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Your Community Press newspaper serving Columbia Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Fairfax, Hyde Park, Madisonville, Mariemont, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, Terrace Park
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016
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Church presents workshop on social media Forrest Sellers fsellers@communitypress.com
HYDE PARK – A local church will provide parents with tips on social media awareness during an upcoming workshop. Knox Presbyterian Church will present the Social Family Workshop at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the church, 3400 Michigan Ave. The program is geared toward parents and is recommended for ages 18 or older. “We’ve had a lot of parents who are concerned about social media,” said Dee Decker Huey, director of Christian education at Knox Church. Decker, who is a parent of four and who also SOCIAL FAMILY helped orgaWORKSHOP ON nize the workshop, said she TECHNOLOGY is frequently 7 p.m. Wednesday, approached June 22 by her chilKnox Presbyterian dren with inChurch, 3400 Michiquiries about gan Ave. getting online apps. She said when someone from the Presbytery of Cincinnati asked if the church had any interest in presenting a workshop on the topic of social media, Huey thought it would be beneficial. “(This program) brings parents into the loop on what their kids are interested in and doing on their mobile devices and phones,” she said. “I think (this discussion) can open communication.” Topics will include: » The many technologies available to children. » The potential risks and issues of using various technologies. » Keeping pace with changes and growth in social media. » Providing guidance in the use of these technologies. See SOCIAL, Page 2A
FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Dee Decker Huey, director of Christian education at Knox Presbyterian Church, has helped organize a program for parents on technology and social media that will be offered at the church June 22.
PROVIDED
Susan Hughes, vice president of the Columbia Township Board of Trustees, and township service department employee Jamey Evanchyk celebrate Arbor Day around a newly planted maple tree with students from The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori. The students are, from left: Vivian Borgert, Heidi Gruber, Madeline Fischer, Ben Charron, Liam King, Aidan Kelly, Sam Scuglik and Wyatt Myers.
Good Shepherd opens first phase of playscape Children able to enjoy natural attractions Jeanne Houck jhouck@communitypress.com
Children at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori in Columbia Township are playing in a large sandbox and exploring paths - surrounded by shade trees and plants they are allowed to touch. In other words, the children are enjoying the first phase of a “natural playscape” that the Montessori and the township are developing at the school at 4460 Berwick St. for the use of the students and the surrounding Madison Place neighborhood. “The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori students and the residents of Madison Place are greatly enjoying the gardens, paths, sand play, manipulative play and imaginative play areas,” said Ann Marie King, marketing director of the Montessori. “Currently the ‘fort play’ area is under construction and I believe this summer will see work on the hillside slide. “The playscape - unique in its design and its private-public collaboration - is enhancing the lives of students and residents of all ages,” King said. Columbia Township has contributed $18,260 to the cost of the $98,000 playscape, which will be open to the public when not in use by The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori. The township has just one park, a
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“Free and unstructured play in nature is essential to the healthy development of all children.” DAN TELLER Montessori principal
small one: Muchmore Park at Muchmore and Walton Creek roads. “Columbia Township has no public parks within two miles of the playground site and The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori has been gracious to permit Columbia Township residents and children to utilize its existing playground,” Columbia Township Administrator Michael Lemon said. “The public-private collaboration process used (to build the new, natural playscape) is a good example on how to achieve high-caliber goals by partnering with others.” Like Columbia Township, The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori plans to contribute about 20 percent of the funding for the playscape, which is designed to immerse children in nature and feature amenities made of things such as wood and rocks. The Montessori is seeking grants and donations for the remaining 60 percent.
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The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, but receives no archdiocesan or parish funding. Columbia Township applied for a $55,000 grant for the playscape from the state’s 2017-2018 biennial budget. “We owe thanks to State Rep. Tom Brinkman (R-Mount Lookout) for his interest in the project and his support for the grant with the state legislature,” Lemon said. “State legislature passed the bill and it’s awaiting signature by the governor. “With the grant being authorized by the state to improve the playground, the objective of benefitting both the school children and the neighborhood children will be achieved,” Lemon said. The natural playscape will have access to play equipment and an open field already at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori, which has about 200 students in preschool through eighth grade. “Free and unstructured play in nature is essential to the healthy development of all children,” said Dan Teller, principal of the Montessori. “In a natural playscape, children of all ages can explore, meet friends, imagine, run, jump and climb, create artwork, build forts and discover nature on a daily basis.” https:// Visit gscmontessori.ejoinme.org/playscape to donate to the playscape. Want to know more about what is happening in Columbia Township? Follow me on Twitter @jeannehouck.
Vol. 36 No. 22 © 2016 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED