St johns mag aug 2016

AUGUST 2016

ST.JOHNS MAGAZINE

www.stjohnsmag.com / August 2016

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www.stjohnsmag.com / August 2016

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August 2016 St. Johns Magazine

PUBLISHER Debbie Gaylord debbie@stjohnsmag.com

Our Amazing Schools Dear Reader, Our Schools are the crowning jewel of St. Johns County.

When my family moved here one of the main factors in helping us decide, besides the proximity to the beach and cultural offerings of St. Augustine and Jacksonville, was the school system. With four school-age children, it was important to find schools where they could reach their fullest potential academically. We also have a child with special needs and wanted a district with the best teachers in ESE. From a parent’s perspective, the schools here have been amazing and have never disappointed.

St. Johns Public schools serve over 35,000 students in k-12 and have received an A grade for eleven consecutive years, one of five districts in the state to do so. SAT scores are well above the national average and we have a 90.5% graduation rate. The county has consistently ranked first in the state in Reading, Math & Science. There are career academies in everything from communications to business, to engineering to aerospace technologies. I only wish I had such opportunities when I was young. Our school leaders are the best in their field and our teachers are amazing.

Our schools are great thanks to the hard work and collaboration of teachers, parents and the students themselves. Each summer when it is time to return to school, my children tell me they cannot wait, which I would say is a good sign and a reflection of the district and its success.

Please enjoy this issue of St. Johns Magazine, our Back to School edition, with great advice from parents and teachers on making the year a success, a letter from school board member Kelly Barrera, the school calendar, a piece on our featured business Action News Jax and how they keep you informed about the morning commute, as well as lots of other interesting articles written by your neighbors.

May your school year be a great one!

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Debbie Gaylord

Publisher, St. Johns Magazine

EDITOR Darren Rosenbaum CONTACT 904-687-8538 debbie@stjohnsmag.com All rights reserved Š2012-2016 St. Johns Magazine LLC. Printed by The Hartley Press, Jacksonville Published monthly and distributed

by US Postal Service.

In print and on the web and distributed free of charge to consumers.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Yarbrough Kelly Barrera Crystal Spencer Nancy Cohen Minorcan Mama Lexi Rosenbaum

WWW.STJOHNSMAG.COM

ATTENTION STUDENT WRITERS: If you are interested in writing a story for our upcoming publications or to cover interesting happenings at your school. Please contact Debbie Gaylord debbie@ stjohnsmag.com

Summer Camp

Sky Action News Jax chopper and traffic reporter Derrick Odom

The Morning Commute Sky Action News Jax flies high above St. Johns County to cover your morning commute

F

or residents in St. Johns County, traffic congestion is a major concern as areas like Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Julington Creek and Bartram Park grow above the national norm.

With road construction, or even a fender bender during peak morning time, your 20 minute drive to work or school can quickly turn into a 40 minute traffic headache.

To help address this concern, CBS47 and FOX30 have launched the areas only news chopper, SKY Action News Jax. Every morning, starting at 6:30, SKY Action News Jax takes off, hitting the skies to best inform you of where the traffic problems are. “The Jacksonville area is very spread out,”

says Bob Longo, News Director for CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax. “Having the areas only news chopper allows us to be everywhere in a matter of minutes, and in turn, inform our TV viewers of where the traffic problems are before they head out the door.”

Action News Jax launched their new chopper in May. “It wasn’t a coincidence that we began flying at the beginning of summer,” says Craig Davenport, CBS47 andFOX30 Creative Services Director. “We wanted time to paint the chopper and get some valuable flying time in before the start of school season, so we’d be ready to go when traffic really starts

to pick up.”

In addition to their chopper, Action News Jax This Morning also has the areas only Florida Department of Transportation trained traffic reporter, Derrick Odom. If there’s a way to get you around a traffic mess, he’s your guy. “I think Derrick knows every single back road or shortcut there is to know,” adds Action News Jax This Morning co-anchor Phil Amato.

So, as you drive into work or drop off the kids at school, if you hear a chopper flying above you, chances are it’s SKY Action News Jax, keeping an eye on the roadways to give you the latest traffic updates throughout St. Johns County.

www.stjohnsmag.com / August 2016

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Advice from Teachers and Moms in our Community

TIPS

for a Successful School Year

by Jennifer Yarbrough

Walt Disney once said, “Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children,” and Nelson Mandela asserted that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Looking around at the world right now, I worry sometimes about my own children. But then I look in their eyes when they discover new things and marvel at how much love they have for each other and others and I am given hope. To this end, I want them to have every opportunity in the world to be the best they can be, to realize their potential, and to affect their little piece of the planet. Education is the key to unlocking all of these things, so as we enter another school year, how can we help our children have a successful school year so they become all they are meant to be? I put that question to local parents and teachers. Here are their tips.

My first stop was Mrs. Beverly Slough our District 1 School Board Representative and longtime St. Johns resident, here’s what she had to say: "We are looking forward to another successful school year in St. Johns County schools.

Prepared and engaged students, along with excellent teaching are the keys to our success. I would encourage students and their parents to set goals for the new school year which include working hard to achieve to their highest potential. The school year can be stressful, but a regular schedule, adequate rest, and the realization that school is the child's job, just as Dad and Mom have jobs, help children to stay focused in the classroom. I would encourage parents to help their children select one or two extracurricular activities to keep them balanced and engaged. I would also urge parents not to overschedule their children.

Many times, a child has activities four or five days a week, leaving no time to just be a kid. Balance is just as important in a

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child's life as it is in an adult's. Give your child the gift of time to imagine, explore, and just be a kid!"

BEFORE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

A little planning goes a long way in ensuring that your child’s school year starts off and continues well. Here are ways to get the school year off right!

LESSEN ANXIETY! “We read back to school books like the "Night Before Kindergarten" or "Night Before First Grade" by Natasha Wing and talk about our excitement and fear.

We love the "Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn, it is such a sweet one to help with separation anxiety. When Sydney was in Kindergarten every morning we had a ritual where I would kiss her hands like in the book.” Jenn H. “I talk up school all summer for my new kindergartener. I also have a countdown poster in the house to countdown the days until school starts, this keeps them engaged in reading and gets them excited about school.” Bethany L.

“We make sure to find out our class/ teachers ahead of time (we look up their pictures in the yearbook if she doesn't know who they are), we go to orientation, and tour the school.” Jenn H.

SET GOALS!

“A few days before school starts we set goals for the upcoming school year. Goals (academic and social) might include being able to make new friends, do an after school activity, read higher level books, add bigger numbers (use specifics though like read 5th grade books, add numbers in the hundreds).” Jenn H.

GET INTO A ROUTINE!

“A few days (or sometimes up to a week) before school starts we adjust our schedules, we go to bed earlier, cut down on nightly tv/device time, read back to school books before bed, and set out our clothes.”

Jenn H.

GO SHOPPING!

“I engage my kids in the school supply shopping which gets them excited! We also go clothes shopping together and they help me pick out their new clothes.” Bethany L.

“Keep a family calendar on display so no one forgets important events.” Mrs. Zentz

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

NOT their bedrooms. Unplug for a timethere's something to be said for pencil/pen to paper!” Mrs. Carney

As the year continues on, having consistent routines at home sets the stage for success and makes children eager to learn at school!

“This year I'm setting up a study center.

Kids enjoy this project because they can personalize it and you can customize one yourself inexpensively.” Laurel M.

Encourage them to do these in class!

MOTIVATE THEM!

“Ask questions and participate in class discussions.” Mrs. Zentz

“We talk about our day. We have a nightly ritual where we have 4 questions..."What was your favorite part of the day?", "What was something that made you sad?", "What is something new that you learned?" (doesn't have to be academic), and "What is a goal you have?" (can be anything...Sydney loves to say her goal is going to Paris one day). Even if it's only one or two questions it opens the lines of communication as they get older they'll be more willing to talk to you and express their joys and frustrations.” Jenn H.

Approach everything with a “Can Do!” attitude! Mrs. Zentz

COMMUNICATE! “Sign up for all means of communication with your school and teachers.” Mrs. Zentz “It is important for student-teacher-parent to work together as a team to guide the child on a positive academic and social journey through their education. It is very important to be sure to guide your child at home with reading and to monitor their progress hands on. I believe that ‘First we love them, then we teach them.’” Mrs. Neel

ENCOURAGE GOOD STUDY HABITS! “Set up a homework/practice area and develop a daily routine.” Mrs. Zentz “Help your students be organized with materials and time management. Have a set and separate place for homework time-

PREPARE! “Stay organized! Get everything ready the night before.” Mrs. Zentz “Keep a family calendar on display so no one forgets important events.” Mrs. Zentz “Preplan menus for school lunches and make some weeknight meals that you can freeze ahead!” Laurel M. Sleep ‘technology free’ every night and stick to a regular bedtime. Mrs. Zentz

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL Allowing your children time outside of school and extracurricular activities to simply relax and have self-guided fun is important to their overall well-being and growth.

“Make sure to keep downtime and fun in the mix. Unscheduled outdoor time is so important for their development!” Carrie P. Local mom Laurel wrapped it up by saying, “Most importantly, save some time to relish these last few weeks before summer is gone and school begins. Our babies are growing up! Have fun!” Enjoy this time, get prepared, and start the year off right with these tips!

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News From The Schools

Amazing!

Our Schools St. Johns County Public Schools Update

by Kelly Barrera

St. Johns County School Board, District 4

T

he St. Johns County School District has been busy over the summer preparing for our students’ arrival on August 10th. Principals, teachers and staff have been actively refreshing, reorganizing, updating, hiring, training, and preparing for a fantastic new school year ahead! Over the summer, professional development and training sessions have been ongoing to assist our teachers and staff in learning educational and operational best practices, technology updates and integration, and providing opportunities for accessing resources for innovation.

At the elementary school level, parents, students and teachers can look forward to the implementation of some new programs to assist with curriculum. We are excited to introduce Being a Writer in our elementary schools. This new academic program was piloted last year at two elementary schools and received strong positive feedback from teachers, parents and students. It is a structured program that involves learning about a subject, writing about the information learned,

facilitating in-depth classroom discussion and comprehension, and writing again to include the greater detail and feedback.

Another successful program, Being a Reader, will be expanding in our middle schools to assist in strengthening reading strategies and comprehesion.

Starting in late August, Allen D. Nease High School will pilot a Power Hour program. This program will provide students with an hour each day to meet with teachers, access tutoring, study time, attend club meetings or work on special projects. The time slot will be scheduled in the middle of the school day and the goal will be to give students time to power forward academically and deepen their school engagement.

Site work and clearing is underway for construction of our new elementary school “M” located in the World Golf Village area at 2675 Pacetti Road in St. Augustine. The new school is being built to relieve overcrowding and is expected to open for the 2017-18 school year. It will accommodate approxi-

mately 800 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Ongoing information, progress and attendance zones for the new school will be posted on the St. Johns County School District website: http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/ newschools/ Lastly, with upcoming retirement Superintendent Dr. Joseph Joyner, the St. Johns County School Board in the process of selecting a new Superintendent of Schools. The application period for the position has closed.

Our Citizen’s Superintendent Search Advisory Committee will make their recommendations to the school board for interview selection.

Interviews will be scheduled on October 6th and 7th. The school board will be an evening reception open to public for the community to meet the finalists on October 6th at 5:30pm.

St. Johns County School District looks forward to an exciting school year as we continue to work to meet the challenges of a dynamic and growing school district!

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ere in Florida, our sunny days and mild winters allow us to enjoy twelve beautiful months of outdoor living. Finding the perfect furniture for your space that reflects your style is key to making the most of Florida’s outdoor life. That is where Coastal Casual comes into play.

The spacious showroom, located in St. Augustine, offers high quality patio furniture, casual indoor furniture and accessories, as well as repair.

As any small business owner will tell you, five years in business is a big deal. When Danielle and Keith Shank opened their large patio furniture store five years ago, they began a journey that would change their lives.

It was the perfect choice for the couple who had been in the industry for over twenty years and wanted to do it their own way. This meant creating a beautiful showroom where they could offer the best brands combined with the repair shop where people bring their furniture to extend the life of patio items and get more from their investment.

Danielle and Keith work side by side running the family business on a daily basis. Danielle runs the marketing and both of them work with vendors. Keith also does repairs in his shop attached to the showroom.

They are also parents of two sons. Danielle says that there are challenges and sometimes the business is like having another child and it can be very demanding. “It's not always easy juggling between the business and having young children,” she says.

But owning their own business gives them a great sense of satisfaction.

They work hard and put in a lot of hours but it feels good. Danielle has been able to enjoy the flexibility to volunteer many hours while the boys were in elementary school and she says she doesn’t think she missed a single field trip.

“Sometimes we have our moments but for the most part it's great, we

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have a lot of fun. Our oldest son Dalton started working with us this summer too. We do our best to put our children first and keep things in perspective”.

“Live Life Outdoors,” is their motto at Coastal Casual and the Shanks truly believe in this concept, as spending time together outside work on the water and outdoors is important to them. According to Danielle, “Keith and Dalton would be out fishing everyday if they could and Dylan is an explorer”.

When they are not working or enjoying St. Augustine, the Shank family does a lot of traveling in their RV. They have visited all over Florida both camping and at different resorts.

One of the most memorable experiences they had while traveling was in Key West. “We took our boat out and were snorkeling when a shark came into view. My niece was almost walking on water to get back to the boat yelling shark. We were all climbing in anywhere we could and the shark just calmly swam right under Keith since he was farthest from the boat. It was a nurse shark and she continued to just swim around the boat but we were done snorkeling for the day.” Perhaps after all, living life outdoors in Florida can have its downside.

In August, Danielle and Keith will celebrate five years serving the First Coast with month-long sales and events. It’s their way to say thank you for your support to customers who over the years have become dear friends.

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TOMMY ALLEN, VICE CHAIR tommy.allen@stjohns.k12.fl.us District 2 Murray Middle Osceola Elementary, South Woods Elementary, Webster Elementary, Wards Creek Elementary, Pacetti Bay Middle School, Timberlin Creek Elementary, Gaines Alternative Center, Juvenile Justice Center (DJJ), Hastings Juvenile Center BILL MIGNON bill.mignon@stjohns.k12.fl.us District 3 Hartley Elementary, Mason Elementary, Rogers Middle, Pedro Menendez High) KELLY BARRERA kelly.barrera@stjohns.k12.fl.us District 4 Ocean Palms Elementary PVPV-Rawlings Elementary, Landrum Middle, Nease High, Ponte Vedra High School, Palencia Elementary, Valley Ridge Academy PATRICK CANAN, CHAIRMAN patrick.canan@stjohns.k12.fl.us District 5 Crookshank Elementary R. B. Hunt Elementary, Ketterlinus Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary Sebastian Middle, St. Augustine High St. Johns Technical High Superintendent JOSEPH JOYNER, ED.D joseph.joyner@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Monday, September 5, 2016 Friday, October 14, 2016 Monday October 17, 2016 Friday, November 11, 2016 Wednesday – Friday, November 23-25, 2016 Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Optional Teacher Planning Day Teacher Pre-Planning (Aug. 3 – Teacher Inservice Day) Students Report to Class (Regular School Hours – Full Day)* Labor Day – Student/Teacher Holiday End of First Quarter Teacher Planning Day – Student Holida Veterans Day – Student/Teacher Holiday Thanksgiving Break – Student/Teacher Holiday Second Quarter/First Semester Ends (Wednesday, December 21*)

Thursday – Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2016 – Jan. 3, 2017

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Tuesday, August 2, 2016 Wednesday – Tuesday, August 3, 4, 5, 8 & 9, 2016

Classes Resume for Students/Second Semester Begins Martin Luther King Day – Student/Teacher Holiday Teacher Inservice Day – Student Holiday Presidents Day – Student/Teacher Holiday FSA Writing (Grades 4-10)

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4th Quarter

School Board Members

St. Johns County Calendar 1st 2nd Quarter Quarter

2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR

Classes Resume for Students Student /Teacher Holiday FSA Testing (Reading, Math & Science) Last Day for Students* Fourth Quarter Ends Last Day for Teachers – Teacher Planning Day Graduations (Schools/Locations TBD) All Schools participate in a weekly early release on Wednesday: Elementary @1:50, Middle @1:00,/ High @ 2:452016 www.stjohnsmag.com August 15

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Game Day Accessories

Health Nutrition Winning Strategies for Back To School

by Nancy Cohen at Feeding The Body Feeding The Soul,

I

t’s that time of year - the clothing is ready, the back packs are packed, the schedules are posted and our children are returning to their routines of school and after school activities.

Let’s add something new to the back to school list this year. Let’s add the winning CPF strategy of feeding our kids for optimal focus, fitness and fun! Fun? Did I say fun? We all know as parents that there is nothing worse than a grumpy, hungry kid. Imagine that if you knew the secret formula for lasting energythere could be more laughter, better attention and better self-esteem associated with making great breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack choices!

WHAT IS CPF? CPF stands for Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats. Using this threefold formula can make any meal or snack have greater duration, steadier blood sugars and assists in less hunger and dare I suggest moodiness?

So how do you implement such a plan? At every meal or snack you match a starch or a fruit with a protein and a little fat. So let’s have some simple examples:

BREAKFAST: ♥♥Cheesy Egg sandwich with juice or fruit. ♥♥Sliced Apples with nut butter and a glass of milk ♥♥Waffle or toast with nut butter or chicken pork/veggie sausage and fruit.

See the pattern? (Of course you can substitute gluten free and vegetarian options along the way).

A great Snack might be: nut butter on crackers, a string cheese with fruit or a rolled up piece of turkey in a small pita or slice of whole grain bread. You could also send a yogurt with nuts or granola and a spoon. The idea is to pair the carbohydrate with a protein.

Become the “coolest lunch packing parent” ever!

LUNCH TIPS: Sandwiches always work, salads with protein in them or yogurts with cereal or fruit.

A smoothie is a good choice if it is dairy or protein based or has protein powder or yogurt in it. Be careful to look out for smoothies that have unnecessary added sugar and are as sugar loaded as a Slurpie or canned soda.

Slip in veggies and dips - and so many other

ways to bring in those necessary vegetables.

The science behind this tasty formula is that when we overload our children with starches or fruit without a protein source, then the blood sugar stands to drop sooner than if we add protein or fat to any meal or snack. So bring on the fun! Make a breakfast burrito with eggs, beans or cheese. Be clever, be consistent- the same for after school but rename it to something fun.

Repeat the same for dinners. Use your new CPF guide. It’s simple, straight forward and takes the guess work out of meal planning for good health. We love our kids, we want the best for them and we want it to be another great year full of good work, good times and great accomplishments. Their nutrition does make a difference. You now have the winning strategy to make it all come to life.

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Interior Design Ideas

The Well-Designed Dorm Room

by Crystal Spencer Room by Room Interiors

S

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tarting college or returning to dorm life this Fall? To make the most of your little shoebox room, it should be both functional PLANNING AHEAD: and comfortable. An efficient room is all about good space planning and being wise with storage and organization. To Room Details. If possible, obtain information (measurecreate a stylish and comfy dorm room that feels like home, ments, furnishings, etc.) about your dorm room ahead of time. include these decor items and tips: It will make shopping easier.

Use layered bedding with plenty of throw pillows. Buy pillows with zippers and replace poly-fill pillow inserts with Get Inspired. Most retailers have dorm decorating ideas more comfy down/feather inserts. Swap a couple pillows with and tips on their websites. Pinterest, Houzz and YouTube have your roommate for a more coordinated and balanced look. loads of inspiration and DIY ideas. Specialty sites like Shopping tip: Etsy.com is a great place to find nice, reasonably priced pillow covers. JoAnn's and local fabric stores sell down/ Dormify, decor-2-ur-door.com, American Made Dorm & feather pillow inserts.

Home, and Havenly offer ideas, style quizzes, products; some Wall decals, photo collages, murals or wall paper that are even offer online designer services. removable wall can banish boring walls. Product websites: WallPops.com; EasyWallz.com; Roommatesdecor.com; MuralDesign Direction. Since you will likely have white/beige sYourWay.com. boring walls in your room, choose whether to place color and Washi tape can also be be used to create designs or stripes patterns up on the walls and windows, and keep your bedding on walls or doors; or tackle an artistic DIY wall designs using more neutral (with pops of color); or, whether to keep the ideas from Pinterest. walls more neutral and put to the focal colors and patterns on A large textured or patterned area rug adds softness and your bedding. comfort. Layering fun rugs on top of a carpet remnant is an inexpensive way to add style.

Roommate Coordination. If possible, communicate with Curtain panels make a room! Hang them over windows your roommate-to-be about decor style, direction and color and/or open closets using decorative tension rods. Shopping preferences in order to plan a coordinated look in your room. tip: Target, Wal-Mart, and JC Penney carry tension rods with Even friends don't always have the same decor style, so don't decorative finials. Roomdividersnow.com carry wide-width feel the pressure to be matchy-matchy, unless you want to be. tension rods.

Storage ottomans and poufs add color and texture to your space and provide extra seating when friends visit.

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Minorcan Mama

BACK TO SCHOOL

Do's and Don’ts

M

inorcan Mama is a 30-something, St. Augustine Native Minorcan, trying her hardest to raise her modern kids with an appreciation of their roots, their history and a love of the great out-of-doors. Send her your questions about family, parenting, relationships and whatever else you can think of to minorcanmama@gmail.com She loves being “social,” at www.facebook. com/minorcanmama and www.twitter.com/minorcanmama Also, stay tuned for her new Website and Blog coming this month!

Hey, y’all! Back to School time--some of us loathe it, some of us love it, either way, here are a few “Dos” and “Don’ts” to keep you on top of your parenting game!

DO: Buy school supplies ahead of time.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute and get stuck buying your teen-aged son the last pink and purple unicorn folder up at the Walgreens. (Unless he’s into that, but don’t wait in any case.)

DO: Buy lunch supplies for the week ahead and pre-bag items such as crackers and cookies, as well as slice any fruit.

DON’T: Try and pack lunch with five minutes until you leave. Your little Sweetie Peach will end up with a piece of bread, a black banana, and can of sardines. Sardine breath on the first day of school does not make a good impression.

DO: Have your child’s new clothes de-tagged, washed and ready for the first day.

DON’T: Send your kid to school with price tags sticking out the side of their clothes. And please, for the love of goodness, don’t forget those stickers on the legs of the pants or else you’re poor child might end up with an unfortunate nickname.

22

DO: Practice the sleep/morning routine at least a week before school starts and be sure to wake your child up with plenty of time the first day back.

DON’T: Forget to get yourself back in the same routine. It would be very embarrassing for you to roll out of bed with just enough time to get your kid ready, but none for yourself. I mean, no one wants a mom or dad rolling into school the first day with dragon breath and wrinkled yoga pants or dad jeans.

This just sets the scene for another unfortunate nickname.

DO: Remember to tell your child how much you love them, how proud you are of them, and to have a good year.

DON’T: Kiss them on the cheek or yell “I Love You,” along with their childhood nickname out of the car window as you drop them off in the parent pick-up line. Who am I kidding?

Do all of that! They’ll roll their eyes, but know that deep down inside they love it.

DO give them lots of big hugs when they get home and enjoy this moment in their life. Minorcan Mama wishes you and your chilluns a wonderful school year full of fun, learning, and special memories.

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www.stjohnsmag.com / August 2016

23

GUARD

The Sport & The Art of Winter Guard

by Lexi Rosenbaum

H

ave you ever heard of Winter

seeing. On the Swiss Point Winter Guard

Guard? To me Winter Guard is

team we have great coaches, including

both a sport and also an art. It combines

Evan, Michael, Katie, Charis, as well

different types of dance, flag spinning,

as girls from the Bartram High team

rifle tossing, and sabre throwing. It is

who sometimes help. The main coach is

similar to color guard but instead of per-

Coach Evan Black, he is a hardworking

forming with a school band at a football

and intelligent coach who spends time

game, Winter Guard teams compete

preparing his teams for championships

interscholastically in the Spring.

and other competitions. Also he is very

I joined the Swiss Point Winter Guard

fun to work with.

team in 6th grade after my mother enrolled me in a camp at our school to

day and Thursday from August through

try it out and see if I liked it. I am now

April 1st ,when we attend the final com-

going into 8th grade and it will be my

petition at the Ocean Center in Daytona

3rd year of Winter Guard – so I guess it

Beach. In 2015-16 our team, Swiss Point

is safe to say I loved it.

What equipment is used?

The equipment that the Winter Guard teams use show off the artistic effects

24

We practice every week on Wednes-

throw it high above your head and this

Middle School Winter Guard, won 2nd

requires a lot of patience and hard work,

place at this regional championship and

but it is really fun.

our score placed us 3rd overall in the

What is it like to be on the team?

state of Florida.

and also the ability of the team. The

So some qualities that you will need

flag is the most fundamental piece of

for Winter Guard are patience, hard

member of the Swiss Point Winter

equipment because it can show grace

work, positivity, a fun attitude, and to

Guard team. How to work hard to ac-

and elegance, but also can show strength

be yourself. To be on the Swiss Point

complish my goals, the value of sup-

and confidence. The rifle is my favorite

Guard is awesome because our coaches

porting my teammates and having them

because it is flowy, fun, energetic, and

always push us to be the best we can be.

support me, and that the worst thing you

hardcore. Now the sabre, the sabre is

Also being on the team is like having a

can do during a guard competition is to

the hardest in my opinion. You have to

second best family to look forward to

drop your smile.

I have learned a lot while being a

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calendar listings also online

SJM Calendar Celebrating Life in Northern St. Johns! www.stjohnsmag.com

August 5-6 Godspell

Apex Theatre Studio presents the rousing Seventies rock musical “Godspell” at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Apex fosters young artists with a passion and curiosity for acting, singing, dancing and stagecraft through a series of master classes, intensives, readings and theatrical presentations. The Apex studio is located at 5150 Palm Valley Road and offers a full range of summer classes to support young actors in the Northeast Florida area. www.apextheatrejax.com

August 5-7 Florida Sales Tax Holiday

72-hour window to save about seven percent on clothes, school supplies, and computers.

Full details and limitations: www.freetaxweekend.com

August 8 & 17 Guided beach walk.

Come explore the beach environment by the light of the moon! St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department and Environmental Division have teamed up to bring you a new guided beach walk. Those who attend will get a chance to experience the beach at night and learn about the unique animals that utilize the beach after the sun goes down. Grab the family and a flashlight (Red film for flashlights will be provided so we don’t disturb sea turtles) and join us on one of our next moonlight walks! Moonlight Beach Walks will be held at Vilano Beach, 2750 Anahma Dr., Vilano, FL 32084 at 8:00pm Space is limited so RSVP Kelly Ussia at 904-209-0335 or kussia@sjcfl.us.

August 9, 16, 23, 30 Just for Babies

Bartram Trail Branch SJC Public Library.

11:30am on Tuesdays for a lapsit storytime for babies birth to 15 months and their caregivers. 60 Davis Pond Blvd. Fruit Cove, FL 32259

August 10 First Day of School for St. Johns

County School District students! Have a great school year!

August 12-14 Caribbean Festival

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The Annual Jacksonville Caribbean Festival brings the beauty and culture of the Caribbean to Jacksonville. No trip to the Caribbean this year?

No worries! You, your family, and friends can join COOJI, as we bring music, dance, food, costumes, and more right to you. With steel bands, live bands, dee-jays, vendors, local schools, artists,

and dozens of volunteers, organizers guarantee that this year’s event is a “can’t miss!” Located at A. Phillip Randolph Park, 32206. Tickets jacksonvillecarnival.com

August 13 & 27 Family Seining

The GTM Research Reserve will host a Family Seining on the 2nd and 4th Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Join GTM Research Reserve staff and/ or volunteers for a guided family seining activity.

Visitors will get the chance to pull a seine net through Guana Lake, collecting species of fish, crabs and more, and then learn about the animals and their roles in the habitat. All necessary gear including waders and boots will be provided.

There is a $3 per vehicle parking fee. For more information, call 904.823.4500 or visit www. gtmnerr.org

August 13 LuLaRoe Boutique Shopping Extravaganza

Renaissance Resort at the World Golf Village. We will have a multi-vendor event with over 20+ LuLaRoe vendors. The ultimate LuLaroe selections to view and shop. LuLaRoe is a fashion brand that specializes in women’s skirts, dresses and leggings. Its comfortable fashion is sold online and at home-parties through LuLaRoe Fashion Consultants.

August 13 SouthEast Crab Feast

Please join us for the SouthEast Crab Feast event this summer in Jacksonville, FL. This event offers the Low Country Coastal Heritage of outdoor cooking of fresh seafood. This highly anticipated event will offer ALL YOU CAN EAT fresh Blue

Crabs, side of Fish & Chips, Music and a Family Friendly Environment for the entire family. Please go to www.southeastcrabfeast.com for tickets and more details.

August 13 GTM Research Reserve Trail Walk

The GTM Research Reserve will host a trail walk every 2nd Saturday from 8:30am to 10:30am. Join GTM Research Reserve staff and/or volunteers for a 1.5 mile walk that the entire family will enjoy.

Meet at the GTM Research Reserve’s Trailhead Pavilion located west of the Guana Dam. Wear comfortable closed toe shoes. There is a $3 per vehicle parking fee. www.gtmnerr.org

August 19 Centennial Evenings at the Castillo de San Marcos.

To commemorate the National Park Service Centennial, Castillo de San Marcos NM will extend its hours on the above dates from 5pm-7pm. Regular entrance fees apply. Visit www.nps.gov/casa/ index.htm

August 20th Nocatee Farmers Market:

Sounds of Summer will feature a special FREE concert! From 10am-1pm, families who attend can look forward to performances by local, up and coming reggae-rock band Sidereal.

Along with this fun and groovy theme, the market includes over 80 local vendors offering items such as organic produce, herbs, spices, delicious unique foods, crafts, jewelry and more! Free face painting will also be available for little ones, along with crafts, and a bounce house. www.nocatee.com

August 20 Mac & Cheese Fest

Blackfinn Ameripub and 97.9 KISS FM is putting a spin on an American favorite and hosting a Mac & Cheese Festival Saturday, August 20 from 1pm3pm! Enjoy 8 mouth-watering, deliciously cheesy dish samples on the patio while enjoying live music! All 8 unique Macaroni & Cheese samples are included in your tickets! We'll have $4 Craft Beer specials, $5 select wines and $4 mimosas! : http:// macandcheeseblackfinn.eventbrite.com/

August 24 Riverkeeper Volunteer Orientation Meeting

REI, St. Johns Town Center, 4862 Big Island Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32246. St. Johns Riverkeeper is a grassroots organization and we cannot accomplish our goals without the help of volunteers like you.

Together, we can be one voice for the River! St. Johns Riverkeeper had another big year in 2015.

We continued to lead the way on numerous projects that threaten the river’s health, such as the proposed dredging and water withdrawals from the St. Johns. .RSVP to Justina@Stjohnsriverkeeper.org to attend.

August 26, 27 & 31 Sing Out Loud Festival

Free Concerts by 90+ local and national acts with

performances in and around downtown St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra leading up to the Sing Out Loud Festival Finale featuring Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Booker T Jones, and The Travelin’ McCourys LIVE at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on September 9! www.solseries. com/

August 26 Starlight Project Golf Open

At Palencia with a start time of 2pm!!! Registration is online at www.thestarlightproject.com Play to support incredible children with special needs in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

Contact 561-670-1102

August 27 & 28 St. Johns Family Festival

This Free Admission Festival, featuring 60,000 square feet of Kids Zone carnival midway and bounce houses, where kids can bounce all day for $5, Live Music, Arts & Craft Vendors, and family oriented Fun will attract thousands of local area residents! In conjunction with the Family Festival is the Tactical Elite Warrior Challenge Mud/Obstacle Run 5K, all in an effort to benefit Brave Aid, a locally based Wounded Veterans 501c3 Charity!

2495 State Rd 207, St Augustine, FL 32086 Visit www.stjohnsfamilyfest.com or Follow on Facebook

August 27 River Ruckus

Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave Jacksonville, FL 32204 St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Riverside Arts Market ( RAM) are hosting the fourth annual River Ruckus, a family festival celebrating two of our region’s most important assets — the St. Johns River and RAM. The day’s events will include water based activities, kids crafts and educational programming, live local music, craft beer from SweetWater Brewing Company, plus all the unique art, produce and food vendors that the Riverside Arts Market offers every Saturday. More details to come! 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Shannon Blankinship, shannon@stjohnsriverkeeper.org (904) 256-7613

August 27 & 28 Guided Kayak Tour

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation will be hosting a 2-3 hour guided kayak tour of the St. Johns River at 10am. The trip will launch from Riverfront Park, 4065 State Rd. 13, St. Johns, FL 32259 and will explore Hallowes Cove. The fee for this guided trip is $20 per person for participants brining their own kayaks, which must be a minimum of 12ft long, and $40 per person for participants using a county kayak. Spots are limited. Kelly Ussia at 904.209.0335 or kussia@sjcfl.us.

www.stjohnsmag.com / August 2016

27

ON-GOING EVENTS August 5 First Friday Garden Walk

Footbal Schedules Bartram Trail Varsity 8/19 Mandarin AWAY 8/26 Bishop Kenny AWAY 9/2 Mainland 9/9 Ridgeview AWAY 9/16 Fleming Island 9/23 St. Augustine 9/30 Creekside AWAY 10/7 Ponte Vedra 10/14 Buchholz 10/28 Oakleaf AWAY 11/4 Nease AWAY

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00

Creekside Varsity 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4

Menendez AWAY Orange Park Nease St. Augustine AWAY Providence Mandarin AWAY Bartram Trail Fleming Island AWAY Oakleaf AWAY Buchholz Ponte Vedra AWAY

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:30 7:00 7:00 7:00

Nease Varsity

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8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/27 11/4

Yulee Ponte Vedra Creekside AWAY Menendez AWAY White Matanzas West Nassau AWAY Middleburg St. Augustine AWAY Englewood AWAY Bartram Trail

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park hosts a special Garden Walk on the first Friday of each month, beginning at 10 a.m. The 45-minute walk is led by a park ranger and introduces guests to the history and variety of the beautiful formal gardens nestled within the maritime hammock at this unique state park. www.floridastateparks.org/park/ Washington-Oaks

August 5 First Friday Art Walk

Experience one of St. Augustine's most popular cultural events from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the first Friday of every month .

Shuttles run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes. Call 832-779-2781 for additional information or visit our website.

August 6 Guided Exploration Hike On the first Saturday of every month from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., visitors can learn about the cultural history of the Guana Peninsula as well as the natural biodiversity during a guided hike.

Meet at the GTM Research Reserve's Trailhead Pavilion located west of the Guana Dam. Wear comfortable closed toe shoes. There is a $3 per vehicle parking fee. 904.823.4500 or visit www. gtmnerr.org

August 6, 13, 20, 27 Riverside Arts Market

Saturdays from 10am-4pm! With free admission, ample parking and a breezy riverfront setting, RAM is fun for the whole family--even your pets! RAM's award-winning Farmers Market offers local produce, dairy, meats, and honey, as well as exotic flowers, plants and spices.. http://riversideartsmarket.com/

August 9, 16, 23, 30 Free Tuesdays at the Cummer Museum

Every Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Visit the website for more info.

August 9 Friends of the GTM Reserve

@ 5:00 pm - 6:00 p The Friends of the GTM Reserve's monthly meeting. The public is welcome to attend. For further information, please call Teri Webley at 904.823.4527 or visit www.gtmnerr.org for more information.

August 10, 17, 24, 31 Music by the Sea

The Music by the Sea series presents its 14th season with concertsg each Wednesday evening through October 12. Local bands and performers paired with local restaurants to entertain visitors and promote St. Augustine Beach.

Food service starts at 6:00pm and bands play from 7:00-9:00pm. St. Augustine Beach Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080 Call (904) 3478007 or Visit www.sabca.org

August 17 Afternoon Insights at GTM On the third Wednesday of themed educational months (February, April, June, and August) from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m August topic - Sea Turtles @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm 505 Guana River Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, The program is free and will take place in the auditorium at the Environmental Education Center located at 505 Guana River Rd in South Ponte Vedra Beach. Please RSVP online or call 904.823.4500.

Please visit www.gtmnerr.org

August 27th Uptown Saturday Night On the last Saturday of the month , explore the shops and galleries of "Uptown" St. Augustine from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Live music, refreshments, new exhibits and more along San Marco Avenue North of W. Castillo. 904-8239263

The Creekside Knights Athletic Booster Club (CKABC) is a nonprofit organization of Parents, Coaches, Student Athletes, Faculty, and Community Members committed to promoting excellence in Creekside High School (CHS) interscholastic athletics by voluntarily helping to enrich the high school experience and foster success in the classroom for all students by building "Knights Pride" through all athletic programs.

CREEKSIDE BOOSTERS ARE YOU!….OUR CREEKSIDE FAMILIES & COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNERS. We "THANK YOU" for your support! LEARN HOW TO JOIN @

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29

PET Allergies C

hances are if you own a pet, your pet has experienced itching at some point during his/her lifetime. If you’re lucky, the problem was minor and temporary, however for many pet owners, the situation is much more frequent and severe. The most common cause for chronic scratching is allergies which include flea allergies, environmental allergies (atopy) and food allergies. Keep in mind that there are many other causes for hair loss, itching and skin diseases in pets, but we will only focus on allergies in this article.

Flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in dogs and cats. It is important to understand that you may not see any fleas at all since it only takes a couple of flea bites to cause a skin reaction in flea allergic pets so it is important that all pets be on year round flea prevention.

Atopy is an allergic condition from environmental allergens that include pollens, dust mites, dander, etc. Atopy usually begins early in a pet’s life and usually starts as seasonal. The diagnosis of atopy can be suspected based on clinical signs, however,

A Message From The Vet With Dr. Kathleen Deckard, Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital

can more accurately be diagnosed with either blood or intradermal skin testing. If it’s known what your pet is allergic to, reducing the exposure to the allergens can be helpful. With these test results, immunotherapy (allergy shots or oral therapy) can be started but can take 6-12 months before you see results. This is highly recommended since the effects are long lasting and may avoid or decrease the need for symptomatic treatment.

Food allergy is less common than you think. Contrary to popular belief, a change in diet is not necessary for development of food allergy and it can start at any age.

Food ingredients most commonly responsible for allergies are beef, chicken, fish, eggs and milk. Food allergy is ruled out by feeding a novel diet consisting of very limited ingredients. A food trial is the only way to diagnose a food allergy and you should seek advice from your veterinarian before conducting your own food trial.

Treatment is aimed at addressing the primary causes for the allergy. Treatment of secondary skin infections is addressed by

the following depending on the infection: antibiotics, antifungals, topicals, antihistamines, and fish oils. Corticosteroids (prednisone) are very effective at helping clinical signs, but have side effects and should be used sparingly. Atopica (cyclosporine) is another good choice, has some minimal side effects, but takes 4-6 weeks to see results. . The newest drug called Apoquel (oclacitinib) is showing great promise for treatment of allergies, works as quickly as corticosteroids, with minimal side effects.

The high demand has recently limited its supply over the last few years, but now it’s readily available.

So, after reading all this, if you feel confused and frustrated, then join the crowd of pet owners that face these issues each day.

The most important thing to remember is that allergies are very complex and in most cases, can be managed but not cured. Be prepared that your pet’s allergy is going to require ongoing care. Communication with your veterinarian is important to allow them to help you and your pet find the right diagnosis and treatment plan.

Pets R Family, your “other family doctor”!

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Fun activities with other dogs including obstacle course, puzzle games, pool time and just romping around!

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Our Newest Location: 2245 CR 210 West Suite 116 St. Johns, FL 32259 904.342.8340

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