Integrating History Meaningfully

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

History is a collection of interpretations or memories from a multitude of sources, such as leaders or everyday people. From the moment bright, young eyes peer through a doorway, for example, the mind immediately records the moment through texture, smells, interactions, voices, facial expressions, colors, and objects. Living in the moment makes even a child part of the journey through history, an expert in the now. Only the trip back in time can lead a child to unravel the present day’s events and use the cyclical nature of history to reveal what’s coming.

Geography Children need to know how they fit into their community. Walking down Main Street provides a sensory experience. She knows the public library as the place of special events and fondly recalls story hour. There’s the park and a tree once climbed, a hardware store and the man who hands out lollipops with a smile—and the stories continue to build. Each time a child steps onto the concrete or pathway, she establishes a sense of belonging within human geography. One vital question to ask is, “How did time impact one particular location?” The Piedmont Triad has expansive museums, churches, cemeteries, gardens, the historic district, old-school restaurants, and buildings, all of which can all bring the past to the current visitor! Whether it’s as a guide, attendant, or chaperone, historians love to share their knowledge, especially to children who show an inkling of interest!

Education does not end in one county. North Carolina has 100 counties to provide an indepth understanding of our state.

Space and Universe It feels good to lie back into the soft blades of grass and allow the mind to wonder. The view of layering clouds leads to a curiosity beyond the eye. Basic knowledge of the stars, moon, and planets feeds a desire to learn more. For children eight and older, a study of mythology, coupled with reading mythological sagas, aids in understanding a few of the most recognizable constellations, Ursa Major and Minor, and Orion and his dog, Sirius. Further interest may lead to owning a pair of binoculars or a telescope to pick out details, such as craters on the moon, and the extraordinary experience of viewing a planet. Planetariums can offer spectacular night displays featuring the transition of constellations from one season to the next. Children can learn much about their home planet just by looking upward; for example, by studying the shapes and coloring in clouds, watching the birds’ movement, and what occurs during a planetary alignment. The first human timekeepers in history offered more than just a study of telescopes; they sought to learn how the universe, especially the moon, impacted our planet.

First in Flight The phrase “First in Flight” represents an achievement in North Carolina. The names of Orville and Wilbur Wright are just one pair to advance our state forward in aviation. Rather than making the long journey to Kitty Hawk, the Aviation and Hall of Fame museums are not far from home. Stepping into the past, visitors will learn about individual, dynamic flyers or well-known groups, such as the “Tar Heel Airman,” “The Tuskegee Airmen,” and “The Lafayette Escadrille.” Aircraft enthusiasts may enjoy standing among the flyers to watch a list of classic films, Twelve O’clock High, The Great Escape, Memphis Belle, Tuskegee Airmen, and The Lafayette Escadrille to gain an insight into the character of the men and women who flew. Not all inventive attempts were successful; yet, it’s the initial steps, from watching a bird take flight to witnessing a paper airplane sail across a room, which begins a thought process.

Adventure is right around the corner. Where will you take a child by the hand and go first? A museum? A historic downtown or a restaurant? In following the footsteps of those who came before, our children can take steady strides to lead them and us into an inspirational future!

Club Pilates

Kids Say “No” to Long Car Rides

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Fret not, dads and moms! You’ve anticipated the chance to escape, whether it’s meeting extended family members or taking a well-needed vacation. The biggest concern now is the extended time cooped up in the vehicle with irritable children. What are the options outside of listening to a mournful soundtrack of “How much longer?” Providing headphones or a tablet can only distract the woeful cries for so long. With careful planning, a road trip can be a positive experience of enjoying each other’s company, playing games, seeing new sights, and most importantly, creating memories! Ready to start planning?

Backseat Organizers

Eliminate the mess on the floor; instead, consider investing in an organizational compartment that securely attaches onto the seat. Kids can have a safe location to keep cups or water bottles, books, and a few other essentials in hand’s reach!

Snacks

Most often, when children are bored, they look to eating. Prepare lunch pouches with a variety of nutritious foods specifically designed for each child. If Sam loves grapes, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, cashews, and animal crackers, the goal is to promote contentment! Ziploc bags, depending on the child’s age, are an easy way to contain a variety of foods. While compartmental trays can hold a wide range of snacks, the tray is likely to end up crushed into the upholstery.

Tip: When packing snacks, think fruits, also dehydrated, such as banana chips and mangoes. Try to avoid foods that contain too much sugar or salt, which may lead to an upset stomach.

Listen to an Audiobook

Expand the imagination by listening to a story every member of the family can enjoy! While downloading books is one option, check out your library for either CD or digital downloads. Children can listen up to two years above their reading level; however, check that the content is appropriate. Examples of authors:

• Ages 5 to 7: Roald Dahl, Kate DiCamillo, Mary Pope Osborne, C.S. Lewis

• Ages 7 to 8: Angie Sage, Cressida Cowell, Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson, J.K. Rowling, Christopher Healy • Ages 8 to 10: Johnathan Stroud, Brandon Mull, E.G. Foley, Rick Riordan, Eoin Colfer

Some books, such as Septimus Heap, The Wizards of Once, Bartimaeus Artemis Fowl, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, and many more, expand across three to eight volumes. A high-interest series can fulfill the active listener throughout short trips and during the drive home.

Scavenger Hunt

Children as young as four would relish the responsibility of hunting for items on a list. For preschool-aged children, consider a grid full of letters, shapes, and colors! Older kids may enjoy a more challenging game, perhaps words from signs; symbols, such as a palm tree on a license plate; or specific names of states. With parent support, the game can produce an hour of happy chatter!

“Would You Rather?” Game

The curious game asks questions such as, “Would you rather have bright purple hair or blue feet? or, “Would you rather have duck feet or a bird’s wings?” To encourage reading, printable cards are available online or families can design their own.

Books

From library books to home collections, children will want to bring books from home. Consider adding non-fiction books featuring facts, mazes, crosswords, Mad Libs, and “I Spy” books. Consider a 30-minute period to encourage reading, followed by a time when children can talk about the information learned!

Maps

Through a print-out of the journey, children can answer the question, “Where are we and how much further? A map provides a sense of control to understand the journey, and learn from the many locations along the way. With crayons or colored pencils, children may enjoy decorating the map when leaving cities or states!

Utilize Stopovers

Rest stops are an ideal location to quickly zip off the highway and take a well-needed bathroom break; also, children need to stretch their legs. Alternative stops may be at a park or on downtown Main Street to walk, observe, and relax. If stopping for meals, park at a distance!

With plenty of ideas that your child will enjoy, you are bound to have a great road tripping experience! Before the ignition revs up the vehicle, ask the troops, “Are you ready for an adventure?” Yes!

CALVARY INTRODUCES

WILL TOBUREN SENIOR PASTOR

In the fall of 2019, Calvary Baptist Church commissioned a Pastor Search Team to lead the search for its next Senior Pastor. For 10 months this team worked diligently and prayerfully to identify candidates that met biblical qualifications for the position and characteristics that were unique for the church.

On June 21, 2020, Calvary Baptist Church members overwhelmingly and enthusiastically affirmed the call of Will Toburen to be its next Senior Pastor. Will has served as the Executive Pastor for Discipleship Ministry at The Summit Church in Durham, NC for the last seven years.

Will was born in Ogden, Utah in 1971 to Rick and Donna Toburen. His father was stationed at Hill Air Force Base, and it was there that both Rick and Donna were led to Christ by Bill Fulton, an Air Force chaplain. Upon completing their military service, the Toburens moved back to North Carolina, eventually landing in Winston-Salem, where they became faithful members of Calvary Baptist Church. From an early age Will was engaged in the ministries of Calvary. At the age of nine, Will surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized shortly thereafter. Through his middle school and high school years, Will remained active in the life of the church, while also pursuing his love for competitive swimming. After graduating from North Forsyth High School in 1989, Will went on to attend North Carolina State University as a scholarship athlete in swimming, and earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. During his freshman year Will met his future wife Julie, also a varsity swimmer. While at NC State Will began to sense God leading him to consider full time ministry following graduation. After graduating, Will applied to serve as a Student Ministry intern at Calvary. Upon completing his internship, and with the affirmation of church leaders, Will began his studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he eventually graduated with a Master of Arts in Religious Education in 1997. Will and Julie were married in 1994 and moved to Charlotte, NC. While attending seminary, Will joined the staff of Hickory Grove Baptist Church where he worked with both the high school and college ministries for a little over two years. In January 1997, Will and Julie moved back to Winston-Salem, where Will rejoined the Student Ministry staff at Calvary working primarily with middle school students and their families. In 2003, Will transitioned roles and began providing teaching and organizational leadership to the newly established contemporary services. Additionally, Will started working with Calvary’s college, young professionals, and internship ministries. As Calvary continued to grow through this season, church leadership began exploring the possibility of opening an additional campus in Davie County. Will served as part of a team that helped launch Calvary West in the spring of 2009. From 2009 to 2013, Will served as the teaching pastor at Calvary West while also providing leadership to the Calvary West staff team. In April 2013, Will and Julie made the decision to respond to a call to serve as the Executive Pastor for Discipleship Ministries at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. While the decision to transition to a new church after 16 years at Calvary was difficult, it proved to be a fruitful and gratifying season of ministry. In addition to his focus on discipleship, Will served as a part of the Summit’s preaching team. “Calvary Baptist Church has a long standing history in the Triad that spans over 100 years, and we are humbled and honored by this opportunity to be a part of Calvary’s future. While we have absolutely loved our time at The Summit Church, Julie and I, along with our family, are excited to build on Calvary’s rich heritage as we serve the congregation and share the hope of Jesus Christ both in our communities and around the world.”

Will and Julie have four children: Abby (senior - The University of South Carolina), Jackson (freshman - North Carolina State University), Blake (9th grade), and Alex (6th grade). Will officially begins his role as the Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church on July 12, 2020.

LIFE CONNECTED

calvarynow.com

Salem Gymnastics & Swim

Is Back and Better Than Ever BY JULIE FRITZ

COVID-19 has been hard on small businesses. Many have had to close their doors, and others have had to work extremely hard to keep them open. One local business has taken this time to turn a terrible situation into a positive one. At Salem Gymnastics & Swim, they have used this time to reexamine their company and update their facility, policies, and procedures to open their doors better and safer than ever.

Salem Gymnastics was opened in 1980 by Frank and Barbara Minter. At that time, it was in a small building on the fairgrounds. Soon after opening, they moved to a newly constructed building near Hanes Mall, where they were located till 2001. During that time, the Minter’s daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Kenny Morphis, took over the day-to-day operations of this Mom and Pop company. In August of 2001, they moved to their current location, which is more than three times the size of their former building. Seeing the need for a swim school in the community, they added the pool and swim instruction in 2016. Over time, they’ve grown to fill their space, and have become a staple for families in the Triad. This year marks 40 years of serving this community, and they have served us well.

In March of this year, life changed for all of us, Salem Gymnastics & Swim included. Beth said, “At first, we thought we’d close for about a week or two and reevaluate. Once we realized this would be long-term, we decided we needed to figure out two things. One, how will we survive this? And two, how can we come out of this stronger and better?” When it came to surviving the pandemic, they’ve been overwhelmed by the support of their community. “With ten full-time and dozens of part-time employees on the payroll, we immediately knew that our closure would affect not just us, but those who rely on us for their livelihood. Our customers came through, with over 200 families opting to continue paying tuition, even though our doors were closed. We were touched and humbled by this gesture and were determined to use these resources to better the company,” said Kenny. They were also able to secure a PPP loan, which helped them continue to pay core staff salaries and keep the building afloat. They have made repairs and physical improvements to the facility and implemented new safety measures like plexiglass shields, touchless faucets, and pit covers.

Next, they took the time to think about how they would come back stronger and better. Beth explained, “I never thought in our 40th year we’d be reopening as a new business, but that’s in essence what we have done. Over the last 40 years, we have grown a lot, but our business structure has not always grown with us. We used this time to step back and reexamine the entire company. We’ve updated policies and procedures, redefined our staff members’ roles, deepcleaned and updated the facility, and, in the end, we really are a new company. We have the best staff in our history and are the best version of Salem Gymnastics & Swim ever.” They also took this time to retrain the staff, focusing on several areas. First, they’ve provided additional technical training for both swim and gymnastics instructors. This training has helped them become better teachers and will improve the outcome for their students. Next, they trained the staff on procedures and protocols as they relate to COVID-19. They learned valuable information about the virus and how to protect their students and themselves. They’ve also been trained on cleaning and mask policies. Workshops were held for the Leadership Team and a full day of team building occurred for the entire staff on what would have been Salem’s 40th annual Gold Medal Day. Says Kenny, “We’re very proud of the hard work our staff has put in over the past three months. We have seen them grow in their professionalism and commitment to the families we serve.” If you have ever visited the facility before, you’ll notice the changes they have made as soon as you walk in their door. They’ve implemented lots of new things to help keep you and your children safe during the pandemic. The entire facility has been spaced for social distancing, and handsanitizing stations are plentiful. There’s a lobby greeter to welcome you upon entry and direct you to a safe space where you can watch your child’s class. The locker room has been closed, there are no cubbies or furniture in the lobby, and there’s one-way lobby traffic to prevent close contact with other families. You’ll be asked to wear a mask if you’re within 6 feet of anyone, but students won’t be wearing masks during class. Instead, swim instructors wear face shields to protect themselves and their students, and gymnastics classes are set up in stations, so students can remain socially distanced. Also, gymnastics classes will have students rotating stations and will handsanitize between rotations. Between each class, there are cleaning procedures the staff performs to sanitize high-touch areas. It’s more than apparent that they’re putting your family’s safety at the top of their priority list.

Salem Gymnastics & Swim is open and ready to help your child grow their skills in the gym or the pool today. They’re located at 4870 Country Club Rd in Winston-Salem. For more information or to enroll your child, please call 336.765.4668, or visit their website at salemgym.com.