Our Children Fall 2018

Halifax’s Family Magazine ourchildrenmagazine.ca

Fall 2018

REDUCING THE COST OF EDUCATION Keep the back-to-school bill under control

Learning to Be Prepared A new book about social-media sensation Frankie MacDonald becomes a teaching tool

Back-to-school rituals How they’ve changed and why they still matter

plus Health & Wellness

by Starr Cunningham

Book Reviews Nutrition

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Fall 2018

CONTENTS

Reducing the cost of education

These smart shopping tips can help parents keep the back-to-school bill under control

The back-to-school checklist

18

There’s a lot more to getting your kid ready for the return to school than just scribblers and pencils

DEPARTMENTS 7 Editor’s note A sign of summer’s end and a return to schedules, routine

8 First bell

Learning how to Be Prepared in the classroom A new book about Frankie MacDonald becomes a learning tool for students

Fun fall events, live entertainment, sci-fi heroes, and more

12 Opioion Message from the regional executive director of education

25 Nutrition How to pack a nutritious school lunch your kids will enjoy

28 Parenting health & wellness It’s practically impossible to be a child or parent in Nova Scotia and not recognize the name Sheree Fitch

30 Book reviews The Goat, A Family Is A Family Is A Family, From Far Away, 100 Things You Don’t Know About Atlantic Canada For Kids, and A Halifax Time-Travelling Tune

22

our

On our cover Going back to school can be expensive.

On page 14, learn how to make it easier to handle.

Celebrate your birthday party at hop! skip! jump!

Where kids come to play!

hopskipjump.ca Halifax 902.406.4406

Moncton 506.859.4406

Visit Us online ourchildrenmagazine.ca

Publisher Patty Baxter Senior Editor Trevor J. Adams Creative Director Jamie Playfair Art Director Mike Cugno

Production Coordinators Kelsey Berg Emma Brennan

Designer Maryanne MacDonald Printing Advocate Printing & Publishing Advocate Media Managing Editor Ken Partridge Contributors Kelsey Berg Starr Cunningham Katie Ingram Edwena Kennedy Richard Woodbury

For advertising sales and editorial and subscription enquiries: Tel. 902-420-9943 Fax 902-429-9058 publishers@metroguide.ca 2882 Gottingen Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 3E2 metroguidepublishing.ca ourchildrenmagazine.ca No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Return undeliverable addresses to Metro Guide Publishing at the address above.

Our Children is a Metro Guide publication.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Ken Partridge, Editor Our Children Magazine

@OurChildrenMag www

ourchildrenmagazine.ca

kenpartridge@advocatemediainc.com

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Back-to-school rituals

A sign of summer’s end and a return to schedules, routine It always started in August and it always felt like an intrusion on my summer holidays. The dreaded back-to-school period.

While I was busy wringing the last drop of summer out of every day, staying out till after dark and coming up with ridiculous reasons and games that, if I just believed in them hard enough, would somehow stave off the arrival of September, my mom was busy planning her return to sanity.

It usually began with a visit to the doctor’s office sometime around mid-month. Our annual check-up, she called it. Step on the scale, measure our height, get us to cough, look in our mouth and ears, make a bunch of notes, and send us off. Easily a half-day lost when I could have been in the field behind our house defending the “fort” from invading hordes. I put fort in quotation marks because a single wide plank nailed to an accommodatingly perpendicular tree branch requires a certain amount of imagination to really appreciate.

A trip to the dentist always came next. This was much more serious then the doctor’s visit. While the doctor always seemed like a waste of time, the dentist was far from an inconvenience. He wanted to poke and prod, to scrape and occasionally fill something. Yeah, no matter how much the sun shone on those days, it always seemed gloomy.

The one bright spot of the annual ritual was shopping day. In my house, my mother and grandmother engaged in this mysterious ritual called Saturday Shopping. It always started early in the morning on while cartoons were just getting into full swing, and it lasted till after supper time.

Kids were definitely not invited. Except once a year when we got to peek behind the curtain.

Back-to-school shopping meant one by one each of us kids would get to join the weekly outing. We tagged along to all the places mom and nan went, ate lunch in a restaurant, and usually came back with a new toy. In between you had to put up with a lot of boring clothing stores, especially the ones just for women, try on several outfits, and accept they always thought you looked the best in the clothes you hated the most. Still, it was an adventure.

Eventually I had a son of my own and attempted to continue the same program, because that’s what good parents do, right? It was a little more challenging since his mom and I were no longer together and she had her own ideas of how the back-to-school ritual was supposed to go, but many of the same elements persisted: the clothes shopping, the school supplies, the medical visits.

Fast forward even further to my second son, and everything has changed. Clothes shopping? His maternal grandmother loves to buy clothes for gifts, so between Christmas, birthday, Easter, grading, and her several trips away during the year, he needs little in the way of new clothes come September. Medical check-ups? Those are on set schedules and booked way in advance, so they have little to do with going back to school. School supplies? Teachers prefer to buy their own supplies these days, so it’s more a case of dropping off a cheque.

What about you? Do you have any memories of back-toschool rituals you’re willing to share? We would love to hear about them. Tell us what your parents used to do or how you’ve adapted it to your family. We always enjoy hearing stories from our readers.

Welcome back!

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FIRST BELL

Our Children | Fall 2018

Carnivals and critters and cake… oh my!

L

ooking for a day of family fun? Try Quinfest, taking place on Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Quinpool Road.

This community festival features carnival games, music, animals, and lots of great deals from Quinpool merchants.

Formerly known as Quinpool’s Fall Fair, the free event is now in its 10th year and continues to grow. This year attendees can meet some working animals in the Halifax Vet parking lot where the Mounted Unit and the K9 Unit will be stationed, along with a fire truck and a free barbecue courtesy of Organic Earth Market. Get your face painted by KC’s Face Painting at CIBC (12 to 2 p.m.), check out the sale on anime products at the Ikebana Shop, and play carnival games with Bib ‘N Tucker, NSCECE, and Scotia Physiotherapy.

View a robotics demo at Sylvan Learning and help Lucky Penny celebrate its first birthday with live jazz and free birthday cake.

Play Connect 4 and get a free airbrush tattoo in the Oxford Learning parking lot, where Superstore will host a barbecue in support of Kidsport. Drop by Clay Café for face painting, and visit Subway, Visage Day Spa, Riot Snack Bar, 2b Theater Company, and Live Art Dance for samples, raffles, and prizes.

Visit the former St. Pat’s Green Space for some Humani-T lemon iced tea and white chocolate bark with N.S. blueberries, courtesy of Seasons by Atlantica. Jump on the bouncy castle and play Froggy Fly Fling with Shoppers Drug Mart. Meet the volunteers from Common Roots Urban Farm, selling products, produce, and flowers. Play a game of croquet and enjoy a free live concert with The Swampdonkeys, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., presented by RBC Royal Bank.

The Swampdonkeys bring together a smooth collaboration of rock, pop, and country, featuring Shaky White, J.D. Clarke, Mark Cameron, and Mark McCormack. The Swampdonkeys formed in 2017 after 12 years of performing as solo artists.

Free food samples are available from 12 to 2 p.m. at Dilly Dally Coffee Cafe, East Coast Bakery, Freeman’s Pizza, Lucky Penny Coffee Co., Organic Earth Market, Roll The Dice Board Game Café, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Seasons By Atlantica, Superstore, SweetHereafter Cheesecakery, six 303 Eatery, and Subway. The West End Baptist Church is also hosting a free barbecue and kids play area.

Did we mention great deals? Participating merchants include: Aerobics First, Bib’ N Tucker, Courtside Sneakers, Finer Things Antiques and Curious, Happynest Antiques and Home Store, Ikebana Shop, Nautilus Aquatics and Hobbies, Proskates, The Trail Shop, Visage Day Spa, and Vogue Optical.

CarShare Atlantic will be offering $40 off any new full membership in the Organic Earth Market parking lot.

For more information, contact Karla Nicholson, Quinfest’s executive director, at 902-209-2210 or karla@quinpoolroad.ca.

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Get ready to Wiggle One of the world’s favourite children’s entertainment group, The Wiggles, is coming to perform in Halifax. The concert features some of the Wiggle’s most loved songs, such as “Hot Potato” and “Rock A Bye Your Bear.”

The fab four of fun will, of course, be joined by their Wiggly friends Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog, and Henry the Octopus, along with the Wiggly red coat dancers.

The Halifax stop on the Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle! Tour takes place on Sept. 28 with shows at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Halifax Exhibition Centre.

All patrons age one year and over must have a ticket, which are available at participating Atlantic Superstores, the Ticket Atlantic box office, or by calling 902-451-1221 or toll-free (Canada only) 1-877-451-1221. No professional cameras or audio/video recording allowed. Line-up subject to change.

Out of this world Hal-Con is the region’s largest celebration of all things science fiction, fantasy, superhero, gaming, and, of course, cosplay.

Originally showcasing comic books, this community-focused conference now brings some of the biggest names in the sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming world to Halifax.

For 2018, Hal-Con will feature LeVar Burton, John de Lancie, and Gareth David-Lloyd. Catch all the action at the Halifax Convention Centre, from Oct. 26 to 28.

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FIRST BELL

Our Children | Fall 2018

Symphony Nova Scotia kicking off fall season with Symphony Week, Culture Days Symphony Nova Scotia presents a series of free concerts and special events during its 11th annual Symphony Week, in partnership with the nationwide arts celebration Culture Days. The combined week of free performances will run from Sept. 23 to 30.

Symphony Nova Scotia musicians will give free, live performances in public spaces throughout the region, including two shows at the Halifax Central Library featuring Daniel BartholomewPoyser. Performances include everything from children’s music to orchestral concerts featuring the entire Symphony.

This will be Symphony Nova Scotia’s eighth year participating in Culture Days, an interactive, free-of-charge festival celebrating arts and culture from coast to coast to coast. For the full Culture Days schedule, visit culturedays.ca.

All public events during Symphony Week and Culture Days are free to attend. For more information about Symphony Week, call 902-421-1300 or visit symphonynovascotia.ca.

Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’s orchestra. With a home base in Halifax and performances across the province, Symphony Nova Scotia reaches more than 50,000 Nova Scotians of all ages each year with a diverse mix of concerts, free community programs, and educational outreach. It’s the largest employer in Nova Scotia’s cultural community, and has won many awards, including five East Coast Music Awards for classical music. For more information, contact Heidi MacPhee, director of communications and marketing, at 902-421-5264, marketing@symphonyns.ca, or symphonynovascotia.ca.

Learn what space is really like Are you curious about outer space? Want to learn how you can have a career studying the cosmos? On Sept. 22 the Woodlawn Public Library is hosting an opportunity to explore space with local scientists from 2 to 3 p.m.

WISEatlantic hosts local scientists, who will showcase their space-related research and discuss how they ended up with their awesome careers. All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments available.

The event is part of Science Literacy Week and sponsored by NSERC. WISEatlantic (Women in Science and Engineering, Atlantic Region) aims to shift gendered science, technology, engineering and math stereotypes. The group empowers girls to consider STEAM-based careers by raising their awareness of the diversity of jobs within these fields and enabling them to visualize themselves working in these fields.

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Road trip Thanksgiving weekend (Oct. 5 to 7, 2018) has become one of Kejimkujik’s most popular weekends of the year. Soak up the brilliant colours of fall and participate in the annual pumpkin carving contest, the Haunted Jaunt, and take the plunge at the annual Cold Turkey swim.

It’s the perfect weekend to spend with friends and family. For more information, visit pc.gc.ca.

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OPINION

Our Children | Fall 2018

Message from the regional executive director of education These are exciting times for the Nova Scotia education system. Here’s a quick overview of recent changes and what parents can expect in the near future

By Elwin LeRoux

O

n April 1, 2018, the Halifax Regional School Board became the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE).

Governing boards were dissolved and we, along with the six other English school boards from across Nova Scotia, became Regional Centres for Education of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD). What does this shift mean for families and members of school communities who are wondering who to contact with questions and/or concerns?

We are still here! Find our contact information online in our staff directory hrce.ca/contact. Our Parent/Guardian Concern Policy also remains in effect: hrce.ca/sites/default/files/hrsb/b.017-parentguardian-concern.pdf. As always, day-to-day operations are being managed by school principals, our regional centre team, and the Regional Executive Director of Education, which is now my title. If you’re looking to get in touch, please reach out.

This fall, I will launch a new monthly Regional Executive Director’s report that not only captures and celebrates the successes of students and staff, but also demonstrates the implementation and the positive impact of changes to Nova Scotia’s education system. Confidence in our public education system is important to the success of every student. Not everyone has my vantage point; not everyone sees the ordinary miracles in teaching and learning happening every day in our system. It’s my responsibility to provide families, staff, school communities, partners, and the general public a window into HRCE classrooms by sharing stories of impact.

This report will appear on our website (hrce.ca) and shared via Twitter, @HRCE_NS and @Elwin_LeRoux.

Video stories can also be found on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/ HalifaxRegionalCentreforEducation.

Here are just a few recent stories we’ve shared: Talk to me with AAC: Aiden’s Story How can Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) change a child’s life? This is a story about an HRCE student who is making strides, in school and in life, thanks to a little help from a lot of people, and a “talker.” Learn more about Aiden’s communication journey and the HRCE Student Services team that supported him in this video: youtu.be/Fgl7w0_9lLU.

The Impact of Reading Recovery What are the tangible benefits of Reading Recovery? A strong foundation in literacy is key to a learner’s success in all aspects of life. Reading Recovery is an early literacy intervention program targeting students in Grade 1 who are experiencing challenges in reading and writing. It’s currently available in 54 HRCE schools and is expanding to an additional 20 schools this fall. By September 2019, every elementary school in HRCE (with Grade 1) will have Reading Recovery. It’s a provincially-funded intervention re-introduced in Nova Scotia four years ago and is a component of EECD’s Provincial Literacy Strategy.

In Reading Recovery training, teachers learn how to assess a beginning reader’s knowledge and skills, design individual lessons building on each child’s strengths, design lessons to meet each child’s needs, and collaborate with classroom teachers as Reading Recovery students transition back into the classroom with continued success. Learn more about the impact of Reading Recovery in this video: youtu.be/ZHtJj9lXkt4.

What stories would you like to see? What are you curious about? Get in touch!

Opportunity is a product of change. One of the opportunities I’m particularly excited about is building an education system more deeply rooted in what students need to achieve. How do we get there? By engaging with and listening to the people who live and breathe public education each day.

13 At the regional level, students, families, and communities will have a greater voice through increased consultation and the important role of School Advisory Councils. I encourage teachers to continue to share thoughts and ideas through the HRCE representatives serving on the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions (CTICC). Teacher insights continue to inform recommendations from the CTICC and have a positive impact in our classrooms.

Provincially, the Commission on Inclusive Education released its final report, Students First (inclusiveedns.ca/final-report), this past spring after a year of study, research, public consultation, and ongoing dialogue with Nova Scotians. The collective wisdom of each stakeholder in public education is what will truly make a difference for students. Look for more information in my upcoming report.

These are exciting times in Nova Scotia’s education system. I look forward to the journey, and I’m excited to share with you how changes are improving the public-school experience for each student.

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WHO DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? S tart with your child’s teacher.

Follow up with the school principal.

If there is no resolution, call HRCE at 902-464-2000.

Each of our schools is assigned an Administrative Supervisor, whose job is to support families and solve problems.

We will connect you with the right person.

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COVER STORY

Our Children | Fall 2018

REDUCING THE COST OF EDUCATION These smart shopping tips can help parents keep the back-to-school bill under control

By Katie Ingramm

M

aking a list and checking it twice isn’t just something to keep in mind during the holidays; it’s also relevant when shopping for school supplies.

Supplies can often be costly, with prices differing on similar products and even from store-to-store.

For example, a backpack from Walmart.ca can be upwards of $24.97, before tax. In comparison, Staples.ca lists their most expensive for kids at $60.00, while those available at shopbentley.ca can cost $45.99. A package of 12 Crayola coloured pencils is $4.59 at Walmart and $3.49 at Staples.

Despite varying prices, Jennifer Rideout, mom and financial advisor with Assante Wealth Management, says planning will help curb overspending.

“Writing down the items you need will help keep you on track and you won’t get to too distracted by the colours around you,” Rideout says.

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Rideout’s oldest daughter is starting Grade Primary this year. Not knowing how much supplies would cost, she made sure to put some money aside whenever possible.

“I was tucking a bit of money away from each pay cheque, so it will lessen the burden,” she says.

A plan is something Kayla Burgess also considered, but she took a slightly different approach. She made sure to look for discounts and compared prices, which included buying one or two items at a dollar store. Although, sometimes, she says this isn’t the cheapest solution.

“They are just as good as any other supplies, but due to sales [at other stores] they [can be] more expensive,” says Burgess, who has one child in Grade 1 and another in Grade 2. “If the sales are over, then Dollarama would be a cheaper alternative versus regular pricing.”

Burgess also compared bulk prices with single items. An example she noted was instead of paying $2.97 for a four pack of exercise books, which would be about $.75 per book, she bought them individually for $0.10.

Rideout is keeping costs low by looking through what her daughter already owns.

“If there’s something that doesn’t need to be replaced, I’m not replacing it just so it’s new,” she says.

In the earlier grades, teachers will sometimes offer to buy classroom supplies for a small fee, which also helps with back-toschool budgets.

Jennifer Amirault says her children’s’ primary teachers gave parents this option, which she prefers to buying supplies herself.

“They all get the same supplies; it keeps it all equal,” says Amirault, whose children are now in Grades 5 and 7.

Burgess also had this option available to her at her children’s school. While she took part both years, she prefers buying supplies herself.

“I think I actually spent less this year due to sales then I would have [if I] had to send in money,” she says, adding she spent about $25 on each child, compared to the $35 she paid for Grade Primary.

When asked about this policy, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education’s Corporate Secretary, Selena Henderson, said in an emailed statement that teachers offering to buy supplies isn’t an official practise.

“I can confirm there isn’t a policy at the HRCE, but I’m unsure about what direction, if any, schools receive from school administration or the [Education and Early Childhood Development department],” she said. “I do think it is school based but again, our school administration department could confirm this is accurate.”

Amirault finds as her children move through the grades they need sturdier and more technology-based supplies, which can impact budgets.

“I know $35 would never cover the amount of supplies we need now,” she says. “I just printed off the list yesterday and one needs a scientific calculator… things like hardcover journals are $10 each.

I have found some at dollar stores for $4 each, but those are more expensive than scribblers and Duo-Tangs and things like that.”

Unexpected expenses can also come in the form of items not on the official lists but seem to be a necessity.

“I know many parents and others that in junior high find (teachers) will say, ‘Pull out your phones to look up information’,” Amirault says. “So, I think a lot of kids who don’t have a phone will be at a disadvantage.”

Amirault often finds teachers don’t want generic or cheaper products; they want certain brands and types.

“What costs a lot are dry erase markers and every year my kids have to get a full pack,” Amirault says. “And Sharpie pens are expensive. They are very specific on the brand name they want and that can get costly.”

Still, not everyone can afford supplies, which is where supply donation programs come in handy, like the one offered by the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank.

“We have had our program running at least seven years, if not longer, and it’s very popular you might say,” says Kevin McKay, operations manager with Parker Street. “It grows every year. It’s something we feel is helping students put a good foot forward because it supplies the majority of necessities for students to start the year.”

As of Aug. 3, Parker Street had about 500 students registered, including those in English as a Second Language programs, to receive supplies. McKay says this number will only increase. On average, he says a backpack filled with products for high school students can cost from $100 to $125, while younger students can cost about $60 to $80 per bag.

While buying the cheaper item or more generic backpack might be better financially, Rideout says children should understand the reason behind a buying decision.

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Our Children | Fall 2018

“If you’re just going out and buying something because you think it’s flashy or cool, it might not resonate with them,” Rideout says. She finds involving children in the process can help. “You want them to be creative and have their own style but lay it out in black and white and tell them, ‘If you want this item that’s more expensive, you might not be getting this other thing.’ Don’t sugar coat things,” she says.

Rideout would like to see schools involved in the back-to-school process more. If they do buy products, she suggests having students go with their parents to pick out items.

“They could make it more of a community event… have the kids go around with their parents, pick up the supplies they need, have them go through a checkout, get involved in the process so they can see how things cost money,” she says. “They will appreciate them more and take care of those items.”

Amirault also likes the idea of schools being more involved. She suggests a sponsoring method for those in need of extra help. In her children’s schools, this method is commonly used on class traps, where parents can sponsor other students who may not be able to afford the activity.

“Some people can do that, pay for another person. Some people can pay for 10 probably and others struggle to pay for their own,” she says.

No matter what plan a parent has for school shopping, Rideout says it comes back to being mindful and aware of what a child needs for a successful year.

“When it comes down to it, they don’t need all the bells and whistles; they just need love and attention,” she says.

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QUICK TIPS FOR BUYING SCHOOL SUPPLIES •C ompare prices at brick and mortar stores and online.

•D on’t just shop at stores that stereotypically have supplies, like Staples and Walmart. Look at other places like grocery and hardware stores.

They often have small office supply sections.

•D on’t buy a larger or more expensive item, when the smaller or cheaper one will do.

•C ompare the generic brands and brand names by looking at online reviews and prices.

• Compare bulk prices with single items.

•D on’t wait until the last minute. Buy early or spread buying out over a few weeks to catch all the sales.

• I n September, buy a few supplies you know your child will need the following year, such as pens, paper, and pencils. Stores sometimes discount these items after school starts to get rid of old stock.

•T ry to stick to what’s on your child’s list and avoid extras, unless the teacher asks for an additional item later in the year.

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PROGRAMS There are several programs in HRM designed to help those who can’t afford school supplies.

Each program has its own criteria and application process.

Here are a few of those programs.

Parker Street Furniture and Food Bank School Supplies Program There are several programs in HRM designed to help those who can’t afford school supplies.

Each program has its own criteria and application process.

Here are a few of those programs.

Parker Street Furniture and Food Bank School Supplies Program • parkerstreet.org/index.php/programs/ school-supplies

Youth, Teen, and Adult Aerial Circus Classes Parties PD Days and Camps

Income Assistance from the Nova Scotia Government

902-405-5500 1535 Dresden Row Downtown Halifax

• Instead of supplies, the government will provide a monetary supplement to parents in the program whose children attend regular school.

www.iness.ca

• novascotia.ca/coms/employment/income_ assistance/SchoolSupplies.html The Salvation Army’s Back to School Program • salvationarmy.ca/maritime/ Backpacks for Kids by Bell Aliant • hrce.ca/about-our-schools/community/ partnerships/backpacks-kids

OFFERING SPECIALIZED DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS First dental check up as early as 1 year old

Alice House School Supplies •T he Dartmouth-based organization accepts monetary donations, up to $32, for its supply programs.

• alicehouse.ca/alice-products/school-supplies-32

Facilities • Modern illings e it • Wh F Sedation g Gas • Laughin ital X-Ray ig D • Team ly Dental • Friend sue Laser • Soft Tis

255 Lacewood Drive, Suite 307 902-407-7377 | www.pdsns.com

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FEATURE

Our Children | Fall 2018

The back-to-school checklist There’s a lot more to getting your kid ready for the return to school than just scribblers and pencils

By KATIE INGRAM School supplies are only the first step for a student having a successful year.

There are other things parents need to talk about with their children, plans that need to be made, and, of course, clothes that need to be bought.

Read on for a few items to add to your standard back-to-school checklist:

19 More Than School Supplies Along with crayons, erasers, and pencils, kids will need a few new outfits for the year. While parents may want to buy as many new clothes as possible, this isn’t always what a child needs or is necessary.

If a child has four pairs of jeans, still in good shape from the previous year, they might not need to be replaced. This all depends on the situation, and whether parents are on a spending budget.

Still, there are few other factors to consider when buying school clothes:

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• Along with such items as T-shirts and jeans, parents can consider buying a dressier outfit for picture day and holiday concerts. This could be a polo shirt and chinos, or something a bit fancier like a dress shirt and pants or a dress.

• Kids run and play. Clothes get dirty, torn, and stained. If items, such as socks, can be bought in bulk, parents should take advantage of this. While everyone should have at least seven pairs of socks for a week, children should have double that amount.

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• If a child needs a new pair of shoes, parents shouldn’t just pick up the first pair they see or the ones that look flashiest. They need to make sure they’re practical first. If shoes have laces, parents should ensure children can tie them or opt for ones with Velcro.

Additionally, children grow quickly, so buying cheaper shoes should be considered for younger children, as well as having both an indoor and outdoor pair.

• Clothing shouldn’t be too complicated, as teachers may not have time to help each student button up a sweater or jacket to go outside for a 10- to 15-minute recess. Students should be able to zip, tie, and button up their own clothes.

leggings

• A backpack is a must, but like shoes it must be practical above all else. While children don’t need a popular cartoon character adorning their bag or a brand name, they do something sturdy, easy to carry, and easily opened.

• Food and drinks can get messy, so having a separate lunch bag can help make sure backpacks and other supplies last longer.

Practice Makes Perfect • N o matter if a child is starting Grade Primary or they’re in one of the upper grades, they are starting a new routine each year. Sometimes this can be waking up at an earlier time or adjusting to new start times as they transition schools.

No matter, parents should start early bedtimes sooner than the night before the first day and go over the morning and afternoon schedules well in advance.

• If a child walks to school, both parents and children should occasionally walk with them to familiarize themselves with the route and find out how long it takes to get to school. Parents should also remind children not to veer from this path, even if they find a quicker way. Any changes to a walking route should be talked about by both parties.

• N ot all lunch containers are created equal or are easy to open; parents should make sure children can open whatever is in their lunch bags.

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Our Children | Fall 2018

Check and Double-Check Information • Check bus information by contacting the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, either by phone or its website.

• Make sure you have a plan for school cancellations or early dismissals.

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• Notes, emails, agendas, newsletters: teachers have a variety of ways to communicate with parents. Find out how your child’s teacher does this, so you don’t miss important information.

• If your school has a cafeteria, check the school website or watch for information coming home early in the year to learn how the cafeteria takes payments and how to order.

erasers

• For younger students, label items, including jackets, hats, shoes, and lunch bags as they can look like another student’s. This can help avoid arguments and help make sure items go home with the child who brought them.

• Not all children, especially younger ones, have cell phones. Even if they do, the battery can die, or they can break. Parents should make sure their children have their emergency contacts and numbers in their backpack.

• Both parents and children should be familiar with scent and food policies in both the classroom and school.

Medical and Personal Hygiene • For younger children, parents should make sure they know proper hand washing techniques.

• Remind children they shouldn’t share utensils and food to limit the spread of germs and illness.

• Public Health officials recommend children aged four to six have their booster shots of Tdap-IPV (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio) and MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Vricella) before starting grade primary. Cara-Leah Hmida, Public Health’s’ manager of health protection for the Central Zone, says if children haven’t received their boosters yet, parents can contact their family doctor or Public Health, if they don’t have a doctor.

• Throughout the day, kids interact with a lot of other people, so sometimes the flu or a cold is unavoidable. Parents should send a small package of tissues with them, so they don’t sneeze on another student or wipe their nose on their sleeve when they start experiencing symptoms.

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FEATURE

Our Children | Fall 2018

Learning how to Be Prepared in the classroom A new book about Frankie MacDonald becomes a learning tool for students

By Richard Woodbury

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Talking about the weather is something Canadians love doing and often serves as an ice breaker to conversations. Not surprisingly, books about weather are popular.

Terrilee Bulger, the co-owner and general manager of Nimbus Publishing, says she’s always been a fan of Frankie MacDonald, the YouTube sensation from Sydney, N.S., who is well known for the weather forecasts he posts online. MacDonald, who has autism, is known for the passion and energy he brings to the forecasts, especially when a storm is expected, which prompts him to say his catch phrase of “Be prepared” as he tells viewers what they can do to get ready.

MacDonald has almost 175,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, about 75,000 followers on Twitter, and almost 14,000 on Facebook. Bulger says she was impressed with how MacDonald built up such a huge online following. While much press has been devoted to MacDonald, Bulger says little was known about his personal story and thought it might make for the subject of a good book, but it turned into something so much more.

“As we started getting deeper into the project, we realized what a good story we had,” she says.

Writer Sarah Sawler, a regular Our Children contributor, was brought on to co-author with MacDonald. The finished product is Be Prepared! The Frankie MacDonald Guide to Life, the Weather, and Everything, a 46-page book that not only tells MacDonald’s life story but uses it as a conduit to educate readers about such things as the weather, bullying, and autism.

The different layers to the book meant Nimbus felt it would be a good fit for use in elementary classrooms, especially given that Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan released last year aims to use more local content in the classroom.

Recognizing the potential the book had for classroom use, Nimbus used the services of its curriculum co-ordinator, Robin Grant, to prepare teaching materials. Doing this increased the likelihood the book would be accepted for use in classrooms.

Bulger says only about one per cent of books the company pitches to Nova Scotia’s Education Department are accepted, so having Be Prepared! accepted was a feat. It’s not yet clear how many classrooms will use the book as a teaching resource.

One of the reasons why local books are preferred is because students can better identify with the material.

“It’s about bringing learners to their homes or what’s familiar to them, and helping them learn from that perspective,” Grant says. She says the book is best suited for students in Grades 4 to 6. Some of the core competencies for children’s education that the book can be used for are citizenship, personal-career development, and critical thinking, and the book can be used in classes such as science, health education, and social studies.

One of the lesson plans prepared by Grant covers bullying.

When MacDonald was 24, some kids stole his bike and smashed it up so badly it couldn’t be used again. His father has offered to buy him a new one, but MacDonald refused. He hasn’t ridden a bike

WHAT CAN KIDS LEARN FROM THE BOOK? For Sarah Sawler, the co-author of Be Prepared! The Frankie MacDonald Guide to Life, the Weather, and Everything, she hopes kids learn factual details like MacDonald’s background and meteorology, but also what some people with autism do when they feel overwhelmed.

“I hope what they take away is everybody’s different, everybody faces their own challenges and at the root of it all, we’re all just people trying to make it through life,” she says. “I hope they understand that, you know, even if they cope with overwhelming situations by banging their heads or flapping their hands or if they have friends or classmates that do, I hope they take away it’s all just a coping mechanism… and we’re all just doing things a little bit differently and all of our minds work differently and we all have different skills. I hope it breaks down some barriers.”

WHAT FRANKIE MacDONALD CAN TEACH KIDS ABOUT OVERCOMING CHALLENGES One of the things that most impresses Sawler about MacDonald is what he’s done in the face of adversity. As a child, he was non-verbal and would make noises to try to communicate.

Through the help of a speech therapist, he learned how to speak, which is something he’s obviously quite comfortable with now.

MacDonald has always been technologically adept, and has become skilled with social media..

As well, his experiences with real-life bullying have prepared him well for the never-ending trolls that can be found online.

“All of these challenges he’s went through and all of these talents he has have come together to make him the success he is,” Sawler says.

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Our Children | Fall 2018

since that incident. As an online personality, MacDonald has also encountered frequent bullying from online trolls.

MacDonald, 34, thinks the book will be helpful for kids to learn about bullying and how kids can deal with it. “It’s going to be

great for them to learn,” he says. His advice for kids experiencing bullying is to tell a parent or teacher.

One of the activities suggests separating a class into no more than five groups and having each group discuss how they’ve

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stood up to bullies. To prep them for that discussion, the teacher should ask the students to consider things like what kinds of bullying they’ve observed or experienced, what tactics worked/didn’t work to stop or prevent the bullying, and why these approaches worked or didn’t work.

“Because it’s so creative and so outside the box, I think there’s a real opportunity for kids to have hands-on experiential learning and creative activities, as opposed to, ‘OK, you know, answer this question in the proper format.’ There’s a lot of real-time learning,” Grant says.

Another example of an exercise covers identifying weather patterns. Students are separated into groups where they’re tasked with acting out a weather pattern, such as a thunderstorm, rainbow, or hurricane. Not only must the students identify the weather pattern, but they must also accurately explain why that type of weather pattern happens by using information sourced from Be Prepared! Grant thinks this exercise will resonate with kids.

“They get to be silly and when they’re having fun, they’re learning so much more,” she says.

Whitney Moran, a managing editor with Nimbus Publishing, says it’s unusual for a book to be able to cover such diverse topics. “[MacDonald’s] interests just seem to coincide with a lot of the curriculum outcomes,” she says.

Besides the potential for what students can learn through Be Prepared!, the book also has compelling narratives.

For example, when MacDonald was a child, his father would put the television on The Weather Network station, which MacDonald was fascinated by. At first, his father thought MacDonald was intrigued by the shapes and colours shown on the screen, but then he came to realize his son was learning things.

“If you were writing a book of fiction, that’s the kind of thing you would think up because it’s so perfect,” Moran says.

“You’d just get these stories that felt too good to be true.”

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NUTRITION

Winning lunches How to pack a nutritious school lunch your kids will enjoy

By Edwena Kennedy

A

s a parent of school-aged children, packing school lunches may be something you dread every year as the kids get geared up to head back to school. Packing school lunches can be frustrating for all, but especially when your child brings home a full lunch bag. As a registered pediatric dietitian, I always recommend going the route of packing snacks whenever possible, albeit arming yourself with a few of my top tips and tricks to keep snacks both healthy and appropriate to match the needs of your outing.

Variety Try to include a variety of different foods from different food groups in your child’s lunch box. It can be easy to get into a food rut and pack the same thing over and over, and sometimes it can be difficult to come up with new ideas.

Variety doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. It could be as simple as making your child’s favorite sandwich on a wrap or pita instead of bread. Including a variety of foods not only keeps kids from getting bored, it’s a great way to ensure your child is getting a wide variety of nutrients. Try to include a protein, a healthy fat, a high fiber carb, a fruit, and finally a vegetable with each lunch. Here are some examples of lunches I’ve packed over the last year for some inspiration: Lunch #1: leftover meat, rice and tomato stuffing from a stuffed pepper dish I made earlier in the week, a fruit salad with kiwi, mango, and apple, ready-to-go frozen corn kernels I let thaw in the lunchbox (always defrosts by lunchtime), celery sticks with soy butter and a sprinkle of hemp seeds, and some Hungry Buddha coconut chips for a healthy fat.

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NUTRITION

Lunch #2: rotisserie chicken and cheese quesadilla (protein and healthy carb), avocado (fruit + healthy fat), tomato (actually a fruit, but hey, I’m counting it as a veggie for the day), persimmons (fruit), and unsalted plain popcorn (healthy carb).

Getting your children involved Allowing your children choice over what goes into their lunch can make the world of difference in whether they eat it. It could be bringing them to the grocery store and letting them help pick out snacks or ingredients or giving them options to choose from such as, “Would you like an apple or an orange today?” I always like to scroll through some inspiration online with them and allow them to pick out a few ideas we could try together. They love doing this. Finally, get them involved in the packing process, even just packing one item every morning. Children who pack their lunch feel a greater sense of pride and control over what they’re eating, which means greater chances of coming home with an empty lunch box.

Make it child friendly Before sending your child off to school with their lunch, it’s always a good idea to make sure they can open all the lunch box containers, packages, and baggies.

It sounds simple, but this may be one of the reasons why they’re coming home with untouched food. Kids often don’t have much time to eat their lunch or don’t always have an adult around to help them, so making lunches easy to open and access is key. A great tip is to place a rubber elastic band around a thermos lid so that it provides extra grip and makes it easier for kids to open.

Our Children | Fall 2018

Invest in a good lunchbox This can be extremely important, especially for picky eaters.

It’s common for children to not want their foods touching, so I recommend investing in a lunch box that has separate containers or sections, like a bento box. This not only looks appealing, it helps keep moist foods moist and dry foods dry. Nobody enjoys a soggy sandwich.

You can buy some inexpensive ones that don’t break the bank, like the Cool Gear Ez-Freeze Collapsible Bento Box (only $10.47) or go a little fancier with a highly durable leak proof Bentgo lunchbox that shows all the contents immediately upon opening ($37 online).

27 Ensure the correct temperature

Have patience

Some days you may feel as though your child is one of the three little bears and you can’t seem to get the temperature of their food just right. To ensure food stays cold make sure to have an insulated lunch bag with ice packs. If packing the night before you can even put the whole bag in the fridge to make sure everything stays cold! On the other hand, when trying to keep things hot it may be helpful to heat up your child’s thermos with hot water before filling with their lunch (soup, pasta, etc.). These tips may not only make the food more appealing, it will decrease the risk of your child contracting a food borne illnesses.

Although it may be frustrating when your child doesn’t eat all their packed lunch, try to move on. The more pressure you put on your kids to eat their lunch, the more likely they will do the opposite. Your job as a parent is to ensure your child has lots of healthy options at lunch time. It’s their job to decide what and how much they are going to eat. Everyday may not be consistent and that is okay. Trust your child to follow his or her own hunger cues.

Without added pressure you may find the lunchbox comes home empty more often.

Edwena Kennedy is the registered pediatric dietitian and mom of two behind My Little Eater (mylittleeater.com), an online course platform with multiple courses to help parents raise happy, healthy eaters from ages six months to 12 years. Sign up for her free resource, 25 lunch ideas for your school-aged child. She lives in Halifax, N.S. and loves to travel with her family, try cuisines from all over the world, and does interior decorating in her spare time.

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PARENTING HEALTH & WELLNESS

Our Children | Fall 2018

Everybody’s different on everybody street Re-release of landmark children’s book underlines continuing relevance of original message of inclusiveness

PHOTO: PAUL DARROW

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By Starr Cunningham

I

t’s practically impossible to be a child or parent in Nova Scotia and not recognize the name Sheree Fitch. This colourful and charming poet, author, and literacy advocate is one of our province’s most cherished resources. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to call her both a role model and friend.

I first met Sheree when I worked for CTV Atlantic. She joined me on the interview set many times to share her latest works with confidence, silliness, and a contagious smile.

Beyond appearing as a guest on CTV, Sheree

also offered wisdom and support when I forayed into the world of children’s literature.

While writing My Goat Gertrude and Gertrude at the Beach she openly shared many words of encouragement and inspiration with me.

Needless to say, I was honoured when she invited me to MC the opening of her amazing Mable Murple’s Book Shoppe & Dreamery in River John just last summer.

I write all this because it’s almost uncanny that our paths have crossed, so intricately, once again. This time because of our passion for mental health awareness and education.

Starr Cunningham (left) and Sheree Fitch at the grand opening of Fitch’s Mable Murple’s Book Shoppe & Dreamery in River John last summer.

Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street is the title of her tried and true book written to raise awareness of mental illness and addiction. It was first released more than 17 years ago as a poem designed to be a fundraiser for the Nova Scotia Hospital Foundation. That was the name of our organization back in 2001, long before I joined the team and before we grew into the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

Some things change, and some things don’t. Thankfully, Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street is one of those gems that has stayed the course.

The poem was commissioned by the Foundation to recognize the 10th anniversary of our signature event, Festival of Trees, which celebrates 27 years on Nov. 23 and 24. At first, Sheree was hesitant to get involved. She worried the stigma of mental illness was just too strong. But after talking it over with her husband, Gilles, she realized she was the right person and it was precisely the right time to get people talking about mental illness.

“Seventeen years ago, some people thought this was a good idea,” Sheree says.

“Seventeen years later it still is, and while the stigma surrounding mental illness has been challenged, it’s still there.”

That’s exactly why Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street was re-released by

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Nimbus Publishing earlier this year. Its message of tolerance and understanding is just as pertinent now.

“This book is just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago,” says Nimbus Publishing General Manager, Terrilee Bulgar.

“The rhyming text, which celebrates the differences in people, is both playful and profound and relays an important message to young and old alike. We are thrilled Sheree and (illustrator) Emma (Fitzgerald) were able to collaborate to bring this message to a new generation of readers.”

“It’s an ongoing, never-ending educational piece,” Sheree says. “I’m beside myself happy this book has come out again. There are universal topics here. We just don’t know what’s going on with the people we encounter. We can’t know what they might be going through.”

Given its message of tolerance and acceptance, Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street resonates with both children and adults. The common refrain throughout the book is simple, yet incredibly insightful…

“If ever you go travelling on Everybody Street, you’ll see everybody’s different than everyone you meet.”

I had the pleasure of hearing Sheree read her book at a Foundation fundraiser in Pictou County just last year. The sold-out audience at our Models for Mental Health event joined in with their home county sweetheart to belt out the familiar refrain that’s included on every second page.

Hearing so many voices unite to add volume to Sheree’s message of hope and love brought tears to my eyes and a swell of pride to my heart. Sometimes it’s the simplest things that have the most impact. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the case for Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street.

While I appreciate every page of this beautifully illustrated book, there’s one page that always makes me pause. Its rhyme is unassuming and written for a child to understand, yet it hits the nail squarely on the head when it comes to describing the human condition.

“Some prefer the sunshine, some live in the dark Some of us have shelter, some sleep in the park Some are mad as thunder, some are sad as rain Most of us are glad at times, and… all of us know pain.”

When asked where the inspiration for this timeless poem came from, Sheree’s answer proves yet again why she was most certainly the right person to take on this project for the Foundation.

“I think it was a given poem Starr,” Sheree says. “I think it came to me for a reason.”

Sheree, I think so too.

You can order Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street online or purchase it at a bookstore near you. Published by Nimbus Publishing, Everybody’s Different on Everybody Street features Sheree’s words and artwork by Emma Fitzgerald.

Starr Cunningham is the president and CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

She’s an acclaimed journalist, best-selling children’s author, and volunteer. She was recently recognized as a Canadian Difference Maker – 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health and is a winner of the Northwood Foundation 2017 Live More Advocacy Award.

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www.csap.ca The original book from 2001 and the new one that was just re-released.

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BOOK REVIEWS

Our Children | Fall 2018

Kelsey Berg

By ErinBy McIntosh & Rowan Morrissy

The Goat Story by Anne Fleming Groundwood Books Ages 8 to 12 Meet Kid, a shy girl with a love for cats whose stuck in one of the busiest cities in the world pet-sitting a dog. For the next six months Kid and her parents are in New York City looking after a distant cousin’s apartment and his big dog named Cat. Kid is overwhelmed meeting the many residents of the building until she befriends a homeschooled boy named Will. When Will tells Kid about the rumor of a mountain goat living on the roof of her apartment building, the two set out to learn the truth, even if it means having to confront their fears. Readers will enjoy this exciting, quirky read that follows the adventures of Kid, Will, and the other apartment residents who are all connected to the mystery of the goat.

A Family Is A Family Is A Family

From Far Away

Story by Sara O’Leary Illustrated by Qin Leng Groundwood Books Ages 5 to 8

Story by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar Illustrated by Rebecca Green Annick Press Ages 4 to 8

This heartwarming story starts with a teacher asking her students what makes their families special. The pages that follow explore the many different types of families, including single parents, adoptive parents, co-parents, same-sex couples, and blended families. An important read that celebrates difference, children will likely find their families represented within this book.

Readers will also enjoy the whimsical artwork by award-winning illustrator Qin Leng, which really brings this story to life.

Originally published in 1995, this updated version tells the real-life story of Saoussan Askar, a young Lebanese girl who moved to Canada with her family after a war broke out in her home country. An accurate portrayal of the struggles children face with culture shock and language barriers when integrating into society. This book is a helpful resource for immigrant children as well as their classmates to better understand what some of their peers are going through.

100 Things You Don’t Know About Atlantic Canada For Kids Story by Sarah Sawler Nimbus Publishing Ages 8 to 12 From the author of the best-selling 100 Things You Don’t Know About Nova Scotia comes an expanded East Coast version just for kids. Focusing on all the Atlantic Canadian provinces, Sawler has collected 100 wacky, fun, and interesting facts that are sure to please the most curious of minds.

Sawler also includes helpful explanations for historical terms or other words kids may not be familiar with. Filled with photos and interactive sidebars, this entertaining and educational book is a must-read for kids.

A Halifax Time-Travelling Tune Story by Jan L. Coates Illustrated by Marijke Simons Nimbus Publishing Ages 4 to 8 After waking up to the sound of a whimsical tune, a young girl and her dog are transported back in time to 1950s Halifax. Together they explore popular landmarks such as Citadel Hill, Point Pleasant Park, the Public Gardens, and many more. Accompanied by dreamy illustrations, readers will enjoy flipping the pages to reveal the many familiar sights in Halifax while learning about the history of the city. This story is sure to spark interest and conversation about the past, allowing parents to share their own stories and experiences..

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