Birmingham Parent Magazine November 2017

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

NOVEMBER 2017

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THE 2017

PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE RESOURCES FOR

GIFTED STUDENTS

PRIVATE SCHOOL ACCREDITATIONS: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

DO YOU HAVE THE

HEART OF ADOPTION?

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ed note TURKEY AND DRESSING It’s one of the Thanksgiving staples of the southern home – turkey and dressing. My northern and western neighbors may call it stuffing, but in the South, it’s “dressing.” Everyone has their favorite recipe – all cornbread, partial loaf bread, adding sausage or rice, lots of sage, a little sage, etc.

For me, no one could make it quite like my mom. Hers was an all-cornbread recipe – and she was generous with the sage. It was cornbread, onions, celery, salt, pepper, sage, chicken broth and hard boiled eggs. She never really could tell me exactly how much of each to use. She’d say, “Just taste it.”

Or she’d just say, “Add the ingredients until you like the way it looks.”

She has been gone for more than 20 years. For so long the holidays have been bittersweet to me. I love to celebrate with my husband, children and family, but it makes me miss her so much more during those special occasions. I did have the good sense to make the dressing with her enough to be able to make her recipe now – even though there’s really no written recipe. And now, my husband and children think no one else can make it like I can. And I kind of like that.

Except for the year I added too much sage. And it was BAD. Now the joke is, “not too much sage!” They are right, but it’s yet another memory that my own family has built together. Other family members have said it was dry – and they are right. That’s how we like it. Better dry with gravy on it.

I’m trying to write that recipe down now. I want Hillary and Keith to be able to make MY dressing someday, if they want to. They can share it came from their Grandma Dot that they knew just for a little while, but still can enjoy something she started, and we passed down.

As I go through my old recipe box, I still find cherished recipe cards and bits of paper in her handwriting. No one else would know, but I do. Someday these will be Hillary’s and Keith’s.

We’ve built our own Thanksgiving memories, me and my little family. We’ve done it with a simple dressing. Of course, there’s also the deviled eggs – another favorite at my house – ham, and the sweet potato casserole my son thinks we must have. I’m glad he likes mine – another special recipe to hand down to him. I hope you and your family enjoy your family traditions and are building new ones of your own!

Hope you enjoy this issue, and have a very happy THANKSGIVING! (updated and shared again from November 2014) Carol Muse Evans Publisher/editor carol@birminghamparent.com

ABOUT THE EDITORS: Carol Muse Evans is the publisher/editor/owner of Birmingham Parent magazine, a publication she and her husband David began in 2004. The Birmingham, Alabama-based parenting publication attracts more than 60,000 readers monthly in a four-county area and receives 10,000 hits per month on its website. The magazine has a 20,000+ print circulation, plus several thousand in readership of the digital edition online. It is the only independently audited free publication in our area. Evans is an award-winning writer and editor who has also has written for several other publications as a freelance writer since the late 80s. She is a graduate of Auburn University in journalism and is a graduate of Scottsboro High School. She is married with two grown children and lives in Alabaster. She is a member of the National Federation of Press Women, Alabama Media Professionals and Southeastern Advertisers and Publishers Association (SAPA). Evans also serves on the board of directors of Childcare Resources.

Lori Chandler Pruitt is associate editor of Birmingham Parent, where she is responsible for the calendar and editorial editing. She also is a freelancer for Business Alabama magazine and has written/edited for several other publications. This award-winning writer and editor is a graduate of the University of Alabama in news/editorial and Hueytown High School. She is married with two children.

4 | birminghamparent | november 2017

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editorial PUBLISHERS David & Carol Evans EDITOR Carol Muse Evans ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Chandler Pruitt OFFICE ASSISTANTS Bethany Adams Hunley, Kate Hankins CALENDAR Lori Chandler Pruitt E-BLASTS Lacey Updegraff CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Vivian Friedman, Charles Ghigna, Stephanie Rodda, Paige Townley, Emily Reed, Dr. Corey Hartman, Dr. Wahib Mena

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BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publishers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN200694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or editor@birminghamparent. com. Birmingham Parent is © 2017 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2017 by Evans Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.

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contents

2017 PRIVATE SCHOOL ACCREDITATIONS page 12

Selecting the appropriate school to meet the educational needs of your child can be a daunting or confusing task. Parents often seek schools that nurture their children’s needs both in and out of the classroom. With several private schools in the Birmingham and surrounding areas, is it important to know some of the differ-

14

ences between the various accreditations to help with the selection process.

our focus

our features

our regulars

PRIVATE SCHOOL ISSUE

CHECK IT OUT

EDITOR’S NOTE Turkey and Dressing.........................4

2017 Private School Accreditations...................................12

34

Resources for Gifted Students................................16

PARENTING with Dr. Friedman...............................7 Short Stuff........................................... 8

Birmingham Parent’s Private School Directory 2017....................18

School News.....................................10 ASK THE SPECIALIST A Parent's Guide to the NICU......28

DESTINATION GUIDE: Forrest Hills, Dahlonega, GA....... 34

Do You Have the Heart of Adoption?.........................22

12

BABY AND ME The Potential for Premature Birth...............................32 HEALTHY SKIN IS BEYOND BEAUTIFUL Grow a Great Skin Care Regimen - Part II..............................36

Fighting for a Cure for Clara........26

NOVEMBER CALENDAR of Events............................................39

New Easterseals Clinic Open in St. Clair County...............30

POETRY PARTY Puppy Love.......................................46

ON THE COVER: Leighton, age 4, is exploring school options with her family. Photo by Glenn Walker.

PAR E N TI N G

Parenting with Dr. Friedman We are two emotionally and financially stable parents in a good marriage. We love our three children and provide for them. We are both employed long hours in professional careers. We carefully selected a stimulating, academic day care program which our children attended as toddlers. Now, while we work, they get to play with friends in after-school care. Our 10-year-old daughter (the oldest) is a spoiled child who seems never to get enough to make her happy. If we buy her something, she is happy only for the moment and then wants more. If she has a birthday party, she enjoys the attention she gets as birthday girl but wants to be special the next day as well.

How can we change her demanding behavior?

Your child might be emotionally deprived and needy rather than spoiled and demanding.

Children with professionally successful parents, who see little of their parents, are often empty or even depressed children. Empty children sometimes try to fill up with material things when what they really want is loving attention.

Many children of busy professional parents can seem well adjusted because they typically do well in school. They do so because they are usually bright and can get the attention they need from teachers by excelling. Often they describe school as the place where they are the happiest.

Yet these children who see little of their parents feel empty on the inside much of the time and often lack self-esteem. This leads to a downward spiral of experience because, lacking a stable internal sense of self-esteem, they are unable to shrug off the inevitable teasing or name calling by peers that the

more secure child can handle. So not only are they hurt by their parents’ absence, they can sometimes be targets for peers as well.

Busy working parents sometimes give material gifts in place of time and attention.

This can contribute to the child’s seeming materialistic. He or she has simply learned to label the empty feelings as needing things, when in fact the child needs hugs, affection and time.

Sometimes a child realizes that she wants mom or dad and not gifts. Yet she might feel that she cannot ask for time from parents who have made it clear that work comes first.

Instead the child tries to fill the emptiness inside with things that come from parents, and therefore represent the parents, when she can’t have the parent herself. The parent then sees the child as being materialistic. Of course, after years of this, the materialism becomes part of the child’s personality and coping style.

It is important to spend time with your

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child at age ten because later she will not readily accept your attention. By adolescence, the child will feel the same emptiness but she will no longer be at a stage of development where a parent can directly fill that need. Peers become the focus for teens and the empty teen is vulnerable to choosing the wrong crowd.

Working parents are often puzzled by the child’s seeming unawareness of the parent’s love for the child. “She should know that we love her,” they say. While your child may know in her head that you love her, she often does not feel it in her heart. Actions, in the form of time spent together, speak louder than words.

Reprinted from November 2016 Vivian K. Friedman Ph. D. is a child and family psychologist at UAB, Department of Psychiatry.

Send questions for response in this column to Viviankf@gmail.com. No personal replies are sent.

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S H O RT STU FF 4 Ways to Teach Your Child Resilience

By Shelly Brown Resilience – the ability to bounce back from less than ideal experiences – may not be the first thing that comes to mind when teaching your child valuable life skills. And yet it is critical to leading a successful life. Nobody’s life is without challenges and the need for resilience. The good news is that resilience is a skill that can be cultivated and taught to even the youngest of children, despite the fact that they may not even be old enough to spell ‘resilience.’

Here are four easy ways you can begin instilling this important virtue in your child.

1. You Are Probably Already Preparing Your Child to be Resilient That’s right. You are probably already on the right track. Researchers have found that if children receive good quality care, nutrition, learning opportunities, and have strong relationships in their early years, they are more likely to be resilient when they enter school and society.

2. Make It Fun One of my favorite ways to teach resilience to children is with a Japanese Daruma doll.

Daruma dolls are round, hollow, and used for ceremonial goal making. Each doll comes with no pupils and big white eyes. You are supposed to make a goal and draw him one pupil. At

that point, the doll has partial vision. When you complete the goal, you can draw in the other pupil and give Daruma full vision. But the feature that I like is that he has a weighted bottom, and much like a classic blow-up punching bag, you can tip him over but he will always stand upright again.

3. Teach By Example Talking to them is nice, but leading by example is really the best. When you burn the meal, laugh it off and tell them what you learned. When you miss a shot, forget an event, or don’t get the promotion, talk to them about it. Openly admit your disappointments and mistakes. That makes it less scary for a child when they encounter the normal bumps and missteps of life. They will know that they can smile, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

4. Encourage Positive Self Talk We all get discouraged but do we allow ourselves to stew in that disappointment?

Hopefully not. The power of positive words has been shown by social scientists again and again to lift our spirits and change our mood.

Retraining our brains to say positive things might take time and effort but it is well worth it.

When your child is young, you might have to be that voice for them. Remind them that making mistakes is part of life; that they are doing an

awesome job of getting into the fray of things and trying even if they fail, that they should be proud of their bravery, and that their worth is not based on the views of others.

As children try to achieve their goals, it is likely they’ll get discouraged. And that’s okay.

They’ll likely experience some failures and that’s normal. In fact, it’s expected. So long as they get up one more time than they fall down, they will always be successful.

Shelly Brown, an elementary school teacher in Northern Utah and the author of Mustaches for Maddie, a middle grade novel based on the true story of her daughter’s recovery from brain surgery.

New PBS Show Teaches Physical Science Concepts The animated canine star of the classic PBS KIDS series Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman is back with an all-new shortform digital series, The Ruff Ruffman Show. Ruff and his friends will help kids ages 4-8 explore physical science concepts through video, gaming, an app and offline activities for families to do together.

Produced by WGBH Boston and designed to help kids learn through new formats and interactive content, The Ruff Ruffman Show is a multiplatform media experience available on the free PBS KIDS video app and pbskids.org.

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New Babysitting App Expands

Wyndy, a mobile app that connects parents to college babysitters, has expanded to Tuscaloosa. The free app leverages technology to enable parents to find, book and pay reliable sitters all within one platform. Each Wyndy (babysitter) is heavily vetted and attends a top-tier local college.

Birmingham locals Ginger and Tommy Mayfield founded Wyndy out of a desire to solve problems they experienced personally when trying to find and book babysitters. The app launched in Birmingham in March.

The process is streamlined – parents post a babysitting job with a chosen hourly rate, Wyndys apply for openings that fit their schedule and parents securely pay sitters through the app when jobs are complete. Parents also have the opportunity to browse all sitter profiles, filter by preferences and offer jobs directly to a curated list of Wyndys.

This service provides a mutuallybeneficial opportunity as undergraduate and graduate students looking for flexible work while in school can make a viable income, build their resume and connect with local families by becoming a Wyndy.

Parents and qualified Wyndy applicants can download the app for free at Wyndy.com or directly through the App Store or Google Play.

New Children’s Christian Book Series “Fruit that Lasts” Where all the dental needs of your child can be met under one roof!

Dr. Olga Sanchez-Hernandez is dual trained as a pediatric dentist and a board certified orthodontist

A new five-book series called “Fruit That Lasts” helps children better understand how to live in the fullness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. A modern-day parable, “Fruit That Lasts” is a series of fun and engaging stories that help parents, grandparents and children’s ministry leaders in sharing a complex religious topic with younger children.

Kristi Smith of Birmingham and Nena Jackson of Charleston, SC are of the series, which follows the adventures and misadventures of little fruit trees Franny Fig and Polly Pomegranate (Pom Pom for short) and their grandmothers, Nana and Rue Rue. Franny and Pom Pom learn from their grandmothers what they need to grow into full fruit trees.

Smith and Jackson worked with Charlestonbased Moondog Animation Studio. The books are published by Charleston-based Relevant Pages Press. Learn more about the book series at www.fruitthatlasts.com.

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How Heavy Is Your Child’s Backpack?

When kids carry more than 10 percent of their body weight, injuries can lead to health problems lasting into adulthood.

Think the books and school supplies that your child is carrying in a backpack slung haphazardly across one shoulder are harmless? Think again. Heavy loads can cause injuries and low back pain that often lasts through adulthood.

“A child wearing a backpack incorrectly or that is too heavy can be contributing risk factors for discomfort, fatigue, muscle soreness, and musculoskeletal pain, especially in the lower back,” says Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, clinical professor of occupational therapy at Boston University.

Luckily, preventing discomfort and pain is simple. The American Occupational Therapy Association (www.aota.org) offers the following tips: • Select a backpack that is the correct size for your child.

• Make sure the height of the backpack extends from approximately two inches below the shoulder blades to waist level, or slightly above the waist.

• Always wear well-padded shoulder straps on both shoulders so the weight is evenly balanced.

• Distribute weight evenly. Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back and balance materials so the child can easily stand up straight.

• Wear the hip belt if the backpack has one, to improve balance and take some strain off sensitive neck and shoulder muscles.

• Check that the child’s backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of his or her body weight. If it weighs more, determine what supplies can stay at home or at school each day to lessen the load.

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SC H O OL NE W S Tuskegee Creates Blueprint for Computer Science Education, Receives Grant A recent $300,000 pilot grant from the National Science Foundation will enhance Tuskegee University’s outreach to Alabama’s Black Belt and its emphasis on cultivating interest in STEM-related disciplines.

The grant, part of NSF’s INCLUDES – Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science – program will help Tuskegee faculty develop a blueprint for and implement a computer science curriculum focused on eighth graders in Dallas, Hale and Macon counties. The grant will help increase vital access to science and technology education this three-county portion of Alabama’s Black Belt, recognized as some of most socioeconomically depressed parts of the United States.

Tuskegee faculty will offer teachers in these three counties’ school districts professional development efforts to ready them to teach the new computer science curriculum in the 2018-19 school year.

The model curriculum with feature exciting and structured hands-on activities intended to make computer science learning enjoyable. It will rely on the “learning computer science by making” educational style, where students create a computer science-based product (such as a robot) and learn the concepts that make the product work.

Tuskegee’s project is one of 27 across the nation funded through the NSF INCLUDES program.

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Register for ASMS Day at www.asms.net.

students who are intelligent and work hard for academic success. In 2017, the 82 ASMS grads

ASMS is our state’s only fully public, residential

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Private School Issue

2017 Private School Accreditations: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

By Emily Reed

Selecting the appropriate school to meet the educational needs of your child can be a daunting or confusing task. Parents often seek schools that nurture their children’s needs both in and out of the classroom.

With several private schools in the Birmingham and surrounding areas, is it important to know some of the differences between the various accreditations to help with the selection process.

American Montessori Society (AMS) The American Montessori Society accreditation is the benchmark of standards to be an authentic Montessori program. Schools can be associate members of the AMS, but to have the accreditation is very special and difficult to achieve, according to Michele Wilensky of Hilltop Montessori School. “It is an assurance to parents that the environment is an authentic Montessori program, which meets very rigorous standards and 12 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Selecting the appropriate school to meet the educational needs of your child can be a daunting or confusing task. Parents often seek schools that nurture their children’s needs both in and out of the classroom.

expectations,” Wilensky says. Hilltop Montessori School is housed in a Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) school with the USGBA (U.S. Green Building Council) and the campus is certified as a natural habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.

The school is also a member of the National Council of Private School Accreditation, she adds.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The board of directors of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) and the Board of Trustees of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) made a unanimous decision to unify their organizations, according to information provided on advance-ed.org. The National Study of School Evaluation also joined the unification.

The result was AdvancED – a single, comprehensive organization dedicated to advancing the quality of education for students worldwide. AdvancED is the “largest community of education professionals in the world,” according to the organization’s website.

Combining the knowledge and expertise of a research institute, the skills of a management consulting firm and the passion of a grassroots movement for educational change, the organization serves as a partner to 34,000 educational institutions, employing more than four million educators and enrolling more than 20 million students across the United States and 70 other nations.

Briarwood Christian School follows the same guidelines as the public schools systems, and is accredited by AdvancED, according to Debbie Robertson with Briarwood Christian School. birminghamparent.com | 13

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Private School Issue

In addition to the school’s AdvancED accreditation, they have Exemplary School Accreditation status through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), Robertson adds. As of the school’s last accreditation in spring 2015, less than five schools nationally and internationally held this status.

ACSI serves more than 23,000 schools from 100 countries. ACSI partners with AdvancED through the accreditation process, following the same protocol and adhering to the same standards. ACSI adds additional standards to increase the rigor of expectations, as well as the addition of Biblical worldview integration, according to Robertson.

The Alabama Independent School Association also holds a partnership with AdvanceED/SACS and serves as the Lead Agency in the partnership. The partnership allows schools to obtain AISA and SACS accreditation through one seamless process, with the AISA serving as the managing partner in the process and utilizing AdvancED unique protocols and platforms, according to aisaonline.org.

National Association of Independent Schools The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a non-profit membership association that provides services to more than 1,800 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,500 independent private K-12 schools in the United States, according to information on nais.org.

Independent schools are non-profit private schools that are independent in philosophy: each is driven by a unique mission.

The schools are also managed and financed with each being governed by an independent board of trustees and is primarily support through tuition payments and charitable contributions. The schools are accountable to their communities and are accredited by state-approved accrediting bodies, the website states.

National Association of Private Schools Schools accredited by the National Association of Private Schools have demonstrated a history of providing their students with a quality educational program, according to information provided by napsaccreditation.com.

Schools accredited by NAPS seek to meet or exceed state and national traditional educational guidelines in their pre-school through high school educational programs.

NAPS offers accreditation to schools that are concerned about both the mastery of basic academic skills and the character development of each child in their school.

The NAPS is an independent, third party accreditation agency non-affiliated from NAPS accredited schools, providing they have the proper academic credentials, testing and transcripts have entered colleges and universities, military services, church and educational ministries, and business ownership and the workplace.

The main advantage that state accreditation provides is the transfer of a student’s work from a state-accredited school to another state-accredited school, according to the website.

Emily Reed is a Birmingham freelance writer.

100% of John Carroll students attend either a four-year or two-year college with acceptance to over 150 colleges. John Carroll Catholic High School values the development of the whole person through spiritual growth, academics, the arts, athletics, and discipline in the context of a Christ-centered environment.

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HONORS/AP COURSES

John Carroll’s academic curriculum offers 17 AP courses and a rigorous course of study at the Honors level

NEW COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMIES Honors Academy, Fine Arts Academy, Social Justice Academy, Engineering Academy

11.2 MILLION DOLLARS 123 students graduated in 2017 earning $11.2 in scholarships

29

STATE CHAMPIONS

John Carroll has a rich tradition of athletic success and has produced 29 state champions and currently competes in 6A John Carroll Catholic High School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and a member of the AHSAA Alabama High School Athletic Association (6A).

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100% of students complete a minimum of 75 hours of community service across the Birmingham area

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Your donation helps Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama keep families with sick children together and close to the medical care they need, when they need it most.

GIVE THE GIFT OF TOGETHERNESS Donate or learn more about volunteering at RMHCA.org. birminghamparent.com | 15

Private School Issue

At Crisis Camp, gifted students become a part of a problem solving team while exploring possible future careers.

Brother and sister were both invite to attend the week-long Crisis Camp in Georgia.

Resources for Gifted Students

By Stephanie Rodda

Because gifted students excel in some areas, they might sometimes be perceived as needing no special help and doing just fine on their own.

Unfortunately, their unique needs are sometimes overlooked because of this misconception. Just because they don’t struggle in the same way as other children in the academic setting does not mean they don’t face real challenges that need addressing.

Research shows that when gifted students aren’t properly challenged academically, the result can be boredom, poor study habits and even troubling behavior issues. Each child deserves the opportunity to reach their individual potential. Resources and training for teachers and other staff are necessary to be able to best serve all students.

Lannette Lackey, who is a gifted specialist with the Jefferson County Education System, expresses her concern about this underfunded area.

“Gifted education just recently began receiving a tiny bit of funding. It is only about $3 per child, per year.”

Lackey explains that each child participating in the gifted education program has a GEP (general education plan) which outlines the services the child will receive. “All gifted students are supposed to receive a minimum of three hours per week in gifted pull out resource class,” she adds. And of course, the additional resources available differ from school to school and state to state.

According to the National Association for Gifted Children, and data collected in 2014-2015, of the 744,238 total student population of 16 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Alabama, the number of identified gifted students was 61,431. That’s a significant number of children and children are, after all our greatest resource and hope for the future of our state. They are worth investing in.

Children often need an advocate when it comes to their educational needs. Whether homeschooled or educated in public or private school, parents can be the most important advocate a student can have. Audrey Braxton Pitt has benefited from the support and guidance that Lackey and others in the public school system have provided.

Pitt has two children who participate in gifted education programs.

“For me, they made themselves available for extra conferences, made me aware of special opportunities, and encouraged me to learn to advocate for my kids. I can’t speak to the level of support for all public schools, but in my personal experience, it has been phenomenal.”

Debbie Landry, homeschool administrator for Crossroads Christian School explains that many parents may doubt their ability to educate a gifted student at home and yet can be quite successful doing so. “Homeschooling is an individualized approach to education, designed by the parents for the student. So, parents of a gifted student would only be limited by their imagination,” she says.

Homeschooling parents “become experts in whatever their students need; they seek out the books, tools, resources they need for their students. This is across the board for regular students, gifted students, or special needs students,” Landry says.

According to the Alabama Association for Gifted Children, “Some families concerned about the availability of challenging content and rigorous instruction seek alternate options, such as private schools or home schooling.” It is always good to have options, however, due to economic limitations and other factors, public school is sometimes the only option for a child. Public school should have the proper funding to provide resources for the special needs of all students including those who are considered gifted.”

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Programs such as Duke TIP (tip.duke.edu) is a valuable resource for gifted students. It provides many services and programs that meet the needs of gifted children that can be used to supplement or strengthen classroom and homeschooling efforts.

Pitt’s son and daughter have been members of Mensa International since they were nine. Known as ‘the high IQ society’, Mensa membership “provides them with a network of resources and support, as well as a local group of Young Mensans close to their age who participate in monthly outings.” More about Mensa, their requirements and benefits can be found at mensa.org.

Often students can be identified as possibly gifted in the second grade, as was the case with the Pitt family. This led to IQ testing and placement in gifted programs. Unfortunately, giftedness is not always so easily identified. According to Myths About Gifted Students, a PowerPoint presentation found at haikudeck.com, “Some gifted students also have learning or other disabilities. These ‘twice-exceptional’ students often go undetected in regular classrooms because their disability and gifts mask each other.”

Whether we choose homeschooling, public school or private school, we all want the same thing. We want to provide the best chances for our children to learn and grow. Better training and resources for teachers and parents will result in better opportunities for all students, including gifted students.

Stephanie Rodda is an author, freelance writer and homeschooling mother. She lives in the Birmingham area with her husband and seven children.

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Birmingham/Central Alabama PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY 2017 AREA PRIVATE SCHOOLS Advent Episcopal School 2019 Sixth Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-252-2535 mdykes@ adventepiscopalschool.org www.adventepiscopalschool.org Advent Episcopal School, located in downtown Birmingham, offers a highly accelerated curriculum for bright students in grades 4K-8. Beforeschool and after-school care is available.

The Altamont School 4801 Altamont Rd. S. Birmingham, AL 35222 205-879-2006 tgoldsmith@altamontschool.org www.altamontschool.org The Mission of the Altamont School is to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, well-educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas.

Briarwood Christian School • North Campus (Grades K4-6) 2204 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243-2900 • South Campus (Grades 7-12) 6255 Cahaba Valley Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-776-5812 Kmooney@bcsk12.org www.BriarwoodChristianSchool.org Providing excellence in education in a Christ-centered

environment through impactoriented leadership that will challenge and inspire the whole student. Accredited

by AdvancEd/ Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Evangel Classical Christian School 423 Thompson Rd. Alabaster, AL 35007 205-216-0149 rharrington@evangelclassical.org www.evangelclassical.org ECCS seeks to educate children to spiritual maturity through the classical model and Biblical training using the Christian worldview as our foundation for all learning.

Integrity Christian Academy 216 Roebuck Dr. Birmingham, AL 35215 205-833-4416 churchoffice@ integritybiblechurch.org www.integritychristianacademy.org Preschool, kindergarten and elementary classes. ABEKA academic, Bible curriculum and training. Character development and discipline.

John Carroll Catholic High School 300 Lakeshore Pkwy.

Birmingham, AL 35209 205- 940-2400 www.jcchs.org JCCHS values the development of the whole person through spiritual growth, academics, the arts, athletics, and discipline in the context of a Christ-centered environment.

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18 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy 5509 Timber Hill Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-995-8709 www.jbma.org For over 30 years, JBMA has equipped children with the essential skills and knowledge they need to thrive as a successful adult. Enrolling toddlers - 8th grade.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School 1720 Oxmoor Road Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3237 www.olsschool.com Fostering a Christ-centered environment that includes strong academics, technology and enrichment opportunities.

Educating young minds in K3-8 grade. SACS accredited.

N.E. Miles Jewish Day School 4000 Montclair Rd. Birmingham, AL 35213 205-879-1068 RWeinberger@nemjds.org www.nemjds.org The N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, a SACS accredited K-8 program, features a low studentteacher ratio, high academic standards, and a values-based, creative, and collaborative learning environment where students reach their full potential.

Victory Christian School P.O. Box 710/154 Victory Dr. Pell City, AL 35125 205-338-2901 www.victorychristianschool.cc VCS is a private Christian school located in Pell City, AL. We are accredited by Advanced ED and AISA and play in the AHSAA.

Odyssey Early Sch​ools • INVERNESS CAMPUS 104 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-991-0039 • TRACE CROSSINGS CAMPUS 401 Emery Dr. Hoover, AL 35244 205-988-8829 www.odysseyearlyschool.com Created by educators featuring ​state-of-the-art facilities​, nurturing teachers ​ with Education degrees, and comprehensive curriculum ​ that provides your child with age appropriate exploration into the world of learning.

Westminster School at Oak Mountain 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace Birmingham, AL 35242 205-995-9694 http://westminsterknights.org/ Committed to the centrality of the gospel as well as the pursuit of high academic standards. We seek discipleship and scholarship without one compromising the other. For information or a tour, contact Kristen Williams at kwilliams@ westminsterknights.org LEARNING CENTERS The Tutoring Center 2804 John Hawkins Pkwy.

Suite 100 Hoover, AL 35244 (near Academy Sports)

Birmingham/Central Alabama PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY 2017 205-987-9577 isaaczeidan@tutoringcenter.com www.hoover.tutorcenter.com One-to-one tutoring designed to help your child develop stronger academic skills, earn better grades, score higher on standardized tests, while gaining confidence, motivation and focus.

Alabama Dance Academy 3221 Old Columbiana Rd. Hoover, AL 35226 205-978-6820 www.alabamadanceacademy.com State-of-the-art dance instruction facility in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical/ contemporary and Pilates.

Founded by professional ballet dancer Pamela Merkel in 1995.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

FIELD TRIPS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Alabama Ballet​ 2726 First Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 205-322-4300 information@alabamaballet.org www.alabamaballet.org Since 1981, changing lives through dance by promoting and fostering the development of classical and contemporary ballet through high-quality performances, dance education, and community outreach.

Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

Birmingham, Al 35203 205.254.2565 www.artsbma.org Bart’s ArtVenture combines high tech art-making tools with hands-on creation stations to let kids and families develop their art education in a creative, communal environment.

Birmingham Zoo 2630 Cahaba Rd. Birmingham, AL 35223 205-879-0409 www.birminghamzoo.com Approximately 900 animals of 230 species call the Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, zebras, rhinos and endangered species from six continents.

Open daily from 9am to 5pm.

McWane Science Center 200 19th St. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-714-8414 info@mcwane.org www.mcwane.org Fun and learning never end at McWane, a nonprofit, handson museum with aquarium and IMAX® Dome Theater. Four floors of interactive exhibits celebrate science and wonder.

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North Campus - Grades K4-6 2204 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243 South Campus - Grades 7-12 6255 Cahaba Valley Rd Birmingham, AL 35242 Kelly Mooney, Director of Admissions - Kmooney@bcsk12.org

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5336 Stadium Trace Parkway Suite 112, Hoover, AL 35244 205 988-9678 whiteheadorthodontics.com birminghamparent.com | 19

Birmingham/Central Alabama Private School Issue November 2017

Advent Episcopal School Since its establishment in 1950, Advent Episcopal School has built a national reputation for academic excellence.

Offering Pre- Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, Advent is a diverse community of bright children who excel in an environment that is safe, stable, and enriching. The school provides students with varied opportunities to develop and demonstrate their talents and abilities, ultimately preparing them for lives of purpose and service. This year, Advent was awarded the AISA President’s Award for the top K-8 school in the state.

As the only PK-8 school in downtown Birmingham, Advent is able to take advantage of the rich educational and cultural opportunities at our doorstep. Meaningful exposure to fine art, music, foreign language and critical thinking spurs intellectual curiosity amongst our students.

Advent is small by design, even though our students come from 44 different zip codes. Every Advent student is known by name.

They are challenged, celebrated for who they are, filled with wonder and have a willingness to learn. If you start here, you can go anywhere!

Joseph Bruno Montessori Our educational practices are built around the belief that children are born with the strong need to discover and learn. We treat their curiosity and creativity with great care, allowing them to explore their interests from an early age. We provide lessons, even the most challenging ones, that make learning exciting and stimulate the desire to know more. Lessons are given to small groups and individually, so that they can understand the concepts presented. Our students are our first priority, and we take time to listen and help them find answers.

Older students learn through seminars, laboratory experiments, and hands-on projects.

Reading, research, and discussion are important parts of our curriculum. At Bruno Montessori Academy, students are encouraged to develop independence, responsibility, resourcefulness, and organizational skills.

In the Lower Elementary, students use individual work plans listing their goals for the week.

Visitors will see our students working individually and cooperatively to get their work done, enjoying the total learning experience. The enthusiasm must be seen to be believed. Children learn the importance of respect for one another and for their classroom environment.

We have high expectations for our students, and they learn to set higher and higher standards for themselves.

Odyssey Early School

The Alabama Ballet School

Odyssey was created by educators who dreamed of opening an early learning center where children could be nurtured and taught by a highly trained and loving staff. That dream was realized when our Inverness school opened in 1995, and then again in 2001, with the opening of our second school in Trace Crossings.

Odyssey’s goal is to create a life-long love of learning. We have developed our own age-appropriate curriculum, specifically designed to introduce each age grouping to language, reading, math, science and more, so that your child will possess a strong foundation for Kindergarten and beyond. Additionally, we guarantee teachers with four-year education degrees in all preschool classrooms and offer exceptional child-to-teacher ratios.

At our schools, you can watch your child’s entire day in live, streaming, HD video over the Internet, through an individual, secure connection linked directly to your child’s classroom. We want our parents to know what happens during their child’s day, and Odyssey is the only Overthe-Mountain daycare to offer this service.

Our team works tirelessly to earn its reputation as the best childcare option for Birmingham parents, and we invite you to visit today to witness for yourself what so many other families have known since 1995! Visit www. odysseyearlyschool.com for more information.

The Alabama Ballet School provides the highest quality training to aspiring artists of all ages that is developmentally appropriate both physically and artistically. The Alabama Ballet School’s instruction is based on the syllabus provided by the Royal Academy of Dance in London which takes into consideration the particular level of development of each child within that level. The RAD is an international teaching organization committed to establishing standards of excellence in ballet instruction. The faculty of the Alabama Ballet School is required to attend a workshop for the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. This provides the students with training that is both consistent and unified.

Examinations are administered to students at the end of each school year.

The Alabama Ballet School strives to serve members of the community who choose to dance as an extracurricular activity for fun and build healthy bodies as well as those who aspire to a career in dance.

20 | birminghamparent | november 2017

When I grow up I want to be...

a doctor a lawyer a CEO I WON’T LET HPV STOP ME! The HPV Vaccine is a cancer prevention vaccine. Boys, girls, and young adults should receive the vaccine to defend against several different strains of cancers. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the vaccine begin at 11 to 12 years of age.

Don’t let HPV keep you from reaching your goals.

For more information, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization or facebook.com/AlabamaImmunizationInfo birminghamparent.com | 21

There are no unwanted children, only unfound families.

Heart of Adoption?

DO YOU HAVE THE

Most people are surprised to hear that there are more than 300 children in the state of Alabama who are ready and waiting to be matched with families for adoption with very little monetary cost involved. These children may sometimes fear they will be forgotten. After years in the foster care system, they may wonder if they will ever have a forever family.

They are not being forgotten, thanks to organizations like Heart Gallery Alabama and Children’s Aid Society of Alabama. It is their goal to promote possible placements through photography exhibits that feature the children and by providing support for existing placements. Heart Gallery Alabama’s motto is “There are no unwanted children, only unfound families.”

Working in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, Heart Gallery Alabama strives to present photographs that “serve as a compelling and authentic representation of children across Alabama who are searching for loving, permanent families.”

Professional photographers are recruited to capture each child’s individual spirit. Founded

22 | birminghamparent | november 2017

By Stephanie Rodda

in 2005, HGA has helped find permanent homes for more than 65 percent of the children photographed. That’s an impressive statistic, but the work is not done until all waiting children have been adopted.

Co-founder and executive director of Heart Gallery Alabama Michelle Bearman-Wolneck says there are several misconceptions that prevent interested families from pursuing adoption. “One (misconception) is that you can’t love a child the same if you didn’t give birth to them. As an adoptive parent, I know this can’t be further from the truth,” she explains. “The other misconception I have heard from people considering adopting from DHR is that all the available children are damaged. It is true that these children have been dealt a bad hand, but they have the ability to flourish and blossom if they are in a stable and loving environment.”

As a fellow adoptive parent, I couldn’t agree more strongly. All seven of my beautiful, bright, talented children were foster-adoptions. We have two sibling groups, one of three children and one of two children. Four of my children were considered older-child adoptions

November is National Adoption Awareness Month! at ages 3,6,7, and 8 years old. There were some challenges to overcome as our family grew, but we did indeed overcome them. Today my children are 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21 and 23 years old. Our lives have sometimes been hectic and yes, hard. But that was for a season. Now we are enjoying the benefits of having a larger than normal family and wouldn’t trade our unique journey for any other.

There will be a number of events hosted by Heart Gallery Alabama in November for National Adoption Month. For instance, the exhibit will be on display at Protective Life in Birmingham and in the Ozark Municipal Building. Check their website for more details at HeartGalleryAlabama.com. Volunteers, including photographers, are always appreciated at HGA. Children’s Aid Society not only cooperates with Heart Gallery Alabama events and DHR to increase adoption placements in our state, they also focus on supporting existing foster and adoptive families with many free services and events. Whether it is required counseling, professional training, networking conferences, parenting classes or their popular APAC summer camp, CAS has a goal of “Changing Lives, Building Families, Strengthening Communities.”

CAS welcomes volunteers also. For more information, visit ChildrensAid.org or call 205-251-7148.

The theme for the 2017 National Adoption Month is Teens Need Families, No Matter What. More information about this initiative can be found at childwelfare.gov. For the last two years the focus has been on the pressing and urgent need for adoptive families to be identified for teens in the system ready for adoption.

You might wonder what becomes of the teens that are never adopted and age out of the foster care system. This happens more often than you might think. Over 20,000 young people are emancipated from foster care each year with no identified support system in place. The statistics are alarming.

According to DHR.alabama.gov, “over 20 percent of these former foster youths are homeless, a little more than half will graduate from high school and less than 3 percent will earn a college degree by the time they are 25. Over 70 percent of young women who age out of foster care will be pregnant by age 21 and only half of the emancipated foster children will be employed by age 24.”

Working in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, Heart Gallery Alabama strives to present photographs that “serve as a compelling and authentic representation of children across Alabama who are searching for loving, permanent families.”

Thankfully this pressing need is being noticed and programs developed to aid these young adults so that the chances for their future is brighter. There is no better solution, however, than identifying and matching them with a family of their own.

Not everyone can adopt, but we can all make a difference. We can donate, volunteer, sponsor events, invite speakers, collect donations, and spread the word. Perhaps there will be someone in your circle of influence who would consider adoption if they knew more.

Adoption has changed my life and I can assure you, it is a beautiful way to build a family. As I mentioned earlier, we have adopted older children. And while I do often wish I could redeem the years we were not together, I more often celebrate the years we have had and will continue to have for many decades. Adopting older children, like teens, can be very special because not only do you choose them, they also choose you.

Stephanie Rodda is an author, blogger and freelance writer who lives in the Birmingham area with her husband and seven adopted children.

StephanieRodda.wordpress.com

birminghamparent.com | 23

Watch Alabama Cable Network programming on Spectrum Channel 80 STATEWIDE, online at www.alabamacablenetwork.com and even on your smart phone.

We are your home for local programming, since 1981! Check our website for dates and times for programming.

ACN SHOWS

Alabama Justice, Lawyering Up from the firm of Jaffee, Henle, Whisonant & Knight Legal Speak with Thomas Carmichael and Kim Davidson Scott Beason’s Reality Check The Joe Lockett Show

The Voice of Alabama Politics with host Bill Britt Coosa Valley Magazine with host Jim Green Daybreak Live 5:30 a.m. daily from Sylacauga with Jimmy Dale Abrams The Rick and Bubba Television Show

Valley Happenings daily at 9 a.m. with Susie Wiley Alabama Car Show featuring clubs from all over Alabama Special People and Places with Margaret Lee

24 | birminghamparent | november 2017

The Time of Your Life with Bob and Janie Mosca Forgotten Treasures with Kendall Benson

RELIGIOUS

Church of the Air with Bobbie Gurley The Cullman First Baptist Church

Dillworth Church of God with Pastor Nelson Kimberly God’s House of Prayer with Bishop Frank McCloud Good News with Pastor Ruel Phillips Gospel Jubilee with Al and Sandy Jerkins Gospel Music Southern Style from TV24 Anniston Greater Visions Baptist Church with Pastor Wayne Ferguson Manna Fest with Perry Stone Pulpit LIVE with Apostle Willie Simmons

Southern Gospel Show with Tommy Johnson and Kendall Benson Victory LIVE with Pastor Jim McCann

SPORTS The Locker Room from our studios in Sylacauga GAMEDAY with Max Howell and Jerry Young In the Huddle with Coach Reginald Ruffin Miles College Football On the Sidelines from our studios in Sumiton Simply Fishin’ with Lowell Anderson Jacksonville State Home LIVE football games Dora High Football Replays Cullman County Football Replays

GIFT GUIDE 2015

gift guide Our November advertisers have some great offerings for your gift-giving needs this season, and following are some great ideas for that hard-to-buy for teacher, friend, aunt or family. From gift cards, to memberships to event tickets, there’s something to please everyone and every budget. And look for another expanded gift guide in the December issue of Birmingham Parent.

Happy Holidays!

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Photo by Magen Davis Photography

M Y C HI L D' S HE ALTH

Jenny and Ryan Bragg enjoy soaking up the moments with their two children, Tanner and Clara.

Cure for Clara

It is believed that there are many more cases of children with GM1 throughout the country that go misdiagnosed.

FIGHTING FOR A

HOOVER FAMILY IS RAISING MONEY FOR IV TRIAL

By Emily Reed

For Jenny and Ryan Bragg, soaking up the special moments with their two children, Tanner and Clara, is a high priority right now.

The Hoover couple’s three-year-old daughter, Clara has been living with GM1 gangliosidosis since August 2016, a disease that is similar to Tay-Sachs disease and destroys brain function through an inability to process and break down material in neural cells.

“We have been focusing this summer to just get our family together and enjoy the time we have with each other,” Jenny Bragg says. “We don’t know how long we will have with Clara and we want to spend time making memories together.”

The Braggs started noticing a decline in their seemingly healthy baby at about the age of 14 months when Clara stopped meeting the preferred milestones of not walking independently, not talking and using nonverbal communication.

“We noticed she began to plateau developmentally and began regressing, losing the few words that she had ever gained,” Bragg says.

“Our journey began to find the cause of these delays and regression.

We went from specialist to specialist for an entire year. Ultimately, 26 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Clara was diagnosed by UAB/Hudson Alpha through a research study via a genome sequencing DNA test that determined that both Ryan and myself were carries of GM1 gangliosidosis and she inherited both of our faulty genes.”

Meanwhile, at Auburn University, veterinary medicine professor Doug Martin has been studying GM1, which also occurs naturally in cats, for several years.

Martin developed a gene therapy treatment that was successful in cats and is now ready for a National Institute of Health trial for a similar treatment in humans.

One of the major hurdles with the human trial to begin is about $1.5 million in funding, which prompted the Braggs to begin hosting various events in search of a cure for their daughter.

“Within the last year we have had countless fundraisers to help raise money for a human trial,” Bragg says. “We have had dinner nights, brewed beer in honor of Clara, had a fashion show, a Zumba fundraiser, a birthday celebration fundraiser, a crawfish boil, lemonade stands, and a movie theater fundraiser. It has been a whirlwind of events that have

since August 2016, a disease that is similar to Tay-Sachs disease and destroys brain function through an inability to process and break down material in neural cells.

paid off greatly. We feel so blessed that people have responded to our efforts and helped in raising funds for a cure to GM1.”

While there is no definitive date for the trial, Bragg says researchers are still working to make the trial happen in 2018.

Once the trial begins, it would involve a simple IV treatment, taking place at the National Institute of Health, and is a one-time treatment administered through an IV. Participants would stay at NIH for observation for about one week before being released.

“It is scary to think about allowing Clara to be treated with something that has never been used on humans before, not knowing for certain the outcome,” Bragg says. “However, the path is clear for Clara if she receives no treatment.

Without treatment, she will slowly die, likely not living to the age of 10. A human trial treatment is our only shot to saving her life at this point in time.”

Currently, Clara is the only diagnosed case of GM1 in Alabama, according to Bragg, but it is believed that there are many more cases of children with GM1 throughout the country that go misdiagnosed, because the disease is difficult to diagnose. “The genome sequencing that Clara underwent that ultimately led us to her diagnosis is not a test commonly performed and can be rather costly,” Bragg says.

Clara is completely dependent on her parents in every way, often times requiring the Braggs to carry her 35-pound body everywhere. “Even though she can crawl, she is not very stable and a constant threat to herself, unaware of any danger she puts herself in,” Bragg says. “She cannot communicate verbally or with gestures, so we typically must anticipate what she needs and wants. We have learned to understand and read her needs based on her daily schedule and watching her eyes, but she often gets frustrated and has a typical three-year-old break down. Caring for her is a challenge we have learned to embrace, but it is a daily challenge nonetheless.”

The Braggs plan to continue fundraising efforts, and welcome suggestions for various ideas and volunteers. For anyone interested in donating for the trial, tax deductible donations can be made at www.ACureforClara.com. All funds raised or to be raised will go to the Cure GM1 Foundation, a 501c3 organization.

At Medical West, we pride ourselves in providing quality, compassionate care to each and every one of our patients. Our specially trained ENT physicians are board-certified in Otolaryngology and conveniently located on the Medical West campus in the Professional Building.

If you are experiening any of the symptoms listed below involving your ears, nose or throat, we encourage you to consult your primary care physician to see if an ENT specialist is the right fit for your health care needs.

• • • • • • • •

NASAL CONGESTION SORE THROAT COUGHING HEARING IMPAIRMENT ALLERGIES DIZZINESS TONSIL INFECTION EAR INFECTION

For more information about our ENT physcicians or services at Medical West, visit us online at medicalwesthospital.org.

Meet our Specialists

Clara has been living with GM1 gangliosidosis

EAR, NOSE & THROAT AT MEDICAL WEST

RICHARD E. GILLILAND, MD

ENT BESSEMER 985 9TH AVENUE SW SUITE 308 BESSEMER, AL 35022 (205) 481-7780

MICHAEL J. LATSHAW, MD

MEDICAL WEST OTOLARYNGOLOGY 985 9TH AVENUE SW SUITE 101 BESSEMER, AL 35022 (205) 481-8620

For a complete list of Medical West health centers and services, visit us online at www.medicalwesthospital.org

Emily Reed is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom to her son, Tobias. birminghamparent.com | 27

ASK T H E S P E C I AL I ST

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A Parent’s Guide to the NICU

By Dr. Wahib Mena

New parents look forward to bringing their baby home with them from the hospital. But on occasion, problems arise and some babies have to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before being discharged. This can be an overwhelming time for parents, but this is actually the safest place for babies because they will be cared for by experienced doctors and nurses so they can go home as healthy as possible.

Babies may be admitted to the NICU when they are born prematurely, have difficulties during delivery, or show signs of problems shortly after birth.

The length of time infants spend in the NICU will depend on the severity of their illness. Some conditions that may require a stay in the NICU include: • Low blood sugar • Prematurity • Anemia, a low red blood cell count.

• Apnea, which occurs when the baby doesn’t take a breath in 20 seconds or longer.

• Infection • Hydrocephalus, an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

• Jaundice, an elevated bilirubin level in the blood.

• Respiratory distress Parents and family are very important to the care of infants in NICU and are considered part of the care team.

In addition to nurses, other members of a baby’s NICU team may include a neonatologist, pediatric hospitalist, various specialists, physical and/or occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, nutritionist, pharmacist, lab technician

28 | birminghamparent | november 2017

and social worker. These caregivers may utilize a wide variety of equipment found in the NICU to care for their little patients. Depending on the diagnosis and condition, they may need to use a tube for feeding, infant incubator to help an infant maintain body temperature, IVs and lines for fluids and medications, blood pressure and heart rate monitors to watch vital signs, pulse oximeter to check oxygen levels, phototherapy lights to treat jaundice, or a ventilator or “breathing machine” to help a baby breathe.

Everyone entering the NICU must wash their hands to help keep the NICU environment as clean as possible so babies won’t be exposed to infections.

In some situations, a gown also may be necessary, as well as a mask and gloves.

Even with these precautions, parents can still interact and bond with their newborn in the NICU. Depending on the health of the infant, parents can hold their child or, if that is not possible, hold the baby’s hand, stroke his or her head, or sing softly to him or her.

Many babies in the NICU are not ready to feed from the breast, but they can still receive breast milk through a feeding tube. New mothers should start pumping as soon as possible to establish their milk supply. As newborns gain strength and become more coordinated, they can then be put to the breast. Parents who choose to bottle feed can talk with the NICU team for recommendations about formula options. For more information about NICUs, visit the March of Dimes website at www.marchofdimes.com.

Dr. Wahib Mena is a neonatologist at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center located in Homewood.

This can be an overwhelming time for parents, but this is actually the safest place for babies because they will be cared for by experienced doctors and nurses so they can go home as healthy as possible.

Help Alabama

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The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint research project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its purpose is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not in order to aid in the development and assessment of programs designed to identify high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.

New mothers are randomly chosen from the state birth registry to participate in PRAMS. Surveys may be returned by mail or completed over the phone. Let your voice be heard!

“Happy to be part of this survey.”

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Actual comments from survey responses.

Moms who complete the PRAMS survey receive their choice of a cooler bag, diapers, or manicure set!

Responses are kept confidential to the extent of the law. For more information, please call us at 334-206-2923 or go to alabamapublichealth.gov/PRAMS birminghamparent.com | 29

ADPH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, genetic information, and other federal, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Civil Rights Coordinator: ADPH CRC, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1010, Montgomery, AL 36104, Tel. 334-206-5226, or email crcomplaints@adph.state.al.us.

SP ECI A L N E E D S Often, children need additional therapy to be successful and overcome developmental deficits.

New Easterseals Clinic Opens in St. Clair County

By Carol Muse Evans A new Easterseals clinic will provide the organization’s great special needs services closer to families in east-central Alabama when it opens sometime this month in Springville in St. Clair County.

“Outpatient pediatric services such as speech, occupational and physical therapy are (currently) minimal with the exception of those therapies provided by the school system,” says David Higgins, executive director of Easterseals of the Birmingham Area. “Often, children need additional therapy to be successful and overcome developmental deficits.

Easterseals of the Birmingham Area’s goal is to work diligently to bring services to needed areas in our priority service area.”

As a non-profit, Easterseals accepts Medicaid and offers charity care to ensure that everyone who needs their services has an opportunity to receive them, Higgins adds.

At the clinic, patients can find speech-language therapy, followed soon by occupational therapy and physical therapy, based on demand, Higgins says.

Patients must have a referral from their doctor, and once referred their therapists evaluate the patient to determine the child’s individualized treatment plan.

When open, the hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, but by appointment only.

Since Easterseals has operated an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic successfully in its Pelham location since 2005, Higgins says they expect this clinic to grow as it serves St. Clair County, Blount County and east Jefferson County. “We do not limit our service area, and will serve anyone who can make it to the clinic,” Higgins adds.

30 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Photo by Jessica Marshall

Higgins says that St. Clair County was chosen as the new clinic location because it is within a 22.5-mile radius of every major city in St. Clair, Blount and east Jefferson County, making it convenient for the target service area. Interestingly, The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 1 in 12 children have a disorder related to voice, speech, language or swallowing, Higgins says.

Given the number of children in St. Clair County alone (based on the 2014 census, this is approximately 21,659 children, ages 0-19), that translates to 1,084 children potentially requiring speech therapy alone. “While there are opportunities in Birmingham and a new clinic in Oneonta, the choice is limited,” Higgins adds.

Easterseals Pediatric Therapy East 300 Springville Station Suite 1300, Springville, Alabama 35146 205-314-2165 • www.eastersealsbham.org

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The Potential of

Premature Birth

By Paige Townley

Like any other soon-to-be-mom with no health problems, Brittany and Jason Busbee expected a normal pregnancy and delivery of their son, Randley. Yet, the pregnancy took another unexpected turn around 20 weeks.

“We had no idea there was an issue, but during the ultrasound to reveal his gender doctors discovered I had a shortened cervix,” Brittany explains. “It really came out of nowhere.”

While that was unrelated to Randley being born early, it thankfully kept Brittany under increased watch. While in the hospital for a simple observation, she developed HELLP syndrome, a life-threatening complication typically considered as a variant of preeclampsia. “It was just a miracle that I was already at the hospital when the symptoms started,” Brittany says. “My placenta erupted, and if I hadn’t already been at the hospital, we wouldn’t have made it.”

Brittany and baby Randley were both fine, but Randley was forced to arrive prematurely via emergency C-section at just 29 weeks. “He weighed just 2.1 pounds and was 13 inches long,” Brittany says. “He wasn’t even breathing when he was born.”

Randley was officially – and unexpectedly – a premature baby, defined as a baby born before 37 weeks. Typically, premature babies have more health problems, requiring a longer stay in the 32 | birminghamparent | november 2017

hospital than a baby born after 37 weeks.

Essentially, the earlier the baby is born, the higher the risk of serious health problems or complications. And as a preemie struggling to breathe, Randley was quickly moved to Brookwood Baptist Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he spent the next eight weeks. “It was so hard,” Brittany says. “I was able to stay there with him the entire time, which was a blessing.”

Another blessing for the Busbees was the staff at Brookwood and the NICU. “They were so comforting,” says Brittany.

“They became my family. They were right there with me for everything, and they were honest with me. We couldn’t have done it without Dr. Mena. I knew he was a special doctor on our second day in NICU.” Dr. Wahib Mena is one of Brookwood’s longest standing neonatologists, having been at the hospital for 27 years. Mena was actually in Brittany’s delivery room, waiting for Randley as soon as he was born.

“Randley was handed straight from my OB/ GYN to Dr. Mena, who was one of the ones that got Randley breathing,” Brittany adds.

“Dr. Mena was literally right there with us every step of the way.”

“A lot of times as caregivers for small babies we don’t understand how stressful it is for NICU parents, more so than any other hospital section. We want to give them hope, give them love, and give them attention.”

—Dr. Wahib Mena

Brookwood Baptist’s Annual NICU Reunion

Mena has cared for well over 21,000 babies during his career in the Brookwood NICU. “What I love most about my job is being able to be there with the parents and help them,” Mena says. “A lot of times as caregivers for small babies we don’t understand how stressful it is for NICU parents, more so than any other hospital section. We want to give them hope, give them love, and give them attention.”

Oftentimes, Mena will meet with future NICU parents prior to childbirth. If a pregnant mom-to-be is determined to be high risk, she typically is referred to high-risk obstetrician Dr. Antonio Gonzalez-Ruiz, who after determining what is going on, frequently brings in Mena.

“Based on what the situation is, Dr. Gonzalez will call us and as a team we will meet with the parents and create a plan prior to delivery so that we have a course of action,” Mena says.

“Sometimes the plan is simple, sometimes it’s more complex.”

Not only are those meetings critical to ensuring the best possible course of action for the safest pregnancy and delivery, but also it provides an opportunity for the parents to meet and get comfortable with everyone that will be involved in the delivery of the child. “It gives parents the chance to get to know everybody,” Mena adds. “In this field, oftentimes there are situations where a doctor will show up telling parents that their baby is sick, and parents have no clue who the doctor is. So if we know there is a risk or a potential issue, we want to meet with parents beforehand so they will know the doctors and understand what’s going on. It makes it much more comfortable for parents.”

Some of the most common causes of high risk pregnancies, which can lead to premature births, are a known or suspected condition in the mother, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or a known or suspected condition in the baby that requires close supervision. “There can also be a genetic condition, for example, such as the father of the baby having a heart defect,”

Gonzalez says. “There are many different reasons as to why a patient would be referred to our team. But there are also a lot of signs that go unrecognized.”

To try to avoid premature labor, says Gonzalez, it’s critical for pregnant mothers to be open and honest with their doctor about any potential health issues. “It’s important for the patient and doctor to have an honest discussion,” he says. “The patient needs to be open if they are, for example, on a medication for a specific problem. It’s important to disclose any risk factors with the doctor.”

Pregnant mothers should also be quick to share details about any health issues they have experienced in the past, as those could affect the pregnancy. “Make sure your OB/GYN knows anything that might have affected your health in the past, such as thyroid disease,” Gonzalez says.

“Any conditions the mother has experienced in the past could affect the baby, so discuss it with your doctor. Or if you have had a baby early before, make sure the doctor knows that. It’s so important to disclose the risk factors. Maybe even prepare a list of everything before your doctor’s appointment so you can be sure to cover everything.”

While premature birth and time in the NICU cannot always be avoided, a strong relationship with the doctor and even the other doctors that could potentially care for the preemie can make a lot of difference in a stressful situation. “One of the most important parts of a high risk pregnancy is for the doctor and the family to form a relationship in caring for the unborn infant,” Mena says.

“If doctors can get involved early and talk with the parents before delivery, the entire situation can go much smoother. We take a team approach, and that oftentimes can make it so much better for the parents and helps them know what to expect.”

Paige Townley is a Birmingham freelance writer.

A sick newborn is one of the most stressful situations a parent can ever face. Brookwood Baptist Medical Center’s NICU treats and cares for more than 700 premature and sick babies each year since it opened its doors in 1978.

To celebrate the many positive stories that come out of the NICU every year, the hospital hosts an annual NICU reunion each year for families to come back, reconnect, and spend time with the doctors, nurses, and staff.

Dr. Wahib Mena, one of Brookwood’s longest standing neonatologists, attended his 27th NICU reunion this year, which was held on June 25 in the Women’s Center. He has never missed the annual event since joining the staff in 1990.

“I have the greatest job in the world,” says Mena. “We spend so much time with the babies and the families. We form an unbreakable bond with them. To be able to see them come back, whether it has been a year or 20 years, in a different environment where it’s happier and not stressful and spend some time with them is amazing.

I love to see what the child has achieved. The greatest thing you can do is see a little baby that struggled and had so many issues come back months later or years later and see how they have grown and succeeded. It’s beautiful to see the children smiling and running around. It’s always rewarding.” birminghamparent.com | 33

D E ST I NAT I O N GUI DE

Be sure to reserve your cabins and dinner spots early as they usually fill up for Thanksgiving!

Photo courtesy of Forrest Hills Resort

Looking for a Thanksgiving Destination?

TRY FORREST HILLS RESORT NEAR DAHLONEGA, GA

By Carol Muse Evans

34 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Photo courtesy of Forrest Hills Resort

Photo by Carol Muse Evans

While Forrest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center may be best known for romantic mountain cabin rentals in north Georgia, it’s great for families looking for a Thanksgiving destination to get away to, or even early Christmas celebration with family or friends.

Forrest Hills Mountain Resort is just a few miles away from festive Dahlonega and also near the lovely Amicalola Falls State Park. (Amicalola Falls is a 729-foot waterfall, the highest in Georgia and something you shouldn’t miss seeing).

The resort itself features 100 rooms, a restaurant, pool, sports courts, day spa, horseback riding, two miles of walking trails, group lodges, a gift shop and even a place for an outdoor wedding. For those looking for a destination at which to “do Thanksgiving,” this one is extremely appealing. Be sure to reserve your cabins and dinner spots, though, as they usually fill up for Thanksgiving. You can stay and enjoy the heart of the North Georgia Mountains, and you are minutes from the shops and restaurants of charming Dahlonega, should you want to do some after Thanksgiving shopping. In addition, you are a mere hour away from Atlanta.

Many of the spacious cabins feature a “mini” kitchen with microwave and fridge and wet bar/sink.

Beautiful fireplaces, balconies with views, indoor hot tubs, king size beds and so much more make this a great place to be as the weather turns cooler and leaves turn to fall colors. It’s a great place to walk, hike, or sit on the balcony and enjoy the views.

Make a reservation for their Thanksgiving Day Feast in the Rose Garden Dining Room that is usually a sellout. Cost for the feast is $26.95 for adults ages 12 and up, $19.95 for children 4-11 and free for 3 and under and it includes all the Thanksgiving favorites. And don’t forget their famous

Photo courtesy of Forrest Hills Resort

the

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Sunday brunch a few days later. The Sunday brunch features all the country favorites, including fried chicken, green beans, real mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé, fried okra, salad and dessert bars and more for a mere $15.95 for adults and $11.95 for kids. Each day during your stay you can enjoy a continental breakfast or full breakfast here at very reasonable rates. Ask about the all-American takeout menu available Monday-Saturday, too.

There are great restaurants abound in Dahlonega, as well, so you will not go hungry here. Let someone else do the cooking, and enjoy time with family. Forrest Hills Mountain Resort really has something for everyone. Families love it for family reunions, and it’s a great place for church retreats.

Things are lovely in Dahlonega around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Don’t miss a trip around the square after dark to enjoy the holiday lights. You’ll feel like you are in a Christmas card!

Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas runs November 24 through December 23. For more information on it, visit www.dahlonegachristmas.com.

Carol Muse Evans is publisher and editor of Birmingham Parent.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Forrest Hills Mountain Resort | 135 Forrest Hills Road | Dahlonega, GA 30533 | 706-864-6456 | www.forresthillsresort.com

BY BECKY The only voice in travel that MATTERS! Catch The Travel Voice by Becky on Saturday’s in Shelby County on FM 99.9 APH Radio at 11 a.m. and anytime on iHeart Radio!

Great travel information, special deals, awesome guests, spectacular on location LIVE events and amazing giveaways!

For more information, visit thetravelvoicebybecky.com birminghamparent.com | 35

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Dec. entries must be received by Nov. 11. You may also enter online at www.birminghamparent.com Entries can be sent ahead for later months.

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calendar highlights

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November is a great month for all sorts of great family activities. November 11 is Veterans Day, which means Birmingham hosts the oldest and largest

NOVEMBER

Veterans Day Parade in the country. Fireworks follow at 5:30pm! Mark your calendars for lots of great concerts, many free, featuring the best music students and faculty at local schools and universities. Libraries are busy with great programs this month, and don’t forget to get outside!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!

7th

KINDNESS ROCKS – ROCK PAINTING! At 3:30pm at the Homewood Library, just bring your creativity to paint rocks to place around Homewood to brighten someone’s day. The library will provide the supplies, get together to create, and send you on your way to place your masterpieces around Homewood. Someone could take your rock and re-hide it, leave it be, or replace it!

11th

BIRMINGHAM’S VETERANS DAY PARADE

1:30pm, downtown Birmingham. 18th Street and 9th Avenue South. The oldest and largest Veterans Day celebration honors our military veterans, celebrating the freedom that their dedication and sacrifice afford us each day. At 5:30pm, find your favorite spot to watch a free, 20-minute fireworks show in the sky above Vulcan!

Information, www.nationalveteransday.org.

20th

TURKEY SCIENCE 9am-5pm, McWane Science Center. This special program features November’s favorite bird! Have fun with Pumpkin Chunkin’, Design Challenge: Mayflower, Dinner Table Science and more. www.mcwane.org.

birminghamparent.com | 39

calendar

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ASFA

10th-12th

DANCE FALL REPERTORY SHOW 7:30pm, Nov 10-11, 2:30pm Nov. 12, Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Alabama School of Fine Arts. Enjoy a feast of classical ballet and contemporary choreography styles performed by ASFA’s skilled dancers, rained by an internationally acclaimed faculty. Tickets, information, www.djdtheater.org.

2 THURSDAY UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band in Concert 7pm, UAB Alys Stephens Center.

Sean Murray and Cara Morantz, conductors. FREE. 205-9347376, www.uab.edu/cas/music.

3 FRIDAY Dixie Division Military Show 8am-4pm, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Outdoor military vehicle show. Gate Admission $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 Children, 5 and under FREE. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org.

Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids 7:30pm, Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre.

Based on one of the most treasured Disney animated films of all time. Tickets, information, www.redmountaintheatre.org.

4 SATURDAY The Market at Pepper Place 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave. S. Rain or shine!

43rd Vulcan Run 10K 8am, Birmingham City Hall.

Run or run/walk! Registration, www.birminghamtrackclub.com/ vulcan-ru-10k.php/ Dixie Division Military Show 8am-4pm, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Outdoor military vehicle show, see November 3.

Open House for Future Students 9am, 10am, 11am, Alabama School of Fine Arts. No appointment necessary. Come learn about admission to ASFA, a public, tuition-free school. www.asfaschool.org.

40 | birminghamparent | november 2017

12th Moss Rock Festival 10am-5pm, The Preserve, Hoover. This eco-creative festival features design, mixed media, photography, printmaking, sculpture, metalwork and much more. Information, tickets, www.mossrockfestival.com.

Hikes for Tykes 10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Join Fresh Air Family and the BBG for a magical walk for preschool children and their families! Activities include scavenger hunts, dinosaur plants and building fairy houses.

Hands-on learning! FREE. Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids 2pm, 7:30pm, Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre, see November 3.

5 SUNDAY DAYTIME SAVING TIME ENDS

Out of the Darkness Community Walk 1pm check in/register; 2:30pm, walk begins, Heardmont Park.

Help raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention. Music, kids area, honor beads, complimentary snacks and water and more. www.afsp.org/afsp-alabama/.

Southeastern Outings Dayhike 1pm, Horse Creek Trail, Dora/ Sumiton. Easy 3.2 mile walk on this trail in Walker County.

Depart 9am from the Floor Décor Store on Green Springs Highway or meet 9:30am in the lobby inside the left entrance of Walmart, Sumiton. Information, Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680, seoutings@bellsouth.net.

Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids 2pm, Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre, see November 3.

Sponsored by

7 TUESDAY Kindness Rocks – Rock Painting!

3:30pm, Homewood Library.

Bring your creativity to paint rocks to place around Homewood to brighten someone’s day. The library will provide the supplies, get together to create, and send you on your way to place your masterpieces around Homewood.

Someone could take your rock and re-hide it, leave it be, or replace it!

Lego League 4-4:45pm, Albert L. Scott Library, Alabaster. Junior builders of all ages can play with blocks and bricks of all sizes.

UAB Jazz Combos and Guitar Ensemble 7pm, Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Carlos Pino and Steve Roberts, directors. FREE. 205-934-7376, www.uab. edu/cas/music.

Samford Wind Ensemble 7:30pm, Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. www.samford.edu.

8 WEDNESDAY UAB Brass Chamber Ensembles 7pm, Blazer trumpets, trombone choir, tuba and euphonium ensembles and other brass ensembles. FREE. 205-934-7376, www.uab. edu/cas/music.

9 THURSDAY James Spann @ My Library 7:15pm, Homewood Library.

Enjoy a family event all about the weather! Local meteorologist James Spann, will explain what you and your family need to know about the weather and how it works. If there is a threat of inclement weather, this event

10 FRIDAY Wild West Family Weekend Children’s Harbor, Lake Martin. The Full Life Ahead Foundation hosts a “Wild West” weekend Nov. 10-12 for families with a roundup of disability resources! Teens and young adults have their own agendas and parents have their own educational sessions. Arts and crafts, dance party, campfires, putt-putt and more! $30 per person includes meals, accommodations, programs and activities. Information, registration, 205-439-6534, www.fulllifeahead.org.

UAB Computer Music Ensemble in Concert 7pm, Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. New works of electro-acoustic music and multimedia by student composers. Matthew Bryant, director. FREE. 205-934-7376, www.uab.edu/cas/music.

Dance Fall Repertory Show 7:30pm, Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Alabama School of Fine Arts. Enjoy a feast of classical ballet and contemporary choreography styles performed by ASFA’s skilled dancers, trained by an internationally acclaimed faculty.

Tickets $5 students, $10 adults. www.djdtheater.org.

Bham Parent November Ad.pdf 1 10/6/2017 10:03:25 AM

ALABAMA BALLET PRESENTS

nutcracker

GEORGE BALANCHINE’S

the

Knight Chess Tournament 5:30-7pm, Homewood Library. A monthly chess tournament to learn strategy and have fun in equal measure!

Preschool-12th grade.

will be rescheduled but you will still be able to see Spann on ABC 33/40, where he will be monitoring any severe weather conditions. This event is offered as part of the NASA @ My Library grant.

DECEMBER 8-10 AND 15-17

LESLIE S. WRIGHT FINE ARTS CENTER | SAMFORD UNIVERSITY C

M

Y

TICKETS: ALABAMABALLET.ORG 1.800.745.3000

CM

11 SATURDAY

VETERANS DAY

®

MY

CY

CMY

The Market at Pepper Place 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave. S. Rain or shine!

Veterans Day at McWane!

10am-6pm, McWane Science Center. America’s oldest Veterans Day parade comes right by the doors! Explore the museum and stay for the parade! All veterans and active duty military get FREE admission. www.mcwane.org.

K

PHOTO BY: ARIK SOKOL

6 MONDAY

SPONSORED BY:

birminghamparent.com | 41

calendar

Sponsored by

17th

MAGIC OF MODEL TRAINS PREVIEW PARTY 5:30-8:30pm, McWane Science Center.

A night of railroading fun!

Birmingham’s Veterans Day Parade 1:30pm, downtown Birmingham.

18th Street and 9th Avenue South. The oldest and largest Veterans Day celebration. Stand and be counted! Honoring our veterans, celebrating the freedom that their dedication and sacrifice afford us each day.

At 5:30pm, find your favorite spot to watch a free, 20-minute fireworks show in the sky above Vulcan! Information, www. nationalveteransday.org.

Dance Fall Repertory Show 7:30pm, Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Alabama School of Fine Arts, see November 10.

12 SUNDAY Southeastern Outings Dayhike 1pm, Oak Mountain State Park.

Moderate 4-mile walk. Well-behaved, properly supervised children eight and up welcome. Optional dinner after hike. Depart 1pm from park parking lot. Bring

park admission and a drink. Edd Spencer, 205-317-5868.

Dance Fall Repertory Show 2:30pm, Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Alabama School of Fine Arts, see November 10.

13 MONDAY Homeschool Happening: Fantastic Fun with Cool Colors 10-11am, Albert L. Scott Library, Alabaster. Artist Deborah Miller explores the wonderful world of color for students grades 1 through 12. Children 6-under must be with an adult.

UAB Gospel Choir 22nd Anniversary Concert 7pm, Alys Stephens Center. Kevin Turner, director. Information, tickets, 205-934-7376, www. uab.edu/cas/music.

16 THURSDAY Homeschool Hour Frog Dissection

42 | birminghamparent | november 2017

2pm, Homewood Library. Students will have the opportunity to learn firsthand the anatomy of a frog. We will study the parts that are visible from the outside and then open it up and see what’s on the inside. Suggested for 4th grade and above. Online registration required.

Center. A night of railroading fun! Cookies, hot chocolate, special train crafts and activities, and an exclusive, one-time showing of Rocky Mountain Express in the IMAX Dome Theater. Access to Levels 1-3 and Itty Bitty Magic City. www. mcwane.org.

UAB Percussion Ensemble 7pm, Alys Stephens Center.

Gene Fambrough, director.

FREE. 205-934-7376, www.uab. edu/cas/music.

18 SATURDAY

17 FRIDAY American Girls Club 4pm, Albert L. Scott Library.

Kathie Martin of the Etiquette School of Birmingham will help girls age 7-older get ready for the holidays. The lesson will be taught tea party style. Come with or without a doll. Sign up.

Magic of Model Trains Preview Party 5:30-8:30pm, McWane Science

The Market at Pepper Place 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave. S. Rain or shine!

Southern Christmas Bazaar 9am-6pm, Pelham Civic Complex. More than 50 merchants from Alabama and surrounding states offering a wide variety of unique Christmas-themed items, clothing, food, collectibles, decorations and much more.

Refreshments and concessions available and feature booth with Santa! 205-414-3672, http:// www.rotarysouthernchristmas. com.

calendar

Sponsored by

20 MONDAY Fall Concert BSC Jazz and Symphonic Bands 7:30pm, Birmingham-Southern College.

High school students join for the finale! www.bsc.edu/events/pdfs/BSC-arts-schedule.pdf.

Turkey Science 9am-5pm, McWane Science Center. Featuring November’s favorite bird! Great public programs including Pumpkin Chunkin’, Design Challenge: Mayflower and Dinner Table Science. www.mcwane.org.

7th

LEGO LEAGUE 4-4:45pm, Albert L. Scott Library, Alabaster. Junior builders of all ages can play with blocks and bricks of all sizes.

23 THURSDAY

THANKSGIVING DAY 24 FRIDAY Bellingrath Gardens and Home Magic Christmas in Lights 5-9pm, Nov. 24-December 31 (closed Dec. 25), Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Mobile.

The 22nd season of a dazzling nighttime display! Weekend Santa visits and more. www.bellingrath.org.

25 SATURDAY The Market at Pepper Place 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave. S. Rain or shine!

26 SUNDAY Southeastern Outings Dayhike 2pm, Homewood Forest Preserve. Spent a relaxing two hours walking in the lower preserve. Rated moderately easy. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 6-older welcome. Meet 2pm in the Homewood High School east parking lot. Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680, seoutings@ bellsouth.net.

27 MONDAY UAB Neuroscience Café 6:30pm, Hoover Library. “Exercise in Neurological Disorders: A Workout to Remember.”

Speakers: Jane Allendorfer, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and Amy Amara, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology. FREE. 205-444-7840.

PLEASE NOTE: Events may change after publication deadline; please phone ahead to confirm important information. The deadline for submitting calendar items for the December 2017/January 2018 print issue is November 7. Mail calendar items to: Calendar, Birmingham Parent, P.O. Box 326, Helena, AL 35080; fax to 987-7600; e-mail to calendar@ BirminghamParent.com; or enter directly to the online calendar at www.birminghamparent.com. Entries added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version.

Information cannot be accepted over the phone. Birmingham Parent publishes a calendar 11 times a year. January events are included in the December issue.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is intended to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are open to the public, fundraisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 987-7700 or e-mail calendar@birminghamparent.com.

birminghamparent.com | 43

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR KIDS WANT TO DO NEXT SUMMER?

2018

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 . 10 A.M.—3 P.M. Free face painting, entertainment, giveaways & MORE FREE ADMISSION to event; admission charged to McWane Science Center Adventure Halls. First 200 to register at birminghamparent.com get in FREE that day!

PRESENTED BY of Greater Birmingham

44 | birminghamparent | november 2017

SPONSORED BY

NEW LOCATION! MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER

events & attractions

Sponsored by

n Aldridge Botanical Gardens

n Birmingham Children’s

3530 Lorna Road, Hoover.

205-682-8019, www.aldridgegardens.com

Theatre 1001 19th St. North, Birmingham, AL, 35203, 205-458-8181, www.bct123.org

n Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birmingham. 205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com

n Alabama School of Fine Arts 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd.

n Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2150 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham. 323-6665, www.ashof.org

n Alabama Wildlife Center 100 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-663-7930. www.awrc.org

n Albert L Scott Alabaster Public Library 100 9th Street NW, Alabaster, AL, 35007. 205-664-6822, www.cityofalabaster.com/ departments/library

n American Village Highway 119, Montevallo.

205-665-3535, www.americanvillage.org

n Barber Motorsports Park 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Leeds. 205-298-9040, www.barberracingevents.com.

n Birmingham Botanical Gardens www.bbgardens.org.

2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham. 205-414-3900, www. bbgardens.org

n Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 16th St. N., Birmingham.

205-328-9696, www.bcri.org

n Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham. 205-2542565, www.artsbma.org

n Birmingham Public Libraries Find a library near you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.bplonline.org n Birmingham Zoo In-park Special Attractions: Pirates! Set “rail” on the Pirate Red Diamond Express Train Ride at the Zoo! Dozens of life-size, animatronic swashbucklers take over the zoo trains. Through December 31.

2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham. 205-879-0409, www. birminghamzoo.com

pumpkin chunkin’, design challenge, Mayflower and dinner table science. November 20-22.

• Going Places. Planes! Trains!

Rockets! Cars! Explore this exhibition and discover the technology of transportation. Fly a plane, ride a hovercraft, learn to fly an airship!

IMAX Movies: • Extreme Weather. Weather is one of the most dynamic forces shaping our planet. Follow researchers and everyday heroes as they uncover surprising connections to help us understand and adapt to our ever-changing weather.

• Dream Big. Engineering’s impressive impact on our world and our lives. Through April 2018.

200 19th St. N., Birmingham.

205-714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

n Moss Rock Preserve Preserve Parkway, Hoover.

205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

n Heart of Dixie

n Oak Mountain State Park

Railroad Museum 1919 Ninth St., Calera.

205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org

200 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

n Jefferson County Library Cooperative Find a library close to you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.jclc.org

n McWane Science Center Turkey Science. Lots of great public programs including

n Ruffner Mountain Nature Center 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham.

205-833-8264, www.ruffnermountain.org.

n Shelby County Public Libraries Find a library near you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.shelbycounty-al.org

VULCAN PARK

n Southern Museum of Flight 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham.

205-833-8226, www.southernmuseumofflight.org

n Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org

n Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham. 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org

• Self-serve doggie wash • Pet photography • Drive-thru pick up & drop off • Now taking appointments for November

205-212-4059 Pet Grooming

104 Market Center Dr. (Rite Aid shopping center) Alabaster

ask about our discounts birminghamparent.com | 45

PO ET RY PARTY

Puppy Love

By Charles Ghigna

Do you ever wonder what your pets are thinking?

Here’s a poem about a puppy who waits at the window for the rain to stop.

Guess what he’s thinking!

PUDDLE PUPPY Puppy at the window Watches the rain.

His soft nose On the window pane.

Storm clouds part.

The sun shines through.

What does puppy Want to do?

Puppy wants out To play in the puddle.

Puppy jumps in— Muddy trouble!

— © Charles Ghigna

Send us your poems and we will publish them here!

Parents and teachers! Send us poems written by your children ages 4-14. Include the poet’s name & age and the name of person submitting the poem. Please include your relationship to the poet (parent, teacher, etc.). Send original poems to Father Goose at PaGoose@aol.com.

For information on “How to Write a Poem,” visit the Father Goose® website at FatherGoose.com.

46 | birminghamparent | november 2017

Every story has a beginning.

When you’re pregnant, you learn a lot about what to expect. But no matter what, you know that having your baby is only the beginning of the story. With five hospitals throughout central Alabama, access to an entire network of specialists, and countless ways to customize your experience, Brookwood Baptist Health is a community of care dedicated to making your new beginning a happy one.

Find your happy beginning with us at BrookwoodBaptistHealth.com/OB birminghamparent.com | 47