WASHINGTON washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 Healthy Lunchboxes Time Management Tips for Teens Local Food Expertsʼ Advice EDUCATION GUIDE TEACHERS YEAR OF THE PICTURED: EVA M. AND HAYA A. AT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON (SEE PG. 6) Meet Six of the Areaʼs Top Educators A Child’s Place at Hollin Hall 2 years to 12 years. Approved Preschool Curriculum by NAEYC. • • • • • • School Age Program Before and After School Care Open all day for Snow Days and Teacher Work Days Winter and Spring Break Camps Guaranteed spot for Summer Camp Sibling Discount and Family Registration Area Elementary Schools served: Waynewood, Fort Hunt, Stratford Landing and Hollin Meadows. Monday thru Friday 7am till 6pm A CHILD’S PLACE AT HOLLIN HALL 1500 Shenadoah Road • Alexandria , VA 22308 703-765-8811 • acphollinh@aol.com www.hollinhall.com • Facebook: A Child’s Place at Hollin Hall Now Open in Germantown! Super urgent care just for kids and young adults. We have 16x more pediatric training than most other urgent care doctors. 19820 Century Blvd. 301.528.5437 washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 3 PMPEDIATRICS.COM SEPTEMBER 2018 TABLE OF contents ON THE COVER: Eva M. and Haya A. at British International School of Washington in Washington, D.C. 10 18 24 2018 Teachers of the Year P. 10-16 “With an array of backgrounds and specialties, each of our Teachers of the Year winners embody the passion, devotion and selflessness that make for a great educator.” Your Procrastinating Teen: 9 Time Management Tips for Tackling Schoolwork P. 18-19 “For kids with a soft internal clock, strong routines and strategies to help them manage time more effectively are needed.” Ann Dolin COLUMNS: The First Word P. 7 The Last Word P. 48 RESOURCES: What’s in Your Lunchbox? P. 24-26 “Packing healthy and nutritious school lunches can be manageable even for the busiest of parents.” Michelle Blanchard Ardillo Birthday/Parties p. 49-50 Classifieds P. 54 Family Calendar P. 51 Montessori p. 22 GUIDES: QUICK READS Myths of Autism Fall into Reading Dyslexia + Reading Q&A Back to School Organization Tips 4 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com p. 30 p. 32 p. 36 p. 44 The Arts Education p. 27 p. 38 SKATEQUEST is the BEST place for you and your family LEARN TO SKATE SESSION September 5th – October 21st Schedule available online starting August 22nd. 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 THE FIRST WORD Back to the Backpack My favorite back-to-school activity growing up was shopping with my Mom for a new backpack. My go-to favorite brand: Lisa Frank. Paired with some fresh Birkenstocks, I felt too cool for school. So Moms, here’s your check list: New backpack? Check. Overﬂ ow of shiny school supplies? Check. Instagram-worthy bento box lunches? Check. Bright-eyed and well-rested child? … semi-check? While kids might be heading into months of schoolwork, the new school year brings work for parents, too. Let our September issue be a study tool to help not only your children, but also yourself. In this issue, we have our annual Education Guide on pg. 38. You can ﬁ nd resources for schools, enrichment activities, tutoring centers, ﬁ eld trip destinations and more! Are you looking to shake-up your school lunch packing routine, or want to know how to prevent healthy foods from ﬁ nding their way back home? Check out the “What’s in Your Lunchbox?” article on pg. 26 to get some healthy lunch planning ideas and tips from local chefs. Does chronic procrastination describe the state of your teen’s study habits? If so, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Get some tips from a local tutor on how to help your teen improve their time-management skills and tackle schoolwork on pg. 18. We have a list of newly-released children’s books on pg. 32 to check out this fall. For parents of children with dyslexia who fear their child might not ever enjoy the act of reading, see pg. 36. The experts at Lindamood-Bell can alleviate your concerns as they answer some frequently asked questions on this topic. The biggest heroes of every school year are teachers. They’re the inspiring men and women who help our children learn, dream, create and grow. After receiving nominations from our readers, we chose six incredible local teachers to tell their stories. Read about our second annual Teachers of the Year winners starting on pg. 10. You’ll soon discover why these dedicated individuals are among the area’s best educators. Bonus: You’ll also get plenty of invaluable parent-teacher insight! When the kids are ﬁ nally off to school, happy with their new Eastpak tropical print backpack, I hope you enjoy a moment of solitude. One that includes whipping up your own specialized bento-box lunch creation and “studying” all the education-focused resources in this issue. Happy new school year! Britni Petersen Managing Editor Washington FAMILY Magazine bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com washingtonFAMILY.com September 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, Ann Dolin, Erin Stauder, Kathryn Streeter 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 @ Fair Oaks Mall! 11750 Fair Oaks Mall Fairfax, VA 22033 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 10AM - 3PM 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 JOHN KIM | Controller jkim@midatlanticmedia.com BILL SIMS | Director of Circulation & Audience Development bsims@midatlanticmedia.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 8 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Now Offering Two NEW Pre-K Options Extended Day Pre-K 6:30am-7:00pm 9am - 12pm or 12-3pm $650/month 9am - 3pm $1,000/month ($150/week) New! ($230/week) New! Call for more info! Ashburn Campus 43629 Greenway Corporate Drive Ashburn, VA 20147 571.223.3110 Westfields Campus 5003 Westone Plaza Chantilly, VA 20151 703.961.8222 www.BeanTreeLearning.com Exp. 9/30/18 washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 9 PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGINIMA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR T he most important superheroes don’t wear capes; they stand in front of a whiteboard teaching our children topics, from the ABCs to quadratic equations. Teachers empower our children and play a meaningful role in their lives. Washington FAMILY is honoring DMV area teachers with our second annual Teachers of the Year issue! We asked our readers to nominate an extraordinary 10 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com and inﬂ uential local teacher to be recognized for this honor. After a stream of nominations, we selected six remarkable teachers to be featured in this issue. With an array of backgrounds and specialties, each of our Teachers of the Year winners embody the passion, devotion and selﬂ essness that make for a great educator. We are excited to share their stories with you. Meet our Teachers of the Year! CHRISTOPHER PETER MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER AT RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY IN FRONT ROYAL, VA “Teachers are important as role models. They help to inspire learning, instill good values and build self- conf idence.” NOMINATED BY: CELESTE BROOKS “Mr. Peter is not your typical history teacher. When the school opened an Innovation Lab this past fall, he jumped in with his students. PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGINIMA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS What originally got you interested in teaching? I had a lot of great teachers that peaked my interest in the profession. My parents also helped guide me. My mother spent countless hours patiently doing homework with me, and my father constantly read, watched and discussed history with me. Why do you think teachers are important? Teachers are important as role models. They help to inspire learning, instill good values and build self conﬁ dence. Teachers help to develop leadership skills, and assist in the overall character development and education of young people. What is the single best piece of advice you can give parents of middle schoolers? Be involved daily. What’s your funniest teaching moment? Splitting the back of my pants open. When I knelt down to do some ﬁ ling during my fourth period, I thought I heard a slight rip. Fortunately for me, it was my planning period. So I was able to rush home and change pants, avoiding TEACHERS OF THE YEAR an embarrassing moment in front of the students. Turns out, I ripped my pants on the way to school that morning. The tear I heard during fourth period was just the last thread breaking loose. My pants had been split all morning long. Luckily, my underwear happened to be the color of my slacks that day. Do you have any tried and trusted ideas or activities for motivating students? Building positive relationships is key. I do this through positive interactions in the halls, on the athletic ﬁ elds and in the cafeteria. I give a lot of positive feedback. I tell students constantly when things are going well, and I question the “how’s” and “why’s” when things are off track. How can parents and teachers work together to empower and engage children? Communication is key. Parents should let teachers know how they have managed successful teaching moments with their children. Teachers must keep parents in the loop when things are going great and/or poorly. What is the best thing about teaching in your area/school district? I love the friendly and helpful environment at Randolph-Macon Academy. The administration and teachers have been wonderful to work with. I am thankful for all the advice and help I’ve received over the years in building meaningful lesson plans, brainstorming fun ways to incorporate technology and building hands-on projects that resonate with the students. “They used the various tools and technology available to make history come alive in a way that his students will remember forever. For example, they built chariots (no Lego wheels allowed) and held races in the ‘Hippodrome’ he created in the gym. “Mr. Peter engages his students in discussions, listening and guiding them. He encourages them to speak up, and his lack of ego has made them comfortable enough to do so. Outside the classroom, he continues to listen to and care for his students, always making the time when someone needs him. He is also a phenomenal soccer coach, instilling not just skills into his players, but sportsmanship and motivation as well.” Finish this sentence: If I weren’t teaching, I’d be … coaching soccer. I previously owned and operated the Shenandoah Soccer Academy, and I have a great time teaching the sport. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 11 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR DAVID MAGEE child some autonomy by offering your student opportunities to make small, but important choices every day. Let them pack their own snack, choose a time to set their alarm or pick out their own clothes the night before. Giving a second-grader responsibility helps supply them with a positive sense of control. SECOND-GRADE TEACHER AT HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. NOMINATED BY: JEN DRYER. “David Magee works incredibly hard to not just provide the opportunities and inspiration for children to grow academically, but also socially and emotionally. He thinks deeply about the whole child, and works to help children in this important emotional year begin to understand themselves as learners. David also helps his students learn how to advocate for themselves in how they best learn. “To help destigmatize learning differences, he provides ‘Tier 1’ interventions for all children, like offering any child a set of noise cancelling headphones to help maintain focus during individual work time. David really knows his students as people, as learners and as citizens of his classroom and the school. He sets high expectations and helps students better understand themselves. This is not something I’ve seen many teachers do, and it’s incredibly powerful for children at this age and stage in their lives.” Heading into this new school year, what are you most excited for? What originally got you interested in teaching? After college, I spent time exploring professions in healthcare and consulting. While I enjoyed the collegiality and the challenges that come with these environments, I never felt like my full suite of skills were being employed. I had this gnawing feeling that I could, and should, be doing more with myself. I wanted to ﬁ nd my calling, and spoke to my family and friends. Much to my shock, people kept saying the same thing, “You would be an amazing teacher!” As soon as that idea was introduced, I knew I had found my path. Why do you think teachers are important? Everyone remembers their teachers in great detail, don’t they? We can still hear their voices in our minds from time to 12 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com time, their speciﬁ c praise or discreet criticism, their jokes or sincere advice, their empathy and tough love. It was those moments that changed us the most, because it was those moments where we felt known and cared for. Teachers are guides who prepare children for a world that they are beginning to discover. In this capacity, we can change how people view themselves relative to their world. What is the single best piece of advice you can give parents of second- graders? Children start to struggle and push back when they feel acted upon, so I try to make every choice theirs. In tough situations, I offer two positive choices and let the child decide between those: “Do you want to clean up before your snack or after?” In the same vein, allow your I love the moment when our students come up with and vote on our class names. Last year, we were the “Helpful Potato Bugs,” and before that, we were the “Red Eared Sliders.” Our students also come up with a new name for the tarantula, which is our class pet. Last year, she was “Octavia,” and before that, the kids voted to call her “You know who … .” Do you have any tried and trusted ideas or activities for motivating students? At the start of the year, we create collage self- portraits after reading Todd Parr’s book, “It’s Okay to Be Different.” During this time, the students start to celebrate what makes them unique and special, while appreciating the differences that we all bring to the classroom. This activity is a perfect way to do guided discovery of our materials. At the end of the project, we use the students’ faces to decorate our classroom! JOANNA MCBRIDE “Children are motivated when they’re engaged. So ﬁ nd a way to hook them in by using what you know about them and their personal interests.” FOURTH-GRADE TEACHER AT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. NOMINATED BY: KATIE BENSON. “Joanna is a passionate teacher who deeply cares about each child in her class. She treats all children as individuals, diligently supporting and challenging them in their unique learning journey. Joanna fosters very strong relationships with her class, modeling respect, cooperation and effective communication. What originally got you interested in teaching? For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. Why do you think teachers are important? Heading into this new school year, what are you most excited for? Teachers spend so much time with their students. Therefore, they can make a huge impact on their development — in both their learning and as young people. New colleagues, new students and new opportunities. Do you have any tried and trusted ideas or activities for motivating students? What is the single best piece of advice you can give parents of fourth- graders? Help your children develop a variety of interests by giving them access to a wide range of activities. What’s your funniest teaching moment? As a teacher of 9- and 10-year-olds, every day is fun, funny and different. TEACHERS OF THE YEAR Children are motivated when they are engaged. So ﬁ nd a way to hook them in by using what you know about them and their personal interests. How can parents and teachers work together to empower and engage children? Teachers and parents need to communicate. We use an app called Seesaw, which has been transformational for parental involvement in learning in our school. What is the best thing about teaching in your area or school district? What are three things you use in your classroom every day and could never live without? At the British International School of Washington, we are so lucky to have such an internationally diverse student body. We learn so much from each other’s contrasting experiences every day. This changes so often. Right now: iPads, super sticky Post-It notes and hand sanitizer! Finish this sentence: If I weren’t teaching, I’d be … “Using her gentle sense of humor, she empowers children to become curious, independent thinkers and resilient learners. Joanna is innovative in her approach, and is determined to prepare her students for the rigors of the 21st century. So she incorporates technology into her lessons in a purposeful way. Joanna knows how crucial parental involvement is for student success, and she involves them continually by celebrating successes and identifying areas that parents can help support at home. Beyond the classroom, “Joanna supports the professional development of colleagues, sharing her expertise in technology and STEAM learning.” incomplete. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 13 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR KATIE KEIER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AT MOUNT EAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA, VA What are threethings you use in your classroom every day and could never live without? 1. Books. We read books all day! Our learning is anchored in the texts of our favorite authors, characters and books that are “windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors.” This is so we can see ourselves, each other, new and different worlds and people, and be able to journey to these places through our reading. NOMINATED BY: LAURA MCCARTHY. “Katie goes above and beyond to create a dream learning environment for her students. She has a fully loaded art studio, open seating, a pet hamster, an imagination center and a fully stocked classroom library. Student artwork hangs everywhere, and the imagination station is based off of the kids’ latest interests. Katie strongly believes that kindergarteners need to learn through play. She organizes multiple ﬁ eld trips to farms, performances and local parks. Her students have two recesses a day: one on the playground, and the other in the front garden to encourage imaginative play. But what really makes Katie a standout educator is her ability to connect with her students and their families. She sends parents photos in her weekly newsletter and does home visits. “Thanks to Katie, my daughter had the most amazing kindergarten experience. She im- mersed the students in hands-on learning. There were caterpillars to ob- serve, pumpkins to mea- sure, homemade play dough and sculptures inspired by Calder. These students thrived! They learned how to problem solve! But most impor- tantly, they were happy kiddos! Katie deserves to be recognized because she does what every teacher should do — she fosters a love for lifelong learning.” 14 September 2018 2. Blank paper books and ﬂ air pens. We write and illustrate books every day. Our stories, our knowledge and our learning experiences are shared on the pages of books we create. What originally got you interested in teaching? I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I can’t imagine doing anything else! I remember playing “school” from a very early age. I loved my second grade teacher, Miss Allen, and enjoyed being her helper. I would stay in from recess to grade papers and help get the room ready for the afternoon. My high school French teacher, Mme. Waters, inﬂ uenced me tremendously and ultimately inspired me to choose education as my major in college. Do you have any tried and trusted ideas or activities for motivating students? I believe children are motivated from within when they are engaged. They’re engaged when they’re following their washingtonFAMILY.com interests, passionate about what they’re learning and involved in inquiry and projects that excite and challenge them. I believe in listening carefully to children, build ing strong relationships, following their interests and creating provocations and experiences that reﬂ ect who they are. Going beyond the curriculum, we’ve explored monarch butterﬂ ies, gardening, peace, Pokemon, dinosaurs, Minecraft, maps, engineering, ramps, various art forms and more. Who knows what this year might bring? Children are capable, brave human beings that can do so much — more than we can even imagine. 3. Art and play. Children thrive when they’re in a beautiful space that celebrates their creativity. Having many opportunities to create art, enjoy art by famous artists and each other, listen to and make music, dance, create make- believe worlds and play (a lot!) makes our classroom a joyful place to live and learn together. Through art and play, kids can learn to express themselves, connect with others, solve problems, develop empathy, kindness and imagine what’s possible. Finish this sentence: If I weren’t teaching, I’d be … living a life without joy. Teaching brings me so much joy, possibility and hope for our future. I can’t imagine ever not being a teacher. It’s who I am. TEACHERS OF THE YEAR MADELINE JACOBS ROSENWALD FIFTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER AT GESHER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL IN FAIRFAX, VA “The natural curiosity that children have about the world around them is what really got me into teaching.” NOMINATED BY: SARA LAFOUNTAIN “Madeline Rosenwald is an amazing teacher and leader at our school. She teaches science to stu- dents in ﬁ fth through eighth grade, and also helps the kindergarten through second grade teachers integrate sci- ence into their class- rooms. Madeline also volunteers as the ‘T’ part of our PTO. She comes to all of our meetings and shares commu- nications with all the teachers. What originally got you interested in teaching? The natural curiosity that children have about the world around them is what really got me into teaching. I did some outdoor education work before getting into the classroom, and I realized that there is so much for our students to take in about how the world works. I felt like I could do a decent job to help them make sense of it all. And in that sense, teaching found me. Why do you think teachers are important? Teachers hold the keys that open the doors of possibilities for their students. It is our job to foster a love of learning in each one of our students. What is the single best piece of advice you can give parents of middle schoolers? Give your child the tools and skills necessary to advocate for themselves. This is a life skill. Students need to learn how to communicate their struggles and needs, because at some point, they will be ready to ﬂ y and leave the nest. Do you have any tried and trusted ideas or activities for motivating students? Getting your students to want to succeed is no easy task. I always encourage a little friendly competition in the classroom. But when all else fails, “Music Mondays” are deﬁ nitely encouraging when there is independent work to be done. What are three things you use in your classroom every day and could never live without? 1. My students. They’re what make coming to work so incredible, and they’re what keep me going throughout the day. 2. A silly rubber ball that I throw around with the kids when we need to take a brain break. 3. My tea mug ... caffeine is a necessity. How can parents and teachers work together to empower and engage children? Become a partner with your children’s teachers. We both want what is best for them. A strong partnership between parents and teachers can help foster student success. What is the best thing about teaching in your area or school district? I love our school community — we’re like one big family. There are few words to describe what we have. It is just something you have to experience by being a part of it. “Madeline also pulls off one of the most exciting events of the year: the middle school dance. She singlehandedly transforms the school into a theme. This year, she turned our school into a ’50s sock hop. Last year, she trans- formed it into ‘The Wiz- ard of Oz.’ Besides being an incredible leader, Madeline makes science fun for all the students. She creates hands-on experiments, and also teaches the kids how to be prepared for high school and beyond.” Finish this sentence: If I weren’t teaching, I’d be … the principal of a middle school. If I weren’t in education, I’d be a personal chef for dinner parties and events. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 15 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR MOLLY A. BARNETT FOURTH GRADE MATH, SCIENCE, LATIN, LITERATURE, HISTORY, THEOLOGY, GRAMMAR TEACHER AT IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA, VA What’s your funniest teaching moment? My ﬁ rst year teaching at ILS was special in many regards, and in part because of the spectacular group of students I taught. During one wintry month when stuffy noses were aplenty, every present student breathed with some audible difﬁ culty. I could not speak a full sentence without a sneeze, snifﬂ e or cough interrupting the ﬂ ow of words! One clever student uttered, “Ah, the ‘Sound of Mucus.’” And with that, the entire class, including myself, burst into uproarious laughter. NOMINATED BY: MARY RADCLIFFE “Molly Leithart embodies a delightful and joyous love of learning that captures the minds and imaginations of her fourth-grade students. It is a wonderful experience to witness Molly’s classroom joyfully abuzz as students enthusiastically learn poetry — just imagine learning Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” complete with jumping up on chairs and then down to the ground. Or to witness as they explore history and architecture in teams and create their own replicas of famous buildings. She has a wonderful ability of engaging her students in each new project and subject. “Molly also takes on leadership roles within the ILS community, serving as the lower school lead teacher. This year, she helped introduce a new aspect to the lower school experience: a house system, complete with competitions and lunches with integrated grades. Also, as a talented musician, singer and dancer herself, Molly directs student musical theater numbers for the annual talent show. She is an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher, a wonderful leader and overall, a tremendous asset to the ILS community! We are blessed to have her.” 16 September 2018 Why do you think teachers are important? In an otherwise ever-changing and unpredictable world, certain aspects of familiarity and constancy help to anchor our lives and order our days in peace, turning us to what is higher and enduring. Knowledge lovingly imparted may be forgotten, but love directs the students to their end. Students can enter a classroom each morning knowing they are loved, expecting to learn, read, discuss, write, compute, think, perhaps sing, jump and even laugh. Teachers not only share wonderment of the art they teach, but they motivate and support each child. And this, in my opinion, is of the noblest of work of our time. washingtonFAMILY.com What is the single best piece of advice you can give parents of fourth- graders? Let them be children, but guide them into adulthood. Fourth-graders are easily excited during classes. They participate readily and love to laugh and play. Their minds and bodies are also rapidly growing, and it’s amazing to see how much they can memorize and recall. Witnessing this impressive cognitive activity, however, might wrongfully lead us adults to think that they need more stimulation or challenge. But they also need to be bored and think up a game, or splash in puddles left over from last night’s thunderstorm. In other words, they need to be children. And while they often emote about the injustices of childhood (bed times, yucky healthy food, etc.), they need this sort of love to lead them into the joys of adulthood. How can parents and teachers work together to empower and engage children? This question is deﬁ nitely an important one in education, and I appreciate how our school actively seeks parental involvement throughout the year. From sending home weekly newsletters that include what we are learning to calling parents in order to share a positive story from the day, we want to emphasize the uniﬁ ed efforts in educating children. In this way, children know that their parents are on the teacher’s team, and we’re all working together for the good of the child. I think there is comfort there for everyone involved. Finish this sentence: If I weren’t teaching, I’d be … jobless. Temple Beth Torah GET HOOKED ON SCOUTING! Now for boys AND girls, ages 5-20! Now Enrolling Religious School Torah Tots B'nai Mitzvah Sundays Only Chantilly, VA school@bethtorah.net Learn more: bethtorah.net C ongratulations , Mrs. Barnett! We thank you, and all of our outstanding teachers, for the dedication and love you show each and every day to our students and families. www.ILSAlexandria.org 703-549-0155 Classical, Christian Academy, Grades Jr. K -8 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 Gesher JDS wishes a huge Mazel Tov to faculty member MADDIE ROSENWALD on her recent honor as a Teacher of the Year! 36 TH ANNIVERSARY #GrowWithGesher Gesher JDS - proud to lead in academic and professional excellence! Serving Northern Virginia families since 1982. Jr. Kindergarten - 8th Grade. 703.978.978 • 4800 Mattie Moore Court, Fairfax, VA 22030 admissions@gesher-jds.org • www.gesher-jds.org • www.gankatan.org 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 Back to Schoo l in Style! 50%OFF Complete Second Pair of Glasses Not to be used with insurances. Must Present Coupon at time of visit. Expires 10/25/18. Digitally Equipped Exam Rooms We Accept Most Insurances (Vision & Medical) CareCredit – FSA & HSA accounts 5576B Norbeck Rd • Rockville • 301-238-7199 • eonvisioncare.com washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 17 ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/SVETIKD YOUR PROCRASTINATING TEEN: 9 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR TACKLING SCHOOLWORK BY ANN DOLIN M ost school nights play out as if they were cribbed right out of a family sitcom script. Mom: “Hi son, did you get y our math homework done after you got home from school like you said you would?” Son: *Looking up from his Xbox controller* “Oh, it’s not that much, so it’ll only take me like 10 minutes later.” 18 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Then, when “later” rolls around … Mom: “Are you done yet? It’s gett ing close to bedtime!” thing is exceedingly clear: Instilling a strong sense of time management for teens is a huge challenge as a parent. Son: “I will, I will … Just ﬁ ve more minutes, I promise!” When it comes to time management and planning ahead, there are two types of kids: We all know where that conversation goes from here. And although it may be infuriating and all too common, one Type 1: Kids with a loud internal clock. They have a fabulous sense of time, and can self-monitor how long things are taking and make adjustments. These are the kids where if their alarm clock goes off at 7 a.m., they’re able to shower, eat breakfast and get out the door to meet the bus at 8 a.m. without fail. Type 2: Kids with a soft internal clock. They struggle to be on time, maintain deadlines and plan ahead appropriately. These kids are much less aware of passing time, and are usually the kid you have to poke, prod and micromanage in the morning to get them out the door and on time. For kids with a soft internal clock, strong routines and strategies to help them manage time more effectively are needed. So here are 10 tips to help your child with time management and tackling schoolwork in the new school year: TIP #1: WEAR A WATCH Research shows that when kids wear an analog watch (not a digital watch) it helps them better understand elapsed time. TIP #2: MAKE SURE THERE ARE ANALOG CLOCKS IN THE HOUSE Additionally, when there are analog clocks in the area where they’re working, that’s helpful as well. So if they do their work in your home office, the dining room or the kitchen, make sure there’s an analog clock in that space that is easily visible to them. Instead, encourage your child to get started the night it’s assigned. This could be as simple as pulling it out, putting their name on it and only working on the first two problems. That way, the wheels have started turning, and maybe they’ve identified some questions they need to ask their teacher. And, they already have some momentum going on that task, so it’s smaller and more manageable on Tuesday. In fact, the easiest thing to do might be to encourage working on every subject, every day (even if it’s just five minutes) to keep this process going. TIP #4: USE THE RIGHT TOOLS A huge time management for teens principle is simply having the right tools available. And this benefits soft internal clock kids the most. These include: Using a planner or an assignment book to look ahead and plan out their work Using a to-do list to break down their assignments into smaller pieces so they can more accurately predict how long they will take Using alarms or digital calendar reminders (if they mostly work off of a computer) TIP #3: WORK ON EACH CLASS EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHAT Now, many area middle and high school students are on block scheduling these days. For some kids, this is great! For others, especially those who struggle with time management, it’s much more difficult for them to plan ahead and avoid doing their homework at the last minute for a class they have every other day. For example: Let’s say your child’s math teacher routinely assigns homework on Monday, which is then due Wednesday. If you have a soft internal clock kid, chances are they won’t start this homework until 10 p.m. on Tuesday night! Establishing a distraction-free study space, and organizing their environment TIP #5: REMOVE THE BARRIER TO ENTRY Many times students feel overwhelmed and underprepared. And in order to ease this anxiety, have them break larger tasks into smaller tasks and make the “barrier to entry” almost nonexistent. By setting the threshold for getting started incredibly low so that it is almost positive that he or she will be successful in completing the task, this will help get the ball rolling. It will make the student feel a sense of confidence that they can move forward. Two different ways to do this are to focus on either time or task. To focus on time, set a timer for five to 10 minutes. Have them commit: “I’m going to read for 10 minutes, then I can take a short break before restarting.” And then step though that process, bit by bit. Alternatively, you can choose to focus on task. For example, maybe it’s Wednesday and your child has a Spanish test on Friday. Like usual, he or she wants to put off studying until the night before. The problem with this method is it hasn’t really worked out in the past. It causes your child to feel overwhelmed, so they stay up late cramming, and then they are exhausted on test day. Solution? Encourage your child to start studying on Wednesday by tackling one easy task that he or she knows can be accomplished. For example, an easy task might be to start studying only 10 of the 30 vocabulary words, or just one section of the material that is the easiest part for your child. This will help give your child an immediate sense of accomplishment so that the next day of studying is less overwhelming and more manageable. It also just gets them to begin the studying process earlier than usual, which is the biggest battle. Another example is if your child has an English essay due the following day, but they struggle to get started right away because they have problems with putting their good ideas onto paper. And most likely, they see essay writing as an “all or nothing” process … so they delay. Instead of waiting until right before bed when he or she is then pressured washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 19 TIP #6: SET SMALL GOALS To go off of the previous tip, help your student prioritize their assignments and tasks and set goals! And make sure they celebrate each small win. Then, the better they become at setting small goals and accomplishing them, the easier and less scary those big goals will seem in the future. It will also help them get better at estimating what they can achieve and planning ahead accordingly. TIP #7: WRITE IT OUT For many students, just getting their plans down on paper can do a number of positive things. First, it helps them get organized by getting all of the information out of their head. When everything is written down in front of them, it’s easier to see how much they have to do, and whether they’ll have enough time to do it all. Second, as mentioned earlier, it helps “lower the barrier” to getting started. All they need to do is go to their planner where they wrote it down, and pick out the first thing on the list to get started on. And third, it facilitates the goal setting process. Having to write down tasks that have to be done requires them to start thinking about how 20 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com they will do it, how long it will take and when they’ll get it done. As your child realizes what is and isn’t able to be accomplished, their predictions will get better and better over time. TIP #8: ENCOURAGE “TIME TRAVEL” Researcher Fuschia Sirois from Bishop’s University identified a mindset approach called “time travel,” which can be beneficial for students. She studied 4,000 people and found that those who could project themselves into the future and think about how great it would feel to finish a task were more likely to ward off procrastination. They were also trained to imagine how awful they would feel if they chose to put off their work, to anchor them against a future negative emotion. This type of visualization proved to be an effective strategy, and it may just work for your procrastinating student as well. TIP #9: USE 80 PERCENT POSITIVE/20 PERCENT NEGATIVE FEEDBACK Finally, kids generally don’t like to do things they feel poorly about. And one of the most reliable predictors of how a child will feel about their performance in any domain, is the ratio of positive to negative feedback they receive. As it turns out, kids with weak executive functioning, ADHD and other academic struggles receive negative feedback about 80 percent of the time they are at school. This doesn’t bode well for feeling positive about their schoolwork. So try to flip the script and give positive reinforcement 80 percent of the time when they’re at home. Don’t avoid pointing out their mistakes, but do make sure to balance that by pointing out all of the good things they’re doing as well. Slowly but surely you’ll shift the balance of their attitude towards their work if you maintain this practice over time. Ann Dolin is a former Fairfax County teacher and current founder and president of Educational Connections Tutoring, which serves the D.C. area. She has over 25 years of experience in education, teaching and tutoring students from kindergarten to college. CLOCK: ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/THEPALMER to finish (a common method among procrastinators), encourage your child to simply write the first sentence right before dinner. It might seem too little of a task, but it has a big impact. Just getting the first sentence down is often the hardest part, but if it’s the only task for the moment, your child will see it as an easy accomplishment. Plus, it will get the process going, and more than likely, your child will continue working on and completing the essay much sooner than usual. COLONIAL MARKET & FAIR • 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 SEPTEMBER 15-16 9 a.m– 5 p.m New Lower School Building Now Open! 703.354.3446 Annandale, Virginia pinecrestschool.org 20 18 Pleas Imme e Proof diate Return Proof by Fax to 703-318-5509 ly! or Email to Production@theFAMILYmagazine.com Join us for 18th-century crafts, games, puppet shows & more family fun at our annual Colonial Market & Fair! 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/colonialmarket Check One: ❏ Okay As Is Approved by: Express yourself. _________________ ❏ Needs Changes (Mark changes on ad) Music Acting Date Sent: Art & More ________________ Classes Private Lessons Company: Kids, Teens & Adults International School of Music To: Register online at Inja Stanic MasonAcademy.org Fax/Email: Acting: AFYP.org info@ismw.org Phone: 240-418-9063 Section: Enrichment AE: House If proof is not returned by this deadline washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 21 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 2700 27th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: 18 months-12 202-387-2700 THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF WASHINGTON thechildrenshouseofwashington.com chowdirector@gmail.com 3133 Dumbarton St., N.W. Washington, D.C. Toddler: Nearly 2-3; Primary: 3-6 202-342-2551 WATERFRONT ACADEMY waterfrontacademy.org info@waterfrontacademy.org 60 I St. S.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: Toddler-Early Adolescent 202-484-0044 MARYLAND THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com admissions@bethesdamontessori.com 7611 Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, MD Ages: 3-6 301-986-1260 CRESTVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL THE JULIA BROWN SCHOOLS THE CURIOUS MINDS MONTESSORI SCHOOL crestviewmontessori.com info@crestviewmontessori.com 4728 Western Ave., Bethesda, MD Ages: 3-6 301-910-4728 juliabrownschools.com 9760 Owen Brown Rd., Columbia, MD 9450 Madison Ave., Laurel, MD 3400 Queen Mary Dr., Olney, MD 1300 Milestone Dr., Silver Spring, MD Ages: 18 months-Grade 3 301-447-5700; 301-622-7808 MONTGOMERY MONTESSORI INSTITUTE montessori-mmi.com pamela.montessori@hers.com 10500 Darnestown Rd., Rockville, MD Montessori Teacher Education (Adult) 301-279-2799 TOP HAT MONTESSORI tophatmontessori.com info@tophatmontessori.com 18243-A Flower Hill Way Gaithersburg, MD Ages: 2 months-K THE WOODS ACADEMY woodsacademy.org admissions@woodsacademy.org 6801 Greentree Rd., Bethesda, MD Ages: 3-6 301-365-3080 BUTLER SCHOOL butlerschool.org; amy@butlerschool.org 15951 Germantown Rd. Darnestown, MD Ages: 18 months-14 301-977-6600 CHILDREN'S HOUSE AT HOLLY HILL MONTESSORI hollyhillmontessori.com hollyhillmontessori@gmail.com 19137 Mateny Hill Rd. Germantown, MD Ages: 2-5 202-246-0547 VIRGINIA BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL brooksfieldschool.org brksfield@aol.com 1830 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA Ages: 2-6 703-356-KIDS CARDINAL MONTESSORI cardinalmontessori.com cardinalmontessori@gmail.com 1424 G St., Woodbridge, VA Ages: 3-12 703-491-3810 22 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com montessoriofarlington.com office@chms-arlington.com 2425-A North Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA Ages: 2-6 703-276-1360 curiousminds.org info@curiousminds.org 24963 Ashgarten Dr., Chantilly, VA Ages: 3 months-6 703-722-2400 GREEN HEDGES greenhedges.org kvazquez@greenhedges.org 415 Windover Ave., N.W., Vienna, VA Ages: 3-Grade 8 703-938-8323 HA'PENNY MONTESSORI SCHOOL hapennyschool.com director@hapennyschool.com 20854 Stubble Rd., Ashburn, VA Ages: 10 weeks-6 703-729-5755 HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com 2455 Gallows Rd., Dunn Loring, VA Ages: 3-5 703-573-7800 HUNTER MILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@huntermillmontessori.com 2709 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton, VA Ages: 2 years 9 months-5 703-938-7755 LITTLE OAKS MONTESSORI ACADEMY lomamontessori.com info@lomamontessori.com 13525 Dulles Technology Dr. Ste. 103, Herndon, VA Ages: 8 months-6 571-336-2559 MONARCH CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI kidslovemonarch.com kidslovemonarch@gmail.com 15120 Enterprise Ct., Ste. 100, Chantilly, VA Ages: 18 months-6 703-961-8281 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA montessorischoolofalexandria.com montschoolalex@vacotmail.com 6300 Florence Ln., Alexandria, VA Ages: 3-12 703-960-3498 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com 3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, VA Ages: 3-6 703-560-4379 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FAIRFAX montessori-fairfax.com msofx@aol.com 3411 Lees Corner Rd., Chantilly, VA Ages: 18 months-12 571-323-0222 RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com office@restonmontessori.com 1928 Isaac Newton Sq., Reston, VA Ages: 3 months-Grade 6 703-481-2922 THE RIDGEMONT MONTESSORI SCHOOL ridgemontmontessori.com office@ridgemontmontessori.com 6519 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA Ages: 18 months-6 703-356-1970 SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI sunsethillsmontessori.com office@sunsethillsmontessori.com 703-476-7477 11180 Ridge Heights Rd. Reston, VA Infants to Pre-Kindergarten EST. 1989 www.friendshipchildren.org For Enrollment Information Call 202-244-5115 F RIENDSHIP C HILDREN’S C ENTER Family Matt ers Fourth Thursday of the month Bethesda Montessori School Ages 3 - 6 ENROLLING NOW Extended Day 8am – 6pm 7611 Clarendon Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-986-1260 2 0 2 1 0 8 17 2 Family Matters is devoted to each stage of Jewish family life. Topics will include parenting advice, education, family health, Jewish identity, household fi nances and much more. Place your ad today! 301-230-2222, ext. 4 RUNNER-UP RUNNER-UP advertising@washingtonjewishweek.com www.bethesdamontessori.com washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 23 What’s in Your Lunchbox? By MICHELLE BLANCHARD ARDILLO Take a few minutes to sit down with your child and talk about school lunches. Even though you prepare 24 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com However, this might not be the easiest solution for parents with multiple school-aged children. Customizing three or four diﬀ erent lunches is not ideal. So in this case, ask for their lunch inputs in order to try to establish a common denominator among them. Paige Rienzo, a Kensington, MD author, decorator and mom of four shared her philosophy on this: “Making lunches is much easier when all four of my kids eat the same thing. They agree on almost nothing except the main — they all like pasta. I invested in good thermoses, and I often boil pasta before school. It’s no more time-consuming than it is to make four diﬀ erent sandwiches. If I am feeling particularly motivated, I will add cooked peas or diced meats.” Consider the Lunch Setting/Time Frame When new to a school, ﬁ nd out in advance the lunch sett ing and time frame. In order to extend academic time or recess time, some elementary schools have reduced the amount of time students have for lunch. If this is the case, lunches that require assembly or the opening and closing of multiple containers may prove to be diﬃ cult for younger students. Inquire whether students are permitt ed to access a microwave to warm leftovers, pasta dishes or soup. While convenient, this may also add to a problem with timing. usako123/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Get Your Child’s Input meals for them every day, ask your child what they’d like in their lunch bag. The answer may surprise you. Negotiations may be needed to reach a middle ground of something you can pack that will meet your nutrition goals, but their input will result in a more positive response to even the healthier food choices. This can be accomplished even with picky eaters if you spend the time. Marina Bakush/ iStock / Getty Images Plus P acking school lunches has changed quite a bit over the recent decades. An acceptable lunch from the ‘70s — a ham and cheese sandwich on supermarket white bread, a bag of chips, a soda and a candy bar — has morphed into a challenge for today’s parents who want to give their children a healthy school lunch that will leave them satisﬁ ed, energized and most importantly, happy. Throw in the goal of using less paper and plastic disposable products, and working moms and dads are left feeling overwhelmed. With just a litt le time spent brainstorming, shopping and prepping, today’s parents can quickly and eﬃ ciently create nutritious eco-friendly lunches that will be the envy of the lunch table! Think Outside of the “Bag” When shopping for suitable lunch bags and containers, think outside of the “bag.” Try out these two alternatives: Thermos. A wide-mouth thermos will enable you to pack pasta, casserole leftovers or soups. Caren Garayta, a Montgomery County Public School teacher and mom of six says of her oldest, “A thermos that could keep food warm was his best friend. He loved having dinner for lunch! With his Cuban-American roots, he loved having rice, of course. But anytime I made a soup or his favorite Asian noodles, it was so easy to heat up in the morning and pop in the thermos. I also didn’t have to pack as much because the food was so ﬁ lling.” Bento Box-Style Containers usako123/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Marina Bakush/ iStock / Getty Images Plus But a thermos isn’t just for hot foods. You can also pre-chill the thermos by ﬁ lling it with ice water while you blend up a smoothie to pack. Frederick teacher and mom of two Maria Shumaker knows that smoothies are the way to more sneak in greens. “One thing I’ve done to get them to eat more greens is by throwing spinach or kale into the blender when making smoothies. They don’t taste the greens at all.” Pack a few deli meat and cheese roll-ups along with the smoothie for added protein. Use the pre-chilled thermos to pack a cold pasta salad tossed with leftover diced chicken and fresh veggies. This type of container allows for packing smaller portions of a variety of items, sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Cut-up deli meats and cheese, veggies ready for dipping, fresh fruit and crackers or pita wedges all in their separate compartments will be more appetizing — and fun — to dive into. Some of these containers also come with a section that can be sealed for packing hummus, ranch dip or salad dressing. Annapolis teacher and mother of three Heather Sowells admits, “Use dips as a means to encourage healthy foods. Pack some light ranch if it will get them to eat carrots.” For creative packing containers, Grace Lovelace recommends Kelly Lester’s website and products, Easy Lunchboxes, easylunchboxes.com. Sign up for a free newslett er for lunch ideas or watch her videos. Grace also recommends Laura Fuentes’s website MOMables for more ideas. Purchase Healthy Snacks in Bulk For healthy snacks that everyone agrees on, purchase in bulk, if possible. Once home, sort and store them in small bins or baskets in the pantry or, if possible, a cabinet or drawer dedicated to school lunches. For a more economical method of buying snacks, purchase a large “party-size” bag of mini-pretz els or popcorn and re-package in single- serving sized baggies or reusable containers. Having grab and go containers with approved snacks makes it easy for even younger children to help pack their own lunches. an apple … so my kids looked forward to seeing what was in their lunch every day. Some were hits and some were fails, but they deﬁ nitely let me know that when they came home.” Maria continued, “I also always tried to have a ‘meal’ with protein, always a piece of fruit, and then a small treat. If they got a bag of chips, then they didn’t get a sweet dessert-type treat or vice versa.” Packing healthy and nutritious school lunches can be manageable even for the busiest of parents. To make unpacking an appetizing and appealing lunch at school really special, slip in a litt le note to brighten your child’s day! Michelle Blanchard Ardillo is a freelance writer and middle school language arts teacher who tries most days to pack herself a healthy lunch to take to school. Follow her @michardillo on Twitt er or Goodreads, or on her website at www.michelleardillo.com. Variety is Key The saying that variety is the spice of life is key here. Kensington mom of four Maria Welsh said, “I will tell you that my thoughts on lunch is variety. I never packed the same thing two days in a row for the kids. I remember Rob [her husband] saying how he hated his lunch because his mother always made a bologna sandwich: two pieces of bread, one slice of bologna, and then maybe washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 25 ASK THE FOOD EXPERTS School Lunch Q&A While moms and dads are on the front lines of packing school lunches, chefs and nutritionists can approach this daily task from a different point of view informed by their professional experiences. We asked three food experts to weigh in on the topic: Q. What is your philosophy for packing school lunches? Do you focus on health and nutrition, or something that your child will actually eat? Is it possible to achieve both? supermarkets or farmers markets to Dr. Kantor: “When you are packing preparing the food helps educate them the lunch, keep balance in mind. Limit and makes them more aware of what processed grains and empty calories they are eating and this generates like cookies, crackers, and juice. If they interest to try new or different foods.” like dessert, then pack a piece of dark Chef Lee: “Lunches should be fun and involved with the planning process they delicious. If it isn’t delicious, it doesn’t will feel like they “own” the lunch and matter how healthy it is, your child will be less likely to throw away things won’t eat it anyway.” that they do not want. Teachers and Chef Tang: “It has to be easy to whip cafeteria staff report that fruits and up but still able to provide nutrition vegetables end up in the trash in most that he needs with a good balance. It is school cafeterias.” parents need to spend a little more time exploring different foods with your kid and showing them that food can be fun.” Dr. Kantor: “The key to a perfect school lunch is balance and it also has to appeal to your child. Children truly eat Q. Should kids have a dessert- type addition to their lunch, such as a pudding pack or candy? What about chips? Soda? Chef Lee: “No chips, no soda, no candy but I always pack a dessert, maybe a chocolate. Removing items that are high in sugar like juice and cookies will increase their ability to focus in classes after their lunch period. It has been reported that over 12 million American children are medicated for Attention Deﬁ cient Disorder (ADD). Sugar and excessive carbohydrates magnify symptoms of ADD in children, healthy fats like nuts, and oils help reduce symptoms of ADD. Always pack water over juice. Packing a large water bottle is the best thing you could send with your child every day.” Q. What is your child’s FAVORITE thing to ﬁ nd in their school lunch? with their eyes and if it does not look chocolate covered pretzel or a bran good then they probably will not eat cookie with chocolate chips. Dessert Chef Lee: “Hot dog with ketchup on the it. Try to include protein, healthy fats, can be sweet but some of them also side.” and color with a fruit or veggie in each have ingredients other than just sugar. Whole wheat cookies are a good option.” Chef Tang: “His favorite thing to ﬁ nd is meal.” Q. How much does your child participate in the packing of school lunches? Choice? Variety? Actual packing for themselves? Chef Lee: “I try to get her involved as much as possible. If she feels like she ‘chose’ her lunch, she is more likely to eat it.” Chef Tang: “I think kids should have a dessert type addition to their lunch! I have a sweet tooth and most meals will need to end with dessert. We try to limit his sugar intake. It takes a conscious effort but after a while we realize that we ourselves are also cutting down on our sugar intake. I think chips are ﬁ ne if eaten not every Chef Tang: “I think involving the day and we don’t drink sodas so that’s kid from grocery shopping at not really a problem right now.” 26 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com a banana.” Chef Edward Lee, culinary director for Succotash in National Harbor, MD and Penn Quarter, D.C., and father of ﬁ ve- year-old Arden Rose. Chef Nicholas Tang, executive chef of DBGB in D.C. and father of three-year old Elijah and ﬁ ve-month old Micah. Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and CEO of the Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking (NAMED) program. ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock / Getty Images Plus possible to achieve both, it is just that Dr. Kantor: “If your child is actually GUIDES & RESOURCES THE ARTS ACTING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE afyp.org; mary@afyp.org 703-554-4931; Fairfax, VA Celebrating over 20 years of fun, challenging classes for ages 5 - adult taught by theater professionals. Our after-school programs, weekend & school holiday classes, summer acting camps, and more, teach skills that can be used on stage and oﬀ ! Notes for the latest information on our programs, child development, and more. THE CENTER FOR BALLET ARTS perfectpointe.com; staﬀ @perfectpointe.com 703-533-8830; 2499 N. Harrison St., Ste. 1-LL, Arlington, VA centerforballetarts.com; ctrbalarts@aol.com 703-273-5344; 3955 Pender Dr., Ste. 105, Fairfax, VA Now in our 26th year! Classes in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, Pilates and Body Barre Conditioning. Kinderballet beginning age 3. Adult classes oﬀ ered. Performing Company and Intensive Program for teens. DISNEY ON ICE disneyonice.com; ticketmaster.com (for tickets) EagleBank Arena, formerly Patriot Center at George Mason University 800-745-3000 Show Dates: Oct. 3-Oct. 7 ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO encorestage.org; info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154; 4000 Lorcom Ln., Arlington, VA Ages: 0-5; Hours: 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Activities: Drama Classes Join us for a morning of fun! Discover theatre at our Fall Open House for ages 0-5. See our classroom, meet our teaching artists and make new friends! HARMONIA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART harmoniaschool.org; harmonia@harmoniaschool.org 703-938-7301; 204 F Mill St., NE, Vienna, VA Harmonia School oﬀ ers outstanding performing arts programs. It includes instrumental and Voice lessons and early childhood classes. Our Theater department oﬀ ers one of the ﬁ nest Musical Theater and Acting programs that culminate in productions. The classes are oﬀ ered to all ages & all levels. Taught by highly educated and experienced teachers. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC ismw.org; info@ismw.org 301-365-5888; 10450 Auto Park Ave., Bethesda, MD Ages: 4+; Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Music lessons in all instruments and voice oﬀ ered to students of all ages and abilities. Optional performances and recitals available. LITTLE HANDS litt lehands.com; info@litt lehands.com 703-631-2046p; P.O. Box 3, Centreville, VA Litt le Hands has been making music with children and their families in the Washington DC area since 1993. We have served thousands of families with music and movement classes in private studio sett ings, preschools and day care centers. From 2000-2010 Litt le Hands was awarded “Maestro” status by Kindermusik International as one of the top studio programs in the country. Check out our blog called Music PERFECT POINTE DANCE STUDIO Oﬀ ering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, musical theater, dance and acrobatics for ages 18 months through adult! Qualiﬁ ed and caring staﬀ , family-friendly atmosphere, fun performance opportunities. PERFECT POINTE (FORMERLY HEARTBEATS) MUSIC & DANCE STUDIO hbeats.com; staﬀ @hbeats.com 703-440-9000; 8060 Rolling Rd., Springﬁ eld, VA Offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop, modern, acrobatics, contemporary & musical theater dance styles. Private music lessons include guitar, ukulele, violin/viola, drums, voice and more! Highly qualified staff, family-friendly atmosphere and fun performance opportunities. POTOMAC ARTS ACADEMY potomacacademy.org; potomac@gmu.edu 703-993-9889 4260 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA Ages: 3 - Adult Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oﬀ ering enrichment in the arts to community members ages 3-10! Classes, private lessons, showcases and summer programs. SCHOOL OF ROCK schoolofrock.com Vienna: vienna@schoolofrock.com 703-242-2184; 111 Center St., South, Vienna, VA Silver Spring: silverspring@schoolofrock.com 301-589-7625; 8634 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD Ashburn: ashburn@schoolofrock.com 703-858-0820; 20660 Ashburn Rd., Ashburn, VA School of Rock is Music School reimagined. Our music programs are designed to encourage learning in a supportive environment where students of all skill levels are comfortable and engaged. We take the music school concept to the next level for kids, teens and adults. There’s no place like School of Rock. STUDIO OF BALLET ARTS studioofb alletarts.com; studio@studioofb alletarts.com 301-260-2626; 17810 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD The Studio of Ballet Arts Ltd., established in 2003, is dedicated to creating the love of dance for all ages in a caring atmosphere. Our staﬀ encourages the development of self-conﬁ dence, poise, and a sense of purpose in each student. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 27 Serving students ages 18 months to grade 12 Camp MSNV 2018 Open Houses School Saturday, October 13 11:00 am Montessori (18 months-Grade 5) Sunday, October 21 1:00 pm College Prep (Grades 6-12) 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 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 28 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Weekly music and movement classes throughout the DMV for babies and their caring adult Join anytime! Exclusive music for use at home www.littlehands.com 703-631-2046 SAVE. PRECIOUS. TIME. 2nd Annual DCschoolHUB THE ALDEN’S 2018-2019 FAMILY SERIES HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Preschool & Private School Fair Sunday, October 21 1 - 3 PM at Browne Academy in Alexandria, VA “Hold on to Your Butts” Nov. 17, 6 p.m. 50 of the top preschools & private schools will be in attendance. Learn about the different programs & have some fun along the way! Okee Dokee Brothers Feb. 23, 1 & 4 p.m. To secure your tickets visit DCschoolHUB.com “The Wizard of Oz” Feb. 2, 1 p.m. ...AND MANY MORE! ALL TICKETS $20 OR LESS McLean, VA 571-296-8385 WWW.ALDENTHEATRE.ORG 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 September 2018 29 WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE ARE STILL LEARNING By ERIN STAUDER A utism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the fastest- growing developmental disorders in the United States with a growth rate of more than 1,100 percent, according to the Autism Society. But ASD is still greatly misunderstood by the public. What is ASD? Autism is a complex developmental disability and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism, which typically appears during the first three years of life, is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism. 30 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com According to the Autism Society, a few signs to look for are: • delay in or lack of spoken language • repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms • little or no eye contact • lack of interest in peer relationships • lack of spontaneous or make-believe play • persistent fixation on parts of objects MYTH NO. 1: Individuals with autism are intellectually disabled and lack communication skills. While autism is not curable, it is treatable. Early diagnosis and intervention, including behavioral treatments or medication, can significantly improve social and educational outcomes. For children with autism who are unable to verbally engage, there are alternative forms of communication available. A recent study supported by the group Autism Speaks concluded that the use of American Sign Language for children with autism can be an effective form of communication. ASD affects people in different ways, especially with communication. Some children may be nonverbal or nearly nonverbal; others may be extremely verbal with rich vocabularies and high reading skills. iStock / Getty Images Plus/nambitomo 5 Myths of iStock / Getty Images Plus/nambitomo Approximately 10 percent of children with ASD also can show extremely high abilities in specific areas, such as math, music and memorization. Over the last 20 years, college enrollment rates among students with disabilities have tripled, and almost half (about 44 percent) of children identified with ASD have average-to-above-average intellectual ability. MYTH NO. 2: Autism affects both boys and girls at the same rate. Based on genetics and diagnosis, autism does not affect boys and girls the same way or have the same percentage rates. Autism is about 4.5 times more common among boys (one in 42) than among girls (one in 189), according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, diagnosis referrals for boys versus girls are closer to 10- to-1, likely meaning many girls are not being tested at a young enough age to benefit from early intervention. ASD also displays differently in girls than boys and affects the rate of diagnosis, especially for girls on the higher-functioning end of the spectrum. Genetics may also explain why boys are more likely to be on the spectrum. One model studied by the CDC suggests that “girls have a higher tolerance for harmful genetic mutations and therefore require a larger number of them than boys to reach the diagnostic threshold of a developmental disorder.” At the same time, because the female mutation threshold is higher, girls tend to fall on the more severe end of the spectrum when they are diagnosed. add up to thousands of dollars. Intensive behavioral interventions can cost $40,000 to $60,000 per child per year. There are also a number of direct and indirect costs with medical care, special education, lost parental productivity and more that cause a significant economic burden on families. Roughly half of the U.S. currently requires coverage for treatments of autism spectrum disorders; but medical costs for children with ASD are estimated to be six times higher than for children without ASD. MYTH NO. 4: Autism is caused by “bad parenting.” In the ‘50s, a theory called the “refrigerator mother hypothesis” arose suggesting that autism was caused by mothers who lacked emotional warmth. Medical and behavioral care providers told parents the reason their child displayed poor social skills was because the child failed to receive warm and loving interactions with the parents, particularly the child’s mother. It is now understood that this is not true — autism is not caused by a failure to properly bond to a parent. Yet, some parents still encounter the stigma. There is no proven correlation between vaccinations and autism, but many myths about autism still lie in the hypothesis that vaccinations cause autism. The increased rate of autism diagnosis has fueled fears that environmental exposures might be to blame. Medical professionals are working to understand the neurological disorder, but to date, there is no one known cause of autism. MYTH NO. 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder is uncommon. The increased rate of autism likely is driven by a broadened diagnostic criteria and increased awareness. We are now seeing more and more children being diagnosed on the autism spectrum, with 23 percent of households having at least one child receiving Individualized education program services in his or her local school. The Centers for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring reported that approximately one in 68 U.S. children has been identified with ASD, and it can be more common among individuals with affected relatives. Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2 to 18 percent chance of having a second child who is also affected. Erin Stauder, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist and executive director of The Hearing and Speech Agency, a nonprofit organization that provides hearing, speech and language services and advocates for people of all ages with communication disorders/disabilities. MYTH NO. 3: Most autism care costs are covered by insurance. Autism therapy is excluded from coverage by many insurance plans. If families do have a plan that covers some of the physical cost of autism, there are still significant behavioral costs and other economic burdens that washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 31 Fall into reading 12 NEWLY RELEASED CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY: BRITNI PETERSEN Infant “BABY CODE!” by Sandra Horning This board book shows the youngest of readers that coding is all around them, and how they can take part in it. Making use of experiences common in a baby’s world, like holding a teddy bear or playing with an electric train, this charming book is the perfect introduction to coding in many diﬀ erent forms. “DR. SEUSS’S 100 FIRST WORDS” by Dr. Seuss This super-sturdy board book introduces babies and toddlers to 100 essential ﬁ rst words and the artwork of Dr. Seuss! Illustrated with images from his most beloved books, it also features the Litt le Cats — the tiny cats from “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” — doing something fun on every spread! 32 April 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com “WALK AND SEE: 123” by Nosy Crow This counting board book will teach litt le ones all about nature. With beautiful illustrations and visual storytelling, this story follows two children on an autumnal day in the countryside, bringing a narrative feel to this simple book. Ages: 2-5 “THE 12 DAYS OF PRESCHOOL” by Jenna Lett ice On the ﬁ rst day of preschool, all the kids learn how to share one fuzzy teddy bear. On the second day, the kids share two toy trains. The third day? Three tricycles! These ﬁ rst 12 fun-ﬁ lled days of preschool are illuminated in this cumulative rhyming storybook based on “The 12 Days of Christmas.” “ALL ARE WELCOME” by Alexandra Penfold Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs and yarmulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other’s traditions. This book lets young children know that no matt er what, they have a place, they have a space and they are welcome in their school. “THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH” by Diane Muldrow The poky litt le puppy and his siblings discover a bright-red tractor pulling a wagon and end up on a hayride in the cool fall air! Bumping along past an apple orchard and a cornﬁ eld, they arrive at a pumpkin patch. There they get to play in a corn maze, drink apple cider and choose a pumpkin to take home. Bottom leaves: Angel_1978/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Child reading:gradyreese/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images From autumnal farm fun to baby coding and Minecraft expeditions, here are some of the latest and greatest children’s books to check out this fall. Ages: 6-9 “QUIET PLEASE, OWEN MCPHEE” by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton Owen McPhee doesn’t just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chatt ering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much- needed opportunity to hear what others have to say. Bottom leaves: Angel_1978/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Child reading:gradyreese/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images “DO NOT OPEN THIS MATH BOOK” by Danica McKellar Addition and subtraction are as easy as 1 + 2 = 3 in this funny and educational book that will have children embracing math instead of fearing it. Entertaining lessons on addition and subtraction involve muﬃ ns, turkey sandwiches, kitt ens, googly eyes and more! “ME, MYSELFIE, & I: A CAUTIONARY TALE” by Jamie Lee Curtis For Mom’s birthday, her kids are excited to teach her how to take selﬁ es with her new smartphone. At ﬁ rst, it’s lots of fun for the whole family. Soon, driven to take the perfect selﬁ e, Mom begins to document everything, from ski team practice to dance class, and even photo- bombing someone’s wedding — until her daughter reminds her that maybe this smartphone wasn’t the best gift after all. Ages: 10-13 “POPULAR-MMOS PRESENTS A HOLE NEW WORLD” by PopularMMOs Minecraft-inspired YouTube star PopularMMOs brings everyone’s favorite characters to life in a thrilling adventure to save their friend, batt le the undead and escape the hole new world they’ve crashed into with one unfortunate misstep. “TOTALLY MIDDLE SCHOOL: TALES OF FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FITTING IN” by Karen Cushman, Lois Lowry, Margarita Engle & Contributors With eleven short stories told in text messages, emails, formal lett ers, stories in verse and even a mini graphic novel, this book tackles a range of important subjects, from peer pressure, family issues, and cultural barriers to the unexpected saving grace of music, art, friendship and reading. “RAD GIRLS CAN: STORIES OF BOLD, BRAVE AND BRILLIANT YOUNG WOMEN ” by Kate Schatz This inspiring book features stories about a diverse group of bold, brave and brilliant young women who are living rad lives, whether excelling in male-dominated sports like boxing, rock climbing or skateboarding; speaking out against injustice and discrimination; expressing themselves through dance, writing and music; or advocating for girls around the world. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 33 Healthy Smile... Healthy Child JOY AND MATH CAN BE USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE. pediatric dental care John Han, DDS Pediatric Dentist Fernanda Fontes, DDS Pediatric Dentist Jenny Ha, DDS Pediatric Dentist Harold Fleming, DDS Orthodontist Where curious minds explore, engage, and connect Beauvoir offers an extraordinary education designed for early learners. Accepting applications for pre-kindergarten to third grade for the 2019-2020 school year. We provide a safe and caring environment for pre-K through 8 th grade students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. At CHDS, learning is meaningful, relevant, and engaging. Weekly field experiences connect classroom learning to the world. Come visit us. Open Houses will be held on October 12, November 7, and December 7. admissions@chds.org www.chds.org | 202-386-9920 Join us this Summer for Acting on Camera Improv Musical Theatre & More Proud to be named Best Day Camp 2017 Best Children’s Theatre or Dram a Insttr uction Ins uctio 2018 www.AFYP.org w.AFYP.org 34 September 2018 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 www.mypdcdentists.com Pediatric Dental Care Fairfax office: 9901 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030. Springfield office: 6120 Brandon Ave. Suite 114, Springfield, VA 22150 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. 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 Gesher JDS wishes a huge Mazel Tov to faculty member MADDIE ROSENWALD on her recent honor OPEN as a Teacher of the Year! 20 18 www.MasonAcademy.org • • • • • • • • • • • • Your Needs. Our Strategy. Use code WASHFAM18 for a discount! WINNER Dr. Han voted one of the Top Dentists in Northern VA Magazine & VA Living Magazine. 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. washingtonFAMILY.com 36 TH ANNIVERSARY #GrowWithGesher Gesher JDS - proud to lead in academic and professional excellence! Serving Northern Virginia families since 1982. Jr. Kindergarten - 8th Grade. 703.978.978 • 4800 Mattie Moore Court, Fairfax, VA 22030 admissions@gesher-jds.org • www.gesher-jds.org • www.gankatan.org Join The Champions! 2018-2019 Classes Enrolling Now Visit our website fore more info! www.FencingSports.net FALL FESTIVAL 2018 September 22nd - November 4th 26469 Ticonderoga Road Chantilly, VA 20152 Hours & Pricing Open weekdays and weekends. Visit www.amazingfarmfun.com for more details! Some of Our Activities Goat City Petting Farm - Huge Jumping Pillows - Fire Pits for Marshmallow Roasting - Pedal Carts and Track - Pumpkins - Hayrides washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 35 “WILL MY CHILD EVER LEARN TO LOVE READING?” FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA BY LINDAMOOD-BELL SPONSORED CONTENT: F or nearly three decades, Lindamood-Bell has worked with thousands of individuals with various learning struggles and disabilities. Sitt ing with a child or an adult who struggles to read a word provides unique insight into the learning process. Lindamood-Bell’s success with students is due to their unique approach, including their research-validated, sensory-cognitive instruction. Below they’ve answered some questions parents of students with dyslexia often have . Q: “MY CHILD HATES READING. Maybe she reads from something that’s at a comfortable level, and then you read a chapter of “Lemony Snicket.” You can also take turns reading: switch every paragraph, you read two pages, she reads one, etc. Q: “WHAT IF HE MAKES A MISTAKE? DO I INTERRUPT?” A: You can let some small errors go! Changing “the” to “a” is something that happens even to good readers. As long as it doesn’t change the meaning of the text, there’s no need to stop him. For errors that aﬀ ect meaning (i.e. reading “protect” as “project”), you can ask a question to help him monitor his own accuracy. “Did that make sense?” HOW DO I GET HIM TO DO IT?” A: For struggling readers, books don’t yet bring joy. Rewarding him for the reading he’s done can help motivate him while also providing needed ﬂ uency practice. Track the number of pages or minutes read with stickers, points or something he enjoys (i.e. printed “Minecraft creepers”). Decide as a family what the reward will be — it could be a toy or game, extra screen time, one-on-one time with a favorite adult or gett ing to choose what’s for dinner on Friday night. Work with your child to ﬁ nd something that works for your family. Q: “CAN I JUST READ TO HER?” A: There are lots of beneﬁ ts to reading to your child, but doing so won’t help develop her ﬂ uency skills. Set up a system where you both can read. 36 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Q: “ALL OF THE BOOKS AT HER LEVEL ARE BORING. SHOULD I LET HER READ “HARRY POTTER”? WHAT IF SHE GETS FRUSTRATED?” A: Children with dyslexia often are very bright with strong comprehension, which can make ﬁ nding a “right ﬁ t” book challenging. Having her read a book that is far above her reading ability will most likely lead to frustration and dampen her desire to read. More challenging, higher-level books can be the kind you read to her. Having her practice her ﬂ uency with more manageable books may allow her the conﬁ dence and skill to ﬁ nd out what’s happening at Hogwarts on her own soon enough. Once you ﬁ nd a book she likes, check in with your local librarian to ﬁ nd some suggestions of other books she might enjoy. Q: “HE KEEPS SAYING HE’S STUPID. DO I JUST IGNORE IT?” A: When a child continually works harder than his peers to read — and doesn’t feel successful — it’s easy to see why his self-esteem might plummet. Listening to and acknowledging his feelings is as important as reminding him of all his strengths and talents. Q: “IS IT EVER GOING TO GET EASIER?” A: Some dyslexic students may need more than extra time on tests or being able to hear the questions orally. A cause of diﬃ culty in establishing sight words and contextual ﬂ uency is diﬃ culty in visualizing lett ers in words. This is called weak “symbol imagery.” A signiﬁ cant number of students — even those who have well-developed phonemic awareness — have diﬃ culty with rapidly perceiving sounds in words, and are slow to self-correct their reading errors. It can be helpful to get a picture of your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses through a learning ability evaluation in order to know the best way to support him. Lindamood-Bell® Learning Processes is committ ed to helping all individuals learn to their potential. Since 1986, Lindamood- Bell has been a leader in the education ﬁ eld in meeting the language, literacy and math needs of all students. For more information, visit them online at LindamoodBell.com or call (800) 300-1818. Imagine a Better School Year! A few weeks of instruction can change learning for life. Celebrate HAPPINESS// CHALLENGE// Unique Minds Encourage CURIOSITY// Contact us now to learn more. (202) 237-7695 LindamoodBell.com READING • SPELLING • COMPREHENSION • M AT H Now Enrolling! Campuses in Fairfax VA, Silver Spring MD and Baltimore MD ▪ www.theauburnschool.org ▪ A school for academic and social success! washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 37 GUIDES & RESOURCES EDUCATION GUIDE Private/Independent School ACORN HILL WALDORF KINDERGARTEN & NURSERY SCHOOL acornhill.org; info@acornhill.org 301-565-2282 9504 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD Play-oriented Waldorf school with singing, crafts, gardening and storytelling. Parent-Infant/Toddler, Parent-Child, Half & Full Day and summer programs. Certiﬁ ed nursery/kindergarten. 45+ years experience. Rolling admissions. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. AIDAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL aidanschool.org; admission@aidanschool.org 202-387-2700 2700 27th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: 18 months-Grade 6 Aidan Montessori School is a co-ed independent school located in Woodley Park. Aidan has served children’s natural development, innate curiosity and pursuit of independence since its founding as one of the nation’s ﬁ rst Montessori schools in 1952. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. THE AUBURN SCHOOL - FAIRFAX CAMPUS theauburnschool.org; admissions.fairfax@theauburnschool.org 703-793-9353 3800 Concorde Pkwy, Ste. 500, Chantilly, VA Grades: K-12 Hours: 8:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. We oﬀ er a dynamic educational program for intellectually curious students with challenges in the areas of communication, socialization, pragmatic language and organization. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. THE AUBURN SCHOOL - SILVER SPRING CAMPUS theauburnschool.org; mivey@theauburnschool.org 301-588-8048 9545 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD Grades: K-8 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The mission of The Auburn School is to grow the social and academic potential of bright students with social and communication challenges. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. BARRIE SCHOOL barrie.org; admission@barrie.org 301-576-2800 13500 Layhill Rd., Silver Spring, MD Ages: 18 months–Grade 12 Barrie, a community of learners from age 18 months through grade 38 September 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com 12, empowers individual students to expand their intellectual abilities, develop their creative talents, and discover their passions to make a positive impact in a rapidly changing world. BEAUVOIR, THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL beauvoirschool.org 202-537-6485 3500 Woodley Rd., N.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: 4-9 Grades: Pre-K- Grade 3 Activities: Various after school enrichment classes throughout the year Field Trips: Various throughout the year Hours: 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m.; After Care to 6 p.m. An independent elementary school located on the picturesque grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest Washington, D.C. A pre-kindergarten through third grade elementary school serving a co-ed population of close to 400 students, Beauvoir focuses exclusively on the early childhood and early elementary years. All curricular goals, projects and community decisions, as well as the scale of the classrooms and Beauvoir Outdoors, are designed speciﬁ cally for children under the age of 10. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com 301-986-1260 7611 Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, MD Ages: 3-6 Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. An AMI school, beginning our 36th year of operation, we serve children 3-6 years of age. Oﬀ ering a high academic experience to provide the best start for your child. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. We will begin scheduling tours on Oct 1, 2018 for those families interested in enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. You may submit an application as early as Sept 1, 2018. BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON biswashington.org; admissions@biswashington.org 202-829-3700 2001 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Washington, DC Ages: 2-18 (IB Diploma) Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. At British International School of Washington, our individualized learning plans and experienced teachers help guide each student to a successful future through challenging international curricula and inspirational learning experiences, both inside the classroom and around the world. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL FAIRFAX CHRISTIAN SCHOOL brooksﬁ eldschool.org; brksﬁ eld@aol.com 703-356-KIDS 1830 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA Ages: 3-9 Grades: Pre-K-5th fairfaxchristianschool.com; admissions@studyfcs.com 703-759-5100 22870 Paciﬁ c Blvd., Dulles, VA Grade: K-12; Ages: 4-19 Activities: Competitive Sports, Art & Music, Enrichment Programs BURGUNDY FARM COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL FEYNMAN SCHOOL burgundyfarm.org; info@burgundyfarm.org 703-329-6968 3700 Burgundy Rd., Alexandria, VA Ages: 4-year-olds-Grade 8 Activities: We oﬀ er a variety of after-school enrichments including STEAM and outdoor classes. Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. feynmanschool.org; admissions@feynmanschool.org 301-770-4370 11810 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD Grades: Preschool-Middle School Ages: 3+ Hours: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Activities: Destination Imagination, Robotics, Chess, Piano Lessons, Chi- nese Classes A unique Pre-K-5th eco-friendly, Montessori School idyllically situated on 5 secluded acres in McLean, VA. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. Burgundy Farm Country Day School is a progressive school on a 25-acre campus just oﬀ the beltway in Alexandria. Burgundy believes children learn best in an inclusive, creative and nurturing environment that engages the whole child. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. CAPITOL HILL DAY SCHOOL chds.org; admissions@chds.org 202-386-9920 210 South Carolina Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. Grades: PK4-Grade 8 Preschool Age: 4 by Oct. 1st Hours of Operation: 8:10 a.m.-3:10 p.m.; After School Program available until 6 p.m. Activities: French, Spanish, Visual and Performing Arts, Library, Physical Education, and After School Program with optional enrichment activities (soc- cer, yoga, mad science, computer programming, music and ensemble lessons, and more). Weekly summer camps for a variety of ages and interests. Field Trips: An unparalleled Field Education Program, with approximately 300 ﬁ eld experiences school-wide each year. Capitol Hill Day School deeply engages a diverse community of students in connecting the classroom to the larger world, supporting each child in developing the conﬁ dence, compassion, and intellectual capacity to live a life of purpose and value. In 2019, the Capitol Hill Day School middle school program will expand into nearby Farren's Stable, a space being designed with middle school learners in mind. Open House: Oct. 12, Nov. 7, Dec. 7 Fairfax Christian School is an award-winning, independent, university-preparatory school serving Kindergarten through 12th grade since 1961. Call today for your private tour and educational consultation. The area’s leader in educating academically gifted children, Feynman School features extraordinary programs in science, math, language arts, theater, and music designed to maximize your child’s potential. FRIENDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL friendscommunityschool.org; connie@friendscommunityschool.org 301-441-2100 5901 Westchester Park Dr., College Park, MD Ages: K-8 Oﬀ ering the joy of an extraordinary Quaker education, FCS nurtures life-long learners, courageous risk-takers, and joyous peacemakers. Students thrive in its diverse, dynamic, inquiry-based sett ing, and enjoy success in high school and beyond. Open House: Call to schedule a tour FRIENDSHIP CHILDREN'S CENTER 202-244-5115 friendshipchildren.org 5411 Western Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Infant to prekindergarten. Creative curriculum. Music, dance, yoga and Spanish classes. Intergenerational activities. Community outreach. Educational outings. Full-time, part-time. Morning preschool. Call for enrollment information. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. THE CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOLS OF VIRGINIA GESHER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL schools.org; admissions@csov.org 703-533-9711 3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church, VA gesher-jds.org; admissions@gesher-jds.org 703-978-9789 An independent day school on 40 acres serving infants though grade 8, just minutes from the nation’s capital. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. EDLIN SCHOOL edlinschool.com 703-438-3990 10742 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, VA Grades: K4, K5-8 Open House: Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 10 Gesher JDS is a Jr. Kindergarten through 8th grade pluralistic Jewish independent school. We proudly serve students from Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax City, Manassas, Falls Church City, Vienna, Burke, and Loudoun County. Our signature programs create an educational experience that is truly unique: GesherGreen - an interdisciplinary scientiﬁ c and values-based approach to studying and caring for the environment, GesherTravel - extending the classroom well beyond our walls, Gesher students experience life and learning in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, TEVA at Pearlstone Retreat Center, Israel and more, GesherTech - Gesher proudly oﬀ ers cutt ing edge cloud-based integrated learning with one-to-one devices, a S.T.E.A.M. Lab, coding, and 3D printing. In partnership with committ ed parents, we provide an outstanding education anchored in Jewish values that enables our children to grow into adults engaged in healthy relationships. creative work, ethical leadership, and communal involvement. We are building the vibrant future of our community CONTINUED ON PG. 40 washingtonFAMILY.com September 2017 39 education guide and our world one child at a time- join us! Open House: Tour Tuesdays! (9-10:30 a.m.) – Oct. 16, Nov. 13, Dec. 18 IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL immanuelalexandria.org; school@immanuealexandria.org 703-549-0155 1801 Russell Rd., Alexandria, VA 11579 Cedar Chase Rd., Herndon, VA Ages: Toddler-Kindergarten Open House: Call to schedule a tour. LINDAMOOD-BELL LEARNING PROCESSES lindamoodbell.com 202-237-7695 Teaching the next generation of classical thinkers. Serving families for 4900 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. #220, Washington, DC more than 70 consecutive years, Immanuel Lutheran School inspires Grades: K-12 in students a genuine love for learning through a strong liberal arts curriculum, Lutheran catechesis, and a rich academic environment that encourages subject mastery. Our teachers emphasize academic excellence, the development of curiosity, consistency, perseverance, and discussion. Together, teachers and students in Jr. Kindergarten through 8th grade embark on a shared journey to experience the beauty in the complexity of the natural world, great literature, history, and the Creator who made us all. Open House: 2018: Oct. 11 (9 a.m.), Nov. 8 (9 a.m.) 2019: Jan. 10 (9 a.m.) Lindamood-Bell believes that all children and adults can learn to their potential. At our learning centers, we provide highly individualized instruction in reading, comprehension, and math utilizing the programs developed by our founders. The research-validated programs we utilize are unique because they focus on the sensory- cognitive processing necessary for reading and comprehension. We are the only organization globally to address this with our instruction. Our instruction has been proven successful for individuals with learning challenges, including dyslexia, hyperlexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. Lindamood-Bell and all of its Learning Centers are accredited by AdvancED. KENWOOD SCHOOL THE MANOR MONTESSORI SCHOOL kenwoodschool.com; admissions@kenwoodschool.com 703-256-4711 4955 Sunset Ln., Annandale, VA Ages: 2-13, K-Grade 6 Preschool Ages: 2-5 Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Activities: Soccer, Martial Arts, Gymnastics manormontessori.com 301-299-7400 10500 Oaklyn Dr., Potomac, MD 5450 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, MD 11200 Old Georgetown Rd., Rockville, MD Ages: 2-9 Kenwood School is dedicated to educational excellence, individual achievement, and social development of each student. With small classes, dedicated teachers and an exciting curriculum, Kenwood School offers a favorable climate for learning. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. LEPORT SCHOOL ALDIE leportschools.com/nova; aldie@leportschools.com 703-810-7160 24328 Marrwood Dr., Aldie, VA Ages: Toddler-Kindergarten Open House: Call to schedule a tour. LEPORT SCHOOL BROADLANDS leportschools.com/nova; broadlands@leportschools.com 703-810-7808 42945 Waxpool Rd., Ashburn, VA Ages: Toddler-Grade 3 Open House: Call to schedule a tour. LEPORT SCHOOL CHANTILLY leportschools.com/nova; chantilly@leportschools.com 571-222-4728 4550 Walney Rd., Chantilly, VA Ages: Toddler-Grade 3 Open House: Call to schedule a tour. LEPORT MONTESSORI SCHOOL RESTON leportschools.com/nova; reston@leportschools.com 703-810-7811 40 September 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com We’re Maryland’s first Montessori School; teaching generations of children since 1962. School day, extended day and summer day camp. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com; info@cedarlanemontessori.com 703-560-4379 3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, VA Ages: 3-5 Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Montessori School of Cedar Lane has been providing over 40 years of Montessori tradition to Northern Virginia. We offer a complete educational and social environment and utilize the discoveries and methods of Dr. Montessori to help the child develop more fully the potential within him. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN mcleanmontessori.org 703-790-1049 1711 Kirby Rd., Mclean, VA Ages: 2 ½-12 Preschool and Elementary classes. Spanish, French, Science, drama, music, P.E., computer, art, summer school, transportation available. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA msnv.org; info@msnv.org 703-256-9577 Hillbrook Campus: 6820 Pacific Ln., Annandale, VA Valleybrook Campus: 3433 Rose Ln., Falls Church, VA Ages: 2-12 Activities: Yoga, Gymnastics, Drama, Drumming, Arts, Maker Club, Dance and more. Hours: 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. MSNV is a leading independent school in the Washington Metropolitan area providing authentic Montessori education for children ages 2 through 12. Our mission is to inspire and guide SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI children to love learning, to love one another and to love the world ACADEMY around them. NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED nysmith.com; ebalberds@nysmith.com 703-713-3332 13625 EDS Dr., Herndon, VA Ages: 3-Grade 8 The award winning Nysmith School for the Gifted is committed to making school fun. We nurture your student’s love of learning and help your child learn to their potential. Our 1:9 ratio allows us to differentiate the academic program up to 4 grade levels above grade. PINECREST SCHOOL pinecrestschool.org; admissions@pinecrestschool.org 703-354-3446 7209 Quiet Cove, Annandale, VA Ages: 3-12 Grades: PK-Grade 6 Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Stimulating preschool program for 3- & 4-year olds includes Spanish, music & P.E enrichment classes. Special presentations and field trips, too. Before- & after-care until 6 p.m. Nurturing curiosity, confidence and a love of learning since 1957. Open House: 2018: Nov. 12, 12:30-2 p.m., Dec. 9, 1-4 p.m. 2018: Jan. 13, 1-4 p.m.; Feb. 10, 1-4 p.m.*; March 10, 1-4 p.m. *The open house on Sunday, February 10, is for prospective school families to learn more about our school as well as prospective camp families to learn more about our summer camp. RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY spring-bilingual.org; info@spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262 3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD Ages: 2-6 Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Since 1967, Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy (SBMA) 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 SBMA 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. Open House: 2018: Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 2019: Jan. 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI SCHOOL sunsethillsmontessori.com 703-476-7477 11180 Ridge Heights Rd., Reston, VA Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Open House: Sept. 23, 2-4 p.m. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL westminsterschool.com; admissions@westminsterschool.com 703-256-3620 3819 Gallows Rd., Annandale, VA Grades: Preschool-Grade 8 Ages: 3-14 Hours: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Activities: Music, Art, Drama, Daily PE, Chess, Chorus, Orchestra, Clubs Randolph-Macon Academy: a co-ed college-prep boarding and day Field Trips: Multiple field trips per year rma.edu; admission@rma.edu 540-636-5484 200 Academy Dr., Front Royal, VA Grades: 6-12, Postgraduate Activities: Flight Program, Air Force JROTC, Drama, Band, Chorus, Drill Team, 18 Varsity Sports school on a 135-acre campus. Students experience "The Power of Rise" as they engage in an academic program that encourages innovative thinking, creative leadership, and collaborative problem-solving, in an environment that emphasizes responsibility and accountability. Open House: Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Dec. 2 RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com; office@restonmontessori.com 703-481-2922 1928 Isaac Newton Sq., W, Reston, VA Ages: 3 months-12 years Full day/half day programs. French, Music, PE, Summer Camp, Academic Therapy services. THE SIENA SCHOOL thesienaschool.org; info@thesiennaschool.org 301-244-3600 1300 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, MD Westminster School provides a unique Preschool-Middle School education based on a classical curriculum; accelerated academics enhanced by the arts; and an emphasis on personal responsibility and good character. Students enjoy small classes taught by teachers who specialize in their field. Open House: 2018: Preschool- Grade 8 – Oct. 17th, 6-7:30 p.m., Nov. 12th, 9-10:30 a.m.; Preschool only – Oct. 12th, 9:30-11 a.m. 2019: Preschool- Grade 8 – Jan. 15th, 9-10:30 a.m.; Preschool only – Apr. 12th, 9:30-11 a.m. Enrichment/Extracurricular Activities ACTING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE afyp.org; mary@afyp.org 703-554-4931 The Siena School provides highly individualized, research-based, Fairfax, VA multisensory instruction and curriculum-related field trips. Our Celebrating over 20 years of fun, challenging classes for ages 5 - students develop critical thinking skills and acquire the tools and strategies needed to become successful and independent learners, CONTINUED ON PG. 42 prepared for college. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2017 41 education guide adult taught by theater professionals. Our after-school programs, weekend & school holiday classes, summer acting camps, and more, teach skills that can be used on stage and off! BEANTREE ASHBURN CAMPUS beantreelearning.com 571-223-3110 43629 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn, VA BeanTree Learning in Ashburn provides unparalleled care and nurturing for infants through PreK. Led by a team of experienced and caring educators, BeanTree provides children with a safe and stimulating environment for academic success and provides parents with peace of mind. Year-round enrollment available for fully- accredited academic and specialty programs. Open House: Call to schedule a tour. BEANTREE WESTFIELDS CAMPUS beantreelearning.com 703-961-8222 5003 Westfields Blvd., Chantilly, VA 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. Year-round enrollment for full and part-time academic and specialty programs. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL FENCING SPORTS ACADEMY fencingsports.net; fencingtoday@gmail.com 888-300-5095 10310-A Main St., Fairfax, VA HARMONIA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART harmoniaschool.org; harmonia@harmoniaschool.org 703-938-7301 204 F Mill St., NE, Vienna, VA Activities: Music lessons, Musical Theatre and Acting Classes and shows Harmonia School offers outstanding performing arts programs. It includes private and group instrumental and voice lessons and early childhood classes. Our Theater department offers one of the finest Musical Theater and Acting programs that culminate in productions. The students can also be a part of the Main stage productions in fall, spring and summer. The classes are offered for all ages and levels. Taught by highly educated and experienced teachers. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC ismw.org; info@ismw.org 301-365-5888 10450 Auto Park Ave., Bethesda, MD Ages: 4+ Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Activities: Music Lessons Music lessons in all instruments and voice offered to students of all ages and abilities. Optional performances and recitals available. ncacbsa.org; info@ncacbsa.org 301-530-9360 9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD Ages: 6-20 Activities: Leadership, Character, Life Skills, Outdoor Adventure KIDS FIRST SWIM SCHOOLS their way. The KIDS FIRST® Swim Schools are America’s largest provider of year-round warm water swimming instruction, operating 35 locations across 7 states, teaching over 150,000 students annually. kidsfirstswimschools.com; contact@kidsfirstswimschools.com Check our website or Facebook for a list of all 35 locations! Ages: 2 months-Adult Teaching young people to "Be Prepared!" for any challenges life sends Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. CASTLE LASER TAG castlelasertag.com 240-224-7766 9100 Gaither Rd., Gaithersburg, MD Whether you're playing a solo game or here for a corporate event, you can choose to defend the castle from all other players or play as a team to develop strategies and face the challenges together. Whatever the adventure, the experience will surely bring fun and excitement. LITTLE HANDS littlehands.com; info@littlehands.com 703-631-2046 P.O. Box 3, Centreville, VA centerforballetarts.com; ctrbalarts@aol.com 703-273-5344 3955 Pender Dr., Ste. 105, Fairfax, VA Little Hands has been making music with children and their families in the Washington D.C. area since 1993. We have served thousands of families with music and movement classes in private studio settings, preschools and day care centers. From 2000-2010 Little Hands was awarded “Maestro” status by Kindermusik International as one of the top studio programs in the country. Check out our blog called Music Notes for the latest information on our programs, child development, and more. ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO 703-533-8830 2499 N. Harrison St., Ste. 1-LL, Arlington, VA THE CENTER FOR BALLET ARTS Now in our 26th year! Classes in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, Pilates and Body Barre Conditioning. Kinderballet beginning age 3. PERFECT POINTE DANCE STUDIO Adult classes offered. Performing Company and Intensive perfectpointe.com; staff@perfectpointe.com Program for teens. encorestage.org; info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154 4000 Lorcom Ln., Arlington, VA Ages: 0-5 Hours: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Activities: Drama Classes Join us for a morning of fun! Discover theatre at our Fall Open House for ages 0-5. See our classroom, meet our teaching artists and make new friends! 42 September 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com Offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, musical theater, dance and acrobatics for ages 18 months through adult! Qualified and caring staff, family-friendly atmosphere, fun performance opportunities. PERFECT POINTE (FORMERLY HEARTBEATS) MUSIC & DANCE STUDIO hbeats.com; staff@hbeats.com 703-440-9000 8060 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA Offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop, modern, acrobatics, contemporary & musical theater dance styles. Private music lessons include guitar, ukulele, violin/viola, drums, voice and more! Highly qualified staff, family-friendly atmosphere and fun performance opportunities. POTOMAC ARTS ACADEMY potomacacademy.org; potomac@gmu.edu 703-993-9889 4260 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA Ages: 3 - Adult Hours of Operation: Monday & Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednes- day, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities: Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Computer Game Design SkateQuest is a twin sheet indoor ice skating center in Reston, with full service pro shop, café, and party rooms. Open year round, SkateQuest has been home to recreational skaters, figure skaters, and hockey players since 1993. SILVER STAR GYMNASTICS gosilverstars.com 301-589-0938 2701 Pittman Dr., Silver Spring, MD Silver Stars Gymnastics provides 18,000 square feet of space where kids learn to jump, swing, roll, flip, and every kid is a star! Silver Stars offers seasonal classes, summer/winter/spring break camps, school's out day camps, open gym and hands-free birthday parties. STUDIO OF BALLET ARTS studioofballetarts.com; studio@studioofballetarts.com 301-260-2626 The Studio of Ballet Arts Ltd., established in 2003, is dedicated to creating the love of dance for all ages in a caring atmosphere. Our Offering enrichment in the arts to community members ages 3-10! staff encourages the development of self-confidence, poise, and a Classes, private lessons, showcases and summer programs. sense of purpose in each student. ROCKIN’ JUMP rockinjump.com/gaithersburg/; Gaithersburg-MD@RockinJump.com 301-327-2821 18620 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD We’re actually pretty easy to understand. We’re people like you who want to exercise, but also like to have fun. Lots of fun. So instead of stairclimbers and weight machines, we decided to create a place where you can soar in open jump arenas, dive into pools of soft foam cubes, play trampoline dodgeball, do flips and somersaults. ROBOT WORKS, LLC robotworksacademy.net 8992 Fern Park Dr., Burke, VA 703-364-5418 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon-Sat Robot Works offers after-school and in-school programs and workshops in basic and advanced robotics and robotics programming for K through 12th graders, as well as tailored robotics workshops for home-schoolers. Our programs are fun, hands-on STEM learning experiences where students get to design, build and program robots and test them against other students’ robots in our exciting competitions. We also conduct hands-on Saturday Robotics Workshops where students not only get to build and program robots all day but can also participate in unique one-hour classes. The classes cover a wide variety of robotics topics. SCHOOL OF ROCK schoolofrock.com Vienna: vienna@schoolofrock.com 703-242-2184; 111 Center Street South, Vienna, VA Silver Spring: silverspring@schoolofrock.com 301-589-7625; 8634 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD Ashburn: ashburn@schoolofrock.com 703-858-0820; 20660 Ashburn Rd., Ashburn, VA Field Trips AMAZING FARM FUN AT TICONDEROGA FARMS ticonderoga.com 26469 Ticonderoga Rd., Chantilly, VA Amazing Farm Fun at Ticonderoga Farms is a place where kids and adults can be a kid! Experience “more than just your typical farm.” You get entertainment provided for all ages, kids and adults with hands-on agricultural experience and outdoor classrooms. We offer an assortment of activities including hill slides, pillow bounce, Noah’s Ark, goat tower with petting animals, a giant bamboo maze, Virginia’s longest swinging bridge, hayrides and many other activities. GLEN ECHO PARK AQUARIUM gepaquarium.org; info@gepaquarium.org 301-955-6256 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD Celebrate with the fishes! The Glen Echo Park Aquarium, a Chesapeake Bay Discovery Center, offers a unique experience. Follow the flow of water from local streams, to rivers, the Bay and the ocean. Tour the exhibit hall, touch live sea creatures, craft and celebrate in a party room. MOUNT VERNON ESTATES mountvernon.org 703-780-2000 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Open 365 days a year. Explore 50 acres of gardens and historic grounds, a working 18th-century farm, and hands-on history center. School of Rock is Music School reimagined. Our music programs are designed to encourage learning in a supportive environment where ROER'S ZOOFARI students of all skill levels are comfortable and engaged. We take the music school concept to the next level for kids, teens and adults. roerszoofari.com; groups@roerszoofari.com There’s no place like School of Rock. 703-757-6222 SKATEQUEST skatequest.com; info@skatequest.com 703-709-1010; 1800 Michael Faraday Ct., Reston, Virginia Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, VA Roer’s Zoofari is a family zoo that covers an area of 30 acres. Come on an open air safari bus tour, experience animals up close and personal and more. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2017 43 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET ORGANIZED THIS SCHOOL YEAR F ollow these easy back-to-school tips and weekly routines to make staying organized this school year feel like a breeze! 1. your kids to stash their backpacks and lunch boxes. Adding simple wall hooks near the door they enter, at a height easily accessible to them, makes it easy for them to hang their belongings up as soon as they get home from school. CREATE A DEDICATED HOMEWORK SPACE OR A MOBILE HOMEWORK CART. If you have the space in your house for an extra desk (think about a window nook or unused corner of a playroom), create an inviting but clutter-free area for your kids to do their homework. Since space can sometimes be an issue, consider purchasing an affordable tiered mobile homework cart, which can be found at places like Target or Michaels. It’s perfect for keeping all of your child’s homework supplies in one place, and it can easily be rolled out to a kitchen table during homework time. 2. FIND A DEDICATED SPACE TO KEEP BACKPACKS AND LUNCH BOXES. If you don’t have a mudroom, you can still easily create a space for 44 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/WEEKEND IMAGES INC. (A ND STAY) great because they’re waterproof, dishwasher and laundry safe and they don’t fade. Use them for clothes, lunchboxes, water bottles and more! 5. LAYOUT CLOTHES FOR THE WEEK. 3. POST A WEEKLY DINNER CALENDAR. During the school week, your family’s schedule can get a little hectic. So make dinnertime much easier by creating a weekly dinner menu. Make sure to write it down on a calendar for the entire family to see. This will save you time, help with your meal planning and your family will know what to expect each night! 4. LABEL EVERYTHING. This is not an exaggeration — label everything. It’s essential so that children can easily identify their own items at school, while also preventing others from going home with their stuff. Mabel Label products are particularly Picking out clothes for the week will save you and your kids tons of time in the morning. Using a multi-compartment hanging shelf organizer in your closet allows you to dedicate a section for each day. You can fi nd affordable and attractive hanging shelf organizers at stores like IKEA, The Container Store and Target. Dara Friedson lives in Potomac, MD with her family and is the owner and chief organizing oﬃ cer of Orderly Method Professional Organizing (orderlymethod.com). ISTO G CK / ET T Y GES IM A V NTSO /IVA PLUS 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 301.770.4370 Preschool-8th Grade www.feynmanschool.org washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 45 CAPITAL GYMNASTICS NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER STRONG BODY STRONG MIND STRONG SELF www.capitalgymnasticsntc.com 10400 Premier Ct, Burke, VA 22015 Discover Burgundy! Open houses begin in October. Come explore our one-of-a-kind learning environment for students age 4 through grade 8. Register at 703.329.6968 or burgundyfarm.org/visit! Limited space available in some of this fall’s classes! (703) 239-0044 Education Issues September, October, November, December, January Annual Education Fair October 6 at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax Showcase your school to local, afﬂuent, educated parents of school-aged children. Advertise in Washington FAMILY’s Education issues and exhibit at the October 6th Education Fair. Burgundy Farm Country Day School 3700 Burgundy Road, Alexandria, VA • 703.329.6968 burgundyfarm.org • facebook.com/burgundyfarm Call today for special Education packages. 301-230-2222, ext. 4 or advertising@washingtonfamiliy.com *Data from March 2017 Publication Audit Report by Circulation Veriﬁ cation Council Classes • Birthday Parties • Open Gym • Competitive Team • Camps Rockin OP ep E te N mber H 25 O - 4 U -8p S m E S It’s Not Just Gymnastics, It’s Gymtastic! Jump, Tour & Spin FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY COME JUMP FOR OR FREE -PLUS- RAFFLE Must be present to win raffl e, drawing is at 7pm 20 18 REGISTER NOW! NO SCHOOL! DAY CAMP • CLASSES FOR ALL AGES ONLINE AT WWW.GOSILVERSTARS.COM Two Great Locations! 2701 Pittman Drive Silver Spring, MD 301-589-0938 14201 Woodcliff Court Bowie, MD 301-352-5777 9100 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 240-224-7766 GAITHERSBURG.ROCKINJUMP.COM 18620 Woodfi eld Road Gaithersburg, MD 20879 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 washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 47 THE LAST WORD Blog It Out How blogging improved my child’s writing BY KATHRYN STREETER M y then-9-year-old son was a great student — in presentations, he was fluent and eloquent when debating an issue. But his ease vanished when he had to write a short response to the material. As I racked my brain, searching for a method to help grow his capacity to write, my eyes wandered over my shoulder into my husband’s home office where he sat, typing furiously. There, an idea came to mind: blogging! As editor of an online publication, my husband blogged, so it was a familiar concept around our home. So on a whim, when I suggested to my son that he should try blogging, too, his eyes lit up. As I suspected, blogging, even longhand on paper, conveyed fun, while writing a short essay did not. Perhaps your child will feel the same way. To get started, here are some guidelines to give to your little blogger: 1. Choose a topic, something you absolutely love. The NFL, politics, cars and sneakers were my son’s topics of choice. Since I gave him control over the subject, he owned his work in a new way. He felt energized and motivated. It was still an assignment, but it felt less like “school” for him. 2. Mentally lay out your argument. What is it? Narrow your angle. Is it clear, rational? Psst, it’s not enough for your child to write about their love affair with fast cars. They’ll need to dive into why Lamborghinis are superior to Ferraris, for example. You want them to be invested in their opinion. They need to feel skin in the game. 3. Defend your argument. In the “body” of this blog post (flanked by a mini-introduction and conclusion), your child should state their case, using three main points to defend their view. 4. Focus on building a cohesive argument. Don’t worry about getting spelling, grammar and punctuation perfect. I told my son, “I’ll only pay attention to your argument and 48 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com how effectively you state your case. I Illustration by: Talia Greenberg don’t care about spelling, grammar or punctuation in these blog posts.” With this reassurance, my son’s shoulders relaxed. I could sense him exhaling the tension. Friction between us over writing assignments abruptly came to a halt. I could breathe more easily, too. This exercise, after all, is about ideas, not mechanics. How Writing Comes to Life Over Real Issues My son’s weekly assignment quickly became a hit because it released him to write freely without fear of messing up. As I did, you may also benefit from some surprising revelations, giving you a deeper window into your child. In my case, I recognized how my son’s quick and unwavering resolve on a host of subjects revealed raw leadership material. Unlike me, my son was endowed with decisive intuition. He didn’t waffle as he played judge over disparate controversies. He didn’t see both sides; with certitude, he declared a winner. Reflections on How Writing Energized My Son When I look through this old file of my son’s blog posts handwritten in his laborious cursive, I’m struck by how these exercises helped teach him the art of developing an argument, whether for a paper or a speech. Equally significant, he wrestled through issues he may not have confronted at all were it not for these blogging assignments. If you’ve successfully sold this writing hack to your child as a fun activity, you’ll also appreciate its liberating versatility. As a parent, you can assign blog posts judiciously, on evenings when homework is light, over the weekend or even on family vacations since it only requires a pencil and paper. Blogging proved an effective writing hack back when I was groping for answers for my child. Turns out, it exceeded my expectations as I hope it will yours. Kathryn Streeter is a D.C.-based mom and blogger. Let’s Build Robots! 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. 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! LEGO EV3, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and more... V is it o f a c e b o o u r pa g e k a list of fo r lo c atio n o u r s Unique Homeshool Classes in robotics, electronics, simple machine, and more... www.robotworksacademy.net 8992 Fern Park Drive, Burke, VA 22015 We Offer: • Group or Private instruction • Mommy & Me Classes • Developmental Swim Team • Homeschoolers Programs • Birthday Parties Come visit our PUMPKIN PATCH! Fall is a great time at the farm! Fall Pumpkin Patch 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 “See The Look Of Surprise And Wonder In Your Child’s Eyes!” Mister Barry's Magic Show Register now for 2018/2019 School Year Classes, don’t miss out! “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 G et Your Tutu O n and Register Now! Dance for All Ages (2 & Up)  Parent & Me  Ballet  Pointe   Modern  Lyrical  Tap  Acro   Hip Hop  Breakdancing   SBA Competition Team  2018 WINNER 301.260.2626 Alison Bawek - Director www.studioofballetarts.com washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 49 BIRTHDAY / parties + ICE CREAM TRUCK Keep your eye on your mailbox for the next issue! BOOK NOW FOR YOUR Opening Night Tickets $15! Summer Programs School Fairs Corporate Venues Birthdays 571-283-2408 ❤  Register now for 2018/2019 School Year Classes, don’t miss out! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Excludes premium seats. EAGLEBANK ARENA formerly HeartBeats Music & Dance OCT 3 – 7 DisneyOnIce.com 50 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Call to advertise 410-902-2320 SATURDAY 1 FREE FREE 2018 Library Congress National Book Festival 9 a.m. At this 18th annual festival, amazing authors, illustrators and poets will make presentations on stages dedicated to kids, ﬁ ction, history, biography, poetry, graphic novels and more. Many fascinating thematic programs, panel discussions and family-friendly activities will be oﬀ ered as well! Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. SUNDAY 2 FREE FREE Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts Noon. Visit the museum on Community Day for free admission! Take this opportunity to explore their collection and current exhibition: “Heavy Metal — Women to Watch 2018,” which showcases contemporary artists working in metal. And check out their “Fierce Women” tour, Nastco/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images September Family Calendar which celebrates women artists who blazed trails as artists, activists and innovators. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. brings out the kid in everyone! Stop by the carousel at RIO Washingtonian for some musical fun with performer Eric Energy. RIO Washingtonian, 209 Boardwalk Pl., Gaithersburg, MD. MONDAY 3 FRIDAY 7 FREE FREE 64th Annual Greenbelt Labor Day Parade & Festival Stephen Gregory Smith’s “Inspired By” 10 a.m. This parade will entertain you with a variety of bands, ﬁ re trucks, community organizations and a color guard, demonstrating the city’s community spirit and accentuating its diverse cultural background. After the parade, stay for the Greenbelt Labor Day festival and enjoy an array of activities, including amusement rides, carnival games, live entertainment, art exhibits, contests and more! Roosevelt Center, 101 C enterway, Greenbelt, MD. 8 p.m. | $18-$110. Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith have writt en over a dozen shows together, and in this evening of cabaret, Stephen will shine a light on the things that inspired each of these shows, tracing threads throughout their shared history together. Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple, Falls Church, VA. SATURDAY 8 WEDNESDAY 5 FREE Robotics Family Day Family FREE FREE FREE Carousel Kids Noon. Discover how the Marine Corps Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) robots function and try your hand at operating one. Speak with Marine 10:30 a.m. Presented by Georgetown Hill Early School, Carousel Kids is a family entertainment event that washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 51 Corps robotics experts and enjoy other crafts and hands-on activities as well. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jeﬀ erson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA. SUNDAY 9 3rd Annual Barn Blast 2 p.m. | $15-$30. Family Fun for Families in Need join INMED Partnerships for Children for its annual Barn Blast to support the Family & Youth Opportunity Center in Sterling, VA, which serves disadvantaged children and low-income families. Featuring live music by local favorite Juliana MacDowell and her band, a heaping plate of BBQ and sides by ResQ BBQ, libations, dancing, live and silent auctions, games and other activities. Murray Hill Estate, Leesburg, VA, 42904 Edwards Ferry Rd., Leesburg, VA. TUESDAY 11 FREE FREE Patriot Day Ceremony 6 p.m. Join the American Legion Post 364 for their 9/11 ceremony to remember those lost from the area on that day. All ages are welcome. American Legion Post 364, 3640 Friendly Post Ln., Woodbridge, VA. WEDNESDAY 12 September 29-30 | 10 a.m. | FREE 2018 Fall for Fairfax KidsFest Enjoy exciting, interactive and education programs, entertainment and activities at Fall for Fairfax KidsFest. Activities include scarecrow and pumpkin painting, public safety and recycling-themed exhibits, pony rides, a petting zoo, model trains and more. Plus, there will be more than 75 additional exhibits and tons of festival food! The event is specially designed for families with elementary and Pre-K aged children. Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax, VA. THURSDAY 13 SUNDAY 16 FREE Reading to Dogs FREE The Race for Recovery 5K Run/ Walk 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 relaxed, friendly environment. Bring your own book or read one of ours. For readers in grades K-5. Chinn Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge, VA. Crybaby Matinee Noon | $12.50. Crybaby Matinee is a movie for YOU in a baby friendly environment. Enter a judge-free zone where babies can be babies and you can enjoy the latest ﬁ lm in the company of other parents who “get it.” We provide a comfortable theater environment for you and your litt le one so you can enjoy a movie without worrying about unexpected tantrums or feedings in the dark. Children under age 5 get in free! Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, 550 Penn St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 52 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com FRIDAY 14 FREE Child and Me Yoga FREE 10:30 a.m. Breathing exercises, poses, music and story time will be used to guide you through a fun time together. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel. First come, ﬁ rst served until capacity is reached. Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave., Manassas, VA. 8 a.m. | $40. The Race for Recovery 5K is an annual run/walk event that is based on providing immediate action to those threatened from addiction and overdose. This event is to promote awareness, break down stigmas associated with addiction, honor those that have been lost and support those who currently are in the ﬁ ght. Other event activities include live music, a DJ, giveaways, food, prizes and gift bags. The mayor, county council members and local sponsorships will also be in att endance. Rio Washingtonian Center, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD. TUESDAY 18 FREE Build a Lego EV3 Robot FREE 4:30 p.m. Using Lego iPad apps, att endees will get to work in pairs to build a Lego EV3 robot and program it to follow basic commands. Register online beginning one week before the program starts. Open to children in grades 3-5. Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas, VA. WEDNESDAY 19 devastating personal loss, music enables Jura to endure and pursue her dreams. This performance combines enthralling story telling with breath-taking live musical numbers from the works of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoﬀ and more. The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., N.W., Washington, D.C. FREE FREE Pirate Bingo SATURDAY 22 4:30 p.m. Ahoy, matey! Did you know that September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? Join in on the fun with pirate bingo and lingo to celebrate. Register in person, via the phone, or online beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Ave., Manassas, VA. Family Day at Bobby McKey’s THURSDAY 20 FREE FREE Yappy Hour 6 p.m. Wind down from the week and enjoy the company of your dog while listening to live music and enjoying food and drinks from Bethesda restaurants at Yappy Hour. The event will include a pop-up dog park with a small dog and a large dog enclosure for well-socialized dogs. Downtown Bethesda restaurants Ruth’s Chris Steak House and World of Beer will be on-site selling favorites from their menus along with selected beer and wine. Elm Street Urban Park, 4600 Elm St., Bethesda, MD. Noon | $20. Looking for a place that is fun for the entire family? A place where kids are actually encouraged to wiggle in their seats and get up and move? Introduce your child to an appreciation for live music and the arts at Bobby McKey’s! Come out for an afternoon of musical fun with singing, clapping and dancing along to your all-request musical selections. Bobby McKey’s, 172 Fleet St., National Harbor, MD. SUNDAY 23 FREE 2018 D.C. State Fair FREE 11 a.m. The D.C. State Fair is a free showcase of the District’s agricultural and creative talents and a day-long celebration of all things homegrown. The fair holds competitions like ﬁ nding the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey and most creative hula hoopers in the city. Expect traditional fair foods and games, but also many other activities speciﬁ c to D.C.! Waterfront Station in Southwest D.C. FRIDAY 21 The Pianist of Willesden Lane 8 p.m. | $25-$75. Set in Vienna in 1938 and London during the Blitz krieg, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true and inspiring story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish pianist whose dream of making her concert debut at the storied Musikverein concert hall is dashed by the onset of World War II. Despite TUESDAY 25 FREE FREE Banned Books Week: Banned Book Bingo 7 p.m. Celebrate your freedom to read! Join in for a few rounds of Banned Books Bingo. You might win a prize, but you will deﬁ nitely discover some new books you’ll want to read! Welcome to children in grades K- 5. Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Ave., Manassas, VA. THURSDAY 27 FREE FREE Breathing, Meditation, Connection for New Parents 10:30 a.m. Being a ﬁ rst-time parent can be a joyful, but daunting and isolating time. Come out for a short 15-minute program on breathing and meditation followed by a time to meet other new parents. First come, ﬁ rst served until capacity is reached. Montclair Community Library, 5049 Waterway Dr., Montclair, VA. FRIDAY 28 BBQ, Boots & BINGO Event to Support Neighbors in Need 11 a.m. | $10-$50. The family-friendly event, hosted by Arlington Thrive, will include picnic fare, moon bounces, face painting, crafts, bingo, music and more. The ticket price includes admission, food, beverages, activities and a chance to win prizes. All funds raised will go directly to support Arlington neighbors in need. Knights of Columbus, 5115 Litt le Falls Ct., Arlington, VA. SUNDAY 30 Striking Out Childhood Cancer D.C. 1 p.m. | $90. The inaugural Striking Out Childhood Cancer D.C. event will be a great time for all ages while helping kids ﬁ ght cancer. Beneﬁ ting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the afternoon will feature a lively bowling party at Pinstripes complete with a plethora of their fantastic food and drinks. Participants can also enter to win spectacular raﬄ e prizes. Children 12 and under are free! Pinstripes, 1064 Wisconsin Ave., N.W, Washington, D.C. washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 53 Classifi ed Advertisements ANNOUNCEMENTS BIG TICKET SPECIAL! Are you selling a property/ home, classic/ antique cars, farm/ construction equipment, etc. We give you a FREE week when you place your ad in the net- work for Two Weeks. Call our oﬃ ce at 800-450-6631 or contact a representative at this publication for more details. This is not intended for commercial use. Lung Cancer? And Age 60+? You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Signif- icant Cash Award. Call 866-428-1639 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket. Do you owe more that $5000 in Tax Debt? Call Wells & Associates INC. We solve Tax Problems! Personal or Business! IRS, State and Local. 30 years in Business! Call NOW for a free consultations at an oﬃ ce near you. 1-877-242-6911. AUTOS WANTED TRUCKS & CARS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2018! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Oﬀ er! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-368-1016 HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/mo! FAST download speeds. WiFi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1-800-610-4790. DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installa- tion, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-837-9146 Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the ﬁ rst 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855-520-7938 Spectrum Triple Play! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-855-652-9304. WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201. CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2000-2016! Any Condition. Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806. DENTAL Insurance BUSINESS TO BUSINESS Have something to sell? GET 4 FREE WEEKS OF ADVERTISING when you purchase 4 weeks in up to 3 Million homes. Learn more at macnetonline.com or give us a call at 800-450-6631. MISCELLANEOUS AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING - Get FAA Technician certiﬁ cation. Approved for military beneﬁ ts. Financial Aid if qualiﬁ ed. Job placement assis- tance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204. Sleep Apnea Patients - If you have Medicare coverage, call Verus Healthcare to qualify for CPAP supplies for litt le or no cost in minutes. Home Delivery, Healthy Sleep Guide and More - FREE! Our customer care agents await your call. 1-844-545-9175 IRS TAX DEBTS? $10k+? Tired of the calls? We can Help! $500 free consultation! We can STOP the garnishments! FREE Consultation Call Today 1-855-823-4189 Physicians Mutual Insurance Company A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – Keep your own dentist! You can go to any dentist Coverage for over 350 procedures including $1 a day* you want Behind on your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modiﬁ cation? Bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner Protection Services now! New laws are in eﬀ ect that may help. Call Now 1-877-212-1490. A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-844- 722-7993. cleanings, exams, fi llings, crowns…even dentures NO annual or lifetime cap o n the cash benefi ts you can receive FREE Information Kit 1-877-308-2834 www.dental50plus.com/cadnet *Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096E-0917 MB17-NM008Ec AIRLINE CAREERS Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1-800-508-2824. Cross Country Moving, Long distance Moving Company, out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distance move 1-800- 511-2181. you could get a checkup tomorrow Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-481-7894 Reverse Mortgage: Homeowners age 62+ turn your home equity into tax-free cash! Speak with an expert today and receive a free booklet. Call 1-855-549-5687 Start Saving BIG On Medications! Up To 90% Savings from 90DAYMEDS! Over 3500 Medications Available! Prescriptions Req’d. Pharmacy Checker Approved. CALL Today for Your FREE Quote. 844-776-7620 Medical Guardian - 24/7 Medical Alert Monitoring. FREE Equipment, Acti- vation & Shipping. NO Long-Term Contract. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee! Two FREE Months w/Annual Subscription (Use Code JULY4). CALL for FREE Brochure 1-855-666-3269 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE DishNetwork-Satellite Television Services. Now Over 190 channels for ONLY $49.99/mo! HBO-FREE for one year, FREE Installation, FREE Streaming, FREE HD. Add Internet for $14.95 a month. 1-800-219-1271. HEAR AGAIN! Try our hearing aid for just $75 down and $50 per month! Call 800-426-4212 and mention 88272 for a risk free trial! FREE SHIPPING! 54 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com Every week, we’re at your service. Every week, we’re at your service. Every we’re improvements, at your service. cuts to home From hair week, ✂ ✂ ✂ Unable to work due to injury or illness? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Att orneys! FREE Evaluation. Local Att orneys Nationwide 1-855-498-6323 [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Oﬃ ce: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.) cuts to home From pet hair services, improvements, from to travel and adventure, from pet services, to travel and adventure, and between... cuts to in home From most hair things improvements, and most things in between... from pet services, to travel and adventure, and most things in between... For advertising information, contact Marla Greenblatt 310.230.6688 contact For advertising information, mchinn@washingtonjewishweek.com Marla Greenblatt 310.230.6688 For mchinn@washingtonjewishweek.com advertising information, contact Marla Greenblatt 310.230.6688 mchinn@washingtonjewishweek.com 8 1 y 0 a 2 d C. . , r D , 0 u n Sat ctober 2 aza • Washingto 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 washingtonFAMILY.com September 2018 55 @ChildrensHealth @ChildrensNational 56 September 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com (703) 757-6222 1228 Hunter Mill Rd. Vienna, VA 22182