at Ga Course ithers Locati burg on! Check out our other location! 14201 Woodcliff Ct, Bowie, MD 301-352-8413 50% OFF October 11-14 Costumes, Décor & furnishings Mon-Fri 11am-6pm • Sat 10am-7pm • Sun 12pm-4pm All profit benefits The Arc Montgomery County, connecting people of all ages and abilities to build inclusive lives. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 23 The Unhealthy Truth ABOUT WOMEN & TEENS FRO CHRONIC DIETIN TO OCIA EDIA PRE RE AND O E F- ORTH By: RACHEL ORNSTEIN PACKER A s a health coach, you get to work with people every day to help guide and educate them on healthy emotional and physical behaviors. With this ex perience brings some eye- opening insight into the lifestyle similarities between certain individuals. So what is one of the most common observations in health coaching? It’ s the alarming, frequent connection between women and teens in regards to nutrition and healthy living. For both groups, there seems to be many similar perceptions about food guilt, body image, calorie defi cit and self- worth. o doubt, many of our hang ups and harsh criticisms of ourselves appear to be deeply rooted in our past. So how do we change our adult perceptions, and is it too late to change teen perceptions so they don’ t grow up carrying the same baggage? In order to create a healthy body, we have to shift our thinking toward healthier pursuits. ften, we set ourselves up with false ex pectations and misinformation. Take a look below at fi ve common misperceptions and beliefs women share with teenagers regarding nutrition and healthy living. 1. CHRONIC DIETING Both groups fall into the social media trap of believing that there is a perfect diet for a perfect body, such as the Whole or Keto” diets you see all over Instagram. But more often than not, these diets fail us miserably. This leads us to believe that it’ s our fault, or that we have no will power, when in fact, maybe the diet is at fault. Furthermore, warped ex pectations of what a body of our dreams” should look like is a common thread. 2. OBSESSIVE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS o you wake up critically ex amining your body? oes it continue throughout your day as you get dressed or pass a mirror? The obsessive nature we feel about our aws truly inhibits us from living in our personal and best moments. Social media can make us weary with seemingly perfect bodies, not to mention transformation pictures that often times make us feel like we can’ t live up to ex pectations. Rather than be inspired by someone else’ s progress, we conversely feel de ated. 3. CALORIE RESTRICTION AND MEAL SKIPPING Client food ournals repeatedly reveal women eating less than ,2 calories. ost are frustrated that they aren’ t losing weight, especially when they don’ t eat breakfast or they skip a meal during the day in order to decrease calorie consumption. Similarly, in the teen world, it’ s not uncommon to see them replacing a standard, balanced meal with a large, sugary calorie drink from Starbucks to hold them over until dinnertime. Calorie restriction does not equal weight loss. In fact, it can only inhibit weight loss as the brain slows the metabolism to conserve energy, sending the body into starvation mode. THE THREE-PRONG PROCESS So, how do we incorporate change? Start by slowly adhering to the three-prong process, which includes the physical (nutrition and fi tness), the emotional/spiritual and fi nally, the social because true health and wellness require the sum of these three parts. bsessing over one prong creates imbalance, sett ing us up for a lifetime of frustration. We aren’t ust made up of our bodies, but our spirit, thoughts, community and the people we hold dear. Teens and adults alike need to fortify themselves in these areas in order to truly live their best life. If you fi nd yourself or your teen struggling with any of these issues, follow the ex ercises below, and try practicing them on a regular basis. DEPRESSED GIRL SITTING : ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ; WEIGHT CHECK: ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/VLADIMIRFLOYD 4. BINGING-PENDULUM DIETING A pendulum swings back and forth going from one ex treme to the other. Pendulum dieting starts from a place of deep, dissatisfaction with one’ s body and becomes a negative, ongoing patt ern. It begins with full resolve, along with a new dietary plan. And while the motivation is high at fi rst, it usually goes awry toward the end of the fi rst week, when the body and brain rebel. o longer can one keep to such restrictions because the body does not like to support cutt ing carbs or eating packaged food fi lled with chemicals, and thus a binge ensues. After the binge, we ex perience food guilt and even more disregard for ourselves, causing the pendulum process to repeat itself. 5. FEELING LIKE A FAILURE Working as a health coach, you see a lot of smart, creative, funny and successful women, yet all of these ama ing qualities seem insignifi cant to them when they step on the scale. A three- pound gain or a zer o- pound loss seems to dictate their entire self- worth. Similarly, smart, active, competitive and savvy teenagers feel like failures when they can’ t reach their beauty ideal either, especially when comparing themselves to other peers online. utrition/Fitness: Start with whole foods that make you feel good. on’ t worry about carb or calories, and don’ t eat anything you don’ t like ust because it’ s deemed healthy. Enj oy the sensations of real food. itch anything that has too many ingredients in it you can’ t pronounce. As for fi tness, don’t kill yourself. Overexertion can lead to burnout, not to mention injuries and in ammation. For starters, fi nd something you like. ust get out and move every day. Start by turning off your phone for minutes and practice some kind of movement instead: run, walk, stretch, squat, jump anything to get your heart rate up, which is important for your general health. Emotional/Spiritual: Take minutes in a quiet spot where you can hear your thoughts and ust breathe. Try practicing gratitude for the small things which gives us a bett er perspective on our lives in general. Finally, create a small happy.” A small happy is something that brings oy to you every day and connects you to something other than your diet, like buying fresh owers for your house or reading a few chapters from your favorite book. Social: Assess who your real friends are, the ones who bring positivity into your life, and make a coff ee, dinner or walking date with them. This kind of connection is integral, as good friends heighten our happiness and bolster our self-worth. If you are truly pressed for time, then schedule a time to talk with a friend on the phone, but don’ t tex t. As teens and adults, we are works in progress, growing, stretching and developing all the time. While it is defi nitely diffi cult to banish the old voices and criticisms from our past, a whole new approach is well worth the eff ort. And it’s a crucial and positive example to set for your teen. When taking this leap, it’ s important to be patient and kind to yourself in order for these small actions to take root, ultimately creating a healthier body and mind. Rachel rnstein Packer is a health coach/ writer and owner of Ma o all it e . S e ca a o all t e e reac ed at Ma o it ail.co or ace ook. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 25 10 Fall Festivals YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS Father’ s endeavors with wine. A variety of food, including fruit and cheese boxes, baguettes, gourmet sandwiches and sweets will be available on site from the ount ernon Inn Restaurant. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA; m ountvernon.org. 2. Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Great Country Farms Oct. 1-31 | 9 a.m-6 p.m | $8-$12 F rom pumpkin and apple picking out on the farm to late Saturday afternoons spent sipping on seasonal wines and brews with idyllic autumnal views, there’ s ust so much to enj oy and ex plore in the fall. So what’ s at the top of our must- do list? Fall festivals! Check out of our local favorites below. 1. Mount Vernon’s Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour Oct. 5-7 | 6-9 p.m. | $38-$48 Celebrate the history of wine in irginia with wine tastings on the lawn and an ex clusive mansion and cellar tour. uring the tour, find out where George Washington stored his wine and learn about the successes and failures of our Founding 26 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Create the ultimate fall family experience at Great Country Farms! Take your little ones out on a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick out their favorite pumpkins, visit with barn animals, watch an ex citing pig race and zi p through an ex citing corn maze. our kids will love feeding the farm’ s pumpkin munchin’ dinosaur and taking pictures with the “Pu mpkin Princess.” on’ t go home without trying some of the tasty festival treats, like hand- dipped pumpkin ice cream! 18780 F oggy otto Rd., l e o t, VA reatco try ar .co . 3. Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt Oct. 20-21 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Adults: $3 Kids (12 and under): Free Admission Celebrate fall on the grounds of a picturesque, historic German farmhouse. This traditional festival features juried arts, crafts, cultural activities, German sausage, beer, strudel, an oompah band and colonial history demonstrators. Sc iffer tadt Arc itect ral M e , Ro e o t A e., rederick, MD i it rederick.or . 4. Cox Farms Fall Festival 8. Flavors of Fall Festival Sept. 22-Oct. 31 |10 a.m-6 p.m | $10-$20 Oct. 6 | Noon-11 p.m. | Free Admission The Cox Farms Fall Festival is one of the most beloved and largest fall festivals in the ! With over ac res of fun, the festival includes five giant slides, hayrides, rope swings, apples and cider, food and tons of entertainment. Let your kids roam around the Imaginature Trail, hang out in the Kiddie one, walk through the Tractor Museum or go on a cornfield adventure at the CORNundrum! For the older kids (and kids at heart) who like a good scare, check out the nighttime Fields of Fear attraction. 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA; c oxfarms.com. Sample all of Reston’s favorite autumn menus at the annual Flavors of Fall Festival! Enjoy fall beers, live music and dancing, a cornhole tournament and many other family- friendly activities. Friends, family, children and pets are all welcome! Market St., Re to , VA, re to a or .co . Oct. 13 | 1:30-7 p.m. | $40-$60 Snallygaster makes its triumphant return to D.C. for its seventh year of craft beer appreciation and celebration. Attendees can expect an assortment of over 350 small batch brews available for tasting, while enjoying some live music and good eats from local food trucks. Proceeds from Snallygaster help fund Arcadia, a nonprofit organi ation dedicated to creating a more equitable and sustainable local food system in the D.C. area. 6th Street Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.; s nallygasterdc.com. 6. Fairfax Fall Festival Oct. 13 |10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.| Free Admission For more than 40 years, the Fairfax Fall Festival has provided locals with a lively celebration of community talent and a fun-filled carnival with all the rides and delicious eats you’d expect. Guests can enjoy more than 400 arts and crafts displays, three stages of live music performances, an assortment of food vendors and plenty of activities for younger attendees. ld own Fairfax, 3999 niversity Dr., Fairfax, VA; f xva.com. Oct. 14 |Noon-5 p.m. | Free Admission Experience the true glory of fall at the 27th annual Oktoberfest at the Kentlands. Enjoy hearty German food, visit with artists and crafters and stop by the authentic Beer Garden for tastings from local microbreweries and Maryland wineries. Family- friendly activities include pumpkin carving and apple cider pressing, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting and five stages of entertainment. entlands Market Sq uare, 821 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg, MD; gaithersburgmed.gov. 10. Taste of DC Oct. 5-6 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m Bringing food and family together since 1989, Taste of DC is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier culinary cultural festival! Come out for a deliciously packed weekend of good eats from 65+ area restaurants. Hang out in the largest Beer Garden in D.C., enjoy three stages of live entertainment and find some treasures from local vendors in the artisan market. he Festival Grounds of RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St., S.E., D.C; t hetasteofdc.org. Aleksandr_VorobeviStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images 5. Snallygaster 9. Oktoberfest at the Kentlands 7. The Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchard Oct. 6-8, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | $12 With Butler’s Orchard’s extensive list of festival activities, your kids will never want to leave! Explore the straw ma e, ride the giant slides, jump in the hayloft, visit barnyard buddies, hop in the in atable farm train, ride the pumpkin coach, drive pedal tractors and more! Keep your energy levels up with tons of food options including hamburgers, hot dogs, pork sandwiches, caramel apples and apple cider donuts. 22222 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD; butlersorchard.com. washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 27 DISCOVERING montessori Montessori Children • Discover learning is a joy that can last a lifetime. • Learn spontaneously and creatively. • Learn at their own pace. • Develop to their greatest potential. • Are encouraged to choose work and make decisions. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AIDAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL aidanschool.org admissions@ aidanschool.org th St., .W., Washington, .C. Ages: months- -3 -2 THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF WASHINGTON thechildrenshouseofwashington.com chowdirector@ gmail.com umbarton St., .W. Washington, .C. Toddler: early Primary: -3 -2 WATERFRONT ACADEMY waterfrontacademy.org info@ waterfrontacademy.org I St. S.W., Washington, .C. Ages: Toddler- Early Adolescent -4 -0 MARYLAND THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com admissions@ bethesdamontessori.com Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, Ages: -9 -1 CRESTVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL THE JULIA BROWN SCHOOLS THE CURIOUS MINDS MONTESSORI SCHOOL crestviewmontessori.com info@ crestviewmontessori.com Western Ave., Bethesda, Ages: -9 -4 uliabrownschools.com wen Brown Rd., Columbia, adison Ave., Laurel, ueen ary r., lney, ilestone r., Silver Spring, Ages: months- Grade -4 -5 -6 -7 MONTGOMERY MONTESSORI INSTITUTE montessori- mmi.com pamela.montessori@ hers.com arnestown Rd., Rockville, ontessori Teacher Education Adult) -2 -2 TOP HAT MONTESSORI tophatmontessori.com info@ tophatmontessori.com A Flower ill Way Gaithersburg, Ages: months- K THE WOODS ACADEMY woodsacademy.org admissions@ woodsacademy.org Greentree Rd., Bethesda, Ages: -3 -3 BUTLER SCHOOL butlerschool.org; amy@ butlerschool.org Germantown Rd. arnestown, Ages: months- -9 -6 CHILDREN'S HOUSE AT HOLLY HILL MONTESSORI hollyhillmontessori.com hollyhillmontessori@ gmail.com ateny ill Rd. Germantown, Ages: -2 -0 28 October 2018 VIRGINIA BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL brooksfieldschool.org brksfield@ aol.com Kirby Rd., cLean, A Ages: KID S CARDINAL MONTESSORI cardinalmontessori.com cardinalmontessori@ gmail.com G St., Woodbridge, A Ages: -4 -3 washingtonFAMILY.com montessoriofarlington.com office@ chms- arlington.com A orth Glebe Rd., Arlington, A Ages: -2 -1 curiousminds.org info@ curiousminds.org Ashgarten r., Chantilly, A Ages: months- -7 -2 GREEN HEDGES greenhedges.org kvaz quez greenhedges.org Windover Ave., .W., ienna, A Ages: Grade -9 -8 HA'PENNY MONTESSORI SCHOOL hapennyschool.com director@ hapennyschool.com Stubble Rd., Ashburn, A Ages: weeks- -7 -5 HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@ hollybrookmontessori.com Gallows Rd., unn Loring, A Ages: -5 -7 HUNTER MILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@ huntermillmontessori.com unter ill Rd., akton, A Ages: years months- -9 -7 LITTLE OAKS MONTESSORI ACADEMY lomamontessori.com info@ lomamontessori.com ulles Technology r. Ste. , erndon, A Ages: months- -3 -2 MONARCH CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI kidslovemonarch.com kidslovemonarch@ gmail.com Enterprise Ct., Ste. , Chantilly, A Ages: months- -9 -8 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA montessorischoolofalex andria.com montschoolalex vacotmail.com Florence Ln., Alex andria, A Ages: -9 -3 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@ cedarlanemontessori.com Cedar Ln., Fairfax , A Ages: -5 -4 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FAIRFAX montessori- fairfax .com msofx aol.com Lees Corner Rd., Chantilly, A Ages: months- -3 -0 RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com office@ restonmontessori.com Isaac ewton Sq., Reston, A Ages: months- Grade -4 -2 THE RIDGEMONT MONTESSORI SCHOOL ridgemontmontessori.com office@ ridgemontmontessori.com Georgetown Pike, cLean, A Ages: months- -3 -1 SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI sunsethillsmontessori.com office@ sunsethillsmontessori.com -4 -7 Ridge eights Rd. Reston, A Bethesda Montessori School Ages 3 - 6 ENROLLING NOW Extended Day 8am – 6pm 7611 Clarendon Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-986-1260 2 2 0 2 1 0 8 17 RUNNER-UP RUNNER-UP www.bethesdamontessori.com Camp MSNV 2018 Valleybrook June 25-August 10| Ages 3-6 Hillbrook June 25-August 17| Ages 3-12 Falls Church & Annandale, VA. 703-256-9577 • www.msnv.org Summe 2018 r Camp   Exciting Weekly Experiences for Ages 6-13 www.beantreelearning.com 20 18 Preschool – Grade 6 Before-Care & After-Care Pinecrest Pavilion Summer Camp for Ages 4-12 Differentiated Instruction Small Classes Challenging Academics Positive Social & Emotional Development New Lower School Building Now Open! 703.354.3446 Annandale, Virginia pinecrestschool.org washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 29 BY OAKCREST SCHOOL CO TEN T: A lthough a lot of fanfare has surrounded STEM subj ects in recent years, a school’ s writing prog ram is one of its most crucial assets. eveloping outstanding writing skills early on will serve your child for the rest of her life. And being an ex cellent writer is the key to success in college, whether a student intends to maj or in biology, literature or anything in between. nfortunately, many students are woefully unprepared for the rigors of college writing. According to a survey by the ational Assessment of Educational Progress, percent of students in the class of who took the ACT writing test were not able to pass a college- level English composition class. any students won’ t get to try their hand at serious writing until college. owever, good writing habits should be fi rmly in place before your child ever steps on a college campus. This requires years of steadily mastering the building blocks of the English language. A school’ s writing program should pique students’ imagination and creativity, while also training them to think clearly and present their 30 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com arguments in a logical manner. This begins in elementary and middle school, with a foundation of grammar, syntax , vocabulary and elements of style. astering writing fundamentals will not only boost students’ grades in college, but also gives them the freedom to engage with material on a deeper level. When the time comes to wrangle with sophisticated topics, a prepared student will be able to dive headfi rst into the subject matt er and not have to spend much time struggling with basic writing pitfalls. Regular writing assignments also form a crucial part of any writing curriculum. These should range from literary analyses to creative writing and descriptive essays. This routine writing is necessary to hone skills, giving students the ability to present original thoughts in a clear, clean prose. And it also prepares the student for the intense college academic schedule, which will include many writt en assignments over the course of each semester. At akcrest School in ienna, A, the culmination of students’ writing ex periences is the senior thesis proj ect, a chance to ex their writing muscles before heading off to college. The thesis is the capstone of each akcrest student’ s high school career, and gives him or her the opportunity to research, write and present on a chosen topic. Students have writt en on everything from narcissism in F. Scott Fi gerald’s novels to bioethics, the in uence of the Industrial Revolution on the drug industry, Broadway musicals and beyond. The skills they apply to the thesis are taken from years of practice in the fundamental writing arts. After spending so much time with a subj ect, the students learn to ask the right questions, and they learn to think more deeply, seeing that the answers are more complex than they initially thought. It is important for them to enter into the conversation with scholars and see that they sometimes disagree or even contradict one another, says Oakcrest English department head, Lisa Kenna. By the time they write their thesis, students not only understand sentence structure and how to organize i deas, but they’ re able to make connections across disciplines and tie themes and concepts together into a cohesive whole. It’ s this ability to engage with and write about complex questions in a persuasive manner that will catapult your student to success in college. Whatever he or she decides to study, the need for clear, intelligent writt en communication remains. In a world where strong writt en communication is more rare than ever, a student with writing ex pertise will go far. akcrest School is an independent school for girls in grades 6- 12, guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church. For over 40 years, the school has provided an exceptional liberal arts education to girls o all ait w ile l lli it i io to grow, challenge and inspire its students to thrive in college and throughout their li e . ear ore at akcre t.or . ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/CLAUDIOVENTRELLA SPO SO RED THE WORLD’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF CHILDREN’S SWIMMING C CHILDREN H I L D R E N S S SWI W I M M MING I N G I INSTRUCTION NSST R U C T IONN GIVE THE GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME! Teach a child to swim at KID’S FIRST Swim Schools! V is it o f a c e b o o u r pa g e fo k a list of r lo c atio n o u r s We Offer: • Group or Private instruction • Mommy & Me Classes • Developmental Swim Team • Homeschoolers Programs • Birthday Parties Columbia: 443-755-0111 Rockville: 301-217-5910 Germantown: 301-540-SWIM Chantilly, VA: 703-488-9800 Waldorf: 301-638-SWIM $10 OFF NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT PRESENT COUPON AT REGISTRATION. Bowie: 301-262-SWIM Sterling, VA: 703-444-9673 Manassas: 703-392-SWIM Laurel, MD: 301-725-SWIM North Bethesda: 301-984-SWIM Falls Church: 703-534-SWIM Providing personalized vision care based on your unique needs! • Comprehensive Eye Exams • Diabetic Eye Exams • Computer/Binocular Vision Exams • Contact Lens Fittings • Dry Eyes • LASIK Consult • Quality Eyewear 50%OFF Complete Second Pair of Glasses Not to be used with insurances. Must Present Coupon at time of visit. Expires 11/30/18. Digitally Equipped Exam Rooms We Accept Most Insurances (Vision & Medical) CareCredit – FSA & HSA accounts 5576B Norbeck Rd • Rockville • 301-637-7142 • eonvisioncare.com CAPITAL GYMNASTICS NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER STRONG BODY STRONG MIND STRONG SELF www.capitalgymnasticsntc.com 10400 Premier Ct, Burke, VA 22015 (703) 239-0044 washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 31 FALL HARVEST FAMILY DAYS OCTOBER 20-21 9 a.m– 5 p.m FALL INTO FUN SAVE 20% use code: FAMILY18 Good for up to 4 adult or youth daytime admissions. Offer expires 12/31/18. Not valid with any other offer. mountvernon.org/events Your Needs. Our Strategy. WHETHER you’re looking to design a custom publication, refresh your website or find other innovative and affordable ways to engage your audience, make us your go-to marketing gurus. BOOK BY THOMAS MEEHAN & BOB MARTIN MUSIC BY MATTHEW SKLAR LYRICS BY CHAD BEGUELIN BASED ON THE NEW LINE CINEMA FILM BY DAVID BERENBAUM MUSIC DIRECTION BY ANGIE BENSON Let’s make something great together Please contact Jeni Mann, Director of Custom Media, for more information. 410.902.2302 / jmann@midatlanticmedia.com midatlanticmedia.com CHOREOGRAPHED BY TARA JEANNE VALLEE DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BOBBITT $10 OFF ADULT TICKETS! Enter the code WF10, or call the Box Office at 301.924.3400 and mention promo code. Valid for all performances of ELF. Subject to availability. Not to be combined with other offers. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. All sales final. We are an integrated marketing firm from the publisher of Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore STYLE magazine, Baltimore’s Child magazine, Consumer’s Eye magazine, Home Services magazine, Washington Family magazine and Washington Jewish Week. NOVEMBER 9 - JANUARY 6 olneytheatre.org • 301.924.3400 WE’RE CLOSE BY! Just 10 min from the ICC, 30 min from DC, 15 min from Rockville and Columbia, and 40 min from Baltimore! 32 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com GUIDES & RESOURCES PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY District of Columbia AIDAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL aidanschool.org aidan@ aidanschool.org 202- 387- 2700 2700 27t h St., NW, Washington, D.C. Grades: m onths- Grade ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: ontessori Progress Reports Foreign Languages: C hinese andarin) , Spanish beginning at age Tuition Range: $20,150- $27,745 Enrichment Activities Sports Ex tended ay Summer Program Programs for Families Everything at Aidan revolves around how children learn best. ere, students have the ideal opportunities, environment, and community to realize t heir potential so they can grow into independent thinkers, confi dent learners, and responsible citizen s. pen ou se: ct. 5, ov. 2, ec. an. BEAUVOIR, THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL beauvoirschool.org margaret.hartigan@ cathedral.org 202- 537- 6493 3500 Woodley Rd., NW, Washington, D.C. Grades: Pr eK- 3r d ear Founded: Religious: Ca¬t hedral School Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Foreign Language: S panish beginning in PK Tuition Range: $36,65 Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program At Beauvoir, the ational Cathedral Elementary School, we provide an ex traordinary early childhood education in a diverse community that values every individual. Beauvoir' s program encourages creative, courageous learners and builds an enduring foundation for a lifelong spirit of inquiry and oy in learning. pen ou se: ct. 18, ov. BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON biswashington.org admissions@ bigwashington.org 202- 829- 3700 2001 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Grades PK2- ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: niforms Foreign Languages: Spanish beginning in PK2, F rench for non- beginners Tuition Range: $13,0 $34,0 Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay IB World School British International School of Washington is a thriving international school in Georgetown. We are a premier private school for children age through to the International Baccalaureate iploma from more than n ationalities. pen ou se: Individualized visits available onday F riday SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL sidwell.edu admissions@ sidwell.edu 202- 537- 8100 3825 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 5100 Edgemoor Ln., Bethesda, MD Grades PK- ear Founded: Coed Come visit us on campus or at sidwell.edu to learn more about how a uaker education prepares students to make a positive impact on the world. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. Maryland THE AUBURN SCHOOL theauburnschool.org info@ theauburnschool.org 410 617 0418 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 301- 588- 8048 9545 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD Grades K- 8t h ear Founded: Silver Spring) , Lutherville) Coed Average Class Size: Student- washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 33 PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign Languages Silver Spring) S panish, andarin Internet Access Learning isabled Program Enrichment Activities Summer Program The Auburn School grows the social and academic potential of bright students with social and communication challenges, supporting the development of academic skills, social competency and pragmatic language in an engaging educational environment. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. BARRIE SCHOOL barrie.org admission@ barrie.org 301- 576- 2800 13500 Layhill Rd., Silver Spring, MD Grades: m onths- Grade ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio Grading System: ontes- sori: A, Prep: A- F Foreign Languages: S panish, French, andarin beginning at y ears. Tuition Range: $17,50 $32,10 ontessori through Grade Proj ect- Based Learning Grades 6-12 AP Classes Off Campus Learning Athletics include Equestrian Transportation and Ex tended ay Available Summer Camp Community Service Ex tended Study Week Located minutes from the ICC and Glenmont etro, Bar- rie' s close prox imity to downtown Washington, .C. enables students to take full advantage of the cultural and educational resources available in the area. Students from m onths old through Grade ar e taught using the ontessori ethod, a child- centered educational approach. Students in Grades en gage in Proj ect Based Learning, a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an ex tended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or chal- lenge. All students enj oy small class sizes and make use of our acre wooded campus on a daily basis. pen ou se: ct. 13, ontessori ages m onths- Grade ct. 21, C ol- lege Prep ages Grade BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com admissions@ bethesdamontessori.com 301- 966- 1260 7611 C larendon Rd., Bethesda, MD Ages 3- 6 E xtended Day Established in 1983, B ethesda ontessori School cooperates with the Washington Montessori Institute and is staffed by AM I trained teachers. Approved by the State epart- ment of Education, and ontessori Schools of aryland, and is a member of the orthern American ontessori Teachers Association and other educational organizat ions. It leases its facility from the Bethesda Presbyterian Church, but it has no religious affiliation with the church. It is centrally located in the heart of Bethesda business district on Wilson Lane near 34 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com the intersection of ld Georgetown and Arlington Roads, three blocks from the Bethesda etro station. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. FEYNMAN SCHOOL feynmanschool.org admissions@ feynmanschool.org 301- 0- 4370 11810 Falls Rd., Potomac, MD Grades: PS 8t h ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Entrance Ex am Foreign Language: S panish beginning in PS Tuition Range: $12,910- $28,56 umber of Computers: Internet Access Gifted/Talented Program Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Additional Programs: usic, Art, P.E., rama, Robotics, Chess, Basketball, Chinese The area’ s leader in educating academically gifted children, Feynman School features ex traordinary programs in science, math, language arts, theater and music designed to max imize y our child’ s potential while also providing time for unstructured play. alf- and full- day preschool programs. ov. 7, p .m., ec. 9, p .m. an. 10, p .m. FRIENDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL friendscommunityschool.org connie@ friendscommunityschool.org 301- 441- 2100 5901 Westchester Park Dr., College Park, MD Grades: K ear Founded: Religious Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: Progress Reports nly Foreign Languages: S panish beginning in K Tuition Range: $19,420- $21,530 Computers Internet Access Gifted/Talented Program for all Enrichment Activities Sports Carpools Ex tended ay Summer Program utstanding Instrumental Enrichment Program Ex perience the oy of an ex traordinary uaker education! For life- long learners, courageous risk- takers, and oyous peacemakers. We welcome all backgrounds, educate the whole child, and offer exciting curricula. Grads enter leading high schools and colleges. pen ou se, al l am ct. 18, ov. 3, ov. 16, ec. an. 8, an. HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL htrinity.org admissions@ htrinity.org 301- 464- 3215 11902 Daisy Ln., Glenn Dale, MD Grades: Pr eschool- Grade ear Founded: Religious Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Entrance Ex am Grading System A- F niforms Foreign Languages: Spanish beginning in Kindegarten Tuition Range $9,51 $13,195 umber of Computers: Special eeds Program Enrichment Activities Sports Ex tended ay Summer Program rama Art usic Technology pen ou se: ct. p .m.) , ov. a.m .) an. a.m .) , Feb. p .m.) , Apr. a.m .) We offer a transformative education to bring out The Best You. Our academic program is challenging and complemented with a variety of enrichment programs to educate the whole child. We are a private, independent school that serves preschool to grad. SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL sidwell.edu admissions@ sidwell.edu 202- 537- 8100 3825 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 5100 Edgemoor Ln., Bethesda, MD Grades PK- ear Founded: Coed Come visit us on campus or at sidwell.edu to learn more about how a uaker education prepares students to make a positive impact on the world. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. Hours: 7:30 a .m.- 6 p.m. Since 1967, S pring Bilingual ontessori Academy SBM A) has protected and encouraged children, and at the same time challenged and stretched them to the limits of their intellect and imaginations. Children arrive at SBM A as two year olds, barely out of diapers, and leave after kindergarten at the age of six: confident, assured and well-educated, possessing qualities of mind and character which serve them well as they continue to learn and achieve. Within the walls of our school children become literate and numerate. They develop pride in their own accomplishments and respect for the talents of their classmates. This is, above all, where children learn how it feels to do one’s best work, and to have the effort as well as the product recognized and celebrated. pen ou se: ov. 3, a.m .- p .m. an. 5, a.m .- p .m. WASHINGTON WALDORF SCHOOL washingtonwaldorf.org llawson@ washingtonwaldorf.org 301- 229- 6108 4800 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda, MD Grades: Pr eK- ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: , n ationalities, l anguages spoken Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign Language: S panish beginning in 1s t Grade Tuition Range: $6,30 $29,70 umber of Computers: Enrichment Activities Sports THE SIENA SCHOOL Ex tended ay Summer Program rama Club iversity Circle Student Council Afterschool Kayaking Student thesienaschool.org Ex change Program Community Service Service Learning info@ thesienaschool.org ewspaper 301- 244- 3600 ur integrative curriculum innovative instructional 1300 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, MD methods provide a developmentally appropriate education. Grades ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Encouraging clear thinking, balanced feeling, and initiative, of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign WWS offers great preparation for college & for life. pen ou se: Language: S panish beginning in 9t h Grade Tuition Range: All school morning tours a.m . $39,0 $41,0 umber of Computers: Internet ct. 9, ct. 18, ov. 8, ov. 13, ec. 6, ec. Access Gifted/Talented Program Learning isabled an. , an. , F eb. , ar. , Apr. 2, ay Program Special eeds Program Enrichment Activities Preschool/Kindergarten pen ouses a.m .- p .m. Sports Ex tended ay Summer Program ov. Proudly celebrating its 13t h year, Siena was recently named as an. Snow ate an. FAM ILY agazi ne' s best special needs school three years in a igh School pen ouse Alumni Brunch ct. 13, a.m .- row. isit our website to schedule a Wednesday tour to come p .m. learn why! igh School pen ornings pen ou se: ct. 16, ov. 15, ov. Wednesday Tours a.m . an. 16, F eb. SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI ACADEMY spring- bilingual.org info@ spring- bilingual.org 301- 962- 7262 3514 Plyers Mill Rd., ensington, MD Ages: 2- 6 Virginia ACADEMY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION myschoolace.com 703- 471- 2132 10800 Parkridge Blvd., Ste. 150, Reston, VA washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 35 PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY Grades: T oddler- Grade ear Founded: Religious Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Elementary Assessment Grading System A- F niforms Foreign Languages: S panish beginning in Sr. Kindergarten Tuition: $20,0 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program ommy e Classes The Academy of Christian Education provides a unique learning ex perience for Toddlers through Elementary aged students by combining a high- quality, academically accelerated program with a Biblical foundation. pen ou se: ct. 12, ov. 9, ec. an. , F eb. 8, ar. 8, Apr. 12, ay THE AUBURN SCHOOL theauburnschool.org info@ theauburnschool.org 703- 793- 9353 3800 Concorde Parkway, Chantilly, VA Grades K- 8t h ear Founded: Silver Spring) , Lutherville) Coed Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign Languages Silver Spring) S panish, andarin Internet Access Learning is¬ab led Program Enrichment Activities Summer Program The Auburn School grows the social and academic potential of bright students with social and communication challenges, supporting the development of academic skills, social competency and pragmatic language in an engaging educational environment. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN mclean.basisindependent.com mcLean_a dmissions@ basisI ndepedent.com 703- 854- 1253 8000 ones Branch Dr., McLean, VA Grades: T wos Program- Grade ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Student- Teacher Ratio Entrance Ex am Foreign Languages: andarin, Latin, Spanish, and French beginning in PK1 Tuition Range: ,0 $29,0 AP Classes Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay Summer Program Students, age grade 12, r eceive a well- rounded, liberal arts curriculum with a STEM focus. Part of the world- renowned network of BASIS Curriculum Schools, we prepare each child with a top- ranked education and spark a true love of learning. pen ou se: ov. 3, an. 12, ar. 36 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com BEANTREE ASHBURN CAMPUS beantreelearning.com 571- 223- 3110 43629 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn, VA Grades: I nfant- K ear Founded: Coed Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: niforms Foreign Language: S panish beginning in PS Internet Access Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program BeanTree Learning in Ashburn provides unparalleled care and nurturing for infants through PreK. Led by a team of ex perienced and caring educators, BeanTree provides children with a safe and stimulating environment for academic success and provides parents with peace of mind. ear- round enrollment for full and part- time academic and specialty programs. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. BEANTREE WESTFIELDS CAMPUS beantreelearning.com 703- 961- 8222 e t eld l d., C a tilly, VA Grades: I nfant- K ear Founded: Coed Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: niforms Foreign Language: S panish beginning in PS Internet Access Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program Fully accredited, discover the BeanTree Difference at our Westfields/Chantilly Campus! Offering unprecedented educational offerings for your child in every stage of academic development, BeanTree offers Infant care through Full Day Private Kindergarten, Before/After School, and Summer Camp. ear- round enrollment for full- and part- time academic and specialty programs. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL rook eld c ool.or rk eld aol.co 703- 356- 5437 1830 irby Rd., McLean, VA Grades: T oddler- Kindergarten ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Toddlers) Primary) Foreign Language: Spanish beginning as Toddler Tuition Range: $14,2 $23,907 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Transportation (for before/after FCPS care program) Ex tended ay Summer Program unior Achievement Robotics rganic Gardening utdoor Adventure Program A unique Eco- Friendly, ontessori School idyllically situated on s ecluded acres in cLean, A. pen ou se: aily, o r a.m . BURGUNDY FARM COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL burgundyfarm.org info@ burgundyfarm.org 703- 960- 3431 3700 B urgundy Rd., Alexandria, VA Grades: K- 8t h ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Entrance Ex am Foreign Languages: French, Spanish beginning in K Tuition Range: $23,592- $26,9 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay Summer Program Burgundy provides an inclusive, creative, nurturing environment that engages the whole child. ur innovative, hands- on approach cultivates independent thinking, promotes academic ex cellence, instills respect for diversity, and teaches responsibility. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL congressionalschool.org admission@ congressionalschool.org 703- 533- 1064 3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church, VA Grades: I nfants- Grade ear Founded: Coed• Enrollment: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System A- F niforms Foreign Languages: F rench, Spanish, Latin beginning in Preschool Tuition Range: 24,650- $29,30 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay Summer Program Equestrian Program Robotics Program A co- ed, independent, day school in Falls Church, A, Congressional School develops great thinkers and leaders by encouraging students to ex plore, embrace challenge, and grow through an innovative academic program. With over af ter school activities, ex tended hours, and m iddle school athletic teams, a Congressional education ex tends well beyond the school day. Fully prepared for ex cellent secondary schools, Congressional School graduates have confidence, a sense of ethics, and the desire to continually and respectfully question, collaborate, create, and lead. pen ou se: ct. 10, ov. an. EDLIN SCHOOL edlinschool.com 703- 438- 3990 10742 S unset Hills Rd., Reston, VA Grades: 4, 5- 8 pen ou se: ct. 20, ov. 10, ec. FAIRFAX CHRISTIAN SCHOOL fairfaxchristianschool.com admissions@ studyfcs.com 703- 759- 5100 Paci c l d., D lle , VA Grades: K ear Founded: Religious Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign Language: F rench, German, Spanish Chinese beginning in K Tuition Range: $27,350 $40,2 umber of Computers: Internet Access Advanced Placement Program College ual Enrollment onors Program Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay Summer Program ESL Program The Fairfax Christian School is an award- winning, independent, university- preparatory school serving K- th grade. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. KENWOOD SCHOOL kenwoodschool.com alison@ kenwoodschool.com 703- 256- 4711 4955 Sunset Ln., Annandale, VA Grades: K 6t h ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: A- F Foreign Language: Spanish beginning in K Tuition Range: p er month umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program Gymnastics Taekwondo Soccer Kenwood is a charming environment to learn in. The classes are small (average of 10, maximum of 15), which offers more one- on- one time with the teacher than your average school. The students receive an individualized ex perience, which helps them grow and learn more than is possible in a large classroom setting. We pride ourselves on our home-like atmosphere and loving faculty. pen ouse: Call to schedule a tour. LOUDON SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED (LSG) loudonschool.org info@ loudonschool.org 703- 956- 5020 44675 C ape Ct., Ste. 105, Ashburn, VA Grades: ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: umber Foreign Language: C hinese, French, Latin, Spanish beginning in 6t h Tuition: $25,30 iddle School) , $27,60 igh School) Internet Access AP Classes Gifted/Talented Program Enrichment Activities Transportation LSG is the private school designed to inspire and challenge advanced students in grades 12. W e are opening new washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 37 PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY campus in early t hat will allow the student body to increase from its current enrollment of t o as much as 125. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@ cedarlanemontessori.com 703- 560- 4379 3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, VA Grades: Pr eK- K ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Foreign Language: S panish Tuition Range: $9,31 $17,405 Internet Access Sports alf and Full- ay Program Summer Program usic ontessori School of Cedar Lane has been providing over years of Montessori tradition to Northern Virginia. We offer a complete educational and social environment and utilize t he discoveries and methods of r. ontessori to help the child develop more fully the potential within him. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED nysmith.com ebalberde@ nysmith.com 703- 713- 3332 13625 Eds Dr., Herndon, VA Grades: years- old Grade ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Entrance Ex am Grading System: /S lower, A- F upper Foreign Languages: F rench, Spanish, Latin beginning at age Tuition Range: $23,0 ,8 umber of Computers: Internet Access Gifted/Talented Program Special eeds Program Enrichment Activities Sports Transportation Ex tended ay Summer Program The Nysmith School is committed to nurturing your student’s love of learning and provides rich opportunities so students develop their potential. pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. OAKCREST SCHOOL oakcrest.org admissions@ oakcrest.org 703- 790- 5450 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN 1619 Cromwell Rd., Vienna, VA Grades: ear Founded: Girls nly Enrollment: mcleanmontessori.org of inorities: Student- Teacher Ratio: 703- 790- 1049 Entrance Ex am Grading System: A- F Foreign Languages: 1711 irby Rd., McLean, VA Spanish, Latin beginning in Grade Tuition Range: $24,350- Ages 2 12 $25,540 AP Classes Enrichment Activities Sports Preschool and Elementary classes Foreign Languages: Transportation Spanish and French Science Technology rama usic akcrest, an independent school, educates the whole person. P.E. Computer Art Transportation Summer Program Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the pen ou se: spirituality of pus ei, we weave together a rich liberal arts Call to schedule a tour. curriculum, character development, one- on- one mentoring and service to create a vibrant environment that graduates MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF confident young women--young women who will make a dif- NORTHERN VIRGINIA ference in all they choose to do. pen ou se: msnv.org ct. 20, p .m. info@ msnv.org 703- 256- 9577 THE PAVILION AT BEANTREE ill rook Ca Paci c ., A a dale, VA Valleybrook Campus: 3433 R ose Ln., Falls Church, VA beantreelearning.com Ages: 2- 12 571- 223- 3113 Hours: 7:30 a .m.- 6 p.m. 43635 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn, VA oga Gymnastics rama rumming Arts aker The Pavilion at BeanTree in Ashburn caters to ages t o Club ance offering an advanced accredited curriculum. Offering full SN is a leading independent school in the Washington day private Kindergarten, half day Kindergarten enrichment, etropolitan area providing authentic ontessori education Before/After School Programs in addition to multiple summer for children ages t hrough 12. ur mission is to inspire and camp offerings for school age children, The Pavilion at guide children to love learning, to love one another and to BeanTree provides an unparalleled environment for academic love the world around them. ex cellence. pen ou se: pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. Call to schedule a tour. 38 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com PINECREST SCHOOL SAINT ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL pinecrestschool.org admissions@ pinecrestschool.org 703- 354- 3446 7209 uiet Cove, Annandale, VA Grades: Pr eschool- 6t h ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System: umber Foreign Language: S panish beginning in Preschool Tuition Range: $7,450- $15,30 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Ex tended ay Summer Program Community Service Club Small classes, hands- on curriculum emphasizes problem- solving and critical- thinking skills. Individualized approach; each child grows academically, socially and emotionally within a caring and positive environment. Summer Camp. Before and after care. pen ou se: ov. 12, p .m., ec. 9, p .m. an. 13, p .m., Feb. 10, p .m. Special School Summer Camp pen ouse) , ar. 10, p .m. stann.org stann@ stann.org 703- 525- 7599 980 North Frederick St., Arlington, VA Grades: Pr eschool- Grade ear Founded: Catholic Coed• of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Grading System A- F for 6t h- 8t h niforms Foreign Language: S panish beginning in Kindergarten Tuition Range: $4,30 ,10 umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Sports Ex tended ay Basketball Lacrosse Tennis Track olleyball Robotics Art Boys Scouts Girl Scouts Chess Club Student Council Caritas Social ustice Club ath Club Saint Ann Catholic School has an average of t o s tudents per class. ur small size al lows us to focus on academic ex cellence and moral formation of our students. ur community is bound together by a dedication to BELIEV E, ACH IEV E and IN SPIRE. pen ou se: ov. 13, a.m ., Kindergarten ight p .m. an. 27, a.m .- p .m., an. 29, a.m . RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY rma.edu admission@ rma.edu 540- 636- 5484 200 Academy Dr., Front Royal, VA Grades: ear Founded: Religious Coed Enrollment: of inorities: Average Class Size: Student- Teacher Ratio: Entrance Ex am Grading System: A- F Foreign Languages: G erman, Spanish, French beginning grade Tuition Range: $20,069- $42,7 umber of Computers: Internet Access AP Classes Enrichment Activities Sports Summer Program Flight Program Air Force unior RO TC As students as Randolph- acon Academy discover The Power of Rise." within themselves, they develop the ability to think critically, to lead with confidence, and to solve problems creatively, ensuring they have the skills to succeed in life. pen ou se: ct. 8, ov. 12, ec. RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com o ce re to o te ori.co 703- 481- 2922 1928 saac Newton Sq . West, Reston, VA Grades: I nfant- 6t h ear Founded: Coed Enrollment: Average Class Size: niforms: K and up Foreign Language: F rench beginning at Toddler umber of Computers: Internet Access Enrichment Activities Sports Ex tended ay Summer Program Academic Therapy Services Additional Programs: usic, PE, Art pen ou se: Call to schedule a tour. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL westminsterschool.com admissions@ westminsterschool.com 703- 256- 3620 3819 Gallows Rd., Annandale, VA Grades: P re- 8 ear Founded: 1962 C oed E nrollment: 270 Average Class Siz e: 14 S tudent- eacher Ratio: 7:1 t o 18:1 Entrance Exam niforms F oreign Languages: F rench, Latin beginning in uition Range: $10,92 6- $23,466 nternet Access E nrichment Activities S ports ransportation E xtended Day S ummer Program D rama Arts rchestra Daily PE dyssey of the Mind M ath Counts S cience lympiad Westminster School provides a unique elementary education based on a classical curriculum, accelerated academics enhanced by the arts and an emphasis on personal responsibility and good character. Students enj oy small classes taught by teachers who speciali e in their field. pen ou se: Pr eschool- Grade ct. 17, p .m., ov. 12, a.m . Preschool only ct. 12t h, a.m . Pr eschool- Grade an. 15, a.m .; Pr eschool only Apr. 12, a.m . washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 39 The Playground Workout Watch the kids play and make it a fun fi tness day BY KATY WIDRICK T here are often two common reasons for people not working out: not enough time and not enough support. f course, money, lack of access to trainers or gyms, fear of failure and anx iety over body image are also factors.) It’ s understandable, especially for busy parents. With kids and work, sometimes just gett ing out of bed seems like a workout! But it’ s amaz ing how easy it can be to fi t in some quick, heart-pumping activity when you stop thinking about the work” part of a workout. Instead, start looking for ways to have fun and get fi t at the same time. A great ex ample: ead to the playground with your kids. Each station or play area represents a new opportunity to ex your muscles. You’ll sweat, the kids will have a blast playing with you, and when you go home, you’ ll be so happy you made it happen! iStock / Getty Images Plus/Liderina 40 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com SWINGS At the playground, most kids head straight for the swings. Who can blame them? Swinging free with your legs in the air, pumping them to go higher and higher that’s pretty close to ying. ust that movement alone is great for your big leg muscles and your core, so grab a seat and start swinging! Ready to amp it up? Try leaning back, and when the swing is fairly still, slide your hands down the chains as low as you can. Engaging your core, scissor your legs so you cross right over left, left over right, etc. Start with seconds it’ s harder than you think! If feels too easy, go for . Take a rest, and then start again. If you can make it two to three sets, you’ ll feel a big difference in your core. Another option? Try swinging first, and then scissor your legs so you cross right over left, then left over right. This is a great full- body workout, and it will take all of your mind- body focus to do it successfully. Once you’ve completed your criss-crosses, get off the swing and get into push- up position on the ground directly in front of the seat. Carefully lift one foot and rest it on the swing seat, then lift the other. With your wrists directly under your shoulders, look at a point ust ahead of your wrists and slowly bring your knees in toward your chest. old for a moment, and then slowly bring your legs back to their starting position. ou may feel a little shaky, and that’s OK this is a great move for working on your stabilizat ion, balance and strength. However, you can always bring one foot down to the ground and alternate legs if you feel more comfortable. If you can do eight reps, great! Take a rest, and then try one more set. MONKEY BARS The monkey bars are one of the most effective pieces of workout equipment you’ll find at the playground, but you probably ust remember how fun they were to swing on as a kid. othing has changed, except you’re a bit heavier. This is good news for your fitness, since you’ ll be using your body weight for resistance as you scurry from one bar to the nex t. ake sure you bend your knees so your feet stay all the way off the ground. Ready to amp it up? o some pull- ups and chin-ups. Keep your hands in either prone or supine position (overhand or underhand) and try to lift yourself up to or over the bar. This will work out all of your big muscles, so if you have any shoulder or rotator cuff issues, this may be a move to skip. If it’s too tough, this is a great time to recruit a kid or your part- ner to help: Have him or her gently give you a little support under your feet or hips, lifting you up slightly so you don’ t have to raise all of your body weight. SLIDE Going down the slide is really only a workout if you laugh the whole time an d that’ s not hard to do, since it’ s so much fun. But try this: As soon as you’ve reached the ground, put your hands on the edges of slides and try to complete five to 10 push-ups. You’ll focus on your triceps, since slides are fairly narrow, so be sure to send your elbows straight behind you and lower down to bring your chest as close to the slide as you can. Ready to amp it up? aking sure that there’ s nobody behind you in line, lie backwards at the top of the slide and, hooking your feet on either side of the handrail bars, slide down until you’ re almost at. Try some small crunches not full sit- ups) , keeping your hands behind your ears to support, but not tugging on your neck. This is definitely a more advanced move, so if you’re afraid you might lose your foothold, please skip this one so you don’ t go sliding backwards head-first down the slide! If all of that is too much, try doing jumping jacks at the bottom of the slide while waiting for your kid to come down. When he/she does, take a break to offer a hug and high-five, then get back to work! SANDBOX Sand is great because it’ s an unstable surface. From push- ups to ogging, sand takes a standard fitness move and revs it up significantly. Try marching in place for s econds while your kids build sandcastles. From there, sink into 10 good air squats, by pressing your glutes down and back as if you’ re sitting in a chair, then pressing back up to the starting position. Ready to amp it up? Try some single- leg calf raises: B end one knee so it’ s exed behind you and do 10 reps on one leg. Switch and try to go for two sets on each side. This will definitely make you work on your balance! STAIRS/LADDER The stairs/ladder is great for step- ups and step- downs. Keeping a gentle grip on the bars or nearby equipment for balance, step one foot up on a rung, then the other. Then, step down to the ground with one foot, then the other and repeat. ou can keep an eye on the kids the whole time, and you’ ll not only work on your quads, hamstrings and calves, you’ ll kickstart some good cardio, too. Ready to amp it up? After you watch your kids scramble up the ladder, why not drop and do p ush- ups? ou can pick how intense the move is: the higher the bar, the easier the move. And the lower you go, the more body weight you’ ll be pushing up. Try and do five push-ups on each bar, starting at the top and going all the way down. It might be hard, but it’s super effective. The bottom line: Fitness is where you create it. Sure, a gym is packed with equipment and trainers and treadmills. But as a busy parent, if you can’ t get there, bring your workout to wherever you are. Never miss an opportunity to get a quick workout in, even if it’s just a few strength-training moves at the playground. It’ s good for you, and it’ s great for the kids who are looking up to you. Fitness should always be a priority! aty i a lo e t e o el i a d t e i tr ctor w o eo le work toward t eir oal . washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 41 SPIRIT EQUESTRIAN: IT’S ALL IN THE NAME By CYNDA ZURFLUH Spirit is a gem. Its mission is to foster healing and to teach life skills through relationships with horses through a team who is committed to improving the quality of life for participants of all abilities. I would describe Spirit as a family of wonderful instructors, volunteers and rescued horses making a real difference in the lives they touch. We met the Spirit team when my daughter took what I thought was just’ riding lessons. What I really signed up for was my daughter’s new passion, and a meaningful way for me to pay it forward. 42 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Spirit Open Equestrian, conveniently located in Fairfax County, offers top-notch urban horsemanship and beginning riding lessons. But at its heart, Spirit’s goal is to serve those with special needs physical, psychological, developmental and give kids and adults alike the opportunity to build themselves up inside and out. Watching the riders sit proudly on the backs of the Spirit horses makes me believe in all things good again. At a recent volunteer session, I met David. I was tasked with leading Sadie, David’s favorite mare, to him. Sadie stepped out of the training rink and came right up to David in his (what I would have thought scary-to- a-horse) motori ed wheelchair. She nudged David’s face and nibbled on his chair’s controllers. They chatted for a moment, and David was placed on the horse he was to ride for his lesson. It’s safety first with harness and trained side-walking volunteers and someone with more horse sense than I have at the lead rope. David was joined by five or six other riders every one of them with his or her specific gift. The students are guided by instructors trained in horsemanship, and when appropriate, social work and psychotherapy. The horses seem to understand who’s on their backs and behave accordingly. The founder of Spirit Open Equestrian, Davorka Svorak, affectionately known as Dada, seems to intuit her way through the lessons. She anticipates both the kids’ and the horses’ next moves, and is not shy about insisting they all work hard to bring out their best selves. My daughter’s first lessons with Dada were a mix of typically developing kids and kids with special needs. Everyone could ride independently. The kids were all laser-focused on PHOTO PROVIDED BY ASHLEY HUANG I m decades away from my initial love affair with horses, but I’m enjoying a re-boot with my youngest daughter. After 10 years of high-test, energy-sapping DMV motherhood, I have literally and figuratively found my Spirit right here in Fairfax County: Spirit Open Equestrian. MORE ABOUT SPIRIT Visit spiritequestrian.org and register for lessons through Frying Pan Farm Park at 703-437-9101. How do I qualify my child for the Therapeutic Riding Program? ada’ s instructions. I don’ t think I’ ve ever seen my girl concentrate so hard on so many things at once: heels down, feet under hips, toes front, chin up, quiet hands, straight back. ada teaches horsemanship for real, and the kids make every effort to please her. Visit the spiritequestrian.org site and click on “Forms.” The online medical form takes a physician through the necessary details to qualify a rider. Part of their incentive is knowing that when they master ada’ s instructions, ada will sing their praises to the moon and back. She calls out their successes, asking folks in the arena to watch, and we all call out our good obs.” It’ s a perfect feedback loop: hard work with lots of earned praise. Spirit Open Equestrian is a certified 501(C)(3) nonprofit. Visit their website to donate or sign up to volunteer! I really do strive to be the mom who remembers how great I have it, but volunteering at Spirit takes me to a place I haven’ t frequented much lately. A place where the kids are precious because they are, and the parents aren’ t straining under the weight of the s nex t- level academic and competitive rigors. My daughter and I leave Spirit filthy, smelling like the horses we just worked with. But we’re refreshed. I find a peace that is a rarity. I even drive home more slowly. The Spirit team meets me where I am ust like they meet avid when he rolls in for his lesson. We all have challenges, and Spirit’s horses and team members offer us moments of strength, confidence, humility and gratitude. Cy da r wit a e dle i a a ily arried, worki to do li t a d le i or t e lack o lee . e o ot er o t ree to al o t ake How can I help? WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC RIDING? Therapeutic riding is a proven method to support the growth and healing of kids and adults with physical and/or psychological challenges. The interaction between people and horses offers a variety of physical, mental, emotional and intellectual benefits. Equine Assisted Activities complement the work of a variety of therapeutic, developmental and life coaching professionals. Why is it effective? Simply sitting upon a walking horse requires strength and coordination, while stimulating the muscular and nervous systems. There is a sense of confidence that comes with cooperating with the horses and taking part in directing them. Time-in- the-saddle requires riders to be present and aware of what’s happening in the moment, which helps with concentration and attention. Plus, you get a great horse buddy! washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 43 Kindergarten cutoff November 300 Serving students ages 18 months to grade 12 Open Houses School Saturday, October 13 11:00 am Montessori (18 months-Grade 5) Sunday, October 21 1:00 pm College Prep Mason Game and Technology Academy is one of the most transformational year-round enrichment programs in the region today, integrating all of the STEM core competencies in a challenging, fun, and engaging way for students 9 to adult. We offer classes in: Game Design • Programming • Virtual Reality • Digital Art • Roblox Game Development • Game Modding • Computer Hardware Design • Augmented Reality • Multi Platform App Development • 3D Modelling and Animation • and more! (Grades 6-12) RSVP today! 301-576-2800 admission@barrie.org barrie.org • Beautifully renovated Montessori building and new K-5 Maker Space • New STEAM courses for Middle & High School including planetary and marine science 13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, MD Minutes from the ICC and Glenmont Metro Bus Transportation & Extended Day Available 13 90% Average Class Size with Talented Teachers Who Truly Know Their Students 30 + of Our Graduates are Accepted to Their First Choice High Schools After School Activities and Extended Hours to Help Your Busy Schedule Preschool - Grade 8 Open House: Wednesday, October 10 at 9:00 AM Visit Our Website to RSVP or Schedule a Personal Tour Preschool - Grade 8 Co-Ed, Independent School in Falls Church • Contact us about our Infant and Toddler Program washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 45 GET HOOKED ON SCOUTING! Now for boys AND girls, ages 5-20! FUN! FRIENDS! ADVENTURE! GET STARTED AT WWW.BEASCOUT.ORG From the dock to the launchpad to the campground, Cub Scouts will help your family catch more moments that matter. Be part of the fun! Get started at BeAScout.org Fitness Goal Setting Tips for Kids By Nailah Coleman, MD A s you set your family’ s fall schedule, consider this: a s tudy from the .S. ational Institute of Child ealth and uman evelopment found only half of kids ages g et the recommended m inutes of moderate- to- vigorous activity each day. Setting goals to get moving as a family can create long- lasting healthy habits. Start simple t ake a longer dog walk or oin a sports team. Love to run? Consider oining a running club or participating in a charity race like the Race for Every Child, an annual 5K and Kids ash raising money to support Children’ s ational ealth System. As a Children’ s ational pediatrician, I witness the mental and physical benefits of race participation and how the funds raised impact patients. Take aia Santiago van den Broeck. Following several surgeries at Children’ s ational, aia, 9, c hose to participate in the 5K to give back and stay healthy. “T hey helped me, and if I raise money, I can help other kids too,” says aia. Follow these tips to set your family fitness goals: Reserve a regular time for fitness activities. Break big goals into small, achievable steps. Lead by ex ample. Share your goals and efforts with your child. ave healthy snacks available before, during and after activities. Follow the mood. When your family seems ready to go, seize the moment! Nailah Coleman, MD, FAAP, FACSM is a sports medicine pediatrician in he Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health at Children’s National. I beli ev e in th e power of publi c educati on, an d now more th an ev er we need dedicat ed leader s to mak e sure th at ev er y ch ild recei ves a to p quali ty educati on. PROUDLY ENDORSED BY Montgomery County Education Association Coalition of Asian- American Democrats County Executive Ike Leggett ★ County Council Member Craig Rice ★ County Council Member Nancy Navarro County Council Member Sidney Katz ★ County Council Member Hans Riemer www.patoneill.org By Authority: Friends of Pat O’Neill, Lafe Solomon, Treasurer washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 47 THE LAST WORD 5 WAYS TEENS CHANGED MY PARENTING STYLE BY KATHRYN STREETER P Illustration by: Talia Greenberg arents of young children sometimes live under the illusion that if they parent well, they’ll be spared the challenges common to the teen years. It’s what I personally hoped for. But as my kids grew and changed, I realized I needed to, too. Here’s what I learned along the way. 1. I learned to approach beloved family traditions with flexibility. We raised our kids with the expectation that every Saturday morning started at the local coffee shop. It was a tradition we all enjoyed and looked forward to until my kids suddenly sprouted into teenagers and wanted to sleep until noon. Instead of taking a hardline approach, KidsHealth professionals recommend flexibility when it comes to family activities. Demanding rigid adherence to family activities will likely backfire, creating a tense situation. So instead of an unyielding “always” tone, try the posture of “sometimes.” Then identify those family activities on the calendar that rise to the “mandatory” level and let the rest go. 2. I learned to accept a fluid dinner hour. It’s long been my ambition to eat dinner around the table together, but things grew to a new level of helter-skelter with high schoolers coming and going amidst sporting events, invitations from friends and other commitments. As life bulges to unprecedented levels of busyness, stick with family dinners whenever and however possible says clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Markham of Aha! Parenting. If someone in the family must be absent, carry on with the rest of the family. The humble dinner hour provides a level of connectivity with teens that’s been tied to better grades, lower levels of depression and suicide attempts and less experimentation with drugs, alcohol and sex, says Markham. Furthermore, teens who eat dinner with their families show a healthier approach to food, writes Cody C. Delistraty in The Atlantic. 3. I learned that conversation happens when it’s going to happen. Great conversation may occur around the dinner table but, maybe not. The team of experts at Child Development Institute say to stop, focus and listen whenever 48  October 2018  washingtonFAMILY.com our teens want to talk. “Many teens feel they can’t talk to their parents because they’re always at work or busy doing something else,” says the Child Development Institute. “We often forget to take time out from our hectic lives to pay enough attention to our kids.” And listen more than talk, keeping your responses brief, adds Dr. John Duffy, author of “The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens.” Duffy suggests approaching our teens from the perspective of a visiting neighbor; it’ll help us view them less critically and with greater empathy.   4. I learned to turn a blind eye to messy bedrooms. Reporter Jan Hoffman of The New York Times helps uncover why messy rooms are hard for parents to tolerate. Her interviews with distressed parents reveal that parents take it personally. We’re embarrassed. We feel an acute sense of parenting failure, making the issue about us and forgetful that teens are on a complex journey to becoming adults. KidsHealth argues that, in fact, bedrooms are teens’ personal space and should be respected, adding that resisting to intervene at this level helps teens feel trusted and cultivates personal responsibility.   5. I learned not to let my teens control my marriage. Our teens go to bed when we do, or later. We’re helplessly collapsing into bed. We have no energy to talk, to be just the two of us. How do we stay connected as a couple? These thoughts are common to parents with teens; psychologist Suzanne Phillips warns against becoming preoccupied with teenage struggles to the point of neglecting our marriages. Phillips describes this danger as “abdicating” our role as a partner in order to be a vigilant parent. In reality, teens benefit from signs of affection between their parents. When we come together, we offer our teens a solid home environment, an invaluable gift.   Life is never static and, surely, this truth couldn’t be more evident than in homes with teens. The wax and wane of family rhythm are actually signs of growth, not to be feared or resisted. After all, the relationships within our homes — not the particular day-to-day routine — should be what we fiercely protect. Kathryn Streeter is a D.C.-based mom and blogger. “See he ook f Surprise And onder n our hild s yes ” Mister Barry's Magic Show + ICE CREAM TRUCK BIRTHDAY / parties BOOK NOW FOR YOUR Summer Programs School Fairs Corporate Venues Birthdays “My 7 year old is still talking about her best birthday ever. She and her friends have been practicing the magic tricks they learned.” M.S. Reston, VA 571-283-2408 Let’s Build Robots!  Puppet Shows For All Occasions After-School Robotics: Join us at our in-house classes, get your school to start a program, or use our Flexible Robotics Package to build your perfect personalized robotics program. (703) 444-9426 • Large and colorful marionettes and hand puppets • Lively music • Audience participation • Puppet-making workshops • Goody bags LEGO EV3, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and more... Susan Wall's Unique Homeshool Classes in robotics, electronics, simple machine, and more... www.robotworksacademy.net 8992 Fern Park Drive, Burke, VA 22015 www.carouselpuppets.com Healthy Smile... Healthy Child pediatric dental care John Han, DDS Pediatric Dentist Fernanda Fontes, DDS Pediatric Dentist Jenny Ha, DDS Pediatric Dentist Harold Fleming, DDS Orthodontist Dr. Han voted one of the Top Dentists in Northern VA Magazine & VA Living Magazine. • • • • • • • • • • • • PE SE uesday, ov emb er 9:30-11:30 am Kindergarten Night pm- pm www.mypdcdentists.com Pediatric Dental Care Sunday, January 27 Tuesday, January 29 10:00 am - 1:00pm 9:30am - 11:30am orth Frederick Street, rlington, Va StA nn. org Saint Ann Catholic School Sedations Laughing Gas/Nitrous Oxide Emergency Care Digital X-ray & Technology Free Orthodontic Consultation Sealants White Fillings School Exams Kid PDC s C Fluoride Treatment Firs ome Early Orthodontics t Cleanings Check up exams * No Referrals Required Accepting all major insurances and Smiles for Children Saint Ann School @school_ann friendsofstann Fairfax office: 9901 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030. Springfield office: 6120 Brandon Ave. Suite 114, Springfield, VA 22150 washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 49 Comprehensive resources. Compassionate care. The nation’s largest private, non-profit provider of mental health, substance use, special education, developmental disability, and social services. To learn more, visit sheppardpratt.org Exceptional Schools Fair November 4, 2018 | 11:00am - 2:00pm Showcasing the many wonderful school choices available to families of children with diverse learning needs. Find out about individualized programs that will help your child thrive both academically and socially. Katzen Arts Center American University @ Ward Circle (Massachusetts Ave and Nebraska Ave NW DC) Sponsored by The American University School of Education Admission is FREE and Open to the Public Parking is FREE in the Katzen Center | Tenleytown Metro on the Red Line For more information, please contact Bekah Atkinson at exceptionalschoolsfair@gmail.com www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com 50 October 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Family Calendar MONDAY 1 WEDNESDAY 3 FREE Baby Storytime Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Search Party 10:30 a.m. Storytimes are more than ust books! They’ re interactive ex periences that engage children with short stories, action rhymes, songs and fi nger plays. This storytime event focuses on pre- reading skills that all children need to become good readers. Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Ave., Manassas, VA. TUESDAY 2 Yulia_Malinovskaya/ iStock / Getty Images Plus FREE Teen Trivia Tuesday 4 p.m. Let your teen test their knowledge at Teen Trivia Tuesday! Compete against other teens for a chance to win something from the prize bin. All teens are welcome. Haymarket Gainesville Community Library, 14870 Lightner Rd., Haymarket, VA. 7 p.m. | $15. ickey’ s Search Party brings the magic closer to fans than ever before through dynamic and immersive moments that take place on the ice, in the air and in the seats. Guests will embark on a search for clues to fi nd Tinker Bell after Captain ook tries to capture her magic. As each scene unfolds, compelling storytelling will be delivered through multi- level production numbers by skaters, performers and acrobats alike. Eagle Bank Arena, 4400 niversity Dr., Fairfax, VA. American Cancer Society. Glen Gery 9905 Godwin Dr., Manassas, VA. FRIDAY 5 Fireside Ghost Stories 7 p.m. | $5. Ben Lomond has a diverse and grim history serving as a Civil War hospital. ver the years, many local residents claim to have seen ghosts and other spooky happenings at the site. This has led to reports that the site is haunted. oin in for an ex citing and eerie evening around the campfi re to hear some of the ghost stories associated with the historic site. Ben Lomond Historic Site. 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA. THURSDAY 4 FREE Bricklayer Competiton 11 a.m. Glen Gery is hosting its third annual bricklaying competition. Come out and watch the best bricklayers in Virginia at work! Enjoy games, ra es and food and drinks provided by the SATURDAY 6 FREE Natural Magic 2:30 p.m. oin Port iscovery educator and former Ringling Brothers circus performer, Gregory ay on a comedy magic tour of the animals we see washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018 51 around us every day. Sometimes they’ re helpful, and sometimes, they make a mess of things. But, there is always something new and ex citing to learn about these wonderful creatures. Ages 10. 6692 Cedar Ln., Columbia, MD. SATURDAY 13 FREE The Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival SUNDAY 7 Teddy Bear Farm Visit Oct. 6-7 | 10 a.m | $39-$69 10 a.m. | $7.50. Folk singer, Tony McGuffin, has been the host of the Teddy Bear Farm isit for years! Activities include a Teddy Bear Contest, Enchanted Ex press Train ride, pony rides, Pine Tree az e and a hayride to the pumpkin patch. There will also be food vendors and local cider! Clark’s Elioak Farm, 10500 Clark ille Pike, Ellicott City, MD. Minefaire: The Ultimate Minecraft Event WEDNESDAY 10 Crybaby Matinee Noon | $12.50. Crybaby atinee is a movie for in a baby friendly environment. Enter a udge- free one where babies can be babies and you can enjoy the latest film in the company of other parents who get it.” We provide a comfortable theater environment for you and your little one so you can enj oy a movie without worrying about unex pected tantrums or feedings in the dark. Children under age get in free! Angelika Pop- p at io Market, Pe St., .E., a i to , D.C. Green Meadows Petting Farm 10 a.m. | $14. The goal at Green Meadows Petting Farm is to educate children of all ages about farm animals while providing a day of fun for everyone. Come out to the farm and get up close with approx imately farm animals, as well as the October 2018 opportunity to milk a cow and feed sheep and goats for free. Also enj oy slides, duck races and more! A pumpkin is also included with each paid admission in ctober. Green Meadows Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Rd., amsville, MD. FRIDAY 12 Parent Night Out THURSDAY 11 52 Why are your kids so fascinated with inecraft? Connect with them, and be blown away by off-the-charts fun at the inecraft event in the .S! Bring inecraft to life with virtual reality ex periences still unavailable in many homes. Enj oy nonstop live entertainment on mega- stages, meet your kids’ favorite ouTube creators, participate in parent- child building challenges, learn from official Minecraft global mentors and discover the world’ s largest inecraft merchandise store! Dulles E o Ce ter, C a tilly S o i Ce ter, C a tilly, VA. washingtonFAMILY.com 6 p.m. | $45. eed a night away? o your children love ava one? Leave them with us for a safe, fun-filled evening of play while you paint the town red. Drop off your adventurers for a few hours of ava one madness! They will enj oy hours of supervised play, followed by dinner, a movie and then more play! Ages . ava one, akbrook Ct. Ste. , Sterling, A. 11 a.m. Come and enj oy a great fall day with music, food and games for the whole family! Start planning your strategy now to build the fastest themed pumpkin racer bonus points if you dress to match! Parking on site is limited, so consider parking at the ontgomery illage Foundation and utili e our free shuttle! ort Creek Co ity Ce ter, Arrow ead Rd., Mo t o ery Villa e, MD. MONDAY 15 FREE Lego Club 5 p.m. o your kids like Legos? Then have them come to the library to build their own creations! Legos will be provided, but all materials must stay at the library. So bring a camera to capture your adventures. Grades K- . Ce tral Co ity i rary, Mat i A e., Ma a a , VA. WEDNESDAY 17 Grandparent’s Day at the Farm! 10 a.m. | $0-$14 Free admission for grandparents) . Green eadows Farm has a special each Wednesday ust for grandparents! Every grandparent gets one free admission to the farm with one paid general admission. Price of admission includes a farm animal petting oo, a wagon ride, cow milking, a pig race and free sheep and goat feed. Green Meadows Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Rd., amsville, MD. THURSDAY 18 FREE Reading to Dogs  4 p.m. Practice reading aloud while you make a new friend by reading to a therapy dog at the library. Reading to dogs helps young readers improve their skills in a relax ed, friendly environment. Bring your own book or read one of ours. For readers in grades K- . Chinn Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge, VA. FRIDAY 19 FREE Stafford County Agricultural Fair 5 p.m. Come oin the fun at the Stafford County Fair! Take a ride on the monster truck, see the animals, watch the Miss Stafford Pageant, listen to great music on stage and much more! Enjoy a ton of carnival treats and good eats from local vendors. Stafford County Fairgrounds, 2135 Mountain View Rd., Stafford, VA. SATURDAY 20 FREE Princess Tea Read-Along with the Girl Scouts 11 a.m. The Girl Scouts invite you to tea! Come listen to stories read by Girl Scout uniors, learn a little about Daisy Scouts and finish with a craft and tea. Dale City Neighborhood Library, 4249 Dale Blvd, Dale City, VA SUNDAY 21 Fall Harvest Family Days 9 a.m. | $12-$20. Celebrate the autumn season with th- century activities at ount ernon’ s Pioneer Farm. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride and play colonial games on the bowling green before heading to the Pioneer Farm to observe th- century demonstrations and greet General Washington. George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA. Butler Montessori Campus, 15951 Germantown Rd., Germantown, MD. FRIDAY 26 Ghostly Tales October 27 | 3:30 p.m. | $8-$14 Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon Trick-or-treat at Mount Vernon! Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Watch wool carding and spinning, historic chocolate- making demonstrations in the historic area and participate in a children’ s costume parade. Priz es will be awarded for the best George and Martha Washington costumes! George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA. 7 p.m. | $5. oin storytellers from Alex andria’ s Footsteps to the Past on the front lawn of Carlyle ouse for a fun evening of ghostly tales of Alexandria’s past! Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA. SUNDAY 28 Halloween Costume Parades 10 a.m. | $7.50. Let your kids oin in on the Clark’s Elioak Farm costume parade! After the parade, take a ride on the Enchanted Express Train and enjoy other afternoon activities like pony rides, train rides, ma es and more! Clark’s Elioak Farm,10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD. WEDNESDAY 31 TUESDAY 23 FREE MONA Preschool Fair 7 p.m. Picking a preschool is hard, so let the MONA Preschool Fair help! Come out to the annual preschool fair to meet representatives and parents from over local preschools. Columbia Baptist’s Child Development Center, Falls Church, VA, 103 W. Columbia St., Falls Church, VA. THURSDAY 25 FREE Farm & Forest Explorers 10 a.m. Calling all young explorers! oin Butler ontessori’ s Farm Forest Explorers program and experience farm life and nature through fun, hands- on activities like harvesting carrots to collecting chicken eggs. FREE Halloween Story Time and Costume Parade 10:30 a.m. No trick, just treats! Wear your costume, enj oy a not- at- all- spooky alloween story time, then take a promenade around the library to collect some fun treats that are ust right for kids. Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave., Manassas, VA. FREE Carlyle House Trick or Treat 5 p.m. Come out to the Carlyle ouse on All Hallows Eve for good old- fashioned trickery and treats! Bring your little ghosts, goblins, princesses and action heroes to one of Alex andria’ s most haunted dwellings for a fun evening of free trick- or- treating, games and crafts. Carlyle House, 121 N. 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