NorthTexasChild January 2020

20 EVENTS TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR

HOW TO RAISE A BILINGUAL CHILD

MEET REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DALLAS’

KAMERON WESTCOTT

+

IS YOUR KID SKILLED FOR LIFE?

THE 2020 PRIVATE SCHOOL LIST

BUDDY SYSTEM HOW A DIAGNOSIS CREATED A STRONGER FRIENDSHIP

LIFE AT THE NEXT

LEVEL Coming Spring 2020 • RidgeNorthlakeTX.com

your Scan me witahmera! smartphone c Discover a new community where outdoor adventure beckons all ages and interests, thoughtful gathering places connect neighbors and friends, and beautiful homes create spaces for those who matter most.

Argyle ISD • New Homes from the $300s All features, amenities or other representations contained within are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that any of these features, amenities or other representations depicted on this site will be built or performed at all or as depicted or described.

pages / J A N U A R Y

2020 NORTHTEXAS

DEPARTMENTS NOTED 5 Ready To Launch

How to help your child prepare for (gasp!) independence and adulthood

REAL MOMS 9 Mom Next Door / Kameron Westcott

9 ABOVE // Real Housewives of Dallas' Kameron Westcott and husband Court are raising their kids on and off camera.

16

Talking fame, family and philanthropy with this “Real Housewife” 12 5 Things... / Call Sheet

Our Mom Next Door’s behind-the- scenes essentials

FEATURES

14

16 The Lookouts

KID CULTURE 25 Dual Lingos

When their friend was diagnosed with epilepsy, these children stepped up in a big way words Carrie Steingruber

20 The Private School List

Not going the public school route?

Check out our list of options in North Texas

Routines / Courtney Adams Interior design jobs—and the kids’ piano and dance lessons—have this Denton mom driving all over DFW

How and why immersive schools work, plus other resources for language learning

28 Calendar / The Agenda

The country’s largest family film

festival and more events to ring in 2020

compiled by Maya Butler

ON THE COVER

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN BEINKE PHOTOGRAPHY; ©ISTOCK; PHOTOGRAPHY BY CINDY JAMES; ILLUSTRATION BY MARY DUNN

Cover Kid: Katherine, 8, of Coppell Photography: Cindy James / Alyssa Pizer Management Hair & Makeup: Lisa Williams / Independent Artists Agency Art Direction/Styling: Heather Vance Devers

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joylyn Niebes CREATIVE + CONTENT DIRECTOR Heather Vance Devers EDITORIAL Executive Editor Carrie Steingruber Managing Editor Alexis Patterson

Freelance Assistant Editor Maya Butler Calendar Editor Elizabeth Smith Digital Editor Sydney Blalock Ritchie Editorial Intern Emily Yearwood ART Contributing Editorial Designer Lesley Busby

COLUMNS

30 Confessions / Mom Truths

Forgotten doughnuts and more LOL moments to start the year

Graphic Designers Susan Horn, Ariana Leyva

Advertising Coordinator Alli Renner

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT LARGE Lauren Niebes

PR/MARKETING Audience Development Director Candace Emerson Digital Marketing Coordinator Tram-Anh Le

ADVERTISING Account Executives Alison Davis, Becca Hobby, Nancy McDaniel, Diana Whitworth Nelson, Sandi Tijerina

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ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Leah Wagner Accounting Jeanie Vance

NorthTexasChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. NorthTexasChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only NorthTexasChild authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies of NorthTexasChild are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NorthTexasChild is ©2020 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited.

northtexaschild / january 2020

3

noted.

READY TO LAUNCH ©ISTOCK

#adultingskills

WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON + LESLEY BUSBY

L

AST MONTH, STUDENTS FILLED THE GYMNASIUM AT GRAPEVINE HIGH SCHOOL. It wasn’t a basketball game or a college fair. The kids were there to learn about insurance.

And other topics that typical teenagers don’t think about.

Brooke Bingham isn’t your typical teenager.

“Sitting in my AP classes, I hear a lot of my peers say, ‘When am I ever going to use this in real life?’” notes Brooke, a senior at GHS who will go on to Texas A&M University. “That’s why I did the financial literacy program.”

Yes, that big event that taught Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District students essentials for adulthood was the brainchild of, well, a child. OK, a young adult—two young adults, actually. Brooke and fellow senior Elnora Marshall have organized the fair for two years as a project for DECA, an international high school and collegiate organization.

A car dealer talked about how to buy a car. Brooke’s father explained insurance. (“They didn’t know what a deductible is,” he says. “No clue.”) A real estate agent discussed the home buying northtexaschild / january 2020

5

noted / R E A D Y

TO LAUNCH

“Our biggest struggle is helping parents process. After collecting stamps in “financial see the value,” admits Burkhart, who taught passports,” students had a chance to win gift Human Services before transitioning to cards or Dallas Mavericks tickets. hospitality and tourism instruction. “But “It was a huge success,” says Kate Burkhart, students learn so much in regards to their a GCISD teacher and DECA advisor. “These foundation. They’re learning social and emokids are ahead of the game. GCISD is very tional skills, work ethic, conflict resolution. supportive of real-world skills.”

I’m a huge fan of it.”

Brooke began learning real-world skills Burkhart recommends talking to your inside the classroom back in eighth grade, when child’s school counselor to find out what Burkhart taught her Human Services course.

Family and Consumer Sciences offerings are “Human Services students learn everyavailable on their campus. thing from how to do laundry and sew a button to managing money and early childhood MAKE CAMP development,” says Burkhart.

A variety of camps teach these lessons outside Ah, early childhood development—the school. Tarrant County College’s College electronic baby unit. for Kids, for example, incorporates some life “Staying up all night over the weekend skills offerings, such as pet care, quick cooking with my ‘baby’ was very eye-opening,” recalls and “money and life” math. The Hockaday Brooke. “It was for a lot of my peers as well.”

School’s co-ed Summer at Hockaday Not enough teenagers are getting those includes classes on subjects like etiquette eye-opening, real-world lessons (electronic and leadership. baby or otherwise). Cynthia Bing, director of “Parents are increasingly looking for outreach services and mental health promoexperiences that will give their child an tion at the University of Texas at Arlington’s opportunity to develop Counseling and life skills, while also Psychological providing an environServices Center, says Need some easy-to-access life skills ment that encourages it’s not uncommon resources? Check out these online interpersonal skills to for freshmen to programs: be developed,” says arrive on campus Melissa Curtis, director needing assistance • Set to Go is an online guide for students, of auxiliary programs with time manageat Hockaday. ment, stress manage- parents and teachers to break down life ment and budgeting. preparedness. From necessary skills to mental health, Set to Go covers five HOME & PLAY essential topics to help your teen transition Such an experience HAVE SOME CLASS to their next stage. settogo.org doesn’t even need to be While many schools overly formal, Curtis offer Family and • Financial responsibility can be an over- reveals. “One of the Consumer Sciences whelming topic to discuss with kids. FDIC best settings for life (the modern term (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) skills discovery in the for home ec), those offers a free downloadable curriculum, young age group is the courses are not Money Smart for Young People. It will playground—where universal, accordguide you through those conversations, friendships are formed, ing to Jared Cappers whether you have a preschooler or a high negotiations are with FCCLA school student. fdic.gov made, coordination is (Family, Career and increased and imaginations blossom.”

Community Leaders of America) Texas.

And even if families have changed over “When schools are looking to trim, it time, parents still play a major role. doesn’t come from the core curriculum or “The author of Screamfree Parenting athletics,” Cappers says. “There’s a belief that introduced me to the idea that the goal is to Family and Consumer Sciences lessons are ‘apprentice adults, not raise children,’” says taught at home. But families aren’t the same Dallas mom Jennifer Norris. Norris and her as they were even 15 or 20 years ago.” husband help their children—an 8-year-old Or there are other areas of focus. Kids son and 14-year-old triplets—put these skills are busy with honors classes, extracurricular into practice. lessons and club sports. So why make time to “I (very reluctantly) let our housekeeper ensure your kids have basic skills? go, and we rely on everyone … to do their “It goes back to being a well-rounded jobs,” says Norris. graduate. Do you want your kid living at That includes packing for travel, cleanhome with you forever?” asks Cappers, only ing, doing laundry and cooking. “I love the half joking. independence and confidence it is building,” While Human Services has remained says Norris. And there’s an added benefit: fairly popular in GCISD, part of that may be “Things get easier [for parents] when kids due to eighth graders getting a high school can do for themselves.” elective credit for the class.

HOOKED UP

6

january 2020 / northtexaschild

University of North Texas Speech and Hearing

New Auditory Listening Clinic Specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder

UNT, located in Denton, TX, is offering a multidisciplinary clinic for auditory assessments and interventions directed by Erin Schafer, Ph.D., CCC-A and Lauren Mathews, M.S., CCC-SLP. This clinic specializes in individuals who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as well as any child with normal hearing who experiences listening difficulties.

To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 940-565-2262 or speechhearingclinic@unt.edu

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northtexaschild / january 2020

7

BEST EVER 2020

T R AV E L

ST EM

real moms.

Kameron Westcott balances reality TV stardom with motherhood.

THE DISH

AGE 36 HAILS FROM Montecito,

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN BEINKE PHOTOGRAPHY

California LIVES IN Highland Park SIGNIFICANT OTHER Court Westcott, venture capitalist ALMA MATER Southern Methodist University MOTTO “Blonde by birth, pink by choice” REAL HOUSEWIVES TAGLINE “Just because I look like Barbie, doesn’t mean you can play me.”

mom next door /

KAMERON WESTCOTT real housewife of dallas INTERVIEW NICOLE JORDAN

W

ITH THREE SEASONS OF THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DALLAS UNDER HER

(stylish) belt, Kameron Westcott is a bona fide reality TV star. A self-proclaimed Real Housewives “superfan,” she says it’s a distinction she never dreamed she’d receive. But she’s taking it in stride, using the newfound fame to further her philanthropic work and grow her pet supplies brand, SparkleDog. Along with her own superfans, Westcott is anxiously waiting to hear if the show will return for another season. In the meantime, she has plenty to keep her busy, with her company, a chock-full social calendar, a marriage and two children: Hilton, 9, and Cruise, 6. (Fun fact: Cruise was once on the cover of our magazine.) We caught up with Westcott to talk about life in front of the lens. → northtexaschild / january 2020

9

real moms / M O M

NEXT DOOR

How do you balance running a business with filming and family? It’s extremely hard.

It’s all about prioritizing. I’m old-fashioned and keep a planner, where I write everything down. I carry a list in my purse and keep a backup on my phone.

You must have a great support system. My staff and husband help me. My nanny is like Mary Poppins. She may be at the tailor one minute and then at a soccer game or picking something up from Neiman’s for me the next. I also have an amazing assistant. It takes a village.

Do you struggle with guilt when you have to be away?

Mom guilt is so bad. It’s the worst. I think there needs to be a class to help moms with this constant guilt. I wish there was a place we could go to be reminded that it’s OK to take time away from the kids. I think a lot of moms forget that.

Are you any easier on yourself now than you were as a new mom? I don’t think

Get Involved OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY

so. The difference is the kids are in school now, so I have a little more time to work on things. My little boy is in primer [the transitional year between kindergarten and first grade], which [gets out later and] has given me one more hour. I’m always hurrying to get everything done before I get in carpool line.

How many hours of sleep do you get a night? Prob-

ably around seven.

Sometimes it’s six.

What do you do for yourself to stay happy and centered?

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january 2020 / northtexaschild

by? I’m always telling myself to enjoy the

moment, try to be present and put the phone away. It can be hard. It’s a problem for everyone and it’s something I’m working on.

You do a lot of philanthropic work. What are you focused on right now? I’m going to

be a presenter for Dec My Room [which creates healing spaces for hospitalized pediatric and young adult patients] this spring, which I’m super excited about. I’m also really involved with Susan G. Komen. I chaired the luncheon last year and raised around $400,000. I did it in honor of my girlfriend, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seeing what they go through is just horrid.

I ended up partnering with Susan G. Komen so that every bag of SparkleDog food sold gives back.

“I WISH THERE WAS A PLACE WE COULD GO TO BE REMINDED THAT IT’S OK TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THE KIDS. I THINK A LOT OF MOMS FORGET THAT.”

I don’t have time to go to the spa, so I have a masseuse come to my house because it gives me more time. I have everything come to me. I know it’s more expensive, but my time is valuable and I don’t have time to be sitting in traffic. For me, getting my nails done at my house works. I use [the app-based service] Cherry.

Are there any golden rules you try to live

Why is giving back so important to you? Not everyone

is blessed with the resources we have.

It’s important to raise our children to understand how lucky we are.

How do you and your husband Court stay connected? We

have date night every week, no matter what. It’s required. We get massages together.

We go on walks on the weekends.

You’ve been in Dallas for a while now. Does it feel like home? I will always

have a place in California because that’s where I grew up, and I still consider myself a Cali girl.

But I’m definitely a Texan now.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about Dallas? No one is in

cowboy boots, unless you’re going to a western-themed party or down to Gilley’s. Dallas is a metropolitan city, not a western town.

Were you familiar with Real Housewives before joining the cast? I was the biggest fan

of all time. I was that mom at home breastfeeding and watching Housewives. It was

Exceptional dental care, one smile at a time!

Dr. Melissa Rozas

ABOVE // KAMERON WESTCOTT HAS JOKINGLY REFERRED TO HER 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AS HILTON “DRAMA” WESTCOTT ON INSTAGRAM.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN BEINKE PHOTOGRAPHY

my guilty pleasure.

How did you come to join the show? Cary Deuber was on the cast. I met her through Junior League years ago and she put my name in a pile to be interviewed. When they first interviewed me, I thought I’d do it just for fun. I kept interviewing and somehow got a contract. I thought, Oh, no! I have to back out. Court’s family didn’t want me to do the show and I agreed. But you only live once and I didn’t want to have regrets. Well, here I am!

What has surprised you most about the experience? People recognizing me. I never thought that would happen.

How has your life changed? Other than people recognizing me, nothing has really changed. My life is the same. I’m just under a microscope, and if I mess up, everyone knows.

Was it difficult to learn to live so “out loud”? It’s not difficult for me because I’m pretty mellow. I’m not someone that’s going to hurt people’s feelings. I’m not the one that’s going to be running around naked. I know as long as I’m true to myself, that’s all that matters. Usually, my instincts are pretty on point.

Still, people are cruel. How do you avoid the negativity? It’s really hard to avoid. There are so many mean people on Twitter. Thankfully, I have fans that will protect me and put them in their place, but sometimes those fans are at lunch. It can get to you. I have to remember, people only see a slice of the moment and there’s so much more to the story.

What has watching yourself taught you? I do a lot of weird things like nodding my head too much. I also need to be more direct and stick up for myself more.

What keeps you grounded? Family time is what grounds me. My kids are my life. The show is just a slice of my life. The minute my children aren’t OK with the show, I will quit. They are my No. 1 priority.

Dr. Terra Compton

Dr. Loria Nahatis

Board Certified Diplomates, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

972-393-9779

632 E. Sandy Lake Rd., Coppell, TX 75019 www.RozasDDS.com

©

northtexaschild / january 2020

11

real moms / 5

THINGS …

INTERVIEW NICOLE JORDAN

CALL SHEET what this real housewife of Dallas can’t live without

FO R FA M I LY TIM E

2

“My favorite spa to get away to is The Spa at The Joule. I love eating lunch in the grotto in my robe.

You’ll also find me at Highland Park Village, shopping or eating. And I love to get facials at Blue Mermaid Spa; the ultrasound facial is great

WE GO EVERYWHERE! WE GO TO A LOT OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS IN HIGHLAND PARK. WE LOVE RIDING BIKES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ALWAYS STOP AT WILD ABOUT HARRY’S FOR GREAT CUSTARD.”

for tightening your face.” THE SPA AT THE JOULE // 1530 Main St., Dallas; thejouledallas.com; HIGHLAND PARK VILLAGE // 47 Highland Park Village, Dallas; hpvillage. com; BLUE MERMAID SPA // 3317 McKinney Ave., Dallas; bluemermaidspa.com

FO R R E TA I L TH E R A PY

4

“My can’t-live-without boutiques are Hadleigh’s and Lela Rose. For the kids, I shop at The Tot and Jojo Mommy. They have the best kids fashion.” HADLEIGH’S // 70 Highland Park Village, Dallas; hadleighs.com; LELA ROSE // 69 Highland Park Village, Dallas; lelarose.com THE TOT // 4607 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas; thetot.com; JOJO MOMMY // 4715 Lovers Lane, Dallas; jojomommy.com

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january 2020 / northtexaschild

FO R G E T TI N G C A M E R A-R E A DY FITNESS • Ninety20, which is a 20-minute workout using electronic muscle stimulation • Workouts at John Benton Model Fitness HAIR • Fresh highlights at Blow Salon MAKEUP

WILD ABOUT HARRY’S // 4527 Travis St., Dallas; wildaboutharrys.com

3

5

FO RFO LURNFA CHMO I LY N TH TIM E ERU N “I am obsessed with the oriental chicken salad at Cafe Pacific.”

CAFE PACIFIC // 24 Highland Park Village, Dallas; cafepacificdallas.com

• The Quench by Beauty Bio • Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation • Dior Airflash Spray Foundation • Wet Brush

PHOTOS COURTESY OKRISTEN BEINKE PHOTOGRAPHY; WILD ABOUT HARRY’S; THE SPA AT THE JOULE; THE TOT; WET BRUSH; BEAUTY BIO

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MAKE THE MOST OF PLAYTIME LAUNCH RIGHT IN WITH . . .

a SUPER SPACECRAFT!

GATHER THESE MATERIALS:

Pencil

2 toilet paper tubes

Paper towel tube

2. Draw a rounded 1. Lay a toilet

paper tube on top of a piece of cardboard.

Trace it.

nose to the traced shape. Then draw two rounded triangles for wings.

Small piece of cardboard

Markers or paint

3. Cut out the shape.

Scissors

(with an adult�s help)

Paper

Glue

5. Glue your cut tube on top of the cardboard in the shape of a spacecraft, and let it dry.

4. Trace the bottom of a toilet paper tube on top of another. Then cut out the round shape.

6. Color or paint your spacecraft. You

can also decorate it with stickers. Place a small toy inside and go for a ride. Tell a story about where you’re going!

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An imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD northtexaschild / january 2020

13

Page 1

a monday in the life of

COURTNEY ADAMS Courtney Adams lives in Denton with her husband, two children—August, 9, and Parker, 6—and French bulldog, Libby.

The Baylor alum and licensed interior designer loves art, movies, traveling and shopping.

4

AM Hear hubby getting ready for his run, but I find a way to fall back asleep for a few more minutes.

4:55AM My iPhone alarm sounds—grab some workout clothes and head to jazzercise.

5:30AM Class kicks off; time to work out the stress life!

6:40AM Place a Starbucks mobile order for a bacon Gouda sandwich and a Grande latte.

I need this boost for the long day ahead.

Dash in, grab it and eat on the drive home.

6:48AM Arrive back home to pack little lunches—try to sneak in a note for each of them to let them know I love them so.

Hubby drops off the kids on the corner of our street for them to walk with their neighborhood friends, and then he heads off to Adams Exterminating, where he manages the day-to-day office affairs.

7:15AM Check my weather app to see if it will be a naturally curly, straight or curled hair day based on humidity and my workout schedule, then shower up and get ready.

Business casual with comfy shoes since I’ll be on my feet most of the day.

8AM Pack up my bag with my laptop, iPad, architectural scale and some sketch paper (just in case I need to draw up a design detail on the spot).

8:15AM Plop down in my SUV and turn on Lauren Daigle’s album to get my head right to conquer the day while driving to my first job site.

9AM Get a text from a repeat client who’s panic-stricken since she just found out that demo is starting in two weeks on her master bathroom. Not a single fixture, faucet or tile has been selected, much less purchased.

Yikes! We set up a time to meet at home, and then, when we can, run to Rick’s Hardware and Floor & Decor to get sourcing tackled for her long list of needs.

9:24AM Arrive in Alvarado to meet with general contractor Shawn to complete our final punch list before Bernard Arnault’s visit. He will be seeing the new Louis Vuitton workshop and this three-story home we’ve been remodeling—in less than two weeks.

The pressure is on to make the best impression possible!

9:50AM Meet with painting crew to show final touch-ups on walls and trim now that the installation of furniture and artwork has been completed. Nothing major, but it needs to be pristine.

10:30AM Walk perimeter of property with landscaper to ensure plantings are properly placed, everything’s looking its best and client’s request for low maintenance has been achieved.

11:15AM Hop on a conference call with my Walters Wedding Estates team for The Olana pool house to be completed before this space can be sold to brides. Need to have the Urban Archeology metal brackets installed, and glass measured and ordered.

12:30PM Grab a chocolate peanut butter protein bar from my bag, and check in on site progress.

1:25PM Leave Alvarado for Trophy Club to visit a residential project to review master bedroom paint colors with these cool peeland-stick samples from Samplize with my client before work commences tomorrow— need the walls to be a soft gray that creates a cozy feel and coordinates with the beautiful drapery and furnishings we’ve installed.

We narrow it down and focus our energy on making bedding selections.

2:20PM Race back to Denton to pick up the kids from school—pick out some snacks, grab August’s piano books for his lesson at 4:15 and get Parker ready for her company dance classes.

3:40PM Leave for Highland Village. This

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by NorthTexasChild. Send your diary to editorial@dfwchild.com. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.

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january 2020 / northtexaschild

PHOTO COURTESY OF TORRES PHOTOGRAPHY

real moms / R O U T I N E S

January

the fine

print

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GO-TO COCKTAIL French 75 BEST VACATION Before we

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started a family, I wanted to travel across the pond, so Hubby made it happen! London, Paris and Rome. It was a dream, and the best shopping was on Portobello Road in London. FAVORITE INSTAGRAMMERS @pencilandpaperco, @elementstyle, @tsgdallas FAVORITE INDULGENCE Cookie board (flavors change a few times a year) served with milk from a dairy in McGregor called Mill-King Market and Creamery. FAVORITE MOVIE The Holiday BEVERAGE OF CHOICE Warm latte from West Oak Coffee Bar FAVORITE SCENT Au Hasard from Louis Vuitton BEST PURCHASE EVER Our butterscotch Frenchie, Libby, who’s rocking into year 13! WORDS SHE LIVES BY Work to live, not live to work. BEST KNOWN FOR My contagious laughter BEST HOSTING TIP To make everyone feel welcome and comfortable upon arrival. ANTIQUE OR MODERN? I like to keep interiors clean and classic but grounded with an authentic antique find. BIGGEST PET PEEVE Being called a decorator—what I do for clients is so much deeper than simply adding drapery, pillows and hanging wall decor to a space. WHAT INSPIRES HER Travel—to see how others live.

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might be one of my highlights today. As we are on our way, I get to hear about their day, the highs and the lows. It gives us time to discuss how things are going with friendships and school. Drop off August at piano, and drop Parker off at dance.

5PM Pick August up from piano, get drive-thru dinner from our crowd’s favorite Chick-fil-A and take him to the dance studio, where he will read some and play a math game on his iPad. I take my laptop so I can answer some emails and confirm meetings for tomorrow.

7:15PM We wrap up the last dance class and head home.

8:05PM Shower kids, put on their Hanna Andersson striped pajamas, read for homework and tuck them in bed.

8:50PM I consider getting my laptop back out, but instead I grab the remote and chill out with some Netflix.

9:30PM Set alarm for jazzercise the next morning, then drift off—hopefully I can turn my brain off to get almost eight hours of sleep. northtexaschild / january 2020

15

LOOK OUTS When Samu was diagnosed with epilepsy, his friends stepped up to watch out for him at school. It’s a responsibility that’s changed the way they see the world.

WORDS CARRIE STEINGRUBER

16

january 2020 / northtexaschild

HUNDREDS

©ISTOCK

OF KIDS WERE ON THEIR FEET, THEIR CLAPS AND SCREAMS MULTIPLYING IN THE REVERB CHAMBER THAT IS THEIR TILED SCHOOL CAFETERIA. It was assembly day at Light Farms Elementary in Celina, and the tables were folded and pushed against the walls to make room for rows of elementary students buzzing with Friday energy.

This was their favorite part of every assembly: the teacher challenge. Teachers from each grade participate in some kind of silly competition—like transporting M&M’s using a straw and no hands— while students cheer them on.

“It was pret-ty loud,” says Luke Zihlman, who was in second grade at the time. (He’s now in fourth.) He too was caught up in the fervor, but his view was obscured by the kids in front of him.

“After I realized I was too short to see, I looked over at the other students to see if I could get a better view, and I saw Samu.”

Samu (pronounced “shah-mu”) Miller—a classmate and soccer teammate—was sitting six or seven kids away from Luke that afternoon. When Luke glanced in his direction, Samu was “huddled up, covering his ears,” Luke says. “I suddenly remember—Samu has epilepsy.

Loud sounds can make him have a seizure.”

Samu wasn’t having an actual seizure, but he was alarmingly close. He doesn’t recall much from those moments at the assembly—just the screaming. “It felt like my eardrums were bursting with blood,” Samu says. “I was very weak, and I couldn’t talk.”

As Samu fiercely pressed his hands to his ears, Luke pushed past other kids to reach his friend’s side.

Samu didn’t respond; he didn’t even know someone was there. After trying unsuccessfully to help him to

his feet, Luke went to their teacher for help. She took Samu to the nurse, and Luke was left to wonder—and worry—about his friend as the teacher challenge and the cheering carried on around him.

“I was scared for Samu,” Luke says. “I remember a bunch of people asking me, ‘Why are you crying? Why are you crying?’ I’m like, ‘’Cause my friend is hurt!’”

Most of the other students didn’t notice Samu’s near-seizure and exit. “They were more focused on who would win the teacher challenge than others around them,” Luke says.

His tone doesn’t suggest an indictment, just an observation. But Samu’s friends are different. As his self-appointed protectors, they view the school day (and every day) with a keener eye. Their awareness is sharpened, and they recognize the hidden dangers in seemingly innocuous events—assemblies, morning announcements, picture day. After Samu was first diagnosed, one of his friends accompanied him on every trip to the bathroom or nurse’s office. During fire drills, his friends watch for warning signs of a seizure as they all file outside. They answer questions about epilepsy from curious students. And of course, they know what to do if Samu has a seizure.

That’s a big responsibility for elementary kids, but it’s one they’re proud of, insists Brayden Vorel, Samu’s neighbor and best friend.

“It made me feel good that I have someone to hang out with, play with, but also be very protective,” Brayden says. “I feel like I’ve grown to it, like it feels normal to do this for him.”→

northtexaschild / january 2020

17

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

ON ALERT

Samu and Brayden call themselves “step twin brothers” for a reason. There’s a physical resemblance: Both have blond hair and a smattering of freckles. They also bicker like siblings.

Interviewing them together is a case study in one step forward, two steps back—each step punctuated with laughter and shoving.

18

january 2020 / northtexaschild

“SEEING HOW THEY ARE TOGETHER AND LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, IT’S VERY INSPIRING, NOT JUST FOR US AS ADULTS BUT I THINK FOR OTHER KIDS TOO, BECAUSE THEY’RE SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF ACCEPTANCE.” —HALEY STELLY ABOVE // THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "STEP TWIN BROTHERS" (BRAYDEN VOREL, LEFT, AND SAMU MILLER) HAVE GROWN CLOSER SINCE SAMU'S DIAGNOSIS

Brayden calmly tries to explain their friendship: “Sometimes we get into arguments or disagree—” “We always do, Mister!” Samu interrupts, giggling.

Brayden gives me a look like he’s been in the trenches with a rebellious teenager. He sighs with mock exasperation, “What am I gonna do with you?”

The boys were friends before Samu’s epilepsy diagnosis, but Brayden believes that being in the same class for two years has cemented their bond.

“I think Samu has became [sic] a closer friend than before to me, and a friend that I should be more aware of or protective on,” he says. “Ever since I met him when I moved here, it’s been like we’re friends, we know each other, but now it’s like we’re very close friends.”

School feels different now too, Brayden says. He pays attention to things that he used to disregard as routine, or fail to notice at all.

Whether identifying parts of speech in the classroom or playing football at recess, he is on alert for Samu’s potential triggers: loud sounds and flashing lights.

Brayden also picks up clues to Samu’s wellbeing in his behavior—walking instead of running during P.E., for instance, could signal he’s not feeling well.

Besides morning announcements (the teacher turns down the volume for Samu), fire drills are the primary hazard—unlike assemblies, the noise is heard throughout the building,

and there is value to Samu’s participation. As the alarm blares, Brayden looks to his friend to be sure Samu is covering his ears; if Brayden is close enough, he’ll cover Samu’s ears himself.

“Brayden takes this pretty seriously,” says Robyn Vorel, Brayden’s mom. “He feels like, ‘OK, they want me to make sure he’s OK at school, so it is my job to make sure that he’s OK at school.’ And I was like, ‘Does that make you feel too responsible?’ He goes, ‘No, I kind of like it. I mean, I’m Samu’s buddy. We’re like brothers.’ I think he’s actually taking this and actually owning it. He’s really wanting to be that person.”

Brayden and Samu’s fourth grade teacher, Morgan Lorenzini, says that when she was still getting to know the boys at the beginning of the school year, Brayden would remind her that Samu needed to go to the office during assemblies, and would volunteer to go get him afterward. “He’s always just looking out for him,” she says.

That desire to look out for each other can be seen among students in other schools as well.

Elementary-age kids “naturally want to help,” says Patty Bustamante, executive director of specialized learning services at Arlington ISD. She works with students in her district who have epilepsy, type 1 diabetes and other needs, and says their friends and classmates consider it a privilege to be a buddy. At that age, she adds, they view the world (and therefore their responsibilities) in black and white. “Everything is so

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBYN VOREL

Let’s be clear: Prosper Independent School District isn’t entrusting a student’s life solely to other 9- and 10-year-olds. Principal Haley Stelly assures me that the adults on campus are looking out for Samu too, and he has other official accommodations, like being allowed to read in the office during school assemblies.

(That assembly was the last one he attended.)

She explains that students with disabilities like epilepsy are evaluated case by case in partnership with families and caregivers; if Samu needed a service dog or an adult by his side all day, that would be arranged.

Still, teachers and the school nurse may be Samu’s safety net, but his friends see themselves as his first line of defense.

Kata Miller-Massányi, Samu’s mom, reveals that having a buddy with him is actually part of her son’s 504 plan, the document that outlines his accommodations. Being a buddy was a critical role in the early days especially. Samu was afraid of passing out alone—on the bathroom floor, no less.

For Samu and his friends, joint bathroom trips aren’t embarrassing; they’re matter of fact, just like his epilepsy. “If he has a seizure, and then there’s no one in the bathroom, he would be helpless,” Brayden explains.

He doesn’t treat Samu as a victim, and Samu certainly appreciates the backup. Two summers ago, when the third grade class lists came out and Miller-Massányi realized Samu didn’t have a close friend in his room, she rang up Principal Stelly. Besides wanting a buddy to have an extra eye on him, Samu was taking an anti-seizure medication that made him extremely depressed. “‘We need Brayden,’” Miller-Massányi recalls saying. “‘You don’t understand how much we need him.’”

Stelly moved Samu to Brayden’s class and made sure the two stayed together in fourth grade too. Even though Samu’s last seizure was in November 2018 and his “buddy system” has become more lax—meaning he can fly solo to the nurse’s office and the bathroom—he told his mom he still wanted Brayden there for support; in fact, the break from seizures has Samu increasingly anxious that the next one must be right around the corner.

But he’s already got a long-term plan.

“We’re gonna be in the same class in college, and we’re gonna work at the same place,” Samu says.

absolute—it’s all or nothing,” she says. “They take it very seriously.”

Indeed, Brayden is even critical of his job performance. “Sometimes I can be attracted to something and then completely forget about the people around me,” he says, citing the teacher challenge as an example. Then when the sound or the lights intensify, he says, the risk suddenly flashes into his mind again.

He and Luke both admit to worrying that something might happen if they let their guard down, or if they’re away from Samu. Even though Luke hasn’t been in the same class as Samu since second grade, he still thinks about his friend during fire drills. “I will normally look around for Samu, just to see if he’s OK,” he reveals when I talk to all three boys together.

Samu turns to him in surprise. “Wait, literally? Even if we’re in separate classes?” Luke nods, but Samu’s still skeptical. “You literally do?”

“Yeah,” Luke confirms, “I look around the hallway, ’cause there’s like crowds of people, so I literally look around the hallway just to see if you’re OK.”

THE RIGHT THING

When I ask the boys about their favorite parts of the school day, Luke says math because he likes “the way it works.” Brayden lists recess and lunch (shocker) but also grammar and cultural studies.

This year, Texas history is on the docket. “You get to learn stuff that you never would learn if you weren’t there at that time,” he explains.

Because he and Luke are here, now, watching out for their friend, they’re getting an education that’s beyond the scope of any STAAR test.

“Who would’ve thought that by 8 you’ll know what to do when you see someone having a seizure?” Miller-Massányi says.

She’s done her part to educate her son’s friends and classmates—as a professional dog trainer, she taught one of the family pups, Dio, to nudge Samu’s head to the side if he’s on the ground and shaking (a measure that ensures he can breathe). She brought Dio to Samu’s second grade class to demonstrate how his peers should respond if they see Samu having a seizure.

Kids latch on to such real-life skills, Bustamante says. Unlike some school subjects that seem less than useful right now, learning how to care for a friend is personal and immediately relevant. It’s knowledge they can put into practice right away and see their world change as a result.

“They’re understanding how their decisions, their behaviors impact the world around them and change the world for the better,” Bustamante says.

Luke and Brayden agree that they’ve become more aware not just of Samu but of people in general, some of whom might have invisible challenges.

“I know that some people have disorders, and they need help with their disorders,” Luke says. “And I know that I don’t have a disorder,

so I can be one of those people who help them.

So I will tend to look around when I hear a loud sound or I see a blinking light.”

“I think it’s the awareness to think of any kid at this point,” Brayden’s mom says. “If someone looks like they’re in stress—head down, covered ears, whatever it may be—then they may know, ‘Oh, OK, so you’re reacting in some way because something’s bothering you. Let me go help or get help.’”

Tyson Zihlman, Luke’s dad, sums it up: “They’re learning to do the right thing.”

While Principal Stelly obviously wouldn’t wish epilepsy on her students, she says Samu’s condition paved a fast track for him and his friends to broaden their awareness and acceptance of others.

“Especially at a young age, kids are very ego-centric,” she explains, “so it [normally] takes a while for them to increase their own selfawareness of what’s going on with them, and then in turn learning how they can relate and connect to others.”

“It’s the same reason that parents in our community bring their children up to the hospital to donate toys for other kids here, to help them realize, ‘OK, it’s not all about you; there are other people to think about too,’” says Michelle McLemore, a certified child life specialist at Children’s Medical Center Plano.

Child life specialists often visit schools of kids with chronic conditions and illnesses to help classmates understand the diagnosis and how to be a good friend to a child like Samu, whose epilepsy was diagnosed at Children’s Health.

In McLemore’s experience, as kids learn about their peers with differences, their egocentricity is tempered by empathy. As much as kids have the capacity for bullying and meanness, they also have an immense capacity for acceptance, especially when equipped with knowledge. Samu has candidly shared his epilepsy diagnosis with his friends, and they in turn have accepted it as just another part of their school day, their reality.

“Looking at the situation and seeing how they are together and looking out for one another, it’s very inspiring,” Stelly says, “not just for us as adults but I think for other kids too, because they’re setting an example of acceptance and creating a sense of belonging for every child.”

SHARE THE LOAD

Of course Samu knows his own seizure triggers. He recognizes when sounds are too loud or he’s too hot or cold. Miller-Massányi accepts the necessity of Samu’s self-policing; it is a responsibility that came part and parcel with his diagnosis. But life lessons notwithstanding, she sometimes regrets that his friends have assumed the same responsibility. When I interview the boys at her home, it is the first time she’s heard Luke talk about the assembly. She works hard to restrain her emotions as Luke speaks about his concern for Samu.

“Sometimes I feel guilty for that,” she later admits, “that he’s in that position where— Brayden too—like, ‘I think about him, I’m worried about him.’

“The teachers tell me the same thing, like, ‘Oh, we’re going to watch out for him,’” she continues.

“Yeah, I’m expecting you to do that, but not a 7and 8-year-old. They’re just … they’re so young.”

It’s both poignant and heartening to realize the weight that young kids can—and sometimes are forced to—carry.

McLemore believes it’s important for other children to understand their role in a situation like this. “If they feel like it’s their job, we need to remind them that there are adults—parents, medical staff and teachers—who are taking care of the child’s medical needs, so they can focus on being a supportive friend,” she says.

Samu is fortunate to have multiple supportive friends. So when Luke found out he wouldn’t be in Samu’s third grade class, he was only uneasy at first.

“I was a little scared,” he says, “but then when I saw him with Brayden, I was like, ‘OK, Brayden’s his friend. He knows he’s got epilepsy.

I’m sure he should watch out for him … but I’ll still watch out for him.’”

Again, Samu seems surprised and grateful. He smiles at Luke. “You’re good,” he says quietly.

B U D DY S Y S T E M Samu’s 504 plan specifies that he be allowed to have a buddy with him if needed, but it doesn’t name a particular student. “We don’t want any child to feel uncomfortable with a situation that they’re put in, which is why we don’t specifically say, ‘Oh, this is your role,’” Principal Haley Stelly explains.

We were curious: Is this a typical accommodation for students with needs like epilepsy?

Fort Worth ISD spokesperson Clint Bond says this kind of buddy system is not a practice in his district. “Any student assistance provided would be provided by a District employee and would be influenced by many factors including doctor’s statement(s), student’s condition, etc.,” he wrote in an email.

In Arlington ISD, students may be assigned to help classmates with conditions like epilepsy depending on the need and the kids’ ages— typically fourth or fifth grade and older. Patty Bustamante, AISD’s executive director of specialized learning services, says they choose buddies carefully and often provide an orientation to the class, much like Samu’s mother did for his friends and second grade classmates.

Bustamante adds that teachers may institute a class-wide buddy system so that everyone has to go in pairs. (Samu’s second grade teacher, Melissa Patterson, did just that: She started a buddy system in her class thanks to Samu; two years later, her students still go everywhere in pairs.)

northtexaschild / january 2020

19

PRIVATE

THE

2020

Our comprehensive guide to North Texas private schools

TA B YE

AR

ES

TE SI W EB

TY CI

RE D AD

SC

H

O

O

L

SS

LI

SH

ED

C O M P I L E D B Y M AYA B U T L E R

Cistercian Preparatory

3660 Cistercian Road

Irving

cistercian.org

1962

Coram Deo Academy of Flower Mound

4900 Wichita Trail

Flower Mound

coramdeoacademy.org

1999

Denton Calvary Academy

1910 E. University Drive

Denton

dentoncalvary.org

1999

Explorations Preparatory School

1501 Flower Mound Road

Flower Mound

explorationsprep.org

2003

Grace Christian Academy

3200 Firewheel Drive

Flower Mound

gcapatriots.org

1970

The Highlands

1451 E. Northgate Drive

Irving

thehighlandsschool.org

1980

Holy Family Catholic Academy

2323 Cheyenne St.

Irving

hfca-irving.org

1965

The Humanist Academy

4441 W. Airport Freeway, Suite 100

Irving

thehumanistacademy.org

2016

Islamic School of Irving

2555 Esters Road

Irving

islamicschoolofirving.org

1996

The Koan School

6441 Fishtrap Road

Denton

koanschool.org

2013

Lakeland Christian Academy

397 S. Stemmons Freeway

Lewisville

lakelandchristian.org

1993

Liberty Christian School

1301 S. Highway 377

Argyle

libertychristian.com

1983

Redeemer Montessori School

2700 Warren Circle

Irving

redeemermontessori.org

1978

Saint Francis Montessori

545 Iris Drive

Irving

stfrancisirving.org

2009

Selwyn School

2270 Copper Canyon Road

Argyle

selwynschool.org

1957

The Sloan School

3131 N. O'Connor Road

Irving

thesloanschool.com

1996

StoneGate Christian Academy

1705 Esters Road

Irving

sgca.net

1976

Key: ACSI = Association of Christian Schools International, AMI = Association Montessori Internationale, AMS = American Montessori Society, CISNA = Council of Islamic Schools in North America, IALDS = International Association of Learner Driven Schools, ISAS = Independent School Association of the Southwest, NAIS = National Association of Independent Schools, NAPS = National Association of Private Schools, NCAA = 20

january 2020 / northtexaschild

©ISTOCK

*The information above is provided to us by the schools and is based on the 2019–2020 school year; the information is subject to change in upcoming years. Schools that aren’t listed do not offer at least three primary or secondary grades.

SCHOOL LIST AL AI SC D H O O FF LA ER R TO ED SHI PS TA L EN RO LL U N M IF EN O T RM S AV G. CL AS S SI ZE EL EM TE E AC NT H AR ER Y RA STU T I DE O N AC T/ CR ED IT AT IO N

N

AN

CI

TU

Catholic

5–12

$19,950

Yes

Yes

360

Yes

21

7-to-1

ISAS

Christian

K–12

$4,505–$13,000

Yes

No

694

Yes

13

10-to-1

Cognia

Christian

K–12

$6,000–$10,000

Yes

No

275

Yes

17

12-to-1

Cognia, TAAPS, UMSI

None

Pre-K–8

$9,000–$11,000

Yes

No

95

Yes

16

16-to-1

Cognia

Baptist

Pre-K–12

$5,500

No

No

44

Yes

7

7-to-1

NAPS

Catholic

Pre-K–12

$10,000–$16,000

Yes

Yes

350

Yes

16

12-to-1

Cognia, TCCB ED

Catholic

Pre-K–8

$6,120

Yes

No

169

Yes

15

14-to-1

TCCB ED

None

K–10

$6,050

Yes

No

54

No

10

10-to-1

IALDS

Islamic

Preschool–12

$4,800–$6,000

Yes

Yes

665

Yes

18–32

23-to-1

CISNA, Cognia

None

K–12

$7,500–$9,400

No

No

75

No

12

6-to-1

Cognia

Christian

Preschool–12

$1,360–$6,424

No

Yes

450

Yes

12

11-to-1

ACSI, Cognia, NCAA, TANS, TEPSAC

Christian

Preschool–12

$6,480–$19,020

Yes

No

1,100

Yes

17

17-to-1

ACSI, Cognia, TAAPS

Episcopal

Preschool–6

$6,500–$9,050

Yes

No

120

Yes

16

12-to-1

Cognia, AMS

Catholic

Preschool–6

$4,000–$5,500

Yes

Yes

105

No

30

18-to-1

AMI

None

Preschool–12

$10,500–$21,000

Yes

Yes

93

Yes

8

8-to-1

Cognia, TAAPS, NAIS

Christian

Preschool–5

$8,950–$10,600

No

No

145

Yes

13

13-to-1

ACSI

Christian

K–12

$6,500–$8,050

No

Yes

139

Yes

12

12-to-1

None

FI

AN

N U AL

ES AD GR

RE L AF IG FI IOU LI S AT IO

N

IT

IO

N

So, you’re considering the private school route for your child. The good news: You’ve got choices! The bad news: You’ve got choices … That’s why we compile this chart every year—to help you narrow the search based on your priorities, whether that’s location, religious affiliation or price tag.

National Collegiate Athletic Association, TAAPS = Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools, TANS = Texas Association of Non-Public Schools, TCCB ED = Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department, TEPSAC = Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, UMSI = University Model Schools International; = Updated information not provided; information listed reflects 2018–2019 school year fortworthchild / january 2020

21

SCHOOL PROFILE / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

School PROFILE Are you looking for a school that’s as passionate about your education as you are? Get to know the institutions that fostering a lifetime love of learning.

22

january 2020 / northtexaschild

child’s excel in

SCHOOL PROFILE / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Aubrey I.S.D. is a small district with a big vision. Entering his fourth year as Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Belding brings 32 years of experience at every level of a school district. He believes in providing the best experiences for students to prepare them for success throughout their lives.

The mission of the Aubrey I.S.D. Chaparral family is to inspire, nurture and empower all students to realize their potential and to succeed in an ever-changing world. The values of the district are: integrity, compassion, service, respect, loyalty, and excellence. The philosophy of the district is to invest in students and families in order to prepare our children to make a positive impact on the world.

Aubrey I.S.D. does this by offering numerous opportunities for students from pre-K through 12th grade, while maintaining a small school atmosphere. The outstanding teachers and staff are focused on developing the whole child.

Students have the opportunity to take advantage of rigorous academic and extra-curricular programs ranging from college dual credit, Advanced Placement, On-Ramps in partnership with the University of Texas, academic decathlon, athletics, fine arts, and Career Technology Education courses. All of these experiences work together to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities including admission to leading universities in Texas and throughout the country.

Come visit Aubrey I.S.D. and experience a small district with a big vision!

Dr. David Belding Superintendent

Aubrey ISD Central Administration 415 Tisdell Ln., Aubrey, TX 76227 940-668-0060 • F: 940-365-2627 aubreyisd.net

The image of the child in the Reggio Emilia Philosophy believes in the rights and opinions of each child. Our philosophy emphasizes the child’s abilities, competences, and natural aptitude, developing and fostering the child in ways that encourage growth in their inherent talents.

We believe that the role of the teacher is to be the child’s partner and recognize many learning possibilities. In order to further the learning process, teachers listen, inquire, work together and reflect upon the experiences of children.

Faith Lutheran Day School provides a quality Christian early childhood setting in which each child is encouraged to grow, learn, and develop as a child of God. Faith serves children 18 months through kindergarten with an experienced and tenured staff who love children and love Jesus!

Join us on Tuesday, January 21 from 5:30–7pm for an Open House. Contact our Day School Director, Ann VanLoenen at: ann@shapingyounghearts.org or 972-691-5491 about Open House or to set up a tour.

The spaces of the schools are both thoughtful and inviting. Materials in the classroom inspire children to think outside the box.

KLA Schools 4600 Bridlewood Blvd., Flower Mound, TX 75028 469-993-1031 klaschoolsflowermound.com

Faith Lutheran Day School 6000 Morriss Rd., Flower Mound, TX 75028 972-691-5491 • ann@shapingyounghearts.org shapingyounghearts.org

DFWChild.com Directory Helping parents successfully navigate the school years is kind of our thing.

Explore our not-so-secret weapon, the online directory, at dfwchild.com.

northtexaschild / january 2020

23

kid culture.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERIT CHINESE SCHOOL

Merit Chinese School students learn language while experiencing cultural heritage.

DUAL LINGOS How to immerse your kiddos in a new language

WORDS LISA SALINAS + ALEXIS PATTERSON

F

ORT WORTH DAD MATTHEW SIKES WISHES HE WERE BILINGUAL.

“All the time,” he shares. “I’m a lawyer, and the more languages you speak, the greater the pool of potential clients. And it would help with witnesses.

Plus, knowing other languages opens up cultural experiences you won’t have if you speak only English.”

Little by little, Sikes is learning some Spanish through his daughters. They’re 2 and 4—and take classes at the Spanish-immersion preschool Mi Casita.

“I find myself trying to figure out what they said,” Sikes laughs. “I look things up on Google Translate.”

Sikes enrolled his daughters at Mi Casita with the hope that they will one day have the professional and travel opportunities he hasn’t had. He also sees great value northtexaschild / january 2020

25

kid culture / D U A L

LINGOS

for their developing minds.

“They’re thinking in different ways and improving their cognition,” Sikes says of the girls. “They’ve really taken to it. I’ve even heard the older one lecturing the younger one in Spanish.”

Sikes and his wife are among a growing number of parents who want their children to be multilingual. It makes sense, given our global society where diverse cultures thrive.

According to the U.S. Census, nearly 30% of the Texas population (that is, 7.8 million people) speak Spanish at home. “Speaking another language is a useful skill for my daughters to have,” Sikes points out.

There are private, specialty schools that help children become bilingual as well as a dual-language trend in North Texas public schools. Here’s how and why those programs work.

too. DIS instructional days are primarily split between French and English, with a third language (Spanish or Mandarin) incorporated beginning in pre-K4.

Even parents who speak another language themselves choose these kinds of schools and programs. Dallas mom Nelyda Villaseñor initially learned Spanish from her parents but gained fluency in dual-language programs. So it was an easy choice to enroll her 3-year-old daughter in bilingual pre-K at Dallas ISD’s Arthur Kramer Elementary.

“I have a few cousins whose parents enrolled them in only-English classes starting in kindergarten, and they can barely speak Spanish,” she says. “They are not able to write it nor really read it fluently. That makes a huge difference.”

While older students at Kramer Elementary complete Spanish-language coursework in reading, math and social studies, Villaseñor says that her daughter primarily grows her language abilities through playtime and basic skills building.

“I feel like her vocabulary has expanded,” she says.

“She’s using fuller sentences now.”

“THEY’RE THINKING IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND IMPROVING THEIR COGNITION.”

SPEAK TO ME Mi Casita—the preschool and day care that Sikes’ daughters attend in Fort Worth— conducts classes in 100% Spanish.

“More than teaching in Spanish, we speak in Spanish,” explains Melissa Page Peter, founder and owner of Mi Casita, which accepts kids from birth to 5 years. “If we did both English and Spanish, the students wouldn’t have as much exposure to Spanish. The more sounds they hear in Spanish, the higher the likelihood of fluency.”

Mi Casita students take in the language through project-based learning—such as creating a toy store and presenting it (in Spanish) to their families. This is in contrast to simply being taught nouns, verbs and the like.

“Project-based learning is engaging, authentic work that leads to very positive learning experiences in general,” says Page Peter. “And my philosophy is that when we align language with that approach, they’ll have more positive experiences with Spanish as well.”

Starting your kids young is best. While “better late than never,” Page Peter says “the optimal time is 0–7.”

Camille Laupie-Williams—a Dallas International School (DIS) pre-K3 French teacher—says kids in preschool grasp language quickly because they absorb it intuitively. In contrast, an adult might try to compare and translate what they’re learning to their first language.

“Our students will start to understand directions in French, to participate in our language rituals and to answer questions in pre-K3,” Laupie-Williams notes. “They will be able to speak back in French in kindergarten.”

They gain skills in other languages 26

january 2020 / northtexaschild

CULTIVATING CULTURE Another important aspect of language learning is immersion in the culture of study. For example, DIS follows the French education model.

“We have more breaks during the day,” says Laupie-Williams. “We have three different recesses—that’s a little different from American schools, I think. Playing outside is important for us.”

And the children learn French stories and music too, such as classic book Roule Galette and children’s song “Une Souris Verte.”

Plus, there’s one day out of the year that’s dedicated to celebrating all the countries around the world that speak French.

There’s also a multinational feel at Mi Casita, where most of the teachers were born outside of the United States.

“We have teachers from Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Colombia,” says Page Peter. “Their cultural experience, they bring that to the classroom.”

Ultimately, these schools teach kids how to navigate modern life.

“It’s that open mind that they get here at DIS,” Laupie-Williams says. “Being aware at such a young age of all the different cultures, all the different languages, is preparing them for the global world that they’re going to grow up in.”

PRACTICE, PRACTICE

From at-home resources to library storytimes and bilingual schools in North Texas, here are ways to help immerse your kiddos in a new language.

AT-HOME RESOURCES Au Pair in America

Las Colinas mom Kallie Freelen used Au Pair in America to find her live-in au pair. Her 2-year-old son has had care from an au pair since birth; Freelen says that has helped him learn Spanish and English equally well.

Currently, she has an au pair from Colombia; her previous au pair was from Panama. aupairinamerica.com

Jamma Jango

Created by mom Julia Wang, Jamma Jango offers dual-language programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese for kids up to age 7. Go online to purchase vocabulary cards and box sets that come with DVD cartoons and games. jammajango.com

STORYTIMES Emily Fowler Central Library in Denton

Every third Friday of the month at 9:30am, this Denton library hosts Spanish storytime. Songs such as “Estrellita” (“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) and “La Araña Pequeñita” (“The Itsy Bitsy Spider”) are included too.

502 Oakland St., Denton cityofdenton.com

East Branch & South Irving Libraries

Stop by the Irving Public Library’s East Branch on Thursdays at 4:30pm for bilingual storytime for all ages. Visit the South Irving Library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30am every third week of the month for bilingual storytime for toddlers (ages 18 months–3 years) and preschoolers (ages 3–6). Storytimes at both locations are in Spanish and English.

440 S. Nursery Road, Irving (East Branch) 601 Schulze Drive, Irving (South Irving) cityofirving.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMMA JANGO; AU PAIR IN AMERICA

SCHOOLS Guidepost Montessori Flower Mound

This school offers a Spanish-immersion program for littles as young as infants (they need to be at least 6 weeks old to enroll) up through kindergarten.

2501 Simmons Road, Flower Mound guidepostmontessori.com

Spanish Schoolhouse

With preschool through kindergarten instruction, summer camps, plus Mommy and Me classes, the Spanish Schoolhouse immerses local littles in the Spanish language.

653 Parkway Blvd., Coppell 2525 Forest Vista, Flower Mound spanishschoolhouse.com

It’s stock show time in fort worth!

• Cattle & Equestrian Competitions • Live Music Daily • Rodeo in the new Dickies Arena • Acres of Awesome Shopping • Children’s Barnyard • Food For Every Taste • Carnival / Midway • … and lots more!

Jan. 17 - feb. 8 WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER | DICKIES ARENA | FWSSR.COM

Order online at FWSSR.COM

Purchase at Ticketmaster.com, visit the Stock Show Ticket Office or call 817-877-2420.

Convenience charges are added at Ticketmaster locations and are nonrefundable.

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20 F A M I L Y - F R I E N D L Y E V E N T S Y O U C A N ’ T M I S S I N

JA N UA RY

VARIOUS DATES // EXPERIENCE CHINESE CULTURE AND MYTHOLOGY THROUGH DANCE AND A LIVE ORCHESTRA AT SHEN YUN, WITH PERFORMANCES AT MULTIPLE VENUES IN NORTH TEXAS.

FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE FARM

NASH FA RM January 3 Nothing tops off a big family breakfast like cinnamon rolls. Learn how to roll out the dough yourself and make ooey, gooey sweet rolls from scratch during this heritage workshop hosted by the skilled docents at Grapevine’s historical farmstead. Open to all ages; $3 per person for 3 years and up. Registration is required.

626 Ball St., Grapevine nashfarm.org

LADY AND THE TRAMP

PA L ACE T H EAT RE January 4 Did your kids love the live-action Lady and the Tramp recently on the big screen?

Feel sappy all over again when you take the dog lovers in your family back to the movie theater to see the original 28

1955 animated version on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:30pm.

Admission is $6 per person for general admission seats. Bring in a same-day receipt from any Grapevine restaurant and receive a free small popcorn.

300 S. Main St., Grapevine palace-theatre.com

SHEN YUN

W INSPEAR OPER A HOUSE January 5 and 25–26 BASS PER FOR MANCE HALL January 6–7 EISEMANN CENTER January 11–12 Shen Yun translates to “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” and nothing could be closer to the truth. Do not miss this touring production that revives centuries of ancient Chinese culture and mythology through dance, with accompaniment by a live orchestra of both Chinese and Western

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instruments. Note that kids must be 4 years or older to attend. Tickets from $80.

2403 Flora St., Dallas 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson shenyun.com/dfw

ICE! FEATURING A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

GAYLORD T E X A N Through January 5 With the Christmas rush over, now may be the right time for the Gaylord’s real-life winter wonderland of colorful ice sculptures, hand-carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice and modeled after scenes from the Charlie Brown holiday film. The exhibit remains open through the first weekend of January, so don’t miss your last chance to experience the two-story-tall ice slides, ice skating and snow tubing. Prices vary by activity.

ICE! tickets are $23.99 for adults and $14.99 for children.

Open New Year’s Day. 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine christmasatgaylordtexan.com

NORT HPA RK CE NT E R Through January 5 After your holiday staycation, make a coast-to-coast journey via this miniature train exhibit of 1,600 feet of track and scenes from landmarks across America— open for only one more week. Take a closer look to see recognizable locations in Dallas, plus some visitors from outer space. Tickets are $7 adults; $4 children ages 2–12; and free for children under 2. All proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Hand-painted railcars also available for purchase and to keep after the exhibit closes. Open New Year’s Day. 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas thetrainsatnorthpark.com

LEWISVILLE NINJA WARRIOR: SUPERHERO EDITION

FREDERICK P. HERRING RE CRE AT ION CE NT E R January 11 This is no ordinary obstacle course—it’s an obstacle

course made for aspiring ninjas. Come dressed in your best superhero costume for this third annual competition that costs exactly zero dollars. Enter the social media contest by sharing a pic of your costumes for a chance to win a prize. FREE 191 Civic Circle Drive, Lewisville cityoflewisville.com

SECOND SUNDAY FUNDAY

IRVING A RT S C ENT ER January 12 Oh, rats! This is the Year of the Rat, according to the Chinese zodiac. Bring the kids to learn all about Chinese New Year and make traditional paper crafts as a family. Be sure to stick around for the free guided tour through the galleries at 2:30pm. FREE 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving irvingartscenter.com

FIRST TUESDAYS AT THE DMA

DA LL AS MUSEUM OF ART January 7 Drop into the museum’s

JAN. 3 // SPEND AN OLD-FASHIONED DAY AT GRAPEVINE’S NASH FARM, WHICH HOSTS HERITAGE WORKSHOPS.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS; GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; DISNEY

THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK

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THE FIREBIRD

M U RCHI S ON PER F ORM I NG A RT S C E N T E R January 17 Composer Igor Stravinsky wrote one of his best-known orchestral works for the 1910 ballet The Firebird, based on the Russian fairy tale.

Come listen to Stravinsky’s masterpiece, as well as music from Mahler and Verdi, at this concert featuring soprano Laura Claycomb and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $25.

2100 N. Interstate 35, Denton fwsymphony.org

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

WILL RO G E RS M E MOR IAL C E N T E R January 17–February 8 The pride of Cowtown returns for 23 days, featuring livestock shows, mutton bustin’ and carnival rides—and the first season of rodeo competitions inside Dickies Arena. Cheering on the daredevil, bull-riding cowboys in the brand-new arena will be worth the drive over to the western

half of DFW. Rodeo tickets include Stock Show general admission, which otherwise costs $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6–16 (free for age 5 and younger). For $25, get reserved seating at Sundance Square Plaza for the All Western Parade through downtown Saturday, Jan. 18, and access to the face painters and balloon artists. fwssr.com

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PARADE

CAR ROLLTON CIT Y HALL January 18 Ahead of the Monday holiday, the Carrollton community joins together to honor the legacy of civil rights icon MLK Jr. in this 23rd annual memorial parade. Bundle up on Saturday morning to watch the parade, beginning at 10am on Rainwater Lane behind City Hall and ending at Ted Polk Middle School.

FREE

1945 E. Jackson Road, Carrollton cityofcarrollton.com

PJ MASKS LIVE!

W INSPEAR OPER A HOU SE January 20 Kids by day, crimefighters in pajamas by night. Watch the animated trio moonlight as animal-masked adventurers Catboy, Owlette and Gekko in this live musical show featuring new friend PJ Robot as well as villains Romeo, Night Ninja and Luna Girl. Tickets from $25.

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JAN. 7–FEB. 8 // CATCH ALL THE THRILLS—INCLUDING CARNIVAL RIDES—AT THE FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW AND RODEO.

Center for Creative Connections (C3) between 11am and 2pm for fun with Arturo (the museum’s family mascot), storytime with a librarian in the C3 Theater and art-making activities in the Art Studio based on this month’s theme, “M is for Music.” Ready for a walk through the art galleries?

Join an interactive tour of the museum’s collection led by education staff, and find more fun at the pop-up art spots with creative games and activities placed around the museum galleries. FREE 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas dma.org

meet and greet and photo op with the three superheroes.

2403 Flora St., Dallas attpac.org

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WILD KRATTS LIVE!

BASS PE RFORMA NCE HA LL January 20 Brothers and Wild Kratts co-creators Martin and Chris Kratt return to Dallas-Fort Worth for a live-action edition of their children’s animated TV series. Tag along on their quest as they share creature fundamentals with the audience and rescue the animal world from a comic villain. Tickets from $33. VIP tickets include post-show meet and greet.

525 Commerce St., Fort Worth basshall.com

PANTHER ISLAND ICE

C OYOT E DRIVE - IN Through January 20 Wallet feeling light after the holidays? Take advantage of discount days to enjoy family fun at this outdoor ice skating rink. Come on Cheap Skate Tuesdays for half-price admission or on Food Drive Wednesdays (bring two canned goods for the Tarrant Area Food Bank) for $2 off. $13 regular admission includes skate rental and access to the drive-in movie theater’s outdoor concession stand.

Free for spectators. Open daily, including New Year’s Day and MLK Jr. Day. 223 NE Fourth St., Fort Worth pantherislandice.com

PRIDE & PREJUDICE

IRVING A RT S CE NT E R January 24– February 8 Billed as not “your grandmother’s Austen,” this lively adaptation

by Kate Hamill spins the tale of Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Darcy for a new era. Main Stage Irving-Las Colinas presents this postmodern version in the Arts Center’s Dupree Theatre.

Tickets from $21.

3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving mainstageirving.com

KIDFILM FESTIVAL

ANG E LIKA FILM C E NT E R DA LL AS January 25–26 See some of your favorite children’s books adapted for the big screen at KidFilm, the country’s oldest and largest family film festival.

Authors and illustrators making appearances include

PLAYING ALFRESCO

Resolving to increase your kids’ outdoor playtime?

Give them a jumpstart in the new year by signing up for guided family hikes and overnights at these local parks and nature sites.

HOT CHOCOLATE & A HIKE

BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION CENTER January 15 Hydration before exercise is key, so be sure to drink plenty of water along with hot chocolate on this guided winter hike. Enjoy the hot chocolate that will be provided, then join a master naturalist on a path through Coppell Nature Park. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required, but space is limited. FREE 367 S. Freeport Parkway, Coppell coppelltx.gov/bec

OVERNIGHT CAMPING: POLAR PATCH EDITION

LEWISVILLE LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AREA January 23–24 You don’t have to be a Boy or Girl Scout to collect patches.

Earn a specially designed Polar Patch by attending this primitive LLELA family overnight—a guide will show you how to set up the campsite with a provided tent and sleeping pads, cookware and firewood. Registration is required. $25 per person. Open to 5 years and older; discounts available for groups of four or more.

201 E. Jones St., Lewisville llela.org

NIGHT HIKE

CAMPIÓN TRAIL January 24 Native species experts lead the way on this two-hour hike through a portion of the Campión Trail, Irving’s 22-mile, master-planned greenbelt along the Elm and West forks of the Trinity River. Bring your littles as young as 5 to join in search of animals and experience the nocturnal sights, smells and sounds.

Registration is required. FREE Meetup location provided upon registration, Irving cityofirving.org/activities

Christopher Eliopoulos of the new PBS Kids series Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.

Authors will sign free books after their programs, and free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning one hour before each showtime. FREE 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas usafilmfestival.com

MAGIC TREE HOUSE: SHOWTIME WITH SHAKESPEARE

WYLY T HE AT RE January 30–31

The best-selling children’s book series by Mary Pope Osborne meets hip-hop in this new musical. The Magic Tree House transports siblings Jack and Annie to Elizabethanera England, where they meet William Shakespeare himself and learn that the show must go on. See one of four morning or afternoon performances for $10 per seat.

2400 Flora St., Dallas attpac.org

F O R M O R E F A M I LY- F R I E N D LY F U N T H I S M O N T H , C H E C K O U R O N L I N E C A L E N D A R A T DFWCHILD.COM/CALENDAR. A N D W H I L E Y O U ’ R E T H E R E , S I G N U P F O R O U R W E E K LY E - N E W S L E T T E R : THE WEEKEND GUIDE.

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confessions

MOM TRUTHS ILLUSTRATION MARY DUNN

CO M P I L E D BY E M I LY Y E A R W O O D

MY SON I told my kids the other day that one day, I ASKED MY they won’t want to fart in front of others. My SAYS ‘FOXY’ 2-YEAR-OLD responded, ‘Oh no, if I see a girl, I don’t fart. I INSTEAD OF son SON IF HE squeeze my butt cheeks!’”

THE WORD WANTED TO HAVE MILK ‘FOX.’ BEFORE “When my 5-year-old said he “When my daughter didn’t want the potty ‘booster’ was 2, she got upset WITH DINNER. HE STARTED seat and could get on the toilet WHEN I that I would not I took a step back.

DOING THIS, himself, share my snack with OPENED THE But he wasn’t gripping the WE BOUGHT sides of the seat yet, so he fell her. But I could not FRIDGE, HE bottom-first into the water. deny her on her third HIM A WINTER LOOKED AT He promptly told me I was the attempt, when she ‘worst mom ever.’

I responded, ME DEADPAN COAT WITH A ‘What about moms who get responded to my AND SAID, FOX PATTERN arrested? Am I worse than ‘No’ with ‘Sharing is He frowned, ‘I’m not caring, Mommy!’ Well ‘HOW ’BOUT A ON IT, SO NOW them?’ talking about them. You’re the COKE?”’ played, kiddo.” worst of the nice moms.’”

THAT HE’S WEARING IT, I placed our newly purchased box of doughnuts on the car HE PATS HIS while getting the kids buckled up. The 2-year-old had a meltdown, and I slid into the driver’s seat and tried to shut out the COAT AND Got a funny parenting moment noise. As I drove forward, I watched the doughnuts slide off the you’d like to share? We’d love to SAYS, ‘FOXY!”’ hood. I hear my 2-year-old, now over her meltdown, calmly say, hear from you. Send it to —TRACY, PLANO

—ALEXIS, BEDFORD

—HEATHER, FRISCO

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editorial@dfwchild.com.

—LAURA, LAS COLINAS

—ALEX, DALLAS

“Mom, our doughnuts just fell in the street.” —WHITNEY, DALLAS

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