Lincoln Kids Magazine Fall 2023

marvelous mumu Mumu Lee tells her story page 10

leaping into autumn

BElevé inspires dancers of all ages page 6

COVER SPONSOR

the love of language

a lincoln teacher shares the power of learning a second language page 24

Our Crazy Fall Spot-Them-All

letter from the layout editor

Dear

Our Lincoln Moms are really caught up in the whirlwind that is late summer, so I have the lucky task of communicating some of the great things about the Fall 2023 edition of Lincoln Kids to you all.

Even though I’m a Lincoln Uncle and Lincoln Godfather, I sometimes still feel like a Lincoln Kid — especially when fall’s on the horizon. Few things gets me as giddy as the prospect of a chill in the air, the smells of campfire and apple cider, and the brilliant colors of foliage. The sweaters are pretty great too. It’s also back-to-school time, and for an extrovert and a nerd (words I happily ascribe to myself) I LOVED school, and fall has always meant seeing old friends and learning new things.

Speaking of which, “The Love of Language” on page 24 has a lot of great thoughts from local teacher Rosanne Navas on the benefits of learning a second language, and how Lincoln families can learn a new language in everyday life. Mumu Lee’s story in “Marvelous Mumu” on page 10 relays her incredible path from her early years in a Karen a refugee camp in Thailand to laying down roots with her family in Lincoln. There are so many things to read, and color, and explore in this edition, and it’s our intention that you’ll find a mix of the familiar and the unexpected. We hope you’ll be inspired to uncover all the terrific opportunities that are available to Lincoln Kids in these wonderful seasons of change that we know as “fall,” and “childhood.” Because in the blink of an eye, Lincoln Kids are laying out magazines.

See you out there —

Sean Flattery, Layout Editor

BElevé

Inspiring Dancers of All Ages

Welcome to BElevé Dance Company (BDC), Lincoln’s newest dance studio! Founder and creative director, Angela Beery, established BElevé with a mission to inspire and empower dancers of all ages and skill levels. Angela, with more than 30 years of experience, is dedicated to celebrating dance in the community she has always called home. The new studio is located at 1340 N. 66th Street and is scheduled to open this September!

“Our studio has a welcoming environment with classes that will inspire, challenge, and motivate dancers. It is the perfect opportunity to broaden a student’s dance skills, make new friends, and, above all, have an unforgettable experience,” Angela expressed with pride.

Angela is a loving wife and mother and is passionate about her family. Her children all grew up dancing and continue Angela’s legacy as instructors themselves. At BDC, her daughter, Hudson, will be a full-time instructor, and her oldest son, Jack, will serve as a guest instructor. Her youngest son, Paxton, will continue dancing as a student at BElevé.

The Studio

With 6,300 square feet and four studios, BElevé will offer classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/ contemporary, hip-hop, acro, musical theater, production, and more. Boys and girls can start as early as two years old with no age limit going up to our adult classes. All four studios will have viewing windows for loved ones to watch their dancers grow and progress their skills each week.

BElevé is proud to offer a variety of specialized classes including preschool daytime classes, “On the Set” video classes, an All-Star dance team program, adult classes, and more. These classes are designed for people of all ages to explore the art of dance whether you are starting in an early childhood development stage or just wanting to enjoy that past love of dance. BElevé has classes for everyone.

Performance Opportunities

BElevé will host spring recitals each year to celebrate students’ hard work and dedication. A strong ballet foundation is prioritized at BElevé and the first Act of the recital will be a fulllength ballet production. Act II will showcase all other styles of dance offered at the studio, with both Acts highlighting dancers of all ages.

Is your student interested in tap? BElevé will be home to the Hands Down Tap Project Midwest, a professional tap company, where performance opportunities will be available for enthusiasts across the Midwest. The Hands Down Tap Project Midwest will be under the direction of Nick DiNicolangelo, director of the Hands Down Tap Project, and led by HDTP Company members, Kelsie Bliss and Hudson Beery.

The Company at BElevé competition team is offered for any dancers wanting the competitive team experience. As a Company member, you will be a part of a close-knit community of dancers who support and inspire one another, creating bonds that last a lifetime.

“I want to provide dancers of all ages an opportunity and a space to live, love, and dream dance,” Angela shared.

Meet the Instructors

Each instructor at BElevé has a plethora of expertise and students will receive high-level training in all forms of dance. BElevé dancers will enjoy dancing at any level and will be equipped with the education necessary to move on to the professional level if they choose.

“My instructors are experienced, loving, and talented educators and choreographers who are just wonderful at what they do,” Angela praised.

Get Those Shoes On

Enrollment for fall classes is now open — go to belevedance.com or call (402) 673-2623 to learn more and register!

BElevé will offer a five-percent tuition Legacy Discount for all dancers who have previously taken instruction from Angela Beery.

Follow BElevé Dance Company on Instagram @belevedancecompany or Facebook at BElevé Dance Company.

Angela Beery Founder/Creative Director

Hudson Beery Instructor Macy Behrens Instructor

Kelsie Bliss Instructor Paige Brophy Instructor Hunter Long Instructor

Lucy Schwartz Instructor Maureen White Manager

Sarah Mathis Instructor

LK Cover Kid and BElevé Dancer, Sophia Punteney

Lincoln Dads of Lincoln Kids

Who would Lincoln Kids be without Lincoln dads? We wanted to feature some awesome dads from Lincoln — and here they are!

Meet the Dads

Andy can make a movie like you wouldn’t believe. As the owner of Cuemotion, a videography studio, Andy is always in on the action, finding ways to involve his kids in the creative work he does every day.

Kevin is an award-winning sportscaster for 10/11 News. Having worked there since 2005, Kevin is now the Sports Director for the station and clearly loves all things sports!

Marco is the Interim Human Resources Supervisor for Secondary Personnel for Lincoln Public Schools. Marco has worked at LPS for 13 years and is passionate about sharing his Hispanic heritage with students.

Andy Seiler

What are the names and ages of your kids?

Ivy is 4 years old and Solly is 20 months. What do you love about being a dad? There are so many things I love about being a dad. I love rocking them to sleep. I love seeing them experience life brand new. My whole heart and meaning in life now runs around on two little feet. It’s absolutely terrifying.

What do you enjoy about your career / owning your own business?

It’s almost as if the career chose me, and not the other way around. I’ve been making film my entire life. It brings me places I never imagined. I get to film inside other businesses and learn about them and what they do as if I was a part of each of them.

What is the best advice someone has given you about being a dad?

I don’t think there’s a piece of advice, rather just the example of my own father. He was there for us, and he always prioritized things in my life. And, so now for me, being a dad, I also want to make sure my kids always know they are first.

What are you reading/watching?

We just finished Ted Lasso. So many thoughts and so many lessons learned. The characters’ abilities to look past peoples flaws and offer a place of acceptance and redemption are fantastic.

Tell us your best Dad Joke.

Knock, Knock! Who’s there?

Atch.

Atch Who?

Bless You.

Kevin Sjuts

What are the names and ages of your kids?

Bella is 15, Paxon is 14, and Kale is 10. What do you love about being a dad?

I love having a daily influence on my kids. I try to teach them about Jesus, life, decision-making, and the importance of family.

What do you love about your career?

With my job, I get to go to sporting events regularly! How cool is that? I also love getting to meet local athletes and coaches and tell their stories to the community.

What is something that you are reading or watching right now?

I’m currently watching a lot of Major League Baseball. I don’t watch many shows (except 10/11 News, of course), but I watch live sporting events all the time!

What cute things are your kids saying or doing?

My older two children will be in high school together this year. It’s been awesome watching their relationship grow as they get older. They’ll occasionally hang out in each other’s rooms and listen to music together. Sometimes, they’ll invite their little brother to join. Precious moments! The kids will also play catch, four square, make rainbow looms together, and use the word “slay” nonstop!

Tell us your best Dad Joke. What did the fork say to the knife? You’re looking sharp!

Marco Pedroza, EdD

What are the names and ages of your kids?

Ty is 17, Santana is 7, and Baylor is 5. What do you love about being a dad? Being a dad has truly changed my life. Building a bond with my kids to share in special moments and create memories is very important to me. What do you love about your career?

I love the fact that I am able to have an impact on our community and stakeholders. Being able to serve alongside so many great educators is amazing. Building relationships and collaborating with others is important. I also love the fact that I can continue to be a lifelong learner working in education.

What is the best advice someone has given you about being a dad? Be present. With so many distractions these days, it is so easy to not be present with your kids. Talk to anyone who is a parent of “grown” kids and they will tell you how fast life goes and how quickly your kids grow up. Social media, television, and every other distraction will always be there. Your kids will not.

What cute things are your kids saying or doing?

Honestly, I feel like anything they do is cute. One of the great joys of being a dad, right? I do especially like that they are coming into who they are. Their personalities start to come out and you never know when you are going to get a gymnastics routine in the living room or a made-up word that makes you laugh.

Tell us your best Dad Joke. How do you get a tissue to dance?  You put a little boogie in it.

Marvelous Mumu

Are you familiar with the countries of Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, or the military dictatorship that forced refugees of the former to flee to the latter? We had the opportunity to sit down with someone who lived that journey, and who is now a member of our community.

She is a family-focused, selfless, and resilient Lincoln mom. Come along and hear her story – from her childhood in Thailand, to her arrival in America, to starting a family in Lincoln. Meet Mumu Lee!

Mumu was born in Thailand in a refugee camp called the Mae La Camp. Mae La is one of the largest refugee camps in Thailand, created as a result of the conflict in Burma. Burma is a nation with over 100 different ethnicities, but since the late 1940s, the Burmese population has been engaged in civil war with the Karen people. A Burmese military group took power during this war and began to commit atrocities against the Karen people. Mumu’s parents, who are Karen, fled from this religious and ethnic persecution across the border to the Mae La Camp. They stayed there for eleven years after their daughter was born. In 2007, they decided to move to the United States, bringing Mumu and her grandmother with them.

Mumu’s family arrived in Austin, Texas in 2007. There, Mumu entered school for the first time in her life, at age eleven. The Mae La Camp, along with not permitting refugees to leave the area, had offered little other than food and shelter. There was no education system in the camp, so Mumu started 6th grade at Martin Middle School with some catching up to do. Mumu began to understand many of the struggles that her parents had shielded her from, but felt grateful for the opportunity she had to start anew in a safe community.

She learned English and was able to catch up with her peers in time to start her freshman year of high school at Kipp Academy. Mumu and her family were adjusting well to life in the United States, but her parents decided to move to Lincoln after Mumu’s freshman year in order to find work. Mumu continued her education in Lincoln at Lincoln High School, graduating in 2014.

In the summertime, Mumu worked hard to provide for herself and her family. She sold food as a side job, traveling throughout the Midwest. One year, Mumu traveled to Iowa for her job. While she was there, she went to a soccer tournament and a certain player caught her eye: a dashing goalie named Napoleon. Incredibly, she learned that Napoleon was also a Karen refugee, and had resettled in Minnesota around the year 2000. When they met in Iowa, Mumu and Napoleon felt an instant connection and began dating. In 2019, the two got married and decided to settle down in a safe, family-friendly city – Lincoln, Nebraska, of course!

Mumu’s background and cultural values are present in the way she cares for her family and her community. Her parents and grandmother live with her, as it is customary in her culture for elders to live in the family home alongside the next generations. While Mumu and her husband work during the day to provide for their family, her parents care for her two children. The family speaks both Karen and English at home, and they celebrate a mix of American and Karen holidays: Thanksgiving, birthdays, Karen New Year, and Karen Martyrs Day, to name a few. Mumu works at Bluestem Health as an Outreach Worker, helping non-English speakers get connected to healthcare resources. She feels most fulfilled when she uses her opportunities and privilege to assist others in need.

This humble and giving attitude is what Mumu wishes to pass on to her children. She wants them to understand where they come from and to take advantage of the security, resources, and opportunities in America to help people in their community and back home. Her children, ages 4 and 2, teach her the value of patience in return, as they begin to navigate through life. Her son just joined a soccer team (taking after his dad, no doubt) and her daughter loves going to the playground. Mumu is determined to provide them with all the support they need to grow into humble, strong, and generous adults, who have a keen awareness of their home and culture. Luckily, their mother leads fearlessly by example, paving the way for them to follow in her footsteps and make a difference in the lives of those around her.

Belmont Community Center

The Heart of Northwest Lincoln

There is much to celebrate in Northwest Lincoln. The Lincoln Kids team sat down with Emily Koopmann, Executive Director, and Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac, President-elect and board member, of the Belmont Community Center to learn more about its rich history and services.

In 1937, Mr. and Mrs. J. Will Blair and Mrs. Arthur Park took an abandoned church and developed it into a facility for youth and adult social and civic clubs for Northwest Lincoln. Originally called Lovely Hills Community Center, the name was changed to Belmont, a French word meaning “beautiful mountain.”

Belmont Community Center promotes individual growth, neighborhood pride, and community collaboration, noted Emily. “Over the years, our services have established trust within the community that spans generations – community members who helped build the Center now have great-grandchildren who attend preschool here. Our directors and board members grew up in the community.” Through shared history and experiences, these leaders listen and adapt services to the needs of their community.

Programs and Facilities

Belmont Community Center primarily serves children ages 3 to 13 and offers licensed early childhood programs including preschool for 3-to-5 year olds, before and after school programs, and summer programs.

The multi-use facility built in 1955 has hosted a myriad of resources, from being a branch of Lincoln City Libraries to the extensive all-youth programs today. The accessible spaces include a gym, meeting room, and baseball field that can be rented.

Moving forward, the Board hopes to expand Belmont Community Center’s programs in all directions, from increasing early childhood access to adding young adult and adult programming. The Center hopes to bring people together, face-to-face, after the past few years of uncertainty. Brittney shared that they are in the early stages of a campaign to build a new and updated facility in the same historic spot as the original building. “The building currently still has its original roof, plumbing, and electricity. We just want to give the space a new life.”

Learn more about programs and events on their website and social media!

Insights from a First-Year Teacher

Balancing Challenges and Triumphs

BY LILY PARIZEK, TEACHER AT HARTLEY ELEMENTARY

Teaching is one of the most impactful careers, and it comes with its own set of challenges. With back-to-school approaching, it’s important to keep teachers in mind so we can support them during this time. I’m Lily Parizek, a first-grade teacher at Hartley Elementary School in Lincoln, and I’m here to share what helped me through me first year of teaching.

Teachers Learn Too

The first year of any job is filled with learning moments. As a first-year teacher, I spent extra time prepping lessons and figuring out how to balance my time with all of my students. Helping one kid succeed is much different than trying to help a full classroom of children, so it takes time.

Support System

At Hartley Elementary, every first-year teacher is partnered with a mentor teacher. It was nice to have someone to problem solve with me without any judgment. Parents also made me feel supported, sending random emails of a drawing that one of my students made at home, or asking a question they had about the upcoming week.

Communication is Key

Communication is really important when it comes to bridging the gap between school and home. Learning continues outside of school, and it is key to your child’s success to stay up-to-date with your child’s teachers.

The Kids Make It All Worth It

I feel that the most rewarding part about being a teacher is noticing a difference in my students’ learning, and watching them fall in love with it. Kids get super excited to be at school, which makes me feel good because then I know they want to be there and they want to learn. Their bright, innocent outlook on the world is refreshing and makes me hopeful for the future.

I am looking forward to meeting my new class of students this August!

with Shawna Gordon

Ship Ahoy!

Grab some sturdy paper and make your own paper boat to sail away on a new adventure!

On the Wall at Lincoln Kids

We love to get Lincoln Kids interested in sharing their work with each other. Take a gander at these masterpieces, and if you’ve got one you’d like to share, send a picture of it to hello@lnkkids.com!

“My Favorite Bomb Pop” Jacob Burnham Age 6

“Sonic” Jude Wilson 3rd grade, St. Joseph School

“Castle Gate” Ambrose Power Age 4

“Starry Night” Augustine Power Age 7

FREE-Fall into Autumn!

Here's a quick list of 50 free (or almost free) things to keep you busy this fall. Check them off as you go!

Rake a pile of leaves and jump in it.

Make a leaf rubbing.

Play a board game.

Go to the park and find helicopter seeds.

Find out why leaves change color in the fall.

Make a racetrack from leaves and race your friends.

Go stargazing (before it gets too chilly).

Do a puzzle.

Put some paint on a leaf and use it as a stamp.

Go to a farmers market.

Learn about Dia de los Muertos.

Hunt for seeds. Plant them and see if they grow.

Play Capture the Flag.

Go on a hike at Wilderness Park.

Watch the Macy's Day Parade.

Make a DIY Halloween Costume.

Go on a bike ride through Lincoln's bike trails.

Play Ghosts in the Graveyard.

Make puppets out of old socks or paper bags.

Go on a color walk and collect colorful leaves.

Decorate an old pillow case to Trick or Treat with.

Make a handprint turkey.

Tell scary stories to your friends.

Watch a sunset on the Pioneers Park sledding hill.

Make a paper chain. On each link, write something you're grateful for.

Camp out in your backyard.

Go fishing at Holmes Lake.

Check out books from a library.

Play flag football with your friends.

Make a card for all the people you are thankful for.

Go outside and admire a full moon.

Go on a picnic.

Climb a tree.

Turn your room into a haunted house.

Play kickball.

Write a spooky story.

Collect pine cones and decorate them.

Go geocaching.

Make leaf crowns.

Play The Floor is Lava.

Write a play and perform it with friends.

Fly a kite.

Build a blanket fort.

Use toilet paper to mummify your friend.

Rake your neighbor's yard as a random act of kindness.

Play Hide and Seek.

Paint a rock.

Admire the trees along Jamaica Trail.

Check out a mystery book at the Library.

Your choice:

hip, hip, HOORAY !

lincoln children's museum

a playful, immersive experience in agriculture

OPENING

NEW fall 2023

The Love of Language

Why Students Should Prioritize Learning a Foreign Language

Language is how we communicate. We share feelings, opinions, and stories, all through our words. Learning a foreign language expands our horizons and broadens with whom we can communicate. Rosanne Navas, a Spanish teacher at Lincoln Southwest High School, shares the importance of learning another language and what opportunities are available for students in Lincoln.

1. Learning a foreign language enriches students’ lives.

Communication Skills: The most important part about learning a language is speaking it. Because of this, students learn how to talk with one another. Although that sounds simple, it’s a skill some students lack in a postpandemic world with social media. Just by practicing how to speak a language, students exercise their communication skills through in-person connections, eye contact, facial expressions, and more. Rosanne explains, “When you’re able to connect with other people, you can share ideas, opinions, and feelings. That’s what matters.”

Culture: Students often learn about the culture that coincides with a foreign language. They are taught about common holidays, major historical events, and other cultural customs. This helps students have a more wellrounded, empathetic understanding of the world and the people in it!

Learning a New Language: Much like learning English, the process of learning a new language is like a mathematical equation. In order to build a sentence, there needs to be a subject and a verb. There can also be adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, etc. These are fundamental components of sentences that most students learn in English class. When they are revisited in their foreign language classes, they get a better understanding of these components.

2. Opens up Opportunities for Students in Lincoln

Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) offers Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. They also offer Spanish for Spanish Speakers as well as Arabic for Arabic Speakers.

There are many study-abroad opportunities at LPS and they vary from school to school. At Southwest, there is a trip to a Spanish-speaking country every year, as well as a trip to Japan every summer. There are other opportunities for students learning other languages. Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet new people, learn about different cultures, and enjoy a unique experience outside of the classroom. In college, Rosanne studied abroad in Spain and learned so much about herself.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosts a language fair every spring for high school students learning a foreign language. This event is a celebration of language, and also allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of a language and culture in various events. The types of events include poetry, music, drama, posters, folk dancing, and film.

3. Advice for Students and Parents

Start learning young! Children are quick to learn new things, and research has shown that learning a second language as a child is easier and helps them in other areas of their lives. Parents can use external resources like a language tutor or language apps to introduce a new language. Parents can also label items in their house to help supplement their child’s learning. Repetition is very important when learning a language, and it’s good to continue the learning outside of the classroom!

A good mindset is everything. Learning a new language is tough. It’s necessary to have an open mind and to let go of the fear of making mistakes when starting out. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. “Perfection is never the end goal, because if we were to attain it, it would bore us to tears,” Rosanne adds.

Can you spot 10 differences?

Answers from top to bottom, left to right: 1) Grey to white cloud. 2) The sun is missing. 3) The lower yellow apple turns red. 4) The tractor turns brown. 5) The spotted mushroom changes to a group of two. 6) The pumpkin in the wagon is missing a leaf. 7) The turkey has leaves appear in its hat. 8) The wagon has an added stripe. 9) The turkey is missing stripes on its cheek. 10) A leaf appears on top of the mushroom.

Five Things You Should Know About the Library

BY RYAN WIEBER, LIBRARY DIRECTOR

Take advantage of what your public library has to offer for kids. Whether your little ones are toddlers or high school seniors, Lincoln City Libraries has the goods to complement their development as readers and engage their brains for quality learning and fun.

1 2

We offer a lineup of storytimes for different ages and formats at multiple branch locations, where the joy of reading is shared together by happy librarians, kids, parents, and caregivers alike. Storytimes bring people together and are a great way to introduce reading aloud and reading together. From storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to specialized formats like “Music and Movement,” “Sensory Storytime,” and “Wee Workouts,” we have something for you. “Around Town Storytime” goes on the road to fun places where the thrill of a good story is enhanced by a fun location like a museum or park.

A library card is your access to a world of reading and exploration, and now — for the first time in many years — a newly kid-designed card will find its way into the hands and pockets of readers of all ages. Beginning this fall, the lucky winner of the kid’s card design contest will see their art in the form of a library card, to be distributed to any patron who wants one!

TumbleBook Library is a curated, online digital library filled with animated, talking picture books and read-alongs for children in kindergarten through 6th grade. Super easy to use, this collection of over 1,100 titles is a fun way to build reading skills and take advantage of library offerings from home. Need assistance with a homework assignment? “HelpNow for Homework” is an incredible online resource for free homework help, online tutoring, and preparation for standardized tests for kids and adults of all ages. Live tutoring help is available from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week, and is absolutely free for Lincoln City Libraries patrons. Visit the site by going to the teen section of the Library’s website at lincolnlibraries.org.

3 4 5

Did you know the library has Teen Advisory Boards at multiple branch locations? Teens advise library staff about materials, programs, and services that can enhance the library for everyone. These active groups meet regularly to lend their voice and creativity to initiate new ideas!

Head over to your neighborhood library and hit the shelves today!

Presence Over Presents

BY SHAY K. FLOWERDAY

As we head into the most wonderful time of the year, we must also be conscious that it is the most wasteful time of year. To help reduce your waste footprint, here are some ways to minimize our collective impact.

Our society is designed around consumerism, or the constant cycle of being advertised to and buying products from those advertisers. The costs to our environment are not factored into this consumption cycle.

In addition to negatively impacting our planet, having too much “stuff” can impact our brains. Studies have shown that having too many items in a space can increase stress hormones in our bodies. Another study found that children with fewer toys in their environment were able to focus longer on each toy and increase creativity (Dauch et al, 2018).

This season, make simple adjustments to your holiday to make them more environmentally conscious.

Refrain from Consumer ‘Holidays’

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are designed to entice you to buy products for cheap prices. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this, or is it just a good deal?”

Start A New Tradition

Looking back, kids will be much happier remembering what you did as a family, rather than who got them what gift. Instead of focusing on gift-giving, dedicate a day to giving back to the community or baking treats to take to others. (Pro Tip: buy containers at local thrift stores to gift these treats in.)

Gift Experiences

Giving experiences as gifts is another good way to emphasize to kids that material items are not as important as memories. A zoo membership, weekend trip, or concert/theatre event are all great options!

Purchase Secondhand Items

Buying gifts from thrift stores or purchasing refurbished electronics is a great way to help the environment this season. When you buy secondhand, no new resources are needed to create a product. It gives these items a second life, and for less money!

Encourage Others to Not Gift Toys

To avoid extra clutter, explain to friends and family why you are choosing to stray from material gifts and encourage them to do the same.

* Dauch, C., Imwalle, M., Ocasio, B., Metz, A. (2017). The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers’ play. Infant Behavior and Development, Volume 50 (78-87) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.11.005

Tic-Tac-Toe

Did you know?

A tie in tic-tac-toe is sometimes called a cat’s game.

Can You Beleaf It’s Fall?

Fill out this puzzle using the clues below!

DOWN:

Pumpkin, Rhubarb, Apple...

Straw-like food for horses

The last month of Fall

This yellow vegetable is best eaten on the cob!

_corn; a sweet kind of popcorn

Warm, cozy neck accessory

Spooky, black-winged creature

A field where apples are grown

ACROSS:

This magical person might put a spell on you!

A squirrel's food of choice

The color of pumpkins

A carved pumpkin

.

1.

3. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10. 12.

2. 4. 8. 11

Little emergencies are a big deal.

A child’s illness or injury doesn’t have to be reason to worry. With skilled pediatric providers and no appointment needed, you’re in good hands with CHI Health.

Priority Care

• Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., 7 days a week

• Urgent care for kids 3 months and older

• Walk-in care at primary care prices

• 3 convenient locations

CHI Health Clinics

2510 S 40th St. (south of 40th & Normal)

4055 Yankee Hill Rd. (40th and Yankee Hill)

1601 N 86th St. (northeast of 84th and Holdrege)

CHIhealth.com/PriorityCare

Emergency Care

• Open 24/7 for pediatric emergency care

• Lincoln’s only ER just for kids

• Child-friendly rooms and a private waiting area

Pediatric Place

St. Elizabeth 555 South 70th St. Located by ER entrance

CHIhealth.com/PediatricPlace

Virtual Quick Care

• Connect via phone or video chat, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m, 7 days a week

• Caring for patients 18 months and older

• Consultation and prescriptions for minor illness

• Visits take 30 minutes or less

CHIhealth.com/VirtualCare

DIRECTORY Child Care & Education

Better Living Foster Care & Family Services

Our foster care program provides training and support for families to assist them in caring for youth in our community who need a stable and loving home while their parents gain skills to reunite their family. Become a foster parent with Better Living. Together we can make a difference!

7100 S. 29th St., Ste. B (402) 476-0104

Betterlivingne.com

Fingerprints Child Development Center

(6w - 10y) Featuring an educational curriculum for all ages in a loving, Christian environment! Open 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Enrolling now for School Age care with transportation to Meadow Lane, Kahoa and Robinson. Contact for current openings.

7800 Holdrege St. (402) 467-4503

CapitolCity.org

KidsPark

(1 1/2 - 11y) Trusted hourly childcare on days, evenings and weekends! No reservations required. Drop-in Mon. - Thu. 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., and Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.!

5633 S. 16th St. Ste. 100 (402) 413-8849

KidsPark.com/Lincoln

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Southern Hills

(6w - 12y) Brand new state-of-the-art learning academy with exclusive curriculum developed for each classroom, guardian-accessible cameras, age-appropriate playgrounds, an onsite chef, and more! With our “Hug First, Then Teach” principle we take a whole-child approach, strengthening each child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being. Currently enrolling all ages – including Summer Camp!

5588 Canterbury Ln.

(402) 436-4005

kidsrkids.com/southern-hills

Lincoln Parks and Recreation Preschool Programs

Little Sprouts Preschool at Calvert Recreation Center and Nature Preschool at Pioneers Park Nature Center are open to children 3 to 5 years of age. Programs are nature based, with teachers planning curriculum around children’s curiosity and wonder of the world around them.

(402) 441-8669

lincoln.ne.gov (search: Preschool)

Prairie Hill Learning Center

(18m - 14y) Prairie Hill Learning Center offers quality, Montessori education in an outdoor, farm environment. Young Children’s Community is licensed by DHHS, has immediate openings and operates year-round. 7 miles south of Lincoln on Highway 77.

17705 S. 12th St., Roca, NE 68430 (402) 436-6668 admin@prairiehill.com prairiehill.com

South Gate Preschool

(18m - Pre-K) South Gate Preschool is an established Lincoln Preschool of 30 years.  Our curriculum is based on learning through play with classes for children 18 months to pre-K.  Our classes are designed to build a strong foundation for your child’s academic success.

3500 Pioneers Blvd. (402) 489-7302 preschool@southgateumc.org southgateumc.org/preschool

Trinity Lutheran

School

(18m - Grade 5) A fulfilling, Christ-based education center. Our Early Childhood Education Program accepts children ages 18 months through Pre-K with extended hours from 7 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Also offering K-5 classes.

1200 North 56th St. (402) 466-1800 trinityoflincoln.org

Wee Wisdom Christian Preschool & Academy

(3y - 6y) Wee Wisdom has been providing a quality preschool program to the Lincoln-area families since 1996. We provide a well-rounded educational experience that includes a balance between informal and structured learning.

5201 Old Cheney Rd. (402) 420-7111 weewisdompreschool.org

Birthday Party Fun KidsPark

(1 1/2y - 11y) Private birthday parties available! Invitations, balloon favors, a gift for the birthday child, face painting, art, and games are all included. We do the cleanup when the party is over! Sundays 10:30am-12:30pm or 6:30pm8:30pm. Book your date online at kidspark.com/lincoln today!

5633 S. 16th St., Ste. 100 (402) 413-8849 KidsPark.com/Lincoln

Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Celebrate your child’s birthday at the Zoo and enjoy all-day admission for you and your guests. Create lasting memories with options for unlimited train rides and critter encounters. Party packages start at just $225. Visit LincolnZoo.org to pick your party, select your date, and reserve your room and time.

1222 S. 27th St.

(402) 475-6741 LincolnZoo.org

Lost In Fun!

Your outdoor playland... indoors! Fun for all ages! Private party rooms, playsets, foam pit, inflatable jumpers, fun maze, laser maze, video games, jumping pillow, Ballocity, and snack area with yummy food and drinks! We do company parties, too! Book your next Fun-tastic party online at lostinfun.com!

8431 Cody Dr. (15th & Yankee Hill) (402) 466-8692 LostInFun.com

Pioneers Park Nature Center

Add nature to your child’s birthday! Parties includes a guided hike or themed activity, special gift for birthday child, party bags for each child, and time for your own activity and refreshments. Recommended for ages 5-12.

3201 S. Coddington Ave. (402) 441-7895 lincoln.ne.gov (search: Pioneers Park Nature Center)

Lessons & Activities

Aimee’s Premier Dance

Aimee’s Premier Dance in Hickman offers a variety of dance styles for ages 3+, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Pointe, and Boys’ Classes. All classes use ageappropriate music, choreography, and costuming.

6760 Woodland Blvd. (Hickman) (402) 440-8770 apremierdance.com

Bright Lights Summer Learning Adventures

(Ages K - 8th Grade) Bright Lights Summer Learning Adventures. Offering 5 weeks of fun, hands-on, STEAM-infused summer learning camps for K-8th grade students. Half-day and full-day camps available on a wide variety of topics from arts and literature to robotics and cooking. Get more info on camp schedules, locations, and registration at BrightLights.org. Students 8th grade and older can volunteer as Camp Assistants.

5561 S. 48th St., Ste. 220 (402) 420-1115 brightlights.org

Chase the Spirit of Dance

Established in 2017, Chase the Spirit of Dance provides Lincoln’s premier dance instruction. All of our dance instructors are personable and fully certified to teach dance at all levels. Whether your focus is technique, flexibility, or you’re just looking for a new way to work out, you can find it here. We offer Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Clogging, Tap, and so much more to students ages 3 - 93!

chasethespirit.dance

info@chasethespirit.com

(402) 904-4091

Encore Studio

(Ages 5 - 11) Piano lessons and piano/keyboard classes for all levels. Teaching beginners of all ages.

54th & L St. (402) 499-0400 encore-studio.com

Lessons & Activities (cont’d)

Lincoln Boys Choir

The Lincoln Boys Choir consists of organized choral groups which promote healthy, lifetime singing skills. Ages 8 - 18.

(402) 499-4446

kirsten@lincolnboyschoir.org lincolnboyschoir.org

Lincoln Music Teachers Association

LMTA welcomes all music teachers to meet for workshops and camaraderie, to plan activities for our students, and to serve the community. Our LMTA Music Outreach Program offers low-cost lessons, instruments and repairs, music scores and performance opportunities to children in need. Email MOP@LMTA.info.

For more information or a Teacher Directory, visit www.LMTA.info.

Lincoln Youth Track Club

The Lincoln Youth Track Club is a competitive track and field club for youth ages 7–18. Our goal is to help youth grow their love of track and field. We strive for maximum athlete development throughout the season.  lincolnyouthtrack@gmail.com lincolnyouthtrackclub.com

Marble Music

Discover the music in you with private music lessons at Marble Music Studios. Music lessons don’t have to be dull to achieve great results. At Marble Music Studios, our team of teachers bring fun to every lesson with engaging, age-appropriate curriculum and repertoire.  Specializing in strings, piano, guitar, ukulele and voice lessons. Now offering toddler music classes! Target ages: ages 1-3 for ECM Classes, ages 4-18 for private music lessons.

6201 S. 58th St. (402) 413-6355 marblemusicne.com

Nebraska Game & Parks Outdoor Education Center

The Nebraska Outdoor Education Center offers a unique combination of shooting and archery ranges and educational programming. The center offers indoor and outdoor archery ranges and an indoor firearm range, as well as classes, day camps, workshops, special events, and instruction for all ages and skill levels.

4703 N. 44th St. (402) 471-6141 outdoornebraska.gov/outdooredcenter

Picnic Hill Orchard

(All ages) We offer u-pick apples, cider and donuts starting in August through the end of October.  Located just outside of Lincoln near 105th and Yankee Hill Road. 10500 Yankee Hill Rd. (402) 417-0734 picnichillorchard.com

Theatre Arts for Kids

TAFK provides quality performance training for kids of all ages in the Lincoln community and surrounding areas. TAFK’s programming is inclusive and scholarship is always available. (402) 202-1087 info@tafk.org tafk.org

Grow with Preschool

Calvert Recreation Center

Pioneers Park Nature Center

Preschool prepares children for primary school and helps to inspire a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. lincoln.ne.gov/preschool

Bites, Bikes, and Bison

Friends of the Pioneers Park Nature Center annual fundraiser on September 10. lnknaturecenter.org/bbb

Prairie Run

Saturday, November 4, 9 AM

Help support the Nature Center and tallgrass prairie preservation. 1 mile walk/run or 5K run takes you through the prairie. Ages 5+ lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter parks.lincoln.ne.gov

Basketball Leagues & Camp

Each K-5th grade player will receive an official jr.NBA reversible jersey to keep! One day instructional camp is on Saturday, October 14, 2023. teamsideline.com/lincolnne

Hello, Pumpkin!

Follow the steps below to carve this cute cat ghost for a howling-good time!

1.Tape the paper template to your pumpkin.

2.Using push pins, poke holes into the pumpkin by following along the dotted lines.

3.Remove the paper and connect the holes to use

nCarvingTemplate:AlwaysCarveCarefully with the Help of an Adult!